Shake-Up in Leaf Land
by OverTheHill on May 29, 2010 12:36 AM EDT
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So, the big Irish Man, Mr. Burke, has finally made a notable and perhaps worthwhile acquisition. Of course, the ever-anxious "Leaf Faithful" jumps right on a trade such as this and immediately begins to prophesize that the future is near and that the players we have obtained are hockey deities. Unfortunately, and to the disappointment of countless fans, this trade is not the blockbuster deal that we have been made to believe it is. Although it is a seemingly beneficial deal from a technical aspect, it is not as beneficial in relation to what the Leafs essentially need in reality.
But first things first, in the recent deals, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Dion Phaneuf (along with his massive $ 6.5 million contract) Fredrik Sjöström, Keith Aulie (all 6’6 of him) and J.S Giguere in exchange for Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Jason Blake, Ian White, Vesa Toskala and Jamal Mayers. This deal can be broken into two perspectives.
The primary part is the obtaining of a hard hitting, strong first passing and scoring defenseman in Dion Phaneuf. Unfortunately, his overzealous contract is going to cause a strong hit against the Leafs salary cap, which will ultimately prevent them from pursuing a high quality playmaker in which they desperately need. Furthermore, we had to give up a very cheap and arguably the NHL’s most underrated defenseman in Ian White. Moreover, Ian White can practically do everything Dion can do (4 more points this season), aside from hitting hard, for 5, 650, 000 dollars less. Thus the question remains, would it have been more favorable if the Leafs kept Ian White for the remainder of the season instead of dealing him for an over-priced and currently under-achieving defenseman? In theory, if Ian White had remained a Leaf, Stajan and Hagman could have been moved for an efficient playmaker to get the puck to Kessel because as of late he’s skating around the neutral zone both aimlessly and unproductively leading to countless turnovers.
The second part of the equation is dumping salaries. Jason Blake’s contract was giving him an average of 20 million dollars over 5 season meanwhile Vesa Toskala’s exorbitant contract of 8 million dollars over 2 years proved to be most unreasonable. Therefore, by taking on J.S Giguere’s 6 million dollar contract in return, combined with Dion Phaneuf’s contract for a flurry of Leaf’s players, the leafs cleared up roughly 2 million dollars in cap space for the upcoming free agency season.
Regrettably, another problem still remains even after this trade was conducted. The Leafs are still without first round draft picks for the next two years. This situation can be attributed to the incredibly steep price that GM Brian Burke paid for the services of Phil Kessel. Although what’s even more unfortunate, is that the next two NHL entry drafts are deemed to be deep with talent. Based up on such a notion, it is evident that Mr. Burke along with the Leafs upper management will have to put their heads together once again to try and re-acquire a first round draft pick. And to add insult to injury, on a team with seemingly now valuable assets aside from Tomas Kaberle (who can’t be moved anyways because of his no trade clause, thank you Mr. John Ferguson!), a task of the utmost importance will be virtually impossible.
So, with all the facts being presented, the future is not bright. As a matter of fact, it is quite dreary, well perhaps with the slightest shed of sunlight on the horizon. The so-called American trio of Viktor Stalberg, Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson, that was once highly regarded by Mr. Burke as the future has performed everything short of expectations. In addition, when Brian Burke’s tenure began, he preached patience to the Leafs Nation saying that this rebuilding process would take time and that eventually the desired results would come. Well judging from what’s been done, there has been absolutely no rebuilding. During a rebuild, a team isn’t supposed to try and sign immobile defenseman such as Mike Komisarek and Garnet Exelby, they aren’t supposed to trade away potential top 5 lottery draft picks in return for a "sniper" (Phil Kessel) who’s stats have been inflated due to him having one of the best playmakers in the game (Marc Savard) by his side. Moreover, to add more fuel to the fire, who is Jeff Finger anyway? You aren’t supposed to sign a practically unknown defenseman out of Cloud St. University for $ 14 million over 4 years who is known merely as a "shutdown defenseman." What you are expected to do is stockpile draft picks by trading off all your assets that aren’t registered as building blocks to enable your franchise to build from the bottom up (Can anyone say Washington Capitals?).
So Leaf fans, due to some errors and lack in proper judgment from Burke Management and Co. we are going to have to be a lot more "patient" with the Leafs than what was once originally thought. Therefore, just sit back, relax, put your feet up and go jump on the bandwagon for another team because it’s going to be a long time coming until we get to witness the glory days similar to those witnessed in 1967.
PensionPlanPuppets.com is a fan community that allows members to post their own thoughts and opinions on the Toronto Maple Leafs and hockey in general. These views and thoughts may not be shared by the editor of PensionPlanPuppets.com.
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I wrote this article about 2 months back, so some of the statistics may be a bit off but the point stands. Enjoy and please comment!
Thanks.
I’m too lazy to link to the dozen articles where we’ve discussed these trades, so I’ll summarize what I believe is a fair consensus:
Re: Kessel Deal
Opinions are mixed after 1 year. Long story short, there’s no way to know who “won” this trade for probably 3-5 years when we see who all the draft picks are, what type of development they’ve had, and how far Kessel has come. Even then, the concept of “winning” a trade can sometimes be misleading, when both teams benefit. This could end up being Burke’s “Bay of Pigs” or the steal of the century.
Although what’s even more unfortunate, is that the next two NHL entry drafts are deemed to be deep with talent.
I have no idea where you get your information, but frankly there’s no way you could know this. I’m going to assume you read this somewhere on a rumour or “insider” website and immediately accepted it as fact.
Re: Giguere deal
This is one of those trades which actually DID benefit both sides, both being salary dumps. Leafs were stuck with what was commonly believed to be a boat-anchor contract with Blake, who was being overpaid for his performance on-ice and on a contract for the next several years, during which time we would be rebuilding. He was not an answer to the future, and he was impeding our ability to grow. In order to get rid of him (and the dreaded Toskala), we took on our own boat-anchor contract in Giguere for the remainder of the 09/10 season + 1 year, where we owe him $7m on a $6m cap hit. The reason this works for Anaheim is because Hiller just signed a shiny new contract, and Giggy was being paid $6m to sit on the bench – money that Anaheim just doesn’t have to throw around to ride the pine, due to their internal cap.
Re: Phaneuf trade
we had to give up a very cheap and arguably the NHL’s most underrated defenseman in Ian White. Moreover, Ian White can practically do everything Dion can do (4 more points this season), aside from hitting hard, for 5, 650, 000 dollars less. Thus the question remains, would it have been more favorable if the Leafs kept Ian White for the remainder of the season instead of dealing him for an over-priced and currently under-achieving defenseman? In theory, if Ian White had remained a Leaf, Stajan and Hagman could have been moved for an efficient playmaker to get the puck to Kessel because as of late he’s skating around the neutral zone both aimlessly and unproductively leading to countless turnovers.
I’m sorry but this entire paragraph is a disaster. Ian White was a fan favourite here, as he worked hard in both ends and was extremely productive for his cap hit. That being said – he was (is) due for a huge raise this summer, somewhere in the neighbourhood of $3-$3.5M. He was a 7th round draft pick I believe, and another common sentiment is that he was approaching his ceiling.
Enter Phaneuf, coming off a pair of back-to-back relatively poor seasons for his salary. A Norris trophy nominee a few years back, Phaneuf is being given a chance to find his offensive game again which has dried up, but he’s a hard-hitting offensive d-man and for the most part the epitome of the overused phrase “a Burke-type” defenseman. His cap hit is huge, but combined the players we gave up in the trade had much higher salary demands- White (probably getting a $2.5M raise), Stajan (scored a massive 4-year 3.5M/year contract), Mayers (spare part) and Hagman ($3M solid winger). While useful, they were all 2nd-3rd tier players and Burke agreed that we didn’t need to fill our roster with these types of players going forward in the future, and that funds were better off spent on acquiring high-end talent and developing our youth.
So, with all the facts being presented, the future is not bright. As a matter of fact, it is quite dreary, well perhaps with the slightest shed of sunlight on the horizon. The so-called American trio of Viktor Stalberg, Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson, that was once highly regarded by Mr. Burke as the future has performed everything short of expectations.
These are not facts, these are your opinions – don’t present them like facts. As for Bozak & Stalberg, what on earth do you expect out of rookies? Bozak was on a better PPG pace than both John Tavares and Matt Duschene, both of which are highly touted prospects with Duschene being in the running for Calder and Tavares being #1 pick.
Well judging from what’s been done, there has been absolutely no rebuilding. What you are expected to do is stockpile draft picks by trading off all your assets that aren’t registered as building blocks to enable your franchise to build from the bottom up (Can anyone say Washington Capitals?).
Burke has said he’s not interested in a long-rebuild. Moreover, this is not the only formula for success. (see Red Wings, Detroit) In addition, just because you suck for years doesn’t guarantee you’ll draft a Crosby, Ovechkin, Stamkos, etc. If you consider success in the NHL as having won the Stanley Cup, then Washington hasn’t done shit yet so I wouldn’t start using them as the perfect comparison of what a franchise should be like.
I realize some of my comments come off as hostile towards your article, but they’re just intending to point out that you have presented a number of “facts” that are actually just opinion, and I for one disagree completely.
Damn, long post.
Leafs Nation: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on May 29, 2010 4:33 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Lazy? Or tired of re-hashing the same material each week?
Need some actual news here in Leafland. Now we don’t even have anti-Habs jokes left to keep us occupied!
Pension Plan Puppets -A Toronto Maple Leafs Blog: Pineapple Free Thanks to Mikhail Grabovski
by Sergei Puckizin on May 29, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
There’s a lot I could comment on, but it’s 1 am so I’m only going to say this:
Kessel put up 30 goals this year with some pretty mediocre centres on a fairly weak offensive team. He’s the guy that opposing teams key in on instantly but he still managed to put up solid numbers. Kessel’s went slightly down after moving to a terrible team, and Marc Savard struggled this year without a wingman. Kessel’s done alright for us so far.
Until Taylor Hall of Tyler Seguin do the same, we have nothing to fear.
Boo hoo!
where do these keep coming from?
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on May 29, 2010 9:02 AM EDT reply actions
some sort of robot.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on May 29, 2010 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions
=they aren’t supposed to trade away potential top 5 lottery draft picks in return for a "sniper" (Phil Kessel)=
Kessel was a top 5 Lottery Pick, his stats arent inflated as others have shown.
=Moreover, to add more fuel to the fire, who is Jeff Finger anyway? You aren’t supposed to sign a practically unknown defenseman… for $ 14 million over 4 years=
Burke probably agrees, as he didn’t sign Jeff Finger
=a team with seemingly now valuable assets aside from Tomas Kaberle (who can’t be moved anyways because of his no trade clause=
If the Leafs dont make the playoffs, Kaberle’s no trade is void from Draft Day to the start of the season
=The so-called American trio of Viktor Stalberg, Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson, that was once highly regarded by Mr. Burke as the future has performed everything short of expectations.=
Jeez… Its the “Frat Line,” not the American trio, because they were all taken from the NCAA (and only Hanson is American) . Hanson and Bozak were free signings, Stalberg was a 7th(?) rounder, so if they become anything at all thats great. They are still young and have only played one year, so its a bit early to call tem a dissapointment… Oh, and Tyler Bozak had about as good a season as anyone could have expected, looked like he could be a legit top 6 centre.
=During a rebuild, a team isn’t supposed to try and sign…Garnet Exelby=
Exelby was part of the Kubina salary dump, Burke isnt going to re-sign him
=go jump on the bandwagon for another team =
DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO TO TRAITORS AT PPP?
by samspade on May 29, 2010 9:48 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
what/who is this directed towards?
Pension Plan Puppets -A Toronto Maple Leafs Blog: Pineapple Free Thanks to Mikhail Grabovski
by Sergei Puckizin on May 29, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh, okay. Seemed like a random comment to just throw in there.
Agreed, this has been a well-debated topic in this forum for the last few weeks.
Pension Plan Puppets -A Toronto Maple Leafs Blog: Pineapple Free Thanks to Mikhail Grabovski
by Sergei Puckizin on May 29, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
indeed, but on another note. What are your thoughts on Nikolai Kulemin?
He is my favourite player in the team and I haven’t seen any progress made in the contract talks between him and Burke. Hopefully something can be done because I can see him becoming a Ryan Kesler type player aka a strong two-way forward.
Its another topic that has been discussed ad nauseum, and the consensus appears to be that it’s too early in the process to tell.
I, along with several others, feel that he’ll re-up for 2.5 mil or less, which would be consistent with his market value. I think 2.25 tops, as he should be in the 1.8 – 2.2 range. Love his work ethic and he was by far the most improved player last season, but still only put up 38 or so points. Hope he can sign around the 2 mil mark and then have a break out year.
Pension Plan Puppets -A Toronto Maple Leafs Blog: Pineapple Free Thanks to Mikhail Grabovski
by Sergei Puckizin on May 29, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s way too early. There’s some CBA ambiguity but consensus is he’s arbitration eligible (but unlikely to opt for it because of his poor “counting stats”), and that whole process doesn’t even take place until August.
I’d start to worry if we don’t have him re-signed by then and he doesn’t opt for arbitration.
by The '67 Sound on May 30, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed, with two small wrinkles:
- Kulemin must file for arbitration by July 5; the Leafs by July 6 (or possibly June 15, depending on some fine print in the CBA that I’m way too lazy to sort out).
- The only upside to Kulemin or the Leafs pursuing arbitration is: once either party files, Kulemin cannot negotiate an RFA offer sheet with other clubs.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
1. Next two drafts are supposed to be quite weak after the top 2-5 players are gone.
2. Hagman and Stajan could never have netted a quality playmaker.
3. Burke didn’t sign Finger.
Do your research next time.
by scrambles the death dealer on May 30, 2010 6:42 PM EDT reply actions
Although what’s even more unfortunate, is that the next two NHL entry drafts are deemed to be deep with talent. Based up on such a notion, it is evident that Mr. Burke along with the Leafs upper management will have to put their heads together once again to try and re-acquire a first round draft pick. And to add insult to injury, on a team with seemingly now valuable assets aside from Tomas Kaberle (who can’t be moved anyways because of his no trade clause, thank you Mr. John Ferguson!), a task of the utmost importance will be virtually impossible.
It would be good to link to an article that discusses that the next two drafts are deep.
And Tomas Kaberle has a limited no trade clause. He can be moved from draft day to August 15th.
During a rebuild, a team isn’t supposed to try and sign immobile defenseman such as Mike Komisarek and Garnet Exelby,
I would barely put those two in the same sentence let alone the same league.
they aren’t supposed to trade away potential top 5 lottery draft picks
Well, there’s the rub. Burke didn’t think he was trading away a lottery pick.
in return for a “sniper” (Phil Kessel) who’s stats have been inflated due to him having one of the best playmakers in the game (Marc Savard) by his side.
It’s a shame that you were overseas. I mean, I assume that you were unable to watch any games if you think that about Kessel.
Moreover, to add more fuel to the fire, who is Jeff Finger anyway? You aren’t supposed to sign a practically unknown defenseman out of Cloud St. University for $ 14 million over 4 years who is known merely as a “shutdown defenseman.”
FYI Brian Burke didn’t sign Jeff Finger.
What you are expected to do is stockpile draft picks by trading off all your assets that aren’t registered as building blocks to enable your franchise to build from the bottom up (Can anyone say Washington Capitals?).
Funny thing about the Capitals, they only started doing that after a team that was supposed to be good completely fell apart and they drafted Ovechkin. And Burke’s been doing a great job of stockpiling assets other than first round picks of course. He’s added three highly rated goaltending prospects, two of the top college free agent skaters, and move pending UFAs that had no future with the team for draft picks.
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??
I don’t think I’ve ever read an article on here with more crazy opinions and wacky stats. White is going to be a UFA this summer.. so who knows how much he gets paid (and you would have to think Phaneuf will have a bigger impact if Toronto starts winning than White ever would). Kessel needing Savard to score goals? C’mon.. really? I mean, this season at least killed that myth. BB didn’t sign Exelby, he got him in the Kubina dump. I’m not justifying Finger’s contract here, but he was coming off a fairly productive 8 goal season when he signed, obviously he’s never going to repeat that, but if he was putting up 10 goals a year no one would complain.
You’ve got such a pesimistic view of the season ahead… maybe u should put your feet up and see what happens..
Contains the correct levels of Truculence....
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