Without a doubt the Maple Leafs upper management is going to be more than prepared for this year’s NHL draft. Kyle Dubas has stated that he is “almost over-prepared… like he is “preparing for a final exam…. The 28 year old has experience with working the trade market back when he was working with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. This most certainly is a step up from the OHL, but I have faith Dubas will do an admirable job taking calls from other General Managers as they discuss potential trades. Shanahan has given Dubas the torch and has confidence in his young Assistant General Manager to have an open ear and a poised approach when dealing with the 29 other teams.
It’s never easy trading away players with large contracts with high salaries, so Dubas and Shanahan have their work cut out for them with players like Kessel, Phaneuf, Lupul and Bozak. Not to mention each of these players holds a limited no-trade clause making them harder to move, it’s a tricky process without question.
Joffrey Lupul has three years left on his contract, which is a cap hit of 5.25 million. Lupul has shown he can be a productive winger when healthy, and seemed to show some veteran leadership sporadically over his tenure with the Leafs. The big issue with Joffrey as we all know is his injury history; it seems he’s had his fair share of trouble dodging Dion’s blasts from the point, breaking his hand and a few other minor injuries. In total since 2012, Lupul has missed a total of 82 games, a full season’s worth of games! To put things into perspective he has had 327 total games, and has missed 82. Obviously this hurts his trade value. Joffrey is 31 years of age and is coming off a dismal 21 point season in 55 games.
His trade value is at an all-time low right now, which is why I think the Leafs should give him another chance on the team. If Babcock can get Lupul back into his 50+ point production self, he could be valuable for another team to pick up come deadline and bring back a much larger return than he would ever get at this point. With that being said; if someone is willing to take the risk and pay the Leafs handsomely, by all means send him packing.
Tyler Bozak also has three years left on his contract, which is a cap hit of 4.25 million. At 29 years of age Bozak brings very little to the table for a first line center. Does this mean he is not a good NHL player? Not at all, he’s simply been slotted into a role where nobody else seems to have worked. The Leafs have given Kadri small stints on the top line, and tried adding other centers like Tim Connolly. Nobody has clicked better in the center position with Kessel more than Bozak has. Tyler is a ‘decent’ centerman, but lacks the size and skill to be a very effective top line center. His two-way game is again, ‘decent’ but not spectacular. He’s good at face-offs, excellent on breakaways or in the shootout if need be. But we need more from our first line center or it will be another long road ahead of mediocrity. Bozak is coming off a career worst -34 last season, but still has some value in the trade market as other teams could improve their center positions down the lineup; he would be a good second line center for a team with a quality top line.
If Kessel is traded, I am hoping Bozak is on his way out the door as well. Nothing against him, he did his best for Toronto over the last six seasons, but has been miscast from day one. A great pickup by Brian Burke, as Bozak was signed from the University of Denver and cost the Leafs nothing in terms of draft picks. Could it be possible that Bozak and Kessel are moved to the same team? Without question, we all know they would enjoy that as they have been the best of friends over the years. I’m all for trading Bozak, any return is a positive one since we acquired him for nothing.
Is Patrick Sharp going to be traded to Toronto?
Fat chance. The way I see it, the only way Sharp comes to Toronto is if the Leafs have another trade lined up to move him for a better return than they paid for him. It’s very doubtful you see Sharp in the blue and white, as it makes very little sense for Toronto to give up picks, prospects or anything of value. It goes against everything Shanahan has been saying, which of course is that the Leafs and management plans to add as many picks and prospects as possible, not give them away to help out the Hawks salary cap issues.
Sharp is 33 years old and has two years left on his contract at 5.9 million. Why would Toronto give up future assets and picks for an ageing player at the start of a rebuild?
The Maple Leafs did a superb job last season signing a few UFA players for one year contracts. Santorelli, Winnik and Booth were all signed for one year deals and two of them were moved at the trade deadline for future considerations. Santorelli was included in the Franson trade for a prospect in Brendan Leipsic, a first round pick and veteran forward Olli Jokinen. The Leafs also were able to trade Jokinen to the Blues for Joakim Lindstrom and a conditional sixth round pick. Winnik was traded to the Penguins for Zack Sill and a fourth round pick in 2015, and a second round pick in 2016. Not too shabby am I right?
Who could be on the Leafs radar this season? Shanahan fully intends on keeping the prospects in the system and has no intentions of rushing anyone. There will be veteran NHL players signed for short term contracts, likely 1-2 years. These players will get a chance to prove their worth in the Toronto spotlight getting quality minutes on the ice. Hopefully we see a repeat from last season and are able to stockpile more picks and prospects as that is the goal. So any thoughts anyone has of signing players like Mike Green or Marin St Louis, you can throw those out the door; that’s the way of the old Leafs.
Here are a few UFA players I would like the Leafs to add to their roster for one year deals:
Matt Cullen Michael Ryder Barret Jackman Jarret Stoll Kyle Brodziak Joel Ward Jiri Tlusty Martin Erat Chris Stewart Eric Fehr Steve Downie Tyler Kennedy Sean Bergenheim
If the player does well and we can trade them at deadline that is the ultimate goal, if they are horrible, well then we dump them after the season is over and they help contribute to our tank towards another glorious first round pick.
Are there any players you feel would be worth adding that I missed?
Really looking forward to this year’s draft!
Thanks for reading.