02 May 2016 17:59:43
So, I'm a Leafs fan and I have been thinking about the draft and free-agency. I liked reading Patrick O'Sullivan's thoughts on what Matthews to Toronto would mean for the Leafs getting Stamkos.

Essentially, with drafting a #1 centre, Stamkos would then have to be a #2 centre. While that would be amazing, I don't think that he would be interested in that at all.

So, I've been thinking that the Leafs should not take Matthews. They should talk to the Blue Jackets, and strike up a deal for the 3rd pick. Then, they should use this leverage to pressure the Jets into making a trade:

TOR - 1st overall selection, 2016 (Matthews)

WIN - 2nd overall selection, 2016 (Laine) and Josh Morrison

This allows Toronto to keep building their young talent, with a potential young stud on defense. Toronto would then be able to make a more attractive offer to Stamkos, and land a future star, and my favourite prospect in the 2016 draft in Patrik Laine.

Thoughts?

1.) 02 May 2016
02 May 2016 18:13:18
I meant Morrisey. And before everyone says add, would a Leipsic or a Brown be enough?

2.) 02 May 2016
02 May 2016 18:37:53
or you could have a 1-2 setup like in PIT where both lines are essentially 1st lines and both players can play together.

anyway, not worth thinking in these hypotheticals because it's still two months away at least to sort itself out.

3.) 02 May 2016
02 May 2016 18:42:45
Pass by both teams. Leafs passing on a future number 1 Center and giving up Brown would be ridiculous and Winnipeg giving up their top defensive prospect, especially a left shot one which is a weakness on the current team, wouldn't make a lot of sense.

4.) 02 May 2016
02 May 2016 18:53:14
Matthews is not going to just hop in to the first line role. And honestly I see no point in going after Stamkos. Amazing player, but why try to fast track this rebuild? Do it properly. He's going to want huge money and all it will end up doing is cripple the Leafs financially.

5.) 02 May 2016
02 May 2016 19:35:07
I see the Leafs signing Stamkos for 2 Reasons.

1) it puts the pressure off Matthews
2) I would play Matthews at RWing with JVR and Stamkos

If the Leafs also sign Vesey you can Trade Komarov as part of a package to get a #1 Goaltender and the forward lines look like this.

JVR - Stamkos - Matthews
Vesey - Kadri - WNylander
Michalek - Bozak - CBrown
Laich - Holland - Hyman

Matthews in a Year goes back to Centre when Marner is 100% ready to be a full time NHLer at RWing.
Everyone has to agree the Leafs are finally in a great position starting after this years Draft.

6.) 02 May 2016
02 May 2016 20:03:01
Why not Trouba?

7.) 02 May 2016
02 May 2016 20:08:37
I think having Matthews makes signing stamkos even more attractive for the team. I read a post about it called the case for signing steven stamkos on pensionplanpuppets, ill post the link in another comment if it goes through. I really recommend checking it out.

8.) 02 May 2016
02 May 2016 21:21:38
Signing stamkos is a mistake. It's going to cost 10,000,000 and we still owe 1.2 a year for kessel for the next 6 years. So essentially 11 mil for stammer. The guys a star but he's at the age where he will start digressing in the later half of the Max deal. It's going to take 3 more years before the leafs are true contenders IF all pans out. Why cripple the team financially. Think long term and what it will cost to sign Mathews, nylander, marner etc. stammer isn't scoring 50-60 goals anymore and he's on a good team. Plus he had injury concerns. Take Mathews and keep the course of the rebuild!

9.) 02 May 2016
02 May 2016 21:55:26
It shouldn't cripple the team cap wise, and by the time he starts to decline, say at age 31 (so 4 years into the deal) he won't have to be the main focus of the team. Matthews, Nylander and Marner among others would take the torch from him at that point and he'll still be a good top 6 forward at that time, while the players mentioned above will be on either bridge deals or ones similar to what morgan Rielly just signed.

10.) 03 May 2016
03 May 2016 00:14:52
Lol so he will still be a GOOD top forward by the last 4 years? He better bet the best player on the team for every year of that deal. Ridiculous to think ah if we get 4 years of great hockey we can accept 4 years of good hockey. 10 mil a year is too much. He's not a towes, he's a pure goal scorer that's it. we just bought a one dimensional player that is already on the decline. remember.

11.) 03 May 2016
03 May 2016 00:43:15
It's a tough call going after Stamkos. I love the guy but they are stacked at center and I don't know how many of these kids you'd want to move away from their natural position. I think Kadri should be #1 center until Mathews is ready, then trade him for a defenseman of his caliber. There's still Bozak, Nylander, Marner, Holland, Froese and more.

12.) 03 May 2016
03 May 2016 09:31:33
Just because a guy can score goals doesn't mean he's one dimensional.

13.) 03 May 2016
03 May 2016 15:05:13
IMO, if they want him, TML will offer Stamkos a contract that fits their cap situation and if Stamkos says it's not enough they will pass. They aren't running the org the same way they were 2 years ago.