My point was, if he earns a spot but gets sent down due to contracts on the Leafs, he will not resign and ask to be traded, doesn't matter if the Leafs hold all the cards with him being RFA, it is a waste of an asset to sit, he makes it or gets dealt, imo.
- LeafMan

I believe that those veteran players with the big contracts will be shipped out long before Kadri, Burke has a lot invested in Kadri, especially now that Schenn is gone ( yes i know he was a Fletcher pick, still), i believe if he likes what he sees from him out of camp, then he will make a few moves, even if it means taking the worst of a trade or two to move them, to get Kadri in a position where he can succeed. At least it is how i see it happening. I doubt he moves Kadri unless he gets something back he really covets.

playoff gary roberts

thats what playoffs are all about.

id bet big gary has video's they must watch while they train, and its gary in playoff mode, eating people in the corner, burying himself infront of the net, and taking care of business.

all heart.
- big_dion

He was Sundin's favorite player to play with for a reason. I just wish he trained our entire team.

If you found a partner, Im sure Burke can as well
- Colin Dambrauskas

I think Danielle is waiting to see what the new buyout rules might be

I believe that those veteran players with the big contracts will be shipped out long before Kadri, Burke has a lot invested in Kadri, especially now that Schenn is gone ( yes i know he was a Fletcher pick, still), i believe if he likes what he sees from him out of camp, then he will make a few moves, even if it means taking the worst of a trade or two to move them, to get Kadri in a position where he can succeed. At least it is how i see it happening. I doubt he moves Kadri unless he gets something back he really covets.
- Prolific_Scorer

Which is what?...a goalie?

No joke the KHL would be salivating for the NHL to drop teams. That would bring a new market for players and help them expand further in Europe, they already have begun taking over Latvian/Belerussian/Czech/Slovak and such leagues with plans to merge with the German and Finnish league if they can.
- AdamFrench

It would still be great for the NHL, the players that water down this league would leave. KHL can have em.

I believe that those veteran players with the big contracts will be shipped out long before Kadri, Burke has a lot invested in Kadri, especially now that Schenn is gone ( yes i know he was a Fletcher pick, still), i believe if he likes what he sees from him out of camp, then he will make a few moves, even if it means taking the worst of a trade or two to move them, to get Kadri in a position where he can succeed. At least it is how i see it happening. I doubt he moves Kadri unless he gets something back he really covets.
- Prolific_Scorer

It is funny, a couple of years ago when Ottawa and Spezza sucked if we would have offered up Kadri and a roster player they probably would have bit.

I think Danielle is waiting to see what the new buyout rules might be
- Dozzer

Pretty sure the negotiations begin and end with your house on this one.

Which is what?...a goalie?
- celata29

Or a number 1 center.

Quebec, Toronto could easily support another in the area.

i also think Hamilton could have one too.
- big_dion

Hamilton could and Toronto could definitely have a 2nd team, but would someone want to go there and pay the fees for being so close to the Leafs? That's another issue with those markets.

But yes, they could support another one.

It would still be great for the NHL, the players that water down this league would leave. KHL can have em.
- Leafland

Isn't it better to market a better product then and leave markets that are struggling? Those markets would've already started to take hold if they were going to I feel like. They should take it as a win that some have and quit spending profits bailing out bankrupt teams. None of those teams are "too big to fail."

That's why I voted for Puttin
- AdamFrench

They let you vote??

Can the leafs trade Kulemin after they agreed to the arbitrator's ruling?


I know the leafs can walk away from it if they don't like the ruling.

No joke the KHL would be salivating for the NHL to drop teams. That would bring a new market for players and help them expand further in Europe, they already have begun taking over Latvian/Belerussian/Czech/Slovak and such leagues with plans to merge with the German and Finnish league if they can.
- AdamFrench

That also goes for if there's a lockout this year. An NHL lockout would be like striking oil for the KHL this coming season.

It is funny, a couple of years ago when Ottawa and Spezza sucked if we would have offered up Kadri and a roster player they probably would have bit.
- maverickJ

That and kaberle for Carter are the dumbest trades in recent history that the leafs didnt make.

Or a number 1 center.
- Prolific_Scorer

Uhhhhhh....how did I forget the number one center.

very, very true

He was the most fit player in the NHL, probably even when he left the league.
- maverickJ

Probably still IS

It would still be great for the NHL, the players that water down this league would leave. KHL can have em.
- Leafland

Think about it though, the salary cap means you can't have a team of superstars, there will be guys leaving. If you reduce the teams you need to up the cap by a lot otherwise the majority of 2nd line guys will bolt and the teams will look like

Superstar line
3rd line
3rd line
4th line

IT'S THE USSR ALL OVER AGAIN!
- Scabeh

The USSR of hockey.

The NHL would be superb if they dropped 5 teams, it's stupid to even talk about it though.
- Leafland

Al Strachan actually had an interesting theory.

The notion of a watered-down league is crap. The players are all better, stronger more skilled than ever before.

The problem with the league is there are no weak players anymore. So you can't take advantage of crap players. Everyone is so technically sound, and of course good defence can always trump good offence.

I can't say I disagree with this.

Take a look at film from the 1970s. The players are terrible. Some guys can't skate.

Yeah, equipment has made a difference. But still...

They let you vote??
- bixll

Not even joking...show up to the booths and they don't give a poop.

Hamilton could and Toronto could definitely have a 2nd team, but would someone want to go there and pay the fees for being so close to the Leafs? That's another issue with those markets.

But yes, they could support another one.
- Domaju

(frank)ing A right they would, and in a heartbeat. Six million or so rabid hockey fans and the ACC holds what twenty thousand and change? Even paying the leafs for extra fees wouldn't do them any harm, at all. Although a team in Hamilton might just cripple the Sabres. In Markham, not so much.

Think about it though, the salary cap means you can't have a team of superstars, there will be guys leaving. If you reduce the teams you need to up the cap by a lot otherwise the majority of 2nd line guys will bolt and the teams will look like

Superstar line
3rd line
3rd line
4th line
- AdamFrench

I'm kind of confused by your reasoning. Yeah you raise the cap a bit because all of these teams can compete, because they are in successful markets. Then you have

Superstar line
First Line
Second
Third

Al Strachan actually had an interesting theory.

The notion of a watered-down league is crap. The players are all better, stronger more skilled than ever before.

The problem with the league is there are no weak players anymore. So you can't take advantage of crap players. Everyone is so technically sound, and of course good defence can always trump good offence.

I can't say I disagree with this.

Take a look at film from the 1970s. The players are terrible. Some guys can't skate.

Yeah, equipment has made a difference. But still...
- Atomic Wedgie

Just look at the goaltending position. The progress made there is amazing compared to what it was only 20 years ago.

(frank)ing A right they would, and in a heartbeat. Six million or so rabid hockey fans and the ACC holds what twenty thousand and change? Even paying the leafs for extra fees wouldn't do them any harm, at all. Although a team in Hamilton might just cripple the Sabres. In Markham, not so much.
- Prolific_Scorer

18,800.

(frank)ing A right they would, and in a heartbeat. Six million or so rabid hockey fans and the ACC holds what twenty thousand and change? Even paying the leafs for extra fees wouldn't do them any harm, at all. Although a team in Hamilton might just cripple the Sabres. In Markham, not so much.
- Prolific_Scorer

who cares about the sabres. really.

sorry mike lol