Britishbulldog
Active member
CarltonTheBear said:
Think the Leafs could swap MacArthur with Kadri??
The Official 2011/2012 Armchair GM thread
- Thread starter maplesyrup
- Start date
Think the Leafs could swap MacArthur with Kadri??
Britishbulldog said:
That would probably do the trick for Columbus, but I would never do it. If Kadri goes it's for an impact forward, and Carter would likely be a 2nd line guy here (or 3rd if Grabs stays).
maplesyrup
New member
CarltonTheBear said:
I'm not sure about that... Personally, I might try flipping Kulemin to the left side (assuming we keep him) and putting Carter on the right (where he's played in the past) with Grabovski as the center. If not, then Carter is my #1 center. Most likely though (since lines are rarely written in stone) he'd be both at times. If I had it my way, Mac and Connolly (especially Connolly) would be gone. I like Mac and might be fine with keeping him but he could/should be dealt for some cap relief for Grabo I think - especially if we're stuck with Connolly.
Lupul / Carter / Kessel
Kulemin / Grabo / whoever
or
Lupul / whoever / Kessel
Kulemin / Grabo / Carter
... that's how I'd roll it.
Britishbulldog
Active member
CarltonTheBear said:
That's kind of what I have been thinking too. Hence my question about Bozak. If Bozak keeps complementing Lupul and Kessel and Grabovski stays with Kulemin and ??? then Carter really would center a 3rd line of Lombardi and Armstrong.
At $5.3 MIL for 11 years I am skeptical if Burke would be interested in giving up youth for Carter as a 3rd line center which might be an impasse with Leafs and CLB...
....so then the question must be is there a center that a] is available and b] is a good fit. Or even just b] is there a center out there that would be a good fit??
Britishbulldog
Active member
Sarge said:
Interesting
caver
Active member
It seems logical that if the Leafs do trade for a center it has to be a true #1 center. When Grabo is on his game he is probably the closest thing Toronto has to a #1 guy, but when building a team on paper Connolly, Bozak and Grabovski all fit as #2's on a contender. If Burke can't swing a deal for a star center then he should just keep improving the team piece by piece. If he can upgrade any position; make the deal. He has some spare parts to do 2 for 1 deals.
Sarge said:
My problem with that first possibility is I don't think it's the right combination of players for a successful, long-term top line. All 3 are shooters, and all 3 are right-handed shots. Ideally, we're looking for a left-handed passer. If we can't find that guy, stick with Bozak or make a trade without giving up one of our top assets until that player becomes available.
As for the second possibility, boy is that an expensive second line. Also, we just gave up our best trade chip without filling our more pressing need (assuming Carter doesn't work out on the top line like I would imagine, I could be wrong).
I don't know, trading for Carter just seems like making a trade for a player because he's available. I really don't think he's a fit, and considering his contract Burke isn't going to trade for him unless he's 100% he will be a good, long-term addition to this team.
maplesyrup
New member
CarltonTheBear said:
Kulemin ~3 + Grabo ~5 + Carter 5.3 = ~13.5 mil
vs
Lombardi 3.25 + Connolly 4.75 + Armstrong 3 = 11 mil.
I don't know... I think there would be better value in that 2nd line than our current 3rd - don't you?
Anyway, I like caveman's state of mind... If you can upgrade any position do it. I'm not hell bent for Carter but I think he'd help us.
Sarge said:
Well, yeah sure, but that's like the most overpaid 3rd line in the history of the world.
Sarge said:
I think he'd make the team better too, but just not enough to justify what it would cost. Both in terms of cap space and assets required.
maplesyrup
New member
CarltonTheBear said:
Unfortunately, that's what we've got... Not good. I'm just saying I'd much rather a spendy 2nd line than an outrageously expensive 3rd.
Sarge said:
How about an affordable 2nd line (with MacArthur/Kadri/Frattin replacing Carter) that would probably produce at just about the same rate and still leave the team with enough cap flexibility to later address the teams' most pressing needs?
maplesyrup
New member
Anyone think Vancouver would listen on Hodgson? The are rumoured to be shopping for "D." Nobody is talking about him but he might be nice short AND long term solution for our hole at the #1 center spot.
maplesyrup
New member
CarltonTheBear said:
Well sure but I don't think either of those guys have produced at the level Carter has.
maplesyrup
New member
While I'm thinking of it... Why has Grabovski never been a consideration between Lupul and Kessel? - Ever.
Sarge said:
MacArthur almost outscored him last season while getting drastically less ice-time. At this point, Carter's 80 point season seems like an anomaly. In his past two seasons he's gotten about 65 points with ice-time he's probably not going to get in Toronto. Him getting 65 points in a Leafs uniform wouldn't be a guarantee. Would Kadri or Frattin outscore him next season? Probably not. But I think they could in the next 2-3 years and cost quite a bit less.
Sarge said:
I think it's partly because Kessel and Lupul look like they can score regardless of who their centre, so the downgrade on the 2nd line probably wouldn't be worth the upgrade on the 1st. But yeah, it's a little surprising it wasn't tried this season when the Mac-Grabs-Kulemin line was struggling and there were injuries to Bozak.
maplesyrup
New member
CarltonTheBear said:
Well, bird in the hand would be my argument I suppose but it wouldn't make you wrong.
bustaheims
Active member
Sarge said:
When you're building for long-term success, sometimes it's better to have the two in the bush.
maplesyrup
New member
bustaheims said:
Sure... at the same time though, Carter remaining a successful NHLer well past Kadri and Frattin do isn't out of the question either. Neither are a lock to be pensioners if you know what I mean...
bustaheims
Active member
Sarge said:
I suppose, but, considering the Leafs' overall position as an organization and all, I'd rather bet on them right now. The Leafs aren't Cup contenders and adding Carter doesn't change that now or in the future. Build for the better team, not just for the better player.