Northern Voice
Footballguy
So. before tomorrow night's draft and all the fun starting, I vote we all play fantasy GM for our favourite team. What would you do, if you were in charge???
Here's what I do with the Leafs.
Let Bolland walk, no chance I'm paying him 4+ million a season.
KEEP GARDINER AND KADRI. Gardiner is an RFA, rumour is he'll take a 2 yr/5 million dollar contract (ideally, I'm offering him 8/32 and daring him to turn it down, but I don't see that happening).
Buyout Tim Gleason. Admit that Liles for Gleason was an awful trade and move on. Leafs have used their amnesties, so it would be a typical buy out where he still counts a bit (but much less) on this year's cap.
Look at trading Franson. I don't need a huge return, I just don't think he will get paid more by someone else than I'm willing to offer.
Trade Reimer for best return you can get. (This wouldn't be my choice. I would keep him, but things between Reimer and Carlyle are toxic and being realistic in this scenario, going back in time and firing Carlyle isn't an option). Sign a backup cheap. The market is against goalies this offseason, there are way more goalies than open spots.
The above moves open up a fair bit of cap space. I throw 6.5/7 million at a 1st line centre (Stastny, maybe?). There is also money left over to add a mid range winger at 3-4 million and a 3-4 million dollar defenceman (hopefully get a borderline top 4 guy for that - Gilbert?).
In order to accommodate the salary cap, in addition to letting Bolland/Kulemin walk and buying out Gleason, you also need to fill the 4th line with low $$ guys -- but the Marlies (AHL) were strong and there are guys capable of playing a 4th line role, particularly Peter Holland, Jerry D'Amigo and Carter Ashton. a 4th line of these guys is light years ahead of last years McClement/Orr/McLaren.
Draft choice, pick 8 - I would love to see them get Nick Ritchie because I think his upside rivals the forwards who go 1/2 overall. Realistically, I think he'll be gone, so take a skilled guy (Ehlers? Nylander?) not a face puncher.
You can put together a roster like this http://www.capgeek.com/armchair-gm/roster/28814 (this one includes Franson, but you can also trade him, put TJ Brennan in his place, and allocate that money where needed for forward positions, depending on FA market). For those who don't want to click the link:
JVR-1st line C @ $6.5M-Winger @$4M
Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
Winger @ $2M-Kadri-Clarkson
D'Amigo-Holland-Ashton
Abbott
Gardiner-Phaneuf
Top 4 D @ $4Million-Rielly
Gunarsson-Franson
Brennan
Bernier
Backup @ $1Million
This roster comes in at 69,087,500, salary cap will be in the neighbourhood of $70 million
Again, I don't expect the Leafs to do this. I expect them to trade Gardiner or Kadri for peanuts, give Bolland 5 million and take a hard run at an awful player like Brooks Orpik... but this is what I would do.
Here's what I do with the Leafs.
Let Bolland walk, no chance I'm paying him 4+ million a season.
KEEP GARDINER AND KADRI. Gardiner is an RFA, rumour is he'll take a 2 yr/5 million dollar contract (ideally, I'm offering him 8/32 and daring him to turn it down, but I don't see that happening).
Buyout Tim Gleason. Admit that Liles for Gleason was an awful trade and move on. Leafs have used their amnesties, so it would be a typical buy out where he still counts a bit (but much less) on this year's cap.
Look at trading Franson. I don't need a huge return, I just don't think he will get paid more by someone else than I'm willing to offer.
Trade Reimer for best return you can get. (This wouldn't be my choice. I would keep him, but things between Reimer and Carlyle are toxic and being realistic in this scenario, going back in time and firing Carlyle isn't an option). Sign a backup cheap. The market is against goalies this offseason, there are way more goalies than open spots.
The above moves open up a fair bit of cap space. I throw 6.5/7 million at a 1st line centre (Stastny, maybe?). There is also money left over to add a mid range winger at 3-4 million and a 3-4 million dollar defenceman (hopefully get a borderline top 4 guy for that - Gilbert?).
In order to accommodate the salary cap, in addition to letting Bolland/Kulemin walk and buying out Gleason, you also need to fill the 4th line with low $$ guys -- but the Marlies (AHL) were strong and there are guys capable of playing a 4th line role, particularly Peter Holland, Jerry D'Amigo and Carter Ashton. a 4th line of these guys is light years ahead of last years McClement/Orr/McLaren.
Draft choice, pick 8 - I would love to see them get Nick Ritchie because I think his upside rivals the forwards who go 1/2 overall. Realistically, I think he'll be gone, so take a skilled guy (Ehlers? Nylander?) not a face puncher.
You can put together a roster like this http://www.capgeek.com/armchair-gm/roster/28814 (this one includes Franson, but you can also trade him, put TJ Brennan in his place, and allocate that money where needed for forward positions, depending on FA market). For those who don't want to click the link:
JVR-1st line C @ $6.5M-Winger @$4M
Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
Winger @ $2M-Kadri-Clarkson
D'Amigo-Holland-Ashton
Abbott
Gardiner-Phaneuf
Top 4 D @ $4Million-Rielly
Gunarsson-Franson
Brennan
Bernier
Backup @ $1Million
This roster comes in at 69,087,500, salary cap will be in the neighbourhood of $70 million
Again, I don't expect the Leafs to do this. I expect them to trade Gardiner or Kadri for peanuts, give Bolland 5 million and take a hard run at an awful player like Brooks Orpik... but this is what I would do.
Time will tell. Like I say, I like what the Canucks did here. Two decent pieces (in my opinion) with good contracts and a 1st round pick, for a malcontent who's play doesn't match his contract/reputation.
I don't know what they have to offer though.
