Leafs Rumours Member Posts

• Login
• Register

phil_77_1991's Profile

phil_77_1991's Posts and Other Poster's Replies To phil_77_1991's Posts

To phil_77_1991's last 5 rumours posts

phil_77_1991's rumours posts with other poster's replies to phil_77_1991's rumours posts

22 Jun 2026 16:45:20
My 2026/27 Leafs roster projection

I have been playing around with a possible 2026/27 Leafs roster, and the main idea for me is balance: enough cap flexibility, more energy in the middle six, a real chance for some young players, and not trading away too much of the future.

Based on my projection, the roster would look like this:

Forwards
Knies ($7.75M) – Matthews ($13.25M) – Nylander ($11.5M)
Cowan ($0.9M) – McTavish ($7M) – Bunting (UFA)
Mikheyev (UFA) – Tavares ($4.39M) – McKenna ($1.025M)
Joshua ($3.25M) – Groulx ($0.813M) – Lorentz ($1.35M)
Extras/competition: Quillan (RFA), Tverberg (RFA), Haymes, Sim
LTIR: Domi ($3.5M)

Defence
McCabe ($4.51M) – Raddysh ($8.5M)
Rielly ($7.5M) / OEL ($3.5M) – Tanev ($4.5M)
Ferraro (UFA) – Villeneuve (RFA)
Extras/competition: Andrae (RFA), Thrun (RFA)

Goalies
Stolarz ($3.75M)
Hildeby ($0.842M)
Akhtyamov starts in the AHL, but I would keep the door open depending on how he develops during the season.

Cap situation
With Rielly, this roster comes in at around $79.805M, which would leave about $24.195M in cap space.
With OEL instead of Rielly, the roster comes in at around $75.805M, which would leave about $29.195M in cap space.
That means there is more than enough room to sign the RFAs: Villeneuve, Andrae, Thrun, Quillan and Tverberg. It should also leave plenty of space to sign the UFAs I mentioned: Ferraro, Bunting and Mikheyev.

Roster size would be flexible. I know the projection currently has 2 goalies, 8 defencemen and 16 forwards. After camp, the Leafs could decide whether they want to run 8D/13F or 7D/14F.

Possible moves
I would move out Ersson, OEL/Rielly, Carlo, Myers, Pezzetta, Robertson and Maccelli.

For McTavish, I would look at a package around Carlo, Robertson and an additional prospect or draft pick. I know it may take more, but stylistically McTavish is exactly the type of player I would target: young, skilled, competitive and able to play a heavier playoff style.
Florida might show interest in Ersson. If there is a market there, I would try to turn him into a pick.
For the rest, I would try to get picks if possible and keep as much flexibility as possible.

Defence
The main thing I like about this defence is that every pair has a clearer role.
McCabe – Raddysh could be the top pair. McCabe gives that pair defensive reliability, while Raddysh can drive offence and run PP1.
Rielly/OEL – Tanev would be the second pair. I know many Leafs fans want to move on from Rielly because of the $7.5M cap hit. I understand that. But I also think the discussion around him is sometimes too simple.
Rielly has often been asked to play like a true number one defenceman without consistently having the ideal defensive partner beside him. If Tanev is healthy, that could finally give him a much better fit. Also, if Rielly is no longer forced into 23–25 minutes every night and can instead play closer to 18–20 minutes, I think that could help him a lot.
Raddysh being the main PP1 quarterback would also take pressure away from Rielly. He can still help offensively, but he would not need to carry the blue line in the same way.
That said, I also understand the OEL argument. At $3.5M, he is much cheaper. The question is whether he can repeat his previous season and whether the age difference matters more than the cap savings. For me, keeping Rielly is still defensible if his role is adjusted properly.
On the third pair, I would like to see Villeneuve get a real chance. He has worked his way up over the last few years and should finally get rewarded. If it works, great. If not, Ferraro could easily move to 3RD and Thrun or Andrae could slide into 3LD.
Ferraro would make sense as a third-pair defenceman who can play hard minutes and help on the penalty kill. I also think he was asked to do too much in San Jose. In Toronto, in a more limited role, he could be more effective.

Forwards
I would bring back Bunting and Mikheyev because both know Toronto and both bring energy.
The idea would be to have one strong workhorse type on each of the first three lines, together with more skilled players.

The fourth line should be decided mostly in camp. Joshua, Groulx, Lorentz, Quillan, Tverberg, Haymes and Sim could all compete for those spots. I would not lock that line in too early.

Prospects
I would not trade Danford at all. For me, he is a future Tanev replacement and exactly the type of defenceman the Leafs should keep and develop properly. I would start him in the AHL and let him grow into that role.
I would also keep an eye on Akhtyamov, Peksa, Rifai, Webber, Chadwick, Smith, Borgesi, Hundley, Djurasevic, Haymes, Sim, Holinka, Valis and Buhr as future depth options.
Koblar will play in the SHL, and I would sign Johansson (also plays SHL).

Overall idea
My goal would be:
• keep Matthews, Nylander and Knies as the offensive core
• add McTavish as a young, heavy, skilled top- six/middle-six piece
• keep Rielly only if his role is reduced and better supported
• give Villeneuve a real NHL chance
• keep Danford as a future Tanev replacement
• add Ferraro, Bunting and Mikheyev as useful role players
• move out extra pieces for picks where possible
• keep enough cap space for RFAs, UFAs and in-season flexibility
It is not a perfect roster, it is a start and I think it gives the Leafs more balance, more internal competition and a better long-term structure.

1.) 22 Jun 2026 17:47:34
I can support much of what you propose and not feel too bad about starting the season with this lineup.

My biggest area of note is Bunting on L2. I’d rather have Roslovic or Mantha instead and on L1 RW. Return Nylander to L2.

And I’d put Mikheyev, as a left shot, on L3RW instead of McKenna. I know Mikheyev can play the RW but I don’t know if McKenna has.

And you may be right about Reilly. I’m more on the side of trading him.

phil_77_1991 has no Banter Posts

phil_77_1991 has no Rumour Replies

phil_77_1991 has no Banter Replies