Speculation: In 15 days we have to get serious about signing a center (or 2)

[BM14]

makes the little guy thing unimportant, since he's as strong as most big men

Except he's not big.

 

[seanlinden]

Ryan O'Reilly one of the top FO men in the NHL and a very versatile player in all situations, with great work ethic making him a prototypical Babcock type player. So he would be a player I'd like the Leafs to consider as he is apparently available from the Sabres.

His $7.5 mil cap hit is steep, but it likely also means his acquisition cost is lower as a result so that means his bang for his trade cost is good.

Matthews, O'Reilly and Kadri would make a solid 1,2, 3 down the middle.

They certainly would... and in fact, Toronto may just be in a decent position to pay ROR $7.5m because they have Kadri on such a favourable deal, and one more year of Matthews on the ELC.

The Leafs have 3 big holes in their lineup to fill -- #3 centre, top 4 defenceman, and a goalscoring winger. If they opt for Tavares, it'll mean that they will have to find real budget solutions for the other 2 holes; or bridge Nylander to keep his cap hit down. If they manage to acquire ROR without subtracting substantially from the team, it could be a situation where they can still go out and spend $4 or $5m on one of those positions.

If they decide to focus on one of the other two areas -- Bozak really isn't a terrible alternative -- we may have a 4th & 5th centre in the system. We don't have a 3rd.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

We need to get serious about signing or trading fot a center and drafting a center there is not ONE legitimate center prospect in the organisation

 

[therealkoho]

Except he's not big.

your whole posit was that he was small therfore weak and would be dominated by big men, kind of like the way Marty St Louis was viewed as and was written off before his career got started, turns out Marty could not only outsmart, but out battle them when he had too.

strength is not determined by height otherwise guys like Marchand, Gallagher etal wouldn't produce at the level they produce at

 

[ottomaddox]

Dreger Twitter:


Todd Diamond, Miro Aaltonen’s agent says he has informed the Toronto Maple Leafs that Aaltonen is returning to the KHL for next season.

 

[Boutette]

Dreger Twitter:


Todd Diamond, Miro Aaltonen’s agent says he has informed the Toronto Maple Leafs that Aaltonen is returning to the KHL for next season.

Well then, the team will need to be looking at resigning Bozak, signing Derek Ryan or similar or a trade.

 

[crump]

I hope Nylander is given a chance at centre but I wouldn't be surprised to see Jumbo Joe here for a 2 year contract now. You can't go into a contending season hoping Willi can do it and only Lindholm and Gauthier as your 4th line options

 

[ShaneFalco]

Time to look at moving Gardiner for some help at C
Man this team is thin at that position