Varly forgot how to goalie...
Bishop is always hurt
Crawford I've never been overly impressed with, but might be an option.
Fleury... while I think he's a good choice, its not hard to turn this thread into a Fleury hatefest..


We need a Cujo or Belfour... not a Toskala or Giguere...
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Man you whine a lot lately.
There was no hatefest really....people just didnt think he was right for the leafs at this moment.

That's risky. MAF is in control of any 'dumping'. Pens need to take any opportunity they can this summer b/c exposing Murray should not be an option for them.
- The Law

I just don’t see a scenario were the pens have to trade him now with salary retention and take back a worse player.

Might as well roll the dice that you can get that poopty offer in a year imo.

I used to think Andersen was the route to take too. Looking at his stats relative to the league and Bernier/Reimer over the last few years it doesn't appeal anymore. He's looking at a big dollar contract and I'm not sure he (or any goalie not named Price/Lundquist/Holtby) is really worth it. Get a good youngish 'tender on an affordable contract.
- The Law

I believe Andersen with a bridge contract - maybe 3 years that will not be for absurd money - and target a great prospect that is ready when that contract is up. Blackwood wood be ideal.

Fleury will waive a trade to go anywhere he has a chance to be the starter. He is sitting there with an outside chance of going down as a hall of famer and I think that would be very important to him. He needs 3-4 more years of being solid as a #1 goalie for that to even be considered.

Toronto, Calgary and Buffalo are the best potential landing spots for him to do so. Those are all teams that are not far off from a major turnaround and he could be the cornerstone to that.
- MacPatty

Or he can pull a kessel and block all but one logical destination.

Looks like the war on Kodi has started...

http://www.theglobeandmai...t-claims/article30401979/

Although it is literally a fight against the Android box sellers, you have to figure it is just a matter of time until they try to do something about Kodi (and the like) itself.
- Aetherial

FACK Rogers and Bell.

I believe Andersen with a bridge contract - maybe 3 years that will not be for absurd money - and target a great prospect that is ready when that contract is up. Blackwood wood be ideal.
- winsix

i think andersen will be a little pricey to acquire

So trade Bozak for 5th rounder or trade Kadri for a solid D man

Hmmm, 1 helps us 1 doesn't.

Stammer
Matthews
Nylander

That's why he's talking about moving Kadri


I Like Kadri but if he's going to be used sparingly then why would we keep him?
- Garnie

You view Nylander's skill-set as a logical spot on the 3rd line long term? Doesn't seem ideal to me.

Kadri has some grit to his game at least, which is a perfect match to the 3rd line C role because he combines it with significant puck skills; he is going to be a VERY good 3rd line C in the NHL for years to come on a very good contract.

Move Willie to the wing in the top 6 and away you go...if the Pens Cup told the league anything, you need 3 lines that can score, and removing a strong pivot in Kadri from the equation weakens the teams depth up front long term.

I don't get the Kadri dislike after that cupcake contract he signed. Time to embrace the kid - Leafs fans beg for that kind of loyalty from a homegrown guy and half the fanbase wants to run him out of town.

EDIT: If the Leafs land Vesey, don't be shocked to see JVR moved for a legit D-man. JVR >>> Kadri in terms of market value to get an impact D-man.

Call me crazy but I dont think they move him until well into the year. They need to hedge the Murray bet.
- Bigzby

You may be right, but there will be a lot of goalies moving around at deadline time, so the returns are not likely to increase with time. Pens also have cap considerations with the cap being about $71.4 next year and them having about $55 million committed to 10 players.

I'd dangle a 2nd rounder to the B's and Av's for Subban and Pickard. With Rask and Varlamov they won't be able to protect those two in the expansion draft.

Subban v. Subban would fuel the media drama for years.
- The Law

Or, trade for Varlamov and Barrie.

Varlamov, Barrie, 10th, 2nd rounder

for

JVR, Gardiner, Bernier

Trade for his rights so he can get the 8th year on the contract. Only reason why you would...

i think andersen will be a little pricey to acquire
- Tumbleweed

Like what? in terms of salary or acquisition? Goalie market prices are going to be deeply discounted with expansion looming. A second, a goalie and prospect should do it. He's RFA - don't know what he get in arbitration but I think 3 years at $4.5 would be a good starting point.

Trade for his rights so he can get the 8th year on the contract. Only reason why you would...
- billyberg10

Does not work that way! Has to have played for your team previous year to qualify for an 8 year offer.

What about if:
1. MAF can't be traded;
2. Murray is the starter next year; and
3. The expansion rules make them have to protect MAF?

Murray is a tradeable asset but that puts them under the gun in terms of getting value.
- The Law

Murray I think may not be anything super special too.. ATM Jones is clearly better.

If Pitt knows this they'd trade him to a team looking for a goalie.. I'd be asking the Leafs for Brown/Carrick and a 2nd..

Also if they can move Malkin and get a decent return they'll do it.

Las Vegas confirmed for expansion, as per an anonymous league exec.

What about cameron ward.

Las Vegas confirmed for expansion, as per an anonymous league exec.
- Phenom

Bets on team name?

I'm thinking the Las Vegas Hangovers

Man you whine a lot lately.
There was no hatefest really....people just didnt think he was right for the leafs at this moment.
- Fakepartofme

I missed the argument yesterday, but my thoughts on Fleury is this:

Ask anyone if they think the Leafs will be a competitive team and they will almost unanimously say they are 3-4 years away.

Fleury has 3 years left on his contract.

We know MAF is an outstanding regular season goalie capable of playing an amount of games you'd expect from a legitimate starting goalie.

If he's poop in the playoffs, who cares? The team won't be a playoff threat for another 3-4 years anyway right? ie. after he is gone anyway.

But having a guy who is a competent starter in the regular season will go a long way with the changing of the culture to one where they expect to win every night. Then he is gone just as they are ready to compete, and will hopefully have a young guys like Samsonov or Parsons ready to step up

I have heard worse ideas

You view Nylander's skill-set as a logical spot on the 3rd line long term? Doesn't seem ideal to me.

Kadri has some grit to his game at least, which is a perfect match to the 3rd line C role because he combines it with significant puck skills; he is going to be a VERY good 3rd line C in the NHL for years to come on a very good contract.

Move Willie to the wing in the top 6 and away you go...if the Pens Cup told the league anything, you need 3 lines that can score, and removing a strong pivot in Kadri from the equation weakens the teams depth up front long term.

I don't get the Kadri dislike after that cupcake contract he signed. Time to embrace the kid - Leafs fans beg for that kind of loyalty from a homegrown guy and half the fanbase wants to run him out of town.

EDIT: If the Leafs land Vesey, don't be shocked to see JVR moved for a legit D-man. JVR >>> Kadri in terms of market value to get an impact D-man.
- Deeps27

Exactly..

JVR would be expendable if they could get Vesey..

And the Kadri hate is so (frank)ed up... For whatever reason they make excuses to not like him.. The guy was our best player last year and did an admirable job as the 1C on a putrid team.

Las Vegas confirmed for expansion, as per an anonymous league exec.
- Phenom

Kinggilmour?

I missed the argument yesterday, but my thoughts on Fleury is this:

Ask anyone if they think the Leafs will be a competitive team and they will almost unanimously say they are 3-4 years away.

Fleury has 3 years left on his contract.

We know MAF is an outstanding regular season goalie capable of playing an amount of games you'd expect from a legitimate starting goalie.

If he's poop in the playoffs, who cares? The team won't be a playoff threat for another 3-4 years anyway right? ie. after he is gone anyway.

But having a guy who is a competent starter in the regular season will go a long way with the changing of the culture to one where they expect to win every night. Then he is gone just as they are ready to compete, and will hopefully have a young guys like Samsonov or Parsons ready to step up

I have heard worse ideas
- WingmanWillie

If by the off chance they do make the playoffs, rather a goalie that doesn't fall apart.

Murray I think may not be anything super special too.. ATM Jones is clearly better.

If Pitt knows this they'd trade him to a team looking for a goalie.. I'd be asking the Leafs for Brown/Carrick and a 2nd..

Also if they can move Malkin and get a decent return they'll do it.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Is it a known fact if Murray is even expansion exempt or not? He's only had one pro year I think.

Exactly..

JVR would be expendable if they could get Vesey..

And the Kadri hate is so (frank)ed up... For whatever reason they make excuses to not like him.. The guy was our best player last year and did an admirable job as the 1C on a putrid team.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Reimer was the best player last year, definitely a better goalie in a Babcock system than a Carlyle system.

If by the off chance they do make the playoffs, rather a goalie that doesn't fall apart.
- the_eye

But if the team is 3-4 years away from really competing, does it really matter if he crumbles in the playoffs?

Getting 35 wins per season seems like it would really help instill a winning culture with the club.

Either you think the team is ready to compete as early as next season, in which Fleury makes no sense as the guy to take them to the cup, or you think they are a few years away and he will be gone by the time it matters

Murray I think may not be anything super special too.. ATM Jones is clearly better.

If Pitt knows this they'd trade him to a team looking for a goalie.. I'd be asking the Leafs for Brown/Carrick and a 2nd..

Also if they can move Malkin and get a decent return they'll do it.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Murray went on a hot run.
Give him another year to get a better idea of him first.

Or, trade for Varlamov and Barrie.

Varlamov, Barrie, 10th, 2nd rounder

for

JVR, Gardiner, Bernier
- H8terade

Doubt very much Lou and Shanny trades for Varlamov - they will have a problem with the domestic assault charge. Lou doesn't even like or tolerate facial hair - would not expect him to trade for a goalie with that type of issue in his past.

JVR has more value to NJ (not much scoring) and he is from there. How about Larsson and Blackwood for JVR and Dermott. Doubt any team has any interest in Bernier - he might be going Robidas Island.