As we enter the dog days of summer, with the pennant and wild card races in baseball in full swing and NFL training camps starting, there is no lull in interest regarding the Maple Leafs and the upcoming season. Here are some of the questions you submitted questions to my Twitter account.
@MikeInBuffalo What is The value of Lupul or Franson in the trade market?
— Ash G (@LeafNationFan81) August 4, 2014A - Of the two players mentioned, Franson is the more likely to be traded, since he will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the upcoming season. His current value( a second or third round pick) might go up as the March trade deadline approaches with contending teams willing to pay a premium for a rent-a-player power-play specialist. The Leafs do not have an experienced option to take Franson’s place in their top six if they move him prior to the season, which means that keeping him till the trade deadline buys the Leafs time and allows youngsters Petter Granberg and Stuart Percy more time in the AHL to hone their craft.
Lupul has four years remaining at $5.25 Million per season, which with the escalating salaries in the league is becoming more economical by the day, but the Leafs need his offensive abilities to take some of the pressure off of the Kessel line. The only way I can see Toronto trading Lupul is if they get a younger, but equally talented forward in return.
@MikeInBuffalo Does Randy last the season? If not, which of Spott or Horachek supplants him?
— steve clay (@steveclay) August 4, 2014A – The only way that Randy Carlyle gets fired during the season is if the Leafs go through a prolonged losing streak that takes them out of playoff contention early in the season. If they are able to stay within range of a post-season berth, Carlyle’s job should be safe. He will likely have to make the playoffs to keep his job after that.
Of the two recently hired assistants, Spott is considered a rising star and future NHL head coach, but next season might be too soon for someone with just one year of professional experience to assume one of the highest profile coaching positions in the NHL on anything more than an interim basis. If Carlyle is fired, you will hear the name of Wings coach Mike Babcock rumored to be coming to Toronto as much as you hear Steven Stamkos rumors.
@MikeInBuffalo the Marlie players were supposed to compete for bottom 6.With all the new free agents,how will they make it?
— Eli Cohen (@eli362) August 4, 2014A - The Marlies have forward prospects that may challenge for NHL jobs down the line, but the Leafs wisely decided to buy themselves some time and insurance with the additions of Santorelli, Matt Frattin, Booth, Winnik and Kontiola. Most of the bottom-six additions made this summer were short term deals. Josh Leivo, Spencer Abbott and David Broll all got a brief taste of the NHL, Carter Ashton and Peter Holland were up for a large chunk of the season and former first rounder Tyler Biggs continues to mature, but Holland is the only one of the group who appears ready to handle a significant role right away.
@MikeInBuffalo with so many 1 way contracts, who do you think could be on the move?
— Pongo (@mpongo91) August 4, 2014A – The Leafs have 17 forwards under one-way contracts for 2014-15, but six of those deals(Colton Orr, Matt Frattin, Peter Holland, Troy Bodie, Frazer McLaren and Trevor Smith) are under $925,000, which means if they clear waivers and get sent to the Marlies, none of their salary will count against the salary cap.
There could possibly be a trade made if Leafs GM Dave Nonis thinks that a player may be claimed, as occurred last September when Joe Colborne was sent to Calgary for a conditional draft pick. A veteran like Colton Orr might receive interest from a club like Winnipeg(his hometown) or Calgary(with former GM Brian Burke part of the management team) interested in adding some grit in the big, tough Western Conference.
@MikeInBuffalo do you think the leafs like kadri? Is he the second line center of the future?
— scott Monforton (@monfortonleafs) August 3, 2014A – The Leafs are taking a wait and see approach on Kadri, who scored a career-high 50 points last season, but at a lower point-per-game rate than he did in 2013. The organization still believes he has top end offensive talent, but his inconsistency in the defensive zone(especially in matchups against bigger and stronger centers) may prevent from being an effective first or second line center.
Kadri needs to prove he is capable of handling a more prominent role in the last year of a two-year, $5.8 Million bridge deal, if he hopes to get a long-term extension from the Leafs. If not, they will likely search for a top-line center next summer and could use the London, ON native as part of the package.
@MikeInBuffalo Is Bozak truly an untouchable? #Leafs What are the chances Nylander takes Clarkson's 2nd line spot? Does Clarkson get PP time
— Man Furnace (@man_furnace) August 3, 2014A – At this point, the only untouchables on the Leafs are Phil Kessel, Morgan Rielly and Jonathan Bernier, but Tyler Bozak at $4.25 Million per season is a bargain if he continues to play as he did last season.
Unless Nylander proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is capable of handling the grind of the NHL, Toronto will take their time with the 18-year-old. The 2014 eighth overall pick can play in the OHL, AHL or in the SHL next season and Leafs management will not make any final determination until early October, but there is speculation that the speedy winger will stay in Sweden for another year and play for his country in the 2015 IIHF World Juniors in Toronto and Montreal next December/January.
Clarkson was effective in New Jersey on the power play, especially in front of the net, but it is unlikely that he will play on the first unit(as the JVR-Bozak-Kessel line was quite effective for most of last season), but could see time on the second unit.
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