In between watching the goaltender’s duel between Martin Brodeur and Jonathan Quick, it's time to answer some of your questions about the decisions the Leafs will be making in the next month, which arguably will be the most critical 30 days of Brian Burke’s tenure as general manager in Toronto.
@AIHHockey asks: Most can fathom Luongo and a good draft pick in the Leafs future, but could you see a big-time forward acquired in a deal?
A: The acquisition of a top six forward is equally as critical to Toronto's improvement next season as the addition of a veteran goaltender and I do believe that it is being weighed with equal importance by Brian Burke.
Based on the criteria that Burke is looking for between the pipes, you can pretty much rule out trading for a young goaltender like Jonathan Bernier or Anders Lindback, since they have the same uncertainties based on inexperience as James Reimer and Ben Scrivens do.
If Toronto adds a goalie through free agency, the only consideration will be the length and amount of the deal. If they trade for a veteran like Luongo or Tim Thomas, they should not have to expend any of their major assets to acquire them, as Vancouver and Boston are looking to dump their big salaries.
Those assets will be used to bring in that number one center or power forward.
@eli362 asks: How will the Leafs be able to make good moves while they have so little cap space?
A: If there is a deal to be made that will greatly improve the Leafs, there are ways available to open up cap space.
No one knows how NHL general managers will approach their budget for the upcoming season based on the uncertain landscape of the new collective bargaining agreement. If teams operate under the same numbers as the season, Toronto will have about $8 million to spend, but that is before they make any changes to the roster.
One reason why Toronto management has consistently been hinting about making trades this off-season is that they can move out salaried players in those deals and open up cap space. If a deal for Luongo is in the realm of possibility, Vancouver will have to take back salary in the deal as the price to pay for moving a contract with 10 years left on it.
The contracts of Tim Connolly, Colby Armstrong and Matthew Lombardi are considered by most to be burdens for the Leafs, but other teams might be willing to take a shot on one of those players with one year remaining on their deals, rather than spending millions more to sign free-agent players players with just as many question marks to long-term deals.
@Ddotleafsfan asks: Who makes it from the Marlies?
A: Scrivens is fully capable of being a backup in the NHL right now, but with Reimer and the unknown veteran goaltender with the big club next year, he may spend another season in the AHL.
On defense, Gardiner will be a top four next season and many believe that Korbinian Holzer is ready to make the jump. After watching him for most of the Calder Cup playoffs, he has been a rock on the Marlies blueline, a stay-at-home defenseman with toughness who would be perfect as a #5 or 6.
At forward, Frattin is in no doubter, Colborne and Kadri(if he is not traded) will be given a shot at training camp. My dark horse for next year is Jerry D’Amigo, who is second on the team with eight playoff goals, is a excellent penalty killer and makes up for his lack of size with great skating ability and tenacity.
@CDB902 asks: Do you think Kadri is ready to be a top 6 or do you think he will bust and fail to make the roster again?
A: At 21 years old, it's hard to say that Kadri is a bust. He has made progress under Dallas Eakins and has rounded out his game, but at this point he looks to be more of a complementary forward who can use his innate ability to annoy as an advantage. It will take a couple years to sort out what type of player Kadri will be at the NHL level, but I would be shocked if he turns out to be a true impact player.
@leafs4life50 asks: Any possibility Burke could get Yakupov & Galchenyuk?
A: While I never put anything past Brian Burke, I can't see any way that he can accomplish a repeat of 1999 and acquire two top-five picks to be able select the two Sarnia Sting linemates. Yakupov undoubtedly will go one or two in the draft, depending on whether
Edmonton trades their pick or selects a blueliner like Ryan Murray and Galchenyuk’s stock is rising after the NHL combine last week. If things break the right way, Toronto could get Galchenyuk at #5.
@lumberlung asks: Do the Leafs have plans on moving Schenn if they get Justin Schultz?
A: If Toronto is able to pull off a major coup and sign the young free-agent, it opens up a whole level of possibilities for trades throughout the rest of the summer, as they will have excess on defense. Schultz projects to be a more offensive minded defenseman, like his college teammate Jake Gardiner. With that in mind, Burke would likely not move a rough-and-tumble defender like Schenn, but instead would shop Carl Gunnarsson or restricted free agent Cody Franson.
Thanks for the questions. We will be doing more of these in the next few weeks as the draft and July 1 draw nearer.
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