Lots of people have played different positions.

Using Leaf players

Wendel Clark played D his entire career until he was drafted and played for the Leafs. He played Left Wing for his entire pro career.
Jake Gardiner was a forward who was converted to playing D.

I would think that switching from forward to D and vice versa is just as hard as switching from wing to centre.
- ILoveLamp

Chastity Bono spent her entire childhood at the female position, until she converted to Chas Bono.

Until Schenn knocks him flat into next season on the open ice with his head down
- JIMI-JAMES

I'm positive this will happen. Then i'd like to see Schenn beat Dions face into a bloody pulp.

....so instead of the constant board battles he'll get the bigass open ice hits, sorta like mitchell on toews.

I have no problem with trying him at centre, but to avoid injury wouldn't be high on my list of reasons.
- Barx

Maybe Lindros can mentor him.

Maybe Lindros can mentor him.
- Atomic Wedgie

at least Stevens isnt around anymore..

What do you guys think your lineup is going to look like?
From what I know you have 8 possible centers: Van Riemsdyk, Connolly, Lombardi, Grabovski, Bozak, McClement, Steckel, and then Kadri. How is this going to work out? I fully expected Van Riemsdyk to be on the wing.. but I guess not?

Oh lordie:

What do you guys think your lineup is going to look like?
From what I know you have 8 possible centers: Van Riemsdyk, Connolly, Lombardi, Grabovski, Bozak, McClement, Steckel, and then Kadri. How is this going to work out? I fully expected Van Riemsdyk to be on the wing.. but I guess not?
- MartysBetter88

Here's my guess:

What do you guys think your lineup is going to look like?
From what I know you have 8 possible centers: Van Riemsdyk, Connolly, Lombardi, Grabovski, Bozak, McClement, Steckel, and then Kadri. How is this going to work out? I fully expected Van Riemsdyk to be on the wing.. but I guess not?
- MartysBetter88

Its almost a guarantee some of those get traded, to be honest, no one can really predict what our lineup will be like, heck i dont think even Carlyle knows.

Burke said he's not done so we have to wait for some trades to happen before figuring out who plays where, only thing we know forsure is they're going to try JVR at center, which means one or more of our centers have got to go. Hoping Lombardi gets waivered.

Development camp rosters:

Team White:

McKegg(69)-Carrick(70)-Brown(78)
Devane(67)-Toninato(77)-invite(63)
Broll(88)-Crescenzi(83)-Leivo(89)
invite(60)-invite(56)-invite(95)

Everson(98)-Robertson(97)
Percy(75)-Granberg(64)
invite(74)-invite(57)
invite(53)

Sparks(73)

Team Blue:

Ross(65)-Cameranesi(90)-Biggs(62)
invite(61)-R.Rupert(79)-M. Rupert(94)
invite(85)-invite(68)-invite(91)
invite(92)-invite(59)-invite(63)

Rielly(44)-Nilsson(96)
Loov(80)-Finn(76)
Knodel(66)-invite(87)

Invite

Oh lordie:




- gravyface

Nice hockey hair.

I'm not totally anti-JVR at centre...but at most they should try him a 2nd line centre, first line centre is kind of stupid. So unless they have a deal in the works to get a first line centre then I don't want to see him at centre. He wasn't even written in as a first line winger by anyone that I saw...so now he's going to go from second line winger to first line centre? That's stupid.

So you package Grabovski (as he has value and isn't worth a damn anywhere out of a second line centre) and some other pieces relative to who is coming back, obviously but could include crap like Connolly, Lombardi or guys with some value like Kadri, Mac, Kulemin and even Lupul if the return is good enough and bring in a number one centre. Then you have a top six of:
Lupul - Stastny/Getzlaf/whoever - Kessel
Mac - JVR - Kulemin

Plus unless you move out Bozak you still have him if JVR doesn't work out at centre and you can bump Mac/Kulemin to 3rd line duty and unless he's going the other way in the deal Kadri could compete for a 2nd or 3rd line winger spot.

I really don't think we can go into another season with Bozak as our #1 centre...but JVR isn't the answer either.

Anybody watch the JVR presser? Wow, really lame questions: like who's the dude with the raging Giroux boner? "what's the coolest move you've seen Giroux do?". Really? Here's a pro tip: you're a Maple Leafs beat reporter, let's come up with some questions that are related to -- you guessed it -- the Maple Leafs?

I'm not totally anti-JVR at centre...but at most they should try him a 2nd line centre, first line centre is kind of stupid. So unless they have a deal in the works to get a first line centre then I don't want to see him at centre. He wasn't even written in as a first line winger by anyone that I saw...so now he's going to go from second line winger to first line centre? That's stupid.

So you package Grabovski (as he has value and isn't worth a damn anywhere out of a second line centre) and some other pieces relative to who is coming back, obviously but could include crap like Connolly, Lombardi or guys with some value like Kadri, Mac, Kulemin and even Lupul if the return is good enough and bring in a number one centre. Then you have a top six of:
Lupul - Stastny/Getzlaf/whoever - Kessel
Mac - JVR - Kulemin

Plus unless you move out Bozak you still have him if JVR doesn't work out at centre and you can bump Mac/Kulemin to 3rd line duty and unless he's going the other way in the deal Kadri could compete for a 2nd or 3rd line winger spot.

I really don't think we can go into another season with Bozak as our #1 centre...but JVR isn't the answer either.
- deerow84

Grabovski was our best all round player last year; I'd say him and Kulemin were the best defensively. His contract for what he brings is a bargain. I don't think moving him solves any issues because that #2 center hole is still a question mark with JVR in it.

Let JVR try center during pre-season; after a couple of games, Carlyle and company will have a good idea of whether he's going to stick or not.

***ATTENTION BLOGGERS/WRITERS****

I have a domain name for sale

mapleleafsinsider.com
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I have a domain name for sale

mapleleafsinsider.com
mapleleafsinsider.ca
- TrueLeaf07

Talk to Ek, he may be interested.

Grabovski was our best all round player last year; I'd say him and Kulemin were the best defensively. His contract for what he brings is a bargain. I don't think moving him solves any issues because that #2 center hole is still a question mark with JVR in it.

Let JVR try center during pre-season; after a couple of games, Carlyle and company will have a good idea of whether he's going to stick or not.
- gravyface

Seems like a bad idea to me, on the first line at least. I'm not a huge fan of moving Grabs but I am a huge fan of getting a legit #1 centre and if he has to be moved to get that then I'm cool with it.

Chastity Bono spent her entire childhood at the female position, until she converted to Chas Bono.
- Atomic Wedgie

This is excellent location material. Almost.

Seems like a bad idea to me, on the first line at least. I'm not a huge fan of moving Grabs but I am a huge fan of getting a legit #1 centre and if he has to be moved to get that then I'm cool with it.
- deerow84

If you're okay with pissing away most of our team for one guy...

Chastity Bono spent her entire childhood at the female position, until she converted to Chas Bono.
- Atomic Wedgie

Mike Augello: Van Riemsdyk Ready For Center Challenge; Winter Classic Alumni Rosters Anno
- mikeinbuffalo

I'm tempted to get tickets but I think I'll stay home a get pickled instead and watch it on TV.

Seems like a bad idea to me, on the first line at least. I'm not a huge fan of moving Grabs but I am a huge fan of getting a legit #1 centre and if he has to be moved to get that then I'm cool with it.
- deerow84

Oh I'm not holding my breath either, and I don't want to be a downer, but I think trying to take over the #1 center role -- and not as the stop-gap that Bozak has always been pitched as, but as a bonafide, legit #1 center -- is really asking a lot of the guy, especially in this market.

I mean we've been crying for a #1 center ever since Sundin left; big shoes to fill, think that's a lot of pressure for a guy we want to have a good year as a top 6 winger let alone a #1 center.

I'm not cool with moving Grabovski though. Would be another role we'd have to fill and I don't think it would be from within, except for maybe Colborne.

Anybody see these today?

Andy Frost ‏@FrostOvernight
Hearing from my people that Phil Kessel is quietly being shopped. If the offer is right, he will be traded.
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18h Andy Frost ‏@FrostOvernight
Hearing Maple Leafs have made a formal offer to Doan. It is a waiting game from here on in. Multi year offer.

discuss

What do you guys think your lineup is going to look like?
From what I know you have 8 possible centers: Van Riemsdyk, Connolly, Lombardi, Grabovski, Bozak, McClement, Steckel, and then Kadri. How is this going to work out? I fully expected Van Riemsdyk to be on the wing.. but I guess not?
- MartysBetter88

No clue. It's a cluster(frank) right now. Got 3 months to worry about it.

Anybody see these today?

Andy Frost ‏@FrostOvernight
Hearing from my people that Phil Kessel is quietly being shopped. If the offer is right, he will be traded.
Expand
Reply Retweet Favorite
18h Andy Frost ‏@FrostOvernight
Hearing Maple Leafs have made a formal offer to Doan. It is a waiting game from here on in. Multi year offer.

discuss
- gravyface

I'm not shocked. Despite what Cloutier thinks, when you're a bottom tier team, your list of untouchables can't exceed your list of available players. Every player has a price. Whether it gets met or not is another story, see: Nash, Ryan.

I'm not shocked. Despite what Cloutier thinks, when you're a bottom tier team, your list of untouchables can't exceed your list of available players. Every player has a price. Whether it gets met or not is another story, see: Nash, Ryan.
- p_zub

Bah, it's a "parody" thread. Fack me. Hate that poop (and I always fall for it). Wish they all verified their accounts; would make life easier.