Official Armchair GM Thread 2014-2015 Leafs

[bustaheims]

Like Bailey, O'Connor apparently prefers to get a NHL game in this season to toll a year off his entry level contract (more money as a RFA sooner idea).

O'Connor & Boston U won their regional game. If they win another today (I think), they're into the Frozen Four that ends the same day as the NHL season.

thejustinfisher: As @FriedgeHNIC just reported, Matt O'Connor is too deep in the NCAA bracket to sign an NHL contract and burn a year on it this season.

 

[cw]

Like Bailey, O'Connor apparently prefers to get a NHL game in this season to toll a year off his entry level contract (more money as a RFA sooner idea).

O'Connor & Boston U won their regional game. If they win another today (I think), they're into the Frozen Four that ends the same day as the NHL season.

thejustinfisher: As @FriedgeHNIC just reported, Matt O'Connor is too deep in the NCAA bracket to sign an NHL contract and burn a year on it this season.

Good news if that reopens the door for the Leafs. Don't see why it wouldn't a bit though maybe they knew they were in trouble when they signed the others.
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As I understand it, the teams that it's narrowed down to and at this point are the front-runners would include the Edmonton Oilers, the Ottawa Senators, the Buffalo Sabres and surprisingly the New York Rangers.
Bob McKenzie March 27th

Sportsnet Spector Oilers in play for O?Connor
Ottawa, Edmonton, the New York Rangers and Buffalo head the pack in teams vying to sign O?Connor, with Vancouver and Calgary also in the race. Nearly half the league has shown interest, but O?Connor is looking at organizational goalie coaches, and how many goaltending prospects already exist in the various organizations.

 

[Tigger]

Maybe that's a part of bringing in Sean Burke? ( if there's any merit to that rumour )

 

[Britishbulldog]

Here's my list of guys who I think have played their last game as a Leaf:

Phaneuf
Lupul
Bernier
Reimer
Kadri
Gardiner
plus some of the scrubs

Just my hunch.

Interesting. I'm 50/50 on Kadri, but leaning more towards the Leafs keeping him. I think Phaneuf is gone for sure, and I think they'll try hard to move Kessel but I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed. I also think Lupul will stay. He's not cheap and the injury concerns coupled with his pretty awful play in the 2nd half has me thinking interest will be very low. Something tells me van Riemsdyk won't be here next year.

I feel the Leafs have 3 2nd line centers: Bozak, Kadri and possibly Holland.  I needs to be moved and although I like Kadri over Bozak I think Kadri has the most trade value and will be the one moved to everyone's surprise.

I also think that Lupul has virtually no trade value and it is better to keep him rather than do a bad trade.  I would give Lupul away once Brown or Nylander are ready to join the Leafs at the end of next season or the following one.

I love Orr's heart, hitting and fighting skill but he is just too slow.  If someone like Reaves, Thorburn or one of the 'new' tough guys who can skate well, hit and score 5-10 goals were available then I would be tempted to add them but no more knuckle draggers.

I also don't think I would re-sign any FA forwards on the Leafs including Booth, Lindstrom or even Panik who cooled off dramatically. I might consider Sill and maybe Kozun but both are easily replaceable with younger options...like Carrick and Bailey.

From this current roster here is how I think it should move forward:

JVR / Bozak / Kessel
Lupul / Strome/ Bailey
Komarov / Holland / ?? UFA Stewart??
Sill / Carrick / Kozun??

Rielly / ??
Gardiner / Robidas
Marlie / Granberg

Trade Bait:
Kadri, Polak,Reimer for solid RH dman

Phaneuf (I hope for mid 14-18 1st draft pick) giving the Leafs 3 1st round picks this year

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Never let the Stewart-dream die BBD.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Here's my list of guys who I think have played their last game as a Leaf:

Phaneuf
Lupul
Bernier
Reimer
Kadri
Gardiner
plus some of the scrubs

Just my hunch.

Interesting. I'm 50/50 on Kadri, but leaning more towards the Leafs keeping him. I think Phaneuf is gone for sure, and I think they'll try hard to move Kessel but I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed. I also think Lupul will stay. He's not cheap and the injury concerns coupled with his pretty awful play in the 2nd half has me thinking interest will be very low. Something tells me van Riemsdyk won't be here next year.

I feel the Leafs have 3 2nd line centers: Bozak, Kadri and possibly Holland.  I needs to be moved and although I like Kadri over Bozak I think Kadri has the most trade value and will be the one moved to everyone's surprise.

I also think that Lupul has virtually no trade value and it is better to keep him rather than do a bad trade.  I would give Lupul away once Brown or Nylander are ready to join the Leafs at the end of next season or the following one.

I think the best case scenario is, Lupul gets healthy in the summer, plays really well for the Leafs in the first half of the season and is moved at the deadline.  I'll take whatever, but a healty Lupul putting up points might fetch a 2nd with the right team.  Although, him staying healthy is a whole other story.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Never let the Stewart-dream die BBD.

;D

I missed out on Scatchard so I sunk my teeth into this dream like an old butcher's dog.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I think the best case scenario is, Lupul gets healthy in the summer, plays really well for the Leafs in the first half of the season and is moved at the deadline.  I'll take whatever, but a healty Lupul putting up points might fetch a 2nd with the right team.  Although, him staying healthy is a whole other story.

That is what I expect as well.  Leivo seems almost ready to play the game that Lupul has played for the Leafs when he was healthy. 

Having Lupul healthy and traded to a playoff bound team in the new year would be best.  Perron got a 1st out of Pittsburgh. Ouch!

 

[Bullfrog]

I feel the Leafs have 3 2nd line centers: Bozak, Kadri and possibly Holland.  I needs to be moved and although I like Kadri over Bozak I think Kadri has the most trade value and will be the one moved to everyone's surprise.

...

I think Holland's just about the perfect 3rd line centre for the types of teams I like.

 

[freer]

I was think of this

Gardiner + NAS 1st for Hall.

IMO I see Kessel gone in the summer, and we will need a replacement. Anyone?

 

[Highlander]

This at PPP this AM.  We trade Phaneuf to AZ and switch draft picks, we eat some of his salary, get Korpikoski back, we then get Burke as our GM and Tippet as our coach for a second round pick in 16

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I was think of this

Gardiner + NAS 1st for Hall.

Edmonton's management is brutal, but they're not that brutal.

 

[louisstamos]

IMO I see Kessel gone in the summer, and we will need a replacement. Anyone?

If you're trading Kessel, you try and get that player to replace him in the trade.  Although I'd prefer to see him traded to the West, the team that kind of makes sense is NYI.  They have cap space, and although they don't have a 1st this year (traded to Buffalo for Vanek), you might be able to build a package around Ryan Strome & a roster player (Okposo?  Bailey?).

Edmonton needs D, so Phaneuf or Gardiner make sense, but they're not trading Hall.  Hall/McDavid/either Yakupov or Eberle will probably be their top line for a few years to come.  But as stated in the lottery thread, you could potentially pry either RNH or Draisaitl now, since those are probably their biggest bargaining chips...

 

[Courtnall]

Probably no substance to it, but on my Facebook page it mentioned Kessel for the 6th overall pick.

 

[freer]

The only reason I picked Hall was, earlier in the season he was being blamed for the Oiler's problems.

 

[Kessel Run]

Probably no substance to it, but on my Facebook page it mentioned Kessel for the 6th overall pick.

I think Kypreos said something about Lou looking for scoring and dangling the 6th overall pick.

 

[freer]

Probably no substance to it, but on my Facebook page it mentioned Kessel for the 6th overall pick.

I think Kypreos said something about Lou looking for scoring and dangling the 6th overall pick.

I would take it, but that is because I find Kessel one dimentional player.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Probably no substance to it, but on my Facebook page it mentioned Kessel for the 6th overall pick.

I think Kypreos said something about Lou looking for scoring and dangling the 6th overall pick.

I would take it, but that is because I find Kessel one dimentional player.

I would take it because I'm in love with the idea of having picks 4, 6 and 20-something.  That would kick-start the rebuild in a pretty good way!

 

[Kessel Run]

Probably no substance to it, but on my Facebook page it mentioned Kessel for the 6th overall pick.

I think Kypreos said something about Lou looking for scoring and dangling the 6th overall pick.

I would take it, but that is because I find Kessel one dimentional player.

I would take it because I'm in love with the idea of having picks 4, 6 and 20-something.  That would kick-start the rebuild in a pretty good way!

Kessel for Crouse?  ;D

 

[Bullfrog]

I would take it, but that is because I find Kessel one dimentional player.

Everybody -- and I mean EVERYBODY -- finds Kessel to be a one dimensional player*.

*or possibly two dimensional if you're separating goal scoring and play-making.