Armstrong, Connolly, and Lombardi are all off the cap after this year.
- yea-ok-buddy

\if we can shed even 1 contract were flush.....didnt we take lombardi on a salary dump for picks?

\if we can shed even 1 contract were flush.....didnt we take lombardi on a salary dump for picks?
- MindFr3eak

Komi would be nice to get rid of. I would just keep LAC, and let them run out at the end of the year unless someone wants them.

Armstrong, Connolly, and Lombardi are all off the cap after this year.
- yea-ok-buddy

Luongo only wants to play 4-5 more years. Leafs are in a great spot...minus Schenn, Gardiner and th 1st traded to get Luongo.

Agreed that schenn will be a beast some day and ESPECIALLY come playoff time. He will be a playoff guy to have on your team. I like that lineup of schultz and gardiner on same line. But basically it will come down to franson and gunner but franson makes the most sense to trade since we need some shut down guys and less defence that carries the puck or likes to get in on the action.
- Mapleleafs_91

OK, we need to sort out the defensive pairings, especially with which hand they shoot with.

Left handed Shots:

Phaneuf
Gunnerson
Liles
Gardiner

Right Shots:

Schenn
Komiserek
Franson
Schultz(if he signs)

OK, Phaneuf shoots left but plays the right side. So you need to keep Gunnerson

Gardiner plays the left side, so he pairs with Schultz.

Liles is a left shot, powerplay specialist. So who do you play with him? Komiserek? Maybe, Schenn? Maybe, my bet Franson. So you have two assets to deal.

Schenn might get you JVR, if the negotiations go properly. Komiserek? Maybe part of a salary dump in a larger trade. You might be able use a Franson and a forward, to move up in the draft, or grab a midlevel first rounder, after pick 15. Then there is Holzner. That gives you 3 options for trade bait. All I know is this;

First Defence:

Phaneuf - Gunnerson

Second Defence:

Schultz - Gardiner

After that, it's a free for all, with the chance to grab another pick or move up in the draft. One of MacArthur, Kadri, or Kulimen are trade bait to be used with one of our current defencemen.

Its not a burden... Gomez is a Burden... Leino is a burden.. Connolly is an inconvenience

As yu said it was 2 years, not 7
- mfreedman

Connolly is a transition.
Leafs need a front line center, there must be a couple available.

He trashes everyones comments saying we should build with the draft, that no player is available, that we should not trade our future away (which i agree), that we should not get bigger contracts but in reality we are NOT a rebuild team anymore. If we were a rebuild team, we wouldnt of got kessel. We wouldnt of signed tim connolly, we would of traded kulimen, mac, grabo for draft picks or prospects, etc etc. This is what separates us from rebuilding. We are a team that is rebuilding through trades, acquiring prospects and guys who can compete in the NHL, but at the same time.. remain competitive while acquiring youth.
- Mapleleafs_91

There are multiple ways to build a team, don't need to tell me that.

Connolly is a transition.
Leafs need a front line center, there must be a couple available.
- Scooby_Doo

Iunno, staal or Stasny would be great.

He trashes everyones comments saying we should build with the draft, that no player is available, that we should not trade our future away (which i agree), that we should not get bigger contracts but in reality we are NOT a rebuild team anymore. If we were a rebuild team, we wouldnt of got kessel. We wouldnt of signed tim connolly, we would of traded kulimen, mac, grabo for draft picks or prospects, etc etc. This is what separates us from rebuilding. We are a team that is rebuilding through trades, acquiring prospects and guys who can compete in the NHL, but at the same time.. remain competitive while acquiring youth.
- Mapleleafs_91

I gaurantee UG reads this and he goes into an epic rant for days, maybe weeks.

He's never going to forget you now.

OK, we need to sort out the defensive pairings, especially with which hand they shoot with.

Left handed Shots:

Phaneuf
Gunnerson
Liles
Gardiner

Right Shots:

Schenn
Komiserek
Franson
Schultz(if he signs)

OK, Phaneuf shoots left but plays the right side. So you need to keep Gunnerson

Gardiner plays the left side, so he pairs with Schultz.

Liles is a left shot, powerplay specialist. So who do you play with him? Komiserek? Maybe, Schenn? Maybe, my bet Franson. So you have two assets to deal.

Schenn might get you JVR, if the negotiations go properly. Komiserek? Maybe part of a salary dump in a larger trade. You might be able use a Franson and a forward, to move up in the draft, or grab a midlevel first rounder, after pick 15. Then there is Holzner. That gives you 3 options for trade bait. All I know is this;

First Defence:

Phaneuf - Gunnerson

Second Defence:

Schultz - Gardiner

After that, it's a free for all, with the chance to grab another pick or move up in the draft. One of MacArthur, Kadri, or Kulimen are trade bait to be used with one of our current defencemen.
- PrinceLH

Im really not down to trade schenn for JVR. JVR is the next gagne of edmonton, no thanks. Second i like your ideas but honestly phaneuf needs a kick in the ass, seriously what makes him think he can play right hand side if he can bomb his shot on the left side??? Does he not understand that he misses the net a billion times on the right SINCE HE SHOULD NOT BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE? Maybe if he was on his proper side, he would get more shots on net

Iunno, staal or Stasny would be great.
- yea-ok-buddy

Jordan is a second line center, StAstny could be a first with the right linemates.

Jordan is a second line center, StAstny could be a first with the right linemates.
- Scooby_Doo

Iunno man, with a system like Carlyles I think Staal could be a perfect center for Lupul and Kessel.

I gaurantee UG reads this and he goes into an epic rant for days, maybe weeks.

He's never going to forget you now.
- robin_steele264

I wouldn't even want to read it all. (frank) me that Bowman rant was just ridiculous, and to top it off he is ignoring me now, I feel like Pen15.

I gaurantee UG reads this and he goes into an epic rant for days, maybe weeks.

He's never going to forget you now.
- robin_steele264

He states good points but forgets brian burkes in charge and lets lay out this for him:

1) Burke likes big tough guys
2) Burke likes his americans
3) Burke wants to keep his job, so luongo very much might come to toronto
4) Burke is in a tough position drawn between trading our future or trading less valued assets to be competitive. So instead of acquiring a guy like getzlaf for example, stasny may be the better option with a bad contract but is still capable to be a 1st line center and could get him here cheaper than getzlaf.
5) You have to base things on what the GM is like, not what the obvious thing is to do since majority will leaf fans will soon enough commit suicide if we dont make the playoffs again which Burkes wants to do and UG simply stating we should lose every game and rebuild through the draft.

He states good points but forgets brian burkes in charge and lets lay out this for him:

1) Burke likes big tough guys
2) Burke likes his americans
3) Burke wants to keep his job, so luongo very much might come to toronto
4) Burke is in a tough position drawn between trading our future or trading less valued assets to be competitive. So instead of acquiring a guy like getzlaf for example, stasny may be the better option with a bad contract but is still capable to be a 1st line center and could get him here cheaper than getzlaf.
5) You have to base things on what the GM is like, not what the obvious thing is to do since majority will leaf fans will soon enough commit suicide if we dont make the playoffs again which Burkes wants to do and UG simply stating we should lose every game and rebuild through the draft.
- Mapleleafs_91

I dare you to come on tomorrow and spark a debate with UG.

He states good points but forgets brian burkes in charge and lets lay out this for him:

1) Burke likes big tough guys
2) Burke likes his americans
3) Burke wants to keep his job, so luongo very much might come to toronto
4) Burke is in a tough position drawn between trading our future or trading less valued assets to be competitive. So instead of acquiring a guy like getzlaf for example, stasny may be the better option with a bad contract but is still capable to be a 1st line center and could get him here cheaper than getzlaf.
5) You have to base things on what the GM is like, not what the obvious thing is to do since majority will leaf fans will soon enough commit suicide if we dont make the playoffs again which Burkes wants to do and UG simply stating we should lose every game and rebuild through the draft.
- Mapleleafs_91

Burke likes big tough guys but built a wimpy ass team.

Getzlaf and Stastny aren't even available it's hilarious how often they are brought up.

I dare you to come on tomorrow and spark a debate with UG.
- yea-ok-buddy

He's giving him so much ammo.

UG makes quite a bit of sense, but I do disagree with some of his idea's. He wants to trade down, in the draft and grab a second line centre in Faska. Why waste an opportunity to get a first line player, just so you can grab an extra second and third round pick? On average, only about half of the second round players ever get to play in an NHL game, third rounders, less than 10 percent. So the chances of getting anything more than a 3rd or 4th line plug, with the extra draft picks are a waste. There are all kinds of those kind of players floating around. Since Detroit showed the way, on how to use later round picks, the pool of useful later round one's have diminished.

What really needs to happen, and UG needs to get his head around it, is the need to move assets, to get into the top 2 of this draft and get a first line centre. We have to bi-pass the defencemen available and grab a forward. Only two seem to stand out, right now. Yakapov and Galenchyuk. Galenchyuk should be the target. Trade a Gunnerson and a Kadri, in addition with number 5, if you must, to get that piece of the puzzle. Use our second rounder and grab a Subban, as a future goaltending prospect. Use this draft, to get the pieces that we need to succeed. UG's plan just trashes this draft and sets us back a year in the rebuild. We don't have to start it next year, by tanking, we have the assets to get what we need this year, then add next year. UG needs to look and understand that we can't stay bad forever. That is a better plan, then grabbing more second and third line talent, that we already have on the Marlies.

Jordan is a second line center, StAstny could be a first with the right linemates.
- Scooby_Doo

I agree.

I dare you to come on tomorrow and spark a debate with UG.
- yea-ok-buddy

We already have debates, he outlines just obvious points.

1) Lose every game, draft 1st overall in draft
2) Dont acquire big old guys like luongo, keep scrivens and reimer who are a BIG ? still unproven just like john bernier, and lindback.

3) Dont trade our future away for nash or anyone, keep the future
4) Trade older guys like liles, grabo, kulimen, phaneuf, mac, lupul, etc for draft picks prospects, or young players
5) only thing he agreed with me was to make a trade for chris stewart and the acquirment of justin schultz to our group

I agree.
- jbold

I disagree I think Staals style of play would compliment Kessel and Lupul better.

Burke likes big tough guys but built a wimpy ass team.

Getzlaf and Stastny aren't even available it's hilarious how often they are brought up.
- robin_steele264

So basically your saying every single EDIT: capable 1ST LINE centerman in this league is unavailable.

He states good points but forgets brian burkes in charge and lets lay out this for him:

1) Burke likes big tough guys
2) Burke likes his americans
3) Burke wants to keep his job, so luongo very much might come to toronto
4) Burke is in a tough position drawn between trading our future or trading less valued assets to be competitive. So instead of acquiring a guy like getzlaf for example, stasny may be the better option with a bad contract but is still capable to be a 1st line center and could get him here cheaper than getzlaf.
5) You have to base things on what the GM is like, not what the obvious thing is to do since majority will leaf fans will soon enough commit suicide if we dont make the playoffs again which Burkes wants to do and UG simply stating we should lose every game and rebuild through the draft.
- Mapleleafs_91

It's got to be looked at differently than this. It's not just good enough, to get into the playoffs. We need to be able to win, once we get there. A Getzlaf gives you that, where a Stastny only gets you there. Loungo doesn't win you playoff games, but someone else might. We need to start thinking about winning playoff games, not just getting there. I would rather miss the playoffs for another year, with a chance to actually make some noise, when we get there. Now I would trade Grabovski even up for Stastny, because I think that he's more talented and can deal the puck to our top shooters. Grabovski is a shooter and not a passer. We could always fill with Bozak or a rejuvinated Connolly......yes, the same one who needs to be better to get a contract, somewhere, next year at this time.

Lets go through a list of centermans that could be available or just a rumour

1) Jordan Staal - could be available though i say he resigns in with pitsburgh with a 1-1.5 million increase.

2) Marleau- is old

3) Thorton- is old

4) Getzlaf- UFA at the end of the next season, could be traded during the upcoming season or RESIGNED since the ducks have so MUCH MONEY to resign both perry and getz

5) Stasny- bad contract, could be available since o'rielly and duchene are on the rise and will get paid a decent amount of money this summer

6) Eric staal- will not be traded

5) Stasny- bad contract, could be available since o'rielly and duchene are on the rise and will get paid a decent amount of money this summer
- Mapleleafs_91

2 more years at 6.6m, don't see how that's bad, especially since we know he can produce...

Lets go through a list of centermans that could be available or just a rumour

1) Jordan Staal - could be available though i say he resigns in with pitsburgh with a 1-1.5 million increase.

2) Marleau- is old

3) Thorton- is old

4) Getzlaf- UFA at the end of the next season, could be traded during the upcoming season or RESIGNED since the ducks have so MUCH MONEY to resign both perry and getz

5) Stasny- bad contract, could be available since o'rielly and duchene are on the rise and will get paid a decent amount of money this summer

6) Eric staal- will not be traded
- Mapleleafs_91

So knowing this, we should be trading up in the draft. There is no quick fix for the first line centre position. At least there is some options for another goalie, eventhough, I think that we don't really need to go in that direction. I think another opportunity needs to be given to our two young goalies. Loungo is a waste!