Joined: Jun. 2016
Posts: 84
Likes: 4
Grundström likely won't make the Leafs next year (people who watch the team closely still think he needs to work on his defensive game).
As much as I like that trade for Severson (I've been a fan of his for a while) that isn't nearly enough for him. New Jersey sold a RHD of his calibre (Larsson) straight up for Taylor Hall, so there's zero chance they'll sell that low on Severson.
That's a little too much for Tavares. I think the Leafs could make it work for 11 million but only if Matthews and his reps agree to the same amount. The cap might rise to as a high as 82 million next season and maybe even more when his and Marner's contract will kick in. I think 11 could make it feasible to squeeze everyone else under the cap.
I would do everything I could to avoid having to trade any of the Big Three. They're far too valuable and are still 2-3 years from their peak. If it means trading the players making 2-3 million per season then that's what you have to do. That's why drafting is so important. The Leafs will be forced to routinely trade their complementary players every 1-2 seasons once the Big Three are signed, especially if Tavares comes here as well.
The players you have on defence is what I think could happen, although I definitely see Dermott on the bottom pairing again, but with Hainsey this time. Gardiner and Zaitsev will stay on the second pairing, while Rielly will most likely be paired with a new defenceman brought in through trade most likely.
I do think this is a pretty solid Armchair-GM post, though. Definitely above average. I can't click on the stars (the site won't allow me to for whatever reason) but I would have given it a four.
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Aaltonen,
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