Armchair GM Thread 2025/26

[bustaheims]

Just to add to this, even if you pick in the first round of 2028 and 2029, those guys won't likely contribute to the big club until like 2030 - 2031...that's 5-6 years away.

Which, of course, is when there's a very real chance the Leafs are going to be on the downswing. They'll need those players as either pieces they can move to bring in assets for a potential rebuild or as replacements for some of the other pieces they'll be moving out.

Not getting good price performance from their depth players has killed the Leafs for years. Trading away opportunities for that to add more expensive pieces that will continue the trend of not getting price performance for their depth is akin to "running it back" over and over again. The changes to the team need to come not only in the players on the roster but also the perspective and actions of management. The time for shipping out youth and picks needs to be over. It hasn't worked and it's left the team with few assets to work with.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

If the post Marner iteration of the Maple Leafs is the team overpaying Knies on a bridge deal (I think the 7+ million rumours on a 3 year deal are atrocious)

For what it's worth Chris Johnston seems to be disputing the $7mil on a 3-5 year deals coming from The Fourth Period:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1928246978166542527

This feels a lot more likely. I agree that even with the cap rising getting only 3 years with a $7mil AAV would be a little nuts.

 

[dappleganger]

I wouldn't for Byfield (Knies already looks like the better player and I'm not moving Cowan for anything but a really big swing), but I agree on Celebrini.

Cowan for Noah Dobson? I would do that from the Leafs side but I really want to see Cowan in the Leafs lineup for what he might be able to provide at a minimal cap hit.

 

[bustaheims]

Cowan for Noah Dobson? I would do that from the Leafs side but I really want to see Cowan in the Leafs lineup for what he might be able to provide at a minimal cap hit.

That I'd be open to, as long as another D on a bigger contract was traded as well (in this case, probably OEL or Carlo).

 

[dappleganger]

That I'd be open to, as long as another D on a bigger contract was traded as well (in this case, probably OEL or Carlo).

Oh yeah, definitely. I'm currently operating as if Morgan Rielly is not on the Leafs next year.

 

[bustaheims]

Oh yeah, definitely. I'm currently operating as if Morgan Rielly is not on the Leafs next year.

I wouldn't. Full NMC/NTC, need more of his puckmoving skills, not just swapping him out for a single other puckmover. Ideally, he gets pushed down to more of a true 2nd pairing role.