At least Leaf Land can take a breather with Danny Briere. Leafs don't want him, Leaf Nation doesn't want him. His best days are CLEARLY over. For Philly's sake, that had better not be the case with Vinny. After tha failure with Bryz, there taking a big risk here.
- GCHonda

Briere's best days are clearly behind him, but i'd pick him up at the deadline for a playoff run. He gets more points in a playoff run than he does in a full season. Throw him on the 3rd line wing and he'd be effective.

I bet that's what Philly GM Holmey sold Vinny on. The old cliche " come to Philly, were going to try to win now". Vinny never would go to a team that's re-building. But that's exactly what where Philly was last year. Guess there changing their blue-print. Be warned Coturier & B. Schenn, have your bags packed & ready cause Philly needs defense & a goalie.
- GCHonda

Yeah, Vinny's a bum now, a bum with a ring

Briere's best days are clearly behind him, but i'd pick him up at the deadline for a playoff run. He gets more points in a playoff run than he does in a full season. Throw him on the 3rd line wing and he'd be effective.
- clark_griswold

He's poor on the wing, for whatever reason he can't play it, he is a beast in the playoffs, but he's a non existent back checker.

He may be looking at us, but at that price we better not be looking at him.
- Feeling Glucky?

Hey Gluckster. It's insane that Clarkson wants $6 mill per. If the cap was going down, I could see an insane GM giving him this money but I just don't see it with the lowering of the cap. Geez $6 mill per? Were talking Kessel money here, & Clarkson aint no Kessel. So if Nonis gives Clarkson $6 mill per, than u have to give Kessel what, $8-9 mill per? Don't give Clarkson that money Nonis.

The fact that Bozak even has the balls to ask for anything close to $5mil is crazy. Anyone who pays him that is nuts and they can have him.

Recent Tweet from Jonas Siegel: "No question Grabovski struggled in 2013. And yet, his numbers don't differ significantly from Bozak in far less ice-time & defensive role."

Yeah, Vinny's a bum now, a bum with a ring
- puckhead17

Honestly, I had admiration for the Flyers & Holmey till he signed Vinny. I thought the Flyers were re-building with a very very good future foundation. Now I can see Holmey trading away his prized youth to win now.

The fact that Bozak even has the balls to ask for anything close to $5mil is crazy. Anyone who pays him that is nuts and they can have him.
- Bullot

Every UFA season in July is nothing more than insanity. Players wants 5x what they are worth, & the stupid GM's give in. Sickening actually. Bozak $5 mill per? Clarkson $6 mill per? I say FUK off to thw whole disgusting process. And in the end, fans get it up the butt with yearly rising ticket prices & hockey strikes. It's the fans who suffer in the end due to GREEDY players & STUPID owners.

Honestly, I had admiration for the Flyers & Holmey till he signed Vinny. I thought the Flyers were re-building with a very very good future foundation. Now I can see Holmey trading away his prized youth to win now.
- GCHonda

Vinny does make Philly better, no question, but I don't like the 5 year no trade deal,
5 years for he (14season vet) and 4 years for streit (35 years old)

http://www.torontosun.com...-fit-into-leafs-gms-plans

I have said all along i see grabo to nashville. Maybe Phoenix. Those teams have nothing up front and Grabo could be a fit there for like a 6th rounder. I also see Liles back to Colorado for about the same, a 6th or 7th.

These 2 aren't komisarek (unmoveable).

That's the whole point. No one at this point is a better option. They will sign him. Out of necessity.
- honesthockey

Kadri is a better option, now. Last year no, but things change, i.e. player development, maturity etc.

Kadri is a better option, now. Last year no, but things change, i.e. player development, maturity etc.
- mykokes

If the Leafs decide now that Kadri is the better option, he will be asking for a larger contract as well...

Either way someone is going to eat up that cap space.

If the Leafs decide now that Kadri is the better option, he will be asking for a larger contract as well...

Either way someone is going to eat up that cap space.
- vermie22

That's what training camp will decide. Carlyle never really had the chance to try things out last year, the way Rotten Ronnie got to for 3 straight years because of the lockout. I imagine Bolland, Kadri and Grabo will all get a try as Kessel's wingman.....errr....centre.

That's what training camp will decide. Carlyle never really had the chance to try things out last year, the way Rotten Ronnie got to for 3 straight years because of the lockout. I imagine Bolland, Kadri and Grabo will all get a try as Kessel's wingman.....errr....centre.
- mykokes

Barring a 1C falling in their laps via trade I am ok with

Kadri
Grabo
Bolland
McClement

I know it was only 2 games, but RC trusted Kadri in the 1C spot for the two biggest games the Leafs have played in the past decade, and he did pretty good (outside of face-offs).

Barring a 1C falling in their laps via trade I am ok with

Kadri
Grabo
Bolland
McClement

I know it was only 2 games, but RC trusted Kadri in the 1C spot for the two biggest games the Leafs have played in the past decade, and he did pretty good (outside of face-offs).
- vermie22

I'd also be fine with that. Always said give Kadri a real shot at 1C. You can be taught how to do faceoffs, but you can teach the skill Kadri has. No, he isn't a Crosby, Stamkos, or Datsyuk, but he still has amazing talent and should be given a real shot with Kessel and JVR/Lupul on the wing.

Barring a 1C falling in their laps via trade I am ok with

Kadri
Grabo
Bolland
McClement

I know it was only 2 games, but RC trusted Kadri in the 1C spot for the two biggest games the Leafs have played in the past decade, and he did pretty good (outside of face-offs).
- vermie22

Hopefully the guy is working on his faceoffs this summer. Leafs should hire on of those ex-Nhl's who was great at faceoffs to work with Nazem. We REALLY need him to get good at this. ANYONE KNOW HOW GOOD IS BOLLAND ON THE FACEOFFS????

Barring a 1C falling in their laps via trade I am ok with

Kadri
Grabo
Bolland
McClement

I know it was only 2 games, but RC trusted Kadri in the 1C spot for the two biggest games the Leafs have played in the past decade, and he did pretty good (outside of face-offs).
- vermie22

I still think we need a legit #1 centre to do real damage...but Bozak isn't one and neither is Weiss. Now that Vinny is off the market it's unlikely we bring one in as they are almost impossible to trade for and expensive to sign in free agency, which is why the good (smart?) teams all draft their #1 centre.

I would rather have Grabs at $5.5mil for at least one more season (we can still buy him out next year if he sucks this year) than Bozak for anymore than $4mil for more than 3 or 4 years. Hopefully we are able to address the centre position next year if we can't this year.

Hell, if Bozak goes maybe Kessel won't want to re-sign long term and we could always move him. Likely for a pretty heft return. I would prefer to keep him but it's an option available to us.

Hopefully the guy is working on his faceoffs this summer. Leafs should hire on of those ex-Nhl's who was great at faceoffs to work with Nazem. We REALLY need him to get good at this. ANYONE KNOW HOW GOOD IS BOLLAND ON THE FACEOFFS????
- GCHonda

never been above 50%

Hopefully the guy is working on his faceoffs this summer. Leafs should hire on of those ex-Nhl's who was great at faceoffs to work with Nazem. We REALLY need him to get good at this. ANYONE KNOW HOW GOOD IS BOLLAND ON THE FACEOFFS????
- GCHonda

Not great, apparently.

.461% in '13

Hopefully the guy is working on his faceoffs this summer. Leafs should hire on of those ex-Nhl's who was great at faceoffs to work with Nazem. We REALLY need him to get good at this. ANYONE KNOW HOW GOOD IS BOLLAND ON THE FACEOFFS????
- GCHonda

Kadri is also better defensively than most give him credit for. He is often digging along the boards with the D or wingers and helps win some puck battles. I am not saying he is amazing, or out there blocking a ton of shots, but I feel he is better than most think. Also, he has the skill/vision to make outlet passes that Bozak couldn't even dream of.

Hopefully the guy is working on his faceoffs this summer. Leafs should hire on of those ex-Nhl's who was great at faceoffs to work with Nazem. We REALLY need him to get good at this. ANYONE KNOW HOW GOOD IS BOLLAND ON THE FACEOFFS????
- GCHonda

bolland is a stud defensively but faceoffs have never been his strong point

I still think we need a legit #1 centre to do real damage...but Bozak isn't one and neither is Weiss. Now that Vinny is off the market it's unlikely we bring one in as they are almost impossible to trade for and expensive to sign in free agency, which is why the good (smart?) teams all draft their #1 centre.

I would rather have Grabs at $5.5mil for at least one more season (we can still buy him out next year if he sucks this year) than Bozak for anymore than $4mil for more than 3 or 4 years. Hopefully we are able to address the centre position next year if we can't this year.

Hell, if Bozak goes maybe Kessel won't want to re-sign long term and we could always move him. Likely for a pretty heft return. I would prefer to keep him but it's an option available to us.
- deerow84

Ever since the Leaf season ended, I've been saying pretty sensible logic on HB of what the Leafs should do:

Let Bozak go, trade or buyout Grabbo. Trade for a true #1 center in Stastny. If we get of Grabbo's salary & don't re-sign Bozak, we can easily afford Stastny. Obviously he's a serious upgrade over both of those Leafs. No one can tell me that Bozak or Grabbo are better than Stastny.

Kadri is also better defensively than most give him credit for. He is often digging along the boards with the D or wingers and helps win some puck battles. I am not saying he is amazing, or out there blocking a ton of shots, but I feel he is better than most think. Also, he has the skill/vision to make outlet passes that Bozak couldn't even dream of.
- vermie22

alas, some of these passes are pizzas right up the middle. Talent wise kadri destroys bozak. But smarts wise bozie has him beat. You need both to win. Kadri and grabo is alot of skill, not too much hockey sense.

It's Noon, let the UFA market begin.

Ever since the Leaf season ended, I've been saying pretty sensible logic on HB of what the Leafs should do:

Let Bozak go, trade or buyout Grabbo. Trade for a true #1 center in Stastny. If we get of Grabbo's salary & don't re-sign Bozak, we can easily afford Stastny. Obviously he's a serious upgrade over both of those Leafs. No one can tell me that Bozak or Grabbo are better than Stastny.
- GCHonda

Stastny needs a change of scenery. He's kind of like Paul kariya, burst onto the scene and seemed to lose his game at a very young age. I'd love either stastny or weiss, who also needs a change of scenery