Leafs Talk

11 Feb 2026 17:36:59
Here is one to Ponder on.

No specific trade partners to identify but for some teams looking for depth and a deal salary cap wise.

Jarnkrok for a 2nd and leafs retain half of his remaining salary for the year.

Lorentz for a 2nd and a 4th and leafs retain half of his remaining salary for the year and the next 2 years of his remaning contract.

Laughton for a 2nd and a 4th and leafs retain half of his remaining salary for the year. Have to be realistic on his dwindling value. We certainly are not going to get back a Grebenkin and a 1st that we gave up for him. Getting the 4th as well with him being a free agent next year might be a stretch.

So in essence we would give up 3 players who are basically marginal players right now, that ice time could be given to Cowan and Quillan and either Groulz or Letteiri.

We end up with potentially 3 2nd round picks and possibly 2 4th rounders. Our cost for rentention for the rest of the season for roughly 25% of the schedule would be. $1,237,500 as well a extra $400,000 for bringing up 2 of The last 3 players from the minors. Cowan is already factored in to the cap.

Then. we find a team that will absorb Reillys contract and feed them 2 of the 2nd round picks to take the whole contract. For this year his savings would be $1,875,000 So to be rid of him we would still have a 2nd and 2 4ths (Possibly) and a savings this year of $237,500. But even with retaining half of Lorentz's Contract for 2 more years we still come out ahead by $6,825,000 for the remaining 2 years of his contract without Reilly's contract and then in 2 years it turns into a savings of $7,500,000 for the last 2 years of Reilly's contract.

It sets us up in a better position for free agency salary cap without touching any major names other than Reilly. Other moves can be done as well. But his contract is a brutal one and this might be a way of getting it done without us retaining any of his contract.

11 Feb 2026 23:40:43
I don’t think jarnkrok or Lorentz get you a return like that even with retention.

12 Feb 2026 02:13:38
YOu could be right but with this being a crazy year with so many teams on the cusp of making the playoffs and some teams at the top looking for that lower bottom six forward there could be a few teams that overpay with thos picks. Lorentz has won a Ammerican League Championship and a few years later added a Stanley cup to his resume. He played a big shutdown role in that Stanley cup. Jarnkrok brings 105 games of Playoff experience with him as well. Even a couple 3 round picks could still benefit for flipping those picks to pad up a contract retention trade could work wonders.

12 Feb 2026 12:51:07
To add to my last response. If they were to let him go for a trade and sign after the season they would have to then make a major free agent signing or a major trade deal. They are struggling for attendance. Yes they have a lot of obstructed views which limits sales to 12,000 but even with renovations they will still be one of the lower seating capacities in the league.

Plus the owners in the league are already showing concern that even with Technically sold out games, the Sunday and midweek games have huge empty seats in the lower bowl. They need to make the playoffs and make them consistently or this cursed Phoenix team could be moving once again at some point. Utah may not be the hotbed they had hoped for in regards to Hockey. A good exciting team should fill the arena no matter the day of the week the game is played.

12 Feb 2026 19:56:15
Ignore above post of mine. It was supposed to go to a thread on the Rumors side not the talk side. Strange that happened.

09 Feb 2026 20:39:12
So lets look at how things can play out after the olympics for the Leafs specifically. They have 6 games before the Trade deadline on March 6. How many points out of the wildcard do they have to be at that point to be buyers or sellers? They are 6 out now and in my mind if they 2 out they could be buyers, even possibly at 4 points out they could be buyers but if they drop to 8 and for sure 10 I think they become real sellers and don't look back just do it. There are a lot of teams as well in between that wildcard to leapfrog. It would take a lot of serious tanking to retrieve that first round pick or a lot of luck in the lottery draw to move up. My thoughts are now in the mode if we are looking for draft picks to maybe look a little further ahead start loading up on 1st round draft picks in the 2027 draft which we don't have a 1st round pick in. There are a lot of teams this year hesitant to give up first round picks for this year. Could we possibly get 3 first round picks for 2027 from various teams for the following 3 players. OEL, McMann and Carlo and maybe a prospect or 2 in the mix as well coming back. Then be in the position to swap those 3 picks or 2 depending on their draft position for either the #1 or #2 overall that year. Analysts say that this year is on of the best ever, but they are saying that 2027 could be a generational draft. I would love to see Alexis Joseph who is leading his team in St. Johns in the Q at Centre. 6'-5" 215 and can skate and has silky hands. They are comparing him to Malkin.

I know some people will say that teams might be reluctant to give up 1st rounder for these 3 but all three could fill a need for a lot of teams in the fight. Not to mention with 147 players at the Olympics we know a percentage will be coming back banged up and injured and teams will be looking for bodies. Even dare I say it Morgan Reilly might even be in demand for someone. :)

09 Feb 2026 21:56:09
You can say it a million times but if you’re not rebuilding from the ground up, you would be an idiot to trade McMann. What’s he gonna cost is 4-4.5M? 30 goal scorer, plays how he is suppose to on both ends of the ice. Why do you think so many teams are interested in this guy, mostly because they know the Leafs are stupid enough to do it. How many good players bro we need to lose for this to stop happening? Hyman, Kadri and so on…. keep trading heart players Suffering and we will be constantly rebuilding.

09 Feb 2026 23:49:23
I don’t understand the need to move Carlo honestly unless they get back the return they paid (which they won’t) why move him he’s still got another year maybe two I’m not sure but my thing is he’s looked good away from Reilly and the fact is you move him now you’ll be looking for him right away so what give up another 1st another top prospect doesn’t make sense to me it’s tanev Carlo McCabe who stay those are your shutdown guys and go get some guys who can score.

10 Feb 2026 09:32:59
@Clarky same reason I'd move OEL. They may never have another season like this at their ages respectively.

10 Feb 2026 12:13:28
@Clarky. I was just tossing out a alternative idea. The Tearing down completely might need to happen. BUt these 3 players are the only ones other than Knies, Matthews and Nylander that can get you a 1st round pick. Unless one of those 3 are packaged up a big trade is not going to happen. What we do know is this crew is not built for a cup run. Even if small contracts are left to expire and some smaller ones get traded, what do we get back for salary cap? Just enough to sign similar pieces. The fact we only have 3 total picks this year and no first round for next year means our prospects cupboard which is bare will be even more bare sooner than later. We need to start to plan ahead not for trading for the same low end players. If we trade Carlo and OEL we might get more than expected to the right team. It is just a thought. Also if we are out of the hunt and we do trade them for picks. It also puts us in a position to take a large contract or 2 with their saved contracts to eitherin return for some compensation picks. San Jose took this approach a few years back to stock pile on picks from contracts like Carey Prices etc.

10 Feb 2026 16:19:03
Personally, I can't imagine the Leafs being "buyers" by the deadline. Nothing of future importance will be offered I don't think.
Even at 2 points out or tied for a spot etc, I think it's a Jarnkrok, mid/ late pick or B/ B- type of prospect for some veteran help, but not top of the lineup type acquired.
Maybe Robertson type of move to acquire a different style player. Something like what I mentioned before, Robertson for Klapka and maybe Calgary adds a meh prospect like Kerins.

Only impact move on the add side I could see, is if a "hockey trade" happens. A true trade to benefit both teams.

06 Feb 2026 19:41:57
It's always fun to speculate on what to do for moves as us wanna be GM's do on here. The real reality of the real GM's in the league is the hands tied scenarios of what teams they can and can't trade their best assets too.

For instance. on the leafs the only players that can be traded without their say in the matter are Knies, Cowan, Roy, Lorentz, Benoit, and Myers. They have a few that don't have restrictions but are going to be RFA's so will want raises such as Macelli, Robertson, and 2 that have no restrictions but will be UFA's and could just walk from their new team after being traded, McMann and Stecher. One player that doesn't have protection from trades is Joseph Woll although in 2027-2028 he then has a 8 Team list he cannot be traded to. So realistically there are not a lot of Tradeable assets without consulting with some of the players that get mentioned a lot on if they would waive their no trade or amend their teams they could be traded to. That said. Stolarz would be a piece I would try to move. because right now he has 8 team no trade list but his contract extension that starts next season has a clause that changes that to 16 teams, restricting again the amount of trade partners. Anyone on the list there any of you guys would think could get any return other than salary dump. I think most would not want to move Knies or Cowan at theis early stage in their careers.

07 Feb 2026 22:27:57
Yes Suffering there are of course many choices.

I’d keep Matthews, Nylander, Knies and Cowan for certain, probably Taveras and maybe Robertson.

I have no need for any of the D, except maybe OEL.

In goal I keep Woll and Hildeby.

I won’t in this post suggest who I’d want for each but I’d focus more on D+1 and 2 players than those eligible for draft this year.

I’d definitely try to resign McMann and Laughton at the right price.

I’d be very active in the UFA market. There are many I like.

08 Feb 2026 18:17:19
@randy
I agree with the forward choices unless god smiles on us and offers a crazy trade for One of the big two but that is a big stretch. I agree with Woll and Hildeby they seem to have a good thing going as teammates porbably being both brought through the organization together. On the D. I Like OEL and to be honest I don't have a problem with McCabe. His Plus 17 certainly balances out the Minus 17 of Reilly. Carlo is sound defensively and is a plus player. Another I don't have a issue with bringing back as a 6th dman or a 7th that you rotate in is Stecher. He moves the puck quickly out of the zone and for a small guy finds a way to get his man to the outside boards on the ruch. Plus he is a class act . his comment in a interview was amazing "This game owes none of us anything. "

Benoit is a tradeable piece as part of another package. Carlo although I like him could get the biggest return I think. Reilly is used up and I think we will have to eat the full 50% of his contract to trade him. Last week showed how bad he is. He left the game in Vancouver in the Second period with injury, he was a -2 and we came back to win. Then he misses Calgary and Edmonton and We win both. Bit of a pattern that can't be ignored. ONly team that might want him if we ratained most of that contrct would be San Jose, they only have 2 dmen under contract for next year and one is the Rookie Dickenson. They would probably want Carlo insted though. I agree with you on the UFA Market. Some pretty serviceable and affordable guys there.

05 Feb 2026 14:47:35
Something I hope the leafs keep in mind is who they are trading with. What I mean by that is for example if they are trading bobby I’d rather move him to a bubble team who’s gonna give that first then say a team like Edmonton.

Why’s that? A team like Edmonton doesn’t have the first this year and even if they did they get you a pick that’s 25-32 rather than a team like buffalo or Utah who are bubble teams are most likely going out in round 1 so that pick is 17-25.

Is that a strategy or just nonsense?

05 Feb 2026 21:02:55
It’s definitely a strategy to consider who you target for a trade.

Trading “in division” can be problematic for example.

And choosing a team that has a 1st is a good strategy and not nonsense.

Having said that I still would consider an Oiler trade.

Howard was a 1st (albeit 31st pick) but he’s in a D+ 2 or 3 years so we have a better idea of whether he can be a top6. But I would want a 2nd in 2026 with Howard, something the Oilers do have.

04 Feb 2026 13:29:17
Sadly the Leafs show enthusiasm, commitment to battle, teamwork and attention to the little things that make a difference in this road trip.

Stolarz had a great game so perhaps we can take advantage of this positive and get a solid return.

I think he’s our best trade chip at TDL and perhaps the only move we should make. That is if we are destined to make the playoffs.

Keep the others and re-huddle in the off-season. Tre MUST decide his direction during the Olympic break and has to pick one course.

03 Feb 2026 20:54:28
Sorry in advance to RLF, though I agree than Dubas was mostly only average in his tenure.

Plus I don’t blame Treliving for the Tchachuk trade.

The numbers IMO haven’t really supported Tre so far during his time here in Toronto.

I hope my research is correct but I may have a couple of small things not quite right.

He’s made 7 trades: 6 players in 3 players out.

Only 2-4 players (depends on how you want to count it) remain at present Laughton & Carlo, Tanev ison LTIR and Webber in AHL.

Laughton and Carlo may be traded soon.

The 3 players out are Lafferty (I don’t really care), Minten and Grebenkin (I do care) .

Tre has made 13 UFA signings with only 3 players remaining: Benoit, everybody’s favourite Max Domin and Rifai who was a resigning.

The 3 RFA signings are elsewhere but only 1 in the NHL (Pontus Holmberg who is doing fine in Boston) .

Tre has extended 4 UFAs in Matthews, Nylander, McMann and Benoit. These resigning are positive but one can argue that Marner’s departure was a failure especially when considering his AAV.

He’s made some decent draft picks I think, most notably Easton Cowan.

Most people on this site have been critical of his inaction this year.

I’m not on that side at this point.

Sometimes it’s better to be slower and more methodical, letting more questionable things become clarified with time and waiting to closer to TDL.

Tre may prove yet that this is a good strategy.

For me, I don’t rate him worse than Dubas but I’m also not going to say he’s better.

I’d be surprised to see him and therefore Bérubé back if the Leafs miss the playoffs.

If this happens I will feel badly only for Berube.

07 Feb 2026 14:09:32
LOL
Sorry for what?

I will say this, to me, the context matters and it's why I don't think Tre has done a bad job. I try and look at the whole picture of what there was when he got here and where it is now.
People seem to have forgotten most wanted a heavier playoff style team built and there were a lot of happy campers with what Tre did for the most part prior to this training camp. Many begged for Joshua. Roy was talked about in the past as a good target. Many wanted Marner gone and don't give him that money (Which the equivalent in Canada due to taxes would have been over $14M per) .

It all looked good, until it didn't.

No one could have predicted all these injuries. We really haven't even seen the team he tried to build play together. The draft and prospect cupboards were pretty bare when he got here, yet people seem to have forgot that and now act like they were pretty full when he got here and he was the one who emptied them. Now it's like "the team is so old and nothing coming up, how could he do that. horrible. " He had to because the cupboards were already bare and they are in win now mode. Yes, Minten got moved. At the time no one said he was going to have the year he is having. They called him the future 3C, not a top 6 player. Who else was in the system that got moved that isn't really replaceable? No one. Yes, the 1sts got moved. Late 1sts for proven NHLers when you're in win now mode.

Domi was an extension off a Dubas contract where he came off a 47 point first season and 4 in 7 playoff games and one of the better Leafs that playoff series. It wasn't an issue contract until the next season (last season) he had a down year offensively and took way too many bad penalties (like Kadri who everyone loves now) . He is on a 40+ point pace again and one of the few that will fight to protect teammates.

The trades for Laughton and Carlo, people can complain all they want. Both had term and both had retention. It was going to cost and they went for it last year and were 1 win from the conference final. I sure don't blame Carlo and Laughton for why they lost games 5 and 7 last playoff. I look at Matthews, Marner, Nylander before I look at them.

I do believe he has been patient and imo, that is the right move. He makes a deal and it doesn't work out, this fan base will go nuts even if they liked it to begin with.