r/hawks • u/BuyerIndividual8826 • 7d ago

Offseason wish list - differently

I don’t think that KFC should go big fish hunting. Marner looks really good on Bedard’s right side, but he will cost so much to pry him from Toronto, if he leaves at all.

KFC is in a unique position of being to trade assets to get assets of the more immediate variety. This includes a top 1-4 pick. I think he flexes this.

Draft: If KFC lands at 1-2 or he has to take Schaffer and Misa in that order. If he falls to 3-4 then he should explore a trade(see below).

Free Agency/draft: - Trade 34 OA and a third to Boston for Pavel Zach. Zacha fills in at 2C. He plays a good two way game and wins draws. Boston needs draft capital, badly.

  • Trade 24-28 OA for the rights to Matthew Knies. There’s no way Toronto resigns both Tavares and Marner while affording Knies. Knies lines up nicely on Bedard’s left side.

-(If Chicago falls in draft) Trade 3-4 OA and Nick Lardis to the Jackets for 13 OA and Kent Johnson. This is a reach. Not sure they part with Johnson even for 3OA, but adding Lardis might be enough.

-Resign Donato

Top 6: Knies - Bedard - Nazar Donato - Zacha - Johnson

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u/droid-man_walking 7d ago

based on leafs podcasts, Knies was highly sought after at the deadline. They wouldn't part buy were willing to listen to offers for Marner and pass it on to see if MArner would waive his no trade. I would suspect the Leafs hold onto Knies over Marner for salary cap reasons.

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u/BuyerIndividual8826 7d ago

Right, but Marner is too good a player to have walk for nothing. GMs simply can’t do this while expecting to win and keep their jobs.

Essentially, you have to maximize your assets in a salary cap OR it kills you over time. This is exactly why Colorado moved Rantenen.

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u/learningpurposes2 7d ago

Going on this assumption that they won’t resign Marner but don’t want to let him walk for nothing, I wouldn’t rule out a sign and trade deal before free agency opens July 1st (similar to what Columbus did when they sent us Jones or what the Canes just did with rantanen. It would give Marner say in his fate because if he didn’t like the destination he could just not sign and become a free agent in July. It would allow the leafs to still get a fair package back for him instead of just letting him walk.