Went to a Leafs game last season and some dude was wearing a Cross jersey. Imagine that...someone bought a Cory Cross jersey...ftw!
- Hockey_Hoser

only thing worse is when people put their OWN names on the jersey.

One day, Cory Cross must have received a royalty cheque for like 83 cents and wondered what it was for.
- Leeman4Gilmour

okay.. lets look at this with some perspective

right now.. signed and ready to go the leafs lineup looks like this

lupul _Kadri_______ kessel
JVR Grabo___Horton_______
Kuli Colborne Frattin
Gordon_____ McClement ___Komarov___
- Dozzer

I filled in the blanks....if you can move Grabo and sign Bozak for cheap do it that way. What I would love to see though is this:

Lupul/Kadri/Kessel
JVR/RoR/Horton

WIth a bottom six of who the (frank) cares!

only thing worse is when people put their OWN names on the jersey.
- DoubleDown

Agreed...see Mayor Rob Ford who wore his personalized jersey during city hall council and refused to take it off while the Leafs were in the playoffs! Where the hell do we find these guys?!?!

Until you find a guy who can win draws and play the PK, you need to keep Bozak. This is the exact same lineup down the middle that got shredded by Boston.

I'm not sure that adding Clarkson while subtracting Mac and Bozak makes our forward group better at all.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Mike Zigomanis

He'll be testing free agency based on his "goodbye tweet" with his faceoff and PK ability he'll definitely land somewhere.

Agreed...see Mayor Rob Ford who wore his personalized jersey during city hall council and refused to take it off while the Leafs were in the playoffs! Where the hell do we find these guys?!?!
- Hockey_Hoser

that guy is just a mess

why?

i am the leafs.. easy decision

dont sign bozak if he wants anything more than 2.5

buy out komi

keep grabo.. if he doesnt find his game this year then use the second compliance buyout on him next summer.

the guy had one bad half season and everyone says its time to write him off.. thats just dumb... sorry.. but it is.
- Dozzer

Exactly. I have no idea why people talk about buying him out this year. There's a reason why you get two.

I also thought you could only use one of the free buyouts per summer. This year and next or last year and this year for MTL and NY.

anyone else wondering why the hell this guy bought a Volchenkov jersey?
- DoubleDown

I guess this guy has never seen Volchenkov play.

I'd be fine letting Grabo show his stuff for one more year, but not if it hinders us from making a clear upgrade.

We need a Clarkson/Horton/Clowe type, a top 4 d-man, and MAYBE a #1 center if one becomes available (Kesler, Thornton, Stastny) for the right price. A grinder/pest might be nice to replace Komarov if he walks.

Clutterbuck is a dream, but here's to hoping.

I'm not sure you can accomplish all of that (or any of that) with Grabo's 5.5 on the books.
- Leeman4Gilmour

CLARKSON. No ifs, and's or buts... Horton would be a nice consolation prize though

how about not putting grabovski with 3rd liners and see what happens..funny he was good with JVR before lupul got hurt..

all we gotta do is add clarkson, remove mac and bozak, add a top 3 D and were set.

again, im fond of giving this a whirl next season...

JVR-Kadri-Kessel
Lupul-Grabovski-Clarkson
Frattin-Colborne-Kulemin
Mclaren-Mcclemment-Komarov
- big_dion

If we were to sign Clarkson, I'd put money on a Lupes, Kadri, Clarkson line.... Boy would that look mighty nice.

CLARKSON. No ifs, and's or buts... Horton would be a nice consolation prize though
- SameOld

Horton is the consolation prize...?

I think the Leafs have to be very bold this summer. We need a number 1 centre, and it's going to be expensive and hurtful to acquire.

If Rielly is the real deal, then we can afford to dangle Gardiner whose value will be high based on how he played in the playoffs.

As much as it would hurt to let him go, in return for him and a mid level prospect like Blacker or Leivo we might be able to acquire:

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ( Edmonton needs defense badly and will be looking to make some big moves)

or
A top 5 pick in the 2013 draft to draft the centre of the future

I don't know if Nonis is the bold move type like Burke or whether he will just be patient but we need a true number 1 centre to be competitive in the future IMO

I filled in the blanks....if you can move Grabo and sign Bozak for cheap do it that way. What I would love to see though is this:

Lupul/Kadri/Kessel
JVR/RoR/Horton

WIth a bottom six of who the (frank) cares!
- mykokes

The bottom six is actually what separates the good teams from the bad. If you look at any good team, they have a lot of depth and the 3rd line is usually very good, with the 4th line being tolerable. Nobody builds a contender with two lines.

If we were to sign Clarkson, I'd put money on a Lupes, Kadri, Clarkson line.... Boy would that look mighty nice.
- SameOld

When

Really, a massive rebuild ? did you get us confused with the flames or something ? we are no TML but come on man a massive rebuild ? really?

I think the Leafs have to be very bold this summer. We need a number 1 centre, and it's going to be expensive and hurtful to acquire.

If Rielly is the real deal, then we can afford to dangle Gardiner whose value will be high based on how he played in the playoffs.

As much as it would hurt to let him go, in return for him and a mid level prospect like Blacker or Leivo we might be able to acquire:

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ( Edmonton needs defense badly and will be looking to make some big moves)

or
A top 5 pick in the 2013 draft to draft the centre of the future

I don't know if Nonis is the bold move type like Burke or whether he will just be patient but we need a true number 1 centre to be competitive in the future IMO
- Rang

I think at this point drafting a future top center is the wrong way to go, specifically if you have to trade up to get one.

Personally I think the best route at this point in time is a trade. Free agency can be a reckless way to acquire talent, and there usually isn't top-line talent in the FA pool.

So I agree, insofar as looking to trade something valuable to receive something worthwhile in return. Trading Gardiner at this point might be our best bet at obtaining that long-time-running need for a "number one center".

The bottom six is actually what separates the good teams from the bad. If you look at any good team, they have a lot of depth and the 3rd line is usually very good, with the 4th line being tolerable. Nobody builds a contender with two lines.
- 13sundin13

I think he was being facetious.

I think the Leafs have to be very bold this summer. We need a number 1 centre, and it's going to be expensive and hurtful to acquire.

If Rielly is the real deal, then we can afford to dangle Gardiner whose value will be high based on how he played in the playoffs.

As much as it would hurt to let him go, in return for him and a mid level prospect like Blacker or Leivo we might be able to acquire:

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ( Edmonton needs defense badly and will be looking to make some big moves)

or
A top 5 pick in the 2013 draft to draft the centre of the future

I don't know if Nonis is the bold move type like Burke or whether he will just be patient but we need a true number 1 centre to be competitive in the future IMO
- Rang

They can afford to be patient, they just finished 5th in the conference and had a reasonable chance at moving in to 2nd by way of a div title. There's no need to make a bold move or rush anyone becuase they're getting better and in the playoff picture. They can improve, but I think if they sign Bozak to a reasonable contract, add a UFA winger upgrade and a D man, then they're fine to wait for Kadri to develop. They don't need a "true number 1 centre" if it means losing a key piece like Gardiner, there are plenty of good teams that roll with 2 very good centres and do very well.

I think he was being facetious.
- A_Tree

Oh haha, didn't get it...

Oh haha, didn't get it...
- 13sundin13

I think at this point drafting a future top center is the wrong way to go, specifically if you have to trade up to get one.

Personally I think the best route at this point in time is a trade. Free agency can be a reckless way to acquire talent, and there usually isn't top-line talent in the FA pool.

So I agree, insofar as looking to trade something valuable to receive something worthwhile in return. Trading Gardiner at this point might be our best bet at obtaining that long-time-running need for a "number one center".
- A_Tree

I think it will be very interesting to see how Nonis operates. Burke for all his faults was not averse to risks that have for the most part, paid off (JVR, Kessel. Gardiner,Phaneuf)

Yes, he would want some deals back like Tlusty, Steen and others but at least he was out there trying to make stuff happen.

not true at all

other than the last ten minutes of the second game (game 6 and 7) this lineup pretty much had boston in the bag

and frankly.. bozak was not good.. for too long we have swallowed the hype on this guy and now we all believe it

bozak in the playoffs
1: was third in faceoff percentage behind both grabo and mcclement
2: had 2 points in 5 games while getting top line minutes
3: was tied for 4th in giveaways with grabo and played 2 less games

bozak's "intangibles" which everyone seems to praise him for are ... well.. not good at all. barely average actually.
- Dozzer

not true at all

other than the last ten minutes of the second game (game 6 and 7) this lineup pretty much had boston in the bag

and frankly.. bozak was not good.. for too long we have swallowed the hype on this guy and now we all believe it

bozak in the playoffs
1: was third in faceoff percentage behind both grabo and mcclement
2: had 2 points in 5 games while getting top line minutes
3: was tied for 4th in giveaways with grabo and played 2 less games

bozak's "intangibles" which everyone seems to praise him for are ... well.. not good at all. barely average actually.
- Dozzer

Bozak had a torn oblique. Remember how effective Steckel was on the draw once injured.

Bozak may not be a great answer but hes better than no answer, which is exactly what Kadri-Grabo-Colborne would be.

Worst group of centers in the NHL.

I think it will be very interesting to see how Nonis operates. Burke for all his faults was not averse to risks that have for the most part, paid off (JVR, Kessel. Gardiner,Phaneuf)

Yes, he would want some deals back like Tlusty, Steen and others but at least he was out there trying to make stuff happen.
- Rang

It's a tough spot to be in. The Leafs appear to be on the verge of competing for in the playoffs again, but are clearly short that extra "Ommf!".

Having a real impact first pairing defense man for Phaneuf is critical. This should be at the top of the list of needs. This is where we need to either offer-sheet or trade.

Clarkson would be a great upgrade to our current roster. If Horton was available, it would be doubly amazing. As for as upgrading the center position I believe we have options here that should be sufficient if we fill up other areas in the lineup.

Goaltending is the biggest question mark. Do you stay with the Riemer/Scrivens tandem? Hire help from a Veteran? Or do you trade for a proven starter?

I wish the Leafs could land Bogosian in a trade. Such a beaut.