Offseason Prediction - Grabo gone

[Scrif]

I love Grabovski - he has heart and tenacity, but hasn't fared well under Carlyle (who I assume will be the coach next year based on this years team performance). My prediction is Grabo will be traded for picks and pucks in the offseason.

Thoughts?

 

[Kessel Run]

I hope he isn't, but for picks? I doubt it. If he is traded it would most likely be for players in return.

 

[Scrif]

With his 2 year stomach ailment he's damaged goods. Don't get me wrong, I like his intensity, but something has to budge with this team as far as contracts and I think Grabo is the odd man out.

 

[pnjunction]

I think unless we are that hard up for cap space we should keep him another year at least see if his value can go up.

 

[nutman]

Wow! this is just sooooooo wrong. were a team on the rise, and all is going great. yet all you can talk about is getting rid of players.  I'm coming by with the bandwagon, jump on board, and stop worrying about next year.

 

[proteus2000]

Every team has some bad contracts on them. Grabo, sadly, looks to be that way-- however, I think he could be a solid playoff performer and should be given another yr. We are still in need of solid C and I don't see Colborne fulfilling that 2nd/3rd line C role next yr.

The ONLY reason I could see him dumped is negotiating a contract with Bozak and Kadri would be easier if there wasn't another C who makes $5.5 mil yet plays far less/has less upside.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

With his 2 year stomach ailment he's damaged goods. Don't get me wrong, I like his intensity, but something has to budge with this team as far as contracts and I think Grabo is the odd man out.

I think it's a little early to say that his stomach ailments are the cause of his scoring difficulties this season. The doctors didn't even find the source, or any problem for that matter, but you have written him off because of it?

In saying that, if he's traded, it will be because Carlyle wants something different and his contract doesn't work for the cap IMO.

 

[Redleaf]

I think he's going to heat up soon, and people will be saying they forgot how good he is....

 

[Exile on Bay St]

I always liked Grabo's intensity. It seemed in years past that there were nights when he was the only one trying. Yes, that's fallen off this year but that's to be expected when he was given a shutdown role for so many games.

It always seems that when a new coach arrives, there are players that for whatever reason, he doesn't like, and it looks like RC is not a fan of Grabo. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets traded in the off-season.

 

[Boston Leaf]

I think he's going to heat up soon, and people will be saying they forgot how good he is....

I agree with this.. He stil has potential to be our best player come playoff time.. I am not giving up on him. Sure he is overpaid but he has the talent

 

[Rebel_1812]

I hope he isn't, but for picks? I doubt it. If he is traded it would most likely be for players in return.

I think people overestimate the effect of a bad contract.  Name a player with a bad contract that was traded for something good?

 

[Champ Kind]

I hope he isn't, but for picks? I doubt it. If he is traded it would most likely be for players in return.

I think people overestimate the effect of a bad contract.  Name a player with a bad contract that was traded for something good?

Alexi Yashin was traded for Jason Spezza and Zdeno Chara.

Scott Gomez and some wood chips was traded for Ryan McDonough and Chris Higgins (plus a few water bottles).

Derek Brassard and John Moore are pretty good players, too, and I'd say Marian Gaborik's contract is pretty ugly.

 

[Champ Kind]

With his 2 year stomach ailment he's damaged goods. Don't get me wrong, I like his intensity, but something has to budge with this team as far as contracts and I think Grabo is the odd man out.

I think it's a little early to say that his stomach ailments are the cause of his scoring difficulties this season. The doctors didn't even find the source, or any problem for that matter, but you have written him off because of it?

In saying that, if he's traded, it will be because Carlyle wants something different and his contract doesn't work for the cap IMO.

I agree that it's too early to conclude anything around Grabo and his health.  I will say this: the guy's face looks skinny and gaunt.  Sort of '93 playoffs Gilmour'esque.

 

[princedpw]

Prior to this year, he had 4 years of pretty good play with the leafs.  He was probably our best center last year and the year before.  He's only 29 and visually, it doesn't seem to me like he's lost a step.  If you put him with Kessel, I think he'd score more and play better defense than Bozak.  I'd try to look past the current down year.  I think Grabbo has a lot of value going forward.

 

[cw]

I hope he isn't, but for picks? I doubt it. If he is traded it would most likely be for players in return.

I think people overestimate the effect of a bad contract.  Name a player with a bad contract that was traded for something good?

Alexi Yashin was traded for Jason Spezza and Zdeno Chara.

Scott Gomez and some wood chips was traded for Ryan McDonough and Chris Higgins (plus a few water bottles).

Derek Brassard and John Moore are pretty good players, too, and I'd say Marian Gaborik's contract is pretty ugly.

Certainly the first two were cases of selling high and would never happen in a do-over. I'm not sure we can count on that sort of stupidity that was called by many at the time those deals went down. The jury is out on the Gaborik deal.

In Grabbo's case:
- he's been ill
- he's been placed in a defensive role & had his scoring ice time reduced
So they'd be selling him on the low side.

Regardless of the debate over whatever return one might think they would get, they'd get less than they could have otherwise. And that problem may correct when he returns to health - which seems likely based on the reports I've heard and when/if he's given the sort of ice time where his offensive production can resume.

I think it's premature to walk away from Grabbo at this point in time because it will be difficult for them to find a quality replacement.

 

[Kessel Run]

I hope he isn't, but for picks? I doubt it. If he is traded it would most likely be for players in return.

I think people overestimate the effect of a bad contract.  Name a player with a bad contract that was traded for something good?

Bad contract? That's pretty much the going rate for a 1A/B centre. It's definitely a movable contract, but why would you sell low on him now anyway?

 

[Omallley]

Prior to this year, he had 4 years of pretty good play with the leafs.  He was probably our best center last year and the year before.  He's only 29 and visually, it doesn't seem to me like he's lost a step.  If you put him with Kessel, I think he'd score more and play better defense than Bozak.  I'd try to look past the current down year.  I think Grabbo has a lot of value going forward.

This is the thing - he's having a down year in a shortened lockout season, and certainly has had some success in previous years. Is he worth his contract? That's a different question altogether, but I think if one were to look at the crop of UFA centremen in the past few years, you'd understand that there has been and will likely continue to be some overspending due to weak crops being available.

You know, it wouldn't be the end of the world if the Leafs were to stick with Bozak/Kadri/Grabovski/McClement and possibly Colbourne next year - there should be enough cap space to do so - and if they are finding themselves pinched, they could look at a compliance buyout or trade at the end of the season. There's no immediate rush to fix this right now.

 

[ZBBM]

Prior to this year, he had 4 years of pretty good play with the leafs.  He was probably our best center last year and the year before.  He's only 29 and visually, it doesn't seem to me like he's lost a step.  If you put him with Kessel, I think he'd score more and play better defense than Bozak.  I'd try to look past the current down year.  I think Grabbo has a lot of value going forward.

This is the thing - he's having a down year in a shortened lockout season, and certainly has had some success in previous years. Is he worth his contract? That's a different question altogether, but I think if one were to look at the crop of UFA centremen in the past few years, you'd understand that there has been and will likely continue to be some overspending due to weak crops being available.

You know, it wouldn't be the end of the world if the Leafs were to stick with Bozak/Kadri/Grabovski/McClement and possibly Colbourne next year - there should be enough cap space to do so - and if they are finding themselves pinched, they could look at a compliance buyout or trade at the end of the season. There's no immediate rush to fix this right now.

Indeed.  And when you think about it, what needs fixing?

 

[Rebel_1812]

I hope he isn't, but for picks? I doubt it. If he is traded it would most likely be for players in return.

I think people overestimate the effect of a bad contract.  Name a player with a bad contract that was traded for something good?

Alexi Yashin was traded for Jason Spezza and Zdeno Chara.

Scott Gomez and some wood chips was traded for Ryan McDonough and Chris Higgins (plus a few water bottles).

Derek Brassard and John Moore are pretty good players, too, and I'd say Marian Gaborik's contract is pretty ugly.

Yashin was traded 13 years ago, before the cap.  Scott Gomez wasn't considered a bad contract at that time.  Maybe a little overpaid.  Same as Gaborik would not be considered a bad contract.  He can still put up the points.

 

[Rebel_1812]

I hope he isn't, but for picks? I doubt it. If he is traded it would most likely be for players in return.

I think people overestimate the effect of a bad contract.  Name a player with a bad contract that was traded for something good?

Bad contract? That's pretty much the going rate for a 1A/B centre. It's definitely a movable contract, but why would you sell low on him now anyway?

Thats the thing, he is not a number 1 center and never will be.  Now that he isn't producing, that contract is an albatross.