Speculation: Who should the leafs target given the cost

[Ricky Bobby]

Justin Braun: Connor Brown + tier 2 D prospect (Rasanen/Holl/Borgman/Rosen/Nielsen/Durzi).
Verdict: For that price definitely. Buys us time to develop Liljegren.

Chris Tanev: Carrick, 1st rd pick, prospect not named Liljegren/Sandin/Grundstrom.
Verdict: Absolutely not if that's the cost. Overrated and far too injury prone

Jacob Trouba: Nylander straight up
Verdict: RFA after this season but more importantly could be a UFA after next year. Would need to have discussions on an extension.

Colton Parayko : Nylander straight up
Verdict: Definitely. 4 years @ 5.5 cap hit for a Dman of his quality would be great.

Justin Faulk: Kapanen + 1st rd pick
Verdict: Not the type of Dman we need

Other Names:

Trevor Daley: would be a lower cost acquisition but also comes with a lower cap at 3.16M that could fill the RD hole till Liljegren develops.

Jeff Petry: very good Dman on a team who's undergoing a rebuild.

 

[Craig Button]

Conner Carrick + 2nd round pick for Shea Webber with $2.86M retained

 

[Ricky Bobby]

Adding a stable RD is important, doesn’t necessarily have to be here for 10yrs.
Braun could be a good stop gap ‘til Lili, Durzi, Lindgren emerge.

Completely agree.

The following all factor in:
-Cap space (Nylander, Matthews, Marner are still the priority)
-Acquiring cost
-Projected timeline of youngster. Namely Liljegren being ready for a top 4 role (I'm optimistically projecting 20-21 season but it might not happen till 21-22)
-Seattle expansion looming (we will only be protecting 3Dmen).

Getting a stabilizing vet with 2 or 3 years left on his deal in Braun (3.8M x 2), Daley (3.16M x 2), Gudas (3.35M x 2), Demers (3.93M x 3) I see as the most likely scenario.

 

[rent free]

Conner Carrick + 2nd round pick for Shea Webber with $2.86M retained

thats an awful offer.

 

[pylon17]

Other:

Nikita Tryamkin

 

[Griffin76]

I've always thought that D are way to high priced on HF. In reality they really aren't quite as expensive as everyone thinks.

The only guys I would be interested in would be Parayko, Manson or Trouba. I think Nylander straight up should easily get any of them but I have no interest in giving him up. Fans of the other teams would be looking for an add on top of him and I don't think it's worth it.

I would be looking at adding maybe a number 5 on a team loaded on D and hoping he can become a 4 or even a 3 with bigger minutes.

 

[OVO16]

I want Trouba, but it doesnt look like he's going to be available until next offseason

 

[LeafSteel]

Manson, Pesce, or Parayko are my pipe-dream.

I'd be all on-board the Trouba-train, but I don't think he wants to be in Canada and contracts seem to be harder to come to than with most.

Not against going after Karlson or Trouba if they make it to UFA next summer and seeing if we can make it work.

Otherwise, get Nylander into the fold, give Liljegren another year to develop, and hope Holl or Oz can step up, along with Zaitsev rebounding, and help us get through this year.

....... it also wouldn't hurt if your offence scored 10+ goals per game and Andy has a Vezina-quality season................

 

[SoCal Leafs]

I'd like Braun at that price. He'd be a good, affordable option for the next couple of seasons while Liljegren develops. After the EK trade, the Sharks may find him expendable so the opportunity to get him has probably improved in the past day or so.

Others have mentioned Pysyk too. I think he (or even Petrovic) would be a good add that shouldn't break the bank. I wonder what Florida would be asking for either.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

Tanev/Braun

 

[kb]

Wayne Gretzky

 

[JEI]

Darnell Nurse

 

[Kamiccolo]

We need a guy like Petry. Right side D who has played top pair forever now, good shutdown guy on a bad team. Decent contract and not declining or signed for way too long. Pair him with Rielly and slot Hainsey on the 3rd pair to give him less minutes / responsibility and use him as a PK specialist.