Would have gotten that on the open market easily,
- RogerRoeper

He absolutely would have....tough part in moving him would be giving up assets as well paying UFA price on the cap hit. Might be a tough trade to make this year but if the cap go up a year from now there will more interest.

Weve had this debate. I got laughed at for saying theyll finish ahead of the leafs. Time will tell. My $ is on nyi making it and being a bi*tch to play against in the playoffs.
- clark_griswold

Well if it wasn't for the lousy goaltending by Nabakov the isles could have shocked the world against Pens.....

Serious question.... who do you think will have a better year Isles or Leafs? And why?
- Ur Not Me

As of right now it's a wash. Both teams got better IMO. Defense is an issue for both teams this year.

Well if it wasn't for the lousy goaltending by Nabakov the isles could have shocked the world against Pens.....
- Ur Not Me

Young team with sandpaper and a legit goalie. Tavares is a top 5 nhl player coming into his ow. The D is young but alot of promise. Tavares can carry a team on his back.

As of right now it's a wash. Both teams got better IMO. Defense is an issue for both teams this year.
- JVR_42_PK81

I'm torn myself bc I think the Leafs have a better D but isles have better F's and the G is a wash bc there both good.

Young team with sandpaper and a legit goalie. Tavares is a top 5 nhl player coming into his ow. The D is young but alot of promise. Tavares can carry a team on his back.
- clark_griswold

I'm hoping Snow finds that STAR to play along side JT, and I don't mean KO. The kid is unreal and yes can carry a team for sure....

I don't think we need Bailey right now. If we added one of our forwards and took bailey in some sort of package deal it would make sense.
- JVR_42_PK81

Without moving one of our forwards:

JVR - Bozak - Kessel
Bailey - Kadri - Lupul
Komarov - Kontiola - Clarkson
Winnik - Santorelli - Frattin
Booth - Holland

McLaren, Orr, Smith, and Bodie to the AHL.

Kulemin isn't a top 6 player bud. 3rd liner at best. Grabovski is an average 2nd liner. Don't get your hopes to high. Only real thing that's been really improved is the goaltending on your team. Defense is still a major problem. Offense will always be good with Okposo and Tavares. Also although goaltending was upgraded they've got a goalie who's never reached 30 wins in his career not even on a stacked, top defensive team like the Blues.
- Jammerz04

Kulemin is better than you think, a fresh start...he can play line 2 easy...scored 30 and him Grabo and Mac were pretty much the 1st line for part of that season.

Without moving one of our forwards:

JVR - Bozak - Kessel
Bailey - Kadri - Lupul
Komarov - Kontiola - Clarkson
Winnik - Santorelli - Frattin
Booth - Holland

McLaren, Orr, Smith, and Bodie to the AHL.
- The Shrike

Hmm Actually seems pretty good. But it leaves a hole on D

I'm hoping Snow finds that STAR to play along side JT, and I don't mean KO. The kid is unreal and yes can carry a team for sure....
- Ur Not Me

May have to move a youngster to get it. Patty sharp (if the rumors were true which they werent) would have been perfect. A wiNner who can lead

Without moving one of our forwards:

JVR - Bozak - Kessel
Bailey - Kadri - Lupul
Komarov - Kontiola - Clarkson
Winnik - Santorelli - Frattin
Booth - Holland

McLaren, Orr, Smith, and Bodie to the AHL.
- The Shrike

If Booth is healthy the kid can play and I would put him on 2nd line and put Bailey as 3rd line C and watch him help that line produce points.

Nyi for sure. They improved, we got worse. Simple.
- clark_griswold

I don't think so, I've say we've improved our back end quite a bit and our young D are 1 yr older.

Not saying we are going to be 1st in the division, but we have just as much chance as most in the East to make the playoffs.

A really good defenseman? Don't kid yourself. The guy commits turnovers like Mike Weber. Guys worth a max of $4.5 mill a season. No more, no less.
- Jammerz04

So let me get this straight: Brooks Orpik got 5.5 million, but Dion is worth 1 million+ less? LOL. You do know Dion led the NHL in QOC? He played the toughest minutes in the entire NHL. His career avg is over 40 points.

Dion is now so underrated.

Kulemin is better than you think, a fresh start...he can play line 2 easy...scored 30 and him Grabo and Mac were pretty much the 1st line for part of that season.
- Garnie

Santonelli and Winnik both scored more than Kuluemin last season and earn a quarter of the salary. Terrific moves.

Santonelli and Winnik both scored more than Kuluemin last season and earn a quarter of the salary. Terrific moves.
- RogerRoeper

meh, we will see how RC plays them.

Kulemin is a good player if given the ice...he hasn't been given any real good ice since Grabo/Kule/Mac

Not saying he didn't need fresh start and I'm hoping we have a great year

meh, we will see how RC plays them.

Kulemin is a good player if given the ice...he hasn't been given any real good ice since Grabo/Kule/Mac
Not saying he didn't need fresh start and I'm hoping we have a great year
- Garnie

His ice-time went down because he became a black offensive hole. When I hear Leaf fans call him the Leafs "Best Two-Way" forward I wanted to scream.

May have to move a youngster to get it. Patty sharp (if the rumors were true which they werent) would have been perfect. A wiNner who can lead
- clark_griswold

Well I was thinking of the E. Kane rumors instead. I like Sharp but rather have a younger player to grow w/JT if you get my point.

Kulemin is better than you think, a fresh start...he can play line 2 easy...scored 30 and him Grabo and Mac were pretty much the 1st line for part of that season.
- Garnie

Who knows, MacArthur has only this season left on his current contract, so maybe next year the Isles reunite the entire line.

Who knows, MacArthur has only this season left on his current contract, so maybe next year the Isles reunite the entire line.
- The Shrike

Geez I hope not,

His ice-time went down because he became a black offensive hole. When I hear Leaf fans call him the Leafs "Best Two-Way" forward I wanted to scream.
- RogerRoeper

not trying to be a Richard, but we need somebody defensive and he's 1 of the best in the game IMHO. Heavy on the boards..not a wussy like Raymond/Kadri/Gardiner/Kessel I'm sure I could find a couple more

Geez I hope not,
- Ur Not Me

I'm not a fan, but he's playing good again in Ottawa.

not trying to be a Richard, but we need somebody defensive and he's 1 of the best in the game IMHO. Heavy on the boards..not a wussy like Raymond/Kadri/Gardiner/Kessel I'm sure I could find a couple more
- Garnie

I don't know if I'd go that far, bit he's solid defensively. My issue is "Two-Way" means offense, which for some reason nowadays gets forgotten.

I don't know if I'd go that far, bit he's solid defensively. My issue is "Two-Way" means offense, which for some reason nowadays gets forgotten.
- RogerRoeper

ok, maybe not the best in the world but pretty good, yes his offense dried up

I'm not a fan, but he's playing good again in Ottawa.
- Garnie

I know he is, I hoped not bc the Isles have to make room for some of the other kids who will be chomping at ice time next year plus having a full roster still signed next year as well.

I like him as a player n thought Leafs messed up on letting him go when you had no real replacement, if you get my point.

I know he is, I hoped not bc the Isles have to make room for some of the other kids who will be chomping at ice time next year plus having a full roster still signed next year as well.

I like him as a player n thought Leafs messed up on letting him go when you had no real replacement, if you get my point.
- Ur Not Me

The Leafs had a lot of depth on the wing, so I guess they felt they didn't need a replacement. They had much bigger issues last season to worry about.