Leafs' improvement weighing on Burke

Burke talks about our UFA's.

about 2 years ago Karina 35 comments 0 recs |

Comments

Please all laugh along with me that the writer of this story thinks that Poni and Stajan could be two of the most sought after UFAs this summer (I get that about Poni… but Stajan??)

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 9, 2009 2:20 PM EST reply actions

Just don’t tell him he is wrong, we need the rest of the league to believe that so when we trade him at the deadline the team that gets him overpays.

by Huey2k2 on Dec 9, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

Most sought after of the leftovers after the best are re-signed. It won’t be Stajan but Poni’s in that Freddy Modin territory

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by David Danforth on Dec 9, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

Sign White, Poni, Kulemin, Gustavsson, Hanson, and maybe Joey Mac… Trade the rest at the deadline for whatever you can get for them.

This is the plan Burke should follow.

by Huey2k2 on Dec 9, 2009 2:35 PM EST reply actions

A list pour vous with my analysis

RFAs
Kulemin – Resigned
John Mitchell – Needs to impress to be reupped
Hanson – Resigned
Ian White – Resigned if not moved for a 1st at the deadline
Monster – Resigned

UFAs
Stempniak – Gone
Poni – Resigned
Stajan – Resigned
Primeau – Gone
Mayers – Gone
Wallin – Gone
MVR – Unfortunately hurt and gone
Joey Joe Joe – Gone if Burke trades for a goalie. Otherwise he stays.

They call me Splodeybones.

by SkinnyFish on Dec 9, 2009 2:44 PM EST reply actions

ageed on all but Stajan, im pretty sure he is gone at the deadline

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 9, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

You think Stajan is the kind of player a team in playoff contention needs? Let alone a team making a cup run? Although if he want’s more than $2.5 million, Burke will let him walk.

They call me Splodeybones.

by SkinnyFish on Dec 9, 2009 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

yup

thing is, I am worried that Poni will want a big pay day too.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 9, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, but if he keeps it up, he deserves it. Nothing crazy though, but he’ll be making more than Grabovski and Hagman, so around $3.5.

The thing is, trading Kaberle at the deadline would be the best thing to do for Burke in my opinion. Playoffs are short series and you need puck moving dmen.

They call me Splodeybones.

by SkinnyFish on Dec 9, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

yah, the only reason i can see that not happening is if the leafs are in a playoff spot (doubtful) or Kabbys who NTC (likely)

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 9, 2009 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, the NTC sucks. Burke would need to trade with a legit cup contender to get Kabby to wave it.

They call me Splodeybones.

by SkinnyFish on Dec 9, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with everything you have said except Stajan… Don’t get me wrong he is a perfectly good hockey player, but I don’t think he fits at all into the style of hockey Burke is trying to put in place here. Also I think that he won’t be worth the kind of raise he is inevitably going to be getting this offseason. Some desperate team will overpay for him.

by Huey2k2 on Dec 9, 2009 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed with all – but don’t think Stajan will be resigned. And I’m 50-50 on Poni … I know he produces but just somthing about him … I don’t know how to explain lol.

by WildWolfdog on Dec 9, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

If Stajan is on the Leafs next season I will…

I will…

I …

…

(whimpers)

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Dec 9, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

John Mitchell will be qualified, and probably playing on the 4th line next year.

If Mayers, Wallin and Primeau are all gone next season, we need a couple of cheap forwards to play on the 4th line so we can free up cap room for raises to other guys and to go shopping. Mitchell will not make more than $750K next season.

Resident Capologist

by clrkaitken on Dec 9, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

i would not be surprised to see Primeau get another kick at the can, he is the best 4th line center the leafs have had in a while

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 9, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

As long as he is cheap.

by Huey2k2 on Dec 10, 2009 1:12 AM EST up reply actions

Hasn’t he technically been centering the third line for about 5-6 games?

Poni Stajan Kessel
Blake Grabovski Hagman
Stempniak Primeau Kulie
Orr Wallin Mayers

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 10, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

yah, but with Mitchell healthy i think he gets relegated down

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 10, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

Mitchell should not relegate Primeau>>>>Mitchell

even tho Mitchell is younger…

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 10, 2009 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

oh i agree. i just see mitchell getting more cracks at the proverbial can, hell he got first line time

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 10, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

Mitchell will need to be winger-ized because our current (lack of) depth at centre is

Well, Fuck… I don’t know where to put Stajan, he has played on the first, third and fourth line this year… Lets go current..

Stajan
Grabs
Primeau
Wallin(now that Hanson is gone)

So, if you want Mitchell in there than I think you have to scratch Wallin and drop him on the 4th line. The other three lines seem to have some jam right now and Mitchell has not impressed me that much – although he has played on lines 1through 3… throw him on the 4th.

RW pretty much rolls his lines and he will still be getting some decent minutes. Until he can impress at least as much as Primeau, keep it as is.

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 10, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

once mitchell is back i am pretty sure Wallin will be scratched or marlied
MItchell fits the game the leafs are playing much better

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 10, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

The most intriguing are forwards Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt Stajan and Nikolai Kulemin, defenceman Ian White and goaltender Vesa Toskala. Any of those players could probably fetch a second-round draft choice or more at the March 3 trade deadline.

Can anyone think of a single employed GM stupid enough to trade a 2nd round pick for Vesa Toskala?

Resident Capologist

by clrkaitken on Dec 9, 2009 4:26 PM EST reply actions

um

no?

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 9, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

If you can dream it you can do it!

by Huey2k2 on Dec 9, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions

Vesa has the same problem as Exelby when it comes to being traded for picks, there are only 7 rounds in the draft.

Also, because of their RFA status, I’d say Kulemin and White are worth firsts.

They call me Splodeybones.

by SkinnyFish on Dec 9, 2009 4:36 PM EST up reply actions

I’d prefer we not trade Kulemin. He could turn into a reliable 3rd or possibly second liner if he starts to produce offensively.

by Huey2k2 on Dec 9, 2009 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

ya, I think Kulemin has a Hagman/Poni-esque ceiling. He might be a 25-30 goal man, with 30 being an absolute peak for him.

The bonus is that he’s still learning how to use his size (I had no idea he was 220lbs…) so anything’s possible. He’s what, 22? Plenty of time to let him figure it out.

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Dec 9, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

I completely agree with this blurr.

I am in the keep Poni camp as well, if Kulemin develops how I hope he does he then him and Poni would make up 2/3’s of a pretty good 2nd line.

by Huey2k2 on Dec 9, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

If Matt Stajan keeps playing the way he has lately, it’s going to be more difficult to let him go. He’s been clawing his way back to a plus-rating with some good defensive play, and putting up some decent points. That being said, he’ll fetch a much nicer return at his current rate of production, too. Trading him while his numbers have been Kesselled might give us another decent draft pick for 2010. So who do we sign/promote to his place?

by JP Nikota on Dec 10, 2009 7:10 AM EST reply actions

I’d say Hanson or Grabbo. Kadri’s the guy who’s gonna be centering Kessel next season (ideally), and Hanson has been excellent in the AHL.

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by Kevin Sellathamby on Dec 10, 2009 7:30 AM EST up reply actions