are you happy they CBO'd Grabovski?
- puckhead17

Thats a tough one. Grabo was for sure better than Bozak, but for some reason never got really tried with Kessel. I can see why they went for a cheaper Bozak over a more expensive Grabo from a cap perspective, though I would have been tempted to let Bozak walk, and then buy out Liles and Komi.

problem is he's @ $2.8M and UFA... and he's been trying to get big money on each of his last 2 contracts.

with good buddy Grabo playing elsewhere, he could be tough to sign.

I'd be fine letting Bolland go to give Kulemin another $1M, but that's the highest they can go if he's not going to score too. He wanted $4M per on his last contract.

Could see Kuli getting dealt at the deadline, or walking this summer, unfortunately.
- Big_Lightnin

Unfortunately I think this is exactly what happens. He may even just go back home to the KHL.

are you happy they CBO'd Grabovski?
- puckhead17

had to remove one of Grabo or Bozak.

I would have let Bozak walk and kept Grabo, but neither is a true #1C, and for now Bozak is a better fit than Grabo would have been, and saved $1.3M on cap.

Thats a tough one. Grabo was for sure better than Bozak, but for some reason never got really tried with Kessel. I can see why they went for a cheaper Bozak over a more expensive Grabo from a cap perspective, though I would have been tempted to let Bozak walk, and then buy out Liles and Komi.
- lumlums

it's strange, that was all about what the coach wants, but if he's fired, new coach new culture new perspective, what a change from Wilson to Carlyle.

at least. back to JR next year cause he's not old enough for AHL, unfortunately. He's ready to take another step, but not worth the risk of putting him on the big club - especially when his cap hit is twice Blacker's or 700k more than Ranger's.

Another WJC was never bad for anybody.

although, if they end up moving Franson, all bets are off. Rielly could definitely be on the team if Franson's gone
- Big_Lightnin

Still think Franson ends up signing for a lower number than what most people think. 2 year deal. Maybe just wishful thinking.

had to remove one of Grabo or Bozak.

I would have let Bozak walk and kept Grabo, but neither is a true #1C, and for now Bozak is a better fit than Grabo would have been, and saved $1.3M on cap.
- Big_Lightnin

Grabbo seems like a perfect fit in Calgary, except they are trying their best to tank it for now & in the near future

Unfortunately I think this is exactly what happens. He may even just go back home to the KHL.
- D.Lemieux

I don't think so on this one. I think he'll sign in Pitts if they can give him something close to $4M (which they probably can't).

it's strange, that was all about what the coach wants, but if he's fired, new coach new culture new perspective, what a change from Wilson to Carlyle.
- puckhead17

For sure... though barring a major "18-wheeler" moment, I can't see Carlyle getting canned in the next couple of years. Despite his abrasiveness, he has already shown more results than Wilson, though admittedly with a better team...

I don't think so on this one. I think he'll sign in Pitts if they can give him something close to $4M (which they probably can't).
- Big_Lightnin

Pitt's over the cap now, and now LTIR's to bring them under

Still think Franson ends up signing for a lower number than what most people think. 2 year deal. Maybe just wishful thinking.
- D.Lemieux

2 yr deal is the only way he signs under $4M IMO. he's RFA so he might hold out on them, but really should get done.

Just have to move Liles somehow.

.

Pitt's over the cap now, and now LTIR's to bring them under
- puckhead17

ya I meant as a UFA next summer

For sure... though barring a major "18-wheeler" moment, I can't see Carlyle getting canned in the next couple of years. Despite his abrasiveness, he has already shown more results than Wilson, though admittedly with a better team...
- lumlums

Yeah, I followed what they've done, he did walk in with a better roster, Wilson was here for more of the "still fitting puzzle pieces" years.

Stempniak, Stajan, Pony, Toskala, Kabele, Hell of a turnover

Thats a tough one. Grabo was for sure better than Bozak, but for some reason never got really tried with Kessel. I can see why they went for a cheaper Bozak over a more expensive Grabo from a cap perspective, though I would have been tempted to let Bozak walk, and then buy out Liles and Komi.
- lumlums

risky but probably makes the team better right now.

All you had to do was watch those Leaf teams and you just saw Sundin dominating and making his teammates a LOT better. He did play with some players who were good in their own right too, but c'mon - Berezin scored something like 47 goals one year?

Other teams just didn't know what to do with Sundin and guys cashed in big time playing with him. A lot of nights against big name players in the NHL and internationally, Sundin was the best player on the ice. There's no question part of his HOF cred is the crazy numbers of some fairly average players when they were on the ice with him.
- Zezel

Exactly. Mats was legendary. Anyone that WATCHED Leafs hockey during his time in TO knows that. Not taking anything away from Dougie. They are different players. But Mats single handedly dragged TO to the playoffs year after year. It wasn't until Mogs, Roberts and niewendyke showed up that they had enough talent to get there with or without him and even then....

ya I meant as a UFA next summer
- Big_Lightnin

right, my bad, don't know what would come off Pitt's cap next year, but I could see KuLimen getting $4 million & 30 goals "bunking" with Malkin

I don't think so on this one. I think he'll sign in Pitts if they can give him something close to $4M (which they probably can't).
- Big_Lightnin

Ya but the K will give him that no?

2 yr deal is the only way he signs under $4M IMO. he's RFA so he might hold out on them, but really should get done.

Just have to move Liles somehow.

.
- Big_Lightnin

I want him to go back to Colorado for Cody Mcleod...

I want him to go back to Colorado for Cody Mcleod...
- steve362

And there's the difference between changing cultures, he was needed here & sought after under Burke & Wilson, now they can't wait to move him

right, my bad, don't know what would come off Pitt's cap next year, but I could see KuLimen getting $4 million & 30 goals "bunking" with Malkin
- puckhead17

ya, and they're buds too. But Pitts is pretty full with the Kunitz and Dupuis extensions. Don't see them adding another $3M+ contract to that group of forwards. They'll likely only have about 12-13M to sign 9 players after they extend Orpik.

Ya but the K will give him that no?
- D.Lemieux

Just don't see him going. Not only about Money for him - he proved that by signing his last 2 contracts and staying here. Easily could have made more in KHL.

2 yr deal is the only way he signs under $4M IMO. he's RFA so he might hold out on them, but really should get done.

Just have to move Liles somehow.

.
- Big_Lightnin

Shattenkirk is 4.1 or 2 I think. He doesn't comparable that high yet IMO. I think fair value is around 3.8 or 3.9 if we take the cap out of the discussion. On a 2 year deal maybe he takes 3.5 with the promise from Nonis he takes care of him in 2 years when cap is up.

Yeah, I followed what they've done, he did walk in with a better roster, Wilson was here for more of the "still fitting puzzle pieces" years.

Stempniak, Stajan, Pony, Toskala, Kabele, Hell of a turnover
- puckhead17

Makes me nauseous just thinking about it

And there's the difference between changing cultures, he was needed here & sought after under Burke & Wilson, now they can't wait to move him
- puckhead17

well, he got a pretty sever concussion and has never been the same since. If he was still playing the way he did pre-concussion, nobody would want to move him.

It's not a system thing, despite what some would have us believe.

ya, and they're buds too. But Pitts is pretty full with the Kunitz and Dupuis extensions. Don't see them adding another $3M+ contract to that group of forwards. They'll likely only have about 12-13M to sign 9 players after they extend Orpik.
- Big_Lightnin

yup, your right, I just looked again at their cap, Crosby & Malkin $$$ settles that
James Neal is a "friggin" bargain at $5 million

I think we'll see a D'amigo or Ashton on the 4th line a fair bit this year too.

Plus Colborne will get some PP and PK time... not a lot, but some.

Moving him from wing doesn't help him develop as a C
- Big_Lightnin

Why PK?