I dont see us giving away our top prospects, if it costs our top prospects for stasny than id say forget it haha id rather keep colborne and kadri. And maybe he has a point there. But i would have kadri on the second line over kulemin, kulemin is more of a third line type player in my opinion.
- Mapleleafs_91

Kulemin played like a 3rd liner last year, hopefully just an off year....but if he doesn't get dealt, I think he needs to play with Grabo. They have chemistry. I don't mind giving up Kadri or Colborne, but not both.....and I'd trade Colborne first. I don't know if he really has what it takes to make it....at least with Toronto.

Marleau is....at least he was before thrown in with Thornton....and he takes a lot of faceoffs.
- Phenom

He's not anymore.

all can play center technically.
- Mapleleafs_91

Anybody can play center "technically". Doesn't make them good at it.

He won't get big money on this one. Maybe the next one, but not this one. This contract will be affordable for the Avalanche. The 6.6 million isn't as a big a problem as people are trying way too hard to make it seem.
- Unholy_Goalie

Well, I guess we'll see once Matty signs on the dotted line. But I foresee something in the $5-$5.5 mill range.

And so are those other players because they either suck at faceoffs or back-checking or both. They aren't centers for the same reasons Kessel isn't a center.
- Unholy_Goalie

Well depends, kessel is easy to hate on because he never back checks yet alone is a pure sniper. Players like lupul, kane, marleau, and i would even say parise are versatile players than can be moved from center to wing or wing to center.

Anybody can play center "technically". Doesn't make them good at it.
- Unholy_Goalie

Yes im going to have pure wingers that played wing all their life to play center im talking of players who have played center or are decent at it at least.

Well, I guess we'll see once Matty signs on the dotted line. But I foresee something in the $5-$5.5 mill range.
- Phenom

Well that's not 1st line money. That's Grabovski money. The Avalanche would be foolish to waste great depth at center just because they have to pay two centers 5 to 7 million. They have plenty of cap space and it's money well spent to help them win again.

Yes im going to have pure wingers that played wing all their life to play center im talking of players who have played center or are decent at it at least.
- Mapleleafs_91

Parise and Kane have played on the wing their entire NHL career. So yes, you are essentially taking "pure wingers" and putting them at center. It doesn't work. If it did, Kessel would be at center.

He's not anymore.
- Unholy_Goalie

I remember him taking a lot in the playoffs. But regardless of that, Patrick Marleau is a natural center. He just isn't when he plays on Thornton's line.

I remember him taking a lot in the playoffs. But regardless of that, Patrick Marleau is a natural center. He just isn't when he plays on Thornton's line.
- Phenom

Either way, too old for Toronto.

Parise and Kane have played on the wing their entire NHL career. So yes, you are essentially taking "pure wingers" and putting them at center.
- Unholy_Goalie

kane played center this year, he did a good job if you watched any of the chicago games... parise has played center before in his career as well... parise im unsure of though kane is a more versatile player among the likes of marleau.

Either way, too old for Toronto.
- Unholy_Goalie

agreed

Well depends, kessel is easy to hate on because he never back checks yet alone is a pure sniper. Players like lupul, kane, marleau, and i would even say parise are versatile players than can be moved from center to wing or wing to center.
- Mapleleafs_91

Can't really say I agree with you on this one. Not anyone can play center....the position comes with a lot of responsibility, which is why top-6 centers are so hard to come by. It's by far the toughest forward position. Marleau yes, the others no.

Can't really say I agree with you on this one. Not anyone can play center....the position comes with a lot of responsibility, which is why top-6 centers are so hard to come by. It's by far the toughest forward position. Marleau yes, the others no.
- Phenom

what responsiblities? you win faceoffs, you backcheck, you set up a play, you score.

kane played center this year, he did a good job if you watched any of the chicago games... parise has played center before in his career as well... parise im unsure of though kane is a more versatile player among the likes of marleau.
- Mapleleafs_91

Kane only played there briefly because Toews was hurt. And he sucked at faceoffs. Plus he's not all that great defensively either or big.

Parise hasn't played center in the NHL. This comes up once a week and it's BS. Parise is not a center. New Jersey Devils fans come in here dumbfounded, wondering how and when Parise played center. Watching the playoffs, it should be easy to see.

And before you bring up the fact that he played center in the NCAA, that was 8 years ago. Kessel played center in the NCAA too. It doesn't change anything. He's not a center.

what responsiblities? you win faceoffs, you backcheck, you set up a play, you score.
- Mapleleafs_91

Oh man...

Well that's not 1st line money. That's Grabovski money. The Avalanche would be foolish to waste great depth at center just because they have to pay two centers 5 to 7 million. They have plenty of cap space and it's money well spent to help them win again.
- Unholy_Goalie

So.....Colorado keeping 26-year-old Stastny at $6.6 million, who has underproduced is smart, but the Leafs are stupid for keeping 24-year-old Kessel at $5.4 who IS producing? Hhhmmm....

Either way, too old for Toronto.
- Unholy_Goalie

I never said I wanted him.

Kane only played there briefly because Toews was hurt. And he sucked at faceoffs. Plus he's not all that great defensively either or big.

Parise hasn't played center in the NHL. This comes up once a week and it's BS. Parise is not a center. New Jersey Devils fans come in here dumbfounded, wondering how and when Parise played center. Watching the playoffs, it should be easy to see.

And before you bring up the fact that he played center in the NCAA, that was 8 years ago. Kessel played center in the NCAA too. It doesn't change anything. He's not a center.
- Unholy_Goalie

Still does not mean a line cannot produce without a natural centerman. end of story and you even know that.

what responsiblities? you win faceoffs, you backcheck, you set up a play, you score.
- Mapleleafs_91

More responsibilities than a winger.....and it's easier said than done, which is, once again, why it's hard to come by.

So.....Colorado keeping 26-year-old Stastny at $6.6 million, who has underproduced is smart, but the Leafs are stupid for keeping 24-year-old Kessel at $5.4 who IS producing? Hhhmmm....
- Phenom

So if he's an underachiever for 6.6 million, why do you want him to come to the Leafs? See how easy that is? The Leafs are stupid for paying what they paid for Kessel. They're also stupid for trying to build a team around him. He's the wrong player at the wrong time. That's why it makes more sense for the Leafs to trade him and start over.

But back to Stastny. He has tremendous two-way ability. If he scores 70+ points a year and plays the two-way style that he plays, he's worth every penny. Strength up the middle is way more important than a scoring winger. Strength at center wins you games and wins you championships. Look at the depth Boston had last year up the middle. That's worth spending the money on.

More responsibilities than a winger.....and it's easier said than done, which is, once again, why it's hard to come by.
- Phenom

There are more responsibilities obviously though everyone should be backchecking and helping out on D. Pretty sure a centerman sets up plays correct? pretty sure lupul and kessel set each other up practically the whole year. Might as well make Lupul centerman while were at it. It is easier said then done, i can shove a parise, a kane, a lupul in the center of kessel and another guy and that line i guarantee you, will do serious damage scoring goals.

Still does not mean a line cannot produce without a natural centerman. end of story and you even know that.
- Mapleleafs_91

Yeah, it's important. End of story.

So if he's an underachiever for 6.6 million, why do you want him to come to the Leafs? See how easy that is? The Leafs are stupid for paying what they paid for Kessel. They're also stupid for trying to build a team around him. He's the wrong player at the wrong time. That's why it makes more sense for the Leafs to trade him and start over.

But back to Stastny. He has tremendous two-way ability. If he scores 70+ points a year and plays the two-way style that he plays, he's worth every penny. Strength up the middle is way more important than a scoring winger. Strength at center wins you games and wins you championships. Look at the depth Boston had last year up the middle. That's worth spending the money on.
- Unholy_Goalie

Bostons gay, bro my tim thomas. Play boston the time they won against LA right now in the finals, LA would merk them.

Yeah, it's important. End of story.
- Unholy_Goalie

no its not. If a line scores billion goals, you wouldnt care. end of story