Id take a gamble on dubinsky surely, could reach 60 pts with kessel and lupul, big body centerman, american, 20+ goal
Guy, and if given top minutes would probably produce with kessel and lupul
- Mapleleafs_91

I don't what the love for Dubinsky stems from. Did you watch any of the recent playoff... trading Bozak for Dubinsky would be bad in so many ways:
1) CAP impact - Bozak +
2) #1 Center capability - Bozak + we know Bozak can play with Kessel... Dubinsky never was the #1 in New York
3) Physicality - Dubinsky +
4) Citizenship - Bozak + (enough Americans already)

Listening to For Today's new album, so far so good man!

There style a reminds me a bit of A Day To Remember.

So you're in favor of stacking one position and leaving other key positions lacking? I mean, sure I guess that's worked for...well, no team...ever. But I guess that's one way to go.
- deerow84

No ... There where a few things u said that where stupid


First trading schenn and aulie for meh players ... Wrong

Jvr has a much higher celing then schenn this was a good trade by burke

The aulie deal was a bit off but the leafs needed size up front and as u have pointed out they have depth at d so it made some sense


Next: the reason Burke didn't pick a 1 centre in the draft is because there was only one and he was gone


And this picking for needs instead of the best player is a good way to lose you're job .... You take the best player then sort out you're needs once you have taken the best players

OK, BL, be prepared for another rant. Although this one isn't quite so white-hot angry.

Leafs fans seem to think that the Toskala/Blake for Giggy trade was a hands-down win for the Leafs.

The truth was, it was a pretty good trade for both teams, and the Ducks may have actually won it.

First off, throw out Toskala. He never played a single minute as a Duck, and they flipped him to Calgary for a ham sandwich.

So the Ducks took our problem: Jason Blake. $4 million cap hit, but the Ducks never had cap problems, so it's moot. Two years at $3 million in actual salary, plus the remainder of the 2009-10 season. And his numbers weren't spectacular, but they weren't that bad either for a guy making $3 million a year. Cut him some slack for getting injured this year (he was terrible after that).

And we got Giggy. Great that he started his Leafs career with two shut-outs, but he really wasn't very good after that. Maybe you can make the case that he was half decent in 2009-10, but wow was he ever terrible in 2010-11 - especially when they paid him $7 million.

So the Ducks got Jason Blake for 2.5 seasons of meh hockey, and paid less money than if they had kept Giggy for 1.5 seasons.

Sorry, Leafs Nation, but I think the Ducks won that trade.
- Atomic Wedgie

you're missing the point - They were players Leafs HAD to get off the roster, and everyone said would NEVER be traded and we were stuck with - and they were traded.

Can't throw out Toskala, because that was a large point of the trade - he was a terrible mentor. Giggy was better than Toskala would have been. Low bar I know, but he was... Wasn't a home run win, but it was. CLeared roster spots and contract/term, in return got 1 yr of Giggy then boom, gone.

I'm not saying we're trading Komi for Tavares. But there is always a market for somebody, somewhere.

Listening to For Today's new album, so far so good man!

There style a reminds me a bit of A Day To Remember.
- wolfos412

Listen to songs like Fearless and such. Gets me ready for war.

you're missing the point - They were players Leafs HAD to get off the roster, and everyone said would NEVER be traded and we were stuck with - and they were traded.

Can't throw out Toskala, because that was a large point of the trade - he was a terrible mentor. Giggy was better than Toskala would have been. Low bar I know, but he was... Wasn't a home run win, but it was. CLeared roster spots and contract/term, in return got 1 yr of Giggy then boom, gone.

I'm not saying we're trading Komi for Tavares. But there is always a market for somebody, somewhere.
- Big_Lightnin

But if we do trade Komi, it will just be for someone else's problem.

Think Redden would look good in a Leafs uniform?

Of course, if we package him up for Luongo, forget everything I just typed.

Please, God.

Please.

I don't what the love for Dubinsky stems from. Did you watch any of the recent playoff... trading Bozak for Dubinsky would be bad in so many ways:
1) CAP impact - Bozak +
2) #1 Center capability - Bozak + we know Bozak can play with Kessel... Dubinsky never was the #1 in New York
3) Physicality - Dubinsky +
4) Citizenship - Bozak + (enough Americans already)
- BorjeFan4Ever

Well think about it, whos there really to acquire? Only guys i can see available at center is stasny, getzlaf(if ducks dont resign him), dubinsky, berglund, or even bobby ryan if he would make the transition... which are either rumours or possibilities the leafs can work with, all other centerman are basically locked in for their teams and most likely are not going anywhere or being traded.

Listen to songs like Fearless and such. Gets me ready for war.
- Brian Huddle

I don't know if you have listened to Gojira before at all, but there a different style of heavy music. I am all about them right now, their last cd called 'The way of all flesh." was incredible. Soooo good, and a huge sound, amazing guitar work and best part of all the way the vocalist sounds on the record is exactly the way he sounds live it's nuts. The song Vacuity sounds like an entire army marching to war. They may sound a bit darker but most of there songs are about the earth and how were ruining it and better stop or were (frank)ed.

Oh and p.s. Only the first song reminded me of A day to remember next one... not so much. These guys are a good blend of , A day to remember, August Burns Red, Oh, Sleeper etc...

Siegel:'Very apparent why Leafs were so high on Morgan Rielly. The best player by far during an intra-squad prospect game.'

Yeah, because taking the best player available has worked out soooo well for us.

I respect that you have a different approach and that's fine, I just disagree. I'm not saying draft a poopty centre because you need a centre or if you need a keeper draft him first overall even if he shouldn't go until the middle of the second round. But it's pretty clear to me that the best way to build a team is through the draft and one of the keys to any franchise success is a first line centre, first line centres are hard to trade for and even harder to sign in free agency (see: Richards, Brad). Therefore the obvious connection is to draft your first line centre. It frustrates me that for years they have neglected the position and now are playing the "well we're trying but nobody is available" game. Obviously, because other teams were smart enough to draft them and lock them up long term!

So now we're in a no-mans land. We have a pile of defenders, most of whom are going to be in the minors for at least two more years and no centres and even if we draft a centre unless he's a first overall pick odds are he won't be ready for a few years. So we have to trade for one, likely using some of these piles of defenders...but nobody is trading their #1 centres. So now what?
- deerow84

I think it would help if you actually took a look at the Leafs drafting the last 15 years or so.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00008490.html

Particularily in the late 90's/early 00's they were drafting a lot of C's - they just all stank.

more recently they have only had a couple of premium picks - two 5th's and a 7th overall in the last, and there were no #1C's taken after those picks by anyone - maybe you could say Eberle, but even that's a stretch, and nobody had Eberle as a top 10 pick on any list anywhere in his draft year.

show me the #1 Centre they've missed out on in any of the last 10 drafts, that wouldn't have been a complete "off the board" pick where the Leafs were picking.

It just isn't that easy. You take the best player available.


They just haven't been there.

But if we do trade Komi, it will just be for someone else's problem.

Think Redden would look good in a Leafs uniform?

Of course, if we package him up for Luongo, forget everything I just typed.

Please, God.

Please.
- Atomic Wedgie

ya but if he's traded for a problem that doesn't have a NMC, or has only 1 year left instead of 2, then it's less of a problem.

you're missing the point - They were players Leafs HAD to get off the roster, and everyone said would NEVER be traded and we were stuck with - and they were traded.

Can't throw out Toskala, because that was a large point of the trade - he was a terrible mentor. Giggy was better than Toskala would have been. Low bar I know, but he was... Wasn't a home run win, but it was. CLeared roster spots and contract/term, in return got 1 yr of Giggy then boom, gone.

I'm not saying we're trading Komi for Tavares. But there is always a market for somebody, somewhere.
- Big_Lightnin

Maybe, but i don't think we will win the trade, or get anything significant the no movement clause is still there too, So i think it is impossible to send him to the Minors. If i were a GM, and needed cap floor, i would rather overpay a useful player than save one million by having Komi keep the bench warm.

Anyone know if there is a feed tot he Leafs prospect camp going on now? Or if there is a video from yesterday posted anywhere? Wanna see how some of them look.

No ... There where a few things u said that where stupid


First trading schenn and aulie for meh players ... Wrong

Jvr has a much higher celing then schenn this was a good trade by burke
- The_Vark

That's purely your opinion, that's fine and I'm not saying you are wrong (because nobody's opinion is "wrong") but it's not a clear cut slam dunk awesome trade that everyone agrees Burke won hands down. For example: I don't hear Flyers fans freaking out about it. It's going to be more of a restrospective thing years down the road, my personal belief is we'll look back and regret it.

The aulie deal was a bit off but the leafs needed size up front and as u have pointed out they have depth at d so it made some sense

They only have depth at d because they have neglected drafting forwards. Plus, Aulie is an NHLer and Ashton isn't. Pretty clear who wins in a deal when one guy isn't in the big leagues at least for the time being.

Next: the reason Burke didn't pick a 1 centre in the draft is because there was only one and he was gone

That's fine for this draft but what about all the other drafts previous? As I've said previously, this isn't a critique of one draft but how they have built the team in general. They neglected arguably the most important position in the sport and have built up a huge backlog of dmen to the point where even if all of them are NHL capable we won't be able to play them all anyway.

And this picking for needs instead of the best player is a good way to lose you're job .... You take the best player then sort out you're needs once you have taken the best players

Really? Name a GM who was fired for drafting for positional need? Obviously if he had Stamkos available and he goes way off the board and picks a defensive shutdown centre who was projected to go in the third round that's a problem, but that's not what I'm advocating. As someone else pointed out: Penguins drafted MAF first overall because they needed a goalie, he was definitely not the best player available at that spot, that seemed to work out pretty good for them. Leafs have known they were going to need a first line centre before Sundin left and haven't shored up the position since, that reflects poorly on them, IMO.

Hey Huds,
You hear Trouba got offered a nice package to head to Kitchener? If he skips out on Michigan for Kitchener, that'd be a huge move for the OHL. It'd also help out Puempel get back on track along with your boy Faksa. Rangers could be tough with a duo of Trouba and Murphy blasting away from the point.

Hey Huds,
You hear Trouba got offered a nice package to head to Kitchener? If he skips out on Michigan for Kitchener, that'd be a huge move for the OHL. It'd also help out Puempel get back on track along with your boy Faksa. Rangers could be tough with a duo of Trouba and Murphy blasting away from the point.
- Lohaus

Yea, I read the piece this morning. First time I've seen someone put a name and number on paper and accuse a CHL team. Will be interesting to see the fallout.

I had heard around the draft that Trouba was likely Kitchener-bound, though. They could be a solid team next year. Will be glad to see Faksa get 1C min next year and have a good shooter playing shotgun for him. He'll prove the doubters wrong.

I think UG is back

Well think about it, whos there really to acquire? Only guys i can see available at center is stasny, getzlaf(if ducks dont resign him), dubinsky, berglund, or even bobby ryan if he would make the transition... which are either rumours or possibilities the leafs can work with, all other centerman are basically locked in for their teams and most likely are not going anywhere or being traded.
- Mapleleafs_91

If the ducks don't keep their big line together they're beyond stupid, unless of course they get the kings ransom they would want for either two of those players.

You're absolutely right too. There just are not a lot available at center right now, unless you are willing to overpay, pick up a really bad contract, or roll the dice on someone. If you want to look back at previous mistakes you could probably say we should have offered more for Kyle Turris, or the previous year, when everyone said we could land Weiss.

Right now stastny might be available but we would have to overpay!
given the fact we have question marks everywhere except right wing, I wouldn't mind standing pat and seeing if the current group can get the job done. If not, we could get better return deadline day and next years draft looks sick!

That's purely your opinion, that's fine and I'm not saying you are wrong (because nobody's opinion is "wrong") but it's not a clear cut slam dunk awesome trade that everyone agrees Burke won hands down. For example: I don't hear Flyers fans freaking out about it. It's going to be more of a restrospective thing years down the road, my personal belief is we'll look back and regret it.

.
- deerow84

Flyers have more depth at forward than the Leafs. But a lot of flyers fans were pissed they didn't get more than just Schenn for JVR...

Flyers have more depth at forward than the Leafs. But a lot of flyers fans were pissed they didn't get more than just Schenn for JVR...
- Big_Lightnin

I was also suprised it was a 1 for 1

Anyone know if there is a feed tot he Leafs prospect camp going on now? Or if there is a video from yesterday posted anywhere? Wanna see how some of them look.
- mfreedman

doesn;t seem to be. LEafsTV might recap it later in the day or repackage it next week. haven't found anything yet.

Yea, I read the piece this morning. First time I've seen someone put a name and number on paper and accuse a CHL team. Will be interesting to see the fallout.

I had heard around the draft that Trouba was likely Kitchener-bound, though. They could be a solid team next year. Will be glad to see Faksa get 1C min next year and have a good shooter playing shotgun for him. He'll prove the doubters wrong.
- Brian Huddle

Hopefully for Puempel, he stays healthy this year. A lot of talent on that Rangers team and if he finds a way to play 90% or more games, he could easily pot 40-45 this year. You'll get to see a lot more over-celebrations of goals then!

I think it would help if you actually took a look at the Leafs drafting the last 15 years or so.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00008490.html

Particularily in the late 90's/early 00's they were drafting a lot of C's - they just all stank.

more recently they have only had a couple of premium picks - two 5th's and a 7th overall in the last, and there were no #1C's taken after those picks by anyone - maybe you could say Eberle, but even that's a stretch, and nobody had Eberle as a top 10 pick on any list anywhere in his draft year.

show me the #1 Centre they've missed out on in any of the last 10 drafts, that wouldn't have been a complete "off the board" pick where the Leafs were picking.

It just isn't that easy. You take the best player available.


They just haven't been there.
- Big_Lightnin

That's probably something else I should have mentioned: I was pro tanking for the last few years. Had we done it when we should have we could have been in a position to draft or trade up to draft any of: B. Schenn, Kane, Duchene, Tavares (trade up long shot), Seguin (obviously), Skinner, there were a few good ones in 2011 as well and this year Galchenyuk would have been available too.

Obviously couldn't have got all of them but even one or two of them would have been a massive improvement upon what we have at this time and what we drafted in those spots. I like L. Schenn but I'd much rather have Duchene and we actually were in position to draft him (hell, we were in position to draft Doughty) until they had a meaningless late season push.

Can anybody else not wait for Broll, Biggs, and Ross to be ready?

If the ducks don't keep their big line together they're beyond stupid, unless of course they get the kings ransom they would want for either two of those players.

You're absolutely right too. There just are not a lot available at center right now, unless you are willing to overpay, pick up a really bad contract, or roll the dice on someone. If you want to look back at previous mistakes you could probably say we should have offered more for Kyle Turris, or the previous year, when everyone said we could land Weiss.

Right now stastny might be available but we would have to overpay!
given the fact we have question marks everywhere except right wing, I wouldn't mind standing pat and seeing if the current group can get the job done. If not, we could get better return deadline day and next years draft looks sick!
- ky678468

Your right, if the ducks dont keep getzlaf and perry, there team is pretty much done. They need to keep those guys but i know bobby ryan is being traded for sure even though i doubt he would be traded to the leafs

Going on... Stasny if available and at the right price i would take? Maybe include some defenders for him, prospect, a forward? Not a big prospect though like a kadri or something. Remember stasny has a big contract and looks like a ribeiro type scenario he wont cost that much as people are saying but on the other hand the AVS dont have to trade him because they have so much money unless they acquire the "needs" of their team and thats probably on defence.

Dubinsky would be a good plug in for the leafs if they have absolutely no solutions for their number one center role, i personally think dubi is better than bozak. Hes 6'1 210 pounds big bodied guy who is fully capable of scoring 20 goals and reaching 50-60 pt season surely.

Patrick Berglund seems like a really streaky player and not consistent at all, i dont know what minutes hes given in st louis but seems to be hot and cold every other season... Hes a big bodied guy at 6'4 215 pounds, would you take the gamble on him?