Edmonton deserves a quality guy like Eakins. Would be a perfect fit. He's awesome with young players. If Eakins can't get the Oilers going than something is fundamentally wrong with the players.
- GCHonda

Why hasn't T.O. offered up a assistant gig? or would that be next stop if he doesn't find a head coach job?

As to the Malkin thing I always wondered if that would happen, there doesn't seem like a better time than now, Bring Malkin to T.O. Kuli!!!

I heard a rumour that Malkin may want out of Pittsburgh cause he wants to be the #1 guy somewhere else. anyone hear anything about this?
- GCHonda

It could be true...

If be pumped to get him.


Not sure if he'd want anything less than head coach. Which Edmonton isn't offering
- robin_steele264

Wow that's sad. Anyone who follows the Leafs closely, knows how much how he has made an incredible difference with so many young Leaf players.

It could be true...
- jribout

Don't be surprised if Fleury wants out too. He'd be stupid to wanna stay after being benched.

Don't be surprised if Fleury wants out too. He'd be stupid to wanna stay after being benched.
- GCHonda

A chance of scenery might change his game, Fleury has always been a tough read for me. is he good or was his first season a better benchmark to how he will play on an average team? In Vancouver I thought he had a stronger case to back up Marty, since however he has been so hot-cold

Don't be surprised if Fleury wants out too. He'd be stupid to wanna stay after being benched.
- GCHonda

They may buy him out and sign someone like Smith

To take that a step further, in a couple of years…..

Lupul – Kadri – Kessel
JVR – Strome – Frattin?
Kulemin – Grabovski – _______
Komarov – McClement – Orr?
McClaren?

Rielly – Franson
Phaneuf (assuming he’s re-signed) – Gunnarson
Fraser – Liles

Doug Murray? Percy, Finn? I don’t know. It shouldn’t be too difficult to fill in the holes when you’ve got that much youth in the lineup.

Reimer.


And most of that youth will be around for at least 4 or 5 years.
- Dirte

If you have Kulie and Grabo as third line, to fill the other hole, you might as well just keep MacA. He is generally looked at as a non-essential piece to any team, and a good filler, but that MacRussian line has had pretty damn good times. I would love to see it happen again, as unikely as it would.

Edit: Also, Liles wont be a Leaf for much longer

They may buy him out and sign someone like Smith
- jribout

That would give me a chuckle, whats Smith had... 2, 3 decent seasons? (Surprise!! it was only 1.)

Time is all we need, a deal will come along or a good draft pick. The cupboards will be even better stocked in a year or two, that's when I would reassess and make a move
- Jay Uller

They never do seem to come along. The Leafs have been without a first line centre since Sundin left.

Don't be surprised if Fleury wants out too. He'd be stupid to wanna stay after being benched.
- GCHonda

I think the feeling is mutual in Pittsburgh...

If you have Kulie and Grabo as third line, to fill the other hole, you might as well just keep MacA. He is generally looked at as a non-essential piece to any team, and a good filler, but that MacRussian line has had pretty damn good times. I would love to see it happen again, as unikely as it would.

Edit: Also, Liles wont be a Leaf for much longer
- UsernameUnknown

Liles plus (_____) for Staz?

he is a bit of an upgrade on Bozak, drops the Avs salary and they are due to re-up Landeskog and duchene.

or make a push for Duchene seeing as Landeskog is locked in at #1 C

If you have Kulie and Grabo as third line, to fill the other hole, you might as well just keep MacA. He is generally looked at as a non-essential piece to any team, and a good filler, but that MacRussian line has had pretty damn good times. I would love to see it happen again, as unikely as it would.

Edit: Also, Liles wont be a Leaf for much longer
- UsernameUnknown

Again based on Carlyle's coaching style one of our lines needs to be a checking line, they will get a lot of icetime so we may as well make it a good line. I think we are two thirds there with Mclement and Kulemin, Komarov might be the third but if we can sign better for the cheap (Boyd Gordon) then we will be that much better off.

Liles plus (_____) for Staz?

he is a bit of an upgrade on Bozak, drops the Avs salary and they are due to re-up Landeskog and duchene.

or make a push for Duchene seeing as Landeskog is locked in at #1 C
- Jay Uller

Landeskog plays wing

Liles plus (_____) for Staz?

he is a bit of an upgrade on Bozak, drops the Avs salary and they are due to re-up Landeskog and duchene.

or make a push for Duchene seeing as Landeskog is locked in at #1 C
- Jay Uller

Landeskog is a winger. Their centres are O'Reilly, Stastny, Duchene.

Again based on Carlyle's coaching style one of our lines needs to be a checking line, they will get a lot of icetime so we may as well make it a good line. I think we are two thirds there with Mclement and Kulemin, Komarov might be the third but if we can sign better for the cheap (Boyd Gordon) then we will be that much better off.
- jribout

The fourth line is our checking line. I loved our fourth line this year.

And honestly, I don't know if we can get better than Komarov. Personally one of my favourite players from this year. He hits literally everything that moves and is a solid pest. I'd keep him around for as long as possible. Nobody on the leafs hits more than Komarov, so if you wanted a checking line, I'd be damned if he wouldn't be on it.

Landeskog is a winger. Their centres are O'Reilly, Stastny, Duchene.
- Dirte

ya I dunno what I was thinking, regardless next year is a contract year for all three

ya I dunno what I was thinking, regardless next year is a contract year for all three
- Jay Uller

They will be looking to offload one of there centers though, I think. Especially if they draft Makinnon,, which is a high possibility.

The fourth line is our checking line. I loved our fourth line this year.

And honestly, I don't know if we can get better than Komarov. Personally one of my favourite players from this year. He hits literally everything that moves and is a solid pest. I'd keep him around for as long as possible. Nobody on the leafs hits more than Komarov, so if you wanted a checking line, I'd be damned if he wouldn't be on it.
- UsernameUnknown

By checking I mean shutdown the other team's top line line. McLaren and Orr definitely don't fit there. I like Komarov but there is a difference between hitting hard and agitating and shutdown allstars.

They will be looking to offload one of there centers though, I think. Especially if they draft Makinnon,, which is a high possibility.
- UsernameUnknown

That would be only further reason for the liles deal. But I'm sure they would be faced with a few good deals

By checking I mean shutdown the other team's top line line. McLaren and Orr definitely don't fit there. I like Komarov but there is a difference between hitting hard and agitating and shutdown allstars.
- jribout

Okay, fair enough. In that case, I still think Kulie, Grabo and MacA could be a solid shutdown line. Kind of on the fence for that though. I wonder if Cobourne can play wing instead of Mac. Or shift Grabo to the wing and have Cobourne center it. I'd prefer Joe on the wing though. We'd need to have big bodied wingers along the boards as a shutdown line.

Hell, I'd even say if you gave Komarov a chance to play on the 3rd line shut-down he could surprise us. He can throw a lot first liners off their game.

That would be only further reason for the liles deal. But I'm sure they would be faced with a few good deals
- Jay Uller

yeah. would never get it done. Liles would never be the centrepiece of a deal for Stastny. I doubt they'd get a good return, but they wouldn't have to take back dead salary either.

That would be only further reason for the liles deal. But I'm sure they would be faced with a few good deals
- Jay Uller

I agree, sorry, kind or worded my post wrong. However, we GOT Liles from the Av's, and I highly doubt they want him back. Give em Komi instead

yeah. would never get it done. Liles would never be the centrepiece of a deal for Stastny. I doubt they'd get a good return, but they wouldn't have to take back dead salary either.
- Dirte

Gardiner, Frattin and a 2nd. Maybe a prospect as well.

To me, that's too much. Stasny really isn't all that much better than Bozak. But the Av's will have him heavily priced


Not to mention I have no idea what I'm talking about when it comes to trades.

Gardiner, Frattin and a 2nd. Maybe a prospect as well.

To me, that's too much. Stasny really isn't all that much better than Bozak. But the Av's will have him heavily priced


Not to mention I have no idea what I'm talking about when it comes to trades.
- UsernameUnknown

way too much. maybe more like just Frattin and a second.

Wow that's sad. Anyone who follows the Leafs closely, knows how much how he has made an incredible difference with so many young Leaf players.
- GCHonda

Not sure how it's sad.. Oilers like Krueger and I don't think it fair to ditch him after 48 games.