i am not a big Z. fan but I feel like just #10 alone is not enough.
- senstroll

Wedgie said yesterday that this was the worst contract in the league

Zaitsev isn't very good despite his age and how long he is locked up. I personally do not think you would get the 10th overall pick by trading Zaitsev.

Wow.

Way to throw your fellow "blogger that doesn't blog" under the bus there.
- Scabeh

Wedgie said yesterday that this was the worst contract in the league

Zaitsev isn't very good despite his age and how long he is locked up. I personally do not think you would get the 10th overall pick by trading Zaitsev.
- RickJames77

I'm pretty sure he was kidding.

...

pretty sure....

- Scabeh

Z is worth more?

But could #10 and Nylander gets us #1?
- .OHOH.

It would be great to unload Zaitsev, doubt very much anyone would offer a first rounder for a 13 point d-man making $4.5 million a year that was -7 in seven playoff games. He did score 36 points the previous year (was -22), then sh!t the bed this year. Gardiner has more trade value on an expiring contract - and even he won't net a #10 pick - even from an imbecile like Chiarelli. Most teams looking to add a d-man don't want one softer than a baby's bum.

Wedgie said yesterday that this was the worst contract in the league

Zaitsev isn't very good despite his age and how long he is locked up. I personally do not think you would get the 10th overall pick by trading Zaitsev.
- RickJames77

Gardiner could probably get us the 10th overall from Edmonton.. Not sure if Zaitsev alone could do it..

I'm pretty sure he was kidding.

...

pretty sure....
- Scabeh

This place has ruined my sarcasm meter. I need to reprogram it with some of the guys around here

Wedgie said yesterday that this was the worst contract in the league

Zaitsev isn't very good despite his age and how long he is locked up. I personally do not think you would get the 10th overall pick by trading Zaitsev.
- RickJames77

I dont think its great either. But an NHL vet GM thought he was worth signing long term. Perception and reality are not the same thing. An NHL GM also thought trading Hall for Larsson was a fair trade.

again an NHL dman, RH that is 26yo and under contract for a long time would be valuable to lots of GMs.

Also i find people overvalue a pick in that range.

Gardiner could probably get us the 10th overall from Edmonton.. Not sure if Zaitsev alone could do it..
- PatC80

If Gardiner was signed for a few years at his current price, maybe.

The 10th overall for 1 year of Gardiner? I wouldn't do it.

Wow.

Way to throw your fellow "blogger that doesn't blog" under the bus there.
- Scabeh

Thanks Carol

This place has ruined my sarcasm meter. I need to reprogram it with some of the guys around here
- RickJames77

It's also quite possible that you are not actually funny.. (Yes, you are)

Wedgie said yesterday that this was the worst contract in the league

Zaitsev isn't very good despite his age and how long he is locked up. I personally do not think you would get the 10th overall pick by trading Zaitsev.
- RickJames77

Zaitsev if not having to compensate constantly for Gardiner's defensive liability, is a decent 2nd pairing RHD.
The guy is all effort, and can do it all. Nothing spectacular, but surely not a liability.

Last year, alot of people on here were big fans - and said 4.5mln was a bargain/peanuts for Zaitsev.

(btw i could see Leafs signing Gunarsson as a 3rd line D option)

If Gardiner was signed for a few years at his current price, maybe.

The 10th overall for 1 year of Gardiner? I wouldn't do it.
- Scabeh

If it was Edmonton, yeah I think so. They have no other top line wingers to trade.

Gardiner could probably get us the 10th overall from Edmonton.. Not sure if Zaitsev alone could do it..
- PatC80

i think the perception is that Z. is a top 4 D.
you can debate whether thats the case or not. but 4.5 is reasonable for a top 4 D

I dont think its great either. But an NHL vet GM thought he was worth signing long term. Perception and reality are not the same thing. The worst NHL GM in the past 50 years also thought trading Hall for Larsson was a fair trade.

again an NHL dman, RH that is 26yo and under contract for a long time would be valuable to lots of GMs.

Also i find people overvalue a pick in that range.
- senstroll

You are giving Chiarelli way too much credit

FIXED

Nylander for Hamilton

1st, 1st, Brown, Lievo for Hamilton

Which one would you do, if any?

Personally I'm excited to see what Dubas or Hunter does with this team. They have 32 million in cap space. 25ish after the signings, salary retaining and bonuses. Without trading Martin.

They have a ton of options.

1.Give an RFA a mammoth one year offer

Example: giving Hanafin an offer of 7.8 million for one year. The leafs give up 1st,2nd 3rd. Extreme example, but you get the point.

2.Trading for a player that is overpaid but still good on a one year deal.

Example:Spezza

3. Taking on a bad contract for a good player

Example:Orpik

Ton of options
- Santo_44

They really dont have that many options. most have that money is kind of spoken for. Nylander this off season then Matthews and Marner. Then you have Gardiner as an RFA the next year - do you keep him or trade him?
Not too many players sign one year mammoth deals if they can big long term deals, so I dont really see that as an option.
The leafs need 2-3 more quality D and wont have too much room to take on a crappy contract.

i think the perception is that Z. is a top 4 D.
you can debate whether thats the case or not. but 4.5 is reasonable for a top 4 D
- senstroll

I like Z, I think he is a top 4 guy.. I think he is good on the PK.. We definitely need him, he's our best RHD.

You mentioned earlier that you thought the Leafs should move down in the draft, looking at past #25 picks, a move down or up is probably the right move. Pastrnak looks like the best ever #25 pick of all time. (draft going back to 1969), Mark Howe was a good pick, so was Gilles Gilbert, Cam Ward was good most of the rest though .... pure sh!t


2017 Mtl Ryan Poehling
2016 DAL Riley Tufte
2015 WIN Jack Roslovic
2014 BOS David Pastrnak
2013 MTL Michael McCarron
2012 STL Jordan Schmaltz
2011 TOR Stuart Percy
2010 FLA Quinton Howden
2009 BOS Jordan Caron
2008 CGY Greg Nemisz
2007 VAN Patrick White
2006 STL Patrik Berglund
2005 EDM Andrew Cogliano
2004 EDM Rob Schremp
2003 FLA Anthony Stewart
2002 CAR Cam Ward
2001 MTL Alexander Perezhogin
2000 DAL Steve Ott
1999 COL Mikhail Kuleshov
1998 DET Jiri Fischer
1997 DAL Brenden Morrow
1996 COL Peter Ratchuk
1995 COL Marc Denis
1994 NJD Vadim Sharifijanov
1993 BOS Kevyn Adams
1992 OTT Chad Penney
1991 WSH Eric Lavigne
1990 PHI Chris Simon
1989 WIN Dan Ratushny
1988 PIT Mark Major
1987 CGY Stephane Matteau
1986 PIT Dave Capuano
1985 VAN Troy Gamble
1984 TOR Todd Gill
1983 DET Lane Lambert
1982 TOR Peter Ihnacak
1981 CHI Kevin Griffin
1980 TOR Craig Muni
1979 NYI Tomas Jonsson
1978 PIT Mike Meeker
1977 MNS Dave Semenko
1976 STL John Smrke
1975 CHI Daniel Arndt
1974 BOS Mark Howe
1973 MNS John Rogers
1972 BUF Larry Carriere
1971 MTL Terry French
1970 NYR Mike Murphy
1969 MNS Gilles Gilbert
- winsix

That guy had so much skill. I think it was his skating that was his downfall. He played with Corey perry in London when the won the memorial cup and they were unreal.

Wedgie said yesterday that this was the worst contract in the league

Zaitsev isn't very good despite his age and how long he is locked up. I personally do not think you would get the 10th overall pick by trading Zaitsev.
- RickJames77

Where is Wedgie?

Guess who said this last year?

This.

If we sign him to a bridge deal, we save a little in the next couple of years (when we have gobs of cap space) and then he screws us for higher dollars, and we pay him until he is 47 years old.

This is a good deal, people.

You are giving Chiarelli way too much credit

FIXED
- winsix

i dont give him much credit. But a lot of people around hockey and other GMs do.
He won a cup, that sheilds him from most things in a lot of eyes

new blog everyone

i think the perception is that Z. is a top 4 D.
you can debate whether thats the case or not. but 4.5 is reasonable for a top 4 D
- senstroll

The perception that he is a top four d-man is flawed, he's soft, turtles when things get rough, can't hit the net, coughs up the puck in his own end, passes up the middle get intercepted regularly, and fails to keep the puck in the offensive zone regularly. Other than that, he's really good. Top four d-man - only for this guy.

Only offer sheet I'd consider would be Trouba.
- gravyface

yes guy!
I think the leafs need someone like Buff....or actually BUFF!
Leafs need more grit....not to fight but just some players who finish hits and will make people pay for every inch of the ice (who have skill as well)...didnt seem like most leafs did that.

He spent 3 seasons in the AHL when he was very early in his career. It wasn't about not being able to make the jump, he was still young and cracking the Bruins roster isn't as easy as you think. They play a certain style that he couldn't play at 20 or 21.

He did very well on North American ice in the OHL and the AHL. He never got a real shot at the NHL. The bigger ice surface is not even close to an issue. You've invented that in your head for lack of a better argument.

He has six seasons of experience with the North American ice and he put up very good point totals in all of them. He scored 193 points in 152 OHL games over 3 years and 171 points in 197 games over 3 years in Providence. You didn't do your research at all obviously because he didn't go back to Russia to score more, he went there to make money and he wasn't getting his chance to play in the NHL.

He's 24, he hasn't had a real shot at the NHL. That's not even close to being a failed NHLer. Lindholm is two years older and a 4th liner because that's what his talent level is. He played in the SHL which doesn't have the same level of competition as the KHL nor does he have any proven track record in North America. And you want to talk about the big ice surface? Par Lindholm has never played on North American ice. Your comparison is very weak. Khokhlachev is a way better fit in the top-six because he's proven he can score points, it's just a matter of somebody giving him a chance to do it in the NHL.
- Unholy_Goalie

He spent 3 seasons in the AHL and didn't make the Bruins. That's at least 3 NHL preseasons and 3 full seasons they looked at him and didn't want him in the NHL. If the Bruins are so hard to make, how can Heinen and Debrusk come in this year as rookies and make it Alex can't? Where is he playing in the leafs top 6? Hyman - Matthews - Nylander, Marleau - Kadri - Marner. He is not replacing any of those players. He is a small player who plays on the perimeter, something the leafs do not need especially in their bottom 6. Johnsson has proven he can play in the NHL, Khokhlachev hasn't, just play Johnsson and save they second rounder and the insane 4m for 4 year contract... Insane you want to give 4M a year to a player who had 3 years to make the NHL and couldn't so he went home.

Funny you say Brown and Khokhlachev are equal too, Brown can play anywhere in the lineup and can PK. If they were equal, he would be playing for Boston since he would be able to play their style as you say and they would have no issue putting him on their PK and in their bottom six. Which they clearly didn't since he is in Russia and Heinen and Debrusk took spots that he couldn't fill.

Branden Morrow was pretty good.

And things are looking good for Poehling!

- Scabeh

"It's nice to get drafted by a franchise like Toron- I mean Montreal"