Who is going to replace Grabo..how much and what is he going to do that Grabo can't do?

It's only 40 games into a season that was postponed for 3 or 4 mths.

He's in a little funk and is also being used on a shutdown line with Stone Hands Komarov and another checking centre McClement.

I think Carlyle is doing a great job coaching...he doesn't care what they make..he puts them where he needs them..always has 2 centres out there for most draws..hence Bozak is getting lots of ice...

I say if we can't upgrade at the center position then keep things how they are and spend the money we can on a great defenseman ( if any come available )
- Garnie

Anyone can replace Grabo and at a fraction of the price. McClement makes 1.5 million. There is no reason he can't be the third line shut down center and a winger gets brought in to replace Grabo.

If they ever do find that top line center than Bozak can easily become the third line center. As long as we aren't paying him 5 or more. I would have no problem paying him 4.5 and let him play on the top line until a better option is found (possibly Kadri or Colborne)

To Leafland and Deerow:


Archer
Adventure Time
Ugly Americans
The Simpsons

The best animated shows.

(Have you seen the episode of Archer where they do an homage to Bobs Burgers? Its so god damn funny its crazy)
- markmark

Why don't you have Bobs burgers on there!?! (frank) I love that show.

Never seen Ugly Americans. I'll check it out.

hmmmmm, great is a little bit overkill but he has been better the last 15-20 games IMO.
- Garnie

Which has been most of season

We had no #1 centre, and Grabbo was the #2.

If the Leafs didn't re-sign him, they were truly franked.

It's too much money, but it had to be done.
- Atomic Wedgie

How were we (frank)ed? We were nowhere near playoffs or making the playoffs, a 28 year old signed that long for 5.5 who had 50 pt+ seasons is way too much and should of been traded for a 1st rounder. Grabo has heart for this team, i give him that, i enjoy watching him on this leaf team, but 5.5 is way too much for a player like him even when he signed. If that money was really demanded, Burke should of countered with something less, if not, he should of been traded

Anyone can replace Grabo and at a fraction of the price. McClement makes 1.5 million. There is no reason he can't be the third line shut down center and a winger gets brought in to replace Grabo.

If they ever do find that top line center than Bozak can easily become the third line center. As long as we aren't paying him 5 or more. I would have no problem paying him 4.5 and let him play on the top line until a better option is found (possibly Kadri or Colborne)
- itsalwaysfunny

If the sky was lead and it fell on your head you'd be dead!!!

would be nice if the leafs could pick up clarkston and horton in the summer

Flames fan just said their center position is locked up with Jankowski and... wait for it... Stajan.

the problem I see is that if bozak is on the Team he is centering Kessel
I like Bozak, he is a fine player... I just think we could use an upgrade for a #1

Can we just trade Bozak and Grabbo for a better #1..then have Kadri #2

I just mean that I would like to see him consistently play solid games night in night out before I slot him in as my second line center three years down the road, can't bank on something that isn't a sure thing
- RickJames77

Hard to see what he can do as a third line or even second line center when they have playing fourth line minutes, with fourth line players

hmmmmm, great is a little bit overkill but he has been better the last 15-20 games IMO.
- Garnie

For a guy that has been playing 25+min a game (which I think is tops or top 2 in NHL), Phaneuf has been playing pretty great for us this season. He has really stepped up this year. Yes, he is still way over paid - hence why people don't like him but salary aside, he has been very solid for the Leafs.

Flames fan just said their center position is locked up with Jankowski and... wait for it... Stajan.
- Feeling Glucky?

Aww that's nice that special needs kids have somewhere to come talk hockey

Maybe the leafs could get a high pick if they retained some of grabs salary

Flames fan just said their center position is locked up with Jankowski and... wait for it... Stajan.
- Feeling Glucky?

Serious?

Flames fan just said their center position is locked up with Jankowski and... wait for it... Stajan.
- Feeling Glucky?

Grab Poni, pry Jason Blake out of retirement, and trade a 3rd rounder to the Wings for Gustavsson.

Boom. Contender. We would know.

For a guy that has been playing 25+min a game (which I think is tops or top 2 in NHL), Phaneuf has been playing pretty great for us this season. He has really stepped up this year. Yes, he is still way over paid - hence why people don't like him but salary aside, he has been very solid for the Leafs.
- Cooshie

7th

This seems like a no brainer to me. I like Grabovski and the intensity he plays with. But that contract is brutal. I didn't like it when he signed it and that was when he was putting up much better numbers.

I think you've gotta resign Bozak. He's arguably the best multi-dimensional player on the Leafs. He might not qualify as a bonafide number 1 center but he does a lot of things really, really well. And who else will Phil play COD with?

If you can't afford to keep them both, Grabbo has got to go. If he was making a few mill less I'd love him. Unfortunately at 5.5, he's a cap casualty.

Hard to see what he can do as a third line or even second line center when they have playing fourth line minutes, with fourth line players
- itsalwaysfunny

Agreed, but that's what I mean. I would just like to see what he can do before everyone pencils him in as a second line center

Not me who wrote this:

For some time I have yet to figure out why Phil Kessel and Mikhail Grabovski don't see too much time together. I've posited the question before, and the common belief seems to be that you can't have two people carry the puck through the neutral zone. It represents the talents of both players, and that's that.

But I've grown a little skeptical of that theory. Grabovski is a play-driving centreman with scoring upside that Kessel, a speedy, talented winger with limited defensive qualities, needs to succeed. In 306 total minutes with Grabovski in three seasons, the Leafs have convincingly outshot their opponents, batting at a 55.9% possession rate.
- mykokes[Hockey Analysis]

Furthermore, if you check the "goals" link in the same link above, you'd find that Kessel and Grabovski are a +6 together, while Kessel is -18 without. I hesitate to use +/-, but the question I'd ask is "if Mikhail Grabovski and Phil Kessel are incompatible player types, why do they score so many goals when they're together on the ice?"

For one thing it would not be a good idea to put Grabovski on Kessel's line with the way Grabo is playing defensively, it would be a disaster in their own end.

would be nice if the leafs could pick up clarkston and horton in the summer
- aziffles

Horton would be a nice pick up

Flames fan just said their center position is locked up with Jankowski and... wait for it... Stajan.
- Feeling Glucky?

What...did they extend Stajan for another 5 years at 3.75 - 4? I missed it.

Maybe the leafs could get a high pick if they retained some of grabs salary
- aziffles

too late for that

Not me who wrote this:

For some time I have yet to figure out why Phil Kessel and Mikhail Grabovski don't see too much time together. I've posited the question before, and the common belief seems to be that you can't have two people carry the puck through the neutral zone. It represents the talents of both players, and that's that.

But I've grown a little skeptical of that theory. Grabovski is a play-driving centreman with scoring upside that Kessel, a speedy, talented winger with limited defensive qualities, needs to succeed. In 306 total minutes with Grabovski in three seasons, the Leafs have convincingly outshot their opponents, batting at a 55.9% possession rate.
- mykokes[Hockey Analysis]

Furthermore, if you check the "goals" link in the same link above, you'd find that Kessel and Grabovski are a +6 together, while Kessel is -18 without. I hesitate to use +/-, but the question I'd ask is "if Mikhail Grabovski and Phil Kessel are incompatible player types, why do they score so many goals when they're together on the ice?"

I just found when I watched them together last season or the season before..whichever it was...that Grabo always seem to carry the puck and shoot and Kessel would be looking to get a pass and be know where near the rebound...my memory is clouded with pints etc..but that's what I recall from seeing them play together..it seemed like two North magnets trying to be forced together...I'm probably wrong..but the leafs need 3 strong lines and right now I think they have it. Bozak/Kadri/Grabo and then throw McClement out there when you need 2 centres or rotate the 4 of them through 3 lines. Leafs need a GREAT D to help Phaneuf and with some goaltending experience again this year...we might be ready to compete for a playoff spot for more years to come.

Serious?
- beingaflamesfan

Was it a joke?


I can't tell anymore.

What...did they extend Stajan for another 5 years at 3.75 - 4? I missed it.
- Woderwick

You scared me!

Not me who wrote this:

For some time I have yet to figure out why Phil Kessel and Mikhail Grabovski don't see too much time together. I've posited the question before, and the common belief seems to be that you can't have two people carry the puck through the neutral zone. It represents the talents of both players, and that's that.

But I've grown a little skeptical of that theory. Grabovski is a play-driving centreman with scoring upside that Kessel, a speedy, talented winger with limited defensive qualities, needs to succeed. In 306 total minutes with Grabovski in three seasons, the Leafs have convincingly outshot their opponents, batting at a 55.9% possession rate.
- mykokes[Hockey Analysis]

Furthermore, if you check the "goals" link in the same link above, you'd find that Kessel and Grabovski are a +6 together, while Kessel is -18 without. I hesitate to use +/-, but the question I'd ask is "if Mikhail Grabovski and Phil Kessel are incompatible player types, why do they score so many goals when they're together on the ice?"

I think it's worth a shot. I can't see Grabo being bought out (certainly not this year) and there might not be any takers in the trade market unless he picks it up.

I think they've got to experiment with a few things next year, then possibly consider just giving him away or - yikes! - a buy-out.

Next year, give him a 10 game try-out with Kessel... move him to the wing... whatever. He may never be a 5.5 million dollar man, but we need to try to make him close to one again.