Future of the Toronto Maple Leafs/Proposed William Nylander Trade - by Moses

  Now that the Leafs have signed William Nylander to a six year deal, I say trade him to the Los Angeles Kings for defenceman Drew Doughty.  Doughty is an experienced player who has excelled as a star in this League to date, already winning two Stanley Cups, a Norris Trophy, and two Olympic Gold Medals to boot.  Let the Kings have Nylander, Nikita Zaitsev, and a 2019 1st Round Draft Pick to obtain Doughty's services which absolves our team of $11.3 Mil U.S.D to pay Doughty's $11 Mil yearly salary (+ structure Los Angeles paying $20 Mil U.S.D towards the Leafs Salary Cap over the next three years to compensate for the difference between Nylander and Doughty's Salaries).  It also dictates that the Leafs will maintain their prime for another 7 years, long enough to build a Championship Team around.  The likes of Rielly, Doughty, Tavares, Matthews, Marner, Kapanen, Kadri, Johnsson, Dermott, Andersen, Sparks, and Calle Rosen amongst many others will probably bring home the vaunted and prized Stanley Cup within the next few years (if not this year).  With this being the nucleus of the team, the Maple Leafs would be contenders for at least the next 7 years with the right spare parts (as the core is there to compete against anyone).

  As a result of the trade - 2018/19 Leafs Team and beyond looks like;

Head Coach - Mike Babcock

Goalies

1.  Frederik Andersen
2.  Garret Sparks
3.  Ian Scott @

Defencemen

1.  Morgan Rielly
2.  Drew Doughty
3.  Jake Gardiner
4.  Ron Hainsey
5.  Travis Dermott
6.  Igor Ozhiganov
7.  Calle Rosen *
8.  Andreas Borgman *

Defence-Pairings

1.  Morgan Rielly and Calle Rosen *
2.  Drew Doughty and Jake Gardiner
3.  Ron Hainsey and Travis Dermott 
4.  Igor Ozhiganov and Andreas Borgman *

Forwards

1.  Mitch Marner (RW/C)
2.  Auston Matthews (C)
3.  John Tavares (C)
4.  Kasperi Kapanen (RW)
5.  Nazem Kadri (C/LW)
6.  Patrick Marleau (LW/C)
7.  Andreas Johnsson (LW)
8.  Zach Hyman (LW/C)
9.  Connor Brown (RW)
10.Tyler Ennis (Forward)
11.Josh Leivo (Forward)
12.Frederik Gauthier (Forward)
13.Trevor Moore (LW) *
14.Carl Grundstrom (LW) *

@ - still in Juniors

* - currently with the Toronto Marlies

The 2018/2019 Toronto Maple Leafs - by Moses

  With the signing of forward William Nylander the Leafs looks as follows;

Head Coach - Mike Babcock

Goalies 

1.  Frederik Andersen
2.  Garret Sparks
3.  Ian Scott @

Defencemen

1.  Morgan Rielly
2.  Jake Gardiner
3.  Ron Hainsey
4.  Travis Dermott
5.  Nikita Zaitsev
6.  Igor Ozhiganov
7.  Calle Rosen *

Forwards

1.  Mitch Marner (RW/C)
2.  Auston Matthews (C)
3.  John Tavares (C) 
4.  William Nylander (RW/C)
5.  Kasperi Kapanen (RW)
6.  Nazem Kadri (C/LW)
7.  Patrick Marleau (LW/C)
8.  Zach Hyman (LW/C)
9.  Andreas Johnsson (LW)
10.Connor Brown (RW)
11.Par Lindholm (C)
12.Tyler Ennis (Forward)
13.Josh Leivo (Forward)
14.Frederik Gauthier (Forward)

Lines

              LW                                            C                                           RW

1.  Zach Hyman                       Auston Matthews                  William Nylander

2.  Andreas Johnsson                 John Tavares                          Mitch Marner

3.  Patrick Marleau                    Nazem Kadri                       Kasperi Kapanen

4.  Tyler Ennis                            Par Lindholm                        Connor Brown



@ - still playing in Juniors

* - currently playing for the Toronto Marlies

The 2018/19 Toronto Maple Leafs - by Moses (a.k.a Stacey Marc Goldman)

  With the triumphant return of Auston Matthews, we see four lines that can compete with any organization in the NHL;

                                                           Lines

            LW                                             C                                             RW

1.  Zach Hyman                       Auston Matthews                     Kasperi Kapanen

2.  Andreas Johnsson                  John Tavares                           Mitch Marner

3.  Patrick Marleau                     Nazem Kadri                          Connor Brown

4.  Josh Leivo                           Frederik Gauthier                         Tyler Ennis


  What this writer would like to know of Leafs upper brass is who we'll acquire by the trade deadline.  Namely a top two defenceman.    

  With Auston Matthews and John Tavares, we have arguably the two best center-men in the game today.  Mitch Marner looks poised to lead the team in points and break the century mark as perhaps the best set-up man in the game today.  Matthews could very well top 50 goals this season (in a 68 game season - if he stays healthy the rest of the way), and Tavares still has a shot at 50 likewise.  Nazem Kadri playing alongside Marleau is a nice 3rd line option for further offensive production.  On the defence, we have Morgan Rielly leading the way, on to perhaps a Norris Trophy.  Ron Hainsey has been our best +/- player to date, and alongside Jake Gardiner gives us three defencemen who we can rely on for a deep playoff run.  Time will tell if Travis Dermott and Igor Ozhiganov can maintain solid defence with the Blue and White.  We also have stellar Toronto Marlies defenceman Calle Rosen who we can call up in a pinch.  

  What I'd like to know is what defencemen are available by trade today.  The assets that we can afford to part with are William Nylander, Nikita Zaitsev, and perhaps a high future draft pick.

Leaf lines (with and without Auston Matthews) - Stacey Marc Goldman (a.k.a Moses)

                 Leaf Lines (without Auston Matthews)

         Left-Wing                       C                         Right-Wing

1.  Zach Hyman             John Tavares             Mitch Marner

2.  Patrick Marleau        Nazem Kadri          Kasperi Kapanen    

3.  Andreas Johnsson     Par Lindholm           Connor Brown 

4.  Josh Leivo              Frederik Gauthier          Tyler Ennis

                    Leaf Lines (with Auston Matthews)

1.  Zach Hyman           Auston Matthews       Kasperi Kapanen

2.  Patrick Marleau        John Tavares              Mitch Marner

3.  Andreas Johnsson      Nazem Kadri             Connor Brown

4.  Josh Leivo              Frederik Gauthier           Tyler Ennis 

or

1.  Zach Hyman            Auston Matthews         Kasperi Kapanen

2.  Nazem Kadri              John Tavares                Mitch Marner

3.  Andreas Johnsson    Patrick Marleau            Connor Brown 

4.  Josh Leivo                  Par Lindholm                 Tyler Ennis