nobody saying he will, but we sure as hell know Bozak won't. And as discussed, most of us would rather keep Kessel and Grabo on different lines (it's been discussed here on several occasions).

If there isn't another option brought in via trade, Colborne should absolutely get a look in preseason with Kessel and Lupul. Hell so should JVR.
- Big_Lightnin

What I'm saying is we're not going to get far unless we trade for or tank again this year and draft NMac. We aren't going anywhere without a bonafide #1C

I've been preaching this same bull poop for months now. Tank and draft our own franchise 1C - Nathan MacKinnon.
- Unholy_Forward

We're not good enough to tank properly...

I agree with you on that
- peddy-93

Number one centres are over rated. Yup,I said it. You need to have 2 high end offensive players on your first line, and I do not think it matters if they are both wingers. In fact, I would argue that if you have 2 great wingers and a defensive minded centre, you are fine.

This isnt to say that stocking your team down the middle is a bad idea, its not. Look at LA and PGH teams strong down the middle are hard to play against, but there are other ways to build a team.

Last year the Leafs sucked but it had nothing to do with not having a number one centre. Their top line was among the leagues highest scoring and had Lupul not been injured they would have had 2 of the top 5 scorers in the NHL.


My prediction is that the Leafs do not get a number one centre because the cost to reward ratio is negative value.
Take this to the bank friends, this, minus 2 mystery players, is the opening night roster.

Lupul-Van Riemsdyke - Kessel
____ - Grabovski - Kadri
Frattin - Bozak - Kulemin
Brown - McClement - ___

I've been preaching this same bull poop for months now. Tank and draft our own franchise 1C - Nathan MacKinnon.
- Unholy_Forward

We should have traded up in the draft and grabbed Galchenyuk, but oh no, we couldn't waste the assets. What assets? They're a bunch of B players, on the Leafs and Marlies. Another wasted year!

That might be overstating it. Grabo doesn't play with Lucic now does he... and doens't get #1 PP time.

the gap is not a large one.
- Big_Lightnin

I just think that Krejci is good all around and is considered a playmaker too. That's why I'd say he's better then Grabovski. Grabo is good though, don't get me wrong.

Bergeron and Krejci are two 1B centres IMO.
- Unholy_Forward

I don't think either is what we are talking about when we say "Legit #1C" especially in regards to the Leafs needs. Just my opion.

THere are legit #1 C, and then there are the guys playing #1 center because there isn't anyone better.

Only a matter of time before Seguin takes Krejci's minutes.

We're not good enough to tank properly...
- SofaKingBored

Thats such a bad idea. Our team is way to good to finish last and even if we did, we would lose the lottery. You want that pick? Target some teams right now who have a chance to be crappy and try to trade for their pick. ITs not gonna happen, but its better than tanking which is just discrespectul.

We're not bad enough to tank properly...
- SofaKingBored

Fixed.

That might be overstating it. Grabo doesn't play with Lucic now does he... and doens't get #1 PP time.

the gap is not a large one.
- Big_Lightnin

60 pt winger oooh Grabo did so much to help kuli's production right year right, oh and those 23 pts in 25gms in their cup run doesn't help his case either right?

Number one centres are over rated. Yup,I said it. You need to have 2 high end offensive players on your first line, and I do not think it matters if they are both wingers. In fact, I would argue that if you have 2 great wingers and a defensive minded centre, you are fine.

This isnt to say that stocking your team down the middle is a bad idea, its not. Look at LA and PGH teams strong down the middle are hard to play against, but there are other ways to build a team.

Last year the Leafs sucked but it had nothing to do with not having a number one centre. Their top line was among the leagues highest scoring and had Lupul not been injured they would have had 2 of the top 5 scorers in the NHL.


My prediction is that the Leafs do not get a number one centre because the cost to reward ratio is negative value.
Take this to the bank friends, this, minus 2 mystery players, is the opening night roster.

Lupul-Van Riemsdyke - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - Kadri
D'Amigo - Bozak - Frattin
Brown - McClement - Komarov
- Jimmy_T

Fixed

I just think that Krejci is good all around and is considered a playmaker too. That's why I'd say he's better then Grabovski. Grabo is good though, don't get me wrong.
- Unholy_Forward

ya I was just taking issue with the "way better."

I'd say the're pretty close, but give the edge to Krecji.

Also - take a look at Grabo's +/- year in and year out, and consider the team he's on.

I don't think either is what we are talking about when we say "Legit #1C" especially in regards to the Leafs needs. Just my opion.

THere are legit #1 C, and then there are the guys playing #1 center because there isn't anyone better.

Only a matter of time before Seguin takes Krejci's minutes.



- Big_Lightnin

I have a feeling Seguin isn't going to be used as a C. He's been used as a wing the past two years for the Bruins.

I don't think either is what we are talking about when we say "Legit #1C" especially in regards to the Leafs needs. Just my opion.

THere are legit #1 C, and then there are the guys playing #1 center because there isn't anyone better.

Only a matter of time before Seguin takes Krejci's minutes.



- Big_Lightnin

You do know Seguin is mostly playing wing right

nobody saying he will, but we sure as hell know Bozak won't. And as discussed, most of us would rather keep Kessel and Grabo on different lines (it's been discussed here on several occasions).

If there isn't another option brought in via trade, Colborne should absolutely get a look in preseason with Kessel and Lupul. Hell so should JVR.
- Big_Lightnin

Bozak has gotten better every single year hes been in the league. He is massively underrated. Plus, JVR is gonna play centre. Also, I think Colbourne needs another year in the minors.

You two must be brothers, or something. Can't believe that your both so off track, on this team. After 4 years of Burke, this team is a disgrace. We just sit idly by and watch other teams bolster their roster. Burke b!tches about the price being too steep to grab a UFA. We could have used Hudler, so why could we have not made that deal? If Burke's attitude is to pass, because he deems the market value on 95% of the UFA's are too high, then maybe the fans should deem that ticket prices at the ACC are too high and refuse to pay them too!
- PrinceLH

It takes time to rebuild a team, burke got rid of practically everyone and we have a new team what more do you want hes trying his best, at least hes been dominating the trades hes been doing. Hudler is a good player but hes a mere 50 pt guy and we have guys like that in macarthur, grabo, kulemin, etc. He got paid 4.5 milion dollars you do know that right? Plus i dont think hes a center is he? I thought he played the wing on detroit?

Baring one of Burkes miracle trades, we better get used to 15th place in the east. I honestly don't see this team as any better than the rest of the non playoff teams this year. Montreal, Carolina, Buffalo, New York Islanders, Tampa, Winnipeg have all gotten better. Can anyone truthfully say that we got better? What were our biggest holes last year? Number 1 centre and in goal. Did we do anything to plug those holes? No! We just added another plug, from Colorado and swapped one headache for another, in the Schenn/JVR deal. I hate to blunt the hopes and dreams of my fellow Leafs Nation compadre's, but it isn't happening this year. Best we forget about Luongo and just play the roster that we currently have. Looking out west, only Columbus looks worse, so we will be in the top 3 next year, in the draft..........book it!
- PrinceLH

It's July 3rd.... we have no idea how teams are going to look in september...

Montreal - Armstrong and Prust will be good additions to the the 4th line.. if Army can stay healthy.

Carolina - Added Jordan Staal. Improved Greatly, agreed

Buffalo - Traded away a top 6 center who had 1 down year for a 3rd line grinder. As of right now, i'd say they got worse....

Islanders - Added Vishnovsky.... doesn't make a difference...

Tampa - Added Lindback... if he preforms then yeah, but he's a question mark

Winnipeg - Added Jokinen and Poni.... far from substantial, both COULD be good additions.... depends on what version of them go to winnipeg

Point is, it's July 3rd at 1AM.... you can't say if a team improved until all the dust is settled and the pre-season roles around. Heck by 1pm tommorow, we could say that the Leafs will make the playoffs after getting that #1 center (not going to but whatever)

Baring one of Burkes miracle trades, we better get used to 15th place in the east. I honestly don't see this team as any better than the rest of the non playoff teams this year. Montreal, Carolina, Buffalo, New York Islanders, Tampa, Winnipeg have all gotten better. Can anyone truthfully say that we got better? What were our biggest holes last year? Number 1 centre and in goal. Did we do anything to plug those holes? No! We just added another plug, from Colorado and swapped one headache for another, in the Schenn/JVR deal. I hate to blunt the hopes and dreams of my fellow Leafs Nation compadre's, but it isn't happening this year. Best we forget about Luongo and just play the roster that we currently have. Looking out west, only Columbus looks worse, so we will be in the top 3 next year, in the draft..........book it!
- PrinceLH

Um.. how quickly people forget. You forgot the move that made this team better by a large margin. The firing of Ron Wilson. This team HAS gotten better, and it sounds like Burke has another trade or two on the go. Our PK was horrid and that was a bigger flaw than a 1C. With Carlyle and McClement, that just got way better. See? improvement. And what have we lost? Armstrong? he never played anyway. Schenn? replacable, and we upgraded our forward position with him with much better upside. Just because 1 specific spot wasn't addressed (and still could be) you can't deny the improvements everywhere else. And therefore, our team has gotten better.

Thats such a bad idea. Our team is way to good to finish last and even if we did, we would lose the lottery. You want that pick? Target some teams right now who have a chance to be crappy and try to trade for their pick. ITs not gonna happen, but its better than tanking which is just discrespectul.
- Jimmy_T

Are you fukcing kidding me? We are probably destined to be last in the conference, the way we sit today. Burke and his acolytes keep saying that we're going to get better through the trade market. Trade what? We don't have the greatest assets to deal with. We're short on A level prospects. We have 3 roster spots being held by deadwood. How is this team such a great team? We are going to finish 15th in the east, get used to it!

60 pt winger oooh Grabo did so much to help kuli's production right year right, oh and those 23 pts in 25gms in their cup run doesn't help his case either right?
- kovalchukTML

read my post again smartass... what did I say?


Oh, and check Kuli's shooting % if you want to go that route - not Grabo's fault Kuli couldn't cash last year. 3x bette the year he got 30g

Number one centres are over rated. Yup,I said it. You need to have 2 high end offensive players on your first line, and I do not think it matters if they are both wingers. In fact, I would argue that if you have 2 great wingers and a defensive minded centre, you are fine.

This isnt to say that stocking your team down the middle is a bad idea, its not. Look at LA and PGH teams strong down the middle are hard to play against, but there are other ways to build a team.

Last year the Leafs sucked but it had nothing to do with not having a number one centre. Their top line was among the leagues highest scoring and had Lupul not been injured they would have had 2 of the top 5 scorers in the NHL.


My prediction is that the Leafs do not get a number one centre because the cost to reward ratio is negative value.
Take this to the bank friends, this, minus 2 mystery players, is the opening night roster.

Lupul-Van Riemsdyke - Kessel
__Stewart__ - Grabovski - Kadri
Frattin - Bozak - Kulemin
Brown - Steckel - __Mcclement_
- Jimmy_T

FIXED***, trade macarthur+ for stewart

You do know Seguin is mostly playing wing right
- kovalchukTML

let me know where he plays next year

We should have traded up in the draft and grabbed Galchenyuk, but oh no, we couldn't waste the assets. What assets? They're a bunch of B players, on the Leafs and Marlies. Another wasted year!
- PrinceLH

Well we'd have to wait another year for Galchenyuk while we would have a chance a young franchise center this year, galchenyuk will be good but Mackinnon will be Crosby

Are you fukcing kidding me? We are probably destined to be last in the conference, the way we sit today. Burke and his acolytes keep saying that we're going to get better through the trade market. Trade what? We don't have the greatest assets to deal with. We're short on A level prospects. We have 3 roster spots being held by deadwood. How is this team such a great team? We are going to finish 15th in the east, get used to it!
- PrinceLH

And how is this burkes fault if we dont have assets? Do we have a large pool of prospects? Or for the past years have we missed the draft like a billion times to draft 1st rounders hmmm? Thats bad management way before burke and stupid scouts we have that are (frank)ing morons who dont know how to select good players;.

Are you fukcing kidding me? We are probably destined to be last in the conference, the way we sit today. Burke and his acolytes keep saying that we're going to get better through the trade market. Trade what? We don't have the greatest assets to deal with. We're short on A level prospects. We have 3 roster spots being held by deadwood. How is this team such a great team? We are going to finish 15th in the east, get used to it!
- PrinceLH

I used to attack these posts with a terrible vengence, using logic, statistics, common sense etc.

Now I know there is no use. To certain fans, Burke is a loudmouthed idiot who has no clue what he is doing and it doesnt matter if he magically trades defensive defensmen for players who have 100 point potential fifty times over, they wont change their mind.

Well we'd have to wait another year for Galchenyuk while we would have a chance a young franchise center this year, galchenyuk will be good but Mackinnon will be Crosby
- kovalchukTML

Burke should be smart and target teams 1st Rounder and when i mean teams, i mean the crap teams that will guarantee come in last so either way we get a chance at top 5