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Armchair GM Thread 2025/26

Sounds like GMs are butthurt that they got shown up by the same two teams again and are ready to make some moves. Should be a fun offseason.
 
I don't think Berube is looking for a puck-moving defenseman. We have that in Reilly, and he doesn't allow Reilly to do it, so what are we talking about? Did Berube or Trev say they want a puck-moving defenseman?
 
cabber24 said:
I don't think Berube is looking for a puck-moving defenseman. We have that in Reilly, and he doesn't allow Reilly to do it, so what are we talking about? Did Berube or Trev say they want a puck-moving defenseman?
Click to expand...

Treliving mentioned at the end of the season that while he liked the length and size of the defense, he is looking to balance out some more mobility and offense (implied) from the backend to support the forwards.

mapleleafshotstove.com

Brad Treliving on the lesson from the Maple Leafs' Game 7 disappointment: "Some DNA needs to change in our team... Champions are the calmest at the most critical time"

In an end-of-season press conference, General Manager Brad Treliving discussed the changes wrought by Brendan Shanahan’s departure, the team’s playoff disappointment against Florida, Mitch Marner and John Tavares’ futures in Toronto, Matthew Knies’ RFA status, and the team’s possession numbers...
mapleleafshotstove.com mapleleafshotstove.com
In terms of changes, we don’t know. It is too early. Craig and I are talking a lot now about the tweaks we can make. In today’s game, I like the length of our defense. I like the makeup of our defense. But you still have to be able to get up and down the ice. There are things we can do in terms of closing quicker and taking away space.
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Berube on Rielly: the early focus was learning the defensive structure, and then learning to develop offense off of that platform.
mapleleafshotstove.com

Craig Berube on Morgan Rielly's reduced offensive impact this season: "We've been trying to get our D more active lately, and it's been better... I think you'll see his production go up a little bit"

Ahead of Monday’s game against Tampa Bay, head coach Craig Berube discussed the changes on the defense pairings, inserting Fraser Minten into the lineup, Morgan Rielly’s play this season, Joseph Woll’s workload, his relationship with William Nylander, and the challenge against the Lightning...
mapleleafshotstove.com mapleleafshotstove.com
Coming in, with the way we wanted to play and do things defensively to become a better defensive hockey team that can keep the puck out of our net, we have asked him for less risk in his game. He is trying to do that and has done that, for the most part, but we also need him to produce offensively.

In trying to get our D a little bit more active, lately, I think it has been better in the offensive zone. Shooting more pucks and getting more pucks to the net has been a focus lately, and it has been better.

I think you’ll see his production go up a little bit.
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Better puck-moving defensemen tend to help drive scoring depth, especially if they are able to jump into lanes and rush plays (Rielly, OEL., and McCabe to a lesser degree).
 
dappleganger said:
Ok, I did it fellas. Treliving can take the summer off. I figured out the roster for next season:

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puckgm.puckpedia.com
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It doesn't seem like he's getting any attention anywhere (likely a result of his season ending very early due to injury) but I really do think Anthony Mantha could be a sneaky good pick-up.

I also don't hate the idea of getting Evander Kane for free, assuming it comes after the first wave of UFA signings and the team has some cap room to burn. You would think he'd come very motivated in a contract year.
 
Last edited:
herman said:
Treliving mentioned at the end of the season that while he liked the length and size of the defense, he is looking to balance out some more mobility and offense (implied) from the backend to support the forwards.

mapleleafshotstove.com

Brad Treliving on the lesson from the Maple Leafs' Game 7 disappointment: "Some DNA needs to change in our team... Champions are the calmest at the most critical time"

In an end-of-season press conference, General Manager Brad Treliving discussed the changes wrought by Brendan Shanahan’s departure, the team’s playoff disappointment against Florida, Mitch Marner and John Tavares’ futures in Toronto, Matthew Knies’ RFA status, and the team’s possession numbers...
mapleleafshotstove.com mapleleafshotstove.com


Berube on Rielly: the early focus was learning the defensive structure, and then learning to develop offense off of that platform.
mapleleafshotstove.com

Craig Berube on Morgan Rielly's reduced offensive impact this season: "We've been trying to get our D more active lately, and it's been better... I think you'll see his production go up a little bit"

Ahead of Monday’s game against Tampa Bay, head coach Craig Berube discussed the changes on the defense pairings, inserting Fraser Minten into the lineup, Morgan Rielly’s play this season, Joseph Woll’s workload, his relationship with William Nylander, and the challenge against the Lightning...
mapleleafshotstove.com mapleleafshotstove.com


Better puck-moving defensemen tend to help drive scoring depth, especially if they are able to jump into lanes and rush plays (Rielly, OEL., and McCabe to a lesser degree).
Click to expand...
Perhaps the matter can be resolved by signing Ekblad.
 
Replcing one $11M player is not easy but doing so with half a dozen $1M and $1.5M players is a novel approach. Ditto signing guys who didn't put up a point last year (or damn close to it -- Pezzetta (Mr. Healthy Scratch in Montreal and Benoit Olivier-Groulx.

IMO today was an unmitigated disaster.
 
KW Sluggo said:
Replcing one $11M player is not easy but doing so with half a dozen $1M and $1.5M players is a novel approach. Ditto signing guys who didn't put up a point last year (or damn close to it -- Pezzetta (Mr. Healthy Scratch in Montreal and Benoit Olivier-Groulx.

IMO today was an unmitigated disaster.
Click to expand...
What signing(s) today could've made it not one?
 
KW Sluggo said:
Replcing one $11M player is not easy but doing so with half a dozen $1M and $1.5M players is a novel approach. Ditto signing guys who didn't put up a point last year (or damn close to it -- Pezzetta (Mr. Healthy Scratch in Montreal and Benoit Olivier-Groulx.

IMO today was an unmitigated disaster.
Click to expand...
Day one. Breathe.
 
I like what they've done so far, but they need a top line winger and they need to keep some 'pocket change's for next year's free agent day. Still some tough work ahead for Treliving.
 
KW Sluggo said:
Replcing one $11M player is not easy but doing so with half a dozen $1M and $1.5M players is a novel approach. Ditto signing guys who didn't put up a point last year (or damn close to it -- Pezzetta (Mr. Healthy Scratch in Montreal and Benoit Olivier-Groulx.

IMO today was an unmitigated disaster.
Click to expand...
It’s almost like the Marlies need players too. And I’m quite happy the leafs didn’t sign any of the ridiculous deals that got finalized yesterday. Crazy amounts for guys that don’t really move the needle.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Honestly, he'd probably get more as a free agent right now. So far at least he's been aging pretty well, the contract isn't completely horrible.
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He's been durable and scored 35g last year. I question what Calgary wants for him and would they even do a deal with BT with their weird disdain for BT.

Also, need to keep the powder dry for McDavid.
 
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