sure, then why the worry?
- burn

Lol.. Not worried...I must of mis spoke.. It was just more of my empty headed pondering

He's grown up, live in the now.
- Leafland

Can you tell him I said "hey".... just next time you see him is fine... dont go out of your way.

Lupul is a real solid hockey player (aside from his ongoing injury battles) and seems like a real sweet dude... but in no way... would I want him being a captain of any team!
- kneughter

Assistant Captain?

Can you tell him I said "hey".... just next time you see him is fine... dont go out of your way.
- kneughter

Goooooood joooooooob

I'm personally talking about the 7mill + guys when I'm talking upper echelon.. Kessel has to prove himself more in the next couple years before I say he's deserving of that kind of dough
- Dozzer

I guess I'm old fashioned. I still think $6m is a lot of money.

I wonder what the salary averages for the uper echelon guys were when Kessel signed his deal.

Do you think that Kessel will be an easy signing at the end of his deal?

I just look at our top 6 wingers (first three lines) right now: Kessel,Lupul,JVR,Kulemin,Frattin,Mac. Burke isn't even done acquiring people. It's also possible guys like Connoly or Lombardi are in the lineup as wingers. Does Kadri stand a chance in hell at making the team? Which of those top wingers are going to sit if he destroys in training camp? As I said, depth is nice. But I honestly think this is getting stupid.
- dionschenn

Kadri will get ice time just like Gardiner got it. I think it's great. We've never had depth before like this, it also makes guys work much harder to keep their spot. If Lombardi is playing better than Kadri or Frattin than those kids need to work harder. Lombardi knows those kids want his minutes badly so he's going to have to start earning that 3.5mil contract.

Of course... I'll send it Overnight delivery... is it easier to just send it to Brian Burkes house and have you pick it up there?
- kneughter

Yeah, I'm there all the time.... I'll grab it next time I'm there. Should be there by Wed?

Assistant Captain?



- burn

Of course I would let him assist a captain....

I guess I'm old fashioned. I still think $6m is a lot of money.

I wonder what the salary averages for the uper echelon guys were when Kessel signed his deal.

Do you think that Kessel will be an easy signing at the end of his deal?
- bloatedmosquito

I think it will seriously depend on what happens this year and next.. Notable progress forward yes.. Slide back or stay put.. No

Kadri will get ice time just like Gardiner got it. I think it's great. We've never had depth before like this, it also makes guys work much harder to keep their spot. If Lombardi is playing better than Kadri or Frattin than those kids need to work harder. Lombardi knows those kids want his minutes badly so he's going to have to start earning that 3.5mil contract.
- Boosinicka

That didn't answer my question of which winger will sit. Lombardi wasn't one of them. The problem is that in a cap system, you cannot spend your money on depth. Your money needs to go to your core of great players, then the rest of the positions are guys battling for spots. The Leafs on the other hand had guys like Komi, Armstrong, Lombardi in the press box last year. Right now, when people make Leaf lines, Komi,Lombardi, and Connolly are sitting. Thats 12.75 mil in the press box. Smart way to spend? No. I think the depth is getting stupid.

Of course I would let him assist a captain....


- kneughter

Buffalo hates him, makes me like him so much more!!

He's paid like a star, yes, like the star of our team, but to me a superstar is a player who'd be a star on any team. I don't see Kessel that way and reserve that for players like Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos, Ovy, etc.
- gravyface

Tell him that.

Boston agrees with you fully.

In fairness he's still getting better.. Would like to see a little more 'never give up' in his game personally.

He's a sniper (with underrated passing in fairness).. And to pay 7mill for a sniper he better be potting 40 per.

He's getting to the age where he is going to define himself.. Will he be another 30goal sniper or will he step up to the next level? Could go either way I think
- Dozzer

I think if he had a center who could pot his passes he would be a 90-100 point guy. But we've all had that assessment. But few players have done what Kessel has done in the past 4 years, and if you look at those other players contracts (Iginla, Nash) they are all 7mil+

Kadri will get ice time just like Gardiner got it. I think it's great. We've never had depth before like this, it also makes guys work much harder to keep their spot. If Lombardi is playing better than Kadri or Frattin than those kids need to work harder. Lombardi knows those kids want his minutes badly so he's going to have to start earning that 3.5mil contract.
- Boosinicka

I'm still of the thinking that it's now or never for Kadri to make this team. Nobody's questioning his skill. It's just that, with this team, you really should have figured out how to at least stick around while RW was here.

What makes us think his task is any easier under RC?

I think if he had a center who could pot his passes he would be a 90-100 point guy. But we've all had that assessment. But few players have done what Kessel has done in the past 4 years, and if you look at those other players contracts (Iginla, Nash) they are all 7mil+
- Boosinicka

Kessel needs to learn how to score on a breakaway everynow and then. He might break 40 if he does.

Kessel needs to learn how to score on a breakaway everynow and then. He might break 40 if he does.
- Leafland

He needs Kadri to teach him how to deke.

I think if he had a center who could pot his passes he would be a 90-100 point guy. But we've all had that assessment. But few players have done what Kessel has done in the past 4 years, and if you look at those other players contracts (Iginla, Nash) they are all 7mil+
- Boosinicka

Yeah but but but... I'm demanding lol

Kadri will get ice time just like Gardiner got it. I think it's great. We've never had depth before like this, it also makes guys work much harder to keep their spot. If Lombardi is playing better than Kadri or Frattin than those kids need to work harder. Lombardi knows those kids want his minutes badly so he's going to have to start earning that 3.5mil contract.
- Boosinicka

Dude.... Lombo won't be playing with the Leafs

He needs Kadri to teach him how to deke.
- Timeforsoup

Oh yeah, Kadri the shootout specialist. In 30 years from now, people will be looking back on Kadri being picked, a pioneer to the game, drafted and put in the lineup merely incase the game went to a shootout. Burke the genius.

Oh yeah, Kadri the shootout specialist. In 30 years from now, people will be looking back on Kadri being picked, a pioneer to the game, drafted merely incase the game went to a shootout. Burke the genius.
- Leafland

MEEEOOOOWWWWWWWWW

Oh yeah, Kadri the shootout specialist. In 30 years from now, people will be looking back on Kadri being picked, a pioneer to the game, drafted and put in the lineup merely incase the game went to a shootout. Burke the genius.
- Leafland

Kadri is 21 years old. Relax.

MEEEOOOOWWWWWWWWW
- Timeforsoup

thank you.. I wasn't sure how to address that

Tell him that.

Boston agrees with you fully.
- bloatedmosquito

This doesn't even make sense.

He needs Kadri to teach him how to deke.
- Timeforsoup

But if Kessel deke's he won't have a defender's legs to mask his shot behind.

That's half the trick for Phil

He needs Kadri to teach him how to deke.
- Timeforsoup

But if Kessel deke's he won't have a defender's legs to mask his shot behind.

That's half the trick for Phil