Adam Kirshenblatt: The Stajan... err Bozak Negotiations

What an excellent article. Great points and I agree with most if not all! Bozak is replaceable and there is no reason to over pay him. I would give him a 3 year offer of 4 mil/yr over 3 years and if it isn't good enough well he can be replaced.

Grabo had better numbers than Bozak playing with "lesser" players when he signed his deal. Three 20 goal seasons, Bozak has none. He had more points in each of those seasons as well as a better plus minus, bozak at -42 and grabo at -7. Sure I see Grabo's faults and he's probably overpaid by a half a mill to a mill, but I can easily see Nonis making a case for offering Bozak much less than Grabo, without even taking into consideration the shrinking salary cap. Bozak is a 4 mill player at the most in the current situation, which would still be a decent payday for him. Maybe 4.25 since he's UFA. He goes anywhere else, he might get the money but highly doubtful he's playing with a guy like Kessel, and i highly doubt anyone gives him 7 years. I honestly think that he'll get a fair enough offer from the Leafs that he can live with if he wants to be a leaf. If he's just looking for the money, then I think he bolts.

Adam Kirshenblatt: The Stajan... err Bozak Negotiations
- MasWE

Grabo had lost weight and he had gastro intestinal issues.

When you cant eat anything because you get sick and lose weight I don't know how you can say that's not an excuse.

Do I think the player is worth 5.5 million absolutely not! But I also think he has legitimate reasons for not being on top of his game.

Just last season this guy was the leafs best all around player. Now he is a Bum?

I don't think so man this guy plays with a lot of heart and if it were not for the salary there would be teams lining up for this guy.

Grabo had lost weight and he had gastro intestinal issues.

When you cant eat anything because you get sick and lose weight I don't know how you can say that's not an excuse.

Do I think the player is worth 5.5 million absolutely not! But I also think he has legitimate reasons for not being on top of his game.

Just last season this guy was the leafs best all around player. Now he is a Bum?

I don't think so man this guy plays with a lot of heart and if it were not for the salary there would be teams lining up for this guy.
- duckyjets

I totally agree. I love watching grabo play. He's 1 of the few guys who gives it all he's got and then some every shift. Yeah he's point production has been garbage which a shame given his compete level. Put him on the top line with lupul and kessel and I bet his points will sky rocket and his contract will look like a bargain. Unfortunately he hasn't played much of an offensive role this past season but I think he'll turn it around this season, he knows he's got something to prove

Just give him 5.4 per 7 years

great friggin article. id move grabbo now if we could as well. Love the guy but hate the contract. rumblings hes being shopped. could be possible. wouldn't hate it.

without grabbo and bozak we would have kadri bolland mcclement colborne... Add Weiss on a short term 3 year deal upwards of 13.5 million and maybe a boyd Gordon depending on colborne being ready and keep looking for other centres via trade or free agency.

Someone call burke to drive bozie to the airport.

Adam Kirshenblatt: The Stajan... err Bozak Negotiations
- MasWE

Haha "stajan". I see what you did there...

Offer Bozak 3yr - 10mill. If he doesn't take it, let him walk. If he signs, find a home for Grabo and trade him right frick'n now..(or buy that terrible contract out)

There you go.

great friggin article. id move grabbo now if we could as well. Love the guy but hate the contract. rumblings hes being shopped. could be possible. wouldn't hate it.

without grabbo and bozak we would have kadri bolland mcclement colborne... Add Weiss on a short term 3 year deal upwards of 13.5 million and maybe a boyd Gordon depending on colborne being ready and keep looking for other centres via trade or free agency.

Someone call burke to drive bozie to the airport.
- leafs4life84

I'll take Grabo over Weiss any day of the week. That guy has underperformed for so long. Grabo has one bad (shortened) season and everybody wants to get rid of him. So he makes a million more than he should maybe. Big deal. Who isn't overpaid these days? The guy is a beast, gives everything every shift and has mad talent. You don't just get rid of players like that. I guarantee he'll turn it around next season because that's the type of player he is. He will WANT to prove he's worth that money and he'll earn it. He deserves that opportunity. As for Bozak, he's good but I wouldn't give him anything over $4 million per season. I'd rather give that kind of money to someone like Valtteri Filppula who has experience and a winning pedigree. I'd even rather try Kadri at #1C and Bozak will undoubtedly find the grass in not greener elsewhere when he signs with a desperate bottom-feeder for $5 million + on Friday.

Sign Bozak to 5 years at 2.5 million per. That way we can get Kessel to resign long term to stay with Bozak

I love the "out of necessity" thing like we had no other centers.

I love the "out of necessity" thing like we had no other centers.
- honesthockey

the last 3 season these have been our Center options
Bozak, Grabovski, Mclemment, Steckel, Connolly, Lombardi..and maybe if they were centers I forget Boyce, Brent, zigomanis, Hanson.

so its out of absolute desperation that a guy like Bozak is given top line minutes

I love the "out of necessity" thing like we had no other centers.
- honesthockey

Who else was there?? It was out of necessity. cant wait to see what Kessel in his prime can do with a real center.

I think the bigger question is " will caryle use him in a role that fits his style"

Last year it was square peg round hole for Grabo.

I like Grabo as a player I just think:

Grabo + Caryle's system= bad season for Grabo.

Better to part ways for both sides.

I think the bigger question is " will caryle use him in a role that fits his style"

Last year it was square peg round hole for Grabo.

I like Grabo as a player I just think:

Grabo + Caryle's system= bad season for Grabo.

Better to part ways for both sides.
- D.Lemieux

What about putting Grabo on the wing, with maybe Lupul/JVR and bolland. Nonis said he was going to use Bolland in a different role than Chicago did.

I think the bigger question is " will caryle use him in a role that fits his style"

Last year it was square peg round hole for Grabo.

I like Grabo as a player I just think:

Grabo + Caryle's system= bad season for Grabo.

Better to part ways for both sides.
- D.Lemieux

It's not the system, it's how he was used in the system. Bolland was acquired for that reason. He will play what role grabo played last year, freeing up Grabo to be what he is (a more offensive player)

It's not the system, it's how he was used in the system. Bolland was acquired for that reason. He will play what role grabo played last year, freeing up Grabo to be what he is (a more offensive player)
- burn

So you think he will be used in that role this year? I don't know. I don't think Carlyle likes him period.

What about putting Grabo on the wing, with maybe Lupul/JVR and bolland. Nonis said he was going to use Bolland in a different role than Chicago did.
- MasonGillis

You could experiment but that usually doesn't work. Moving guys to a new position. I think you concentrate on quality guys that will flourish in the coach's system. Exactly why I think they need to get Clarkson IMO. He will excel in Tor.

So you think he will be used in that role this year? I don't know. I don't think Carlyle likes him period.
- D.Lemieux

You don't think he likes him?? Why?? There is nothing to suggest that.... infact I find it hard to believe that RC would use him in such an important role if he didn't like him.

You don't think he likes him?? Why?? There is nothing to suggest that.... infact I find it hard to believe that RC would use him in such an important role if he didn't like him.
- burn

I don't know. I could be wrong. I just get the feeling Grabo is not a player Carlyle would choose to have.

Who else was there?? It was out of necessity. cant wait to see what Kessel in his prime can do with a real center.
- burn

That's the whole point. No one at this point is a better option. They will sign him. Out of necessity.

That's the whole point. No one at this point is a better option. They will sign him.
- honesthockey

How do you know ?? How do you know??

If bozak is the best option and he's not good enough, what sense does it make to sign him (especially for the outrageous amount he's asking?)? THAT is the whole point.

How do you know ?? How do you know??

If bozak is the best option and he's not good enough, what sense does it make to sign him (especially for the outrageous amount he's asking?)? THAT is the whole point.
- burn

You're the one who said he was there out of necessity. So today who else is there? What's changed? Bolland? Jesus.