Unofficial 2013-2014 Armchair GM Thread

[Britishbulldog]

Do we need a franchise forward?  St Louis doesn't really have one.

Steen scored at a 41 goal, 77 point pace this year. That's more or less Phil Kessel.

Steen is the kind of player we need Leaf scouts to pin point to draft, not the kind of player we mortgage the future to trade for.

 

[AvroArrow]

I think the difference is that their forwards, while they may not put up the highest point totals, are comparatively more in the Patrice Bergeron mold of legitimate 200-foot, physical players who are strong offensively and defensively.  Bergeron doesn't light the offensive stat sheet on fire, but he's arguably just as important, if not more important, a player as a lot of the top scorers.  I think that's where St. Louis is a very, very strong team.

Completely agree.  Realistically, whether we have Kessel or not, we should be after the same types of players.


Edit:  I guess my point is, if we're loaded with Bergeron type players, do we really care if we don't have a Kessel?  I don't think I would.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Speaking of Steen, hopefully Blues fans are well aware of his SH% early in the season compared to later, as well as for his career.  To avoid sticker shock next season.

 

[Kin]

Steen is the kind of player we need Leaf scouts to pin point to draft, not the kind of player we mortgage the future to trade for.

Yes, if only the Leafs scouting staff could draft someone like Alex Steen.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Steen is the kind of player we need Leaf scouts to pin point to draft, not the kind of player we mortgage the future to trade for.

Yes, if only the Leafs scouting staff could draft someone like Alex Steen.

*cries*

 

[AvroArrow]

Do we need a franchise forward?  St Louis doesn't really have one.

Steen scored at a 41 goal, 77 point pace this year. That's more or less Phil Kessel.

Sure, but if you to years past, they were still a good team with him playing more inline with his career numbers.

Point taken, though.  Maybe Boston is a bit better example?

 

[Britishbulldog]

Steen is the kind of player we need Leaf scouts to pin point to draft, not the kind of player we mortgage the future to trade for.

Yes, if only the Leafs scouting staff could draft someone like Alex Steen.

*cries*

The way the Leafs have not held onto youth and had them develop has been quite the shame.

Anyway, I think I will log out and read some more articles about how the Leafs should trade Gardiner and Kadri for experienced vets since the Leafs youngsters have some holes in their games and make mistakes as well....

 

[Kin]

Sure, but if you to years past, they were still a good team with him playing more inline with his career numbers.

True but in theory "good" shouldn't be the benchmark.

Point taken, though.  Maybe Boston is a bit better example?

I think Bergeron is that, more or less. Boston's more an example of how you can be creative in deploying a franchise forward if you've got many other really good forwards. Bergeron is on a 30 goal, 63 point pace playing on a line with Brad Marchand and Reilly Smith while getting 16 minutes, or roughly 4 full minutes fewer than Phil Kessel, of ES + PP ice time a night.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The Boston model also relies on having perennial Vezina, Norris, and Selke trophy candidates all on the team.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

The Boston model also relies on having perennial Vezina, Norris, and Selke trophy candidates all on the team.

If I was GM I would only sign and draft Vezina, Norris and Selke winners.  But that's just me.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The Boston model also relies on having perennial Vezina, Norris, and Selke trophy candidates all on the team.

If I was GM I would only sign and draft Vezina, Norris and Selke winners.  But that's just me.

If I was your teams president I would allow that.

 

[Britishbulldog]

The Boston model also relies on having perennial Vezina, Norris, and Selke trophy candidates all on the team.

If I was GM I would only sign and draft Vezina, Norris and Selke winners.  But that's just me.

If I was your teams president I would allow that.

;D

Geez guys, I am trying to work here and I am sure people are wondering why I am laughing!

 

[AvroArrow]

The Boston model also relies on having perennial Vezina, Norris, and Selke trophy candidates all on the team.

As much as we like to 'LOL' at JvR for Schenn, Rask for Raycroft... UGH... I friggin' hate JFJ...

 

[pmrules]

I would also seriously consider trading Kessel for a bone-fide #1 Norris Caliber Defense-man that will be one for the next 5-10 years (don't know of any that are available as there are only handful of these guys out there).  I'm not giving up on Kessel, but he is our #1 asset right now, and that's the only way to get that d-man that we need.

I understand your idea, but then who do we trade to acquire the franchise forward that we need?

I understand the concern.  I'd still consider it.  What's more important?  Franchise D-man or Franchise forward?  I'm more of the type to build from the net out and Bernier with a Norris Candidate/Phaneuf/Reilly/Gardiner is pretty good. 

We'd still have Kadri/JVR/Bozak plus whatever you can get for Lupul/Reimer/Franson and Kulemin or his equivalent in money.

Anyways - its a pipe dream anyway.

 

[pmrules]

The Boston model also relies on having perennial Vezina, Norris, and Selke trophy candidates all on the team.

Boston got their perennial vezina and norris candidates outside of the draft - so its possible for us.  We are possibly half way there depending on how we feel about Bernier. 

Also, getting back to my Franchise Forward vs Franchise D-man, Boston had traded or lost Thornton/Kessel/Savard/Seguin in the last few years (franchise forwards) and are still among the favourites to win the Stanley Cup the past few years.

 

[Jalili]

I understand the concern.  I'd still consider it.  What's more important?  Franchise D-man or Franchise forward?  I'm more of the type to build from the net out and Bernier with a Norris Candidate/Phaneuf/Reilly/Gardiner is pretty good. 

We'd still have Kadri/JVR/Bozak plus whatever you can get for Lupul/Reimer/Franson and Kulemin or his equivalent in money.

Anyways - its a pipe dream anyway.

Because that franchise forward is a winger and not a center, I think it makes the decision a bit easier to pick the franchise D-man.

 

[L K]

The Boston model also relies on having perennial Vezina, Norris, and Selke trophy candidates all on the team.

If I was GM I would only sign and draft Vezina, Norris and Selke winners.  But that's just me.

If I was your teams president I would allow that.

If I was your owner I would be concerned at how much money you were spending on free agents and would need to see projections on the effectiveness of raising ticket prices before I would sign the cheques.

 

[wnc096]

The Boston model also relies on having perennial Vezina, Norris, and Selke trophy candidates all on the team.

As much as we like to 'LOL' at JvR for Schenn, Rask for Raycroft... UGH... I friggin' hate JFJ...

No Doubt that Rask is a good goalie...but its boston's team that puts him over the top.  I mean Thomas won multiple Vezina's behind Chara and Co.  Hell even their backups has outrageous stats:

Name            GAA  W  L  T SvPct
Niklas Svedberg 1.97 1  0  0 0.943
Tuukka Rask    2.06 35 15 6 0.929
Chad Johnson    2.07 17 3  3 0.926

 

[Rebel_1812]

Steen is the kind of player we need Leaf scouts to pin point to draft, not the kind of player we mortgage the future to trade for.

Yes, if only the Leafs scouting staff could draft someone like Alex Steen.

*cries*

The way the Leafs have not held onto youth and had them develop has been quite the shame.

Anyway, I think I will log out and read some more articles about how the Leafs should trade Gardiner and Kadri for experienced vets since the Leafs youngsters have some holes in their games and make mistakes as well....

This year from steen is an abberation, like that of jason blake.  He won't be hitting 40 goals again. 

 

[Tigger]

A compromise 69.5 cap and shedding skin, well, except for Kulemin and Komarov... two inexperienced dmen plus two wingers still needed...

FORWARDS

JVR ($4.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($8.000m)
                      Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / Kulemin ($3.800m)
                      Peter Holland ($1.151m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Bodie ($0.700m) / Trevor Smith ($0.750m) / komarov ($2.500m)
Jerry D'Amigo ($0.851m) / David Broll ($0.591m) /

DEFENSEMEN

Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m)
Jake Gardiner ($2.200m) / Morgan Rielly ($0.894m)
T.J. Brennan ($0.800m) / Petter Granberg ($0.800m)
Paul Ranger ($1.200m) /

GOALTENDERS

Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
greiss peters ($1.000m)

RETAINED SALARIES (1.41% of upper limit)
Tim Gleason ($1.000m?25.00%)

(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,500,000; CAP PAYROLL: $55,886,000; BONUSES: $950,000
CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $13,614,000


I wouldn't be opposed to plugging those two wing spots with Jagr and Morrow for a year, no matter, that much capspace gives the Leafs some flex.