Right, I'm out for now... have a good morning guys!
- lumlums

You too. I'm hitting the links soon. See you later.

They had a good season. One. And I think that was more do to the play of Kulemin and MacArthur then Grabovski. Don't get me wrong I like Grabovski I just think he is more of an individual then a linemate. Not sure how many teams would be interested and IMO Bozak has way more value to the Leafs.
- honesthockey

it amazes me how what seems like the overwhelming majority of Leaf fans on this site want to rip Bozak. I recognize his limitations and his flaws as well as the next guy... but man the grass is not always greener.

Bozak is a classic tweener.. but that being said he has improved every year - and was a major portion of the puck possession/movement associated with Lupul and Kessel's statistically great 2011/2012 seasons.

What do the Leafs gain by committing what would not no doubt be multiple years of contract to a Weiss or Bolland - which would only serve as sideways moves.

Eveyone NOW sees Kadri's upside, but quite frankly there weren't many who were singing his praises last summer - the most prominent subject of discussion was his BMI. Ridiculous.

Bozak sucks, he too small, he doesn't hit enough, he doesn't score enough points... yadda yadda yadda... blah blah blah.

Letting him walk for nothing serves no purpose - and probably would taint the upcoming contract negotiations with Kessel.

Is the issue Bozak's potential contract - or is the issue the stupid amount of money that was committed to Grabovski?

same dumb approach a few years back... "we just signed big Mike Komisarek to a huge contract - so of course we are going to continue to play him - including ahead of a young kid WHO PLAYED MUCH BETTER he first couple of years"... how did that turn out.

I heard Lindros is a complete douchebag in real life.
- Tee-Dot

Well this older man at work, he used to drive GreyCoach buses out of Toronto. T He says he has dealt with all different kinds of celebrities from sports athletes to musicians. He says the biggest arrogant bumholes he's ever dealt with was when he used to take the Maple Leafs out of town in the early 70's. They had the awful attitude of wanting everyome to kiss their ass's & when u didn't, they would say: do u know who we are? we are the Toronto Maple Leafs!!!! My friend is hilarious cause he says he's never been a hockey fan & he threw their crap right back in their faces. He didn't know or care who the Leafs are & he told them just that. Well eventually he was not allowed to drive the Leafs out of town anymore LOL.

it amazes me how what seems like the overwhelming majority of Leaf fans on this site want to rip Bozak. I recognize his limitations and his flaws as well as the next guy... but man the grass is not always greener.

Bozak is a classic tweener.. but that being said he has improved every year - and was a major portion of the puck possession/movement associated with Lupul and Kessel's statistically great 2011/2012 seasons.

What do the Leafs gain by committing what would not no doubt be multiple years of contract to a Weiss or Bolland - which would only serve as sideways moves.

Eveyone NOW sees Kadri's upside, but quite frankly there weren't many who were singing his praises last summer - the most prominent subject of discussion was his BMI. Ridiculous.

Bozak sucks, he too small, he doesn't hit enough, he doesn't score enough points... yadda yadda yadda... blah blah blah.

Letting him walk for nothing serves no purpose - and probably would taint the upcoming contract negotiations with Kessel.

Is the issue Bozak's potential contract - or is the issue the stupid amount of money that was committed to Grabovski?

same dumb approach a few years back... "we just signed big Mike Komisarek to a huge contract - so of course we are going to continue to play him - including ahead of a young kid WHO PLAYED MUCH BETTER he first couple of years"... how did that turn out.
- BorjeFan4Ever

100% agree with you on this.

Still smarting from the loss of Komarov. Huge hole to fill IMO.

it amazes me how what seems like the overwhelming majority of Leaf fans on this site want to rip Bozak. I recognize his limitations and his flaws as well as the next guy... but man the grass is not always greener.

Bozak is a classic tweener.. but that being said he has improved every year - and was a major portion of the puck possession/movement associated with Lupul and Kessel's statistically great 2011/2012 seasons.

What do the Leafs gain by committing what would not no doubt be multiple years of contract to a Weiss or Bolland - which would only serve as sideways moves.

Eveyone NOW sees Kadri's upside, but quite frankly there weren't many who were singing his praises last summer - the most prominent subject of discussion was his BMI. Ridiculous.

Bozak sucks, he too small, he doesn't hit enough, he doesn't score enough points... yadda yadda yadda... blah blah blah.

Letting him walk for nothing serves no purpose - and probably would taint the upcoming contract negotiations with Kessel.

Is the issue Bozak's potential contract - or is the issue the stupid amount of money that was committed to Grabovski?

same dumb approach a few years back... "we just signed big Mike Komisarek to a huge contract - so of course we are going to continue to play him - including ahead of a young kid WHO PLAYED MUCH BETTER he first couple of years"... how did that turn out.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I agree with this. I don't want him walking for nothing. I also don't want the Leafs to throw big bucks at Bozak and keep playing him on the 1st line. His being a tweener, his potential worth on the open market and Grabovski's contract are what make this a tough decision for Nonis. Grabovski's contract does not look good right now. It'll be interesting to see what Nonis does.

100% agree with you on this.

Still smarting from the loss of Komarov. Huge hole to fill IMO.
- honesthockey

I like Komarov too. He's a good foot soldier. The Leafs need his type of defensive play.

Id take Bolland.

I like Komarov too. He's a good foot soldier. The Leafs need his type of defensive play.
- TML60

Everything he brings to the game the Leafs lack large. Replacing him will be a difficult task.

Everything he brings to the game the Leafs lack large. Replacing him will be a difficult task.
- honesthockey

I want to know why he left in the first place.

it amazes me how what seems like the overwhelming majority of Leaf fans on this site want to rip Bozak. I recognize his limitations and his flaws as well as the next guy... but man the grass is not always greener.

Bozak is a classic tweener.. but that being said he has improved every year - and was a major portion of the puck possession/movement associated with Lupul and Kessel's statistically great 2011/2012 seasons.

What do the Leafs gain by committing what would not no doubt be multiple years of contract to a Weiss or Bolland - which would only serve as sideways moves.

Eveyone NOW sees Kadri's upside, but quite frankly there weren't many who were singing his praises last summer - the most prominent subject of discussion was his BMI. Ridiculous.

Bozak sucks, he too small, he doesn't hit enough, he doesn't score enough points... yadda yadda yadda... blah blah blah.

Letting him walk for nothing serves no purpose - and probably would taint the upcoming contract negotiations with Kessel.

Is the issue Bozak's potential contract - or is the issue the stupid amount of money that was committed to Grabovski?

same dumb approach a few years back... "we just signed big Mike Komisarek to a huge contract - so of course we are going to continue to play him - including ahead of a young kid WHO PLAYED MUCH BETTER he first couple of years"... how did that turn out.
- BorjeFan4Ever

AGREED AGREED & AGREED. Look if were talking the UFA's centers of 2014 when Datsyk or Stastny or Thorton are available that's a different scenario. But look at the main UFA centers for 2013; Derek Roy? Antropov? Ribero? Weiss?

I would take Bozak in a heartbeat over any of these overpaid tools. It's no contest. Your gona give up on Bozak & than overpay one of these goofs? What's sense would that fukken make? I rank Bozak MUCH higher than Grabbo. If the Grabbo contract is the problem here, than it's time to trade or buyout Grabbo.

I want to know why he left in the first place.
- Leafland

Maybe he wanted to play at home?

Gotta run. Hope you guys can get the Leafs center situation sorted out by the time I get back. Let me know what you decide. See you later.

Maybe he wanted to play at home?
- weirdoh

Must be, hopefully he comes back at some point, and sticks around.

Maybe he wanted to play at home?
- weirdoh

Isn't his "home" Finland?

Maybe he wanted to play at home?
- weirdoh

Mabie Nonis didn't give him a good enough offer? When an RFA has a 2nd option like Komo, mabie Nonis should make sure that Komo knows he's an important part of this team & that the Leafs REALLY want him back. Can't take a player for granted if he has other options. If that's what happened here.

Isn't his "home" Finland?
- honesthockey

i think there was a few reasons. the fact that they havent decided if nhl players will play in the olympics is a factor, money is a factor, possibly ice time (he was only playing 4th line and the pk, only 13:56 avg a game, where in KHL he was probably at the 18-19 range)

Gotta run. Hope you guys can get the Leafs center situation sorted out by the time I get back. Let me know what you decide. See you later.
- TML60

I've decided to re-sign Bozak, buy out Grabbo & Komo, trade Liles for a 7th oick. Kadri will be our 2nd line center. Now the Leafs have some more cap room for July 1st to sign some big wingers & a good veteran d-man to help take the load of Dion. Aswell, trade Scrivens & sign a veteran backup. An 82 game season is a HELL of alot longer than 48. Reimer will need an experienced back-up. OK DONE, Leafs are good to go for 2013-2014.

Must be, hopefully he comes back at some point, and sticks around.
- Leafland

What I heard, he hasn't closed the book on possibly returning at some point.
When? who knows. Sept 2013? Jan 2014? Sept 2014? Or mabie he'll never come back. Guess as long as there's always a chance, better than nothing I guess.
I love the kid & what he brings to the Leafs. He will be missed.

I've decided to re-sign Bozak, buy out Grabbo & Komo, trade Liles for a 7th oick. Kadri will be our 2nd line center. Now the Leafs have some more cap room for July 1st to sign some big wingers & a good veteran d-man to help take the load of Dion. Aswell, trade Scrivens & sign a veteran backup. An 82 game season is a HELL of alot longer than 48. Reimer will need an experienced back-up. OK DONE, Leafs are good to go for 2013-2014.
- GCHonda

i would deal grabo, i'm sure phoenix or someone could use him, especially if they need to reach the cap floor. just leave komo in the minors no point wasting a buy out on him. deal liles, i agree with that. then sign filppula to play 1st line, resign bozak to play 3rd line. try and sign a big body top 6 winger to play 2nd line. sign a better 4th line winger (maybe crabb, i did like him when he played for us and he did chip in a bit offensively, i can't see money being an issue if we try and sign him) and then try and add a top 4 shut down dman to play with phaneuf

Isn't his "home" Finland?
- honesthockey

You're right. Forgot about that. Guess he wanted more cake?

You're right. Forgot about that. Guess he wanted more cake?
- weirdoh

Moscow is a lot closer to 'home' than Toronto.

Maybe he has family in Russia. Maybe he just really likes vodka. Who knows what motivates a guy.

it amazes me how what seems like the overwhelming majority of Leaf fans on this site want to rip Bozak. I recognize his limitations and his flaws as well as the next guy... but man the grass is not always greener.

Bozak is a classic tweener.. but that being said he has improved every year - and was a major portion of the puck possession/movement associated with Lupul and Kessel's statistically great 2011/2012 seasons.

What do the Leafs gain by committing what would not no doubt be multiple years of contract to a Weiss or Bolland - which would only serve as sideways moves.

Eveyone NOW sees Kadri's upside, but quite frankly there weren't many who were singing his praises last summer - the most prominent subject of discussion was his BMI. Ridiculous.

Bozak sucks, he too small, he doesn't hit enough, he doesn't score enough points... yadda yadda yadda... blah blah blah.

Letting him walk for nothing serves no purpose - and probably would taint the upcoming contract negotiations with Kessel.

Is the issue Bozak's potential contract - or is the issue the stupid amount of money that was committed to Grabovski?

same dumb approach a few years back... "we just signed big Mike Komisarek to a huge contract - so of course we are going to continue to play him - including ahead of a young kid WHO PLAYED MUCH BETTER he first couple of years"... how did that turn out.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Grabovski has been very consistent his entire career with Toronto and a ~55 pt center makes ~5M a year in the NHL nowadays; he's overpaid by about 750K to 1M.

Komisarek was given ample opportunity to earn his paycheck and never lived up to it.

There's a difference between having a bad (shortened) season and consistently underperforming and to credit Nonis, he cleaned house to make room for better, younger players. If Grabovski continues to put up mediocre numbers, he'll be moved.

And you're right, Bozak is a classic "tweener": he's in be"tween" a 2nd and 3rd line center. Guy's like Kessel, JVR, and Lupul are excelling and improving every year
despite playing with Bozak; they are very good players on their own right and it's Bozak that's taking advantage of that, not the other way around.

So if Bozak doesn't make players better around him or doesn't contribute offensively on his own, why are we hanging on to him? Like I've said before, Bozak is decent defensively and is great at the dot, so I'd sign him to a short term home-town discount to keep him around, but there's better ways to shore up the center position on this team (namely acquiring a Gordon) that would make up for the loss of losing Bozak on the draw.

Grabovski has been very consistent his entire career with Toronto and a ~55 pt center makes ~5M a year in the NHL nowadays; he's overpaid by about 750K to 1M.

Komisarek was given ample opportunity to earn his paycheck and never lived up to it.

There's a difference between having a bad (shortened) season and consistently underperforming and to credit Nonis, he cleaned house to make room for better, younger players. If Grabovski continues to put up mediocre numbers, he'll be moved.

And you're right, Bozak is a classic "tweener": he's in be"tween" a 2nd and 3rd line center. Guy's like Kessel, JVR, and Lupul are excelling and improving every year
despite playing with Bozak; they are very good players on their own right and it's Bozak that's taking advantage of that, not the other way around.

So if Bozak doesn't make players better around him or doesn't contribute offensively on his own, why are we hanging on to him? Like I've said before, Bozak is decent defensively and is great at the dot, so I'd sign him to a short term home-town discount to keep him around, but there's better ways to shore up the center position on this team (namely acquiring a Gordon) that would make up for the loss of losing Bozak on the draw.
- gravyface

This is bang on.

The situation in Toronto has grossly elevated his value to the open market. His agent obviously has him primed to the idea that said situation is going to land him his career contract. Ideally, he'd take his 3 year 3 mil a season contract, and embrace playing third line center in Toronto, where he obviously has a good fit. If the real #1 center isn't found, or injury hit.. He still has the opportunity to break in top 6 minutes in Toronto, and prove he's more than a stop gap. He takes his 5 mil a season deal on the open market, and he'll be ville leino in a year. Well off money wise, but about to be unemployed.

To flip grabovski away now for nothing after a 48 game season is foolish.

Grabovski has been very consistent his entire career with Toronto and a ~55 pt center makes ~5M a year in the NHL nowadays; he's overpaid by about 750K to 1M.

Komisarek was given ample opportunity to earn his paycheck and never lived up to it.

There's a difference between having a bad (shortened) season and consistently underperforming and to credit Nonis, he cleaned house to make room for better, younger players. If Grabovski continues to put up mediocre numbers, he'll be moved.

And you're right, Bozak is a classic "tweener": he's in be"tween" a 2nd and 3rd line center. Guy's like Kessel, JVR, and Lupul are excelling and improving every year
despite playing with Bozak; they are very good players on their own right and it's Bozak that's taking advantage of that, not the other way around.

So if Bozak doesn't make players better around him or doesn't contribute offensively on his own, why are we hanging on to him? Like I've said before, Bozak is decent defensively and is great at the dot, so I'd sign him to a short term home-town discount to keep him around, but there's better ways to shore up the center position on this team (namely acquiring a Gordon) that would make up for the loss of losing Bozak on the draw.
- gravyface

I can't agree with this. JVR and Lupul are every bit classic tweeners as Bozak. Until Lupul plays a full season he is a part time player and JVR would be way better suited to line two.

Last season when Connolly was put between Kessel and Lupul they started off ok and then their production dropped. Say all you like about Bozak's point production but he adds something to the line that allows it to be successful and that's a fact. Kessel has had career years with him up the middle. Point's aren't always the measuring stick and it is a team sport. Until someone steps up to the plate and can replace Bozak (and when I say that Kessel and Lupul or JVR producing at their pace) then I say you gotta keep him.

I can't agree with this. JVR and Lupul are every bit classic tweeners as Bozak. Until Lupul plays a full season he is a part time player and JVR would be way better suited to line two.

Last season when Connolly was put between Kessel and Lupul they started off ok and then their production dropped. Say all you like about Bozak's point production but he adds something to the line that allows it to be successful and that's a fact. Kessel has had career years with him up the middle. Point's aren't always the measuring stick and it is a team sport. Until someone steps up to the plate and can replace Bozak (and when I say that Kessel and Lupul or JVR producing at their pace) then I say you gotta keep him.
- honesthockey

Kessel is still quite young. And just because he's doing good work with Bozak there doesn't mean that he won't do better with more skill. Bozak has been okay at best in that role, however there's no doubt that Kessel could put up more points even with a guy like Filpulla.