Roman Polak to Leafs

[Peter D.]

I don't really mind the trade of Gunnarsson because I thought he was vastly overrated for what he actually provided.  However, to give up a pick on top of him as well as retain some salary for Polak makes very little sense.

Gunnarsson's steady style should translate well in St. Louis's system on the 2nd pairing.  Polak should be more physical than Gunnarsson, but can't foresee much more than that.  Making the price paid that much more puzzling.

If there is one benefit to come out of this, it is that Gardiner or Rielly should now see 1st line minutes, and justifiably so.  Gunnarsson just never did it for me as a top pairing guy.

 

[Zee]

I was a fan of Gunmarson a few seasons ago but since that hip thing he hasn't been the same. Based on how bad the Leafs have been they to change things up. I expect more to come.

 

[x.jr.benchwarmer]

The more intriguing feature of this trade is when Darren Dreger is on TSN defending the direction of the stellar Leaf management and of course his only source of inside information, Dave Nonis.

 

[AvroArrow]

As much as I would love that, I just can't see it. We just have too many decent-to-good players vs Buffalo as an example.

Carlyle would have to surpass even his own low bar to do this and I think just having a healthy Bernier will crater this hope.

We're stuck in no-man's land again - 16th to 24th.

This is my worry.  With Kessel, JvR, Phaneuf, and Bernier, we just won't be bad enough to hit the basement.

 

[bakeapples]

The tank is on!

Meanwhile in Mimico, David Clarkson falls down again!

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

This is my worry.  With Kessel, JvR, Phaneuf, and Bernier, we just won't be bad enough to hit the basement.

Maybe the Leafs have no intentions of being anywhere near the bottom?

 

[AvroArrow]

This is my worry.  With Kessel, JvR, Phaneuf, and Bernier, we just won't be bad enough to hit the basement.

Maybe the Leafs have no intentions of being anywhere near the bottom?

Well, they certainly aren't getting any better, are they?

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

This is my worry.  With Kessel, JvR, Phaneuf, and Bernier, we just won't be bad enough to hit the basement.

Maybe the Leafs have no intentions of being anywhere near the bottom?

Well, they certainly aren't getting any better, are they?

It's June 28th.

 

[Stickytape]

I will really miss Gunnar. Even when he was hurt, I rarely found cause to complain about his play.

I really don't like these "I guess I'll have to wait and see how it turns out" deals. Even lateral moves make me excited at the possibilities - here I'm just trying to figure out what Nonis is thinking because I don't get it.

Welcome to the team, Polak. My condolences.

 

[AvroArrow]

This is my worry.  With Kessel, JvR, Phaneuf, and Bernier, we just won't be bad enough to hit the basement.

Maybe the Leafs have no intentions of being anywhere near the bottom?

Well, they certainly aren't getting any better, are they?

It's June 28th.

Yeah, and we've been saying that for about 8 years now.  Yet, we were still 8th worst overall this year.

And, in case you didn't notice, we just downgraded, and PAID to do so.

Do you expect me to be positive about continuous ineptitude?  This team sucks from top to bottom.

 

[Rebel_1812]

This is my worry.  With Kessel, JvR, Phaneuf, and Bernier, we just won't be bad enough to hit the basement.

Maybe the Leafs have no intentions of being anywhere near the bottom?

Well, they certainly aren't getting any better, are they?

It's June 28th.

There aren't any UFA deals.  Remember how Burke tried to get Brad Richards but the contract was too expensive.  He was just bought out.  Same thing with Riberio.  I think bad UFA contracts are the norm not the exception.

 

[AvroArrow]

This is my worry.  With Kessel, JvR, Phaneuf, and Bernier, we just won't be bad enough to hit the basement.

Maybe the Leafs have no intentions of being anywhere near the bottom?

By the way champ, since you either couldn't or didn't bother to read the context, my comment was in reference to the idea that the Leafs might be trying to make a run at McDavid.  So, thanks for playing.

 

[Redleaf]

Just for those keeping up.  A team that struggled significantly to play defense are not bringing back: Gunnarsson, Kulemin and McClement

But are in talks to try and retain Raymond and Franson.

Well, a lot of that is kind of moot since they decided to retain the man responsible for the porous defensive system. So, questionable decisions everywhere.

I see them taking a real good run at McDavid.

As much as I would love that, I just can't see it. We just have too many decent-to-good players vs Buffalo as an example.

Carlyle would have to surpass even his own low bar to do this and I think just having a healthy Bernier will crater this hope.

We're stuck in no-man's land again - 16th to 24th.

It wouldn't take much though for this team to sink down into that lottery pick territory. A major injury to either Bernier or Kessel would probably do it all by itself. Heck, a Clarkson type transition season for Polak could do it.

 

[mr grieves]

This is my worry.  With Kessel, JvR, Phaneuf, and Bernier, we just won't be bad enough to hit the basement.

Maybe the Leafs have no intentions of being anywhere near the bottom?

Well, they certainly aren't getting any better, are they?

It's June 28th.

And their brain trust is blaming last season's failure on: early season injuries/suspensions to McLaren, Orr, Clarkson, Fraser; not having Komarov; the absence of Dave Bolland; shortage of 'grit' on the back end; etc. They're keeping their coach. They're not even in on the possible center upgrade. Nothing here suggests they have plans to do the things necessary to get better before next season.

Whatever. Even if they don't land McDavid but only flounder into a top 10 pick next year, they've been doing okay with those. In 5 years, the next management group could have a pretty good core to work with.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Damien Cox  @DamoSpin
Roman Polak right handed shot, plays with a physical edge.  Opposite of Carl Gunnarson.

Jeff Simmons  @realjeffsimmons
Roman Polak is 28 years old. Has two more years on his contract with a salary cap hit of $2.75 million, per @capgeek.

 

[Kin]

I really don't like these "I guess I'll have to wait and see how it turns out" deals. Even lateral moves make me excited at the possibilities - here I'm just trying to figure out what Nonis is thinking because I don't get it.

I think the thought process here is pretty clear. Nonis either values the kind of player Polak is more than Gunnarsson or he just thinks that Gunnarsson isn't as good as Polak.

Considering the nature of the trade, it seems pretty clear that St. Louis thinks more or less the same thing otherwise we probably would have seen a straight swap.

 

[Kin]

Roman Polak on his own is an ok addition.  He's a 4-5 defenseman though.  He hits stuff, he plays physical and skates adequately enough.  He's not an offensive player. 

The Leafs however traded a 3-4 defenseman + a 3rd round pick + retaining salary.  This management team is absolutely stupid.

If the Blues had been willing to make a straight swap of Gunnarsson for Polak, that trade probably would have been made. The reality is that Gunnarsson isn't a top 4 defenseman on St. Louis either, not with Pieterangelo, Shattenkirk, Jackman and Bouwmeester in the mix. Gunnar might be their #4 guy on the PP and #5 guy overall, or more or less what Polak was, but it's pretty clear that they don't have grand designs for him. Polak, on the other hand, could very well be the Leafs #4 guy next year, especially if he takes on more of a PK role.

That's why advanced stats aren't super useful here. You can either hold the flaws of the Maple Leafs against Gunnarsson, in which case Polak looks better, or you can use relative numbers in which case Polak is unduly penalized for playing with the best group of defensemen in the NHL. That Gunnarsson looks better compared to the Leafs' shamble a defensive grouping than Polak does to the team of Olympians he was playing with isn't really saying much either.

 

[gunnar36]

Well I guess I will be changing my screen name soon then... it was a good run Gunnar!

I really think move has a lot to do with aquiring a right hand shot on D, since Polak is the only one under contract now...Franson would be a second if signed and possibly Grannberg may get a look this season. 

This was something I think that clearly hurt the Leafs all season with dmen playing on their off sides and teams forcing them to move the puck up on their backhand sides.  In fact it might not be a coincidence that both the Kings and Rangers each had a RH shot paired with a LH shot in all 3 of their pairings.  It does make it easier to pass D to D and move the puck up the ice.

 

[Rebel_1812]

Roman Polak on his own is an ok addition.  He's a 4-5 defenseman though.  He hits stuff, he plays physical and skates adequately enough.  He's not an offensive player. 

The Leafs however traded a 3-4 defenseman + a 3rd round pick + retaining salary.  This management team is absolutely stupid.

If the Blues had been willing to make a straight swap of Gunnarsson for Polak, that trade probably would have been made. The reality is that Gunnarsson isn't a top 4 defenseman on St. Louis either, not with Pieterangelo, Shattenkirk, Jackman and Bouwmeester in the mix. Gunnar might be their #4 guy on the PP and #5 guy overall, or more or less what Polak was, but it's pretty clear that they don't have grand designs for him. Polak, on the other hand, could very well be the Leafs #4 guy next year, especially if he takes on more of a PK role.

That's why advanced stats aren't super useful here. You can either hold the flaws of the Maple Leafs against Gunnarsson, in which case Polak looks better, or you can use relative numbers in which case Polak is unduly penalized for playing with the best group of defensemen in the NHL. That Gunnarsson looks better compared to the Leafs' shamble a defensive grouping than Polak does to the team of Olympians he was playing with isn't really saying much either.

as much as it pains me to agree with Nik, that is the point I was trying to make.  Gunnarsson is the big minute defensive guy on a team that has been horrible defensively for years.  He has to been seen as part of the problem.  This is a good shake up move because Dion isn't going anywhere.

 

[Courtnall]

Most of the day I've been feeling sour about this trade, but we are not a contender plain and simple and probably won't be one for a few years yet. He's allowing our two brightest prospects a chance to flourish with increased ice time and playing on their proper side. The trade itself wasn't great that's for sure, but this could really ending up benefitting the leafs for what it means to Reilly and gardiner. I like that Nonis is showing confidence in them. At the end of the day I like this deal for what it means for those two. Sad to see Gunnar go because he was our most reliable defenceman. Let's just hope that Reilly and Gardiner excel in their new roles.