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The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds

I don't understand how anyone could be against getting an equivalent player that plays a more important position? What is the objection here?

Granted those guys will naturally have more trade value than the Leafs wingers, but that's where Chayka doing his homework and finding value can come in handy.
 
leafman101 said:
IMO It’s pretty short sighted to not be willing to move your 2nd or 3rd best winger for a player at a more important position of need because your winger depth will be worse this year.
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This is through the lens you're forcing on things, that you have to trade one of your best guys to get a great player. But you don't.

Unless you're clearly ripping off the other team in the trade, or you're dealing from significant depth/strength, it'll always be a sideways move where you're opening a hole. Good luck finding the next Willy or Knies once you deal him for a dman. That spot will be taken by another Domi.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
This is through the lens you're forcing on things, that you have to trade one of your best guys to get a great player. But you don't.

Unless you're clearly ripping off the other team in the trade, or you're dealing from significant depth/strength, it'll always be a sideways move where you're opening a hole. Good luck finding the next Willy or Knies once you deal him for a dman. That spot will be taken by another Domi.
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Why can't it just be an even trade? Why would that be a bad thing? Even trade where a team that lacks wingers or game breaking talent or a power forward gets an elite winger and the leafs get a stud C or D. Unless you're emotionally attached to the leafs guys I really struggle to see the downside if you can find a partner? I'm lost on this one.
 
Preston said:
I don't understand how anyone could be against getting an equivalent player that plays a more important position? What is the objection here?

Granted those guys will naturally have more trade value than the Leafs wingers, but that's where Chayka doing his homework and finding value can come in handy.
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I've always thought this way. I don't believe in trading elite players, unless the return is absolute larceny, or you have a glut at a position, or, I'll add, if you're getting rid of a chronically injured guy and getting back a comparable talent without the health issues.

For example, I loved Potvin, but as soon as we got Joseph, I was drooling over who we could get for Potvin. Sad how that turned out, but still. We had an extra awesome starting goalie, and we used him to get a really good prime asset at another position. I kinda think we're in a similar, but lesser, position with Stolarz now, which is why I'm antsy about dealing him.

I just have plenty of confidence that a really talented GM/organization can find awesome players either through the draft, through UFA, or through lopsided stealth trades for under the radar guys (like Hyman). That's how you truly improve a team, not by trading off great players for other great players.
 
I mean I'm not 100% for it, but if you aren't sniffing around and trying, are you even a gm? They haven't had a #1 d since the 80s. If there is an opportunity to get one, then uhhh yeah do it.

Now I didn't want Tre doing this. But Chayka I trust a bit more.
 
Who said anything about forcing guys out? I said an offer you can’t refuse.

Also by definition trading a guy who is a second line winger in your team for a 1D or 2C is not a sideways move. That’s the entire premise.
 
A team like Carolina, if they lose to Montreal in hilariously embarrassing fashion, may eye that game breaker that they're lacking like a Willy. Do they have anything that the leafs would want?
 
Preston said:
I mean I'm not 100% for it, but if you aren't sniffing around and trying, are you even a gm? They haven't had a #1 d since the 80s. If there is an opportunity to get one, then uhhh yeah do it.

Now I didn't want Tre doing this. But Chayka I trust a bit more.
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Nobody said don't sniff around. I'd always listen on any player, even if just to laugh at the end.

I just think the better way is to add without subtracting. And it objectively is. The difference here is that I think it's entirely possible and you guys don't seem to.

Like I don't care if Knies can bring in Harley. I'd rather Knies and Raddysh for free. The latter approach is the far better way of getting better.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
Nobody said don't sniff around. I'd always listen on any player, even if just to laugh at the end.

I just think the better way is to add without subtracting. And it objectively is. The difference here is that I think it's entirely possible and you guys don't seem to.

Like I don't care if Knies can bring in Harley. I'd rather Knies and Raddysh for free. The latter approach is the far better way of getting better.
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We all think this though. That's the dream. Doesn't mean it's possible to add what they need to add without subtracting another key piece. Or without finding a lucky waiver claim or having a 5th round pick break out and turn into a star. If you're banking on that stuff happening, you're probably gonna be waiting a long time!
 
It's also not subtracting. I disagree with classifying it as that. You're just taking the asset you have and allocating it elsewhere. It's like rebalancing your portfolio.
 
It's always a balancing act between keeping the right guys, and trading for the right guys. I don't want to see a whirlwind of unnecessary trades, but we know this guy is going to shake things up.

Bottom line, we do need a top pairing D-man in the worst way, and you're not going to get one for Maxi Domi, Brandon Carlo and a 3rd.
 
axlsalinger said:
It's always a balancing act between keeping the right guys, and trading for the right guys. I don't want to see a whirlwind of unnecessary trades, but we know this guy is going to shake things up.

Bottom line, we do need a top pairing D-man in the worst way, and you're not going to get one for Maxi Domi, Brandon Carlo and a 3rd.
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Definitely not, but you might get them for free on the market next month.
 
I wonder how patient Chayka wants to be. I might be tempted to trade down, draft my Hutson guy, and pick up another asset. Of course you would have to wait a yr or two for your hotshot D to develop.
 
Not patient at all would be my guess. McKenna is a gift, and he has everything he needs in cap space and tradeable assets to remake big chunks of the roster quickly to turn this around. There's way too much downside here for anything but rapid improvement to get back to contention asap to be the approach.
 
Opting to not pick a can't miss 80-100 point+ player would be classic big balls Chayka. But also not really because Chayka likely values skill and scarce assets like 100 point players way too much to consider it.

I don't really even see a can't miss top pair d. I'm sure at least one will be a top pair guy and maybe even a #1 but no one's got that can't miss profile. Unfortunately. I would love if there was someone.
 
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