Was Ranger was in arbitration with the Leafs?
- moondawg

I don't believe he was an RFA.

I do know he has 3 RFA's to sign. Players who are far more important than Paul Ranger. Signing a guy like Ranger, when you have very little money to spend, before you make a decision on those guys is a mistake, IMO.

Logic says you lock up the important players and then fill out your depth with what's left.
- djamon

The money doesn't matter because if they don't have room for him they can send him to the AHL. If he gets claimed on waivers he gets claimed on waivers. What it does it puts some pressure on the guys who haven't signed. If Fraser (and Franson to an extent) wants to stay in Toronto he knows he has to compromise a bit because the Leafs have other options. If he doesn't want to play in Toronto then it doesn't matter anyway.

Saying the Leafs would be ok without #3 is pretty provocative stuff round these parts.
- robin_steele264

But to these fans, he is our #1 not #3. There lies the stirring of the pot.

Saying the Leafs would be ok without #3 is pretty provocative stuff round these parts.
- robin_steele264

And rightfully so, as much as I don't like that he's our guy, we are clearly better with him in our line up than not having him.

Tomas Kaberle is available and would probably come cheap, like $3 million or so.
- Gary_B.

Good. He'll be a great signing for a KHL team.

Tomas Kaberle is available and would probably come cheap, like $3 million or so.
- Gary_B.

Come On DD, you can do better.

I don't believe he was an RFA.
- MapleLeafsFTW

he was a UFA

And rightfully so, as much as I don't like that he's our guy, we are clearly better with him in our line up than not having him.
- MapleLeafsFTW

I'm not convinced of that.

Good. He'll be a great signing for a KHL team.
- Jeffmt

not even. maybe the Czech league.

I don't think he has that big of a positive effect.
- robin_steele264

Yeah...he's no Smid.

Wouldn't give up more than mil. He's incredibly out of shape and sends a weird message to our team.
- MapleLeafsFTW

Kaberle is the closest thing to a non Carlyle type of player that there is. The Leafs would be more likely to sign Chelios before that happens

I don't believe he was an RFA.
- MapleLeafsFTW

Me neither, regardless, the Leafs need to trade a dman for sure. I'm a fan of both Gardiner and Franson. I'm guessing they both have coming out parties this season. More minutes and points to go along.

Well hopefully, Gardiner is on the top pairing this season, although it will give him a bargaining chip for resigning next season he is clearly 1rst pairing caliber. We need to resign Franson and Fraser for our second pairing!

And then Gunnarson and Ranger as our third. It's not much of an improvement from last season. But if Gardiner can handle the roll our D will be solid.

Also we need to move Liles.
- MapleLeafsFTW

Hoping Liles and Gunnerson are the ones on the way out.

Grab Hainsey for cheap UFA, Gardiner is ready from what I saw in the playoffs.

Fraser was our best D last year.. Almost no one noticed it seems.
- mfreedman

That's ridiculous.

I'm not convinced of that.
- robin_steele264

How high would we have finished in the East last year without Dion? 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th?

The money doesn't matter because if they don't have room for him they can send him to the AHL. If he gets claimed on waivers he gets claimed on waivers. What it does it puts some pressure on the guys who haven't signed. If Fraser (and Franson to an extent) wants to stay in Toronto he knows he has to compromise a bit because the Leafs have other options. If he doesn't want to play in Toronto then it doesn't matter anyway.
- Jeffmt

Good analysis, I agree.

Was Ranger was in arbitration with the Leafs?
- moondawg

UFA I think.

Hoping Liles and Gunnerson are the ones on the way out.

Grab Hainsey for cheap UFA, Gardiner is ready from what I saw in the playoffs.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Everyone seems to have a hard on for Hainsey, I don't think he comes cheap and he isn't an improvement over Gunnarson in my opinion. I agree that Liles has to go though.

How high would we have finished in the East last year without Dion? 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th?
- walshyleafsfan

Dunno, what did you trade him for?

I don't think he has that big of a positive effect.
- robin_steele264

I was being a bit dramatic, and I do somewhat subscribe that no player is irreplaceable. Someone can always step up and fill in if given the opportunity.

Hell I never thought Kostka was that bad of a player last year. I feel he gets the bad rap because he was a career AHLer prior to last season. But he just signed recently with Chicago, and I have the to think the Bowman's know a little more about talent than any of us do.

The money doesn't matter because if they don't have room for him they can send him to the AHL. If he gets claimed on waivers he gets claimed on waivers. What it does it puts some pressure on the guys who haven't signed. If Fraser (and Franson to an extent) wants to stay in Toronto he knows he has to compromise a bit because the Leafs have other options. If he doesn't want to play in Toronto then it doesn't matter anyway.
- Jeffmt

Fair enough. Good point.

But to these fans, he is our #1 not #3. There lies the stirring of the pot.
- bixll

#3 was his uniform number, dumb dumb.

Me neither, regardless, the Leafs need to trade a dman for sure. I'm a fan of both Gardiner and Franson. I'm guessing they both have coming out parties this season. More minutes and points to go along.
- moondawg

I think they are using the salary cap space for negotiations, as soon as we sign Franson, Fraser, Kadri, then I think Liles is moved. If there is no interest than we will move Gunnarson.

Because he's not in his prime anymore? He's an AHL defenseman...and an average one at that. Surely we have better options than this guy?
- djamon

28 isn't in a players prime? He's not an AHL defenseman. He's an NHL defenseman who stepped away from the game and had to prove that he could still play. He showed enough in the AHL last year to get a look at the NHL level.

I was being a bit dramatic, and I do somewhat subscribe that no player is irreplaceable. Someone can always step up and fill in if given the opportunity.

Hell I never thought Kostka was that bad of a player last year. I feel he gets the bad rap because he was a career AHLer prior to last season. But he just signed recently with Chicago, and I have the to think the Bowman's know a little more about talent than any of us do.
- vermie22

I think a guy like Franson is primed for added responsibility.