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24 Jun 2026 04:28:15
Well with Buffalo moving Buram for 4th overall plus a second rounder, it certainly seems like they will have the cap space to sign Tuch... won't be surprised to see that signing announced in the next day or two.
Interesting to see St. Louis pick up yet another first round pick.
Could they be moving any of those in a deal?
And San Jose picking up the 9th overall now...could there be a bigger deal at play now with the Leafs? Maybe they don't want to part with #2... but could they part with #9?
Maybe Reilly+Carlo for #9 and a prospect?
1.) 24 Jun 2026 12:02:58
I don’t think Reilly and Carlo are worth that #9 pick but who knows. Have to be more to it I would think. Especially if they r not retaining on Reilly.
2.) 24 Jun 2026 10:08:18
Reilly + Carlo for pick 9?? ??? I seriously want whatever you’re smoking can you message me privately for your dealer.
3.) 24 Jun 2026 12:48:42
After hearing that Werenski is discussing his future with CBJ after the draft. If SJS came up with an offer for its 3 1st rd picks and a prospect b4 the draft, I would think CBJ would have to take it. Wouldn’t that be a big trade?
20 Jun 2026 06:31:27
Ok this one might seem odd based on what the huge potential rumoured return are for Knies. But maybe this could be a good 1 for 1 hockey trade?
Leafs: Knies
St. Louis: Robert Thomas
We need a center. It's a glaring hole in that 2C and he's the right age (26) and basically a point a game player. Signed long term for just a little more than Knies. 8.25 vs 7.75
Blues are doing a youth movement so they get a young power forward.
They have Dvorsky and Stenberg co.ing as young centers to play with Knies and they have 3 more first rounders this year. Could make sense for both sides and a good all around hockey trade.
Most of you might say Knies is worth more but I really think Thomas is a solid player. This would also allow Tavares to slot down to the 3C role or you move him to LW where Knies was slotted.
Let's hear the slams!
1.) 20 Jun 2026 09:59:10
My one knock on Thomas is just that he’s a playmaking centre, idk how many playmakers the Leafs need. I still think what Knies bring is more valuable to the Leafs.
2.) 20 Jun 2026 16:09:31
Would do that trade no problem.
3.) 20 Jun 2026 16:22:48
To win cups you need players that play both ends of the ice and you can match up against any line. Robert Thomas might be a pass-first centre but he is also among the elite in the league as 2-way centres. To me that outweighs what Knies brings. That is why to get him from St. Louis will be hard for any team.
To be honest if you look at St. Louis depth chart they are not in as desperate a situation as some might think. They actually have a lot of good pieces there. Their issue last year could be zeroed in on one player to be honest.
Binnington.
Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, and the very few games in Feb. They were 21 wins 29 losses and 9 overtime losses and were a -52 in the goal difference. In March and April they went 16 wins 4 losses and 3 overtime losses and a +28 in goal difference.
It's time for them to make a shift in the goal and a good draft this year along with maybe one good free agent signing and the Blues are right back there again without trading Kyrou or Thomas or the like.
4.) 20 Jun 2026 17:03:41
Anyone who says Thomas has knocks have zero hockey IQ.
5.) 21 Jun 2026 02:59:55
No thanks. Knies, 23, is just coming into his own. Thomas, 26, has only played 1 full season so far in his career and is very injury prone. That worries me about him. Great player but not giving Knies for him. My opinion and only knock against him.
6.) 21 Jun 2026 09:10:35
Oh yeah.
I forgot Knies has been completely injury free in his short career
He played 79 games last year
But contributed 60 games because he played hurt for a chunk of games for some dumb reason…Berube???
A minus 30
A chance for a 26 year old two way center
Yes who would want that…He missed 10 games a season except for a couple seasons last year was 18
That makes him injury prone???
????
05 Jun 2026 19:08:24
I like where Golftown's head is at
.. trying to pry away Robert Thomas. It would help our team so much.
Maybe Cowan, Col 1st 2027, Carlo and Robertson? It's a lot to give up, but Thomas is a great player.
Draft McKenna. Keep Knies. Go hard after Tuch and Raddysh.
Tuch 6 years x $10M
Raddysh 5 years x 7.5 (same as Reilly)
Ferraro 5 years x $5M
Move Reilly out for the best available package.
Offer sheet Bourque in Dallas for $4.7M and if it works we only need to give up our 2nd round pick next year.
Bring Danford in the mix next season on the back end.
Move a goalie out for a young defenseman project. Next year lines could look something like this:
McKenna Matthews Tuch
Knies Thomas Nylander
Macielli Tavares Bourque
Lorentz Groulx Joshua
Raddysh Oel
McCabe Tanev
Ferraro Danford
Benoit
Woll
Hildeby
On paper that teams looks pretty strong and would have a window to compete for a few years. A lot of aging players but if they want to go for it now, that team should compete with almost anyone depending on who the coach is and what system they are playing.
Thoughts?
1.) 05 Jun 2026 20:18:48
I don't think Danford is ready for the NHL just yet. Let him fester and figure out the speed he needs to be at.
2.) 05 Jun 2026 20:59:57
I was about to say good job Rick, then I scrolled down and seen Maccelli?!?? On your roster and lost all respect for the post. Sorry, I don’t want to see that guy in a Leafs jersey again.
3.) 05 Jun 2026 23:14:57
Good prop
Better than mine
Picking apart the deal because of Maccelli on the third line and Danford. Third pair is petty
Fine, no Maccelli give Tverberg or Lettieri a look and replace Danford with Villeneuve.
4.) 05 Jun 2026 23:43:13
Hey clarky! I know I didn't really want to alot him in there too, but there is already so many things that need to happen just perfectly to get that roster the way it is. So there weren't alot of other options to pull out of the hat for that third line.
Unless they throw someone off the Marlies in that spot... but I'm not sure that is an upgrade.
I'd prefer to have Cowan there, but I had to give up someone significant to try to get Thomas back.
5.) 06 Jun 2026 00:38:24
That’s a huge contract for Tuch. He’ll be what 36-37 when it’s done. He didn’t have a good playoff. I know it’s a small sample, but I’m really hesitant even tho the lineup looks really good.
6.) 06 Jun 2026 00:46:49
I’d rather get Larkin than Thomas.
7.) 06 Jun 2026 02:03:42
Larkin will be 30 in a month while Thomas is 26.
Much rather have Thomas as our 2nd line center.
8.) 06 Jun 2026 15:21:15
Do your math, the money doesn’t work next.
9.) 06 Jun 2026 19:13:50
Money works GMrick
Don't pay any attention to that other person.
10.) 06 Jun 2026 19:55:14
Ok genius how does it work tell me when u r offer sheeting Bourque in this scenario. You only have $22m in cap u unload Carlo and Reilly that gives u another $11m. $33m. $8.1m Thomas $10m Tuch $7.5m Rad $5m Fer $4.7m Bourque. 35.3m. Oh ya and you’re keeping Maccelli who will get over $3m that’s being conservative.
$38.3m Thats not including McKenna on an entry level contract. Robertson and Cowan don’t help cause he’s an RFA and Cowan is with Marlies. So there’s no extra relief.
11.) 08 Jun 2026 03:01:35
You are also losing Stolarz and Domi in this scenario. That's another $7M...
03 Jun 2026 04:32:10
Ok here is another Knies trade... and like everyone else I hate to even propose trading this guy, but he has a no trade protection and has alot of value. I'd rather throw Nylander in this deal, but he would never waive to go to Chicago. So here we are to try to reset our defense.
To Chicago: Knies and Stolarz
To Toronto: 4th overall pick 2026
2md round pick 2026 - 37th overall (originally Toronto's pick)
Artyom Levshunov
They get their target power forward and a better goalie upgrade. Leafs draft the best D available at #4 and get another young RHD drafted 2nd overall a couple years ago and ready to make the jump to the Leafs. Sets up our defense for the next decade along with Danford.
We then draft McKenna at #1 to take that top line LW spot from Knies.
Then try to sign a young center like Mason McTavish with whatever assets we can. Maybe Anaheim does something like this:
To Anaheim: Robertson, Carlo, 2027 2nd
To Toronto: McTavish
Flip Reilly to the Sharks for the best trade package you can.
UFA signing: Marchment, Raddysh, and go hard after Tuch with the available cap space.
McKenna Matthews Tuch
Cowan Tavares Nylander
Marchment McTavish Macielli
Lorentz Groulx (Marlies insert)
Raddysh Levshunov
McCabe Tanev
OEL Benoit
4th overall
Woll
Hildeby.
1.) 03 Jun 2026 10:13:28
Yo GM Rick. Thought a similar trade, but we got our top RHD in the trade Levshunov signed Raddysh, so with the 4 OVA maybe we hope Malholtra is available still? First line C of the future no? Rest is on point! I just think winger centre Dman slam dunk of a 26’ draft. Other then the massive lose of Knies.
28 May 2026 04:43:10
Well from what I have been reading and what I have been listening to from the insiders and Friedman, Matthews and Nylander don't appear to be going anywhere and not willing to waive their No trades. Management seems to want to turn this around quick as well so here's one that Chayka and Sundin might consider.
To St. Louis : 1st overall pick, 2026 3rd round pick (69th overall)
To Toronto: Robert Thomas, 2026 1st round pick (11th overall)
Leafs draft the best available defenseman at 11th and get their needed second line center who's only 26, on a cap friendly deal until 2031.
To San Jose: Morgan Reilly
To Toronto: Sam Dickinson
Dickinson might not be ready to jump to the NHL this year but he will be soon.
19 years old, replace Reilly in the future.
To Edmonton: Anthony Stolarz
To Toronto: 2026 second round pick (#52 overall)
Try to do whatever you can to land Raddysh and Tuch. Then offer sheet Bourque in Dallas for just under the $4.77M limit in which you only need to surrender a 2nd round draft pick in 2027. Dallas is in such a cap crunch they will be hard pressed to match that and the Leafs get another good young Canadian born player. (24 yrs old)
Domi looks to be heading towards LTIR for the season. New lines would look like this:
Knies Matthews Tuch
Cowan Thomas Nylander
Macielli Tavares Bourque/Robertson
Lorentz Groulx Joshua
Tanev McCabe
OEL Raddysh
Carlo Benoit
Woll Hildeby
1.) 28 May 2026 19:27:10
San Jose is not going to let Dickinson go for Reilly straight up. That makes no sense at all. I don't know what you mean he might not be ready to jump to the NHL this year.
He just played a full year in which he got better and better each month to the point he was almost at 20 minutes a game towards the end of the season.
2.) 28 May 2026 22:56:04
1st overall pick for Thomas and 11th overall.
Nope for Toronto.
Rielly for Dickinson?
San Jose hangs up the phone.
Edmonton trade I would do if I was Toronto but I highly doubt Oilers do that.
GMrick's banter posts with other poster's replies to GMrick's banter posts
12 Jun 2026 03:32:44
So just a couple tidbits I thought I'd run by the group.
1) Maybe the Reilly to SJ trade is just a simple trade for the 20th overall pick this year? Would everyone be satisfied with that? Or do you want an older prospect back?
2) Possibly the most important decision the Leafs make this year is who they choose to be bench boss. I know there are all the rumors about Pavelski... but I wonder if one of the finalists could be Kirk Muller? He left the Capitals at the end of April for other opportunities in the NHL...
he has experience and could be that good ol' former player to rally the troops.
Perhaps they could pair him with another person like Pavelski as an assistant to get his feet wet.
Or could you imagine if they brought in a legend like Dougie Gilmour to be coach?! How can you not to over the boards each and every shift and not give it your all if you're playing for that guy?!
Anyways just a thought... curious to see what ppl are thinking since we never really discuss the coaches.
1.) 12 Jun 2026 18:25:49
Not sure who could motivate this group to play with a little nastiness. Berube was an ex player who stood up for teammates etc and this group didn't rally for him. Keefe gave them lots of leash and protected them publicly and they wouldn't go through a wall for him either.
I think whoever it is, they have to have a fair amount of say on who stays and who needs to go. And that coach has to have the cahonies to say so no matter what the player is.
2.) 12 Jun 2026 18:26:46
I would do that Reilly for 20th all day long.
Regarding the coach. I know they have not interviewed him and maybe Chayka doesn’t want anyone from the previous regime…. But I thing John Gruden would be a great hire. He is very familiar with the players we have to work with and has done a great job during the season and playoffs with the Marlies. The players speak very highly of him.
3.) 13 Jun 2026 02:10:00
Morgan for that pick
Yes please
Coach
I like Pavelski
Not sure why
But it’s out of the box and we’ve tried everything else like RLF mentioned.
4.) 13 Jun 2026 17:13:44
Yes, good post. Suffering, I have to agree with you. I like John Gruden too. We’ve had no draft picks or traded for prospects, but somehow our AHL team is in the Calder Cup. Coach has them playing the right way.
I also like Pavelski as W17 stated. My pick would be Gruden as head coach and give Pavelski experience by putting him as assistant, and if Gruden doesn’t work out, Pavelski is there to step in.
5.) 13 Jun 2026 18:10:47
Yeah Clarky, that would be a good combo. Pavelski can certainly relate to later round draft picks is an example of what hard work can do. Gruden I have always respected since he got fired for not dressing the owner's son when told to do so in Filin in their first year in the OHL, the players all walked out in support.
That showed his character right then and there.
6.) 13 Jun 2026 21:52:04
Can Gruden and Pavelski get these guys to play hard? I'm not convinced anyone can.
7.) 14 Jun 2026 11:57:13
No Guarentee with any coach, but Gruden certainly is getting the most out of the crew on the Marlies and has great compliments from players who played for him in the past in other organizations. I think he deserves a head coach shot.
20 May 2026 05:04:23
Has anyone maybe considered that the Leafs might....just might...keep first overall and take Chase Reid first overall?
Solves their biggest need...and what Matthews asked management for when the season ended. A puck moving, PP quarterback, minute eating, right hand s*** defenseman! Not saying that they are going to pass on McKenna but might it make more sense for the direction of the team? Especially if they are going to "retool" instead of rebuild and they already have a bunch of wingers.
1.) 20 May 2026 18:54:15
Chase Reid is very much a gamble pick. He didn’t put up great numbers and his game on the defensive end needs work so taking him at 1 would be a tough sell…
2.) 20 May 2026 20:38:01
Yeah, I agree with Goat2.0. Reid really did not great at end of season and the playoffs. I expected more. I guess if someone thought high enough of him that they want him above everyone else. They could swap that pick and still get him along with either a player asset or a draft asset.
3.) 20 May 2026 22:50:15
Not saying that none of them become a top pairing Dman, but reading and watching this defense crop, it just doesn't look like any of them will become a legitimate 1st pairing Dmen. So, I personally would not use the 1stOA on any of them.
For me, it's pretty much 100% McKenna.
4.) 22 May 2026 21:51:50
There is no absolute stand out above the rest D. Take the best player, McKenna.
30 Jun 2026 15:53:37
If they straight up wanted to get rid of Roberston, they wouldn't have already offered him a $12M contract. The problem is they don't have the cap space to go any higher. But if they can unload Harley's $10.4M, it allows them flexibility to keep Roberston and Bourque before someone offer sheets Bourque.
29 Jun 2026 23:35:24
I agree with Leafs_Forever. I think you make an offer to Dallas for Harley. They are in a tight cap situation so they need to make a move. They also already have their stuff LHD in Heiskanen who eats up their PP time. If we could make them a palatable offer, could they trade him to make space to sign Roberston and Bourque?
Maybe they could do something that starts with the Col 1st in 2027, OEL or McCabe to give them a serviceable LHD for the now as well as a young player? Maybe Robertson to go play with his brother?
Not sure if it's enough to pry him away but it would be a great target and you wouldn't have to give away the whole farm like you would in a werenski trade and he's signed for 8 more years.
21 Jun 2026 23:35:28
I'd take that trade too. He's actually decent at playing a 200ft game...ppl just have huge expectations because of the contract he signed. If he gave us 70 points at a #2 center and played some harder matchups to free up Matthews, then I'd be game.
He's only 27 years old too.
If we have the cap space and don't need to give up alot...say Reilly, Macielli and a 2nd rounder this year...then why not take the chance? This would allow JT to slide down to the 3C or over to the wing.
20 Jun 2026 05:02:53
I would never do that trade with Boston. Cowan is such a good young piece and Koblar might be better than Zacha in a few years of he keeps progressing the way he has. Can't give Boston all our good young players! Haha they already have Minten and a first coming up.
20 Jun 2026 05:00:20
Do you think Vancouver actually would do that? Unless they just want to save some money and really blow their team up.
Would help solve the second line center problem. Would have a few bucks left to get a depth piece and maybe sign Roberston and McKenna's ELC