Ian Esplen: Getting Creative with Lu and T.O. Getting Creative with Lu and T.O.

So Vancouver gets rid of their huge Luongo contract and they get Komisarek. Except that instead of being overpaid he will be signed to a cap friendly contract.

Toronto gets Luongo's contract and still needs to pay Komisarek for a few years

I wonder how come Burke hasn't already done this. Probably because it doesn't make any sense.

Any guesses on how long it will take for a fake insider to tweet this scenario and claim the teams are talking about doing it?

So Vancouver gets rid of their huge Luongo contract and they get Komisarek. Except that instead of being overpaid he will be signed to a cap friendly contract.

Toronto gets Luongo's contract and still needs to pay Komisarek for a few years

I wonder how come Burke hasn't already done this. Probably because it doesn't make any sense.
- wardancr

I think you will find people who will tell you 2.5-3 million is not a cap friendly number.

jesus christ Ian. Don't you think by now if Ballard or Raymond had any kind of value at all that the Canucks would have moved them just to get rid of the contracts?

It's beyond laughable that you continue to include them in trade offers as though other teams wanted them.

Luongo's contract is terrible. No team wants to take it on and deal with the last 5-6 years when he's declining. Yet somehow you think you can get value back AND add in another crappy contract as well? What dream world are you living in?

Ian Esplen: Getting Creative with Lu and T.O.
Getting Creative with Lu and T.O.
- IanEsplen

This is the first time I've seen a Luongo deal I liked. Only part that hurts is buying out Komi for 4 years. I think we still pay Tucker and Armstrong both 1 Mill for 2 years. Buying Komi would make it $3.2 mill.

Why do we want Komi at any price? I say leave Lu on the roster until a team realizes they are missing the playoffs and then we don't need any bad contracts.

Dealing with the Leafs never works out so why start a war Ian?

Why do we want Komi at any price? I say leave Lu on the roster until a team realizes they are missing the playoffs and then we don't need any bad contracts.

Dealing with the Leafs never works out so why start a war Ian?
- VANTEL

It works if you're Boston.

It works if you're Boston.
- wolfos412

Send us two 1sts and a second and we will take Komi.

"Step 2- Mike Gillis and the Canucks agree that they will offer Komisarek and fair contract of say 10-12 million over four years, with a NTC when he becomes a UFA."

Uh, what?

pretty sure we are past the point where we can buyout anyone. Also the cap hit on Komisarek would be 2.33M for the first 2 years then 1.17M for the next 2.

It is an interesting idea but if Luongo & Raymond could be acquired from Gillis right now for Bozak, Ashton and a conditional pick that any bubble team would gladly throw in then it would be done and Burke would find a way to dump Lombardi or Komisarek to a team under the cap floor.

pretty sure we are past the point where we can buyout anyone. Also the cap hit on Komisarek would be 2.33M for the first 2 years then 1.17M for the next 2.

It is an interesting idea but if Luongo & Raymond could be acquired from Gillis right now for Bozak, Ashton and a conditional pick that any bubble team would gladly throw in then it would be done and Burke would find a way to dump Lombardi or Komisarek to a team under the cap floor.
- Steven_Dean

I believe there is another window for buyouts coming before the season starts.

Looking at the success ( or lack there of) for the Leafs in the last 20+ years there is one common ingredient........above average goaltending.

Potvin......Joseph......Belfour......all helped average Leaf teams over achieve into semi-finalists.

Having a top flight goaltender covers warts, makes an average defense stand taller, makes back checking a little less important. In the end it makes an average team ....above average.

Luongo will not make Toronto Stanley cup favourites, but he would put them "back into the dance"

and after such a drought, I would welcome him with open arms

This is the first time I've seen a Luongo deal I liked. Only part that hurts is buying out Komi for 4 years. I think we still pay Tucker and Armstrong both 1 Mill for 2 years. Buying Komi would make it $3.2 mill.
- wolfos412

Why would gllis take komi at all(unless its for under a mill) the rest of the deal makes sense. I think leafs keep komi. Its not like they need the cap space. I have been saying Lu for Bozak, Ashton and gunner or Franson for 2 months. Tor gets an all star elite net minder and Vancouver plugs some holes. Sub the conditional pick for Gunner or Franson and it still works

IMO if you're talking a fair deal for the Leafs and not this heavily slanted Vancouver proposal, you have to offer Luongo, Tanev and a 3rd for Komisarek, Bozek and a 2nd.

Gives Vancouver cap relief in 2 years rather than 10, fills a need with a physical defenseman on a team that gets beat up in the playoffs, plus the exchange of a 3rd for the Leafs second gives the Canucks something back for the fact that Bozek and Komi are both UFA's in the next year and two years respectively. Tanev was included in the deal as the Leafs need something of value long term to offset the Luongo contract as he declines.

Look! No Ballard or Raymond! Because the Leafs don't want either of them!

pretty sure we are past the point where we can buyout anyone. Also the cap hit on Komisarek would be 2.33M for the first 2 years then 1.17M for the next 2.

It is an interesting idea but if Luongo & Raymond could be acquired from Gillis right now for Bozak, Ashton and a conditional pick that any bubble team would gladly throw in then it would be done and Burke would find a way to dump Lombardi or Komisarek to a team under the cap floor.
- Steven_Dean

I think unless leafs get something(even a 6th rounder) they keep komi and not buy him out. Its not like they currently require cap space.

IMO if you're talking a fair deal for the Leafs and not this heavily slanted Vancouver proposal, you have to offer Luongo, Tanev and a 3rd for Komisarek, Bozek and a 2nd.

Gives Vancouver cap relief in 2 years rather than 10, fills a need with a physical defenseman on a team that gets beat up in the playoffs, plus the exchange of a 3rd for the Leafs second gives the Canucks something back for the fact that Bozek and Komi are both UFA's in the next year and two years respectively. Tanev was included in the deal as the Leafs need something of value long term to offset the Luongo contract as he declines.

Look! No Ballard or Raymond! Because the Leafs don't want either of them!
- Isles_since_6

How about a whan burger and french cries for lunch

How about a whan burger and french cries for lunch
- Bieksa#3

says the guy who thinks a 10 year anchor of a contract gets his team an up and coming young defenseman, a solid big center prospect, a current top 6 player and a pick.

Why would gllis take komi at all(unless its for under a mill) the rest of the deal makes sense. I think leafs keep komi. Its not like they need the cap space. I have been saying Lu for Bozak, Ashton and gunner or Franson for 2 months. Tor gets an all star elite net minder and Vancouver plugs some holes. Sub the conditional pick for Gunner or Franson and it still works
- Bieksa#3

Well...if this lockout consumes a season, and rumours are true that contracts don't slide after a lockout, Komisarek will only have 1 year left on his deal.

says the guy who thinks a 10 year anchor of a contract gets his team an up and coming young defenseman, a solid big center prospect, a current top 6 player and a pick.
- Isles_since_6

Honestly your offer is a joke. If that's the best Vancouver can do, they should put him on waivers and let clb ghave him. That way they have cap space now. At least put thought into your trolling please

I think unless leafs get something(even a 6th rounder) they keep komi and not buy him out. Its not like they currently require cap space.
- Bieksa#3

yeah agreed, just meant that if they want or need to move cap space they have options. Why force Vancouver to take on cap? If Bozak, Ashton and a non-top 20 draft pick gets us Luongo+ why screw around and tell them they have to take Komisarek or Lombardi?

Why would gllis take komi at all(unless its for under a mill) the rest of the deal makes sense. I think leafs keep komi. Its not like they need the cap space. I have been saying Lu for Bozak, Ashton and gunner or Franson for 2 months. Tor gets an all star elite net minder and Vancouver plugs some holes. Sub the conditional pick for Gunner or Franson and it still works
- Bieksa#3

or how about we just scratch this deal all together. bozak is a great player signed to a fair deal. ashton has some promos and is a decent prospect. gunner is a fine d-man who loves TO and is paid fairly. luongo is a geezer who is horribly overpaid and who is being moved specifically because management (and the city of vancouver) has lost faith in his ability to be a winning goalie.

as a leafs fan i'm perfectly fine going forward without luongo especially if it means not being bullied into a silly deal where youthful potential is being traded for old, mediocrity. no thanks.

Did we really need another Lu going to Toronto blog. I thought we were passed this.
@Vantel whats the prediction on the pages for this blog. I think 12 pages at least

Komisarek won't get traded or bought out.

He's the only big defender the team has and he fights. With Burke and Carlyle looking to toughen up; getting rid of Komisarek does the exact opposite of that.

He was possibly the best defenseman on the team when Carlyle took over. Clearly I have no crystal ball but he's finishing his contract out with the Leafs for sure.

yeah agreed, just meant that if they want or need to move cap space they have options. Why force Vancouver to take on cap? If Bozak, Ashton and a non-top 20 draft pick gets us Luongo+ why screw around and tell them they have to take Komisarek or Lombardi?
- Steven_Dean

100% agree.