Akhtyamov creates flexibility, Domi’s absence as a complication, and speculation fatigue: Leaflets
Here are some Leafs thoughts…
Domi contingency planning
The Domi situation leaves Toronto with $3.75 million in cap space in limbo. Odds are, John Chayka plans to use that money elsewhere, and if Domi is able to return in-season, history shows that long-term injuries will eventually overlap.
Boone Jenner is the best available pivot in unrestricted free agency at the moment. He is more of a third line option. He could fill a second line temporarily, but not someone you plan to play there.
Trading for a centre is costly or involves taking a risk. Trochek, MacTavish, and Pettersson are all interesting options, but premium prices would need to be paid. Do the Maple Leafs want to do that when most of their available cap space and trade chips were earmarked for the blueline?
Domi not being available moves the Leafs forward in some ways but complicates things in others. And with the amount of work Chayka has to do, a warm body to start the season might have been what he was looking for.
Bored of trade boards
There is a clear pattern to trade boards. The ten names that everyone has been talking about since the history of time are on. They’ll probably get traded. Beyond that, they seem like a lot of patchwork and hope that things stick. No offence is meant to insiders in that regard (maybe a little), but the combination of armchair GM approach, assuming that new GMs will inherit the tendencies of the GM that preceded them or that a new GM will run the same playbook they did with their former club, is a big leap in the speculation department.
John Chayka isn’t going to run the Maple Leafs like he ran the Coyotes. That’s a good thing. That doesn’t mean he has a licence to overspend, but it would be nice when there is a legitimate priority target he can swing for the fences. Or use that extra cap space to use the Coyotes principles and go with quantity as well as quality.
Brad Treliving weighing a Matthew Knies trade doesn’t mean John Chayka is planning to in any way. Those teams that talked with Treliving might circle back with Chayka, but they will be asked for a completely different return and will start from scratch.
Most trade boards read like a brochure for draft and free agency coverage. Would it be great to dream that teams will make a significant move for one of these big name players insiders are speculating on, sure. In reality, the deal is going to be for the player who has one year left on their deal, and the team knows they won’t have much hope of making the playoffs. I don’t hold out much hope that the NHL will be anywhere near as exciting in the offseason as the trade boards are selling.
Akhtyamov is a win for the Maple Leafs
If Akhtyamov can take a few starts in the NHL, gambling on either a Woll/Hildeby or Stolarz/Hildeby tandem is less risky. If there is a third guy you trust to pick up games, having goaltenders who can’t handle half a season of work is more reasonable.
It’s also reasonable to consider Dennis Hildeby as an option to move if someone wants to pay a premium for him. The Leafs don’t have much in the way of futures, and while older, Hildeby might be a choice goaltending option for a rebuilding team.
At this point, the best course of action might be for Chayka to cash out on whatever goaltender brings in the best return. A new coach, new strategies, and likely a new defence is a lot of change to dump on goaltenders. No one will blame the Leafs if they sacrifice a goaltender to upgrade elsewhere, and Akhtyamov looks like a great way to mitigate that risk.