I'm assuming you mean insulting to Gillis.

But hey, if you are going to ban people for making insulting trade proposals, I suggest you go after the guy who said that Steckel could be a part of any trade to Vancouver for Luongo.

Steckel could be part of any trade to Vancouver for breakfast at Sophie's Cosmic Cafe*.




*The Vancouver restaurant reference is an obvious suck-up to the referee.
- Atomic Wedgie

Hey now, I only suggested that Steckel would be an appealing player given that he would address a specific need, I also suggested Bozak for the same reasons. Also, Steckel has one more year left on his contract, Burke may want someone with longer term back in trade, or he may want to get a young forward from the farm in the lineup, you never know... If Steckel was the sticking point in a trade to acquire better goaltending would you seriously want Burke not to make the deal?

Hey now, I only suggested that Steckel would be an appealing player given that he would address a specific need, I also suggested Bozak for the same reasons. Also, Steckel has one more year left on his contract, Burke may want someone with longer term back in trade, or he may want to get a young forward from the farm in the lineup, you never know... If Steckel was the sticking point in a trade to acquire better goaltending would you seriously want Burke not to make the deal?
- 1970vintage

I don't think you understand.

I would give you Steckel for a roll of tape. Not even white tape or black tape.

A roll of junk tape would do it.

Schneider earned his chance by outplaying Luongo. Reimer's getting his chance because you're got no one else. If I were a Leafs fan, I'd want Lu.
- micah555

I'm not a Leafs fan, but if I was them I'd stick with Reimer for the start of the season to see how he bounces back. If he's back to his rookie self. Then they dont need/want Lou either.

Just curious what Toronto's plan is if they start slow and want a goalie. So the chat with Van about Lu, Schneider pulls a groin, and now Lu isn't available.

What then?
- IanEsplen

You thank god you kept an ALL STAR goalie

I don't think you understand.

I would give you Steckel for a roll of tape. Not even white tape or black tape.

A roll of junk tape would do it.
- Atomic Wedgie

What's not to like? I mean other than the obvious lack of offensive production.

I don't think Lu and McCabe really compare. Lu is a great goalie making less than McCabe, a good offensive man that was pretty slow and unsteady in his own end, was.

Nobody expects fair value for Luongo. But they do expect some value. A 2nd paired with salary dumps isn't going to cut it. He'll stay in Vancouver if there isn't something that actually help the Canucks. Looking at the UFA list, his cap space isn't going to help us much.
- micah555

Lu and McCabe are the greatest comparison in the history of hockey.

McCabe was a great player. If people could just put their Toronto hatred on hold for a moment, they could see that.

Hell, the Panthers management could see that. That's why they named him captain.

And I respectfully disagree with your assessment that you can just keep Luongo. You just can't do that with goalies. It's a brutally awkward situation which will divide your team and kill your dressing room.

He has to be moved.

I'm not a Leafs fan, but if I was them I'd stick with Reimer for the start of the season to see how he bounces back. If he's back to his rookie self. Then they dont need/want Lou either.
- Iggysbff

That's what we did last year.

He looked great.

Until he didn't, and we missed the playoffs by about the same distance as Phaneuf missed the net with most of his slapshots from the point.

Oh Lordy, I'm on a roll here...

Lu and McCabe are the greatest comparison in the history of hockey.

McCabe was a great player. If people could just put their Toronto hatred on hold for a moment, they could see that.

Hell, the Panthers management could see that. That's why they named him captain.

And I respectfully disagree with your assessment that you can just keep Luongo. You just can't do that with goalies. It's a brutally awkward situation which will divide your team and kill your dressing room.

He has to be moved.
- Atomic Wedgie

What do you think the Canucks would have gotten for him if they kept the trade on the down low? I think they would have received a nice return and this would have been over a long time ago...

LOL this isnt NHL 12. NHL GMs have owners to answer to Burke will have to explain how in the world does he go five years and a leafs as an organization what 9 years without playoff money? Millions and millions and millons of dollars being lost. Just because owners have a lot of money doesn't mean they like to just toss it around and lose it. They got there money because there WEJ's about it.
- Boinker

Problem here is the leafs don't need to make the playoffs to fatten their wallets they do quite well without that revenue, This is a big part of the problem.

What do you think the Canucks would have gotten for him if they kept the trade on the down low? I think they would have received a nice return and this would have been over a long time ago...
- Flyfreaky

I think that is an impossible situation. Maybe if there wasn't 24/7 mass media, but that Schneider played the final three games of the playoffs, the media whipped the situation into something it didn't need to be. Certain players opening their big trap didn't help either.

We haven't had a good farm system for years. We have one with Tallon. Bjugstad is going to be our future #1 Center. No way he gets included in any trade for Luongo. Speaking of goaltending depth, we have that, too. We would maybe include McFarland. Yeah Bjugstad hasn't laced them up in an NHL contest yet, but he has laced them up in our development camp. He is a huge force. Skates amazingly. He is exactly the type of player Tallon and our fans want here. Luongo is great, but not at the cost of our future offensively. Think about it.. in a few years Luongo will be retiring and Bjugstad will be scoring goals. Then who loses? It's all about the future.

Corsi you say? Do you believe in that. If so we can deal you Raymond for Garfiner and Reilly
- Bieksa#3[/

Meh it's just more data to input into your conclusion. It carries much more weight than I've seen him he's lazy trust me.

If Toronto is 15 games into the season and no goalie can step up I'd consider Bozak for Luo straight up. No more than that, if it's 15 games and the Leafs are at the bottom I'd rather keep the core sell of the mid level guys and gun for MacKinnon. Looking at TOs contracts up front its extremely flexible.

The thing about Brian Burke, is he gets better with time. It took him 5 years to turn the Canucks into annual competitors. 3 years to turn the ducks into cup winners. It only took him 1 year to turn the leafs into the best hockey team in NHL history.


Some people say the 56-57 canadiens were the best, Some say the 86-87 oilers, some say the 72 bruins...hell some might even argue the 74 Flyers were the best at playing the game it was meant to be played. But I think we could agree that all those morons were wrong because everyone knows that the 08-12 Leafs are the best hockey teams to ever grace the NHL with their presence
- I-own_da-Northwest

uncalled for, seriously man

What do you think the Canucks would have gotten for him if they kept the trade on the down low? I think they would have received a nice return and this would have been over a long time ago...
- Flyfreaky

The minute Schnieder went into the net in the playoffs, there was no "keeping this trade on the down-low."

It's a funny situation - the Canucks' problem is they have too much talent in net, and have to make choices.

I sure wish the Leafs had problems like that.

In net.

And at centre.

And for those of you old enough to remember, "I sure wish we had a guy like Albert."

I think that is an impossible situation. Maybe if there wasn't 24/7 mass media, but that Schneider played the final three games of the playoffs, the media whipped the situation into something it didn't need to be. Certain players opening their big trap didn't help either.
- 1970vintage

But I think the management should have quelled the trade rumors and done things behind closed doors...

The minute Schnieder went into the net in the playoffs, there was no "keeping this trade on the down-low."

It's a funny situation - the Canucks' problem is they have too much talent in net, and have to make choices.

I sure wish the Leafs had problems like that.

In net.

And at centre.

And for those of you old enough to remember, "I sure wish we had a guy like Albert."
- Atomic Wedgie

Time to lie to the public for the best interest of the team...

There is no way of knowing exactly what is in Gillis' mind, but I would suspect that if there were players/prospects/picks that addressed specific needs for the Canucks organization that Gillis would listen. Third line C is a spot that needs to be filled and while Lapiere is capable of doing a good job there, he is valuable as the 4th line C, so a guy like Steckel or Bozak is a good start. There is also a spot open for 2nd line RW, but I think Gillis is trying to fill this through FA, or possibly internally (Kassian maybe).

Next, if Ballard is to remain, Gillis may be looking for a depth dman to compliment Alberts, or he may feel that his D is set and be looking for a prospect to help out in Chicago this year. We currently have Connauton (pmd), Sauve (shd) and Corrado possibly ready in the next couple years beyond that there isn't much, so a quality D prospect is probably on the list.

Finally, I would expect a high draft pick would be appreciated. For me, like Ian suggested a conditional pick would be suitable. If TO makes the playoffs its a first, if not it's a second. The draft position of these two picks would be fairly close, so maybe its a first if they make it or a second AND a third if they don't, or something to that effect.
- 1970vintage

Very Level headed and well thought out post, good to see you using reason based on your knowledge of your team and really digging deep and seeing what would REALLY work that fills the small holes of a presidents trophy team.

It's not that people outside Vancouver feel Luongo is a bad goalie, but they question is he really worth an extremely high asking price considering the following 2 factors:

1. Luo's contract is monstrously long and with the uncertainty of the next CBA why take a the risk of not being able to unload him (granted this may change with a new CBA; and

2. Gillis is dealing from a very weak position, every other GM knows he has to trade Luongo and that Luongo wants out.

So based on these to items why would any GM give top prospects and picks for Luongo? I personally think Luongo is a great goalie, but he hasn't won the Vezina or a Stanley Cup and you don't pay top dollar for a 33 year old goalie who hasn't won anything (but I personally don't blame him 100% for that).

If you think Luongo is a stellar goalie that teams would be crazy to not trade for then why doesn't Gillis keep him and trade Schneider instead?

Lu and McCabe are the greatest comparison in the history of hockey.

McCabe was a great player. If people could just put their Toronto hatred on hold for a moment, they could see that.

Hell, the Panthers management could see that. That's why they named him captain.

And I respectfully disagree with your assessment that you can just keep Luongo. You just can't do that with goalies. It's a brutally awkward situation which will divide your team and kill your dressing room.

He has to be moved.
- Atomic Wedgie

McCabe was a Canuck before he was a Leaf. He was a very good shooter, an okay passer and had good physical upside with hitting and fighting. He was a bit of a pylon in the defensive zone though. Being a captain is great and all that, but those Panthers never made the playoffs. Hardly a ringing endorsement of his all around game.

Lu knows the deal. If the Canucks can't get something worth having for him, he'll be sticking around until they do. The team won the President's Trophy 2 years running. They can handle more goalie controversy and more than that, they can afford it. The Leafs on the other hand, will need every point they can get. Giving Reimer 10-20 games to potentially prove he's not very good isn't going to give them their best chance for success.

Luongo to Panthers UPDATE!


http://nhlbeat.blogspot.c...ore-panthers-updates.html

Thoughts?

Luongos contract isn't so,so Ian, it's awful. Only dipietros is worse

[quote=Bieksa#3]Corsi you say? Do you believe in that. If so we can deal you Raymond for Garfiner and Reilly
- Blazed[/

Meh it's just more data to input into your conclusion. It carries much more weight than I've seen him he's lazy trust me.

If Toronto is 15 games into the season and no goalie can step up I'd consider Bozak for Luo straight up. No more than that, if it's 15 games and the Leafs are at the bottom I'd rather keep the core sell of the mid level guys and gun for MacKinnon. Looking at TOs contracts up front its extremely flexible.

Run at Mckinnon? Have you seen the blue jackets roster? The odds of losing back to back lottery's are pretty slim. The one reason Bozak is attractive is to somewhat fill Keslers shoes in the 1st month. After that we might not have a place for him if Schroader plays anywhere close to expected

But I think the management should have quelled the trade rumors and done things behind closed doors...
- Flyfreaky

With all due respect to my fat, boxed American friend, I think you are misunderestimating (yeah, I did that on purpose) the Canadian hockey media.

There is no way that the Canucks could just kill the rumours.

Think of McNabb vs. TO - do you really think that Eagles management saying "There is no problem - everyone look at these shiny keys" would have bought them any time or space?

But I think the management should have quelled the trade rumors and done things behind closed doors...
- Flyfreaky

TOTALLY agree. The night they got eliminated only "stock" responses, "we gave it our all" "you have to give credit to LA, they played a hell of a series"... Then, before the players clean out their lockers, the coach and GM conduct the exit interviews and talk about the cone of silence with the players, then have at er. Media can ask all they want, but if they keep getting the cliche responses eventually they will stop asking.

That's what we did last year.

He looked great.

Until he didn't, and we missed the playoffs by about the same distance as Phaneuf missed the net with most of his slapshots from the point.

Oh Lordy, I'm on a roll here...
- Atomic Wedgie

Um no...he looked good until he got injured. I'd give him the start of this year to see if he is back.