Only possible if we move liles with no salary coming back, ala Liles and Ashton for a 3rd
- GardinerExpress

We have a lot of D, so maybe Liles + Blacker for a 6th rounder. Either way, if they're willing to give up a prospect, there's probably lots of deals that would work.

See that number you posted? Guaranteed its lower
- Mapleleafs_91

You figure? If he has a good tryout with the Leafs and they try and lowball him another organization won't offer him more?

You figure? If he has a good tryout with the Leafs and they try and lowball him another organization won't offer him more?
- golfingsince

Its been this long already, i think he takes what he can get. If someone offered him 1M he probably would of took it by now, players like these are low balled now and alot of players took big pay cuts

We have a lot of D, so maybe Liles + Blacker for a 6th rounder. Either way, if they're willing to give up a prospect, there's probably lots of deals that would work.
- The Shrike

Very happy Leafs are giving Raymond a shot, he could be a great inexpensive addition with something to prove at 27............those are the type of guys that leave it ALL on the ice and don't complain or hold the club to ransom. Good luck Mason.
- Bullot

He's speed will fit in well on the leafs.

He didn't fit on the canucks, could be a good steal

Its been this long already, i think he takes what he can get. If someone offered him 1M he probably would of took it by now, players like these are low balled now and alot of players took big pay cuts
- Mapleleafs_91

Maybe, but there are a lot of teams with cap space out there. If he's going that low i'm sure a team like Florida would be happy to pick him up.

He's speed will fit in well on the leafs.

He didn't fit on the canucks, could be a good steal
- numbear

Pretty sure he'll still be a perimeter player.

Maybe, but there are a lot of teams with cap space out there. If he's going that low i'm sure a team like Florida would be happy to pick him up.
- golfingsince

Possibly, minor tweaks for low salary guys could help them. I dont mind if we do or we dont sign him, but hainsey would of been a good addition too

Possibly, minor tweaks for low salary guys could help them. I dont mind if we do or we dont sign him, but hainsey would of been a good addition too
- Mapleleafs_91

Top NHLPA dog wasn't he? Pretty vocal during the labour dispute? My opinion is that something is amiss here.

Top NHLPA dog wasn't he? Pretty vocal during the labour dispute? My opinion is that something is amiss here.
- golfingsince

Look at what all that hard work did for Chris Campoli

Top NHLPA dog wasn't he? Pretty vocal during the labour dispute? My opinion is that something is amiss here.
- golfingsince

I think it was Tessier that speculated something like that as well. It does seem odd a defenceman like him hasn't found a team.

On Raymond, he is fast, plays on the perimeter and seems to fall down alot. I thought he was overpaid last contract. As a depth forward for cheap, sure. He does have some decent pk skills. Not sure cap space worms for the Leafs.

Its been this long already, i think he takes what he can get. If someone offered him 1M he probably would of took it by now, players like these are low balled now and alot of players took big pay cuts
- Mapleleafs_91

The problem for most FAs who didn't sign deals quickly is that all the money is gone now.

The cap space is there, but the actual dollars aren't. The teams with money have hit the cap by now, and the teams with cap space are broke.

I'll bet there are guys without deals right now that are kicking themselves for not jumping on anything that came their way when the money was available. Good on Mike Komisarek for quickly taking the first offer he got.

Pretty sure he'll still be a perimeter player.
- golfingsince

I think it's a great move being able to get him on a tryout, the guy was a decent top 9 forward not too long ago, but if he plays like he did last season then he won't make it. I was expecting a team like the Isles, Panthers, Canes, Flames or maybe Penguins(they need some speed) to give him a cheap one year deal but it looks like there wasn't a market at all which is a bit surprising.


But yeah, I think he'll always be one of those players that's frustrating to watch when he's not scoring, since he's not strong on his skates(there's a Raymond drinking game for everytime he falls down), not physical and I doubt his hands will suddenly catch up with his skates all of a sudden now. He is a decent two-way player though and can PK which is another plus.

I think it's a great move being able to get him on a tryout, the guy was a decent top 9 forward not too long ago, but if he plays like he did last season then he won't make it. I was expecting a team like the Isles, Panthers, Canes, Flames or maybe Penguins(they need some speed) to give him a cheap one year deal but it looks like there wasn't a market at all which is a bit surprising.


But yeah, I think he'll always be one of those players that's frustrating to watch when he's not scoring, since he's not strong on his skates(there's a Raymond drinking game for everytime he falls down), not physical and I doubt his hands will suddenly catch up with his skates all of a sudden now. He is a decent two-way player though and can PK which is another plus.
- Nucker101

calgary would have been everyones first guess (and probably his first choice). But his type of play wasn't what they needed. If stemper,cammy or hudler were traded he may have found a spot.

As for now they were loaded with2nd/3rd line wingers trying to prove themselves for the year.

TO can take a gamble on him if the price is right. And I could still see him in NYI or Buf (him and grabner on a line would be extremely fast)

calgary would have been everyones first guess (and probably his first choice). But his type of play wasn't what they needed. If stemper,cammy or hudler were traded he may have found a spot.

As for now they were loaded with2nd/3rd line wingers trying to prove themselves for the year.

TO can take a gamble on him if the price is right. And I could still see him in NYI or Buf (him and grabner on a line would be extremely fast)
- numbear

If they do sign him, he would upgrade our 3rd line.

Kulemin-Bolland-Raymond..

Good combo of skill, speed and physical play.

Hey guys, do I like the Raymond offer or not? I can't make a decision on my own that doesn't reflect the mass opinion. Leafs fan...

1) Subban is not gonna keep up that pace (75 points) over a full season.
2) The habs are not gonna lead the league in powerplays again (And have the highest pp/game rate in 5 years!)
3) Leafs fans hear the same about Franson never hitting 30 pts (29 in 45 last year,
35 combined over 52 games)

Kessel deserves 8...look at Corey Perry's contract. I realize he had a monster season 3 years ago but has basically been a 60 point player the last 2 seasons, whereas phil has been an 80-85 point player the last 2 seasons.
- GardinerExpress

1) he played limited minutes after his contract holdout so in a full season where hes playing 25min/game, 70+ points is possible
2) Probably not but the Habs always are near the top because they play an up tempo game (and are filled with stupid midgets...even more so this year )
3) Up until last season, Franson was a regular healthy scratch and even Leaf fans questioned whether he was a top 4 dman so I dont get why youre bringing him up

Corey Perrys contract is stupid expensive...thats like saying Gionta got 5mil/year from the Habs so Kessel is def a 8mil/year guy. At least Perry brings some physicality and size because as good as Kessel is, hes a very one-dimensional player. Kessel at 6, 6.5 is a great value for the Leafs, but 8mil...

1) he played limited minutes after his contract holdout so in a full season where hes playing 25min/game, 70+ points is possible
2) Probably not but the Habs always are near the top because they play an up tempo game (and are filled with stupid midgets...even more so this year )
3) Up until last season, Franson was a regular healthy scratch and even Leaf fans questioned whether he was a top 4 dman so I dont get why youre bringing him up

Corey Perrys contract is stupid expensive...thats like saying Gionta got 5mil/year from the Habs so Kessel is def a 8mil/year guy. At least Perry brings some physicality and size because as good as Kessel is, hes a very one-dimensional player. Kessel at 6, 6.5 is a great value for the Leafs, but 8mil...
- Jaciems

I don't see how anyone can call Kessel 1 dimensional anymore. His playmaking skills are as elite as his shooting skills are, and while he may never be a back-checking demon his defensive play improved last season under Carlyle and there's no reason to believe it can't improve even more.

As 3rd lines go

Raymond - Bolland - Kulemin

is an upgrade from

MacArthur - Grabovski - Frattin

The two lines are a wash offensively, but defensively there's no comparison, and defense is what the third line needs to bring to the table.

I don't see how anyone can call Kessel 1 dimensional anymore. His playmaking skills are as elite as his shooting skills are, and while he may never be a back-checking demon his defensive play improved last season under Carlyle and there's no reason to believe it can't improve even more.
- BetterCallSaul

The guy is pure offense, nothing wrong with that its just that he doesnt have certain intangibles (size, physicality...) and strong defensive play to go along with his elite offense to warrant such a big contract without him being overpaid.
As a Habs fan, trust me when I say that when you have too many overpaid players on your team, it really hurts the GMs ability to put a good team together...Habs already used their 2 buyouts and theres still like 4 guys on the team I would consider buying out...

The guy is pure offense, nothing wrong with that its just that he doesnt have certain intangibles (size, physicality...) and strong defensive play to go along with his elite offense to warrant such a big contract without him being overpaid.
As a Habs fan, trust me when I say that when you have too many overpaid players on your team, it really hurts the GMs ability to put a good team together...Habs already used their 2 buyouts and theres still like 4 guys on the team I would consider buying out...
- Jaciems

It's all about the open market value on guy's of Kessel's calibre: you lock him up long-term because someone else will.

Would I rather have a Kessel that's 6'3" 220 and hits like a truck? Sure, but they don't exist, at least not on the trade or FA market, so who would we replace him with?

As 3rd lines go

Raymond - Bolland - Kulemin

is an upgrade from

MacArthur - Grabovski - Frattin

The two lines are a wash offensively, but defensively there's no comparison, and defense is what the third line needs to bring to the table.
- The Shrike

I think that is exactly the line combination they are thinking. As many have noted his PK skills aren't bad. He is competing with Colborne for the 12th roster spot.He gets a low 1 year deal well under 1 M if he works well on that line at camp.

The guy is pure offense, nothing wrong with that its just that he doesnt have certain intangibles (size, physicality...) and strong defensive play to go along with his elite offense to warrant such a big contract without him being overpaid....
- Jaciems

Do you think guys like Terry O'Reilly and Clark Gilles should have been paid more than Guy Lafleur?

As a Habs fan, trust me when I say that when you have too many overpaid players on your team, it really hurts the GMs ability to put a good team together...Habs already used their 2 buyouts and theres still like 4 guys on the team I would consider buying out...
- Jaciems

Overpaid by $64.3 million cap standards, or by the 70+ it will be next year?

As 3rd lines go

Raymond - Bolland - Kulemin

is an upgrade from

MacArthur - Grabovski - Frattin

The two lines are a wash offensively, but defensively there's no comparison, and defense is what the third line needs to bring to the table.
- The Shrike

If Raymond makes the team we might as well package Colborne with Liles because he will have no fit on the roster.

I think that is exactly the line combination they are thinking. As many have noted his PK skills aren't bad. He is competing with Colborne for the 12th roster spot.He gets a low 1 year deal well under 1 M if he works well on that line at camp.
- D.Lemieux

I was thinking Cleary would be a good fit for that 3rd line LW slot, but I can see why they're going for Raymond instead. Cleary has good speed, but Raymond is even faster, they're both good two way players, but Mason is 7 years younger, and has more offensive upside.

If they can get him for an ultra low cap hit, even better.