But we cant let him take the time from Toff and and Cliff and Pearson. Kids who could be good. We gotta give them a shot. Chicago has been doing it with theyre draft picks.
- poisondhearts37

Toffoli is a natural RW that will only move to the left side if we don't acquire someone that can fill that spot. I forsee Toffoli taking over Justin Williams's spot once his contract ends.

Pearson and Toffoli aren't going anywhere. They both have 2 years left on their ELCs and will be restricted for at least another 5-6 years each. They can continue to play on a line together with Linden Vey and tear up the AHL for another year or two, getting better all the while. As you mentioned, Lombardi likes to let kids develop in the minors, and doesn't want to bring them up early.

In the meantime, we have an overabundance of defensemen and are short a 2nd line LWer. We can either try to force someone that doesn't naturally play LW to move to the left side (Toffoli), try to force someone who either isn't ready or isn't skilled enough to fill the role (King/Clifford/Frattin/Pearson, however, that experiment has been tried with Parse/Moulson/Purcell and didn't work so well), or acquire a skilled LW that can immediately fill the LW spot.

Trading Mitchell for Bourque (which is not prevented by the CBA, I just checked... http://cdn.agilitycms.com...DF/NHL_NHLPA_2013_CBA.pdf ) will allow us to get rid of one of our extra defensemen (we have 9), cut down on our cap (Mitchell makes 3.5MM to Bourque's 3.33MM), and fill our 2nd line LW role with a skilled 3-time 20+ goal scorer (whose name isn't Dustin Penner), without having to play musical chairs with our wingers. We will lose Mitchell at the end of next season anyway. The worst that happens is we get a bust that we can trade for a draft pick at the end of the next season. The best that happens is that we fill the 2nd line LW hole that we have had for the better part of a decade for at least the next 3 years.

Toffoli is a natural RW that will only move to the left side if we don't acquire someone that can fill that spot. I forsee Toffoli taking over Justin Williams's spot once his contract ends.

Pearson and Toffoli aren't going anywhere. They both have 2 years left on their ELCs and will be restricted for at least another 5-6 years each. They can continue to play on a line together with Linden Vey and tear up the AHL for another year or two, getting better all the while. As you mentioned, Lombardi likes to let kids develop in the minors, and doesn't want to bring them up early.

In the meantime, we have an overabundance of defensemen and are short a 2nd line LWer. We can either try to force someone that doesn't naturally play LW to move to the left side (Toffoli), try to force someone who either isn't ready or isn't skilled enough to fill the role (King/Clifford/Frattin/Pearson, however, that experiment has been tried with Parse/Moulson/Purcell and didn't work so well), or acquire a skilled LW that can immediately fill the LW spot.

Trading Mitchell for Bourque (which is not prevented by the CBA, I just checked... http://cdn.agilitycms.com...DF/NHL_NHLPA_2013_CBA.pdf ) will allow us to get rid of one of our extra defensemen (we have 9), cut down on our cap (Mitchell makes 3.5MM to Bourque's 3.33MM), and fill our 2nd line LW role with a skilled 3-time 20+ goal scorer (whose name isn't Dustin Penner), without having to play musical chairs with our wingers. We will lose Mitchell at the end of next season anyway. The worst that happens is we get a bust that we can trade for a draft pick at the end of the next season. The best that happens is that we fill the 2nd line LW hole that we have had for the better part of a decade for at least the next 3 years.
- tkecanuck341

Boruque has to many years. Thats for me though. I still doubt the Kings and Mont are even talking.

Boruque has to many years. Thats for me though. I still doubt the Kings and Mont are even talking.
- poisondhearts37

If he doesn't work out, trade him to the Islanders or someone that needs to add on some salary to hit the cap floor next season when the cap goes up in exchange for a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick. Someone out there will take him. It's pretty low risk, IMHO.

If he doesn't work out, trade him to the Islanders or someone that needs to add on some salary to hit the cap floor next season when the cap goes up in exchange for a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick. Someone out there will take him. It's pretty low risk, IMHO.
- tkecanuck341

If it were that easy to move guys teams wouldnt be buying out players. I still just doubt the Kings are gonna bring in that kind of salary. Theyre gonna give theyre kids a shot.

[quote=tkecanuck341]
Toff is also no longer a AHL player. Thats how you lose talent. That kid has what it takes.

If it were that easy to move guys teams wouldnt be buying out players. I still just doubt the Kings are gonna bring in that kind of salary. Theyre gonna give theyre kids a shot.
- poisondhearts37

Teams are buying out players this year because the cap dropped by $6 million this year. Totally understandable. Next year, everyone will have $4MM+ of extra cap space and able to take on extra contracts, not to mention the teams like the Islanders, who are just barely over the salary floor now and have 7 players going UFA next season, will need to take on some extra salary just to be in cap compliance.

At this point, I think Lombardi would prefer to bring someone in that has had success at the NHL level to a player that may or may not develop into an NHL caliber player. He proved that by trading for Ryan Smyth and Dustin Penner rather than sticking with the Parse, Purcell, & Moulson projects.

Teams are buying out players this year because the cap dropped by $6 million this year. Totally understandable. Next year, everyone will have $4MM+ of extra cap space and able to take on extra contracts, not to mention the teams like the Islanders, who are just barely over the salary floor now and have 7 players going UFA next season, will need to take on some extra salary just to be in cap compliance.

At this point, I think Lombardi would prefer to bring someone in that has had success at the NHL level to a player that may or may not develop into an NHL caliber player. He proved that by trading for Ryan Smyth and Dustin Penner rather than sticking with the Parse, Purcell, & Moulson projects.
- tkecanuck341

Yeah but also at that time we didnt have any decent forward prospect. Why we had Moller playing right away. And Simmer to. Though he turned out really well. Right now we have some guys that might be able to step up. Gotta see. Signing or trading for someone right now is to risky. We shall see though

Yeah but also at that time we didnt have any decent forward prospect. Why we had Moller playing right away. And Simmer to. Though he turned out really well. Right now we have some guys that might be able to step up. Gotta see. Signing or trading for someone right now is to risky. We shall see though
- poisondhearts37

We're just going to have to agree to disagree and wait to see what DL does.

We're just going to have to agree to disagree and wait to see what DL does.
- tkecanuck341

For sure man. Id so much rather see what our kids can do. But we shall see. And for both mine and your sake. I hope its the right move.

I'm just glad there are people here old enough to get the reference.
- R4Z0R

Vinny testaverde?

Im not saying he isnt good, just saying that is a pretty specific skill he has. I cant think of very many plays all year where a slow winger lost a puck race to a fast winger, stole the puck and fired it up the ice to another (assuming fast winger) for a break away.
- DinoRondelly

I'm saying that I think Eklund made that up. Stripping guys Of the puck
Was never a signature prospal play -and he's not all that slow if
You ask me - he skates his arse off.

Far from a good cap hit TBH.
- poisondhearts37

With the quantity pf bad contracts given this year, I would say it's not that bad at all. For a 20 goal scorer that can play somewhat physical... I would take the chance. He also have a tradeable contract to unload if you really want to get rid of him.

I'd say 3 seasons. Essentially the entire time he played in Calgary, he played well (3+ 20g seasons then 13g in 38 games in the 4th season before he was traded), and that's because they played him on a line with decent players. Then he went to Montreal and played with weaker linemates and struggled. Put him on a line with Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, and I bet you he gets 20-30+ goals again.
- tkecanuck341

This! TBH, I don't think he ever played with a really good centre. Who was his centre in Calgaty? Tanguay? He still manage to do 20+ goal seasons. On a line with carter/richards, he will score plenty.

No chance. Id rather give a AHL player a shot at advancing theyre career. I could see us being interested in Eller or Pacioretty. But I do doubt LA makes a big trade and just goes into the season with what they got and lets some kids have a shot.
- poisondhearts37

I hear what your saying, but if Eller or Patch are involved then it would be a good return coming back for MTL. IMO, Eller is a more physical Tomas Plekanec and he should be taking his role within the next two years

I think you misread what I wrote there....I said that we have tons of players that can fill the 3rd/4th line LW role, but no one that can effectively play on the 2nd line. We're not going to put 20- or 30-goal scorers on the bottom six pairing. Any one of the four players I mentioned could fill the bottom six role effectively.
- tkecanuck341

I did misread ya there, my bad. but all things considered if/when we lose penner that 2nd line LW will need to be filled by a player that can score 10-20 goals. your totally right about the bottom six, im excited to see how the kids do in camp and if any will crack the lineup, im sure sutter will be giving them chances throughout the season to see how they do and see where mitchells health is at and then consider a trade.

FIRST!!!













any habs rumours?!?













nuff said

I did misread ya there, my bad. but all things considered if/when we lose penner that 2nd line LW will need to be filled by a player that can score 10-20 goals. your totally right about the bottom six, im excited to see how the kids do in camp and if any will crack the lineup, im sure sutter will be giving them chances throughout the season to see how they do and see where mitchells health is at and then consider a trade.
- LAkings68

We "lost" Penner a few weeks ago when DL said that what the Kings are offering and what Penner's camp wants (in terms of $$$) is very far apart. I personally think it's addition by subtraction.

Also, when did Penner ever score 10-20 goals? In 2½ seasons with the Kings, Penner has only been able to manage 11 goals.

FIRST!!!













any habs rumours?!?













nuff said
- Skalapy

why would Isles be in on Prospal... makes sense