Filling in the Holes
by SkinnyFish on Jul 14, 2010 1:00 PM EDT
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PrintWith free agency slowed down to the speed of an indecisive Russian snail, there's not much to talk about at the moment aside from the usual speculation. However speculation without an understanding of what is needed just leads to crazy scenarios and debates that go nowhere. If we're going to speculate on Burke's next move, we need to understand what types of players he wants or needs. What holes he has to fill.
Now it's become pretty clear that Tomas Kaberle will be traded this offseason. He was almost moved at the draft; the signing of Brett Lebda, Burke's constant talk about wanting a Top 6 forward for him, etc... Also inevitable appears to be the waiving of Jeff Finger. Through no fault of his own, he simply costs too much for what he gives back to be on the big club. He's a salary cap liability. So for everything I'm about to say, assume that Kaberle and Finger are gone.
So what holes do the Leafs need to fill? Right now I see the team being structured as such:
| ? | Bozak | Kessel | ||
| Kulemin | Grabovski | Versteeg | ||
| Sjostrom | ? | Armstrong | ||
| Brown | Mitchell | Orr | ||
| Anybody | Caputi | |||
| Phaneuf | Komisarek | |||
| Beauchemin | Schenn | |||
| Gunnarsson | Lebda | |||
| ? | ||||
| Gustavsson | ||||
| Giguere |
Note on Kulemin: Sure he played on the 1st line after everyone else got dealt to Calgary, but I just don't believe that Nikolai Kulemin is a legitimate 1st line left winger in the NHL. I see his max potential as being a 20G, 20A player with a good physical aspect to his game. A Johan Franzen lite if you will.
By my take on things, the Leafs need a 1st line left winger, a 3rd line center, and a 7th defenseman who doesn't cost $3.5M. With that lineup the Leafs would have $9,775,833 in cap room if you ignore the $5.4M in potential bonuses, and I will. $9.8M in cap space for a 1st liner, a 3rd, and the 7th defenseman. That certainly makes any scenario possible. So who could Burke bring in to fill these holes?
The 1st Line Left Winger Hole
They is a myriad of 1st line quality left wingers out there for the taking at the moment, though they all come with their own caveats and would fit the Leafs' current situation to varying degrees.
The 800 pound gorilla in the free agency room who has yet to pick a club. His asking apparent asking price and term are somewhat ludicrous ($10M for 10 years), and I don't see any GM giving him that kind of dough. The Leafs have a huge asset in their corner though that could help them land Kovalchuk; tons of cash. The only problem with that is that current GM Brian Burke has stated publicly that he is against long term contract that taper off at the end to bring the overall cap hit down. Why I have no idea, but when a perennial 40+ goal scorer is available for straight cash, how can you pass that up?
With the signing of Nikolai Zherdev, Gagne's time in Philly has come to an end. They are currently $2.5M over the cap and it's become clear that Gagne is their man to move. However he has a NTC and would need to approve of any trade. There's been talk that he would waive his NTC to Toronto, LA, or Montreal, but it's all hearsay. Were a trade to happen, it'll be for picks and prospects as Philadelphia cannot take on a roster player with their current cap situation. I don't think he'd be a great fit in Toronto as he's getting old and has been injury plagued for the last few seasons.
New broke yesterday from Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News that the Stars offerred Neal a 2 year contract worth $2.5M per. That's a huge slap in the face for a 22 year old 27 goal scorer. The reason for such a low offer is that Dallas' owners are bankrupt and have instituted an internal salary cap of around $45 to $48M; currently they sit at $43.5M with only 6 defensemen signed and 12 forwards. There have been talks and speculation of trading Kaberle to the Stars for a player for quite some time. Could James Neal be that player? If not, what about the possibility of offer sheeting Neal for the max contract where the compensation is only a 2nd round pick? You'd have to think that given 1st line minutes, Neal could be a 30 goal scorer.
It's become clear that Frolov has to wait for the Kovalchuk-Kings saga to play out before he finds a home. If Ilya goes to LA, then Frolov will be the odd man out there and need a team. There are questions about his work ethic and tendencies to float in the defensive zone, but with the blue liners on the Leafs and the fact that he is a proven sniper capable of 30+ goal seasons, you'd think that those deficiencies wouldn't be a problem. He made $2.9M last year, his 4th and last of his RFA contract, and at 28 will probably be looking for a contract worth $4M for 3 to 5 years. He could therefore serve as a good bridge player as the young Leafs team matures and develops.
Godd Till wants Kaberle traded to Columbus for Filatov. I personally love that idea.
Long story short; Burke has to fill this hole with someone from outside of the organization.
The 3rd Line Center Hole
He has yet to sign be resigned after his first full season with the Leafs that began with promise and ended with a whole lot of nothing. 2 goals and 5 assists in 31 NHL games is a big disappoint for the once highly touted college free agent. The plus side here, is that were he resigned, it'd be for cheap. But I believe that better options exist.
But SkinnyFish, you say, you already have Grabovski playing as the 2nd line center. That is correct, currently Grabbo is slotted into the 2nd line, but their another small, fast, and skilled center on the Maple Leafs I don't have listed above: Nazem Kadri. Kadri has stated that he wants to make the Leafs straight out of camp. However, I believe it best for him to start with the Marlies and tear it up down there before forcing Burke's hand to bring him up the big club. If/when that should happen, he'd slot into the role of 2nd line center, forcing Grabovski down to the third line. Not a bad scenario at all.
Mitchell will more than likely start on the 4th line, but were he to do well, or say Hanson falters, then I could see a potential swap of Hanson and Mitchell between the 3rd and 4th lines. Or with a good camp and pre-season, seeing Mitchell start on the 3rd line wouldn't be out of the question at all.
Long story short; this is a position to be filled internally and in the cheapest way possible.
The 7th Defenseman Hole
Jeff Finger
If a high profile left winger with a big caphit isn't brought in, then the Leafs could afford to keep Finger on the Leafs as they'd have no need to clear his caphit from the books. He's a legit 4-6 defenseman in the league, and the Leafs have few other options for this position with more talent.
Insert best defenseman on the Marlies here
Have it be a running competition all season long. If you prove yourself in the AHL, you get to move up the the Leafs and play there. Falter, and you go back down and the new #1 contender takes your spot. With guys like Mikus, Holzer, and Aulie as the likely trio of players vying for this spot I think it would be a good idea.
Short story shorter; it's the 7th defenseman and he just needs to fit under the cap.
So those are the holes I currently see in the Leafs' lineup, and the players I think can fill them. What about you?
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Great Write Up
I agree with you in that the only player we need to add from outside the organization is a 1st line left winger.
I would be more than happy with the Frolov situation you suggested, should we not acquire one through the Kaberle deal.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 1:05 PM EDT reply actions
Any particular reason?
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd love to have
Neal on the Leafs. Having him with Kessel & Bozak could mean a hell of a lot of goals scored for us.
If the stars are so bankrupt they are offering Neal only 2.5 M slap in the face money, then there’s no way they are eating Kaberle’s (very reasonable) 4 M.
We could offer sheet him for the 2nd round pick, but it has to be OUR 2nd round pick, right. And Boston owns that at present.
difference
Kaberle’s deal is for one year, whereas Neal will want to sign for much longer. We have our second round pick next year, Boston had ours from the draft we just passed.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
They were only offering him 2 years at 2.5 … that’s not a whole lot younger. And if they are hard up against their internal cap at present, then long-term considerations don’t really come into it as much…
Good call on the 2nd round pick though. I stand happily corrected :)
true
but I really can’t see Neal’s camp even wanting that short a term, can you?
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, they’re boned on him for sure. The question is whether this is an opening that works for US… They have him, can’t afford him. We like him and could afford him… but… they have him. Therein likes the sticky parts.
Let’s hurl a bricky mart!
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by BetterThanBester on Jul 14, 2010 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Their disagreement, I’ve heard, is largely over just that, though (term). I think Defending Big D had mentioned that Neal is looking for a 4 year deal at an appropriate cap hit.
If you’re hard up on an internal cap, then isn’t term for salary a deal that you’re willing to make 9 times out of 10? I mean, unless they’re worried that he would start to suck and become a 2.5 M boat anchor? Even then I’m sure he would be tradeable.
no
they want shorter term because the new owners will want a clean slate to build the team as they see fit
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
An internal cap is a bit of a misnomer I think – They want to hit say $45M per year but you also have to take into account the cost of future salary (i.e. the Present Value of expected future payments)
Neal: $3M * 4 years is 12M, PV that (depending on the discount rate) is probably around $10M in current dollars
Kaberle: ~4.25M in current dollars (salary is spread out over the year so it’s slightly less than that in PV terms)
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Well except that you would have to add onto Kaberle’s NPV the cost of the warm body that you replace him with for the next 3 years, in order to make it comparable to Neal’s NPV. And maybe you replace him with a min wages plug, but… then you are trading a young hot player for 1 year of good offense, and 3 years of crap.
Ya true, I’m not sure how teams with internal budgets (and pending sales) make these considerations, just saying its not the same as Neal $4M and Kaberle $4.25M
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
A year later new owners can make a decision on their own accord what to do with 4.25M in cap space.
They’re stuck paying any deal that’s already on their books.
Resident Capologist
Lets say you get this kid on 4 years of 3m though… in 2 years he’s a young promising scorer with 2 years left at 3M, making him a steal. New owners could keep him as a bargain, or trade him for picks, or use him to sweeten the deal of shipping out a bigger contract…
The long and the short of it, is if you can sign him to a good contract then in 2 years that’s worth more than just having a terrible franchise and a bunch of unspent cap.
it’s the old “paying for potential” trap. Neal could be a 35 goal scorer, and he knows it. He wants the term that allows for it, and he wants the pay for it (just like we overpay for Kessel now). That might be rough for a new owner to see / pay, it drives up the overall price of the team (especially if they’re not winning enough to justify it), and it’s not helpful if the owner wants to stick to some sort of building philosophy.
Right. I’m assuming that if you pay him a longer term contract the price per year is lower because you’re factoring into the price the risk that he WON’T have so much potential to live up to. If you’re paying him like you would if he actually already were that better player then it’s not a good deal for the future owner, and probably the present one too.
We could offer sheet him for the 2nd round pick, but it has to be OUR 2nd round pick, right. And Boston owns that at present.
Boston has our 2011 1st round pick. Leafs have their own 2011 2nd round pick.
The point is moot, Dallas would have to match any offer the Leafs could throw at within the 2nd round pick offer sheet compensation. As I said in the other thread, a $3m-ish offer is just a fuck-you to Dallas who would immediately match. What competant GM would let Neal go for a 2nd round pick?
If we had our 1st and 3rd, and went for $4M/year, then the situation changes a bit… but we have neither.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Dallas probably wants someone to toss a low offer sheet at Neal in the hopes he signs it.
I doubt Neal would sign a $3M offer sheet.
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Ya, some one sending him a $3.5-$4M one though, that’s more likely (if at all).
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
An offer sheet is just one way to trade him for picks. Is there anything else we have that they’d want?
Not really, maybe Gunnarsson.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't want to move Gunnarsson at all
Just sayin’, he has tons of value for a team with an internal cap, fairly good rookie season and only costs $800k.
I hope that’s not the case, just seeing what else on our roster they could possibly want.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
We could give them Kaberle, our 2nd and Grabovski. They’d take on a ton of salary though and I don’t think they can or want to.
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could work, though, if they traded Ribeiro somewhere. Maybe.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Kabs + our 2nd + a prospect or two? Ugh i’m reaching.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Grabbo only has one year left too, though, right? It just means they’d need to put off selling the team for a year, and the next owner would have a lot of options.
Kaberle, Aulie/Blacker/McKegg/, and a 2nd for Neal and Skrastins
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Agree that 1st line LW is the only hole I’d consider filling from the outside. Unless it’s Kovy or Neal though (neither of which I see happening, sadly), I’d rather fill that hole from within. I think Kadri is with the big club by January at the latest, and given our modest expectations for next year I’m happy having Caputi fill in on the top 6. Heck, last year we had Stalberg and Caputi in our top 6 post-deadline and we did just fine.
Gagne I’d be OK with if he could be had for next-to-nothing (which I can’t see happening), and Frolov I have no interest unless it’s on a short-term deal. No reason to paper a hole for next year when we aren’t expecting to contend, only to be saddled with an immoveable contract down the road when we do hope to contend.
Kovalchuk: Looking for a 10 year/100 Million contract. Not sure why people are still mentioning him as a candidate. He isn’t coming here, not at that price.
Gagner: I agree, he is injury prone, and his production has tailed off as a result. We have enough overpaid players, and there is a reason why he is being moved in favor of a lazy, cancer of a player.
Neal: Love this one, but I am not sure what assets (that we would be willing to give up) could be moved to get him that wouldn’t add to their self-imposed cap woes. Just FYI, the compensation for signing him at the cost of a 2nd rounder, is a maximum of 2.6ish Million per season, which they would easily match (and would still be a huge slap in the face, as you put it).
Frolov: Agree with you here that he would be a nice filler piece until some of our players develop. I don’t really have a problem with his play in our own end, as Ron Wilson doesn’t seem to put a ton of emphasis on backchecking anyways.
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 1:14 PM EDT reply actions
more than $3 mill
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Just under 4M for a 1st and 3rd pick.
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you have a source for next year’s cap?
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FTF has estimated 2010-2011 figures
http://www.fearthefin.com/2010/6/30/1545995/2010-nhl-free-agency-san-jose
League Min. – $1,029,448: No Compensation
$1,029,449 – $1,559,770: 2011 3rd Round Pick
$1,559,771 – $3,119,539: 2011 2nd Round Pick
$3,119,540 – $4,679,310: 2011 1st & 3rd Round Pick
$4,679,311 – $6,239,080: 2011 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Round Pick
$6,239,081 – $7,798,850: 2011 1st, 2nd, 3rd Round Pick & 2012 1st Round Pick
$7,798,850 – League Max.: 2011, 2012, 2013, & 2014 1st Round Pick
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d offer $3,119,539. Might as well.
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Even if the result is just to annoy the crap out of Dallas while gaining nothing?
What happens when you want to do your next trade with them?
Heh, I don’t think Dallas would be annoyed at all if Neal signed an offer sheet for $3.119. They’d match no problem.
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Exactly. They’d love us.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, when a team signs a RFA to an offer sheet, typically they overpay rather than underpay, unless the team in question is in severe cap trouble.
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
In all seriousness, if you refuse to make a deal with a certain team just because you’re mad about an offer sheet, you probably don’t deserve to keep your job.
Stan Bowman is probably hella pissed at Doug Wilson right now but if he came along and offered Chicago a trade that would make the Hawks better, Bowman would be retarded not to do it.
And before you say “Burke and Lowe”, Burke had already got Pronger out of there, and Edmonton was circling the drain. There was nothing in Edmonton Burke needed so he could afford to take a hardline stance against the Oilers.
Resident Capologist
Yeah, I get all that. But good will and connections are often helpful, especially for the marginal trades. You have a good player out on offer, several teams are offering you essentially comparable packages in return, which do you take? You like the GM that’ll probably add a lean to color the decision making.
I’m not suggesting they all start sending each other cupcakes and valentines cards, just if you get a rep for dicking people over (not that this is the current situation), then people get grumpy with you, and benefits of the doubt start going against you.
I don’t think Burke would do that… plus would Neal sign that? He’d just end up back in Dallas at arguably less than his market value, Dallas would be unhappy with Burke (probably?) and we still wouldn’t have a top 6 forward.
I don’t see any win in that situation.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Just FYI, the compensation for signing him at the cost of a 2nd rounder, is a maximum of 2.6ish Million per season
You need to update your ranges, they change every year.
It’s closer to $3.1M now.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m starting to get the feeling Kadri will make the team and play second line. He almost could have made the team last year and now he’s a year older, he’s bigger and the kid seems pretty damned determined.
That would solve some issues.
Despite the fact that i’d love if he spent time in the A and worked his way onto the team, I’m fairly confident he’ll make it right out of camp.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
if Kadri makes the team, the first line LW is probably Grabovski.
Perfectly fine with that personally. Really don’t sere Burke getting what he wants for Kaberle.
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Jul 14, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Personal preference but I’d rather go
Versteeg – Bozak – Kessel
Kulemin – Kadri – Grabovski
Resident Capologist
And an off-handed player can’t play on the wing because?
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
/reads comment
where did i say that again? merely making an observation…
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Jul 14, 2010 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Rationale
It’s well-established Versteeg can play either wing.
Kulemin and Grabovski seem to have inherited that odd Russian Antro and Poni chemistry, so I’d like to keep them together if possible.
Seeing how Kadri’s a rookie and could potentially struggle at first with faceoffs it may not be a bad idea to have an alternative on the ice at all times in case he’s getting slaughtered.
Resident Capologist
makes sense re: Kadri.
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Jul 14, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
that odd Russian Antro and Poni chemistry
Alexei Ponikarovsky- birthplace: Kiev, Ukraine
Nik Antropov- birthplace: Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
So where does Russian chemistry come from? Maybe USSR chemistry, but not Russian!
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
in Soviet Russia, Chemistry makes you!
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Fixed:
Fine, for theanal-retentive sticklerhistorically-conscious PPP’er, we’ll refer to it as Soviet chemistry.
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
AFAIK, both are ethnically Russian, and both speak Russian as a first language, so it’s not really inappropriate.
Stalin screwed up the demographics over there as much as he could.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jul 14, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Kulemin and Grabovski seem to have inherited that odd Russian Antro and Poni chemistry, so I’d like to keep them together if possible.
Just wondering where you’re thinking this is from, as Kulemin played consistently (and consistently well) with Bozak and Kessel near the end of the season.
They played significantly together in their first year with Hagman.
Also, immediately after Grabovski came back from injury, they ended up on the ice together for at least 2 OT winners (Boston game immediately springs to mind)
Resident Capologist
what is your problem?
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Jul 14, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Nothing...
Just making an observation…
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
you should make more
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Jul 14, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Putting together players who all shoot the same way is just asking for trouble. It’s easier to defend against, more predictable, they’re likely to favor similar spots on the ice, and it helps goalies out a lot (righties and lefties tend to shoot to the same side of a goalie).
Instead, mixing up the shooting preference gives you a lot more options. I’d never want to see all righties / all lefties on a line together.
Scorers put the puck on net where they see the best opportunity. It doesn’t make them any more or less predictable… It does probably affect battles on the boards (easier to defend against). In an ideal situation, you would probably want to have at least one different-handed player on a line, but this is what we have.
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
“The best opportunity” differs based on how and where you shoot. That changes based on where your stick is relative to your body.
“This is what we have” doesn’t mean “these are the best line combinations we could have.”
Does any of this matter?
RW is just going to apply his blender technique of line shifting anyway.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Why does Grabbo automatically get bumped from C for a kid with 1 NHL game under his belt? F that.
Kadri to LW with Grabbs and Versteeg.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 14, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Because most of us want Grabbo to be moved to wing right now, regardless of who the center replacement would be.
disagree. kadri hasn’t earned even a roster spot yet, let alone supplanted Grabbs as the #2 centre.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 14, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
regardless of who the center replacement would be.
I’ve never been impressed by Grabbo’s passing, but I think he has a nice shot when he uses his speed coming down the wing. If he’s going to be a center, I want him standing in front of the net more.
Kadri doesn’t even enter into the picture here.
I’ve never been impressed by Grabbo’s passing, but I think he has a nice shot when he uses his speed coming down the wing
In his two years with the Maple Leafs:
30 goals
53 assists
It looks to me like his passing is just fine but his shot could use some work. In 19 less games played last season as compared to 08/09 his goal production was cut in half while he only produced 3 less assists. I believe it was discussed in his year-end player review here that his passing is very underrated.
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I know it’s anecdotal, but he just makes some weird passing decisions. If I see another bad drop pass just past the blue line…
Won’t disagree with you there. He also tends to hold onto the puck too long and get flattened rather than making a pass.
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
Assists don’t equal great passing, it might mean that the puck went off your leg on the way to the guy that scored, or you fished the puck out of a scrum in the corner a lot.
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
He can't pass....
because he doesn’t create space between himself and the opposing player. A good centerman creates space for himself. Grabbo doesn’t know how or won’t. If he keeps up he’ll be another Berezin. I’m afraid Grabbo lacks a certain creativity needed to be a good centerman, that or the man is just to selfish.
Thanks for the fantastically objective observation based on fact and stats.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 14, 2010 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Plus the awesome grammar. At least when Jared does it, it’s funny.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 14, 2010 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions
PS: you’re wrong. Grabbo isn’t selfish, he just wants the puck. I don’t know how much you’ve been watching him, but he is an excellent passer.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 14, 2010 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL. Grabbo man crush!
I’ve watched him long enough to know his time as a maple leaf has just about run it’s course.
Take your blinders off for goodness sakes and learn to read carefully so that u can understand what someone is saying. I said he can’t pass , not because he’s a lousy passer. but because he’s too busy hogging and coughing up the puck.
sheeeeeeesh. what a laugh.
PS: lol
If u were more objective instead of being seduced by your Grabbo man-desires , you’d notice he has an inferiority complex. Not exactly the kind of negative energy u want on this team.
I’ll be glad to see the day we wave g’bye to this “little” man. lol. But hey, u can keep your man-crush on him for as long as u like. rotflmao.
your just a grabbo hater
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 15, 2010 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I know PPP isn’t here… but you should be using ‘you’ instead of ‘u’. Separates us from the animals.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 15, 2010 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions
maybe he has to type “u” because he has no opposable thumbs?
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 15, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
hey, i see what you did there!
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 16, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Also, funnybuns:
Try to focus more on analysis, less on personal attacks on people with whom you disagree. Otherwise you might get one of these:
You’re a dick
Maybe I shouldn’t have blockquoted that.
by The '67 Sound on Jul 15, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
First of all, I’m 33. I have no idea what rotflmao means.
Secondly, you can hate on Grabbs all you want. Doesn’t change the fact that he’s, at worst, our third best forward and has had a season of 50 points. Sure, he coughs up the puck. So does Kessel. He coughs it up but he also makes plays with it. You can’t play with 12 forwards that dump and chase.
Finally, I haven’t seen any inferiority complex. I’ve seen him compete his ass off every shift and take on Blake in practice. Don’t know any Leafs fans that complained about that. He gets up after taking hellacious hits and keeps on chugging. He’s chalk full of skill and effort and it would be a mistake to move him in favour of a kid who’s played a GRAND TOTAL OF ONE GAME IN THE NHL. Have I made my point clearly enough yet?
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 15, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
1977!!!1
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 16, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I have no idea what rotflmao means
Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off.
Although usually you’d just use rotfl or lmao, the only time I’ve seen both together as one is in the Weird Al video for “White and Nerdy”. I’d say maybe funnybuns is in fact Weird Al, except Weird Al is capable of intelligent thought.
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 16, 2010 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Gotcha. I was on board with the lmao, even with lmfao. But once he added the rotl it threw me off.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 16, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Please review this and then get back to me.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 15, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Remember that behind the back no look pass to Kulemin as he was going behind the net two seasons ago against Atlanta (I think). Oh man that was sick.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
when was the last time i reminded everyone that this was the only home game i’ve ever been to and i was 4 rows up from the goal line when this happened?
oh yeah, also i got loaded a bought a Grabovski jersey that night! good times, good times.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 14, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
oh yeah, also i got loaded a bought a Grabovski jersey that night! good times, good times.
Hell yea.
That was the only possible response to witnessing that event.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, i totally went in to look for stajan jersey but:
A – there were none made up;
B – he was injured and not playing;
C – Grabbs made the ridicu-pass in the first, and;
D – they were offering free cresting during the game with a jersey purchase.
i was way too many beers in to pass it up.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 14, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 15, 2010 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
yep. i shed a tear.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 16, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I would love James Neal
Or even Frolov. Kovalchuk seems unreasonable at this point but I still really want him. It’s hard to believe that these are the teams only holes after finishing as bad as we did. If we fill the LW spot with a Frolov or a Neal, then what place do you all see us coming in? If these are our holes and we fill them, just how good of a team will we be?
Either Frolov or Neal
would give the Leafs’ opposition nightmares for seasons to come.
by Marc Pilgrim on Jul 14, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
not sure
it looks promising on paper, but there’s been a heck of a lot of turnover, so I would still hedge my bets on just competing for 8th in the east.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s hard to believe that these are the teams only holes after finishing as bad as we did.
Remember that if you put any credence in corsi stats, then last year we were a mediocre team done in by horrific goaltending. Our record post Jan 31 when the goaltending improved gives some credence to that view.
The second point is that the difference between good and bad teams in the NHL is usually not a lot more than a couple guys at the top of the roster. If you put Kovy and Neal at the top of our roster (not saying that’s possible, just using a hypothetical to make a point) suddenly our Fs look amazing:
Kovy-Bozak-Versteeg
Neal-Kadri-Kessel
Kulemin-Grabovski-Armstrong
Hanson-Mitchell-Sjostrom
Orr-Brown
That’s a hell of a third line. The point is you get that depth not by signing “depth” guys but by signing elite guys and pushing everyone else down the depth chart. Burke said exactly that when he took the job and has followed it with things like the Kessel and Phaneuf deals. He has strayed from it with things like the Armstrong and Lebda signings.
by The '67 Sound on Jul 14, 2010 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
picks and prospects!
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Christian Hanson had to be qualified at just over $1M, and the only valid alternatives at centre I see internally are bring up Kadri (bumping Grabovski and Mitchell down) or Tim Brent (not necessarily a bottom 6 forward, possibly fictional).
And unless we get someone like Kovalchuk or Neal, Grabovski should be playing on our 2nd line, either at centre or on wing. Could we find someone cheaper in free agency? Possibly. Maybe Ryan Potulny, who wasn’t qualified by Edmonton? Bring back Wayne Primeau at a reduced cost? I’m reasonably certain we can find someone to play 4th line centre who is both more cost-effective than Hanson and more seasoned than Hanson.
Phaneuf, Beauch, Komi, Schenn, Gunnarsson, Marlie of the Month and Lebda looks fine to me on defence.
Resident Capologist
Christian Hanson had to be qualified at just over $1M
Minimum qualification for Hanson is at 105% his salary last year, puts him around $925k if he accept the Q/O.
Ryan Potulny
I meantioned him before when he didn’t get qualified, any reason why he shouldn’t be looked at for cheap?
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Capgeek has his caphit at 925K, so it would be about 970K. We’re arguing about pennies in terms of the cap, and my point still stands. If we can find someone to be a Socks clone (price included), Hanson’s either on the wing or in the A
Resident Capologist
Ack your right
I thought capgeek might have automatically adjusted, but I didn’t see the $100k p. bonus in his 2nd year. His base salary was $875k.
Ya I don’t mind Hanson in a 3rd-4th line role, his numbers were pretty shitty but he’s a big body and i’d like to see him throw it around. I wonder if he’s bulking up as well this offseason. Assuming we can afford his ~$1M cap hit.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I am a big advocate of Marlie of the Month filling in on D rather than another UFA.
by The '67 Sound on Jul 14, 2010 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Just gonna throw this out there: Tim Brent at 2nd or 3rd center. I know he’s no stud, but he’s been nearly a ppg player in the AHL over the past 3 seasons.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
That’s IF we don’t have either Grabbo or Kadri on the roster come October
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
That’s a pretty big IF.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
You’re one funny guy.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
Burke said last week
That Kadri was pencilled in to the lineup to start the year and that meant “not just a game or two. We’ll re-evaluate at game 20” Or am I mistaken. I’m pretty sure I read that.
http://bluechipprospects.blogspot.com
I thought all we heard out of Burke in the last week was “gone fishin’”.
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he left Saturday. I’ll see if I can track down the quote again
http://bluechipprospects.blogspot.com
try a google news search
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
near as I can tell, Burke hasn’t said much of anything since the 1st.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I did the new search as you suggested… same result. I can’t find anything newer than July 3rd.
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
http://www.nationalpost.com/Burke+takes+break+from+Leafs+rebuild/3261558/story.html
there it is.
http://bluechipprospects.blogspot.com
Context
But even with the summer acquisitions, the Leafs do not have that luxury of depth. So Bozak, who has just 35 games under his belt, will centre the top line. And Kadri, who has appeared in just one game, will centre the second line.
“You have to look at last year with Matt Duchene,” Burke says of Colorado’s rookie of the year candidate. "Obviously, he had an amazing year as an 18-year-old. So it wouldn’t be unheard of for Nazem to come in give us good minutes. So it’s not out of reach.
“But he has to prove it. He is indeed pencilled in, but that pencil’s not going to come out when training camp ends. If it comes out, it won’t be until the 20-game mark.”
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I have no idea what he means bu the pencil not coming out when training camp ends… I think, maybe, he’s saying Kadri will maybe be in the lineup after 20 games??
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
He means that he won’t be inked in until about 20 games in, if at all.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
The quote is kinda opaque though — not really clear if they’re giving him 20 NHLgames to prove himself, or if he wont get called up until the 20 game mark
http://bluechipprospects.blogspot.com
A typical Burkian declaration of maybe possibly doing something if he feels like it at the time if the conditions are right and with lots of fine print underlining said declaration.
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Which is probably the sort of statement GM’s SHOULD make.
Fine print is often a good thing when dealing with young mutable players :)
I see nothing wrong with the way he operates and usually laugh when people accuse him of doing the opposite of what he said or outright lying. With him you have to read between the lines and pay attention to his word choice, it’s very deliberately tricky.
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
he’s a damn good lawyer. people should always remember this when trying to evaluate what he says.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 14, 2010 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Also, wouldn’t that be Ron Wilson’s call about who is pencilled in and when they re-evaluate the players on the team?
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I remember Wilson saying the penciled in quote. Nothing about just a game or two
"...sometimes I wake up cradling a gourd."
Here it is, from the July 5th Toronto Star:
Nazem Kadri said it a few times. Maple Leafs development coach Jim Hughes said it a few times.
It was heard so often, the media started repeating it in their questions. It was like a mantra at the team’s prospect camp:
Kadri is "pencilled" into the 2010-11 Leaf lineup.
So that quote isn’t even attributed to one single person, let alone Burke or Wilson.
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Kadri isn’t going back to the OHL. If he’s up to 190 lbs and he’s burning a year off his ELC, might as well be with the Leafs
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
Depends what’s best for his learning curve. Presumably a mix one would think. Some AHL where he can workshop things, some NHL where he can get up to speed and see the finer nuances in action.
30 games in the AHL with him tearing down the biz and forcing us to bring him up.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Is there any doubt he’s got NHL ready skills? I don’t think so. Put him out there at ES and on the PP, 17 mins per night. He’d probably outscore Grabbo with ease.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
But adjustment for skill set translation? Learning what he can’t get away with in the big boys league? And all assuming he’s got big enough.
I prefer the “put him in the marlies and, if he dominates everyone, call him up and never send him down again.” method. Those November games don’t matter anyway /rolleyes
On the Mike Weber bandwagon.
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!
Just let the Muslim warrior start...
He’s going to look really good in preseason. The fans will demand he starts.
They can always send him down if he’s struggling.
But I say if Tavares can play then why the heck can’t Kadri?
Let him dominate the Marlies if that’s what happens. Force him to make us call him up. Blow people away in the AHL and play with a chip on his shoulder.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
if he earns a spot in camp, he shouldn’t be demoted
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
Sure he should. We’re not the league all stars. Beating out the Leafs doesn’t mean you’re ready.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
if he’s the best option, he should be up.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
that’s dumb
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
Yes it’s dumb to worry about developing a prospect correctly over filling a hole in a bad lineup.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
His skills are already good enough for the NHL. Defensive zone coverage and face-offs are things you can work on at the NHL level. If’s good enough to play in the line-up in October, he should. You don’t send down what your best prospect just to shelter him.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
But you also shouldn’t rush him because you have a roster spot that someone else could fill.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I think we’re talking differently here. I’m specifically talking about Kadri. You guys seems to be talking about prospects in general.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
I wouldn’t bet good money that Kadri’s ready to light the NHL on fire this season on this team.
I feel comfortable that given time to develop he could.
Remember the team around him; if this team blows for 20 games I’d bring Kadri up in March. If this team is shit hot I’d bring Kadri up in November.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Good rookie seasons for blue chippers, outside of guys like Ovie and Crosby, trends to about 45-50 points. That’s Grabbo level production. I don’t think Grabbo is better than Kadri, offensively, right now.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
I’m pretty sure Grabovski would tear the OHL literally in half, four points per game-ish.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Would love to see this.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think Grabbo would pass waivers.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Plus there’s that pesky problem that he’s about 5 years too old to play in the OHL
Resident Capologist
details baby, details.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh come on, he’s Belarusian right? We can get him some fake papers saying that he is 18, it’s not the craziest thing I have ever heard.
I like to get banged. Banging rocks together, 140 characters at a time.
by Phaneuf's Rock Collection on Jul 14, 2010 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
reminds me of this comment
Lou Schuler said…
I have family in the K.C. area, and visit there every year. One time I got into a long conversation with a hotel manager who told me he umpired quite a few of Albert’s game in the late ‘90s—both high school and American Legion, IIRC. He said he knew the scouts, coaches, and the other players, and he swears by this: He and everybody he knew was convinced Pujols wasn’t really a teenager.
According to this guy, the consensus in K.C. by 1999 was that Pujols was an adult who, for whatever reasons, chose to play baseball against kids.
The fact he was bottom-heavy, balding, and in a relationship with an older woman who had a special-needs child may have contributed to that impression as well.
from the comment section of a THT article.
Like Rick Bosetti my goal in life is not to do well but to piss on things.
it’s so crazy, it just might work!
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 14, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s a little of both.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I think u worry too much....
about a matter that’s beyond your grasp
I think it’s a bit presumptuous for anyone here to tell anyone else the issue of player development is “beyond your grasp”. Unless you’re Ken Holland slumming on PPP.
Look around the NHL and you will see a variety of approaches. I don’t think there is any objectively correct approach. It’s a matter of circumstances and opinions—and as far as I’m aware yours is no more educated than any of ours.
I say this even though I actually am more pro-promotion than Chemmy (and therefore presumably agree more with you).
by The '67 Sound on Jul 14, 2010 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions
“hey, we really like you and you’re ready to play in the NHL, but we want you to go play 20 games in the AHL for shits and giggles. You know, just to really piss you off so you’ll play with more fire.”
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
He’s probably our best option whether he’s ready or not. I’d wait until he was ready.
If he’s ready he’s ready: I’d let him play now. I wouldn’t play him because he’s our best option.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
He nearly made the roster last season and tore up the OHL. He’s done everything the staff has asked of him. There’s no way anyone but Bozak, and that’s a stretch, could block Kadri from being the top option at center on this team. The Leafs obviously aren’t going to play kadri if he’s pretty blatantly not NHL ready. But does anyone here actually think he isn’t?
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
Just because he’s OUR best option doesn’t mean that’s right for his development.
Thought experiment: if we had no centers at all would you want Kadri to be our #1 purely because of necessity?
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Depends. If it was a situation where he was going to take some lumps but could turn around fairly quickly, like Stamkos, then yeah. If he’s flat out not physically or mentally ready then no. In Kadri’s specific case, his offensive talents are NHL ready. Recent draft picks who played right away have shown that it’s not a bad policy.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
I’m not sure where you’re getting that he’s NHL ready. What do you expect out of Kadri?
Stamkos’ first season was a disaster. Tavares’ first season wasn’t great. Would 45 pts make you happy?
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Stamkos first half wasn’t pretty, but his second half of his rookie year was pretty damn impressive.
If Kadri is playing 2nd or 3rd line at ES and some PP time, I think 50 points would be totally fine. I’m not expecting him to come up and score 90.
Considering what Stamkos, Tavares, Duchene, Toews did in their rookie campaigns, 50 would be fine.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
50 pts is a tall order for Kadri this season I think.
I’d be delighted to eat my words, but
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
If he could get 12-15 Gs I’d be happy, assists are a bit harder to guage as it often depends on linemates.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Stamkos had 28 points in 34 games post all-star break in his rookie year
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
Stamkos is better than Kadri. A lot better.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Tampa Bay won the goddamned lottery that Melrose didn’t permanently fuck up Stamkos. If he was less mentally tough, his career could have been a downright tragedy, and it would have all been because he was rushed to the NHL
Resident Capologist
This is very true.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
You mean of course that the owners didn’t permanently fuck up Stamkos. Melrose thought Stamkos belonged in the A and wasn’t strong enough to play in the NHL, which is why he didn’t give him any minutes. He was right too. Stamkos didn’t get good until after he built up his strength. He was a disaster until that point.
he was a disaster because he was played with very little ice time and shitty line mates
sure the not being strong enough might have had something to do with it, but the main reason was his ice time and quality of team
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
No Jared…he was a disaster because of the strength. He was being manhandled and didn’t look like he belonged.
The quality of the team was the same all year, but he got better when he got stronger. Everyone admits that, even he does.
no theodes, it was BOTH, but the main reason was because of how he was miss handled by Melrose
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Then why was he bad under Tocchet too….until he got stronger. =P
Melrose treated him perfectly. If you prove you don’t belong in the NHL, you don’t play.
This is like watching a tennis match, but with less "heeeawh! sounds.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
by CanadianMaple09 on Jul 14, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
As an aside, Stamkos played even fewer minutes under Tocchet than he did under Melrose for the first little while….until he got stronger. =P
he played less minuites under tocchet because he was fragile had to be sheltered because Melrose fucked his confidence so badly
he played MUCH better in those fewer minuites though
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Last year a total of 6 players from the 2009 draft year played more than 1 game in the NHL.
Only 19 players from the 2008 draft year have played in 20 or more games.
Only 13 players from 2007 have played in 50 or more games.
Young players take time to develop before they are NHL ready. Not every high draft pick is a Crosby, Tavares, or Stamkos who are immediately ready to play top minutes in the NHL
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
Kadri didn’t jump right in though. He’s had a full year after his first camp to work on his game and bulk up. I’m not saying he should be given a spot. But if he comes in and shows he can play right now over someone like Hanson and Grabbo, then he should.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
Let me put this is terms you can understand
Just because he was the Intimidator’s son didn’t mean Dale Earnhardt Jr was immediately ready to start racing on the Winston/Sprint Cup series right away. He first proved himself on the Busch series before getting a shot at the big stage.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
Ha ha ha.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
NASCAR analogies FTW?
I like to get banged. Banging rocks together, 140 characters at a time.
by Phaneuf's Rock Collection on Jul 14, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
birky is from North Carolina and therefore loves NASCAR.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
I live here. Please don’t say i’m from here
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
If you were to travel anywhere, you would be traveling from North Carolina.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
I’ve got a Canadian passport
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
The INS will be waiting for you when you get home from work today.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
la migra
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Jul 14, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Cool. I’ve got my greencard too
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
mine’s more of a salmon colour
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Jul 14, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
JUNIOR DID IT
JUNIOR DID IT
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Last year a total of 6 players from the 2009 draft year played more than 1 game in the NHL.
Only 19 players from the 2008 draft year have played in 20 or more games.
Only 13 players from 2007 have played in 50 or more games.
I swear some people should be forced to have these stats tattooed on to the back of their hand.
If TML are truly planning on Kadri as the #2 centre this year, I am deeply disappointed in the short-sightedness of that plan.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Kadri next year is the equivalent of the 2008 class last year. 19 of those guys played 20 or more games. Kadri was a #7 pick. Why is it absurd he’d play next year?
by The '67 Sound on Jul 14, 2010 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I want him to do more than just play in 20 games if he’s going to play.
19 guys out of 211 selected playing 20 games isn’t a very encouraging ratio of success, especially considering the fact that the bar for “success” has been set so low.
We’re not going to win anything this year. If the slower path to the league is better for Kadri’s development (and I think most of the evidence suggests that it is), then we ought to be insisting that management handle our best prospect in that way.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
What is the evidence that slower is better? This is what I’ve never seen.
All I’ve seen are anecdotes, which can easily be contradicted with other anecdotes. How about some data?
by The '67 Sound on Jul 14, 2010 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions
2008 top 10: Only Filatov, Hodgson, Pietrangelo, and Wilson have played less than 40 NHL games. Hogson was hurt, and Wilson played 35 at the end of this season. FIlatov went to the KHL instead of sticking it out in CBJ. The top 4 picks in the 2009 NHL draft all played full seasons last year, Glennie, MPS, and Larsson are all expected to play in the NHL this season.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
Heard and understood. Not saying Kadri should not play in the NHL this year, just that he damn well better earn it. They better not have planned on bestowing a job on him as the default position; hope for the best, but plan for the worst.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
I agree with Chemmy… previous evidence also seems to support sticking marginal NHLer young players in the AHL if you want them to be good instead of average.
On the Mike Weber bandwagon.
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!
I don’t know, going straight to the NHL at a young age worked for Carey Price!
Oh wait….
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
“Hey, we really like you and you’re ready to play in the NHl, but your OHL toe-drags are going to get you killed. Go to the A and come up with 5 ways to beat a defenceman who’s not 17 years old.”
Resident Capologist
it’s not like he has to work on his skating or passing. his skills are NHL ready. Shelter him if you must, but there’s no reason why he can’t learn defense and face-offs in the NHL. Shit, we put up with Grabbo’s terrible face-off skils for 3 months last year.
In loving memory of #21 Chris Higgins......I never even got the chance to say "I Love You"
Grabbo does have terrible face off skills. Also, this is largely anecdotal but I seem to recall thinking that our C’s got waived from the dot a lot more often than other teams.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not sure we have the talent to shelter him.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
At least
He won’t have to fight anyone ;)
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Bozak never shined bright in the AHL....
….until they brought him up. The NHL has a different dynamic. This is why, regarding Kadri, he should start in the NHL first.
i disagree – Bozak never shone bright in the AHL because he was ill for the majority of the time that he was in the AHL
"...sometimes I wake up cradling a gourd."
also injured
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes he had the flu but he got over it....
But he never really stood out after he got well either. He was spinning his wheels with the Marlies. Plus it was Bozak himself explaining in an interview how playing with the Leafs was actually easier than playing for the Marlies because it was more predictable and organized . Those of you will know of what interview I’m referring to.
Kadri also isnt Bozak, they are totally different players, saying what worked for one will work for another is poppycock
especially since Kadri is just going to be 20 this year while Bozak will be 25, there are more maturity issues at stake
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
The bottom line is.....
Kadri will start the season with the Leafs whether u like it or not and I for one will glad to see it.
End of story…….LOL
.
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Jared, some days you are my favourite person.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 14, 2010 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Take your own advice and lighten up.
btw,
that video is racist against Jews.
the hell are you on about?
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 15, 2010 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions
This was mentioned a bit in the FTB, but ill bring it up again here:
If sacrificing our 2012 First Round Pick can bring James Neal to Toronto, I am absolutely for it 100%. PR disaster be damned; if we are still a lottery team by then we screwed for years to come anyway, and if we aren’t a lottery team than who cares we would have James Neal.
To offer sheet Neal, which is what I think you’re implying we do, you have to give up your draft picks for the next draft; in this case it’d be 2011. Since we don’t have a 1st round pick in 2011, we couldn’t offer sheet Neal to anything more than the $3.1ishM that was stated above.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
I think he was suggesting it as a trade option.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I think it’s unlikely Burke will extend an offer sheet to Neale; he refused to do that with Kessel, remember? He might use it as a threat, though to get Dallas to agree to an equivalent trade. Maybe a 2nd plus a couple of cheap players, like Frogren and Brown (not that this is what Neale is worth).
Despite this well-written post, I’d most like to see an upgrade at #1 C. Slide Bozak and Grabovsky down one slot and everything looks a little better; or even move Grabbo over to LW on the second line. This is not an easy move to accomplish, however.
Those are interesting options at LW, although I don’t know that any one of them is a home run (I’m on record as being against Kovalchuk). I’ve brought up this idea before, and I’m not actually a big fan of it myself, but at what point do we start looking seriously at Ponikarovsky as a 2nd/3rd line LW/RW?
I've been looking at the sky
Check that
If Neale really is available that cheaply, that’s a home run.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jul 14, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Frogren is no longer Leafs property.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
There is no threat. Anything for Neal would be a trade.
I’d prefer an upgrade on wings than C.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Bozak was on pace for a 65-70 point season at the end of the year once he was put in as Kessel’s center. That instantly makes him a 1st line center on any team in the league, and on pace to finish in the top 25 centers in the league…..as a rookie.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
1st line centre on any team in the league
that didn’t already have a better one. A 65 point pace wouldn’t even make him #1 on any other team in the Northeast division.
Our top three centres are Grabbo, a 25-year old with 27 career points, and question mark. I don’t see why adding an upgrade at #1 wouldn’t be a very big improvement.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jul 14, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Besides Kessel and Versteeg, who would that center be passing the puck to?
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
If the C is Marc Savard
or someone equivalent, I’m perfectly happy with Kulemin as first line LW.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jul 14, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah cause on his line this year a similar player in Milan Lucic had a great year…….oh wait, nevermind.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
Kulemin is similar to Lucic??
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, to my mind, centre is perhaps the most important position on the team (solid D is the other candidate). I don’t know why the Leafs should be happy to have it as their weakest position.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jul 14, 2010 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Centre is a very important position… but other than Savard, which i don’t think is happening, there are no top-end C’s available.
I’m really hoping a Kadri-Bozak (in whatever order) 1-2 punch will be great in a few years.
Emphasis on the “hoping”.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
My only problem with hanging my hat on something like that is the fact that there is a chance he could regress, have a sophmore slump, or any number of things happen to him at this point. I want to believe that he is ready for that step to being that #1 guy full time, but we’ll see. First thing is first though, the wings are much more important in my mind then a C, so as long as we can see a tangible difference there then everyone will get better.
I like to get banged. Banging rocks together, 140 characters at a time.
by Phaneuf's Rock Collection on Jul 14, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I also might be slightly biased… I envision a Leafs future with Bozak and Kadri as our #1 and #2 in a few years.
If we bring in a top-tier C (which almost none are available), one of those two gets much less playing time, or moved to wing, and neither will likely get a chance to develop chemistry with Kessel.
I’m with SkinnyFish (and Burke) on this one… our biggest glaring hole is a Top3 LW, barring that a Top6 LW.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Well I mean, if there was a top C that we could bring in without any huge suffering from the prospect pool (aka Kaberle +) then I would like to just push everyone down one spot. That obviously would mean Kadri spending a year at the Ricoh, but as far as I am concerned, that’s not a bad thing, and if anything, is the best thing for his development as a top line guy in future.
All that said, the possibility of landing that top-line C is practically nil, so I am certainly interested in procuring a top 6 LW, as that would present the best possible solution going forward. Whether that person is young (Neal), expensive (Kovi), or injury-prone (Gagne) I would think that as long as the team gets better then we shouldn’t be in a position where we are ruling ourselves out of the market of not exactly the top-teir group of available top 6 types.
I like to get banged. Banging rocks together, 140 characters at a time.
by Phaneuf's Rock Collection on Jul 14, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it wrong?
That I snicker a little every time someone here says ’Bury Finger"?
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
If that's wrong
then I don’t want to be right.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
its funnier when you realize the MSLE is able to bury the finger without feeling it too much
that dirty whore
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m still waiting for him to snipe one through the goalie’s pads, just to shout or hear “Finger to the Five Hole”… sadly, it would take Finger sniping, so chances are in the negative realm.
Finally on the Twitter train, @j6events. Follow me, I swear I'll have interesting thoughts soon!
by BetterThanBester on Jul 14, 2010 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Finger will not bwaived. Has there been any indication of that from Burke? If anything, he’s said the opposite, that he wants to be deep on D. I know everyone here thinks it is a foregone conclusion, but I suspect ol’Jeff will be on the ice for the Leafs this fall.
I’m not saying he should be, but I think he will. Burke won’t bury anyone.
by Leaf in Habland on Jul 14, 2010 4:03 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
It seems the only person to get their cap hit buried so far was Nylander, and he didn’t go to the minors, they deported loaned him to Europe. (i guess Brendan Witt, but that wasn’t for salary cap reasons)
I don’t see Burke burying anyone unless it is absolutely necessary.
On the Mike Weber bandwagon.
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!
Cheechoo? Although he was eventually bought out.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
So help me Wendel if we buy out Jeff Finger.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jul 14, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Mogilny? Malakhov? Didn’t the Flyers fake an injury with Rathje?
I do agree though, MLSE is not in the business of lighting $7MM on fire. Damn them.
by The '67 Sound on Jul 14, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Flyers did it with both Rathje AND Hatcher.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Someone else noticed the Flyers cheatery!
I assumed Mike Rathje prefferred getting free money to retiring and thats why he just stayed on LTIR forever.
’
But yes, the flyers are dirty cap cheaters. I kind of consider 05-06 to be a special case because some teams had to trim ~33% of their payroll even after the salary rollback. But yes. Devils are also cheaters (though not so much)
On the Mike Weber bandwagon.
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!
the Devils are also “not so much” cheaters because the league caught them in their blatant attempt to circumvent the cap.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
You know what would be awesome? Instead of burying Finger, he actually earns his salary.
Wouldn’t that be spectacular.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
As in, he plays to a level that is worth $3.5M
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
trade Beauchemin
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Nevar! He’s not going anywhere, or at least there has been no indication or reason to believe he’s gone.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
nor was there for Stajan, White, Mayers, Blake or Stalberg
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Mayers demanded a trade, White was discussed as trade bait for a while due to his upcoming raise (now Calgary’s problem)
but ya, I never saw Stajan leaving – he loved being on the Leafs. Stalberg I’d considered due to his small salary, but kind of hoped he wouldn’t be gone. Still, Versteeg is a nice piece to get back.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Mayers demanded a trade sure, but that was months before the actual trade and the consensus was that he wasnt going anywhere because the Leafs wouldnt get anything for him
White was speculated, but then what up coming RFA isnt at some point?
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I still miss White.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Why?
Not trying to be a jerk, but I mean we got Phaneuf and Aulie, but you miss White?
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
The player. Of course i’d do that trade 100 times out of 100.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
White was our best d-man last season and would likely be our 2nd best this season…..plus he had MUSTACHULENCE…….But to get a Top d-man you have to give up a top 4 d-man and an expensive 2nd line centre
Toronto Maple Leafs: Nowhere to go but up!
Colton Orr’s mustache is better
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions
TRUCUSTACHE
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m telling you how Finger could actually earn his salary.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d prefer he actually do his job for the limited minutes he gets.
But that is asking a lot methinks.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
it’s impossible for him to earn $3.5 million in the few minutes he gets. He needs to be a top 4 defenseman to have a chance to earn it.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
This is what so few people seem to understand. No matter how well guys play, realistically they aren’t worth the money if they don’t get the minutes.
by The '67 Sound on Jul 14, 2010 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't choose my words carefully enough before getting pounced on...
I meant “I hope he plays competantly for those few minutes he does play”.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions
no
you’re not following your own conversation… you started by saying you wish he could earn his salary… I tried to explain how… and then somehow the conversation changed, maybe? I dunno.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
My meaning and what I said got lost in my own silly wordings.
What I meant != What I said.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions
ah, OK, this would be why I’m confused.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I knew what you meant, just wanted to emphatically agree with Karina’s point because I think it is often missed.
by The '67 Sound on Jul 14, 2010 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions
please explain to me what Jeff Finger did to your family.
if he were given the minutes, he’d be more than capable of filling Beauchemin’s role…
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Jul 14, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree, but Burke is loyal and I doubt he snubs his own signing for Cliff’s overpayment
Toronto Maple Leafs: Nowhere to go but up!
Hopefully, Burke will do whatever it takes to make the team better.
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Jul 14, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I think they are a better team with Beauchemin
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Jeff Finger played in 39 games this past season.
That makes 43 games that he didn’t appear him. So over half of his salary was paid to him while sitting in the pressbox.
I’m not counting on Finger being buried, but it doesn’t seem like a huge stretch to think MLSE would do it.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Phaneuf
Beauchemin
Kaberle (for now)
Komisarek
Gunnarsson
Schenn
Lebda
Aulie/Mikus/Holzer/Blacker
We have depth and his salary is impeding us from improving elsewhere.
Resident Capologist
is Blacker expected to be in the AHL next year?
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 14, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I hope all our promising prospects end up on the Marlies. I’d love to see them play some games.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure. But Finger will still be in the line-up, barring a trade.
I’m just making a prediction, not saying what I think is the best course of action.
If we don’t get a top six forward this year, that’s cool. The ? above can be filled by Kadri (by moving grabs to the wing) and Hanson. Next year we get more space, then we make a move. It’s a long term process. Having Finger isn’t going to ruin everything forever, just slow it down a little.
by Leaf in Habland on Jul 14, 2010 4:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
James Neal
Is my favourite non-Leaf in the NHL
My Goal Is To Make Each Comment As Meaningless As Possible
Wow
People had speculated about Burke signing this kid. Good on you, speculators.
BTW that’s 49/50 SPC’s now filled, with Sweatt still unsigned.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
love that picture of him
DUUUUUURP
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Jul 14, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
HockeyDB profile here:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=94087
22 years old, 6’3", 220 lbs.
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Also
22G, 56Points in 53 games last season
And 122 PIM (2.3PIM/Game)
Can you say proto-typical Brian Burke player?
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 14, 2010 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
He's a LW too
Given that our depth chart of LWs currently reads Kulemin, Caputi, Sjostrom, you might be looking at your opening day 2nd line LW. Or at least, Caputi’s competition (with presumably the loser going to the Marlies).
This assumes no trade of Kaberle for a starting LW.
by The '67 Sound on Jul 14, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
It is the DEL though...
They are probably all hooking minors :(
by CancerousRocket on Jul 14, 2010 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Nieuwendyk will get run out of Dallas by the fans if he let’s Neal walk or trades him
by Sonic_Screwdriver on Jul 14, 2010 6:11 PM EDT reply actions
I would expect Ribeiro, Richards or Morrow to go before Neal or Benn. I just don’t understand why a salary limited team with no particular pretensions of competing this year would keep old and expensive to trade young and (still relatively) cheap.
Surely Ribeiro, Richards and Morrow have some trade value. Not as much as Neal, but some. And Ribeiro has no NTC.
by The '67 Sound on Jul 14, 2010 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions
There is a reason we all HATE Tom Hicks around here…
by Sonic_Screwdriver on Jul 14, 2010 8:53 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t see Mitchell or Grabo ever fitting in to the bottom 6 on the Leafs. Sure, it might work on another team, but Burke likes truculence and belligerence on the bottom 6, something both players lack. While it is true they would only be centers, I would much perfer Burke to go out and sign Ryan Johnson to be the 4th line center.
If worst comes to worst and Burke does sign Johnson, Grabo can be on the 2nd line (and if Kulemin IS there, both Kuly and Grabo have chemistry) and Mitchell can slot to 3rd.
Well, you need SOME flexible players who can move back and forth as injuries and such dictate. Your bottom six are role players, and one useful role is “in a pinch can fill in on an upper line without completely screwing things up”
Also, John Mitchell – Shootout specialist!
Tick Tock, Tomas. Tick Tock.
A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jul 15, 2010 6:27 AM EDT up reply actions
JFM is a solid 3rd/4th line centre, and cheap. Socks!!!
Grabbo is too talented and not defensively minded enough to play anywhere below the 2nd line. Again, let’s let Kadri earn his way onto the top two lines before we already bump Grabbs for him.
Me: Any idiot could see that.
Mrs. P: You're not just any idiot, you're the most special kind of idiot.
by Sergei Puckizin on Jul 15, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Ryan Johnson of the worst Corsi rating in the NHL – for two years in a row? On a contending team? With very low QUALCOMP?
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jul 15, 2010 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions
See teeth, Dont see teeth
id rather see eric Belanger flip between our 3rd line 4th line center depending on all the other line combos and player production… and kick hanson to the curb with his tin-foil.. that frees up mitchell distinctly for 4th line duty.. and the easing of Kid Kadri into the lineup.
Jembries
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