Damien Cox ‏@DamoSpin

Interesting question: given their chronic problems at centre, should Leafs have taken Mikhail Grigorenko instead of Morgan Reilly?


Wow is Cox on the chopping block or something? He's really screaming for hits.

It wasn't an insult. I thought you were a Leafs hater, and I read "any smart gm wouldn't part with a 1st for Kessel, unless they are a contending team." A team like Florida could potentially part with a 1st. They aren't contenders.
- Allstarzz

If we finished in the bottom 5 why would we trade our first for kessel? Kessel is great and I would take him on my team any day but to trade away a top 5 pick in one of the deepest drafts is retarded for someone who will be a UFA soon. Plus tallon loves the draft and won't trade top picks away unless it's to good to pass up.

If we finished in the bottom 5 why would we trade our first for kessel? Kessel is great and I would take him on my team any day but to trade away a top 5 pick in one of the deepest drafts is retarded for someone who will be a UFA soon. Plus tallon loves the draft and won't trade top picks away unless it's to good to pass up.
- Crazycaboose

The top end guys are what the Panthers need too. Top end centers.

i honestly still have a hard time rationalizing that from dallas' perspective. i understand they still had a veteran in morrow, and benn and erikkson up front, but come on. and niskanen, who was viewed as a cap dump, has been a decent player as well. it just shows that young puck moving d men can become pretty coveted i guess
- stayinthefnnet

i think people need to remember that neal's numbers in dallas weren't nowhere near what they were in pitt. you know, there's that "malkin factor" to consider.

in dallas he was a 20 goal 45-50pt player. goligoski put up almost teh same amount of points playing on D.

With less skill...
- JCSabs06

I disagree.
You really need to watch Kane more.
Hey...I'm a huge Kessel fan but I think Kane has more skill and greater upside. I wonder about his head sometimes though.

I disagree.
You really need to watch Kane more.
Hey...I'm a huge Kessel fan but I think Kane has more skill and greater upside. I wonder about his head sometimes though.
- stormey

Agreed, his skills as a playmaker are underrated, massively. I was hoping we'd be able to sign Kovalchuk a few years ago- he and Kessel could be an insane duo.

feeding the puck to Lupul got him to 82 points(imagine if he'd had Lupul all season). Playing with a top-flight goalscorer could see Kessel in the 90 point range, IMO
- Feeling Glucky?

Kane scored 30 as a 20 year old with Nick Antropov as his center last year.

Agreed, his skills as a playmaker are underrated, massively. I was hoping we'd be able to sign Kovalchuk a few years ago- he and Kessel could be an insane duo.

feeding the puck to Lupul got him to 82 points(imagine if he'd had Lupul all season). Playing with a top-flight goalscorer could see Kessel in the 90 point range, IMO
- Feeling Glucky?

I was arguing with someone the very same thing yesterday. He was trying to tell me that Kessel needs a playmaking center, whereas I was arguing that Kessel is the playmaker on the line, and a shooter for a center would be more ideal. I would have loved to see Jeff Carter along side Kessel.

i think people need to remember that neal's numbers in dallas weren't nowhere near what they were in pitt. you know, there's that "malkin factor" to consider.

in dallas he was a 20 goal 45-50pt player. goligoski put up almost teh same amount of points playing on D.
- sensarmy_11

that is true, but a young sniper who hits and was pushin 25 goals at that age has to be pretty highly regarded

I was arguing with someone the very same thing yesterday. He was trying to tell me that Kessel needs a playmaking center, whereas I was arguing that Kessel is the playmaker on the line, and a shooter for a center would be more ideal. I would have loved to see Jeff Carter along side Kessel.
- faceto27

I'm not a huge Jeff Carter fan but he's a hell of a lot better than what we have.

Kane scored 30 as a 20 year old with Nick Antropov as his center last year.
- stormey

and Kessel's done it with Bozak and Crabb.

I'm not talking about his goalscoring, I'm talking about his playmaking.

Damien Cox ‏@DamoSpin

Interesting question: given their chronic problems at centre, should Leafs have taken Mikhail Grigorenko instead of Morgan Reilly?


Wow is Cox on the chopping block or something? He's really screaming for hits.
- AdamFrench

Grig fell to 12th... based on all the other teams that passed on him, and the early season results... I am leaning towards No

The top end guys are what the Panthers need too. Top end centers.
- AdamFrench

Depends on where we finish we would mostly try and get jones or Drouin. We dont really need centers so I could see us maybe moving the pick or one of our better center prospects since we are loaded with centers.

Edit: but the only way we move either is if we get a similar player just filling a different hole on the team such as right wing. Even if kessel resigned with us if he really wants 7-8 mill do you does anyone really think the cats will give it to him.

If we do end up trading Kessel and going rebuild, I hope we finally just do it right. No more rebuilding on the fly, keep some of the younger core and then start trading everyone for picks and prospects. We could really get a good return for a bunch of guys we have. Then give a lot of young guys a chance for big minutes. We have unintentionally half tanked the last 5 years, how about we actually full tank for a couple, we already have a decent prospect pool, and then become consitently competitive for 10+ years.
I'm tired of this constant half "rebuild" crap.

and Kessel's done it with Bozak and Crabb.

I'm not talking about his goalscoring, I'm talking about his playmaking.
- Feeling Glucky?

and Lupul.

Also I will give you that Kessel is likely a better playmaker....but Kane is becoming a dominant physical presence out there. I'd also be willing to bet he scores 40 before Kessel does (although I wouldn't bet a lot).

Damien Cox ‏@DamoSpin

Interesting question: given their chronic problems at centre, should Leafs have taken Mikhail Grigorenko instead of Morgan Reilly?


Wow is Cox on the chopping block or something? He's really screaming for hits.
- AdamFrench

Really, though. At this point, since the man responsible for drafting Rielly with the "defense first" mentality has since been fired, is there really any point on harping about who the Leafs should have drafted instead?

The top end guys are what the Panthers need too. Top end centers.
- AdamFrench

Hey Frenchie (and others who may know) - I'm just picking up on what you were saying about Myles Bell in the previous thread.

What happened with the accident? I tried to find out more on the internet, but it seems like charges were pending, and then the story goes cold.

What happened? Was alcohol determined to be a factor?

Anyone need 4 golds for Thursday night's game versus Washington ?

I understand the reasoning behind wanting to trade Kessel, but this is what I don't understand. When we had a #1 center in Sundin, the media and fans always complained about how the Leafs never had talented support players to play with him. Now we have the super talent 'support' player, but are without a true No. 1 center to play with him.

I think he likes Toronto and will want to re-sign, why not just work on getting a better center to play with him? Either by tanking and getting a high draft pick, UFA, or trade. There has to be someone out there available via one of those options that is better than Bozak.

If we trade him, then end up signing someone like Getzlaf (just an example), next season we will be right back where we were with Sundin...

Anyone need 4 golds for Thursday night's game versus Washington ?
- .HOHO.

I always "need" them...but you're forgetting an important detail for me to acquire said golds.

Damien Cox ‏@DamoSpin

Interesting question: given their chronic problems at centre, should Leafs have taken Mikhail Grigorenko instead of Morgan Reilly?


Wow is Cox on the chopping block or something? He's really screaming for hits.
- AdamFrench

maybe MLSE will hire me to beat the poop out of him so hes eating through a straw.

anyhting is possible!

id charge a bag of beef jerkey and a 20 dollar bill.

I understand the reasoning behind wanting to trade Kessel, but this is what I don't understand. When we had a #1 center in Sundin, the media and fans always complained about how the Leafs never had talented support players to play with him. Now we have the super talent 'support' player, but are without a true No. 1 center to play with him.

I think he likes Toronto and will want to re-sign, why not just work on getting a better center to play with him? Either by tanking and getting a high draft pick, UFA, or trade. There has to be someone out there available via one of those options that is better than Bozak.

If we trade him, then end up signing someone like Getzlaf (just an example), next season we will be right back where we were with Sundin...
- vermie22

Yeah...don't really get it either.

Anyone need 4 golds for Thursday night's game versus Washington ?
- .HOHO.

il giev ya 500 bucks

I understand the reasoning behind wanting to trade Kessel, but this is what I don't understand. When we had a #1 center in Sundin, the media and fans always complained about how the Leafs never had talented support players to play with him. Now we have the super talent 'support' player, but are without a true No. 1 center to play with him.

I think he likes Toronto and will want to re-sign, why not just work on getting a better center to play with him? Either by tanking and getting a high draft pick, UFA, or trade. There has to be someone out there available via one of those options that is better than Bozak.

If we trade him, then end up signing someone like Getzlaf (just an example), next season we will be right back where we were with Sundin...
- vermie22

HOW DARE YOU SPEAK OF THE ALMIGHTY HOGLUND IN SUCH A MANNER

and Lupul.

Also I will give you that Kessel is likely a better playmaker....but Kane is becoming a dominant physical presence out there. I'd also be willing to bet he scores 40 before Kessel does (although I wouldn't bet a lot).
- stormey

Side note: Kane barely played with Antropov. Saw more time with Wheeler(their top point producer) and Little.