Current Avatar:
No Avatar image uploaded
No Avatar image uploaded
Leafs Rumours Member Posts
Anotherbeleafer's Profile
Anotherbeleafer's Posts and Other Poster's Replies To Anotherbeleafer's Posts
To Anotherbeleafer's last 5 banter posts
To Anotherbeleafer's last 5 banter replies
Anotherbeleafer has no Rumours Posts
Anotherbeleafer's banter posts with other poster's replies to Anotherbeleafer's banter posts
18 Aug 2026 07:51:49
Good day lads.
I have followed this site for a while now and I finally broke down to write something.
Toronto - Anyone
Any team- Anyone + Stanley Cup
I think this is what we all want. A real parade, not just the one we plan in our heads, would be unbelievable. A long time coming. I am not sure about all of you, but I am not old enough to have witnessed one. Sometimes I read posts on here and believe the person writing the post would rather the leafs lose to prove their idea of how to build a team is right. The leafs are what they are and they have a new direction. Hopefully Chayka gets it done. He seems to have a plan and I believe wholeheartedly that it is already better than Treliving’s vision. I am on board. Ted Lasso taught me to believe, so I will believe in this group. I hope the true leaf fans on this site will give this group a chance as well.
Having said that, if I had the job of GM, which is the fun part of this site, I would go after speed on the blue line. If you do a quick google search of the fastest D-men in the league you will see why. Draft them. I would say you are more likely to have an 18 year old grow or get stronger than you are drafting a big guy hoping you can make him fast. Personally I like the Andrae trade and I wouldn’t touch Stanley with a ten foot pole (Carlo 2.0). But if they do, I will cheer him on and hope I am wrong. The team last year couldn’t get out of their own zone with control and were in the box far too often because of it. Personally I believe that this is more important than any upgrade at 2/3C. I feel like if the D can’t join the play or start the play, it won’t matter who you have in the bottom six. They won’t get a chance to have an odd man rush because they start the shift in their own zone and don’t have any support or offence generated from the backend. Everything off a cycle that you need to earn isn’t a consistent way to rack up points.
Unfortunately I think the leafs will need to get creative. Knies is by far the most likely piece to get a solid D, but is he enough to get you a Sanderson type player? He probably gets you a younger more risky option from a team as they haven’t broken out yet, but I feel like he may be an overpay for anyone unproven. Let me say this first. I love Knies. I think he is a great player, but I also know that you need to give to get.
My question is, who do you think the best Dman the leafs could get if they offered a package of Knies, and maybe Colorados first? What team may actually say yes? Or what young potential D do you think you could get for a player like Cowan? May not be worth it, but let’s see what you think. Ignore cap if you must as shedding Reilly’s or Joshua’s cap could still happen in a separate deal.
As much as losing a good young player hurts, having a guy you can put out there more often on the backend and dictate play, raises the production of every forward group they go out with. That to me is how we find the most improvement in the bottom six’s production and for the team as a whole.
1.) 18 Aug 2026 13:43:10
Welcome. A number 1 D would be great, something as you know if you have been following, many have talked about. If you're offering up Knies and a 1st, my first thought is Werenski as far as possibly being available. My guess is he pops into many guys' minds.
As for the team make up this year, it will all come down to Matthews, Nylander, Knies, JT mostly upfront. Nothing new there. Need a healthy Tanev and a good season out of Raddysh on the back end for sure.
Then the big question in goal. Does Bob have enough left in the tank and can he and Stolarz be healthy enough to last a season and possibly playoffs?
Really, not much different than last season in many ways imo. If they all (most of the team sucked last year) have poor to brutal seasons again, then the moves Chayka made won't matter anymore than the moves Treliving made.
2.) 18 Aug 2026 20:13:57
I don't think any established d-man, even for Knies and the 1st, a team would part with. Any upcoming d-man would have to be supplemented with another player or two for Knies and the 1st. A team that comes to mind and did a long time back suggest the Isles. For him and that 1st, I would ask for Kashawn Aitcheson, and if he is not ready this year he will next year be that offensive d-man we have been looking for, along with being a vicious hitter.
As well, for that package you ask for Cal Ritchie, which would give you a player that will be a #2 Centre eventually but is versatile enough he plays the wing. He really came into his own down the stretch last year. Then you also ask for Cole Eiserman, who in his brief stretch in the AHL at the end of the year showed he is not far away from an NHL spot either. It's a big ask from the Isles but so is the give from the Leafs.
3.) 18 Aug 2026 23:29:56
Appreciate the thoughts. I probably would make both of these trades to be honest. Once again, not because I don’t really like Knies, but because I want to see how good our top guys can be when they are playing with someone who adds offence. Not just blocks shots and boxes out.
Both trades have their pros and cons. Werenski could be gone within a couple of years and the others are not proven. I would probably lean towards the trade with NYI, simply because it would yield three young cost controlled players who may fit with a McKenna window. Obviously caps would need to be taken into consideration.
As far as the team goes for this year, I am optimistic. Hiller could be the most impactful change that was done this offseason. The Leafs were brutal to watch last year. Chip and chase is a hard way to win in this league. I felt like Matthews really tried to buy into the system, but it was like asking Curry to stop shooting 3’s and post up. Against the way he learned to play the game and played all the way up. Hiller’s teams were not incredibly offensive in LA, but I am still hopeful a new voice brings back a little puck possession and a more entertaining brand of hockey for the fans.
4.) 19 Aug 2026 12:05:16
Yes Hiller might breath more life into the team, I think a undersung guy as well behind the bench will be John Gruden as well. Especially with any injuries and Marlie promotions when that occurs. The players coming up will have a face in the dressing room they feel some comfort with.
5.)
22 Aug 2026 01:35:55
By the way, @Anotherbeleafer, Good on you for breaking down and posting. Don't be a stranger on the site and keep posting.
Anotherbeleafer has no Rumour Replies
Anotherbeleafer's banter replies
18 Aug 2026 23:29:56
Appreciate the thoughts. I probably would make both of these trades to be honest. Once again, not because I don’t really like Knies, but because I want to see how good our top guys can be when they are playing with someone who adds offence. Not just blocks shots and boxes out.
Both trades have their pros and cons. Werenski could be gone within a couple of years and the others are not proven. I would probably lean towards the trade with NYI, simply because it would yield three young cost controlled players who may fit with a McKenna window. Obviously caps would need to be taken into consideration.
As far as the team goes for this year, I am optimistic. Hiller could be the most impactful change that was done this offseason. The Leafs were brutal to watch last year. Chip and chase is a hard way to win in this league. I felt like Matthews really tried to buy into the system, but it was like asking Curry to stop shooting 3’s and post up. Against the way he learned to play the game and played all the way up. Hiller’s teams were not incredibly offensive in LA, but I am still hopeful a new voice brings back a little puck possession and a more entertaining brand of hockey for the fans.