I would much rather sign Bozak at $5m for one year than trade away our best Dman for another overpriced centre.

Bozie may not be great, but he was part of the leagues no. 5 offense last year. This despite poor team puck possession numbers, and constantly being outshot. Trade Phaneuf for a centre ONLY if you want to try for Ekblad next summer...
- lumlums

Not sure if you've got the same feeling I have but it looks to me like Nonis isn't a massive fan of Phaneuf the way he dances around questions regarding his future in Toronto.

Fixed
- As_I_See_It

Poor.... you're better than that

This is a deal Shero might consider.
- Orpik44

If a trade was going to happen (which I don't think there will....with Gardiner and Reilly already in the fold, being younger and cheaper and almost clones gamewise), this would be the trade. Almost guarantee it.

Toronto fans need to stop this chemistry BS from international competitions as ammo.
- Oneonta Penguin

Reason why? You play together you play together

Kulemin. MacA is always the odd man out around here.
- Leeman4Gilmour

I thought the other way around...interesting.

Gagner is a special player. Phaneuf has been expected to win the Norris from the time he was 18 and will never live up to expectations. He would excel in a non-hockey market. I would not give up Stastny for Phaneuf though if I'm Patrick Sakic.
- therealagent

He wasn't even the highest drafted defenseman in his draft. The Norris buzz only started after he, you know, finished 2nd in Norris voting.

and Gagner is better than Grabovski and McClement. It's not close.
- Oneonta Penguin

Kadri and grabo is better IMO

Not sure if you've got the same feeling I have but it looks to me like Nonis isn't a massive fan of Phaneuf the way he dances around questions regarding his future in Toronto.
- Sheppy99

I think that he's inviting bidders, letting people know that nobody is safe as long as fair value is offered. No matter how good a guy is, there is ALWAYS a deal out there that would enable their trade.

Take sutter out on pitts side and add Reilly on the leafs side.
- coryberg2

Not a chance.

We don't need any more undersized, defensively suspect #2 centers, thanks.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Why bother to give up a defenceman asset, for Gagner, when we could just sign Bozak for similar money? It makes no sense to do so.

Reason why? You play together you play together
- jake24242

They play together when they are suiting up for Russia against Kazakhstan or Belarus. Pretty easy to put up points. I'm sure some people on this board could have nice points with Malkin against Kazakhstan.

Aaron Ekblad, projected no 1 pick next year. People keep thinking McDavid, but due to him going early into the CHL, he plays an extra year there and is draft eligible in 2015.
- lumlums

Thanks for the info and i really like McDavid seen him play a few games alot of talent there.

and Gagner is better than Grabovski and McClement. It's not close.
- Oneonta Penguin

Very true, but you don't trade your best D just for such an upgrade.

If a trade was going to happen (which I don't think there will....with Gardiner and Reilly already in the fold, being younger and cheaper and almost clones gamewise), this would be the trade. Almost guarantee it.
- MrBen

Gardiner Kulemin 1st for Letang

Yeah. I could see that too.

Hopefully we are able to re-sign Letang first....if not...what the hell...

Thanks for the info and i really like McDavid seen him play a few games alot of talent there.
- jake24242

Yeah, that kid has a damn bright future ahead of him.

A players value to a team is more than just age/pay/etc. The question is "Do we have somebody who can step into their role if they leave?". The answer for Dion is no, we do not. A true 1C would be nice, but I repeat, scoring is not an issue.
- lumlums

...agree on your first premise, but you're not considering all points of value. A #1 C can be a bit smaller if the wings compensate and the C has a lot of talent. P Kane is a C/RW who is small, he does pretty well, no? Crosby and Gagner are almost exactly the same size...Crosby is pretty good, no?

I think Gagner totally has the talent to be a #1 C. Sure he may not be as skilled as Crosby or Kane, but he's closer than you give him credit for...

Kadri and grabo is better IMO
- jake24242

Even with Grabo's poopty year this year?

They play together when they are suiting up for Russia against Kazakhstan or Belarus. Pretty easy to put up points. I'm sure some people on this board could have nice points with Malkin against Kazakhstan.
- Oneonta Penguin

Im talking khl man

Gardiner Kulemin 1st for Letang

Yeah. I could see that too.

Hopefully we are able to re-sign Letang first....if not...what the hell...
- Orpik44

Way too rich for me... If he was signed to a long-term affordable contract then we could talk, but trading that for a pending UFA makes no long-term sense...

Even with Grabo's poopty year this year?
- Oneonta Penguin

That is correct

Thanks for the info and i really like McDavid seen him play a few games alot of talent there.
- jake24242

DO you have a comparable to McDavid's game? Skating, vision, pass, shot..?

Gardiner Kulemin 1st for Letang

Yeah. I could see that too.

Hopefully we are able to re-sign Letang first....if not...what the hell...
- Orpik44

Stop the Kulemin bullpoop.

Why bother to give up a defenceman asset, for Gagner, when we could just sign Bozak for similar money? It makes no sense to do so.
- PrinceLH

Bozak wants a long term deal and I sure as hell don't want to commit to him long term at 5 million plus a season. 3.5, fine.

Way too rich for me... If he was signed to a long-term affordable contract then we could talk, but trading that for a pending UFA makes no long-term sense...
- lumlums

Off course he would have to agree to a deal for something like that to happen.

Listen, I know I'm being a dink right now, but can you blame me? I can toss the fact that Advanced stats say Phaneuf faced the toughest competition amongst NHL d-men this year if I believed in advanced stats, what I know is if you have a d-man capable of 40 points and 200 hits and able to play over 24 minutes a night, you don't trade him. Especially when his partners all season were Mike fricking Kostka and Korbinian Holzer.
- mykokes

EXACTLY... why many Leafs fan hate on him is hard to fathom? His errors are glaring because it's the LARGEST hockey market in the world.... I'm happy with his overall play and he wasn't the only player to falter in game 7 VS the B's.