Nonis using depth to go shopping....

[ZBBM]

I'm not trying to project any particular "love" for Ashton, I just don't think he's shown nothing because there's more to evaluating a player than goals and assists.  I think he's been much better than most of the 4th line players the Leafs have played the last few seasons, and that his lack of points is just bad luck right now and nothing to really worry about.  And the fact he's 22, cheap, and all the other attributes I said earlier.

I don't think he's great or anything, just fine for the 4th line role.  I think some points will come because he's getting chances, things I can't say for certain other 4th liners we've seen.

Besides Orr and McLaren who I've already agreed have no place on an NHL roster, who does Ashton replace on the list of Leafs players?

Hint: it's not a guy with 14 goals so far.  But let's not go there again.

 

[TML fan]

I don't know where this Ashton love is coming from, but he's even less noticeable on the ice then our previous young up and comer Luca Caputi. If he's trending toward a career like that, what kind of player is he exactly?

He's probably not very noticeable because you were in the bathroom for his shift.

 

[Highlander]

I thought the trade for Ashton was a wash. I was not a fan. But in camp he came out hitting everybody and shelved Frazer the Freezer for a while?I liked that.  And he plays with an edge that D'Amigo doesnt have (even though I a a big D'Amigo Fan).. I guess what I am trying to say is his upside this year has suprised me and I think there is some more in the tank.

 

[Rebel_1812]

I thought the trade for Ashton was a wash. I was not a fan. But in camp he came out hitting everybody and shelved Frazer the Freezer for a while?I liked that.  And he plays with an edge that D'Amigo doesnt have (even though I a a big D'Amigo Fan).. I guess what I am trying to say is his upside this year has suprised me and I think there is some more in the tank.

so is he like Frank the Tank?

 

[Highlander]

who the frik is Frank the Tank?

 

[bustaheims]

TSN1050Radio: Darren Dreger tells TSN Drive that trading David Bolland is a "real" option for the Leafs

 

[Zee]

TSN1050Radio: Darren Dreger tells TSN Drive that trading David Bolland is a "real" option for the Leafs

Trading him?? What??

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

TSN1050Radio: Darren Dreger tells TSN Drive that trading David Bolland is a "real" option for the Leafs

Bolland's camp must be looking for more than the Leafs want to give.  Dave just has to call up DD for a favour.

 

[Kin]

TSN1050Radio: Darren Dreger tells TSN Drive that trading David Bolland is a "real" option for the Leafs

Trading him?? What??

Well, if you figure that Nonis is pretty pleased with how the team is playing without him, that re-signing him is an expensive and unnecessary option and he's likely to be in some demand...why not?

 

[bustaheims]

TSN1050Radio: Darren Dreger tells TSN Drive that trading David Bolland is a "real" option for the Leafs

Trading him?? What??

A competent GM explores all options.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Sure, but I don't think Dave Nonis will do that. I think he wants to keep Bolland in a Leafs jersey. That's why guys like Kulemin are more expendable, even though I wish Kuly would just take 3.2 million and go back to what he was doing.

 

[moon111]

All you need is top scorers.  Defensive forwards need not apply.  With Bolland, Kulemin, Raymond, McClement going or not under contract... I think Colton Orr literately slides into seventh in the depth chart.  Guess young guys are going to shut down the opposition's big lines and penalty kill.

JVR Bozak Kessel
Lupul Kadri Clarkson
McLaren Orr

Phaneuf Gleason
Rielly Gunnarson

Bernier

 

[LuncheonMeat]

All you need is top scorers.  Defensive forwards need not apply.  With Bolland, Kulemin, Raymond, McClement going or not under contract... I think Colton Orr literately slides into seventh in the depth chart.  Guess young guys are going to shut down the opposition's big lines and penalty kill.

JVR Bozak Kessel
Lupul Kadri Clarkson
McLaren Orr

Phaneuf Gleason
Rielly Gunnarson

Bernier

Are you suggesting we only dress 13 skaters?  I like it!

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

All you need is top scorers.  Defensive forwards need not apply.  With Bolland, Kulemin, Raymond, McClement going or not under contract... I think Colton Orr literately slides into seventh in the depth chart.  Guess young guys are going to shut down the opposition's big lines and penalty kill.

JVR Bozak Kessel
Lupul Kadri Clarkson
McLaren Orr

Phaneuf Gleason
Rielly Gunnarson

Bernier

Are you suggesting we only dress 13 skaters?  I like it!

Trade everyone for draft picks!

 

[drummond]

TSN1050Radio: Darren Dreger tells TSN Drive that trading David Bolland is a "real" option for the Leafs

well I guess the Leafs do not have enough cap space for signing both Bolland and Kulemin, hence they explore market for both. Any further negotiations would go from there.

 

[Kessel Run]

TSN1050Radio: Darren Dreger tells TSN Drive that trading David Bolland is a "real" option for the Leafs

well I guess the Leafs do not have enough cap space for signing both Bolland and Kulemin, hence they explore market for both. Any further negotiations would go from there.

Do we really not have the cap space to do so? I can't see Kulemin demanding $4-5M.

 

[princedpw]

TSN1050Radio: Darren Dreger tells TSN Drive that trading David Bolland is a "real" option for the Leafs

well I guess the Leafs do not have enough cap space for signing both Bolland and Kulemin, hence they explore market for both. Any further negotiations would go from there.

Do we really not have the cap space to do so? I can't see Kulemin demanding $4-5M.

Why not?  I think there's an argument that he's better both offensively and defensively than Clarkson and the cap is going up.

 

[moon111]

All you need is top scorers.  Defensive forwards need not apply.  With Bolland, Kulemin, Raymond, McClement going or not under contract... I think Colton Orr literately slides into seventh in the depth chart.  Guess young guys are going to shut down the opposition's big lines and penalty kill.

JVR Bozak Kessel
Lupul Kadri Clarkson
McLaren Orr

Phaneuf Gleason
Rielly Gunnarson

Bernier

Are you suggesting we only dress 13 skaters?  I like it!

Trade everyone for draft picks!

That's the players that are signed.  I can understand the desire to lock-up 'star' players, but in my mind, it's often the 3rd and 4th line guys that turn a winning team into a championship team.  I don't see Toronto making that commitment once again.

 

[Tigger]

I think there's enough cap space to sign both those guys if they want to.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Speaking of Kulemin:

?I would love to stay,? Kulemin said. ?I like everything here. It?s the only team I?ve played for. I like the organization and everything. We?ll see how it goes. Nothing changed for me when Grabovski left. Yeah, I was really close with him. But there?s a lot of guys here that have played with me for a long time.?

...

?Kuly does a lot of the grunt work,? head coach Randy Carlyle said. ?He?s the big-bodied guy that?s down in the corners doing the forechecking and when he?s hitting and physical, he?s a hard guy to play against.?

?A lot of the times some of the things he does go unnoticed,? said Nazem Kadri, who has four goals and 11 points in the nine games since Kulemin joined his line. ?He?s a great defensive player. I think he brings maybe a little bit more responsibility to the line.

?But [Kulemin] can score too. He?s got a hell of a shot. I wish I had a shot like that.?

...

Kulemin, though, has mostly been stuck in a defensive role ever since Carlyle arrived in Toronto. His shot attempts seem to reflect that. Despite having a 15.7 shooting percentage ? third-best among Leafs who have played 30 or more games ? he has taken only 51 shots this season.

The reduced role was an issue for Grabovski, who called Carlyle an ?idiot? on his way out of Toronto. Kulemin might not share his former teammate?s sentiments, but it is clear that he relishes an expanded role.

?I play a little more offence now and get more chances,? Kulemin said. ?I like to play with those guys and play more of an offensive role. I think it?s just more freedom, more offensive zone time.

?It gives you more chances to score. I like it that way.?

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/02/06/toronto-maple-leafs-nikolai-kulemin-would-love-to-stay-despite-trade-rumors/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter