Official Armchair GM Thread 2014-2015 Leafs

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Might as well start this years version of the Armchair GM thread, cutting from last year's.

I built this roster based on somehow landing Statsny in free agency.

I traded picks and prospects, along with Lupul and the rights to Reims and Franson and ended up with Evander Kane and Giordano. I don't know how attainable Giordano is, but I think Kane is available. We could likely replace Giordano with another top 4 rearguard, but the premise is that we need one. Anywhooo.

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster

FORWARDS
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Paul Stastny ($7.500m) / Phil Kessel ($8.000m)
Evander Kane ($5.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Peter Holland ($0.851m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Leo Komarov ($2.000m)
Jerry D'Amigo ($0.700m) / Brian Boyle ($2.000m) / Carter Ashton ($0.851m)
Troy Bodie ($0.600m) / Trevor Smith ($0.700m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Morgan Rielly ($0.894m) / Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m)
Jake Gardiner ($2.900m) / Mark Giordano ($4.020m)
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Petter Granberg ($0.800m)
Korbinian Holzer ($0.788m)

GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
Al Montoya ($1.300m)

BUYOUTS
Mike Komisarek ($0.000m)
Mikhail Grabovski ($0.000m)
Tim Gleason ($0.833m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $69,636,000; BONUSES: $950,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $1,464,000

Face-offs are covered, top line center covered, size on the wings covered, revamped bottom 6 forwards covered, back-up goalie covered, promotion of some prospects in the system and a team that's harder to play against I think.

Realistic? Who knows? Things could go a lot of different ways this summer, especially with all the chatter and guesses by insiders that there will be a lot of movement this summer. Big names also available they say. I've heard Kesler, Spezza, Thornton, Marleau and Mike Richards.

How are people thinking in terms of how much movement will happen this off-season, now that Shannahan is involved?

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

What are people's thoughts about whether or not the Leafs are possibly on Kesler's list of teams?

 

[Boston Leaf]

I dont think Kessler wants to go from one Canadian circus to another

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I dont think Kessler wants to go from one Canadian circus to another

It's good reasoning and where I lean when thinking about it. He's always been a favorite target of mine for our team, we need a player like him in my opinion.

 

[L K]

Guys like Kessler who have already had their peak/breakout year strike me as the kind of player to stay away from in free agency and trades.  Their value gets hyperinflated based on "intangibles" and then you get stuck with guys like David Clarkson. 

Kessler's a much better player than Clarkson.  He's a better goalscorer, he's a better defensive player, and he's more physical.  But Kessler is a 20 goal, 45-50 point player.  Vancouver isn't going to sell him on that level.  They are going to try and sell him off of his 41G 75 point level and he's not going to hit that ever again.

He's skating out of his prime and he's a guy who plays physical and those players are prone to breaking down.  Whatever team trades for Kessler is going to end up giving up more than they get back...unless Vancouver is willing to take prospects only and those prospects fail to make an NHL impact.

 

[Kin]

Kessler's a much better player than Clarkson.  He's a better goalscorer, he's a better defensive player, and he's more physical.  But Kessler is a 20 goal, 45-50 point player.  Vancouver isn't going to sell him on that level.  They are going to try and sell him off of his 41G 75 point level and he's not going to hit that ever again.

Well, I mean, they're going to try to, sure. But unless they find someone right off the turnip truck they won't find someone who'll trade for him on that basis. I think that we've seen in the past that you can make good trades for talented players in bad situations and the teams in the cup final are probably better examples of that then most.

That said, I think we can also look to the big trades we've seen in the last five or so years and say that when guys get traded...it's usually for a reason and, realistically, trades should be seen as a way to add solid secondary pieces rather than guys who are a team's focal point.

 

[Britishbulldog]

The way I look at Stastny and Kesler is this:
- Similar offensive numbers (cancel each other)
- Kessler is a year older (not much concern)
- Kessler plays much tougher (+ Kessler if that matters)
- Kessler has only 2 years left on his contract so if he falls off the cliff performance-wise it isn't like the Leafs are stuck with Clarkson or Phaneuf.

Real debate in my mind:
- Kessler is $5 MIL where Stastny will be $7 MIL or higher (+ Kessler)
- Stastny will be a UFA where Kessler will cost assets (+ Stastny)

If the lineup looks something like this:

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER

FORWARDS

James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Ryan Kesler ($5.000m) / Phil Kessel ($8.000m)
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($3.000m)
Peter Holland ($1.200m) / Dave Bolland ($4.200m) or (Bozak) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Jerry D'Amigo ($0.851m) / Leo Komarov ($2.000m) / Troy Bodie ($0.700m)
Frazer McLaren ($0.700m) / Trevor Smith ($0.700m) /
​

DEFENSEMEN

Morgan Rielly ($0.894m) / Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m)
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Jake Gardiner ($2.900m)
T.J. Brennan ($1.200m) / Cody Franson ($3.000m)
Clayton Stoner ($1.250m)​

GOALTENDERS

Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
Chad Johnson ($1.000m)​

BUYOUTS
Mike Komisarek ($0.000m)
Mikhail Grabovski ($0.000m)
Tim Gleason ($0.833m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,128,000; BONUSES: $850,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $2,972,000

To get assets to create my fantasy lineup:

1) I would trade UFAs Bolland, Raymond and McClement for 4th and 5th picks.

2) I also trade RFAs Reimer, Franson, Ashton and depending on who we could get back, Gardiner.

3) I would trade signed players Lupul and if possible Phaneuf.

That is at least 9 assets of varying value without touching the youth yet.


I would re-sign Holland, Bodie, Smith and Komarov to fill out the bottom 6 and press box.

I would target Kane and Byfuglien (WPG), Kesler (Van), Stud dman (no offense Phaneuf) at any price and of course RFA Gudbranson from Florida.

 

[AvroArrow]

That is at least 9 assets of varying value

Bolland, Raymond, and McClement likely aren't gonna get you anything.  Bolland would have been your best bet had it not been for the injury.

without touching the youth yet.

Ashton and Gardiner don't count as youth?

 

[wnc096]

I traded picks and prospects, along with Lupul and the rights to Reims and Franson and ended up with Evander Kane and Giordano. I don't know how attainable Giordano is, but I think Kane is available. We could likely replace Giordano with another top 4 rearguard, but the premise is that we need one. Anywhooo.

I saw a lot of Flames games this year, and Giodarno is the real deal.  Best player on the Flames by a country mile. 

It would take a boatload to get him

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I saw a lot of Flames games this year, and Giodarno is the real deal.  Best player on the Flames by a country mile. 

It would take a boatload to get him

Yeah, I've liked his game since he came into the league.

 

[bustaheims]

1) I would trade UFAs Bolland, Raymond and McClement for 4th and 5th picks.

Dan Boyle is a much better player than any of these three only returned a conditional 4th round pick for his rights. The team might be able to get something for Bolland (maybe a 6th or 7th rounder), but, neither McClement nor Raymond will be sought after enough that teams will give up assets to acquire the right to sign them before July 1st.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I saw a lot of Flames games this year, and Giodarno is the real deal.  Best player on the Flames by a country mile. 

It would take a boatload to get him

He and Monahan are probably Calgary's only untouchables.

 

[bustaheims]

He and Monahan are probably Calgary's only untouchables.

Giordano's a really good defenceman and all, but, unless Burke is championing a similar retool to what he tried to do here, he shouldn't be included as an untouchable by any means. He'll be 31 by the time next season starts, and the Flames are at least 3 seasons from being competitive, if not more. If they can get some quality young pieces for him, they should absolutely move him - if not this year, then next year when he's in the last year of his contract.

 

[AvroArrow]

Since they said the're not interested in a rebuild, here's what I'd try to do (admittedly not really all that realistic).

Trade:
Phaneuf for high 1st + prospect
Lupul for 1st/prospect
Bozak for late 1st/high 2nd/prospect
Franson for 2nd/prospect
Gunnarsson for late 1st/high 2nd/prospect
Reimer for 3rd/prospect (2nd if we're lucky)

Get rid of (buyout, trade, demote, whatever):
Gleason
Orr

Sign:
Stastny @ 7M
Vanek @ 7M
Callahan @ 6M
Komarov @ 2M
Brian Boyle @ 2.5M
Niskanen @ 3.8M
Stralman @ 3M
Greiss @ 1.5M



FORWARDS
Phil Kessel ($8.000m) / Paul Stastny ($7.000m) / James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m)
Thomas Vanek ($7.000m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / Ryan Callahan ($6.000m)
Jerry D'Amigo ($0.900m) / Peter Holland ($1.000m) / Carter Ashton ($1.000m)
Leo Komarov ($2.000m) / Brian Boyle ($2.500m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Troy Bodie ($0.600m) / Trevor Smith ($0.550m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Niskanen ($3.800m) / Morgan Rielly ($0.894m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.500m) / Anton Stralman ($3.000m)
Petter Granberg ($0.800m) / Andrew MacWilliam ($0.875m)
Paul Ranger ($1.000m) /
GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
Thomas Greiss ($1.500m)
BUYOUTS
Tim Gleason ($0.833m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,500,000; CAP PAYROLL: $66,052,500; BONUSES: $1,162,500
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $3,447,500

 

[Redleaf]

I'd like to start a rumor about the Leafs being interested in acquiring Johnny Boychuk.

Here's my source.... (Man that was easier than I thought!)

Tweaks in Boston?

According to Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com, sources say the Boston Bruins may be willing to wheel and deal ahead before free agent season opens. Forward Brad Marchand and defenceman Johnny Boychuk are two players who could be traded to open up some salary cap space to re-sign the likes of Reilly Smith, Torey Krug, Matt Bartkowski, Shawn Thornton, Jarome Iginla (or another player to replace him on the line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic). Currently, the Bruins have $9 million to spend but dealing Marchand and Boychuk would free up over $8 million more.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=454383

 

[Champ Kind]

I traded picks and prospects, along with Lupul and the rights to Reims and Franson and ended up with Evander Kane and Giordano. I don't know how attainable Giordano is, but I think Kane is available. We could likely replace Giordano with another top 4 rearguard, but the premise is that we need one. Anywhooo.

I saw a lot of Flames games this year, and Giodarno is the real deal.  Best player on the Flames by a country mile. 

Ron?  Is that you? 

 

[Champ Kind]

Was listening to Brady and Walker this morning and there was a passing reference to Dan Boyle apparently having an interest to play in Toronto, recent trade to NYI notwithstanding.  Now I don't put any stock into this, but I was wondering: would this make sense on a short term deal?  If Phaneuf should be traded, this could provide some short-term relief.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Was listening to Brady and Walker this morning and there was a passing reference to Dan Boyle apparently having an interest to play in Toronto, recent trade to NYI notwithstanding.  Now I don't put any stock into this, but I was wondering: would this make sense on a short term deal?  If Phaneuf should be traded, this could provide some short-term relief.

Probably from Dreger, he reported yesterday that the Leafs were high on Dan Boyle's list.

 

[Redleaf]

Was listening to Brady and Walker this morning and there was a passing reference to Dan Boyle apparently having an interest to play in Toronto, recent trade to NYI notwithstanding.  Now I don't put any stock into this, but I was wondering: would this make sense on a short term deal?  If Phaneuf should be traded, this could provide some short-term relief.

Dan Boyle refuses to sign with Isles because he wants to play for a contender. Leafs high on his list.
Hrmmm.


Contender??

 

[bustaheims]

Was listening to Brady and Walker this morning and there was a passing reference to Dan Boyle apparently having an interest to play in Toronto, recent trade to NYI notwithstanding.  Now I don't put any stock into this, but I was wondering: would this make sense on a short term deal?  If Phaneuf should be traded, this could provide some short-term relief.

Boyle will be 38 next season and his production has already started slipping. He's probably shouldn't be a 1st pairing guy anymore, and he's definitely not a #1 guy. I'm not sure he would provide short-term relief for the Leafs moving Phaneuf, because I'm not confident he can continue to play that much.