it's DAVE Bolland
- DoubleDown

you dont know much about how leaf fans feel about new players coming in then

young player learning. Has the tools, but he's rattled now that he's back in the doghouse. Trying to do too much is his problem.
- clark_griswold

he can't be sent down right?

The wings offered bozak the same amount. I'd say they know a good player when they see one. Look, on the LEAFS, bozak is very important. Faceoffs, PK, PP, shootout, defense, hockey sense.....it's why we took him over grabo. On say Florida, yeah grabo is more important. My theory is, bozak is a piss poor patrice bergeron. There's a reason carlyle plays him so much. But people look at stats all day, and yeah, that's wear bozak suffers. Our team does not need offense, but the rest of the top 6 is terrible defensively. That's why bozak fits nicely. Do i wish he was 6'1 like Bergeron? yes.
- clark_griswold

Thought it was reported he didn't even talk to other teams, but regardless, they didn't offer him that to be #1C, they were offering him 2C and trying to get him to leave his team, so had to offer more than they would like to.

The ONLY reason Bozak gets the ice-time he does is Faceoffs. That's it. When KEssel is on the ice, LEafs need to have the puck as much as possible. BEst way to achieve that is win the faceoff.

PK, same thing, gotta win the faceoff. He is not strong defensively. That's why Carlyle yanks him off the ice on PK the 2nd they clear the zone.

he can't be sent down right?
- DoubleDown

Gardiner? nope. Not waiver exempt

it's DAVE Bolland
- DoubleDown

2G, 3pts in 3 games. I beg to differ sir.

what is Gardiner's deal? thought he looked awful in the opener against Montreal. he obviously has the tools but he seems to be all over the place.
- DoubleDown

He's still only 23 and it grasping the pro game. He wants to be a difference maker on every shift, that's his problem right now.

He's still got the ability to skate the puck out of trouble and will help the team more than he hurts it. He's also playing with Paul Ranger, who's playing his first NHL games in 3 years, it's gonna take time.

Colorado makes a lot of sense. Landeskog?

Bozak said he didn't take a single offer from another team.
- burn

that's what I thought. Never talked to anybody else.

Thought it was reported he didn't even talk to other teams, but regardless, they didn't offer him that to be #1C, they were offering him 2C and trying to get him to leave his team, so had to offer more than they would like to.

The ONLY reason Bozak gets the ice-time he does is Faceoffs. That's it. When KEssel is on the ice, LEafs need to have the puck as much as possible. BEst way to achieve that is win the faceoff.

PK, same thing, gotta win the faceoff. He is not strong defensively. That's why Carlyle yanks him off the ice on PK the 2nd they clear the zone.
- Big_Lightnin

The only reason? hmmmm. Put it this way, he's not a star offensively, but who is more valuable right now to the leafs, as in we want to win this year - kadri or bozak? Also consider we have tons of offense up front

Colorado makes a lot of sense. Landeskog?
- coolehmon41

They won't move Landeskog after giving him captain.

If anything, they'd be offering Ryan O'Reilly.

And if we were to acquire O'Reilly, we'd be saying bye bye to Bolland next year

Colorado makes a lot of sense. Landeskog?
- coolehmon41

pretty sure they aren't trading their captain...

O'Rielly or Stastny will be traded by the deadline if Avs are doing poopty I would think.

Sure thing, just add Kadri, Riemer, Gunnarson and this years first.
- Artyukhin76

done

Everybody is hung up on 1c and 2c etc, who cares if we need to juggle guys from 1 line to another depending who's rolling WHO CARES as long as we win. Bozak has played fine so far 3-0

Some games he might be #2 or #3

Kadri/Bolland/Bozak is not that bad if you think about it.

Let's roll until we start losing 3 or 4 in a row then we might have a problem. Really don't see that happening this year especially if our D start to improve and they will with some time.
- Garnie

Absolutely, i don't consider Krejci to be a #1 centre (except against the Leafs). You don't need a (what people consider) #1 centre if everything else is in place.

that's what I thought. Never talked to anybody else.
- Big_Lightnin

Dreger said the wings were going to offer it, maybe bozak only wanted TO but I remember on deadline day the wings were thinking of bozak. Could be wrong but if no teams wanted him, which is unrealistic, he'd be a league minimum salary. And being kessel's best friend doesn't get you 4.25 million, especially when kessel still gets 8 mil

Tell that to the Red Wings lol. This is the new era of the Leafs. We actually have a core that will be stable over the next few years. A lot similar to Boston actually.

Looking past this season:

Kessel, 26 - 8 years
Clarkson, 29 - 6 years
Lupul, 30 - 4 years
JVR, 25 - 4 years
Bozak, 27 - 4 years
Kadri, 23 - 1 year, RFA
Bernier, 26 - 1 year, RFA
Rielly, 19 - 2 years, RFA

Phaneuf, Bolland, Franson and Gardiner all have a good chance of being resigned to multi years and tossed in there as well

It comes down to building a team around them. We are and will continue to do that.
- t_leafs21

old farts of the team....wish I was still 29

point taken..I just dont want the leafs to abandon the drafting developing. thats all.
if i trade gardiner its for another similar forward prospect, not a 30 year old stay at home D. those you can get as FA

done
- Barx

that isn't working as well as he had hoped

gardiner for a good, young, stay at home D. Sort of like luke schenn?
- clark_griswold

for a good, young, stay at home D?
sure.
for Luke Schenn?
no.

Absolutely, i don't consider Krejci to be a #1 centre (except against the Leafs). You don't need a (what people consider) #1 centre if everything else is in place.
- walshyleafsfan

All that matters are the W's

Look at Leafs stats. Scoring by committee!

2G, 3pts in 3 games. I beg to differ sir.



- Big_Lightnin

funny thing

a few months ago everyone thought this guy was the second coming of christ



the way the toronto media is talking you'd almost think it was the week leading up to easter

Gardiner, Reimer and Ashton for Jordan Eberle. Works for both teams.
- yttrohs

well, except the oilers don't need another d-man who is inept in his own end, an unproven, inconsistent goalie or another 4th line plug.

Dreger said the wings were going to offer it, maybe bozak only wanted TO but I remember on deadline day the wings were thinking of bozak. Could be wrong but if no teams wanted him, which is unrealistic, he'd be a league minimum salary. And being kessel's best friend doesn't get you 4.25 million, especially when kessel still gets 8 mil
- clark_griswold

no, being the default #1 C gets you 4.25M. we covered this.

I don't hate Bozak. I do hate that now we are stuck with "serviceable" for 5 years.

Serviceable as the #1C isn't going to get this team past the 2nd round of the playoffs in the life of that contract.

Absolutely, i don't consider Krejci to be a #1 centre (except against the Leafs). You don't need a (what people consider) #1 centre if everything else is in place.
- walshyleafsfan

that's my point. BOzak fits with the LEAFS. on florida where scoring is non existent, not so much. Unfortunately, ppl on here think offense is all that matters. Grabo over bozak on the leafs roster is laughable if you look past the scoresheets (or even if you did, grabo was a -10 in the playoffs. Now, +/- can be skewed, but man, there's no debating when it's -10 for god's sake)

funny thing

a few months ago everyone thought this guy was the second coming of christ



the way the toronto media is talking you'd almost think it was the week leading up to easter
- Dozzer

That picture is awesome.

Do me, do me.

no, being the default #1 C gets you 4.25M. we covered this.

I don't hate Bozak. I do hate that now we are stuck with "serviceable" for 5 years.

Serviceable as the #1C isn't going to get this team past the 2nd round of the playoffs in the life of that contract.
- Big_Lightnin

I love this debate. It's the same as Dion should be ditched. How do you replace DIon and how do you trade for a #1 centre? Seems like we would have had one years ago if it were that easy. Throw any package you want at Carolina, anaheim, etc. they aren't trading staal or getzlaf.