He can't make them! When good players are put out on the ice they win battles and spend time in the other teams zone. Grabs isn't good enough to do that, so now they have an overpaid 3rd line centre. For this year it's okay even good to have him there as he is better than most 3rd line centres, but into the future he simply has to be better to justify the contract.
- aminnes

Psst.
Grabo plays crap minutes and up until recently, they've been defensive minutes in our own zone.
For the past couple of years, Grabo has one of the leafs best players (in fact two years ago - he was).
RC hasn't been using him properly.
I have a feeling Grabo will excel in the playoffs....if we can ever get there.

The guy still racks up 70+ points, is the size we need, and has 28 pts in 30 games this season thus far.. Is definitely what we need
- Mapleleafs_91

Ya exactly...to say otherwise is foolish.

Dave Molinari ‏@MolinariPG 47s

Douglas Murray's salary-cap hit is prorated share of $2.5 million. Penguins still have about $6.1M in prorated space to work with, if needed

The guy still racks up 70+ points, is the size we need, and has 28 pts in 30 games this season thus far.. Is definitely what we need
- Mapleleafs_91

Agreed....


Some prefer Bozak....

The guy still racks up 70+ points, is the size we need, and has 28 pts in 30 games this season thus far.. Is definitely what we need
- Mapleleafs_91

doesnt he have the reputation of being a no show in playoffs thouhg? as much as the points would be nice... most of the team hasnt been to the playoffs yet... they then look to joe for leadership and he teaches them to not show up? not quite the impression i want left on the young guys

The guy still racks up 70+ points, is the size we need, and has 28 pts in 30 games this season thus far.. Is definitely what we need
- Mapleleafs_91

joe thornton scored probley 22 of those points int he first 2 weeks and has about 6 points int he last 2 months.

say what u want about the guy, he never shows up in the playoffs and he just doesnt seem like the #1 we want (if were going to pay that much).

just my opinion.

Agreed....


Some prefer Bozak....
- Fruitcakenipple

The problem with dealing Bozak, is they would have to effectively manage Kessel's separation anxiety for the rest of the season.

Dave Molinari ‏@MolinariPG 47s

Douglas Murray's salary-cap hit is prorated share of $2.5 million. Penguins still have about $6.1M in prorated space to work with, if needed
- faceto27

I say they land Iggy....

Looks like the trade deadline is starting early.


Got a wishlist, guys?
- Pecafan Fan

First line C and a Top 4 DMan that can be paired with Phaneuf. Neither gets done at the deadline though.

doesnt he have the reputation of being a no show in playoffs thouhg? as much as the points would be nice... most of the team hasnt been to the playoffs yet... they then look to joe for leadership and he teaches them to not show up? not quite the impression i want left on the young guys
- DarcyTucker16

Hows he a no show? Its not one player that makes the team, if you look at his numbers, they have been consistent for playoffs actually, last year 5 pts in 5 games, year before 17 pts in 18 games, etc

I say they land Iggy....
- Fruitcakenipple

If they land iggy, give them the cup

joe thornton scored probley 22 of those points int he first 2 weeks and has about 6 points int he last 2 months.

say what u want about the guy, he never shows up in the playoffs and he just doesnt seem like the #1 we want (if were going to pay that much).

just my opinion.
- big_dion

and your point? Kessel scored majority of his points in a segment of the season, gets streaky, then gets his points rolling again, 81 pts in 81 games point per game pace, alot of players do that

First line C and a Top 4 DMan that can be paired with Phaneuf. Neither gets done at the deadline though.
- Lipchitz

That would be nice.....but as you said.....never gonna happen.

I say they land Iggy....
- Fruitcakenipple

They already got Morrow and it's probably because they thought the price for Iginla would be too high or because they have nothing that Calgary really wants that they are winning to give up.

Iginla looks like a great fit in Chicago or Boston, it's just a matter of who is willing to pay the price.

They already got Morrow and it's probably because they thought the price for Iginla would be too high or because they have nothing that Calgary really wants that they are winning to give up.

Iginla looks like a great fit in Chicago or Boston, it's just a matter of who is willing to pay the price.
- Two_For_Truth

I say he goes to LA, and clowe goes to the leafs, boston, or habs

I'd argue with you, but I don't want my face to explode. So you win.
- Fatty-Patty

So if the Blackhawks acquire Iginla and Hossa gets hurt in the playoffs, they're stupid because they had the foresight to plan ahead and reinforce their team?

Psst.
Grabo plays crap minutes and up until recently, they've been defensive minutes in our own zone.
For the past couple of years, Grabo has one of the leafs best players (in fact two years ago - he was).
RC hasn't been using him properly.
I have a feeling Grabo will excel in the playoffs....if we can ever get there.
- Fakepartofme

Whats RC gonna do, put him out for the big offensive draw and leave the other guys on the bench? He got outplayed plain and simple by Kadri, and now his coach desperate to get him going is saying he needs to improve to the media. Excuse after excuse for grabo others don't get that treatment. This is a good thing though. You want better players to push lesser players aside, that's how teams get good.

Hows he a no show? Its not one player that makes the team, if you look at his numbers, they have been consistent for playoffs actually, last year 5 pts in 5 games, year before 17 pts in 18 games, etc
- Mapleleafs_91

your looking at just points... whats his plus minus... does his play get softer?... i jus tknow hes always had the reputation of not being the same player... where as you look at someone like dustin brown (in no way am i saying were getting him just an example) he just becomes a bigger player during playoffs... id rather try to find someone like that even if they dont have the point production of joe... this is potentially the first playoffs in a long time... id rather it be a great learning experience for our young guys

joe thornton scored probley 22 of those points int he first 2 weeks and has about 6 points int he last 2 months.

say what u want about the guy, he never shows up in the playoffs and he just doesnt seem like the #1 we want (if were going to pay that much).

just my opinion.
- big_dion

Playoff stats


Career NHL 114 20 67 87

your looking at just points... whats his plus minus... does his play get softer?... i jus tknow hes always had the reputation of not being the same player... where as you look at someone like dustin brown (in no way am i saying were getting him just an example) he just becomes a bigger player during playoffs... id rather try to find someone like that even if they dont have the point production of joe... this is potentially the first playoffs in a long time... id rather it be a great learning experience for our young guys
- DarcyTucker16

But who? Who else is there to get that could be available at center? Marleau? Stastny? Pavelski(doubt it)? Guys like datsyuk, bergeron, sedins, malkin will be all resigned but we know SJ will likely have a firesale eventually if not now then this summer

I say he goes to LA, and clowe goes to the leafs, boston, or habs
- Mapleleafs_91

Not sure the Kings would be willing to pay as much as the Bruins. Brown is playing better than Lucic / Horton so their need for a scoring power forward is less than the Bruins. Plus, the Kings are in the West and the Flames might prefer to send him East if the two offers are close in value.

Not sure the Kings would be willing to pay as much as the Bruins. Brown is playing better than Lucic / Horton so their need for a scoring power forward is less the Bruins.
- Two_For_Truth

He's been awful.

Not sure the Kings would be willing to pay as much as the Bruins. Brown is playing better than Lucic / Horton so their need for a scoring power forward is less the Bruins.
- Two_For_Truth

I say LA because of sutter, im sure sutter is pushing his GM to make a move for iggy surely

But who? Who else is there to get that could be available at center? Marleau? Stastny? Pavelski(doubt it)? Guys like datsyuk, bergeron, sedins, malkin will be all resigned but we know SJ will likely have a firesale eventually if not now then this summer
- Mapleleafs_91

well why even make a move then... dont just do something for the sake of doing something... if the piece you need isnt there then you shouldnt do anything (look at the connolly signing)

your looking at just points... whats his plus minus... does his play get softer?... i jus tknow hes always had the reputation of not being the same player... where as you look at someone like dustin brown (in no way am i saying were getting him just an example) he just becomes a bigger player during playoffs... id rather try to find someone like that even if they dont have the point production of joe... this is potentially the first playoffs in a long time... id rather it be a great learning experience for our young guys
- DarcyTucker16

No better way than to learn from a guy who has playoff and gold medal experience.