The leafs were paying Bozak and Grabovski 7 million last season. If there is no other option for a #1 and the leafs insist on keeping him, then I cant see how you keep Grabovski also. Sign bozak for 4million (3.5 sounds better), buyout or trade Grabovski and sign a Boyd Gordon for 2 million (similar to McClement).
Bozak and Gordon is 6 million and better suited for a 3/4 line checking roll with McClement.
Bozak, Kadri, McClement, Gordon as the Centers then. Saves you 1 million +
If Bozak wants more than 4...nevermind
- senstroll
I think those four centres are a realistic choice. Bozak has chemistry with Kessel, and Kadri plays well with Lupul or JVR, so barring an out of the blue superstar centre acquisition, those are their top two centres starting next season.
McClement can fill Grabo's role as 3rd line (shutdown) centre, and get paid $4 million per less. Gordon would take over McClement's old role as 4th line centre, and give the team two of the best penalty killers (McClement/Gordon) and face off (Gordon/Bozak) men in the league.
Sign UFA Clarkson, and you get a starting 12 like this:
Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
JVR - Kadri - Clarkson
Kulemin - McClement - Frattin
Komarov - Gordon - Orr
Clarkson adds some jam without sacrificing offense, Kulemin gets bumped to the left side of the shutdown line where his defensive abilities will be utilized more effectively.
Not as sexy a top 12 as a stacked Pittsburgh team of course, but a more balanced, effective one than we had last year, and one that is frugal cap wise, which would give room for Nonis to get Dion an upgrade (Bogo, Bieska, etc.) to help him in the top D pairing, should the opportunity arise.
