What you thinkin?
- bixll

Name your price.


No doubt in my mind he's there, barring injury.

Every single player is trying to run the next guy out of town.

That's what makes them professionals.

This team squeaked into the playoffs in the last week of the season, and lost in the first round.

Standing pat is not an option.
- Atomic Wedgie

Agreed. Part of the reason why Phaneuf is on his way out of town.

Name your price.


No doubt in my mind he's there, barring injury.
- robin_steele264

No deal. He will prolly make it. But never see the ice. I still have to take you to a Moose game. Not losin to that little puke again.

How many captains are making pennies in thus league? If you dont pay him you will just be paying someone else
- Jay Uller

What are your contract offering to Captain Dion Phaneuf

still it's to much for Dion

5.75 cap hit on a 5 yr deal with a nmc for the 3 yr and a limit nmc for the next 2.

Yet he still had the 7th highest spct in the NHL. We're a 99 point team with Reimer in goal and a 70 point team with the other stiffs. Reimer never was the problem. But I do like this trade, means we might be a 90 plus point team all the time, not just when Reimer starts.
- mykokes

Yup, for Bernier to exceed Reims, he has to be a vezina candidate. People think Dion is a number one d man when he isn't , and they think Reims is a backup when he's a rising star. Leaf land for ya.

so andy mcdonald is retiring.. he just posted the article on FB and twitter

I have come to the conclusion none of you know what you're talking about, so lonely being one of the few with any hockey knowledge on this thread, it's like none of you have played the game, you all bore me.

I'm going to the Oilers blog where they know hockey.
- LeafMan

The it might end up being a better move than we think, if they leafs can get a decent return back for Riemer when the time comes. the leafs can afford to wait. Its not like he has a luongo contract
- senstroll

They need to wait. Bernier needs to be pushed by Reims to earn the job. I'm not a fan of gifting the no. 1 job to anyone, the way it was done to both Raycroft and Toskala. I hope Reimer pushes him hard, Bernier earns the job. Then, deal Reimer.

Yup, for Bernier to exceed Reims, he has to be a vezina candidate. People think Dion is a number one d man when he isn't , and they think Reims is a backup when he's a rising star. Leaf land for ya.
- aminnes

You might want to tell that to Norris Trophy voters.

It's going to come as a big surprise to them.

No deal. He will prolly make it. But never see the ice. I still have to take you to a Moose game. Not losin to that little puke again.
- bixll

He's one hell of a player... You got a little Cherry running through your veins me thinks

Yup, for Bernier to exceed Reims, he has to be a vezina candidate. People think Dion is a number one d man when he isn't , and they think Reims is a backup when he's a rising star. Leaf land for ya.
- aminnes

If he doesn't exceed Reimer, then Reimer gets the starts and we're out a winger and a second

We shouldn't trade Phaneuf at all unless we are certain we're getting a top Dman that can eat minutes like Dion has in another trade or something. Trading him will be a step back. UNLESS it's a package for a guy like Getzlaf or Eric Staal (which obvs won't happen), our captain needs to stay. As much as he makes his mistakes, nobody is perfect. Everyone makes their mistakes. Nobody within our organization can eat the minutes he can, it's a fact. Bring in a top pairing dman, or something at least close to it to pair with Phaneuf.

Yup, for Bernier to exceed Reims, he has to be a vezina candidate. People think Dion is a number one d man when he isn't , and they think Reims is a backup when he's a rising star. Leaf land for ya.
- aminnes

I don't think there's anyone who thinks Dion is a #1 Dman...but he is the Leafs #1 dman, there's no doubt about that which just shows how badly they need to upgrade their D.

Dion is great at nothing...but he's good at everything.

You might want to tell that to Norris Trophy voters.

It's going to come as a big surprise to them.
- Atomic Wedgie

Not to the vast majority of them

I know most disagree but I think from here out the moves should be:

1) Pay for Ribeiro
2) Get an UFA D partner for Gardiner/Phaneuf
3) Find a top 9 winger.

1+2 costs CAP SPACE that's it. I think Clarkson won't live up to the big contract he will undoubtedly get (and hopefully not from us). I'd like Clarkson, but only up to a certain $$ number. At least if Ribeiro is overpaid he will still put up points and structure our center situation well. Unless Mac is brought back for some reason, we are still short a 2nd line and a 3rd line winger.
- markmark

Ribeiro will not "structure" the center situation well at all. He will be

1) bad example in every way for Kadri
2) he can't take a face-off to save his life
3) he's never be a first line center on a good team
4) would you expect Phil Kessel to want to keep playing with him? or would that be motivation enough after seeing Bozak being "cheaped out of town" for him to leave as well...


Ribeiro brings NOTHING. Wait for Brad Richards or LeCavalier buyout. Heck, sign Briere before Ribeiro. Those guys won't cost anything more than CAP space and $, and none of them, no matter how much they may have declined are a locker room issue like Ribeiro. I'd rather have Connolly back at 2M per than Ribeiro.

So you would be ok with Liles, Gardiner, Fraser, Franson, O'Byrne and Gunnarson as our D?

Wow...
- markmark

IF They can do an excellent job sure
there will some else to take his place who can much minutes and be affective and not as expensive.

I have come to the conclusion none of you know what you're talking about, so lonely being one of the few with any hockey knowledge on this thread, it's like none of you have played the game, you all bore me.

I'm going to the Oilers blog where they know hockey.
- LeafMan

i cant speak for the others but you got me figured out 100%

You might want to tell that to Norris Trophy voters.

It's going to come as a big surprise to them.
- Atomic Wedgie

I NEVER have relied on the opinions of hockey writers. NEVER will.

Kid is a third liner at this point. Big hype, small results.
- bixll

No.

If he doesn't exceed Reimer, then Reimer gets the starts and we're out a winger and a second
- Canada Cup

He doesn't need to exceed Reimer, he just needs to put up the same numbers and be ready should Reims get hurt or falter. Nothing wrong with having two goalies who can help your team win. I don't think we gave up any assets that were must keeps. It was a good deal, and its also not like one day we can't trade one of reimer or bernier and get a solid return down the line. Building from the net out, the goalie position is solidified with two 25 year olds, now onto the defense.

so andy mcdonald is retiring.. he just posted the article on FB and twitter
- Dozzer

He announce like 2 weeks ago

I don't think there's anyone who thinks Dion is a #1 Dman...but he is the Leafs #1 dman, there's no doubt about that which just shows how badly they need to upgrade their D.

Dion is great at nothing...but he's good at everything.
- Juice

a #1 dman comes available as often as a #1 center...and they are hard to catch
dion is the best we have and it isnt getting any better for a long time in regards to a #1

Ribeiro will not "structure" the center situation well at all. He will be

1) bad example in every way for Kadri
2) he can't take a face-off to save his life
3) he's never be a first line center on a good team
4) would you expect Phil Kessel to want to keep playing with him? or would that be motivation enough after seeing Bozak being "cheaped out of town" for him to leave as well...


Ribeiro brings NOTHING. Wait for Brad Richards or LeCavalier buyout. Heck, sign Briere before Ribeiro. Those guys won't cost anything more than CAP space and $, and none of them, no matter how much they may have declined are a locker room issue like Ribeiro. I'd rather have Connolly back at 2M per than Ribeiro.
- BorjeFan4Ever

We don't need re-hash this argument but I'm still not buying all of the speculation and subjective opinions here. I know you don't like him but besides that in regards to structure I think it does help.

Ribeiro-Kadri-Grabo-Mcclement is a hell of a lot better than Kadri-Grabo-Colborne-Mcclement IMO.

I do like the idea of signing Briere as a 2nd line winger.

I NEVER have relied on the opinions of hockey writers. NEVER will.
- aminnes

I hate to quit pulling out this card*, but you may want to actually watch Phaneuf live before you start declaring him to be crap.

Defencemen do a lot of things that you don't get to see on HNIC.

- - - - - - - - - - -

* I don't actually hate pulling out that card.

I don't think there's anyone who thinks Dion is a #1 Dman...but he is the Leafs #1 dman, there's no doubt about that which just shows how badly they need to upgrade their D.

Dion is great at nothing...but he's good at everything.
- Juice

For sure. That's why trading to upgrade the D is a far bigger priority than the Goaltending especially when this was the first stable goaltending they've had in years.