What do the Leafs do come trade deadline?
The good news is there is a serious battle for final playoff spots going on out west. Only 10 points separate nine teams from 4th place Chicago to 12th place LA. Desperation to make the playoffs may exceed the Leafs desperation to deal. Also, anyone they trade out west isn't going to a conference or more particularly division rival.
Of the nine teams battling for 5 spots, I'd rank them as most likely, moderately likely and least likely trade partners. Factors of course include their needs, cap space and players, picks they are willing to part with.
Least likely Chicago, already in pretty good shape, no cap space, pretty solid line-up. Who would they want to part with? Winnipeg, though in free-fall also, we need to deal Phanuef or Franson and they are in pretty good shape on the blueline. Do we really want Kane?
Moderately likely: Calgary. Burke traded for Phaneuf once already. Vancouver, they've got an older team that needs to do a now or never. San Jose, they are also a bit of a now or never, not sure who'd come back our way though.
Most likely Colorado. Their top two D-men are injured but they've been making a push. O'Reilly has only one year left on contract, and MacKinnon has only a year left before restricted free agency. You do the math. They are in a bit of a cap crunch themselves, but if we took back salary something could happen. Los Angeles. Falling out of playoffs would be a real embarrassment. They need help on D as well but also in cap crunch. We'd need to take back salary as well. Justin Williams might be nice, but Richards might be more likely if a high pick or prospect was attached to the deal. Minnesota. They paid some big bucks to Parise and Suter. Missing the playoffs would not go over well. They have cap space. Who would the Leafs target? Ditto for Dallas, available cap space and trouble on defence. Like Minny, missing the playoffs would be a step backwards.
I think the Leafs have a real opportunity to capitalize on what's going on out west. May be a silver lining in the dark cloud. I would be more focused, however, on trying to shed some of the core than on dumping UFAs like Santorelli or Winnick. These guys actually play pretty hard but won't command anything major. We'd just have to replace them anyway and probably won't be big cap hits. As long as their demands are reasonable and they want to stay, I'd soon move some bigger ticket items if possible.
Does anyone have any insight on trade windows for guys like Phaneuf or we could only hope Clarkson?
The good news is there is a serious battle for final playoff spots going on out west. Only 10 points separate nine teams from 4th place Chicago to 12th place LA. Desperation to make the playoffs may exceed the Leafs desperation to deal. Also, anyone they trade out west isn't going to a conference or more particularly division rival.
Of the nine teams battling for 5 spots, I'd rank them as most likely, moderately likely and least likely trade partners. Factors of course include their needs, cap space and players, picks they are willing to part with.
Least likely Chicago, already in pretty good shape, no cap space, pretty solid line-up. Who would they want to part with? Winnipeg, though in free-fall also, we need to deal Phanuef or Franson and they are in pretty good shape on the blueline. Do we really want Kane?
Moderately likely: Calgary. Burke traded for Phaneuf once already. Vancouver, they've got an older team that needs to do a now or never. San Jose, they are also a bit of a now or never, not sure who'd come back our way though.
Most likely Colorado. Their top two D-men are injured but they've been making a push. O'Reilly has only one year left on contract, and MacKinnon has only a year left before restricted free agency. You do the math. They are in a bit of a cap crunch themselves, but if we took back salary something could happen. Los Angeles. Falling out of playoffs would be a real embarrassment. They need help on D as well but also in cap crunch. We'd need to take back salary as well. Justin Williams might be nice, but Richards might be more likely if a high pick or prospect was attached to the deal. Minnesota. They paid some big bucks to Parise and Suter. Missing the playoffs would not go over well. They have cap space. Who would the Leafs target? Ditto for Dallas, available cap space and trouble on defence. Like Minny, missing the playoffs would be a step backwards.
I think the Leafs have a real opportunity to capitalize on what's going on out west. May be a silver lining in the dark cloud. I would be more focused, however, on trying to shed some of the core than on dumping UFAs like Santorelli or Winnick. These guys actually play pretty hard but won't command anything major. We'd just have to replace them anyway and probably won't be big cap hits. As long as their demands are reasonable and they want to stay, I'd soon move some bigger ticket items if possible.
Does anyone have any insight on trade windows for guys like Phaneuf or we could only hope Clarkson?
