Leafs rumours 3

22 Mar 2026 00:26:26
Stolarz Robertson to Carolina
Nadeau 3rd 2027 to Leafs

Nylander Carlo to Ducks
McTavish Sennecke to Leafs

Morgan oh Morgan to Utah
Lamoureux to Leafs

Knies to Hawks
1st 2026 Frondell to Leafs

Hawks get 2nd pick
Leafs move up to 3rd
Leafs draft Verhoeff and Reid

#idreamadream

23 Mar 2026 18:01:16
Some good stuff here Golftown.

Can you replace the CBH 2026 1st with a player ready to enter the NHL next season?

Yes I can be a dreamer too! Verhoeff and Reid is a dream for sure, but not happening given how close together the drafts of Verhoeff and Reid. No one team could do that!

23 Mar 2026 18:36:50
What makes you think Carolina would give up one of, if not their top prospect, for an aging goalie who is good but they already have Freddy and Kotchetkov, who's still young, what's the appeal to Carolina?

23 Mar 2026 18:59:18
They need a goalie in a big way.
They don’t resign Andersson.
And the Hurricanes need a goalie to get them over-the-top now.

21 Mar 2026 16:55:29
To La Stolarz Nylander

To Leafs
Brandt Clarke
Carter George
Jimmy Lombardi

21 Mar 2026 16:25:53
That seems like a pretty low return for the Leafs. I love Brandy Clarke and I think Carter George will be a good one, but he would still be 4th in the depth chart in Toronto. Whereas in L.A. he will be first call up and get the majority of minutes in the minors. They still have Forsberg for another year at a reasonable salary as a backup.

Lombardi was a 4th round pick and is still in junior. I think you get that and possible more from another team just for Nylander without Stolarz. I think a landing spot for Stolarz might be Florida again. Bobrovsky might sign elsewhere and if he does sign in Florida it won't be at the age of 37 for another $10 million.

21 Mar 2026 19:25:06
Stolarz is one trade the Leafs definitely should make, at least for me. Woll is younger and a bit less money.

Florida would no doubt be very interested; they know his history and need a dependable goalie even if Bobrovsky doesn’t go elsewhere or resigns.

Unfortunately Florida has little with which to barter.
They have 2 R2 picks in 2026 so that should be a very decent pick given their overall position this year.



I’d want the earlier pick plus two of the following:
Gracyn Sawchyn, a 21 yo C #63 in ‘23 and can fly and score but is only 5.11 and 165 but is a battler,
Jack Devine, a 22yo RW #221 in ‘22 and has a hi-end motor,
Sandis Vilmanis, a 22yo LW #157 in ‘22, solid skater with a great wrist shot or
Simon Zether, a 20yo 2-way C # 129 in ‘24, solid skater with surprising offensive skills.

21 Mar 2026 20:15:45
Well I don't think that Stolarz truly will bring back much given his age and not a big track record other than being a good #2. However, with his past in Florida who knos what they might give us. To free up that $3.75 m would be nice though for cap. If we got a 2nd round pick and, to be very greedy, Shea Busch.

He has been out for most of the season in the WHL, but they are hoping he will play in the playoffs. He had 18 pts in 15 games, and the kid is a beast. 6'-3" 216 lbs. Plays both wings. They protected the injury status, but sounds like similar to what Schaefer had.

21 Mar 2026 21:40:17
Interesting you mention Sawchyn. His brother is even better and is ranked right about where we get to pick with our first pick this year at 72nd. He is ranked just above that but I am sure we could cut a deal with a team to let him fall to us. He is not very big, but is not afraid to go to the touch areas, insanely good playmaker with quick hands. The reason I like Lucas Sawchyn is 2 fold.

#1 he is 12th in scoring in the WHL, #2 his linemate who he has chemistry with is a Leaf asset. Miroslave Holinka who is 14th in scoring. I could see these 2 with Cowan as a top notch 3rd line in their first year on a rebuild team. Moving steadily into #2 line within 2 years. Haven't had a young exciting line since the Hound Line.

21 Mar 2026 21:52:14
Okay, so if you were FLs GM, I’d say let’s make that deal, a R2 this year and Shea Busch.

Then we pick Lucas Sawchyn.

First trade done!

Lol

Easy-peasy.

22 Mar 2026 13:44:26
Jack Devine is a really solid pickup, an energetic, play-driving forward with plenty of passing skill. I watched a ton of his games from his the last two NCAA seasons, and he was already excellent back then. Not a physical force out there, but he's improved a ton in that area, so he won't get pushed around in NHL games.
Sawchyn is even more energetic, and his forechecking is already at a good level, he'd fit right in with Toronto.

Simon Zether is a pure center with real potential to become an NHL 3rd-line physical defensive pivot. He doesn't take dumb penalties, super reliable player, he'd be a great fit for Toronto too.

I've never actually watched Vilmanik play, so I can't say anything about him.

As a replacement suggestion, how about Stepan Gorbunov instead? Big guy with surprisingly good mobility, solid hands, not sure if he's a pure center, but from the games I've seen, he fits well as one and played exclusively center in those. He's already a pretty complete player even as a project/raw talent. Not super physical yet, but he knows how to use his size effectively. Low-risk, high-reward type, the kind of 4-5 year project that could pay off big...

Stolarz, yeah, he could be a good target for Florida.

For replacing Tinus Lucc Koblar, Zether would be the guy. And if Koblar has to be included in some trade anyway, I'd definitely try to send him to Florida as part of a package.

Berube is messing around and tried the Myers-Benoit pairing, that was straight-up moonshot terrible. Both of them should be traded for a defenseman who at least has a bit of hands and feet... Is Niemelä a lost cause at this point? He'd at least be solid on the PP, and puck-moving-wise he's better than Myers and Benoit.
McCabe and Stecher have been Toronto's best D-men. OEL is good and reliable but gets penalty-prone at times. For Carlo, there's an AHL replacement out there, Toronto doesn't need a bunch of pure shutdown guys. 0-2 of those is enough, and the rest should be offensive or two-way D. Cement-handed stay-at-home types aren't really needed in today's NHL anymore; they're getting phased out and buried in the AHL slowly.
If Tanev gets healthy, that'd be huge. Rielly can sit out the rest of the season with a 'cold' or whatever, the audition's over and it ended with nothing but disappointment.

Just more losses incoming. At this point, Toronto losing feels kinda like winning.

Have a great rest of the evening!

22 Mar 2026 19:38:51
Good stuff Thisisit.

I can embrace most big physical players who have solid skating skills. After all they must arrive in time to use that physicality or it’s useless like Reaves.

For me I’m definitely trading McCabe. At 4.51m for four more years and only getting older, I see him as easily replaced and still able to get a couple of needed pieces.

And Stecher is also expendable in my eyes. Yes he has helped our team but we’re in the tank. He’s played for six different teams for a reason.

As you know we each have our own views which we believe so it’s good dialogue.

23 Mar 2026 18:39:53
We could get way more for Nylander but I do love Clarke.

21 Mar 2026 14:59:00
Like everyone methinks, I looked at many things online this morning in hopes that something or an answer might jump out at me!

Sorry the answer is NO.

Instead I had two questions that I’d like to pose and receive feedback if you’re willing.

First is one many have raised so I’ll first give a definition and then pose the question.

A re-build and retool both do the same thing meaning to reconstruct but the difference is one of how long it takes. The rebuild is longer while a retool is much shorter. Without putting a specific time window I’m simply going to cite the Bruins this past year and perhaps the direction NYR are going.

So the question is which strategy are you proposing?

My second question is no doubt linked to this but are you proposing to trade at least one of Matthews or Nylander or both or neither?

No need for details on the trades I’m interested in a “straw poll” on these two issues.

If you’d like to support your vote with rationale that would great but right now I’m more interested in the vote results.

Thank you to all who wish to hear the site’s overall view.

21 Mar 2026 15:43:46
Rebuild
Trade Nylander

21 Mar 2026 15:47:07
Thank you Golftown!
Will be interested of course in others.

21 Mar 2026 16:31:55
Rebuild. Trade Matthews first, but if a crazy offer came in for Nylander then trade both.

Perfect world... Marty McFly and Doc come by and take us "Back to the Future" and we don't have Carlo but we have Minten and our 1st, we never had Laughton but we still have Grebenkin and our 1st.

Then we could rebuild or retool or by having those 2 players we never would be in the position we are in now anyway. One can dream, right Randy??? lol.

21 Mar 2026 18:31:00
Yes dreaming is allowed and that would be a good one for certain.

And yes, quite possibly, not having to go through this upheaval.

21 Mar 2026 19:41:41
Both options are possible, but realistically we are much closer to a year down rebuild than a retool. We have minimal strong assets to retool, with the best option wing Knies to fill 1 of the 2 major glaring holes we've never filled, we never replaced Kadri @ 3c or get a top pairing dman.

The tear down will be a long and tenuous journey. We'd have to move everyone not nailed down. But moving Matthews and Nylander will bring in emense amounts of assets to speed it up a touch but poor asset management over the previous 5 years still leaves up not being ultra competitive till 32-35 (the Yzerman timeline).

We would start ditching Matthews, Nylander and even Knies got nothing but futures. Take bad contracts and sign people wanting to extend their careers with promises to try and trade them to contenders as their contracts come to and end. This is where we need to stop doing the #1 thing the Leafs are notoriously bad for. Make the hard decision to move a fan favourite asset to bring in better controllable assets and fill out needs (think Rantenan for Necas).

I'm all for a rebuild, if it's done properly, and I just don't think Rogers understands that.

21 Mar 2026 21:25:05
32-35? You mean 2032 to 2035?

21 Mar 2026 21:29:06
So still hoping for more responses from Leafland.

For me it’s a retool, something much shorter than a rebuild.

The simple reason is I’m 73yo and I cannot seem to get as excited or emotionally connected to any other team. Yup, that’s it!

The Matthews/Nylander question is a tough one for me but I’ve resigned myself to one has to go.

I think we get more for Matthews primarily because he’s a center, is younger and has more leadership impact than Nylander. He plays better defensively and is willing to block shots.

I don’t see Matthews wimping out on going into battles in the corner.

Nylander is enigmatic and quite a bit more frustrating to watch sometimes.

I’m still not sure though who I trade. To answer that I’m going to spend some time structuring a couple of trades for each. This might help me decide.

21 Mar 2026 21:36:17
Thank you Hrenklin.

You are correct that a rebuild could take that long.

I believe a retool is 1-3 years and a rebuild is 5+ years.

Unfortunately I don’t think I came wait that long.

I now wonder if Golftown and Suffering want to wait that long?

But again thanks for sharing; it’s interesting to hear different viewpoints.

21 Mar 2026 22:37:00
Full rebuild if we scoop draft picks and prospects that are knocking on the door on other teams we are pretty much there in 3 to 4 years. Only if we have a GM (Not the current one lol) that does not trade any of our first round picks that we own from 2028 on.

That way we actually are in a position to do a couple of RFA offers because we would actually have our own picks still in the system for compensation to fill a couple of big pieces when the time is upon us in 3 years and 4 years to do those big moves.

23 Mar 2026 09:24:02
@RandyS It's been a journey man. Since 16’ and prior. The Sundin era, the Clark/Gilmore days. Looking back, those team/players were warriors and serious competitors compared to the guys today. Imagine someone hitting Mats or Dougie like Goofas hit Matthews and what woulda happened!!! Long story short I'm for full rebuild. To be done right, it starts at the head. Bye Tre and so on.

With the assets we get back for Matthews and Nylander, tbh I believe it may be a shorter timeframe than others. Only bc who were trading and the fact they're in their prime. Done right, and potentially drafting Verfeoff or Reid for our number 1 Defencmen moving forward, I think we could be looking pretty decent in a couple years. Maybe even battling for a playoff spot! Sorry for the book, guys.

21 Mar 2026 13:07:22
The Toronto Maple Leafs would pull off a small minor trade:
Tinus Luc Koblar gets swapped to the LA Kings for Henry Brzustewicz. The Kings desperately need centers to rebuild their prospect pool, while Toronto is looking for a reliable two-way defenseman. After that, the Leafs focus on drafting more centers and wingers in the upcoming draft and uncover one hidden gem named center Joe Erickson.

Is the Los Angeles Kings the best trade partner for Toronto right now? I feel like they’d cook up some big blockbuster deal, maybe a center and a defenseman coming in exchange for a center going the other way? Treliving really needs to make one major trade to show that he’s at least trying to fix this mess.

Thanks for not reading.

21 Mar 2026 21:41:10
Not sure Thisisit!

I do like Brzustewicz and I do see Luc Kublar’s raw skill set and wonder what could result in proper development.

And with later draft picks I’m left wondering whether your objective of the Leafs backfilling on centers and wingers is achievable.

I think I’m keeping Luc Kublar simply because of his high ceiling.

21 Mar 2026 23:20:04
Yeah, I would keep Kublar as well. When you see that he is only 18 and his numbers really are not that bad in the Swedish Elite League. Especially considering his team he is playing for is terrible. I can see him being a good prospect to hang on to.

21 Mar 2026 03:51:50
Nylander to Hawks
To Leafs
Korchinski
Frondell
1st 2026

Stolarz
Carlo to Ducks
McTavish to Leafs

Rielly Robertson to Kraken
Firkus 2nd 2026 2nd 2027 to Leafs


Draft magic
Leafs move up to number one
McKenna is a Leaf!!

UFA signings
Bjorkstrand
Tuch
Trouba
Ferrero

21 Mar 2026 14:08:13
One could only wish man! But…… I don’t understand why no one’s learned yet. Build from the backend up. So, pass on Gavin and I’m all in on Verheoff bud! You’ve watched Makar right? Picture that only super physical. Ya I’m taking him at our first we will get! Leafs get in the top five as NHL's sorry for the Matthews mess haha.

22 Mar 2026 03:45:05
Agree Henry’s.

If the draft Lottery gods smile on the Leafs and they end up with a top 5 pick a defenseman is the only choice.
Whether it’s Verheoff or Chase Reid it’s definitely a defenseman.

20 Mar 2026 12:03:36
Tor: Villeneuve

Ana: rights to Ethan Procyszyn

Ethan is a 19yr RW from Wasaga Beach whose rights are set to expire June 1st. 6'3, 190ish lbs and likes to hit. He's a touch under ppg playing for the Battalion.

20 Mar 2026 13:35:55
He's worth a look right shot center.

20 Mar 2026 15:40:40
He actually looks like he could be a good one to develop. Might not even have to trade for him. If he has not signed by June 1. That is 2 years after he has been drafted and is a UFA.

20 Mar 2026 19:34:44
The issue is, I think, if he doesn't sign, he reenters the draft, but using an asset that seems to have stalled in the Leafs organization to bring him in to resign. He look quite likely middle 6.

20 Mar 2026 21:15:02
That's true. I didn't realize he had an after-draft birthday so yes he would be under 20 and re-enter the draft. It's tricky though in that the Leafs would only be trading Villeneuve for the chance to negotiate to sign the kid before the draft. Vice versa, with Villeneuve, Anaheim is getting a player they either have to give a qualifying offer to or let him walk.

I think the chances are not bad for him to sign with Toronto if, and I say if, Toronto does a complete rebuild and he knows he has a chance to move up the ladder. He has probably not signed in Anaheim because of their depth chart.

20 Mar 2026 21:34:32
Leafs pool is very shallow at RW. (Well everywhere). Plus, being from Wasaga Beach, I'd expect he would jump at the opportunity. Anaheim could use some depth with Trouba and Gudas being FA this year.

20 Mar 2026 21:59:39
While I like him, I’m not convinced the Ducks trade him before he is evaluated at the pro level.
At least for Villeneuve.

20 Mar 2026 23:07:12
Don't forget, Randy, he has to agree to sign with the Ducks for that to happen.

21 Mar 2026 13:07:11
For sure he has to sign this summer.

I’m just not convinced the Ducks won’t do that, simply because he’s done very well in the OHL and has yet to play in the AHL.

Having said that I’d definitely do the deal probably because I don’t see Villeneuve playing in the NHL. He might be a 7th in my eyes.

21 Mar 2026 14:11:18
@hrenkin Wasaga Beach? I live in the beach, buddy. Imma have to watch for this kid! Nice post!

22 Mar 2026 14:07:49
Ethan Procyszyn can play center or wing, so he's not strictly a pure center, but he's great on draws and can hold his own at center while being versatile on the wing too.
I'd pull the trigger on that trade for sure. Villeneuve's just a basic good D-man, and Toronto's got a bunch of those already.

19 Mar 2026 16:29:16
Toronto Calgary summer trade idea.

Jonathan Huberdeau (LW)
Salary Retention: Calgary retains 30% ($3.15M)
Cap Hit to Toronto: $7.35M (through 2031)

Morgan Rielly (LD)
Cap Hit: $7.5M (through 2030).

Huberdeau’s season is over, but next year he should slot right into the top-line LW spot to dish out those elite passes, moving Knies down to the second line. As for Rielly, he’s just Rielly, a bust of a pick, all things considered. He lacks any true elite-level tools, and you could find a replacement for him in the AHL or by signing a defenseman this summer who can actually handle top-pair minutes.

Toronto needs to focus on drafting speedsters instead of 'stone-hands' whose only strength is physicality.

The Leafs should start playing their Russian goalie now, call up some AHL guys to fill the roster, and 'accidentally' lose the rest of their games. The goal is a bottom-4 finish to secure a top-5 pick, which would hopefully land them an elite skater and puck-carrier like C. Reid.


And then!

Toronto would trade for Joel Hanley to gain shot-blockingg and simplicity, moving on from Simon Benoit’s physicality and puck-handling inconsistencies. Hanley is the definition of a safe, 'under-the-radar' defender who rarely makes a mistake. He lacks Benoit’s grit, but he makes up for it with elite positioning and shot-blocking.

Yeah Hanley is older, but both contract end same time. One year remaining.

19 Mar 2026 21:23:00
You are such a salesman. If you pitched that to Caglary that Reilly is literally a failure and they could find something better in the AHL in your eyes as a GM but you still want Them to give you Huberdeau and take on some retention. What do you think they will say?

Also who are you trading to get Hanley and where are you trading Benoit to and for what?

In my opinion you are basically trading to get a more expensive version of Troy Stecher who is just as good if not better and similar size as Hanley anyway.



To go back to the beginning of your post. Who are these Physical players they have been drafting rather than speed demons. I don't really see a lot of Physical players in their system they have drafted. I also don't see the reasoning in bringing up Akhtyamov to hopefully see him fail. He actually might be the best of the 4 goalies. W always find a way to mess up our goatenders, so why do that to the kid. Let him Roll with Hildeby into the playoffs with the Marlies.

20 Mar 2026 20:58:28
Rather keep Rielly then get Huberdud.

23 Mar 2026 09:42:37
Making that trade with Calgary is literally insanity. It’s tre making the same mistake again! Hard pass on that! Rielly's time in Toronto is over yes but funnily enough there’s been interest in him. He’ll be moved and we may not even have to retain. Know in the summer I guess.

26 Mar 2026 21:37:11
Heck naw Huberdumass has played so bad on Calgary even when they were mid. Would rather keep Rilley. Huberdeau will be a 3rd liner probably. Instead trade Rilley and a 3rd to Vegas and get Anderson, sign him to 6m then target Raddash.

19 Mar 2026 06:57:53
4 goalies in the mix
Trade Stolarz
Oilers
Stolarz
Leafs
Beau Akey

Or
Canes
Stolarz
Leafs
Nadeau

19 Mar 2026 21:53:48
I'm thinking that rather than Stolarz, any team heading the off season looking for goaltending will be trying to Offer Sheet Cossa. And I think there will be a bidding war. Hell, it will only cost a 2nd round pick to get him probably in compensation if Detroit doesn't match.

If they do, then you try to swing a deal with the same Detroit Red Wings for Augustine. If both of those are gone, then you look towards Stolarz perhaps if shopping for a goalie. I'd love to see Nadeau though in a Leaf uniform. Good call on him, Golftown.

20 Mar 2026 21:00:29
I believe if Stolarz plays well down the stretch he will fetch more in the offseason than that. Plus more teams will be in the running to get him. I believe the Ducks are first in line. They need a solid 1b behind Dostal.

20 Mar 2026 22:05:09
Would love to have Nadeau, a good NB boy.
Great skater and scorer but small.
He will need to be smart as a smaller player looking for open spaces and lanes.
He’s not afraid so that’s good as well.

20 Mar 2026 22:15:12
What is your suggested return from Anaheim?

21 Mar 2026 15:49:08
This guy in here wants to offer sheet Costa when we have Woll who is a better goalie and Hildeby who has so much potential. Not to mention we just signed the Russian kid.

21 Mar 2026 16:36:01
I never said that at all? I was saying why would anyone want to trade for Stolarz when they could offer sheet for Cossa or trade for Augustine. I never said we should offer sheet him at all.

21 Mar 2026 16:38:58
I was referring to other teams looking for Goaltending. There is even one out there that teams will be lining up trade offers on ahead of even Cossa and that is Wallstedt.

23 Mar 2026 09:47:04
Lol @suffering, well sir, if u listen to the rumour mill Wallstedt may be part of the package coming to Toronto for Matthews hahaha. I mean kids solid. I’d take him and Boldy and Fabber for 34. Would you?

18 Mar 2026 17:01:43
Calgary gets
Reilly (if he agrees)
Macceli
Quillan

Toronto gets
Huberdeau

Huberdeau is a playmaker which should get Auston back to himself. Huberdeau has some down years but also hasn’t been given a shooter/ scorer to play with to perform.

Calgary gets 2 “younger” forwards back. Maccelli is a RFA I believe.

18 Mar 2026 17:09:17
I think they have to do like 1 million retain, but other than that not to bad.

18 Mar 2026 17:10:08
The other part, idk if Treliving would trade for him again or not.

18 Mar 2026 19:25:04
Ludicrous.

18 Mar 2026 20:11:24
I would rather we hang on to Quillan and see how he develops for another year. As far as the Flames getting 2 younger forwards. That won't be a problem for them. They have a wealth coming from the NCAA after this year. Wyttenbach, Reschny and Potter. Not to mention they will be picking most likely in the top 5 at the draft.

So if they don't have a shot at Stenberg or McKenna they will be probably picking a D-man so Reilly would be a redundant return. Huberdeau would still be valuable as a veteran on a rebuilding team. Reilly is going to be a tough contract to move. He may have to be moved in a creative 3 way deal to a team will to take on Cap.

19 Mar 2026 01:03:13
🤢🤮

Oh my god no.

20 Mar 2026 21:05:56
Bad trade for Leafs. Huberdud is horrible and only get worse. You would be doing a huge favour to the Flames. Only way u do that trade with no retention is if a 1st rd 2026 pick and one of the 4 2nd 2026 comes back with Huberdeau and even then I would question it.

Having a aging LW signed until 38yrs old at 10.5 is ridiculous.

18 Mar 2026 01:44:10
Toronto's Defense Projection for next year.

Defense

Staying. Leaving by trade

McCabe. Rielly
Tanev. OEL
Danforth Stecher
Villeneuve Benoit
Thrun. Myers
Carlo
UFAs to sign

Darren Raddyish Phillip Kurashev
Jamie Oleksiak Nathan Bastian
Jeremy Lauzon Anthony Mantha

(Signing UFAS will depend on what you recieved in trades)

Forwards
Staying. Leaving by trade

Tavares. Matthews
Knies. Nylander
Groulx. Cowan
Lorentz. Domi
Joshua. Robertson
Maccelli

18 Mar 2026 00:58:55
Your post.
Confusing. Nonsense.

18 Mar 2026 12:40:41
Very Confusing. I know who he wants to get rid of and who he wants to keep. But if those are the free agents he is targeting, how do they depend on what we get in Trades? And who is he trading who to and for what? Plus is this looking towards a major retool or a rebuild?

18 Mar 2026 14:04:40
Left side staying right side leaving not confusing at all. Plus Ufa list to target for signing.

18 Mar 2026 19:32:42
I took it to mean averyone with a period sign after their name was staying and the rest of them leaving otherwise why sate it the way it was done and out periods beside only certain people.

18 Mar 2026 19:33:40
Perhaps Parkgardens can answer.

19 Mar 2026 01:35:49
Sorry columums did not come through probably when sent my bad.

Staying
Tavares
Knies
Lorentz
Groulx
Joshua

Leaving by trade
Matthews
Nylander
Rielly
Robertson
Domi
Maccelli

Now that is changing the DNA, DUMB ASS TRELIVING, DO ALL FANS A FAVOUR AND RESIGN.

19 Mar 2026 12:43:07
What about Cowan?

17 Mar 2026 19:08:15
Looking at Toronto's two most prominent RFA's Matias Macelli and Nick Robertson. You don't want to have either walk with nothing in return, so you literally have to do a qualifying offer for both. Robertson would be $1,825,000 and if he wanted to stay he would request Arbitration. If he got a raise then he would still be in a range that would be tradeable in a package. If someone offered a bit more and he liked the destination and the length of the deal we would get a 3rd pick as compensation. If someone offered him between $2,400,000 to roughly $4,700,000 we would get a 2nd round pick back.

With Macelli, to do a qualifying offer we have to do a minimum of $4,100,000. Which if it was a low offer match and he didn't do arbitration would be a 2nd round pick. If a team offered him higher than $4,700,000 and up to $7,000,000 which the way salaries are going the $4.8-4.9 range is not inconceivable.

That would bring us a 1st and a 3rd round pick.

If the Macelli we are seeing is for real, then qualifying him is not a bad move if he wants to do arbitration and stay, and if he keeps performing strong until the end of the season and someone wants to pry him away, a 1st and a 3rd is not a bad way to lose him if we are rebuilding. So if they both were pried loose by other teams at the higher end for both players. We would then have in return a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick for 2027 which gives us 2 1st round picks, 3 2nds and a 3rd we didn't have.

Worse case scenario, they go to arbitration and if they don't perform we look at moving them in trade packages. But I think we do have to do qualifying offers or we get not a thing when they then have the right to become UFA's without the offer.

17 Mar 2026 18:34:24
Nobody is offer sheeting either of those guys with that being the draft pick return. It would be lovely, but not all that realistic.

17 Mar 2026 19:57:59
In this crazy league, never say never. Teams that have a lot of prospects and draft picks but don't want to give up prospects in a trade if they are already in the middle to just past the middle of their rebuilds might bite. Those are not huge salaries to take on board for a team on the rise that is looking for depth a 3rd and 4th liner. We, on the other hand, are hoping to hit the depths to a point if we are rebuilding.

At the same time, if we don't qualify them, we get nothing.
The other option is to trade them and their RFA rights to negotiation to another team prior to or during the June 25-June 30th qualifying deadline. It will come down to who is sitting at that GM's desk at that time.

17 Mar 2026 20:48:34
Lmao…. No one is gonna make an offer to Macelli than will cost them a first and a third. He’s barely worth a third.

17 Mar 2026 21:01:20
OK! Did I ever say that was what was going to happen? Geez I listed the 4 options that could happen. One, we let them go for nothing, Two, we do the Minimum Qualifying offer and see if someone offers slightly above and both players leave, in which case I said what the minimum Compensation would be coming back, and Three, if we do the minimum Qualifying offer and if someone is crazy enough in a week free agent market to offer high, what our Compensation would be.

Fourth, we Qualify and they both go to Arbitration and then we are at the mercy of the Arbitrator. If we are stuck with them we hope they find their mojo with different linemates etc. If not then we try the trade route with them. Option one would be completely stupid to not get a thing for them.

17 Mar 2026 21:19:56
Maccelli can go for nothing. We pay him 4+M then we are stuck with him. Need to let him walk and start changing our identity. Keep Robertson and Cowan, move on from Maccelli and Domi. Need to get some players with some jam.

17 Mar 2026 21:42:38
Who would you target on the free agent market, Clarky, with the $4.1 m from Macelli that would bring what you are looking for?

17 Mar 2026 21:59:17
I think his point is that we need to qualify both players!

I agree.

And I think we all agree that we need something back.

So let’s protect that position.

18 Mar 2026 00:21:56
Suffering for ever,

Maccelli and Robertson will be sent packing this summer in a package deal by our new GM as Treliving will be be fired after last regular season game.

18 Mar 2026 12:41:52
How do you know they will be in a package deal together?

18 Mar 2026 12:42:53
Plus if it is to be a package deal during the summer, then we legitimately have to offer them a qualifying offer to be able to trade them.

18 Mar 2026 12:53:18
The difference of opinion on these two players is quite something.

Robertson has 2 goals in his last 19 games. When that was Maccelli, Domi, anyone else, many wanted them gone, but because it's Robertson, we need to keep him? I don't get it. I know he hustles, he works hard, but if he doesn't score, he doesn't bring much else but hustle. Jarnkrok hustles, rarely scores, and most want him traded for nothing.
Maccelli has more goals and points than Robertson. And let's face it, if Robertson started to heat up when the games meant nothing, some would be singing his praises and claiming he just needed the opportunity. With Maccelli it's, sure he heats up because the games mean nothing and he is playing for a contract.
Neither player is irreplaceable imo.

If they both go, so be it.
At the right price would I keep Maccelli, I probably would. For one thing, he didn't moan and groan when they sat him out all those games, and when he came back, he was a much better player and has been pretty consistent since. Robertson has moaned and groaned in the past. Asked for a trade when he wasn't put in the lineup. Has never lived up to the hype some have given him. He is finishing his 3rd season and not likely to crack 35 points in any of those seasons. How is he a guy we have to keep unless he was great defensively (he is not), or big and punishing hitter (he is not), or a physical deterrent/fighter (he is not).
The love for Robertson and complete hate for Maccelli makes absolutely no sense to me. I don't love or hate either.

18 Mar 2026 14:18:43
Wow I thought this was a trade posting site not a forum to read short stories. A lot of back and forth for nothing here. FYI you can trade them without a qualifying offer as long it’s within the window of negotiations.

U r trading their signing rights like they did with Marner. Then it’s up to the team that traded for them to sign them within that window.

18 Mar 2026 19:39:40
FYI I mentioned that about trading them with negotiation rights in the third post.

18 Mar 2026 20:51:43
The Leafs, by the way, did not trade Marner's signing rights. They signed him first, then traded him. They did it as a favour to him and to Vegas, allowing him to sign for the 8 years whereas if Vegas had signed him it would have only been allowed to be 7 years, so it allowed Vegas to spread the amount over 8 years.

20 Mar 2026 21:37:42
Yes you r right but I stopped reading after your first post didn’t get to your 3rd of 6th one.

21 Mar 2026 19:32:27
Ahhh I see. But as you said we were just doing a lot of back and forth for nothing. Then you imparted your wisdom on the trading of their rights. That was already covered. Perhaps some of the educated posters don't mind the back and forth. Try reading everyone's posts. You never know, you just might appreciate some of the other posters' opinions.