News Article: Thinning the Leafs roster will be a challenge over the summer

[SprDaVE]

Very likely to see a Grabner-esque trade again. Maybe not that drastic in terms of numbers but I could very well see a Percy + Leivo package for a single player back and/or a pick or two.

With that said, I don't think the Leafs are afraid of putting a player on waivers. There are so many players that go on waivers every year and there's rarely ever pick ups happening because most teams have those players on their team all ready. I don't see many waiver eligible players getting picked up on waivers right now.

I also don't see the Leafs signing many if any UFA's this summer. They don't need nearly as many castoffs as they did last season. Maybe we add one or two for pure depth and to bounce between the AHL and NHL a la Arcobello and CLune, but not likely to be many.

 

[MJ65]

Very likely to see a Grabner-esque trade again. Maybe not that drastic in terms of numbers but I could very well see a Percy + Leivo package for a single player back and/or a pick or two.

With that said, I don't think the Leafs are afraid of putting a player on waivers. There are so many players that go on waivers every year and there's rarely ever pick ups happening because most teams have those players on their team all ready. I don't see many waiver eligible players getting picked up on waivers right now.

I also don't see the Leafs signing many if any UFA's this summer. They don't need nearly as many castoffs as they did last season. Maybe we add one or two for pure depth and to bounce between the AHL and NHL a la Arcobello and CLune, but not likely to be many.

Can you think a name or two that the teams might want to unload (because of $), I would be interested in "D"

 

[Budsfan]

The biggest problems are not the pending UFAs as those are easy solutions.

The problem is with the vets still under contract Lupul, Laich, Greening, Michalek, Froese, Robidas, Horton etc that all occupy roster spots among those 50 contracts and have little to no trade value and so removing them difficult.

That's what I see too and as Timlap has said UFA's are expendable but taking on contracts and shuffling players around will be quite a task and just adding players like Stamkos with his expected cap hit and the trade we made last year for Grabner, reduced our player Limit but Grabner was almost a liability on the Leafs roster (mind you we weren't playing for anything, except last place but hopefully this year that will change).

 

[Budsfan]

The long and short of this is that it will be a busy summer in Leaf-land meaning there should be a lot of news and a lot of moves to discuss

Absolutely and I expect a lot of hair pulling and second guessing to any trades and player releases.

 

[SprDaVE]

Can you think a name or two that the teams might want to unload (because of $), I would be interested in "D"

I'm not exactly sure to be honest. Top tier options would be Barrie, Trouba, Shattenkrik and Vatanen. Maybe Ellis or Scandella.

As for more depth moves, there are plenty of options likely available. Maybe Nesterov from the Lightning. De Haan from the Islanders maybe.

 

[MJ65]

As mentioned earlier this really is not an option as any of UFA or even the RFA (I don't really have to list them as you all know them) would not count against players under contract unless few of them are signed, then is a buyout option for player like Cowen and then there is waiver.

The players that are really any issue or a concern are Lupul, Laich, Michalek, Greening, Robidas (already buried), and Hunwick and they are all signed until next season and are off the books after 2016 - 17 season, you might be able to move 1 or 2 of these contracts at the trade deadline (difficult but not impossible)

 

[Ricky Bobby]

The bigger issue for next season is the waiver wire.

According to the article we've got 46/50 spots covered. So we'd still have room for another 4.

Aside from Matthews whoever we draft this summer won't be with the team next fall.

If we need to create extra roster spots we can always pull off a small deal or two:

-Sam Carrick had to go through waivers this past year so he's waiver wire material. No loss if he moves on.

-Stuart Percy has been passed on the depth chart. Waiver wire material. Good chance we just don't qualify him.

-Robidas is only owed 1 million in real dollars after July 1st. I could see him sent out for a worse cap hit (and real dollars) to gain an asset deal.

Leivo + Holland are very likely to find new homes because they both are being passed on the depth chart. They're situation is more of a roster spots with the big club issue (and waivers).

Corrado I'm not convinced is a lock to be back with the team. He's a soft D with limited upside on a team with too many soft D. He's clearly been passed by Connor Carrick on the depth chart. Scott Harrington will require waivers this fall and his style better fits the type of depth Dman we need. No big loss if Corrado goes back on waivers.

 

[diceman934]

We give Percy Leivo or perhaps Harrington to either New Jersey or Detroit for compensation picks owed. These guys will not pass through waivers.

 

[Budsfan]

The big thing is, as the article says, what happens next year, when we have 12 more drafted players to add to the 50 man limit, it will all come down as far as I can see, to be trading quantity for quality

 

[Ricky Bobby]

The big thing is, as the article says, what happens next year, when we have 12 more drafted players to add to the 50 man limit, it will all come down as far as I can see, to be trading quantity for quality

We might not even draft 12 players.

We could trade package a few up to trade up, etc.

Even if we draft 12 they won't all get contracts. That's just the reality of any draft. Then those that do will be spaced out in when they're going to take up a roster spot let alone be ready for the big club. CHLers (except those with a late bday) typically play two years post draft. Europeans except for top picks are usually more.

However, as early as next we are building up some awesome depth to eventually package up a bunch of quantity for a very high quality piece.

 

[MJ65]

We give Percy Leivo or perhaps Harrington to either New Jersey or Detroit for compensation picks owed. These guys will not pass through waivers.

Interesting - so you can replace a draft pick with a prospect you own? but how do you determine the value? (as most of these prospect are unproven?)

I believe it depend on the organization at the receiving end to value your prospect as equal or even a better value

 

[Mess]

Interesting - so you can replace a draft pick with a prospect you own? but how do you determine the value? (as most of these prospect are unproven?)

I believe it depend on the organization at the receiving end to value your prospect as equal or even a better value

You couldn't give them as compensation directly, but you could offer them to those teams to essentially get your own compensation 3rd round picks back.

 

[Mess]

That's what I see too and as Timlap has said UFA's are expendable but taking on contracts and shuffling players around will be quite a task and just adding players like Stamkos with his expected cap hit and the trade we made last year for Grabner, reduced our player Limit but Grabner was almost a liability on the Leafs roster (mind you we weren't playing for anything, except last place but hopefully this year that will change).

We take on someone else's headache in trade for 1 contract and make them take 2 of our own in exchange.

The Leafs wanted to get rid of Dion and his contract at any cost but received Jared Cowen, forwards Colin Greening, Milan Michalek and Tobias Lindberg as well as Ottawa’s second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. That leaves Leafs with 4 contracts in the 50 total as the fallout now. Cowen will be bought to recapture 1 and Lindberg the only one they really want and would love to find new homes for Greening and Michalek.

Leafs need to make a Dion type trade in reverse taking on 1 vet contract and packaging 3-4 out freeing up 3 contract spots in the process.

 

[Menzinger]

I don't think it's going to be as hard as some think - they'll probably do another Grabner trade to sell under performing prospects like Percy for pennies on the dollar, I also expect a few roster players - ie Bozak or Laich to be moved this offseason.

And there will likely be minimal free agency signings.

 

[seanlinden]

They can still qualify them, just not re-sign them.

Once you qualify them, the team surrenders the option to "not sign them".

 

[ShaneFalco]

I don't think it's going to be as hard as some think - they'll probably do another Grabner trade to sell under performing prospects like Percy for pennies on the dollar, I also expect a few roster players - ie Bozak or Laich to be moved this offseason.

And there will likely be minimal free agency signings.

Yeah Bozak for sure and as nice a guy as Laich is, he's expensive
Greening is a tad pricey too

 

[Vintage93]

Losing Leivo for nothing would be a mistake. He's far from a surefire NHLer but I think he has earned at least another year. Reminds me of a hired gun - along the lines of Ray Whitney or Justin Williams (and hopefully not Jeremy Williams).

 

[Budsfan]

I don't think it's going to be as hard as some think - they'll probably do another Grabner trade to sell under performing prospects like Percy for pennies on the dollar, I also expect a few roster players - ie Bozak or Laich to be moved this offseason.

And there will likely be minimal free agency signings.

This sounds very simple but you have to find teams looking to take on players that have... Bozak 4.2 million cap hit for 2 more years and ...Laich 4.5 million for 1 year, Grabner is a UFA and will just be released.

 

[TheLeafsBro]

Losing Leivo for nothing would be a mistake. He's far from a surefire NHLer but I think he has earned at least another year. Reminds me of a hired gun - along the lines of Ray Whitney or Justin Williams (and hopefully not Jeremy Williams).

I agree. Kyle Dubas is extremely high on Josh Leivo too. He always brings him up when people ask about the Marlies so I strongly doubt the Leafs will ship him.

 

[BertCorbeau]

In the playoff games I've seen Leivo's been pretty good ... He'll have to earn a spot in camp, but I think he should get the chance to rather than just be moved out for other prospects.

Percy on the other hand .. I think he's done here. Surprising because last year he had an awesome debut before getting injured. Guess he couldn't recover from it.

 

[Babcocks Marner]

Always up for the old quantity for quality.

 

[Kelly]

We should definitely be taking advantage of one of Benning's drunken(?) stupors.

 

[080]

I don't see this as being a problem. I think we'll end-up packaging guys like Holland, Percy, Harrington, etc. for an overpaid player and/or pick; or we'll throw-in a player or two in a deal we're already making. Worst case scenario is someone on the Marlies is let go. I don't see this is as a problem really.

 

[Porn*]

The only players on the maybe list who have shown real potential is Leivo and Holland. I'm sure the Leafs will qualify them and offer him a 1 year deal. Regardless, they'll make the Leafs as 4th line or 13th/14th forwards. I don't think Babcock will go with 8 defencemen as too many prospects on D can be sent to the AHL without waivers.

I think the lines will shake out like this:

JVR-Matthews-Marner
Komarov-Kadri-Nylander
Michalek-Bozak-Lupul
Greening-Laich-Hyman
Holland-Leivo

The rest of the forward prospects will be sent back to the AHL for one more season until they can clear Michalek, Greening, Laich and Lupul off the team through UFA and a buyout next summer.

That 3rd line is scary. Who gets hurt first? Lupul or Michalek?

 

[FlareKnight]

It will be fine. Another busy summer, no shocker there.

The Leafs know their contract situation and should be fine to juggle things as needed. They needed a lot of picks this draft, got that. If they need to free up contract spots, they'll make some trades. Oh well.

Should be fun.