Continue;
CJ on the SDP Notes.
This will be lengthy lol
- Doesn't believes we will see one of the big 4 moved. Says despite what you may think of any of the four players, that is what the Leafs have that other teams don't, and we know that when all four players are in the lineup, healthy, and on their game, it's hard for teams to compete with. However, he says obviously a GM or a President aren't going to come out at locker clean out day and say they are going to trade a core player
- Says Zach Hyman will likely come in between 5 to 6 million on his next contract, unless the Leafs go to a max term type deal. Says he doesn't think Hyman should take a discount, because he's a massive part of the team, none of the other top players took discounts, and Hyman was already playing on a, what most would consider, a discounted deal. Says this is Hyman's only shot at a big contract.
- CJ says that he has no doubt Hyman wants to come back, and has no doubt the Leafs want him back, however business reasons might cause the two sides to part ways. CJ says there is a strong possibility Hyman will get a 6Mx6 or perhaps even 6Mx7 offers on the open market.
- CJ compares the Hyman deal to the Killorn deal in Tampa. At a time when Tampa had similar cap crunch, they opted to give Killorn a long term deal on a bit of a smaller cap hit, and now that is playing a part in additional cap issues for Tampa. Says extended the term to lower the cap hit, ultimately just kicks the can down the road.
- CJ mentions that Hyman is already starting to build up a injury history, and is going to be 29, so there is risk to signing him to a 6, 7, even 8 year deal.
- Hyman says if Hyman goes to free agency, he 100% is getting more than 5.5M, while if he stays, he might give them a bit under that mark. (Dangle was asking about Josh Anderson as a comp)
- CJ thinks there's a strong possibility the Leafs lose Kerfoot to Seattle in expansion, if he's left unexposed. He's heard Kerfoot is a player Seattle really likes.
- CJ says if you lose Kerfoot, Andersen isn't coming back, so you get his 5M, minus 2-3 million to replace him, plus potentially Hyman, Thornton and Simmonds leaving, you are left with 11-12M in cap space to work with, and it's difficult to be able to give Zach Hyman 5.5M-6M of that space.
- CJ says he doesn't think Rielly being traded is likely.
- Is really curious of what the Leafs do with the second goalie spot next year. Thinks they fill that spot via trade, rather than free agency.
- CJ thinks the Leafs need to be a bit bold here. Not trade Mitch Marner bold, because he doesn't think that will happen.
- CJ says Toronto could bring back largely the same team, but doesn't see that happening, because that's hard to sell, and hard to sell even inside that dressing room.
- CJ says Tampa Bay didn't over react after getting embarrassed in round 1 against Columbus a couple years ago, and all they did was add to the depth of their roster, and got better injury luck, and year older, and won the cup. CJ says that is why this is tough because everyone is rightfully frustrated, and changes need to be made.
- CJ says it's hard to get around the fact that the Leafs got the scoring support from their depth, such as guys like Spezza, Kerfoot, even Muzzin and Brodie, but only got 1 goal from Matthews and Marner. CJ says the bet with this team is that the key four players will all play strongly at once, and the secondary scoring will be there, because that is what you need to win the Cup.
- CJ says criticism of Marner is fair, as he's gone 18 playoff games without a goal, and it's clear that Marner wasn't right this year. Thinks Marner likely cares too much, in the sense that he's trying to do too much. Thinks you shouldn't make any dramatic decisions on Marner right now. You can afford to give Marner another year, but Marner, his team, and Leafs management need to sit down and come up with a plan to help Marner and ensure it's not the same next time.
- CJ thinks there is some truth to the fact that Marner didn't want to play down low on the powerplay, however it was more in of preference to play in the spot he did, and not an outright refusal to play a different spot. CJ says the story of Marner golfing the morning after Game 7, is totally untrue.
- CJ doesn't expect any changes to the assistant coaches, however, says it might be too early to say that, as it's possible they haven't determined that as of yet.
- CJ says you have to remember that Toronto scored more goals, had the better sv%, more high danger chances, more shot attempts, more unblocked shot attempts. They did everything but win the series. (This seems to have been said specifically to get Dangle worked up lol). CJ also points out that Game's 5-7, now now Game 1 against the Jets, was the Habs first four game winning streak in over 2 years.
- CJ thinks Dubas will try to find a balance to the grit/60. Thinks they will bring Bogosian back, but won't bring back Simmonds, for example. Will essentially try and come back a little bit more skilled when looking at the depth.
- CJ says if you do 4 and 4 in terms of protection for expansion, you lose Kerfoot. Thinks Seattle would take Kerfoot over Dermott if both are exposed.
- CJ says obviously Dubas would re-do the Leafs deadline if he could. CJ says Foligno wasn't injured when the Leafs acquired him, something happened in the first couple games he was here. Foligno was really hurt in the playoffs. Even a Hab player told CJ it wasn't the usual Foligno out there. CJ feels for Foligno, because Foligno really wanted to make the impact for the fans, and have a run with the Leafs.
- CJ thinks if you gave Shanahan and Dubas truth serum, they would probably say they wish they went harder after Taylor Hall at the deadline. (Hall was willing to come here, in fact, CJ says he thinks Hall wanted to play here. Hall owns a house in Toronto. When it came down to the end, with Hall's final choices where the Leafs weren't involved, Boston was his choice.). CJ says that is why he believes they will lean back into skill a bit more.
- They went through the guys the Leafs acquired at the deadline and whether they'd be back;
Antti Suomela - Not Back
Stefan Noesen - Not Back
Dave Rittich - Maybe, depends on how things go with other things
Ben Hutton - Maybe, Leafs had interest when he signed in LA, and could be brought back as a depth peice
Riley Nash - Doubtful
Nick Foligno - Doubtful, thinks he is going to Columbus, but could see Foligno signing for another year with Toronto. As Foligno was excited to be a Leaf, and it was soured by his injury. CJ says Foligno would have to want to be in Toronto, and take 2-2.5M for it to maybe work.
- CJ says it's impossible to put a good spin on the season that just happened. Says the positive side of things is that their core is still young. Matthews and Marner will still be elite players. Nylander had a really good series, which is a low-key positive. CJ says again it's too early for blood, however, if the same thing happens next year, then you'll likely see a big change or several big changes (Dubas, Keefe, one of the big 4 moved, etc)
- CJ says the timeline for Tavares was going to be sometime in round 2, however the Leafs were going to be massively careful with him, and it wouldn't have taken much to push that back. What Dubas said about protecting Tavares wasn't just words. They care more about Tavares' long-term health than risking it for an extra week of hockey.
- CJ says this off-season, there's no obvious direction, or clear move that will happen.
- CJ says he believes there will be at least one player, on the roster on opening night, that will have everyone excited, it'll be a big name, and the Leafs will be making a big move, and it won't be the same exact group next season. CJ has the name he thinks the Leafs will be going after, and says they play for a US team that didn't make the playoffs, and has multiple seasons remaining on their contract. (but not Jack Eichel lol)
So, essentially, here's the list of players Chris Johnston could be thinking of - I left off guys like P.Kane and T.Seguin that technically fit the bill, but unrealistic for a number of reasons. Left off guys like Dvorak and Schmatlz, because they aren't big names that would have people excited. So there are other players in those categories not listed (I nearly left some off of this list)
John Gibson (ANA) - Don't think so
Clayton Keller (ARI) - Hasn't lived up to contract expectations, unlikely
Jakob Chychrun (ARI) - Not sure why ARI would move him, but ????
Timo Meier (SJS) - Seems like a solid candidate
Alex Debrincat (CHI) - Don't think so
Cam Atkinson (CBJ) - Don't think so
Oliver Bjorkstrand (CBJ) - Maybe?
Radek Faksa (DAL) - Not really a big name or that exciting
Roope Hintz (DAL) - Not sure why DAL would move him
Esa Lindell (DAL) - ^^^^
Dylan Larkin (DET) - Could move him for similar reasons as Mantha, so maybe
Damon Severson (NJD) - Maybe?
Chris Kreider (NYR) - Fits all the criteria, but not sure I see it happening
Travis Konecny (PHI) - This one makes the most sense
Ivan Provorov (PHI) - No shot
So essentially, my top 5 shortlist, in order of likeliness
Travis Konecny
Dylan Larkin
Timo Meier
Chris Kreider
Jakob Chychrun
Also, looked through different goalies, as CJ mentions he believes we'll bring in our second goalie via trade;
I really only saw three options;
- Jonas Korpisalo (CBJ) - Commit to Elvis as starter, and bring up Kivlenieks
- Alex Georgiev (NYR) - Bring in Veteran backup behind Shesterkin
- Casey DeSmith (PIT) - Will need to upgrade/bring in a better tandem to play in front/with Jarry.
