Simple, keep him off the PP, the guy can't hit the net for his life most of the time.
- JasonDM

Considering how our PP has been extremely effective with him on it..

Centers available through UFA or Possible Trades/Rumours

Thorton is the best option out there but old
Marleau is old but still one hell of a player
Stastny is one of the youngest, good at faceoffs, and defensively
Ribeiro is a twig, weak, old, sucks at faceoffs
Weiss old and injury prone, not the first line center we need
Berglund inexperienced to be a first line center
Cammalleri Old and sucks
Derek Roy Sucks
Skinner is young, hasnt really had much center experience with hurricanes i think
Filippula is grabo 2.0
Gagner i think kadri is better, and he sucks at faceoffs
Strome hasnt played 1 nhl game
Couterier would be a good for potential, is still unknown
Briere is old
Lecavalier is old but would solve
Brad Richards is old but would solve

By this, I hope you mean getting bailed out by Sid and Gino. I'd take Pha9 over Letang any day even with a 6.5 cap hit.
- TML4Life85

Especially considering Letang wants north of 56 million over 8 years.

If he could stay healthy for a year, maybe he'd be worth 7+. Maybe.

By this, I hope you mean getting bailed out by Sid and Gino. I'd take Pha9 over Letang any day even with a 6.5 cap hit.
- TML4Life85

Crazyyy pills!!!

I find Dion ore effective playing 22 minutes a night instead of 26.



(frank), one game, Dion played 33 minutes against the Rangers.
- jbold

I'm with you on this one, no more than 23 minutes a game for Pha9. He plays better when he's not tired and being tasked to log 25-28 a game! Also drill into the rest of the d-core to play better, taking the load of Pha9. Franson can become a better 2-way defender under Carlyle and increase his minutes as he goes. Only time will tell.

Simple, keep him off the PP, the guy can't hit the net for his life most of the time.
- JasonDM

With who..... What center is out there that is available that is a HUGE upgrade at center
- Mapleleafs_91

When I first heard about the trade with LA, I immediately hoped and prayed Kopitar was involved. The Kings brass was apparently not impressed with his playoff production and may be open to dealing him. Carter and Richards ensure the Kings are set at centre which kind of makes Kopi expendable for the right price.

Surely you must have some to share with us then.
- Leeman4Gilmour

2011-12 Leafs 14th in the east in GA
2010-11 Leafs 13th in the east in GA
2009-10 Leafs 15th in the east in GA

Phaneuf last year had 44 points but still was a -10. Im sorry but top defenceman dont normally have a +/- that bad with that many points.

Fair enough. I can agree with that. The "C" just brings more drama than the thing is actually worth. I think you're right in that the fans automatically put him in a special category as soon as the C is slapped on. Expectations run too high and before you know it, they're asking for his head. Which is right now. Its all a sideshow imo
Not all that important. Give it to Lupul and next year he'll only have a 40pt season, and his head will roll next.
- UsernameUnknown

Nah.. Loops would love it. He pumps his team up way more than dion. He takes over games and leads by example.

Simple, keep him off the PP, the guy can't hit the net for his life most of the time.
- JasonDM

I thought that too, until I realized how many goals he scored this season. I accepted the facts. Now its your turni

If we can somehow sign Vinny or B-Rich (if the NYR buy him out) for a decent price, I have the feeling it could turn out to be a Gilmour-ish type move that will push us into that next level. Either player could become that guy for us immediately.

Agree? Disagree?
- Phenom

Richards I'm not sold, although he's certainly capable of Bozaks ability, but then Boxaks so much younger. Vinny brings the size, he's tough enough, and feeding KEssel would get him going again I'm sure. At that point though, gotta move grabs out, no offence to the guy but, his lack of points already shows he doesn't matter much as it is as the team still bags goals.

2011-12 Leafs 14th in the east in GA
2010-11 Leafs 13th in the east in GA
2009-10 Leafs 15th in the east in GA

Phaneuf last year had 44 points but still was a -10. Im sorry but top defenceman dont normally have a +/- that bad with that many points.
- JasonDM

Yes, those teams were widely regarded as excellent clubs coached by a genius. Too bad Phaneuf dragged everybody down.

Toskala and Gustavsson were set to have break-out years and everything.

It's funny, though, because if you look closely at those years, they reveal some telling things. Most importantly, the team's record without Phaneuf is drastically worse than with him.

The year he was traded here, we improved our point% drastically. The year he got cut on his leg, the team suffered noticeably. Even on those lousy teams, he was still an incredibly valuable piece.

Centers available through UFA or Possible Trades/Rumours

Thorton
Marleau
Stastny
Ribeiro
Weiss
Berglund
Cammalleri
Derek Roy
Skinner
Filippula
Gagner
Strome
Couterier
Briere
Lecavalier
Brad Richards
- Mapleleafs_91

Thorton- Doubt it
Marleau- I'd tae a look at him
Stastny- I'd trade for him
Ribeiro- Nah. Dont want him
Weiss- Maybe
Berglund- Heck yeah
Cammalleri- Heck no
Derek Roy- (frank) that guy
Skinner- If we wan a balerina on skates, we can just trade for a Sedin
Filippula-Yeah
Gagner-Meh. Too expensive and he's overrated
Strome-Doubt it
Couterier- wouldnt put him in a Bernier deal, so I doubt it
Briere- No
Lecavalier- Maybe
Brad Richards- meh

Crazyyy pills!!!
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I guarantee you that Pha9 is easily a Noris candidate if he was playing with Gino and Sid and amass more points than Letang! As much as I don't like his brain farts, his costs/production on a mid-level now turned playoff team is much better than what Le$$$tang is trying to get.

2011-12 Leafs 14th in the east in GA
2010-11 Leafs 13th in the east in GA
2009-10 Leafs 15th in the east in GA

Phaneuf last year had 44 points but still was a -10. Im sorry but top defenceman dont normally have a +/- that bad with that many points.
- JasonDM

This year even more in that the goalies wee quite good. Other top guys play against top lines and are plus players on teams with less offense.

As for Letang.


I love the guy. Think him and DIon would be great together.


I've watched him quite a bit. He's not as bad in the defensive zone as everyone says he is.


He's smart, and is a great puck mover.

I'd give him that money.




And his hair...omg.

I thought that too, until I realized how many goals he scored this season. I accepted the facts. Now its your turni
- UsernameUnknown

It was a joke partially. Their are times when i wish he was on the 2nd PP.

This year even more in that the goalies wee quite good. Other top guys play against top lines and are plus players on teams with less offense.
- aminnes

Other top guys also play with... other top guys.


Can we put Shea Weber with Kostka/Holzer and see how he does?

Nah.. Loops would love it. He pumps his team up way more than dion. He takes over games and leads by example.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I agree. But all it takes is one bad season before the fans ask for the axe. (See Mr. Grabovski)
And the fans would be even more sensetive if that guy with one bad season was wearing the C. Higher expectations.

There are maybe 8 true number 1 defenders in the league:

Chara
Suter
Pietrangelo
Doughty
Weber
Keith
Karlsson
OEL

Outside of that, you have the next tier down. That's where Phaneuf is. Somewhere in the middle.

And to whoever mentioned that Weber is better than Suter; Suter went to a team with no standouts on Defense. Other than Gilbert, I have a hard time naming them or finding a significant profile on any of them. Most are defensive defenseman who can play a steady game. Suter goes there, plays almsot 30 minutes a night, makes Brodin a stud and puts him in Calder discussions and puts that team on his defensive back. He was the only one in that Chicago-Minny series that actually affected the game state and was nominated (and robbed, mind you) of a Norris.

Weber is an above average power defender who can break games offensively and physically. As a defender though, he leaves much to be desired. Phaneuf is Weber-Lite.

If you want to improve the defense, give Phaneuf a Suter like player. Ferrence, Hamhuis, Scudari. Any of them would make Phaneuf look that much better. Hell, sign both Ferrence and Scudari and shop Gunner. He's a little overrated but does what he does well. He could fetch a nice piece. I hear Clutterbuck is available and I'd love to see us pry him and something else out of Minny.

Bottom 6 could use work. A komo replacement and a 4th line center. Let's go after Lapierre and Boyd and call it a day;

Bottom 6

McClement - Colborne/Lapierre - Clutterbuck/Kulemin
Lapierre/McLaren - Boyd - Orr

D'Amigo and Ashton can fight for a spot

Lecav should now be the main target for big FA signings. Clarkson, I feel, should be 2nd. Maybe you can sign both if you move out Grabo and Liles. Ferrence/Scudari replaces Gunner/Liles, Colborne can learn the NHL game with two defensive specialists with some offensive touch and relieve Grabo of 3rd line duties. Kulemin I feel is either where Clutterbuck is listed. Ranger could be a wild card.

If the Bottom 6 could become a great defensive bunch with scoring touch, this helps shore up many of the problems with the Leafs defense as is. The defense improves when the forwards back check and can feasibly play in their own end without the puck. Increases chances of shots being taken from the outside, clearing the crease, and putting pressure on offenders in their own zone.

My final line-up, all things considered, would look something like this;

Van Riemsdyk - Lecavalier - Kessel
Lupul - Kadri - Clarkson
McClement - Colborne - Clutterbuck/Kulemin
Lapierre - Boyd - Orr
Mclaren/D'Amigo/Ashton

Phaneuf - Scudari
Ferrence - Franson
Gardiner - Fraser
Ranger/Holzer

Reimer/Bernier

Assuming Clarkson clocks in at less than Grabo, and Lecav slots in at 5.5, Ferrence at 3.5, Franson at 3.5, Scudari at 4, Bernier at 3.25 Lapierre and Boyd at around a mil it's not too close to the cap, and leaves room to maneuver.

It was a joke partially. Their are times when i wish he was on the 2nd PP.
- JasonDM

Can you learn the (frank)ing difference between You're, your, there, their and they're?

As for Letang.


I love the guy. Think him and DIon would be great together.


I've watched him quite a bit. He's not as bad in the defensive zone as everyone says he is.


He's smart, and is a great puck mover.

I'd give him that money.




And his hair...omg.
- jbold

We have issues with Pha9 defensive play and you want to pair him with another offensive minded Dman.. Now we really need to bring the great wall of China to play goalie!

Centers available through UFA or Possible Trades/Rumours

Thorton is the best option out there but old
Marleau is old but still one hell of a player
Stastny is one of the youngest, good at faceoffs, and defensively
Ribeiro is a twig, weak, old, sucks at faceoffs
Weiss old and injury prone, not the first line center we need
Berglund inexperienced to be a first line center
Cammalleri Old and sucks
Derek Roy Sucks
Skinner is young, hasnt really had much center experience with hurricanes i think
Filippula is grabo 2.0
Gagner i think kadri is better, and he sucks at faceoffs
Strome hasnt played 1 nhl game
Couterier would be a good for potential, is still unknown
Briere is old
Lecavalier is old but would solve
Brad Richards is old but would solve
- Mapleleafs_91

He is not available.

IF he would be available, that's the future 2nd line Center you would want to make a big trade for. By big trade I mean 1st round pick + Colborne

Thorton- Doubt it
Marleau- I'd tae a look at him
Stastny- I'd trade for him
Ribeiro- Nah. Dont want him
Weiss- Maybe
Berglund- Heck yeah
Cammalleri- Heck no
Derek Roy- (frank) that guy
Skinner- If we wan a balerina on skates, we can just trade for a Sedin
Filippula-Yeah
Gagner-Meh. Too expensive and he's overrated
Strome-Doubt it
Couterier- wouldnt put him in a Bernier deal, so I doubt it
Briere- No
Lecavalier- Maybe
Brad Richards- meh
- jbold

Out of the list i posted that would be good for us longterm or for couple years, is thorton, marleau, stastny, richards, lecavalier but this is for the duties of taking over for first line center which leaves out all those potential dudes like couts, berglund, strome, skinner, gagner

I guarantee you that Pha9 is easily a Noris candidate if he was playing with Gino and Sid and amass more points than Letang! As much as I don't like his brain farts, his costs/production on a mid-level now turned playoff team is much better than what Le$$$tang is trying to get.
- TML4Life85

I gotta get up at 5:30 tomorrow to plant trees so you guy can have your coffee tables, toilet paper and toothpicks. Agree to disagree.

Also it's nice to be back on here after a brief break.