Armchair GM: Offseason Roster Moves and Rumors

[Viqsi]

Are we really making post after post of Elvis .. aka don’t say mean things about me on social media .. being traded to Toronto ..

There is a vast, vast gulf of difference between "mean things on social media" and what Elvis - and more specifically, his wife - went through.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Are we really making post after post of Elvis .. aka don’t say mean things about me on social media .. being traded to Toronto ..

You make it sound so flippant that a guy who witnessed his friend's death and was traumatized by it doesn't want people threatening him and his family.

I'm pretty sure people in Toronto don't want threats made against them either. Dumb fans are dumb fans but lets keep them seperate from legit media covering a team. That's a whole different type of coverage and demands in Toronto. I've never seen Toronto sports media threaten to kill anyone because they didn't stop a puck.

 

[KJ Dangler]

You make it sound so flippant that a guy who witnessed his friend's death and was traumatized by it doesn't want people threatening him and his family.

I'm pretty sure people in Toronto don't want threats made against them either. Dumb fans are dumb fans but lets keep them seperate from legit media covering a team. That's a whole different type of coverage and demands in Toronto. I've never seen Toronto sports media threaten to kill anyone because they didn't stop a puck.

yeah , I wasn’t referencing that .. I was referencing him and melting down over criticisms regarding his play , and deleting instagram , etc . His numerous foot in mouth comments he’s made to our little media presence , and realizing that the Toronto media , is like Buckeye football.. millions of eyeballs , analyzing your every move, and play….

“My wife didn’t get anything else,” he said. “I get it after every game, but I’m not even reading it. I’m so tired I’m not even checking (social media) anymore. I’m looking at reels on Instagram if I want to see stupid s—.

“It’s a sad world. The people who really love you are the real people, not the guy hiding behind his phone making fake names and fake people. They don’t have the balls to show their real name or their real identity.

“You can tell me I suck and I’m horrible, whatever. But please, have the balls to come up to me after the game, in a parking lot. If someone came up to me and said, ‘You suck, Elvis, you’re horrible,’ right now I’m gonna say, ‘Yes, I suck, but thank you for the honesty that you come say it to my face

Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins on his struggles, his contract and 'the haters'

"I'll be honest: I don't have complete confidence in myself," Merzlikins said.

theathletic.com

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

yeah , I wasn’t referencing that .. I was referencing him and melting down over criticisms regarding his play , and deleting instagram , etc . His numerous foot in mouth comments he’s made to our little media presence , and realizing that the Toronto media , is like Buckeye football.. millions of eyeballs , analyzing your every move, and play….

“My wife didn’t get anything else,” he said. “I get it after every game, but I’m not even reading it. I’m so tired I’m not even checking (social media) anymore. I’m looking at reels on Instagram if I want to see stupid s—.

“It’s a sad world. The people who really love you are the real people, not the guy hiding behind his phone making fake names and fake people. They don’t have the balls to show their real name or their real identity.

“You can tell me I suck and I’m horrible, whatever. But please, have the balls to come up to me after the game, in a parking lot. If someone came up to me and said, ‘You suck, Elvis, you’re horrible,’ right now I’m gonna say, ‘Yes, I suck, but thank you for the honesty that you come say it to my face

Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins on his struggles, his contract and 'the haters'

"I'll be honest: I don't have complete confidence in myself," Merzlikins said.

theathletic.com

Once, again, small town local media driven that locals fans read a ton into.
His instagram is up and pretty active. "Foot in mouth comments" are from people who read into everything.

And the article you posted. He talks like he's harder on himself than any Toronto media could ever be. I can speak from personal experience that being your own harshest critic where anything you do is never good enough to please yourself is probably worse than what any sports writer can write about you.

When you get inside your own head and care too much it can be detrimental to your own mental health. This is probably why I sympathize and want Elvis to be successful more than most people here. Its real easy for certain people to be keyboard warriors and talk trash about player but when you get in your own head that is the person you ultimately have to answer to it becomes a whole different world.

This is the biggest reason I think he needs a fresh start somewhere other than Columbus. Trying the mental reset here just has not worked.

 

[KJ Dangler]

Once, again, small town local media driven that locals fans read a ton into.
His instagram is up and pretty active. "Foot in mouth comments" are from people who read into everything.

And the article you posted. He talks like he's harder on himself than any Toronto media could ever be. I can speak from personal experience that being your own harshest critic where anything you do is never good enough to please yourself is probably worse than what any sports writer can write about you.

When you get inside your own head and care too much it can be detrimental to your own mental health. This is probably why I sympathize and want Elvis to be successful more than most people here. Its real easy for certain people to be keyboard warriors and talk trash about player but when you get in your own head that is the person you ultimately have to answer to it becomes a whole different world.

This is the biggest reason I think he needs a fresh start somewhere other than Columbus. Trying the mental reset here just has not worked.

Foot in mouth .. did he request or demand a trade or not ? Because he said he did , him and agent walked it back the next day .. Once again .. he was angry , said something he shouldn’t .. now go do that in the Toronto media , and see how that goes

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Foot in mouth .. did he request or demand a trade or not ? Because he said he did , him and agent walked it back the next day .. Once again .. he was angry , said something he shouldn’t .. now go do that in the Toronto media , and see how that goes

I'd have been pissed at Jarmo too if I was treated the way he was at the time.

Not beating a dead horse any more. Sometimes people say the wrong thing. The team management is just a guilty of "misspeaking" in this whole scenario. I don't treat their side of the story as the gospel either. Jarmo stuck his foot in his mouth just as much if not more when it comes to how he dealt with players.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

Foot in mouth .. did he request or demand a trade or not ? Because he said he did , him and agent walked it back the next day .. Once again .. he was angry , said something he shouldn’t .. now go do that in the Toronto media , and see how that goes

the "don't buy him out, find a trade" folks aren't considering how narrow the market is for him given the off-ice temperament stuff like this. the guy let the fan/media pressure rattle him repeatedly in columbus.

the only teams that would theoretically want him are ones that:

1. have ample cap space
2. has urgency to upgrade in net
3. are in a small market with minimal media presence

so like… where could they even send him? san jose? columbus is the only team that definitively checks all four of those boxes and their whole motivation for this trade is to get rid of him!

literally just buy him out, let him sign a cheap UFA deal to be a backup somewhere, and move on from this whole thing.

 

[majormajor]

I don't think Elvis would be an ideal target for Toronto because he is so sensitive to what fans say about him. And there will be haters and death threats and everything imaginable with a fanbase that large.

But I'd be very surprised if he tries to block a trade anywhere. He's needed a fresh start for years now.

Of course if you can't find a retained salary trade you just buy him out. We're not deciding between those two things, the trade market is and we'll take a trade if it can be done.

 

[VT]

Nick Kypreos: Time for Leafs to move on from Marner and Tavares. Other NHL teams will (and already have) come calling

Kypreos wrote some teams have expressed interest in Marner. Unfortunately, I don't know the full translation only what the Russian sites wrote of it.

 

[Viqsi]

Nick Kypreos: Time for Leafs to move on from Marner and Tavares. Other NHL teams will (and already have) come calling

Kypreos wrote some teams have expressed interest in Marner. Unfortunately, I don't know the full translation only what the Russian sites wrote of it.

And it's paywalled. And I have no intention whatsoever of paying any amount of money for anything Kypreos has to say.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

And it's paywalled. And I have no intention whatsoever of paying any amount of money for anything Kypreos has to say.

Brendan Shanahan stay put with Maple Leafs, 'Everything is on the table' with roster

Toronto Maple Leafs president, Brendan Shanahan isn't going anywhere but top brass hinted at potential major changes to the roster.

theathletic.com

"When it comes to continuing that change beyond the head coach position, at least publicly, the Leafs brass feel open to making serious adjustments to the roster.

“When you go through a season that you’ve had, everything is on the table,” Treliving said.

After Monday’s availability with players, even more questions emerged about the future of Leafs star Mitch Marner, who is entering the final year of his contract. While Marner has said he wants to remain a Leaf, the notion of keeping the team’s highly-paid core together without playoff success appears untenable.

“We will look at everything this summer and we will consider everything this summer,” Shanahan said."

 

[Dionysus]

Curious if there is any chance Boone Jenner is moved? Seems like the type of player Ottawa may be targeting this offseason.

I imagine the ask would be pretty high. Not sure what the Jackets would be looking for in return, or if he is basically an untouchable being the captain.

 

[OldGoaltender]

Curious if there is any chance Boone Jenner is moved? Seems like the type of player Ottawa may be targeting this offseason.

I imagine the ask would be pretty high. Not sure what the Jackets would be looking for in return, or if he is basically an untouchable being the captain.

Pretty untouchable and he’s the captain. I’m of the opinion he’s a fixture though he should be one any line but the top line. Love your screen name makes me think of the Aeropagite.

 

[Viqsi]

Curious if there is any chance Boone Jenner is moved? Seems like the type of player Ottawa may be targeting this offseason.

I imagine the ask would be pretty high. Not sure what the Jackets would be looking for in return, or if he is basically an untouchable being the captain.

According to repeated statements by the CBJ fanbase, the CBJ front office, the CBJ ownership, and the CBJ captain, he's not going anywhere.

 

[Dionysus]

Pretty untouchable and he’s the captain. I’m of the opinion he’s a fixture though he should be one any line but the top line. Love your screen name makes me think of the Aeropagite.

Thanks! Figured that was likely the case, thought I would check in with those who follow the team though.

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

Nikolaj Ehlers trade destinations: If the Jets move him, what can they get?

Ehlers is one year away from becoming a UFA and is expected to be shopped by the Jets ahead of the NHL Draft.

www.nytimes.com

Dunno if we are listed in this, but I think Ehlers should be high priority target for us. He'd give a massive boost in the quest for playoffs.

Pros:
+ Elite transitional and playdriving winger
+ Draws a lot of penalties
+ Good age for the rebuild
+ Undervalued due to lack of icetime
+ Can be sign and traded in June

Cons:
- Has historically underperformed a bit in playoffs
- Relies on speed so will probably fall of on the last years of his next conract

Here's some posts from my favorite Ehlers enjoyer

 

[NotCommitted]

I'd be all over Ehlers if the price is right (no idea what the right price would be).

 

[Cowumbus]

Bjorkstrand - anyone - Ehlers

Would have been nice.

 

[DarkandStormy]

Bjorkstrand - anyone DANISH - Ehlers

Would have been nice.

Ftfy

Nikolaj Ehlers trade destinations: If the Jets move him, what can they get?

Ehlers is one year away from becoming a UFA and is expected to be shopped by the Jets ahead of the NHL Draft.

www.nytimes.com

Dunno if we are listed in this, but I think Ehlers should be high priority target for us. He'd give a massive boost in the quest for playoffs.

Pros:
+ Elite transitional and playdriving winger
+ Draws a lot of penalties
+ Good age for the rebuild
+ Undervalued due to lack of icetime
+ Can be sign and traded in June

Cons:
- Has historically underperformed a bit in playoffs
- Relies on speed so will probably fall of on the last years of his next conract

Here's some posts from my favorite Ehlers enjoyer

We're not a UFA-to-be winger away from the playoffs. Doesn't make sense from a timing perspective nor from a roster perspective, unless you can a) get out from the Laine contract and b) Ehlers comes here with an agreement to an extension.

Anyway, no, we're not on the list.

 

[Jive Pawnbroker]

Once the new GM is hired, I believe that they will use this upcoming season to assess the assets within the org top to bottom and not make any major personnel decisions until at least the next trade deadline. With so many young kids, you have to see what you have to work with before anything else can be done. If this was an older team, then I would be more inclined to think that pieces would be moved this summer.

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

Ftfy



We're not a UFA-to-be winger away from the playoffs. Doesn't make sense from a timing perspective nor from a roster perspective, unless you can a) get out from the Laine contract and b) Ehlers comes here with an agreement to an extension.

Anyway, no, we're not on the list.

a) Don't think that's necessary since Ehlers doesnt really carry a star status. He has played 2nd line and 2pp forever. I'd bet he gets a ~7m contract, which is great value.
b) I agree that the trade needs to happen with an extension ready. Rentals are not an option in the current situation

 

[majormajor]

We're not a UFA-to-be winger away from the playoffs. Doesn't make sense from a timing perspective nor from a roster perspective, unless you can a) get out from the Laine contract and b) Ehlers comes here with an agreement to an extension.

a) could very well happen, and b) a trade would obviously be predicated on an extension.

 

[Xoggz22]

Once the new GM is hired, I believe that they will use this upcoming season to assess the assets within the org top to bottom and not make any major personnel decisions until at least the next trade deadline. With so many young kids, you have to see what you have to work with before anything else can be done. If this was an older team, then I would be more inclined to think that pieces would be moved this summer.

While I don't disagree the so be part of the plan, the incoming GM better have a damn good understanding of this roster and prospect pool before being hired. I don't think they can wait a half season to start to implement and make changes.

 

[EspenK]

While I don't disagree the so be part of the plan, the incoming GM better have a damn good understanding of this roster and prospect pool before being hired. I don't think they can wait a half season to start to implement and make changes.

I don't know X. Given that the guy is probably not going to be hired until after 6/1 his first priority has to be the draft. Then figuring out how to re-sign the RFAs. Then dealing with a potential Elvis buyout. I think it is unrealistic for a guy who hasn't been hired to have anything more than a perfunctory understanding of the roster and prospects.

 

[Xoggz22]

I don't know X. Given that the guy is probably not going to be hired until after 6/1 his first priority has to be the draft. Then figuring out how to re-sign the RFAs. Then dealing with a potential Elvis buyout. I think it is unrealistic for a guy who hasn't been hired to have anything more than a perfunctory understanding of the roster and prospects.

I get it. I'm just putting what my expectation would be. I mean a GM position in the NHL is one of 32 in the world and it doesn't get much bigger than that. I'm not saying they come in a blow it up, and maybe I'm reading your post wrong, but I think they should have some idea of the entire organization and where they would start. Elvis is certainly one. The draft... of course. RFAs...agreed. But I also think all those decisions factor into what they view going forward and are just part of it. I don't think you sign RFAs without a clear understanding if they are a long term piece, etc. I don't think you buy out Elvis if you have an alternative plan. AGain, just my thoughts. They may do very little off the bat, but I don't think it should be because they need to know what they have. I personally feel they should know a large amoutn of them before being hired.