Agreed- but he's not as well known, so I didn't bring him up. He's one of those guys who can turn out well, but you see 20 of them in any team's prospect pool.

Percy is putting up good numbers while being a very good defensive player- looks like a guy who'll have an NHL career.

Then again, I felt the same way about Blacker a few years ago, I'm just unsure now, with the way his development has gone.
- Feeling Glucky?

2 major injuries in 2 AHL seasons. Barely played 100 games. He's a year and a half younger than Kadri. He'll be fine.

Boston....... Joe Thornton
- faceto27

That's one, directly after the salary cap. Maybe some stars will be available this offseason.

What about Phaneuf?
- MapleLeafsFTW

He's still young too. Leafs don't have a number 1.

Nobody gives away superstars. If you want a superstar, draft one.
- Leafland

Well, teams have traded superstars. But for the most part. you're crorrect

Just to put this out there, he has 11 pts in 12 games. Hes not going anywhere. Stastny will be out the door first and i think stastny is playing on the 3rd line now
- Mapleleafs_91

Statsny would be great on the leafs. Tying up $12M in Statsny and Grabo wouldn't be smart management though. The Av's would certainly have to take back some salary to get a deal done with TO.

Great point... I have always seen Gunner as expendable. Perhaps in a mix with Bozak for some veteran presence? perhaps not? Either way, an interesting move in my mind.
- gardinerfan

I think Gunner is getting better - whether his injury is healing or he's getting used to playing through it...but I like his game and would be happy to keep him.

Pittsburgh : Neal

Agreed completely. Gardiner will be a good NHLer, we aren't even disagreeing on his upside just his likeliness to reach his ceiling. IMO the most likely scenario is in his prime Gardiner is a good 3/4 on a championship calibre team. He does have the talent to exceed that projection though.
- Lipchitz

Looks like time will tell with these young guys. I like the idea of keeping the 1990's though. Really interesting to have the core of your team born in/around the same year. Kadri, Coborne, Gardiner, (Ashton, D'Amigo, Blacker and Devane are 1991)

2 major injuries in 2 AHL seasons. Barely played 100 games. He's a year and a half younger than Kadri. He'll be fine.
- Big_Lightnin

2 major injuries in 2 years, he'll be fine.

A 60 (Who knows he's looking great and pretty much a PPG player in this small sample) point shutdown center who wins face-offs and is only 22?

Done in a (frank)ing heartbeat
- AdamFrench

i know eh, but nobody listens to me

Pittsburgh : Neal
- Lee Denault

He's pretty good, not sure he was a star when he got traded, he is one now though.

A 60 (Who knows he's looking great and pretty much a PPG player in this small sample) point shutdown center who wins face-offs and is only 22?

Done in a (frank)ing heartbeat
- AdamFrench

It's not the player it's the contract. And you have to wait and see if he can be a PPG player, he has never been close to one before.

He's pretty good, not sure he was a star when he got traded, he is one now though.
- Leafland

He isn't one right now.. hes actually pretty crap.

But as soon as Malkin returns, Neal will be back on track

i know eh, but nobody listens to me
- bobbyisno1

They're preoccupied when they talk to you...jiggle jiggle.

2 major injuries in 2 years, he'll be fine.
- Lee Denault

as in that's what slowed his developement...

not major in career threatening, just major as in lengthy time off

Great point... I have always seen Gunner as expendable. Perhaps in a mix with Bozak for some veteran presence? perhaps not? Either way, an interesting move in my mind.
- gardinerfan

I think we have several D who are or will become expendable. We only really need 7 or 8

NHL READY

Phaneuf
Gunnarsson
Liles
Gardiner
Franson
Fraser
Kostka
Blacker
Holzer
Komisarek

1-5 years
Ranger? (If he ever wants to play in the N again)
Percy
Finn
Rielly
Yeo

I probably forgot a couple as well

He's still young too. Leafs don't have a number 1.
- aminnes

He's young but at 27 I'd say he's in his prime.

I think we have several D who are or will become expendable. We only really need 7 or 8

NHL READY

Phaneuf
Gunnarsson
Liles
Gardiner
Franson
Fraser
Kostka
Blacker
Holzer
Komisarek

1-5 years
Ranger? (If he ever wants to play in the N again)
Percy
Finn
Rielly
Yeo

I probably forgot a couple as well
- MapleLeafsFTW

Komi's days as a Leaf are over. he'll be removed this summer one way or the other

I think Gunner is getting better - whether his injury is healing or he's getting used to playing through it...but I like his game and would be happy to keep him.
- Your_Mom

Very true, a solid D-man who plays a quiet game. Only reason I see him as expendable is our other areas that need more attention, he is only trade bait if he is good and I truly think he can be a great second pairing Dman on a championship team.

Looks like time will tell with these young guys. I like the idea of keeping the 1990's though. Really interesting to have the core of your team born in/around the same year. Kadri, Coborne, Gardiner, (Ashton, D'Amigo, Blacker and Devane are 1991)
- gardinerfan

Yup, Burke built the Leafs a solid young core. Those young guys should be kept in tact for the most part. It will be up to Nonis to use some of the extra assets to add NHL talent and bring Stanley home.

They're preoccupied when they talk to you...jiggle jiggle.
- AdamFrench

wait, you mean i'm not up here

He's young but at 27 I'd say he's in his prime.
- MapleLeafsFTW

Think about guys like Chara and Lidstrom, really became prominent in their early 30's, d men typically take longer to develop and play a little longer often times as well. If this is it for Dion then definitely no number 1 d man at least for the foreseeable future.

He's young but at 27 I'd say he's in his prime.
- MapleLeafsFTW

Isn't Phaneuf past his prime? He'll never be as good as he was at his peak in Calgary..

wait, you mean i'm not up here
- bobbyisno1

Sorry, you're paper bag material.

In 3 years if everyone thing goes well I'd like our D to be something like:

Phaneuf-Gardiner
Rielly-Franson
Blacker-Fraser
Finn/Percy

With Holzer, Gunnarson, Liles, Kostka being expendable. Maybe keep Holzer for some toughness to rotate in.

thoughts? Who can we get back for those guys, maybe as part of a package?