Well hello, He With Bums In His Avatars.
- weirdoh

I was gonna stop, honest.

Then I kept seeing just one more to use...

I have become addicted to my own assvatars. I can't imagine why.

I have a few in reserve for future assvatars

Yeah..... no. Get lecav along with tampas 1st, draft drouin.

JVR Lecav Kessel

Lupul Kadri Drouin

Done.
- Mapleleafs_91

if the Tampa bay thing has legs, make the deal, then open bidding up on the 3rd overall, ask Edmonton, Calgary maybe Carolina what they would give up to move up a few spots.... since Droin and Kadri are similar players in many respects.

and for the Leafs to do the Lightning that kind of favor, in short allow the Lighting to reduce Vinny CAP hit ... I hope the compensation is balanced.

what did i tell ya...

you guys should listen to me more

good move tho.. until the leafs get more toughness in the top 6 guys like Orr are an unfortunate necessity
- Dozzer

then its simple, sign Bickell, Clarkson or Clowe (although I think he's too slow to play with the other Leafs in the top 6) ... Horton isn't going to give you that kind of toughness anymore, he benefits from being shielded by Lucic.

or somehow try and get the other worldly Max Pacioretty out of Montreal (I'm kidding)

I'd be okay with doing a deal like that for Tampa but I'd either like some more from Tampa or less from the Leafs (unless those Leafs players aren't in the plans for 2013/2014.)

The Leafs are doing a huge favour for the Bolts basically paying out LeCav's contract and allowing him to possibly resign cheaply back in Tampa. There needs to be another 1st round pick or a really good prospect thrown in there.
- lister

maybe the solution is to send Grabovski, as part of the package.

Tampa buys out Grabo, Leafs buyout Vinny. Each then resigns more reasonably with original club.

Cap circumvention circa 2013. Do it before someone else does.

The Tampa rumour: it's one of those deals that doesn't really make sense.

Tampa gives up their 3rd overall pick in a really deep draft year (Drouin, Mackinnon maybe? Barkov?) for a marginal gain in buyout (Grabovski's 4 years vs 7 more of Vinny), some mid-level roster players (Frattin, Kulemin?), and picks (2nd, 3rd?)

Just looks kind of bad all around.

id love too get drouin. but it wont happen

if the Tampa bay thing has legs, make the deal, then open bidding up on the 3rd overall, ask Edmonton, Calgary maybe Carolina what they would give up to move up a few spots.... since Droin and Kadri are similar players in many respects.

and for the Leafs to do the Lightning that kind of favor, in short allow the Lighting to reduce Vinny CAP hit ... I hope the compensation is balanced.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I'd sooner draft Barkov, Nichushkin, McKinnion or Lindholm.

Droiun will be an amazing top winger, like Yaks, etc. We don't need more of that. We need either a center or a huge NHL ready power forward or a top pairing defenseman

Do you really need to go through the math again 7 years * 7.727 = 50.9.

50.9-42.5=8.4

8.4/2 = what?

Please tell me again how the Leafs would not be saving a cap hit if he retired with two years left?
- SameOld

There's a rule I do believe which says if a player retires after a certain age with time left on his contract, said team is still on the hook for those years. I do believe that's the real reason why Pronger is still on LTIR rather than retiring, and Calgary will be getting stuck with Kippers cap hit if he retires this offseason.

I really hope the Leafs acquire Iginla's rights.
- ThePresident

I rather seem them grab Jägr

I'd sooner draft Barkov, Nichushkin, McKinnion or Lindholm.

Droiun will be an amazing top winger, like Yaks, etc. We don't need more of that. We need either a center or a huge NHL ready power forward or a top pairing defenseman
- Viktory

Classic draft error is to draft what you need rather then drafting the best talent available. Most teams realize that you draft the best player available (unless the talent drop off is insignificant).

MacKinnon will be gone by 3rd pick (and of course Leafs would take him if he were miraculously still there), Nichushkin is a winger too with less talent then Drouin so that makes no sense and both Barkov and Lindholm, although centers, also have quite the drop off in talent to Drouin.

So no....you don't take any of those guys (not named MacKinnon) over Drouin - that would just be stupid.

Basically constructed this team... got rid of the poop and turned it upside down into something new.

JVR, Phaneuf(was worth the trade), Kessel(looks good), Gardiner, Franson, Drafted Kadri, Lupul .. all the key pieces and reasons why the leafs are good, i think the team work my both burke and nonis was a good combo
- Mapleleafs_91

Cup contenders are built from the net out and at center. Where are the leafs good? At wing and on defense. They also have size & intimidation factor. But they need a True #1 center; something grabvo, bozak, or colborne won't be. Kadri fits the bill long term but with $20.4M committed to JVR, Lupul, Grabvo, Kessel (will go up to $22 when he's resigned) it means Kadri getting an increase will push the cap even higher. Sign Kadri 8 years $ 52-54M, trade grabvo.... do people want Gunnerson back?

I think Drouin beside Kadri would be gold for years to come.

Top 6:
JVR, _________, Kessel
Drouin, Kadri, Lupul

Damn these other bloggers who tease us with these rumours!

Cup contenders are built from the net out and at center. Where are the leafs good? At wing and on defense. They also have size & intimidation factor. But they need a True #1 center; something grabvo, bozak, or colborne won't be. Kadri fits the bill long term but with $20.4M committed to JVR, Lupul, Grabvo, Kessel (will go up to $22 when he's resigned) it means Kadri getting an increase will push the cap even higher. Sign Kadri 8 years $ 52-54M, trade grabvo.... do people want Gunnerson back?
- AlfieisKing

Technically they were also good in goal, moreso there than on d this year.

But long-term, I agree, they need a #1 centre. But Drouin with Kadri would be gold for the next decade.

Same poop every year. We are not trading up for a top pick you jackasses

Same poop every year. We are not trading up for a top pick you jackasses
- Lee Denault

this year we have a good excuse. we have the compliance buyout option and financial flexibility that poor teams crave and wish they had...

Same poop every year. We are not trading up for a top pick you jackasses
- Lee Denault

Blame the blogger, not your fellow leaf fans, and by blogger, I point you to JJ.

Same poop every year. We are not trading up for a top pick you jackasses
- Lee Denault

But Lee, we were so close to getting Tavares.....

I don't understand why anyone would knock Orr or Pittsburg. Orr plays his role better than 90% of the other enforcers in the league . Tied for first in fighting majors. That speaks volumes. With him and McLaren there is not a single team out there that will take liberties with any maple leaf players without thinking twice about it. And the price of piece of mind and security is immeasurable. Even Chara looks over his shoulder when those 2 are on the ice. Pittsburgh were banged up and intimidated. They simply could not play at the level they are capable of AND absorb the punishment Boston serves up on a nightly basis. If Pitts and Crosby are 100% healthy then Boston is done in 6. Toronto almost beat a more well rounded team by being tougher and more offensively gifted. And the toughness did NOT come from JVR and Kessel.

Cup contenders are built from the net out and at center. Where are the leafs good? At wing and on defense. They also have size & intimidation factor. But they need a True #1 center; something grabvo, bozak, or colborne won't be. Kadri fits the bill long term but with $20.4M committed to JVR, Lupul, Grabvo, Kessel (will go up to $22 when he's resigned) it means Kadri getting an increase will push the cap even higher. Sign Kadri 8 years $ 52-54M, trade grabvo.... do people want Gunnerson back?
- AlfieisKing

"Cup Contenders" are built in many shapes and sizes. You wont win without wingers and defense too. You need everything.
And we have good goaltending in Reimer. He's solid. And we have pretty poopty D for the most part. There will be changes for it next season.

This team is built to score as much as possible and dont stop. We are fast and can win two-way games easily.

As soon as we get a two or 3 goal lead, and go into defensive mode to hold it, we lose. Because we suck at the defensive game.

And no. I dont want Gunnarson back. Just my opinion though!

I don't understand why anyone would knock Orr or Pittsburg. Orr plays his role better than 90% of the other enforcers in the league . Tied for first in fighting majors. That speaks volumes. With him and McLaren there is not a single team out there that will take liberties with any maple leaf players without thinking twice about it. And the price of piece of mind and security is immeasurable. Even Chara looks over his shoulder when those 2 are on the ice. Pittsburgh were banged up and intimidated. They simply could not play at the level they are capable of AND absorb the punishment Boston serves up on a nightly basis. If Pitts and Crosby are 100% healthy then Boston is done in 6. Toronto almost beat a more well rounded team by being tougher and more offensively gifted. And the toughness did NOT come from JVR and Kessel.
- marklaprise

anddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd then

Classic draft error is to draft what you need rather then drafting the best talent available. Most teams realize that you draft the best player available (unless the talent drop off is insignificant).

MacKinnon will be gone by 3rd pick (and of course Leafs would take him if he were miraculously still there), Nichushkin is a winger too with less talent then Drouin so that makes no sense and both Barkov and Lindholm, although centers, also have quite the drop off in talent to Drouin.

So no....you don't take any of those guys (not named MacKinnon) over Drouin - that would just be stupid.
- Cooshie

I'd then argue that those 4 players will end up being the best talent available. Nichushkin dominates. Barkov is a beast at center and should be ranked higher than Drouin. Drouin in my opinion shouldn't be rated higher than 5.

Classic Draft Error? Best Player available is a crapshoot in itself. If you're going to use that example with such a deep draft, I think you've allowed opportunity to slip past.

There's a rule I do believe which says if a player retires after a certain age with time left on his contract, said team is still on the hook for those years. I do believe that's the real reason why Pronger is still on LTIR rather than retiring, and Calgary will be getting stuck with Kippers cap hit if he retires this offseason.
- mykokes

Yup the 35+ rule. Which dirte elegantly pointed out is not the same as the cap advantage saving rule, even though he has no idea how that works.

Not surprised to see him extended.

Not surprised to see him extended.
- Thehabsfan93

Are you ready for next season





LONG LIVE COLTON ORR

Are you ready for next season





LONG LIVE COLTON ORR
- Mapleleafs_91

Makes me smile everytime.