Clarkson on the 3rd line...at how much?
- whipper334

I think he makes about $3 million a year.

Probably less.

Nothing to see here - please keep moving.

Nikitin @$4.5M should make Franson really attractive to teams

I think he makes about $3 million a year.

Probably less.

Nothing to see here - please keep moving.
- Atomic Wedgie

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 31m

Was told early in weekend that Leafs would settle in $3.25-million range. Same source said Franson would then be dealt, so we'll see.




Genius
- PinkSock

Now or in the season?

Nikitin @$4.5M should make Franson really attractive to teams
- PinkSock

I'd probz do him. Probz.

I'd probz do him. Probz.
- eichiefs9

The former has a good chance of happening.

The latter? Be prepared for crushing disappointment.
- Atomic Wedgie

What is Kulemin's deal? Seems like most Leafs fans are pretty low on him. I never really paid much attention to him when I watch the Leafs, if I'm being honest.

(frank)ing eh. Great news, great deal.

Nikitin @$4.5M should make Franson really attractive to teams
- PinkSock

i don't really think teams operate that way.

Nikitin @$4.5M should make Franson really attractive to teams
- PinkSock

Has no bearing on it at all. I dont see many options out there. Most teams are tight at the cap. Would need to ship something back. I could see Carolina maybe. Couple others but I doubt anyone giving up just picks for him.

i don't really think teams operate that way.
- DoubleDown

What is Kulemin's deal? Seems like most Leafs fans are pretty low on him. I never really paid much attention to him when I watch the Leafs, if I'm being honest.
- eichiefs9

For 2.5 million great player. For 4 million over 4 years

Has no bearing on it at all. I dont see many options out there. Most teams are tight at the cap. Would need to ship something back. I could see Carolina maybe. Couple others but I doubt anyone giving up just picks for him.
- Iggysbff

..salary retention, move him later in the year..teams can find ways to add a 3M contract

Has no bearing on it at all. I dont see many options out there. Most teams are tight at the cap. Would need to ship something back. I could see Carolina maybe. Couple others but I doubt anyone giving up just picks for him.
- Iggysbff

What is Kulemin's deal? Seems like most Leafs fans are pretty low on him. I never really paid much attention to him when I watch the Leafs, if I'm being honest.
- eichiefs9

The guy is built like a fridge on skates, which makes him a useful player along the boards. He has an above average wrister, but he never uses it. I think he is a very good 3LW.

What is Kulemin's deal? Seems like most Leafs fans are pretty low on him. I never really paid much attention to him when I watch the Leafs, if I'm being honest.
- eichiefs9

Actually, most Leafs fans were too high on him.

He's a fantastic physical specimen - he'll be at the top of every fitness test at Islanders training camp.

Great attitude. Nice guy.

But his problem (in a weird, Toronto sense) is that in 2010-11, he scored 30 goals. It was one of those weird things where he had chemistry with his line-mates (Grabovski and MacArthur), and everything seemed to go in.

He's never come close to that before, and he'll never come close to it again. But he made the impression in Toronto fans' minds that the guy is a goal-scorer, or at least "a two-way" player.

Take a look at his actual stats - he's a 3rd liner. He's not afraid of receiving physical contact at all, but he very rarely dishes it out. He's pretty good (but not terrific) on the PK.

He's the kind of guy that haunts the Leafs - not overly terrible, but not particularly good at anything. But nothing to hate him for, so Leafs fans tend to over-rate him.

I sincerely wish him well, but if you are wondering what you are going to get from him, I'd say he'll play on your 3rd line, with stints on your 2nd line due to injuries, and stints on your 4th line when he is in the dog house.

i don't really think teams operate that way.
- DoubleDown

Sure they do. They look at players relative to the market. Niskanen deal reflects the market.

The guy is built like a fridge on skates, which makes him a useful player along the boards. He has an above average wrister, but he never uses it. I think he is a very good 3LW.
- BetterCallSaul

I have a feeling he will end up getting shuffled around a bit, but he'll probably be playing with Grabo on the second line to start.

We're likely going to have to wait and see what Snow does, he almost has to ship some forwards out, we have far too many.

- eichiefs9

You guys have 8 Dmen already signed. One will prolly be sent down but you'll still need to ship one back in a trade. Doable if they want to I guess.

if the nhl average for 5+ seasons is 8% for every player in that has played and a player has a season at 15%

its safe to say he got some lucky bounces while on the ice that season.. and in turn will benefit with more points and better +/- traditional stats that help you get another contract

now if he was always around 15% his career.. then ok..not so much luck.. but since even the best players are not... safe to say its luck...or whatever word you like to use for random variances or unsustainable things
- senstroll

Went to have a look at which forwards he most frequently played with and surprised to find it was Kadri, Kessel, JVR, McArthur, and Bozak in that order.

Maybe the high SH% and +/- was about successfully "ambushing" oppositions 4th/3rd lines by throwing out top offensive guys with Franson/Fraser.

Yaaaay Carlyle?

You guys have 8 Dmen already signed. One will prolly be sent down but you'll still need to ship one back in a trade. Doable if they want to I guess.
- Iggysbff

We have too many forwards also. Strait and Carkner should be buried in the minors, although we don't really have any room there. I'm OK with just literally burying them also. Donovan signed a one year two way deal, so that (plus the signing of Brennan on a one-way) likely means he's bound to start the year in the Bridge.

I, realistically, see this team as having a legitimate shot at the playoffs if we add one more competent defender. A guy like Oduya would be great. I'm not shooting for the moon here, but another guy that can play in his own end and make a solid first pass would be huge for us.

Sure they do. They look at players relative to the market. Niskanen deal reflects the market.
- Canada Cup

if a team likes Cody Franson, they like him. then they look at his salary and see if he's worth it. they don't just look at a guy and say "he has value because he's less overpaid than another player". there is a separation of player and salary when evaluating a player. there has to be.

Actually, most Leafs fans were too high on him.

He's a fantastic physical specimen - he'll be at the top of every fitness test at Islanders training camp.

Great attitude. Nice guy.

But his problem (in a weird, Toronto sense) is that in 2010-11, he scored 30 goals. It was one of those weird things where he had chemistry with his line-mates (Grabovski and MacArthur), and everything seemed to go in.

He's never come close to that before, and he'll never come close to it again. But he made the impression in Toronto fans' minds that the guy is a goal-scorer, or at least "a two-way" player.

Take a look at his actual stats - he's a 3rd liner. He's not afraid of receiving physical contact at all, but he very rarely dishes it out. He's pretty good (but not terrific) on the PK.

He's the kind of guy that haunts the Leafs - not overly terrible, but not particularly good at anything. But nothing to hate him for, so Leafs fans tend to over-rate him.

I sincerely wish him well, but if you are wondering what you are going to get from him, I'd say he'll play on your 3rd line, with stints on your 2nd line due to injuries, and stints on your 4th line when he is in the dog house.
- Atomic Wedgie

Pretty fair valuation of him, thanks.

I think Grabner gets the same assumptions made about him here on the Island. One great year and everyone expects 34g from him again. The thing was it was his first full season in the NHL and I think a lot of teams hadn't yet realized his speed, he literally had a breakaway 2-4 times a game. If he had half a pair of hands he would have scored 60.

Anyway, with Kulemin...I'm OK with him getting 3rd line time, because with the addition of Grabovski it likely bumps Nielsen down to the 3C spot. That gives us an incredibly strong presence of centers, so I think a 3rd line of Nielsen centering Kulemin and Grabner can put up more points than your average 3rd line. If he catches fire again playing with Grabovski and (likely) Strome then that's awesome.

if a team likes Cody Franson, they like him. then they look at his salary and see if he's worth it. they don't just look at a guy and say "he has value because he's less overpaid than another player". there is a separation of player and salary when evaluating a player. there has to be.
- DoubleDown

They will look at other players of his kill level and see that they are paid much more than him thus making him more valuable.

They will look at other players of his kill level and see that they are paid much more than him thus making him more valuable.
- JVR_42_PK81

Other players, or one other player?

Nobody uses Clarkson as a comparison. GMs know when a guy is making too much money.