MacLean said he had the scoop today. Lou put the kibosh on a deal with T.O. because he was told by FLA people that they would get a deal done to Florida.

I didn't take it as "never go to Toronto".
- The Law

Says in the article that Louon8o was disappointed when the deal fell through because he would have accepted the deal to Toronto if he had known.

Kessel's going to score 30 no matter who he's with.

But put him with a center capable of 70+ pts, and Kessel probably goes tot 90+.



And again, in this convo, nobody is saying GET RID of Bozak no matter what. We're saying don't overpay him.

Leafs have enough overpaid guys as it is - that's not a reason to add another one.

Keep Bozak at $3.5 per. Let him walk if he wants $4M+.
- Big_Lightnin

Kessel is a total different player this year compared to last year or any year.
I agree he could score a 100 points but the leafs might be a better team if he scores 70 or 80 and he keeps showing up on the right side of the puck in both ends of the rink.

Fact. Was it a fact that in the last 5 games was Kessel an 82 point player?
- honesthockey

only because of one 3 assist night in buffalo

it certainly wasnt a consistent span of points

I really want to see what a line of Lupul/Kadri/Kessel could do, Carlyle should have already been trying that out if they're shopping Bozak.
- ThePresident

what it will do is make the Leafs a 1 line team...

defenses only have to focus on shutting down 1 line.

2 lines with legitimate threats is much harder to play against

What do you think it would take to get him?
- lumlums

Gunnerson and Ashton. Mid pick too if needed.....

Lines are good. What we have points in 9 straight games?
- yea-ok-buddy

They're good, but not great, putting all three together has the potential to be one of the top lines in the NHL at this point. If we're shopping Bozak, we need to find someone to play with Kessel, should be on Kadri's wing considering he's more of a playmaker then Grabovski.

They're good, but not great, putting all three together has the potential to be one of the top lines in the NHL at this point. If we're shopping Bozak, we need to find someone to play with Kessel, should be on Kadri's wing considering he's more of a playmaker then Grabovski.
- ThePresident

Leave Kadri where he is...he isn't ready to play against top D pairings and lines just yet...

Kessel is a total different player this year compared to last year or any year.
I agree he could score a 100 points but the leafs might be a better team if he scores 70 or 80 and he keeps showing up on the right side of the puck in both ends of the rink.
- Garnie

if he had a PPG center, and that was the only thing that changed, Kessel would likely have an additional 5-10 pts playing the exact same game he is right now.

Leave Kadri where he is...he isn't ready to play against top D pairings and lines just yet...
- Pen15

winner winner chicken dinner.

and even if he is ready, better to make the team have to choose who to try and shutdown

what it will do is make the Leafs a 1 line team...

defenses only have to focus on shutting down 1 line.

2 lines with legitimate threats is much harder to play against
- Big_Lightnin

Exactly. Problem with being a one line team is a team could be it's shut down defenders on the ice at the same time instead of distributing them. Kind of like when Chara and Seidenberg play together.

They're good, but not great, putting all three together has the potential to be one of the top lines in the NHL at this point. If we're shopping Bozak, we need to find someone to play with Kessel, should be on Kadri's wing considering he's more of a playmaker then Grabovski.
- ThePresident

Teams would just shut them down and then we would have to hope for grabo- kuleman- jvr to do our scoring IMO

what it will do is make the Leafs a 1 line team...

defenses only have to focus on shutting down 1 line.

2 lines with legitimate threats is much harder to play against
- Big_Lightnin

I don't know man, I think it's a line that could really do some offensive damage. A second line of JVR/Grabo/Kulemin is a good enough 2nd line, of course if they're all producing, still a talented line though.

Gunnerson and Ashton. Mid pick too if needed.....
- Jimmy_wiener

Argh, It'd be nice to get it done without having to give up Gunnar. I still would, but it'd be nice to have him as a 3-4 guy

winner winner chicken dinner.

and even if he is ready, better to make the team have to choose who to try and shutdown
- Big_Lightnin

couldn't agree more...

it forces teams to not stack the deck against one line... and so far its been working pretty well...

you could make the arguement for the first powerplay to be set like that... but i think the lines are good as is

Leave Kadri where he is...he isn't ready to play against top D pairings and lines just yet...
- Pen15

But do you get what I'm saying? If we trade Bozak, who is Kessel playing with?

Exactly. Problem with being a one line team is a team could be it's shut down defenders on the ice at the same time instead of distributing them. Kind of like when Chara and Seidenberg play together.
- celata29

yup.. and that's why you guys left CHara on Kessel instead of Kadri's line.

Kessel's eyes light up whenever he sees Seidenburg out here with no Chara (which only happens like once a game)

But do you get what I'm saying? If we trade Bozak, who is Kessel playing with?
- ThePresident

Grabo

I want to see it.

if he had a PPG center, and that was the only thing that changed, Kessel would likely have an additional 5-10 pts playing the exact same game he is right now.
- Big_Lightnin

Probably more. Bozie got 47 points last year, so a PPG guy would have 35 more... you'd have to figure that Kessel would be in for somewhere between about a third to a half of them (10-18)...

couldn't agree more...

it forces teams to not stack the deck against one line... and so far its been working pretty well...

you could make the arguement for the first powerplay to be set like that... but i think the lines are good as is
- dragus84

yup.

Same reason Malkin and Crosby never play together (except occasionally when team is really struggling).

PP different - load up 1st unit.

yup.. and that's why you guys left CHara on Kessel instead of Kadri's line.

Kessel's eyes light up whenever he sees Seidenburg out here with no Chara (which only happens like once a game)
- Big_Lightnin

Huh? Kessel's eyes never light up in Boston even if they had MA Bergeron and Kamil Krepps out there.

Probably more. Bozie got 47 points last year, so a PPG guy would have 35 more... you'd have to figure that Kessel would be in for somewhere between about a third to a half of them (10-18)...
- lumlums

ya I meant 5-10 more right now this season.

a 25-30G, PPG center makes Kessel push 100pts IMO

Grabo

I want to see it.
- Big_Lightnin

I just don't see Grabo being a setup man. Imagine having a line like the Alfredson/Spezza/Heatley line...not saying it's exactly comparable, but sure did give other teams a handful.

Huh? Kessel's eyes never light up in Boston even if they had MA Bergeron and Kamil Krepps out there.
- AdamFrench

nah he always has 1 shift per game when he looks almost like himself.

and look back at goals he's scored against Boston (won't take long). always against Seidenberg

couldn't agree more...

it forces teams to not stack the deck against one line... and so far its been working pretty well...

you could make the arguement for the first powerplay to be set like that... but i think the lines are good as is
- dragus84

Agreed. Only Pittsburgh and Chicago have scored more goals this year than the Leafs. Take away even 20-30 goals against per full season through better D (we're currently 19th in GA) and you're onto one hell of a winner

ya I meant 5-10 more right now this season.

a 25-30G, PPG center makes Kessel push 100pts IMO
- Big_Lightnin

Agreed 100% If I was the obnoxious sort, I might even say 110%...