Friedman: Could the Leafs target Seth Jones?

[Petes2424]

Feeling a bit like the Matt Murray speculation...

The big target (come the draft) is gonna be Shea Theodore. The problem for the Leafs is, Vegas will likely be looking for futures and/or prospects to replace what they gave up at the deadline. On a good note however, Theodore will have a say where he goes, because the team acquiring him, is not going to do so without giving him the big extension. So there’s a good possibility the Leafs would be a team he’d have lots of interest in.

It makes all the sense in the world, that Theodore is who Vegas moves this summer. Only has a 5 team NTC, and one year left at $5.2 million. The chance they’ll be able to hand him the big extension, took a major hit when they extended Hanifin. Couple that with Pietrangelo being almost impossible to trade, meaning they wouldn’t get anything in return, Theodore is the one rostered player they can cash-in on, by trading this summer. Especially knowing him re-signing, probably isn’t in the cards after next season.

Between now and draft day, we’ll start seeing Theodore’s name being thrown around everywhere. Especially with the way Hanifin played in the Dallas series. Also, don’t be surprised if Vegas not only trades Theodore, but also Hague or Whitecloud, and then signs Tanev.

The Leafs desperately need that 2nd dman to carry a pairing 20+ minutes a night, in the playoffs. It bites them year after year. Shea Theodore can provide that. Not very many others, who could end up available, provide anything other than being another role player. That doesn’t win playoff rounds. Dmen who can carry pairings do, and you’re never gonna do it with just one of them, as the Leafs continue to prove every April.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Rielly-Jones certainly feels better that what TML has been trotting out there and there is a world in which Jones really shines in Toronto.

That said - if you are gonna trade Marner, you need to absolutely get it 100% right.

This doesn't feel like enough if I'm Toronto. It does balance out the squad composition some but it makes you older, doesn't give you financial flexibility and it isn't a sure thing...there's a non-negligible chance it simply becomes a Tavares-esque contract on the backend you now have to carry.

There needs to be some risk mitigation in here for Toronto IMO - either in the form of more salary moving out or tangible futures also coming in to compliment Jones and offset the age discrepancy in this swap.

The time to "absolutely get it right" was in 2021. The situation is what it is. Almost no Leafs fan is expecting to win the Marner trade. The trade is being made because we need change.

There is a reason the Leafs have committed to this structure for as long as they did. Trading any of Matthews, Nylander, Marner would result in them losing that trade.

Leafs: Jones, Riley Smith

Chicago: Rakell, Pens 2025 1st top 10 protected, leafs cap dump

Pens: Marner

Leafs don't have any cap dumps. This deal is brutal for Toronto. We're not taking Smith's contract

 

[HockeyVirus]

The big target (come the draft) is gonna be Shea Theodore. The problem for the Leafs is, Vegas will likely be looking for futures and/or prospects to replace what they gave up at the deadline. On a good note however, Theodore will have a say where he goes, because the team acquiring him, is not going to do so without giving him the big extension. So there’s a good possibility the Leafs would be a team he’d have lots of interest in.

It makes all the sense in the world, that Theodore is who Vegas moves this summer. Only has a 5 team NTC, and one year left at $5.2 million. The chance they’ll be able to hand him the big extension, took a major hit when they extended Hanifin. Couple that with Pietrangelo being almost impossible to trade, meaning they wouldn’t get anything in return, Theodore is the one rostered player they can cash-in on, by trading this summer. Especially knowing him re-signing, probably isn’t in the cards after next season.

Between now and draft day, we’ll start seeing Theodore’s name being thrown around everywhere. Especially with the way Hanifin played in the Dallas series. Also, don’t be surprised if Vegas not only trades Theodore, but also Hague or Whitecloud, and then signs Tanev.

The Leafs desperately need that 2nd dman to carry a pairing 20+ minutes a night, in the playoffs. It bites them year after year. Shea Theodore can provide that. Not very many others, who could end up available, provide anything other than being another role player. That doesn’t win playoff rounds. Dmen who can carry pairings do, and you’re never gonna do it with just one of them, as the Leafs continue to prove every April.

I have interest in Theodore but your take of it biting them in the ass is so incorrect. Issue has been for many years now lack of scoring. 14 playoff games in a row they couldn't score more than 2 goals a game. Defensively they have been above average each post season

 

[13pacheco31]

The big target (come the draft) is gonna be Shea Theodore. The problem for the Leafs is, Vegas will likely be looking for futures and/or prospects to replace what they gave up at the deadline. On a good note however, Theodore will have a say where he goes, because the team acquiring him, is not going to do so without giving him the big extension. So there’s a good possibility the Leafs would be a team he’d have lots of interest in.

It makes all the sense in the world, that Theodore is who Vegas moves this summer. Only has a 5 team NTC, and one year left at $5.2 million. The chance they’ll be able to hand him the big extension, took a major hit when they extended Hanifin. Couple that with Pietrangelo being almost impossible to trade, meaning they wouldn’t get anything in return, Theodore is the one rostered player they can cash-in on, by trading this summer. Especially knowing him re-signing, probably isn’t in the cards after next season.

Between now and draft day, we’ll start seeing Theodore’s name being thrown around everywhere. Especially with the way Hanifin played in the Dallas series. Also, don’t be surprised if Vegas not only trades Theodore, but also Hague or Whitecloud, and then signs Tanev.

The Leafs desperately need that 2nd dman to carry a pairing 20+ minutes a night, in the playoffs. It bites them year after year. Shea Theodore can provide that. Not very many others, who could end up available, provide anything other than being another role player. That doesn’t win playoff rounds. Dmen who can carry pairings do, and you’re never gonna do it with just one of them, as the Leafs continue to prove every April.

What makes you think he'd be particularly interested in the leafs?

 

[Malaka]

Having a hard time seeing others are writing here that Jones for Marner is an option… Hawks would have to add a bit. Maybe Reichel would be a chip, but I would have to see it to believe it.

 

[seanlinden]

Am I crazy for thinking that if the Leafs are acquiring Seth Jones, it's not in the mindset of playing him with Morgan Rielly, but rather, playing him with a guy like Jake McCabe?

That being said, I also don't think that Marner is all that likely to be interested in Chicago, nor do I think it's a great idea for the Leafs to do that deal straight up.

 

[lanceuppercut75]

The big target (come the draft) is gonna be Shea Theodore. The problem for the Leafs is, Vegas will likely be looking for futures and/or prospects to replace what they gave up at the deadline. On a good note however, Theodore will have a say where he goes, because the team acquiring him, is not going to do so without giving him the big extension. So there’s a good possibility the Leafs would be a team he’d have lots of interest in.

It makes all the sense in the world, that Theodore is who Vegas moves this summer. Only has a 5 team NTC, and one year left at $5.2 million. The chance they’ll be able to hand him the big extension, took a major hit when they extended Hanifin. Couple that with Pietrangelo being almost impossible to trade, meaning they wouldn’t get anything in return, Theodore is the one rostered player they can cash-in on, by trading this summer. Especially knowing him re-signing, probably isn’t in the cards after next season.

Between now and draft day, we’ll start seeing Theodore’s name being thrown around everywhere. Especially with the way Hanifin played in the Dallas series. Also, don’t be surprised if Vegas not only trades Theodore, but also Hague or Whitecloud, and then signs Tanev.

The Leafs desperately need that 2nd dman to carry a pairing 20+ minutes a night, in the playoffs. It bites them year after year. Shea Theodore can provide that. Not very many others, who could end up available, provide anything other than being another role player. That doesn’t win playoff rounds. Dmen who can carry pairings do, and you’re never gonna do it with just one of them, as the Leafs continue to prove every April.

I think the Leafs need to look at right handed guys and shutdown guys who are LEGIT top 4 guys or even top pairing guys. Theodore is a good enough player but isn't either of those things. He's also going to need a big raise, and I don't know if Toronto wants to give big money to both Rielly and Theodore and still be looking for right handed guys and shut down guys with less and less cap to work with.

From a Vegas perspective, you're selling trading Theodore as the best way to cash in on the trade and add assets that could be helpful to the team. That's valid, but Vegas is a cup contender NOW. Trading out Whitecloud, or possibly Hague or McNabb, and keeping Theodore makes Vegas a better team now, at a time where they want the best possible team even at the expense of picks and prospects. Contenders don't typically downgrade their roster to add futures. It DOES happen but it's not common.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Yup. I said it before, Marner for Jones. Marner would thrive next to Bedard and he will help their special teams. Plus the Hawks have the cap space for him with zero retention.

 

[Some Other Flame]

Treliving gonna work his magic. It's going to be glorious

And if it's not Seth Jones, it's gonna be Ristolainen guaranteed

 

[HockeyVirus]

Treliving gonna work his magic. It's going to be glorious

And if it's not Seth Jones, it's gonna be Ristolainen guaranteed

Because he filled the Flames defense with a bunch of scrubs right?

 

[A1LeafNation]

Lol this would be comically Leafs.

 

[57special]

It would be such a Leafs thing to do to go for Jones. Big name, disappointing game.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Just a note about Seth Jones, he absolutely cannot powerplay whatsoever. The Hawks might have put him there, but he is atrocious at it.

You think Rielly is bad on the powerplay? Seth Jones loves to hold onto the puck, move it far too slow, look off far more talented players, and blast it right into someone’s shin pads. There’s a reason he went forty games without scoring a goal this year.

 

[BCNate]

It's like they looked at the highest paid defenseman and went:
"Karlsson Too old. Dought too old. Werenski won't get traded. Seth Jones makes a lot, makes a lot of money must be good, let's get him."

Yes, the best way to fix a top heavy roster is to get a 9.5 million dollar version of Tyler Myers.

 

[Unbiased Fan]

Marner for Jones @7 mil per

 

[miscs75]

Please do, add in another anchor contract to make a bigger mess of the cap for entertainment purposes

 

[belair]

This would be a tragic use of the cap space that the Leafs haven't had in the last seven years. Moving Marner to add Seth Jones would be comical but par the course for Brad Treliving.

Move Marner to Seattle for a good two-way vet and a handful of their futures. Use the cap flexibility to add a guy like Pesce or Montour.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

The big target (come the draft) is gonna be Shea Theodore. The problem for the Leafs is, Vegas will likely be looking for futures and/or prospects to replace what they gave up at the deadline. On a good note however, Theodore will have a say where he goes, because the team acquiring him, is not going to do so without giving him the big extension. So there’s a good possibility the Leafs would be a team he’d have lots of interest in.

It makes all the sense in the world, that Theodore is who Vegas moves this summer. Only has a 5 team NTC, and one year left at $5.2 million. The chance they’ll be able to hand him the big extension, took a major hit when they extended Hanifin. Couple that with Pietrangelo being almost impossible to trade, meaning they wouldn’t get anything in return, Theodore is the one rostered player they can cash-in on, by trading this summer. Especially knowing him re-signing, probably isn’t in the cards after next season.

Between now and draft day, we’ll start seeing Theodore’s name being thrown around everywhere. Especially with the way Hanifin played in the Dallas series. Also, don’t be surprised if Vegas not only trades Theodore, but also Hague or Whitecloud, and then signs Tanev.

The Leafs desperately need that 2nd dman to carry a pairing 20+ minutes a night, in the playoffs. It bites them year after year. Shea Theodore can provide that. Not very many others, who could end up available, provide anything other than being another role player. That doesn’t win playoff rounds. Dmen who can carry pairings do, and you’re never gonna do it with just one of them, as the Leafs continue to prove every April.

travis sanheim

 

[HolyGhost]

Make no sense for the Hawks to move the guy. They already have lots of picks and are adding more kids to the roster. Jones plays big minutes and is not that bad of a D man. Most teams that are rebuild want a guy like Jones on the back end to help the kids

 

[HockeyVirus]

Please do, add in another anchor contract to make a bigger mess of the cap for entertainment purposes

Please do tell of all the anchors on the Leafs. After next season they have the most flexibility in the league

 

[93gilmour93]

I don't think Marner is going anywhere cause i dont think he will waive his NMC. It might be good for the Leafs but something tells me he doesn't want to leave...

 

[Chaos2k7]

Feeling a bit like the Matt Murray speculation...

That is the type of bath they would have to take to get JT or MM off the team, but the question is still, would they waive to go there?

 

[Chaos2k7]

Hawks don't need to worry about playoffs for a bit. I think they would quickly grow on him as Leaf fans did seeing his playmaking ability with Bedard. Damn near mirror of Marner feeding Matthews in terms of playstyle fit.

Marner is also elite defensively. He really is a hell of a player, if only he performed as well in the playoffs here. The pressure is too much in big moments for him

After seeing how poorly they have done in the postseason is that the type of guy they want for Bedard, who is even smaller than Matthews?

Plus then how do they justify not giving Bedard at least Marner money on his next contract. Many many drawbacks for Chicago.

Why would Chicago repeat the same mistakes they just saw the Leafs do? Its going to be almost impossible to get a deal that Marner will accept, unless they are just giving him away to a team he wants to play for, otherwise he plays another year and walks for nothing. The FO is backed into a corner and have done it to themselves.

 

[hamzarocks]

His contract is pretty bad, probably overpaid by $1.5 million or so with six years left. Turns 30 in October, so you have to worry a bit if he falls off too and it could get really bad. If he doesn't age poorly though, then it's less bad especially if cap rises. Leafs have a RHD need, but they also have a cap space need.

Chicago should play it out like they would be really sad to give him up since there are no real replacements at the moment over next few years. But at same time, getting out of contract is not so bad.

Don't understand the guy thinking it would fix the powerplay. Jones is pretty bad on the powerplay and doesn't make great decisions. Ranks 69/109 in PPP/60 amongst defensemen with min. 100 minutes of powerplay time since joining Hawks in 2021-22. Kick that up to 200 powerplay minutes minimum and he's 62/76. He's a good transition defenseman with his skating and passing.

He is overpaid by 3M or so.

He is a 6-7MD at age 30

Will decline to a sub 5M player in next 2 or 3 years

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Getting seth jones should have been the move 2 years ago. Could have been a lot cheaper/gotten other value from the hawks. Now its seth jones for marner likely straight up.