Sorry dude, I'm staying on the "No Horton" side of that line in the sand.
- BetterCallSaul

What about Ranger??? I like his game. I hope the Leafs can give him a shot in the NHL if he wants it.
- TML60

Rumours have Ranger going to Edmonton to play for Dallas.

Rumours have Ranger going to Edmonton to play for Dallas.
- BetterCallSaul

I've heard the rumours but choose to believe they are false. Probably started by some depraved Oilers fan. I'm holding out hope that Ranger wants to play for the Leafs. Call me but I think he can still play at the NHL level and could take the spot of someone on the Leafs next year.

In JFJ's defense... ... EVERYONE in the hockey world thought Pogge was the next big thing in goaltending. Mistakes are made, let's move on. Reimer showed he can compete with an all-star calibre goalie and we should give him the credit he deserves, not worry about what we could have had in Rask.
- BetterCallSaul

I was at every game in Vancouver at the World Juniors. Rask was much better than Pogge. Pogge wins goaltender of the tournament because Canada won while Rask team was eliminated in the quarters and because Canada is the home team.

Will the Leafs trade any defensmen this off season? Liles perhaps?

Will the Leafs trade any defensmen this off season? Liles perhaps?
- TML60

You guys are pretty smart, at least you all think you are. But did we ever get any definitive info on if Komi counts against the cap or if he's fine where he in in the A?

You guys are pretty smart, at least you all think you are. But did we ever get any definitive info on if Komi counts against the cap or if he's fine where he in in the A?
- weirdoh

Which guys? There's only one of me.

Will the Leafs trade any defensmen this off season? Liles perhaps?
- TML60

I kinda want Gunnar gone. No particular reason though.

I kinda want Gunnar gone. No particular reason though.
- UsernameUnknown

I kinda sorta do too. He didn't look great this year and maybe he'll rebound from the injury but I don't know.

You guys are pretty smart, at least you all think you are. But did we ever get any definitive info on if Komi counts against the cap or if he's fine where he in in the A?
- weirdoh

You save almost 1 million off of a players cap hit if you send them to the minors. Were better off not using compliance on Komi. His actual salary is only 3.5 million this year with a cap hit of 4.5. A regular buyout would be 1.667 million over 2 years.

You save almost 1 million off of a players cap hit if you send them to the minors. Were better off not using compliance on Komi. His actual salary is only 3.5 million this year with a cap hit of 4.5. A regular buyout would be 1.667 million over 2 years.
- jribout

So part of his salary still counts. Interesting. Yeah, maybe it's best to bite the bullet this year. Can't see a team taking a shot at him via trade. You think the Leafs will use any of their freebies this summer?


edit: They get 2 correct?

I kinda sorta do too. He didn't look great this year and maybe he'll rebound from the injury but I don't know.
- TML60

I just think, even before the injury, he seemed kinda.. average. We need a better overall defensive player to improve our D. Aside from a number 2.

Perhaps you are confused.... I'm not infavor of either as #1.... neither a remotely close to that level and and would struggle to be considered a 2nd liner on a playoff team.

bozak isn't a 3rd liner, that's not his game.
- burn

And that's what I'm saying about being a "tweener": he's just not shutdown 3rd or energy 3rd kind of a guy; he doesn't have enough offensive ability to center the top line.

If we were looking for a second liner, or if that's where Bozak had been playing the last few years putting up similar points, I'd be all over resigning him at a decent price. But we have Grabovski, who's better in every way except for face-offs and maybe shootouts, who's overpaid and underachieving right now; not exactly a good combo for making a sensible move. Give Grabs another year to get back on track and we'll forget all this year.

I just think, even before the injury, he seemed kinda.. average. We need a better overall defensive player to improve our D. Aside from a number 2.
- UsernameUnknown

So who do the Leafs target?

So who do the Leafs target?
- TML60

Scuderi, Murray, Kaberle?

And that's what I'm saying about being a "tweener": he's just not shutdown 3rd or energy 3rd kind of a guy; he doesn't have enough offensive ability to center the top line.

If we were looking for a second liner, or if that's where Bozak had been playing the last few years putting up similar points, I'd be all over resigning him at a decent price. But we have Grabovski, who's better in every way except for face-offs and maybe shootouts, who's overpaid and underachieving right now; not exactly a good combo for making a sensible move. Give Grabs another year to get back on track and we'll forget all this year.
- gravyface

Bozak has proved himself a more valuable player to this team. Grabo has developed zero chemistry with any of the top six wingers on this team. He has only really played well with Kulemin and Macca. Bozak has chemistry with the top six wingers, kills penalties, and is a better power play fit than Grabo. It was clear all year Bozak was Carlyle's go to guy, over Grabo.

Yep, I'm a dummy.

Gardiner-Phaneuf
Rielly-Franson
Gunnarsson-Blacker
Percy-Finn

- BetterCallSaul

Talented but very soft...

The slick scoring centre is flying a bit under the radar after an injury kept him out of play for the majority of the USHL season. Compher has dominated every international tournament he’s played in, including both U18’s (this and last) and the U17’s for the USA. He’s a pretty speedy two-way centre who excels at face-offs and is fearless around the scoring areas. He’s got good passing and scoring abilities like most offensively gifted players, but it’s the determination to get into the slot and into the crease that sets him apart from some of the more perimeter/one-shot scoring players. At 6’0 165 he has a lot of room to grow and will need a few years of development starting with a stint at the University of Michigan. He has some pest qualities to his game as well, more in that his style of play can get into players heads and less in the yapping kind you see in others. He’s the best player coming out of the American system this year by far and without that injury to start, he might be in the 10-15 range.

*hides*
- AdamFrench

that sounds pretty good. and 6'0 he better get up to at least 190, and it would be nice if he grew a little bit more lol it all depends on what nonis wants to do. he hasn't really said much about the draft

Bozak has proved himself a more valuable player to this team. Grabo has developed zero chemistry with any of the top six wingers on this team. He has only really played well with Kulemin and Macca. Bozak has chemistry with the top six wingers, kills penalties, and is a better power play fit than Grabo. It was clear all year Bozak was Carlyle's go to guy, over Grabo.
- fifty__missions

Bozak is not a good powerplay fit. He's good on the draw and he's Carlyle's "go to guy" because he's been our only player consistent in that role over the last few years.

Grabovski has largely played a shutdown role since he's been here and has faced the top scoring lines of the opposition while Bozak and Kessel have played sheltered, line-matched shifts against lesser opponents over the same period of time.

Grabovski has put up more points consistently playing with lesser players against tougher competition; his Relative Corsi Quality of Competition (yeah, yeah advanced stats haters shut it) is 3rd highest on the team behind only Phaneuf and Kulemin, the latter a regular line-mate.

Yes, Bozak played the PK and took alot of defensive draws, but Grabovski was second in faceoff percentage (behind Bozak by 2%), so the margin between the two players in that regard is pretty narrow.

So part of his salary still counts. Interesting. Yeah, maybe it's best to bite the bullet this year. Can't see a team taking a shot at him via trade. You think the Leafs will use any of their freebies this summer?


edit: They get 2 correct?
- weirdoh

They do get 2. I guess they might use one if they needed the cap space. I would wait though. No rush. Can always see how Liles and Grabo play and use them next year if they need it.

so the devils blogger believes clarkson may be on his way out. what do you think it will take to get him here?

so the devils blogger believes clarkson may be on his way out. what do you think it will take to get him here?
- matt1337

I read that too, I'm thinking he will want 5.5 for 5 years and some team will pay it.

I read that too, I'm thinking he will want 5.5 for 5 years and some team will pay it.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

kind of hard to justify paying a 2nd liner 5.5 mil, especially when we already have grabo making that. would be nicer to get him down to the 4.75 mil area

Rumours have Ranger going to Edmonton to play for Dallas.
- BetterCallSaul

no they dont, there is a differnece between rumor and speculation..... Dreger said he thinks he'd be a good fit in Edmonton. Nowhere did he say that edmonton is looking at him or that he;'s willing to go to edmonton.

People need to understand the difference.

kind of hard to justify paying a 2nd liner 5.5 mil, especially when we already have grabo making that. would be nicer to get him down to the 4.75 mil area
- matt1337

Agree, but its UFA. And Grabo makes 5.5 as a 3rd liner, something Clarksons agent will be pointing out to Nonis.