2018/2019 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[neo45]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

What goalies are realistically available for rental (expiring and on teams that are out of it and better than Smith)?

McBackup comes to mind.

Although can’t call Carolina sellers at this point. A losing streak might put them there before the deadline.

Even then they might re-sign him.

[Nelson]

Originally Posted by the2bears

You just suggested improving their center depth by listing off players that are already here. There's nothing stopping Peters from mixing up lines if need be, but I think you're way out to lunch with your proposed change to the top line.

True. What I meant is that to move Lindholm to second line centre, which could be the easiest way to improve the center position, they’d want to find a replacement RW (Zuccarello in this scenario) because Neal or Frolik wouldn’t work in Lindholm’s current spot. Perhaps Bennett could work?

It’s fair to suggest I’m out to lunch with moving Lindholm to 2C. I understand people want to keep one of the best top lines in the NHL together. I’ve definitely been found wanting in the court of popular opinion.

Regardless, I still like those lines...

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Andy Greene has another year left and has fallen off a cliff this season. At $5 million... no thanks.

Just for fun, players who meet depth OGWAC criteria and who are on expiring contracts:

- Jason Spezza
- Jason Pominville
- Marc Methot
- Carl Gunnarsson
- Patrick Maroon
- Roman Polak
- Thomas Vanek
- Brian Gibbons
- Drew Stafford
- Jay Bouwmeester

Those are all guys who could probably tread water at 7-9 minutes in a fill-in role, at least. Guys like Spezza/Pominville/Methot/Vanek/Maroon could probably do a bit more. They'd all probably come cheap. There's variable desirability and quality there, but those are the guys who meet the criteria of depth forwards/defenesemen and who are up after the year, without Cups.

Of course, a player's trophy cabinet should not really play a factor -- this is just an exercise on my part.

Good list...nice work.

Pominville would sure check a lot of boxes for this club as a depth guy.

[MrMike]

Is Polak slow as molasses these days?

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Is Polak slow as molasses these days?

Yes

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by neo45

McBackup comes to mind.

Although can’t call Carolina sellers at this point. A losing streak might put them there before the deadline.

Even then they might re-sign him.

McBackup has been worse than Smith since late November. He’s fallen off bad.

[Torture]

Don't we already have our OGWAC in Gio? The team's going to play to win him a cup, not some new deadline acquisition.

[joejoe3]

James “The Real OGWAC” Neal

[djsFlames]

Neal's been to two straight finals. Chances are half decent he sees a third. What are the chances of that with a guy moving every year? Maybe the dude is a human rabbits foot.

[savardandjokinen]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Neal's been to two straight finals. Chances are half decent he sees a third. What are the chances of that with a guy moving every year? Maybe the dude is a human rabbits foot.

He's our Hossa

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Neal's been to two straight finals. Chances are half decent he sees a third. What are the chances of that with a guy moving every year? Maybe the dude is a human rabbits foot.

Flames lost every time he's been out of the lineup. Sure, thats only twice. But still.

[TheScorpion]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1087732133941202945

Cue the speculation.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

https://twitter.com/user/status/1087732133941202945

Cue the speculation.

Probably just more Toronto media hype. "Guys are banged up and we wanted to give them a bit of extra time to get healed up for the stretch drive ect"

[Muta]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

https://twitter.com/user/status/1087732133941202945

Cue the speculation.

My guess - they put Andreas Johnsson and Connor Brown on waivers, sent down Travis Dermott, and signed Mikko Koskinen to a 3-year / $4.5M AAV contract.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

https://twitter.com/user/status/1087732133941202945

Cue the speculation.

Whole team traded. Except Nylander because they promised.

[Shazam]

McDavid for Matthews.

[icecube]

Is there any correlation to the Leafs play falling off a cliff and Nylander coming back to the lineup? Or were they still humming along well until recently? I don't remember off the top of my head.

Not to say Nylander is bad in the lockerroom or anything, I'm just wondering if the chemistry has been thrown off a little bit.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by icecube

Is there any correlation to the Leafs play falling off a cliff and Nylander coming back to the lineup? Or were they still humming along well until recently? I don't remember off the top of my head.

Not to say Nylander is bad in the lockerroom or anything, I'm just wondering if the chemistry has been thrown off a little bit.

Their defense that has been poor at times was masked by goaltending earlier this season. Now Anderson has been hurt and the goaltending has been poor - leading to a poor record.

Just happens to coincide with Nylander coming back so he's getting blamed for it.

Up until December 1st:

Record: 18-8-9 (3rd)
CF%: 49.9 (17th)
Shooting %: 11.25 (5th)
Save %: .923 (3rd)

Since December 1st:

Record: 11-9-2 (17th)
CF%: 52.7% (7th)
Shooting%: 11.13% (6th)
Save%: .898 (20th)

As per usual in the NHL it's tough to win when you're getting bottom 10 goaltending and giving too much up defensively.

[Mattman]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Is Polak slow as molasses these days?

This is offensive to molasses

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Probably just more Toronto media hype. "Guys are banged up and we wanted to give them a bit of extra time to get healed up for the stretch drive ect"

Isn't there a break coming up? how much rest do these guys need.