General Leafs Rumour Updates...

[bustaheims]

I think adding a Stastny would improve secondary scoring more than a Michalek.

I don't. Stastny impacts the primary scoring, but, all he really does is drop Bozak down to a line where he's no longer playing with elite wingers, while taking away a lot of cap space. Bozak's never hit 50 points playing with Kessel. How well do you think he's going to do playing with 3rd liners?

 

[mr grieves]

I think adding a Stastny would improve secondary scoring more than a Michalek.

I don't. Stastny impacts the primary scoring, but, all he really does is drop Bozak down to a line where he's no longer playing with elite wingers, while taking away a lot of cap space. Bozak's never hit 50 points playing with Kessel. How well do you think he's going to do playing with 3rd liners?

I think acquiring Stastny would have to be accompanied by a Bozak trade. If the idea is to upgrade center, going from Bozak-Kadri-Bolland-McClement to Stastny-Kadri-UFA-Holland would be an upgrade.

 

[AvroArrow]

I think adding a Stastny would improve secondary scoring more than a Michalek.

I don't. Stastny impacts the primary scoring, but, all he really does is drop Bozak down to a line where he's no longer playing with elite wingers, while taking away a lot of cap space. Bozak's never hit 50 points playing with Kessel. How well do you think he's going to do playing with 3rd liners?

The first line isn't the problem, though.  It's the second and third lines.  Honestly, I'd put Stastny into the #2 slot, slide Kadri down to the #3 slot, with Holland anchoring the 4th line.

Don't we end up saying every year, "look at the centres of the top playoff teams" and remark how they're so far ahead of the Leafs?  We don't have any top line C in the system.  Stastny is the youngest, best top line C that's come on the market.  How can we not go all in on that?  Worried about the cap?  Buyout Gleason - that saves like 2.5M there.  Between that and cost of Bolland, and we're barely behind in cap dollars, while taking a huge step forward in center depth/skill.

 

[bustaheims]

The first line isn't the problem, though.  It's the second and third lines.  Honestly, I'd put Stastny into the #2 slot, slide Kadri down to the #3 slot, with Holland anchoring the 4th line.

Signing Stastny for 1st line money to play him on the 2nd line just feels like a massive misuse of cap space - on top of that, Kadri on the 3rd line if a huge misuse of talent If the Leafs bring in Stastny, it's to centre the top line. I mean, if that's your plan, in all honesty, it's a pretty poor one that really doesn't help the team all that much. The 2nd line doesn't need help down the middle, it needs it on the wing. It's the 1st line that needs help down the middle.

 

[bustaheims]

I think acquiring Stastny would have to be accompanied by a Bozak trade. If the idea is to upgrade center, going from Bozak-Kadri-Bolland-McClement to Stastny-Kadri-UFA-Holland would be an upgrade.

Yeah, but that's just creating a whole other mess (and, in that scenario, Holland in on the 3rd line - he's wasted on the 4th line). It's better that the Leafs don't put themselves in situations where they have to trade one player to make another acquisition work. If it frees up a player to be moved, that's great, but, it shouldn't be a necessary part of another move - unless there's a good value deal already on the table for that player.

 

[AvroArrow]

Signing Stastny for 1st line money to play him on the 2nd line just feels like a massive misuse of cap space

Who cares?

1) If we improve the team, shouldn't that be all that matters?
2) We're paying our 1st line center like a #2, so that evens out...

on top of that, Kadri on the 3rd line if a huge misuse of talent If the Leafs bring in Stastny, it's to centre the top line.

It's not a misuse of talent to have enough center depth that a #2C-capable center is played on the 3rd line.  Heck, play him as Stastny's winger if you want, then he'll be on the 2nd line for you...

I mean, if that's your plan, in all honesty, it's a pretty poor one that really doesn't help the team all that much. The 2nd line doesn't need help down the middle, it needs it on the wing. It's the 1st line that needs help down the middle.

And your plan was to bring in someone like Michalek to replace Raymond?  How's that improving the team, again?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

TGfireandice: Might be only exploratory,  but I'm told Leafs do have some interest in Brodeur as possible backup/mentor to Bernier next season.

Called this a month or so ago. If it's not Reimer I think that Brodeur is the most likely back-up in Toronto next season. And that won't be a good thing.

 

[Beowulf]

TGfireandice: Might be only exploratory,  but I'm told Leafs do have some interest in Brodeur as possible backup/mentor to Bernier next season.

Called this a month or so ago. If it's not Reimer I think that Brodeur is the most likely back-up in Toronto next season. And that won't be a good thing.

Oh lord...agreed that would be terrible. It'll probably be equivalent to Cujo's 2nd stint here. Also, does Bernier really need a mentor?

 

[hockeyfan1]

TGfireandice: Might be only exploratory,  but I'm told Leafs do have some interest in Brodeur as possible backup/mentor to Bernier next season.

Called this a month or so ago. If it's not Reimer I think that Brodeur is the most likely back-up in Toronto next season. And that won't be a good thing.

Oh lord...agreed that would be terrible. It'll probably be equivalent to Cujo's 2nd stint here. Also, does Bernier really need a mentor?

Brodeur as back-up??!!  No, forget him.  Rather we keep Reimer. At least, it's better than nothing (and better than having Brodeur).

 

[Redleaf]

I don't know. If the price and term are right, why not? It certainly can't hurt Bernier to learn the ins and outs of the position from arguably the best goaltender of all time.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't know. If the price and term are right, why not? It certainly can't hurt Bernier to learn the ins and outs of the position from arguably the best goaltender of all time.

Because we're going to need our back-up to play 30 games and I'd like to win more than 10 of them.

 

[mr grieves]

The first line isn't the problem, though.  It's the second and third lines.  Honestly, I'd put Stastny into the #2 slot, slide Kadri down to the #3 slot, with Holland anchoring the 4th line.

Signing Stastny for 1st line money to play him on the 2nd line just feels like a massive misuse of cap space - on top of that, Kadri on the 3rd line if a huge misuse of talent If the Leafs bring in Stastny, it's to centre the top line. I mean, if that's your plan, in all honesty, it's a pretty poor one that really doesn't help the team all that much. The 2nd line doesn't need help down the middle, it needs it on the wing. It's the 1st line that needs help down the middle.

They have -- or had -- wingers enough to have a decent 2nd line. Just looked at the ES WOWY numbers. Last season, Lupul-Kadri-Kulemin/Raymond were a 55 ES goal/season 2nd line (if kept them together for a whole season). The secondary scoring problem last season was some of those guys (Lupul, Kadri) not repeating the great seasons they had during the lockout year, but some of it was Clarkson wasting their minutes.

The real help the 2nd line needs, I think, is keeping Clarkson far away from it.

 

[Joe S.]

What is it about Brodeur that makes anyone think he'll make any kind of good mentor?

Everything I've read or seen about his character points to someone who cares only about himself.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What is it about Brodeur that makes anyone think he'll make any kind of good mentor?

Winning background, leadership, experience, yada yada yada.

 

[Redleaf]

What is it about Brodeur that makes anyone think he'll make any kind of good mentor?

Everything I've read or seen about his character points to someone who cares only about himself.

I don't think Bernier needs to become his prot?g?. I'd imagine he could learn a bunch just by watching how Marty prepares, practices and handles himself around the team. Etc. etc.

 

[mr grieves]

I think acquiring Stastny would have to be accompanied by a Bozak trade. If the idea is to upgrade center, going from Bozak-Kadri-Bolland-McClement to Stastny-Kadri-UFA-Holland would be an upgrade.

Yeah, but that's just creating a whole other mess (and, in that scenario, Holland in on the 3rd line - he's wasted on the 4th line).

Well, for Holland I meant a sheltered Marlies/energy 4th line, not a 8min/game facepuncher 4th line. Shutdown third line with someone doing what Bolland does for cheap. Whatever. I think bringing in Stastny yields a better top 6, and a fine bottom 6.

It's better that the Leafs don't put themselves in situations where they have to trade one player to make another acquisition work. If it frees up a player to be moved, that's great, but, it shouldn't be a necessary part of another move - unless there's a good value deal already on the table for that player.

In general, sure. But I don't know if it's 'necessary to make the acquisition work' -- you could have Bozak on the third line, but, as you say, why bother? He'd likely provide no offense, and would too expensive there to boot. Trading him would just realign salary cap in a sensible way: ~7m first-line center, ~3m bridge-year RFA, ~3m 3rd line center, ~1m prospect. Anyway, whether 'forced' by another move or not, Bozak's coming off a great season and trading him now would probably be trading him at his peak value.

 

[mr grieves]

What is it about Brodeur that makes anyone think he'll make any kind of good mentor?

Winning background, leadership, experience, yada yada yada.

Knows when to walk away, etc.

 

[Joe S.]

What is it about Brodeur that makes anyone think he'll make any kind of good mentor?

Winning background, leadership, experience, yada yada yada.

What leadership? He always comes across as a me first kind of person... IMO

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What is it about Brodeur that makes anyone think he'll make any kind of good mentor?

Winning background, leadership, experience, yada yada yada.

What leadership? He always comes across as a me first kind of person... IMO

This leadership, duh:

 

[Bonsixx]

I doubt Bozak is going anywhere. Carlyle loves him. And to be fair, he's still a pretty useful player.