I love Kulie. But he seems to be becoming morevandvmore expendable through our pipeline. Just like Franson and Fraser.
They have their upsides. I love Fraser and his grit and heart. But lets face it, he's a 6thD. We have about 5 already. Time to thin out the heard. Whichvis why I want franson gone. Between Gards andRielly next year. Franson is simply not needed
- UsernameUnknown

Exactly, except after this year most people will realize Gardiner will be expendable and Franson will be kept. Kuleman is a rock, why let him go, you don't need all your forwards scoring goals. Somebody has to get the puck in the corner

Some see this as a potential problem next summer when it comes time for UFA negotiations, but IMHO this group is going to be extremely motivated to play well this year with so many in contract years. Carlye will get max effort out of his assets, that's for sure. If we can get good tending from both goalies, and are able to package one of them with Bozak and prospect for a top tier center at the deadline, this team is an instant contender.

As for resigning Phaneuf next summer, unless he has a HUGE year I say don't pay him a cent over 4.75 per. I'd love to see a healthy Lupul wear the C. And before you vultures rush to point out the obvious, yes I am fully aware that my last sentence was an oxymoron!

GO LEAFS!

I'm so old I make the wife chase me.
- bixll

Garnie....told you he would sign and you'd like it

I love Kulie. But he seems to be becoming morevandvmore expendable through our pipeline. Just like Franson and Fraser.
They have their upsides. I love Fraser and his grit and heart. But lets face it, he's a 6thD. We have about 5 already. Time to thin out the heard. Whichvis why I want franson gone. Between Gards andRielly next year. Franson is simply not needed
- UsernameUnknown

You need to watch more leaf games. Franson is not expendable.
He's a cheaper younger phaneuf....who makes less glaring mistakes.

yes, because he's out of the lineup and now all the other lines get unbalanced.
what part of this do you not understand?
and yes, david clarkson is a 3rd liner on most nhl teams. a good grinding, tough 3rd liner who can chip in 15 goals and 35-40 points.
- therealagent

You know what! I think you might be right. If the Devils played him on the third line instead of the second, they might have won the Cup a couple years ago instead of just making the finals! Now, let's talk about the Hodgson trade....

We'll be fine by next year, with the cap. Certain players are definitely going to have to be gone as we hold onto other ones, and others make the team full time. Gunnarsson will have to be traded, once we resign Franson, Rielly makes the team, and we resign Ranger perhaps....if he isn't asking for too much, Liles will be gone too. Reimer will most likely be gone....Bolland, I'd like to have him stick around, but really do not want to be paying our 3rd line centerman 3 million +.....All of these moves would free up close to 13 million dollars, of course we'd have to resign Franson, Kessel, Phaneuf, Gardiner, Kulemin, Fraser......can be done.

And he put up more points than any other defenseman in the league that averaged <20mins. He also finished in double digit plus. That would indicate that he dominated lesser quality opponents and could likely be useful against better quality opponents, would it not?
- 1979AD

Points came the PP. But still impressive numbers.

And yes it would. Try him on 2nd pairing, by all means. But do that before we say he can do what Phaneuf does on a top pairing.

hell yes. Rangers will be a very solid team this year IMO. will make the playoffs easily.
- scotch_tape

Nice! He's my guy then.

I love the use of "sheltered" and it gets tossed around here.
- Fakepartofme

it's become a convenient way to devalue players and their achievements on this site. it's kind of bogus.

fixed
- doinktheclown

you forgot about grabner.
gillis is the worst gm i've seen since jack gordon when it comes to trades. the professional scouts should all be fired if he takes their advice.
he is okay at the draft.
he is good at signing ufa's and good at resigning core players (minus the lu contract).

should he be fired? yes. no question.

does this have anything to do with the fact clarkson is overpaid and is a top 3rd liner in the league? no.

Exactly, except after this year most people will realize Gardiner will be expendable and Franson will be kept. Kuleman is a rock, why let him go, you don't need all your forwards scoring goals. Somebody has to get the puck in the corner
- Garnie

We now have more players that go into the corners...Kulemin is not a rock. Last season he wasn't all that great defensively.

So Lundqvist is a good pick - I can pick any goalie in the league. Wins are 2 points. Shut outs another 5 points.
- Woderwick

If you need a goalie on the cheap who will play a ton of games and likely put up reasonable numbers, Id take a chance on Ramo.

You need to watch more leaf games. Franson is not expendable.
He's a cheaper younger phaneuf....who makes less glaring mistakes.
- Fakepartofme

He's 26. Not that much younger.
This post is ridiculous. This is exactly what I mean by overrated.

You need to watch more leaf games. Franson is not expendable.
He's a cheaper younger phaneuf....who makes less glaring mistakes.
- Fakepartofme

Franson is soft as baby poop.

He is cheaper and younger tho. lol

yes, because he's out of the lineup and now all the other lines get unbalanced.
what part of this do you not understand?
and yes, david clarkson is a 3rd liner on most nhl teams. a good grinding, tough 3rd liner who can chip in 15 goals and 35-40 points.
- therealagent

How many goals 2 years ago?

How many goals last year in 48 games?

He can play on any line

Nice try

yes, because he's out of the lineup and now all the other lines get unbalanced.
what part of this do you not understand?
and yes, david clarkson is a 3rd liner on most nhl teams. a good grinding, tough 3rd liner who can chip in 15 goals and 35-40 points.
- therealagent

3rd liner

Franson is soft as baby poop.

He is cheaper and younger tho. lol
- Bigzby

Soft

If you need a goalie on the cheap who will play a ton of games and likely put up reasonable numbers, Id take a chance on Ramo.
- Colin Dambrauskas

You are sooooo biased. Ramo will have like a 3.50 GAA this season.

Nice! He's my guy then.
- Woderwick

You should pick your tender based upon,

- will he play 70 games per
- will he have a good defensive team in front of him.
- does he have a history of getting shutouts..

Marty would have been my pick before they picked up The Nuck reject.

Quick could be the answer. he will play a lot of game, he does pick up shutouts..

JMO.

He's 26. Not that much younger.
This post is ridiculous. This is exactly what I mean by overrated.
- UsernameUnknown

I wouldn't say he's better than Phaneuf, but Phaneuf is not years ahead that's for sure.

Exactly, except after this year most people will realize Gardiner will be expendable and Franson will be kept. Kuleman is a rock, why let him go, you don't need all your forwards scoring goals. Somebody has to get the puck in the corner
- Garnie

I would much rather keep Gards than Franson. Way younger with way more potential. The kid is part of our Future.
Franson is more expendable.
And the only reason I'd want Kulie gone is the cap space. As I said, I love him. Great 3rd liner. But also, as I said, replaceable though the pipe.

Franson is soft as baby poop.

He is cheaper and younger tho. lol
- Bigzby

He's got a better point shot than Phaneuf does.

He's 26. Not that much younger.
This post is ridiculous. This is exactly what I mean by overrated.
- UsernameUnknown

I like phaneuf, but he plays too many minutes and is simply too expensive. I dont see him taking a pay cut.
You have a hate on for Franson...great...thats fine. But the "haters" are undervaluing him. Im not Franson's biggest fan...but he is an important part of the D.
As I said from the start...if and ONLY IF Franson and Gardiner continue to improve than it could make Phaneuf expendable. If they dont, well then they dont and the leafs are stuck paying big cash for Phaneuf.

Its such a crap shoot....but the rangers losing won't be hank's fault IMO....Quick?
- jimi james

Yep a possibility. I don't think Rinne will repeat.