Yeah, but I wouldn't go much higher than that for a guy that's a UFA at season's end unless it were a sign and trade. Even then, Ott isn't a guy you pay a premium for. Let's say it was a sign and trade, would Lander, Gernat, and a pick suffice? The pick probably being a 2015 3rd or perhaps a 2nd.
- MaximumBone

In terms of value it's probably fair but it's a pointless trade for us. We have like 4 guys that are better versions of Lander. Gernat's a nice prospect but like lander, we have a lot of players like him at that position so it doesn't make much sense.

In terms of value it's probably fair but it's a pointless trade for us. We have like 4 guys that are better versions of Lander. Gernat's a nice prospect but like lander, we have a lot of players like him at that position so it doesn't make much sense.
- Sabresfan-365

You have a bunch of skinny, 6'5", offensively-skilled Dmen in your system? I can understand your qualms with Lander as he and Larsson are two VERY similar players and you also have Girgensons and McCormick, but I don't think you have a prospect quite like Gernat. Most of your Dmen and prospects are on the defensively-focused end save for JGL.

Excellent blog Ryan.

Excellent blog Ryan.
- Yeti1181

So we ve continually switched coaches with similar results. Whats the next plan of attack? Bachman played well so we can run with him for a bit to see. Now d and forward group are what we are looking at.

....Outta the playoffs by november? Wow. What's the silver lining here?
- hugefemale dog77

Hopefully K Lowe finally gets his pink slip and another high draft pick (which will probably be another small talented scorer).

Hopefully K Lowe finally gets his pink slip and another high draft pick (which will probably be another small talented scorer).
- Jjp202

We don't need no stinking defence
-Kevin Lowe

We don't need no stinking defense
-Kevin Lowe
- Yeti1181

+1

Chin up buttercup

Every team has their down swings, the leafs have been down for ages and ages. The nucks usually are a bottom feeder and could be heading that way in a few years.

The oilers are too talented to fail forever, you'll be on top and this team is very capable of streaking to a playoff spot if they catch fire.

This about sums it up.
The first Leafs loss this season crushed most of what was left of my hope. I realized it was the same old song. The difference for me now is the progression from rage to apathy. Having 2 die hard Leafs fans in my family should have made this one stung, but I simply shrugged.

Like you, I'm life long and always will be, but at this point I'm shrugging until they're bonafide. Done with the injuries, done with the excuses, done with the future. I'll watch and I'll shrug.

And I'm a Bills fan, so I'm destined to be unhappy with my sports life.
- Buff_jordan14

Oilers and Bills here too. At least I'm still in the honeymoon phase with Manuel, Woods and Alonso

Coburn for Smid, Gernat, and our 2015 2nd
Ott for Lander and a pick (or Musil)

It shouldn't take any or our top-6 to acquire guys like those I mentioned (assuming the teams they play for are open to moving them). The problem in making deals this early is very few teams are looking at deals now as there aren't enough who have resigned themselves to failure and become sellers. Teams are still trying to figure out what they have and what they need. The few sellers there are don't want to sell now because they want to wait to create a bidding war for their assets.

Buffalo is currently the only team in "Sell Mode" while Philly (before this recent stretch) might've been looking for a move to shake up their roster. Beyond those two, maybe Florida could be open to a move, but with them being mid-rebuild like us, they're unlikely to trade away any valuable pieces.
- MaximumBone

If we can make those trades, make em. In fact, if that's the cost, we should have made those trades long ago.

Oilers suck from the head office to the water boy. Heck the water boy they have now is probably Steve Smiths grandson. Krueger and Renney are laughing after every oilers loss.
- Itsjustarash

and just imagine...as bad as things are, they are STILL less of a disappointment than the Canucks!

Most hated team in sports with the longest record of futility. Now THAT'S failure.

Chin up buttercup

Every team has their down swings, the leafs have been down for ages and ages. The nucks usually are a bottom feeder and could be heading that way in a few years.

The oilers are too talented to fail forever, you'll be on top and this team is very capable of streaking to a playoff spot if they catch fire.
- Troutback

This is nice.


Unfortunately the team sucks balls.

How much would the addition of the kind of dman you could get with a 1st + Klefbom raise us in the standings?

How much would the addition of the kind of dman you could get with a 1st + Klefbom raise us in the standings?
- Morris

i don't think that much. your 1st is pretty attractive right now and klefbom is a good prospect, but that's not enough of a package to get you that top-pairing shutdown defender and i'm not sure klefbom's value is really that high.

i don't think that much. your 1st is pretty attractive right now and klefbom is a good prospect, but that's not enough of a package to get you that top-pairing shutdown defender and i'm not sure klefbom's value is really that high.
- rangerdanger94

Without really knowing who's available, I think it could fetch the right guy. JBo was had for a 1st, two so-so prospects and a conditional 4th. Burns + 2nd for Setoguchi, Coyle and 1st (strip away the 2nd and setoguchi). Maybe add a little bit, but I think that's a starter.

Without really knowing who's available, I think it could fetch the right guy. JBo was had for a 1st, two so-so prospects and a conditional 4th. Burns + 2nd for Setoguchi, Coyle and 1st (strip away the 2nd and setoguchi). Maybe add a little bit, but I think that's a starter.
- Morris

i guess it all depends on the market at the time. you could argue that a player like gaustad costs a 1st round pick at the deadline, so a top-pairing Dman would be 3x-4x the cost, if you know what i mean.

i just don't think there are many teams, if any, shopping or even willing to consider trading a top-pairing Dman. you'd need to find a team thats stacked on defense, out of the playoffs, and wants to go full rebuild and not try to make the playoffs next year. these guys just don't grow on trees. it would probably take an offer that the team couldn't refuse, and if a guy like that was available, you best be ready for a bidding war with teams like philly, the islanders, the avalanche, the lightening, and more all getting involved and they all have some excellent assets they could offer up.

This about sums it up.
The first Leafs loss this season crushed most of what was left of my hope. I realized it was the same old song. The difference for me now is the progression from rage to apathy. Having 2 die hard Leafs fans in my family should have made this one stung, but I simply shrugged.

Like you, I'm life long and always will be, but at this point I'm shrugging until they're bonafide. Done with the injuries, done with the excuses, done with the future. I'll watch and I'll shrug.

And I'm a Bills fan, so I'm destined to be unhappy with my sports life.
- Buff_jordan14

God I hope the sabres don't have a rebuild like the oilers. You guys have such potential, I don't get why you are not winning.

i guess it all depends on the market at the time. you could argue that a player like gaustad costs a 1st round pick at the deadline, so a top-pairing Dman would be 3x-4x the cost, if you know what i mean.

i just don't think there are many teams, if any, shopping or even willing to consider trading a top-pairing Dman. you'd need to find a team thats stacked on defense, out of the playoffs, and wants to go full rebuild and not try to make the playoffs next year. these guys just don't grow on trees. it would probably take an offer that the team couldn't refuse, and if a guy like that was available, you best be ready for a bidding war with teams like philly, the islanders, the avalanche, the lightening, and more all getting involved and they all have some excellent assets they could offer up.
- rangerdanger94

Good post.

One advantage that we have is that our first looks great this year so far. Buffalo is a good partner for us right now, and I think taking on a long cap hit like Myers or Ehrhoff's could be a benefit to them which might allow us to keep costs down. Regier is traditionally thorny to deal with but there could be something there.

Chicago has never been afraid to re-tool from a position of strength, so you look at a guy like Hjalmarsson who's technically a #3 guy but could blossom into a real difference-maker here. Maybe throw them one of our roster dmen to compensate.

Lastly, maybe a team like Washington is ready to move on from Mike Green. He's had his question marks in the past, and the future of the D core seems to be Carlson and Alzner. He's not always healthy so that could potentially. Maybe they'd want to trade him when his value is back higher, or maybe they want to take the opportunity to unload him now.

God I hope the sabres don't have a rebuild like the oilers. You guys have such potential, I don't get why you are not winning.
- jaumiller

Goaltending..plain and simple..thats why.

Go to NHL.com, bring up the boxscore of the Leafs v Oilers game and click on the video of the third goal (the second by Kessel). Watch it a few times, focussing on #64. Yakupov is either clueless or the most selfish player I've seen in years....or both. He can't be on an NHL team with that kind of play.

Upon further review, he was on the ice for ALL four goals and was flat footed and caught out of position for all of them.

I think he needs to either go to OKC or to another team.

Good post.

One advantage that we have is that our first looks great this year so far. Buffalo is a good partner for us right now, and I think taking on a long cap hit like Myers or Ehrhoff's could be a benefit to them which might allow us to keep costs down. Regier is traditionally thorny to deal with but there could be something there.

- Morris

I really feel, and have for awhile that we are going to see a trade come down between the 2 teams that involves significant pieces. What that will be I am not sure. But I would have to assume for Buffalo it would center around Ehrhoff or Myers.

Go to NHL.com, bring up the boxscore of the Leafs v Oilers game and click on the video of the third goal (the second by Kessel). Watch it a few times, focussing on #64. Yakupov is either clueless or the most selfish player I've seen in years....or both. He can't be on an NHL team with that kind of play.

Upon further review, he was on the ice for ALL four goals and was flat footed and caught out of position for all of them.

I think he needs to either go to OKC or to another team.
- JLO961

but only for a superstar defenseman like subban or karlsson or OEL right?

and the other team's 1st obviously.

It seems like MacT wants to hold onto every player, in fear of what if..what if..
Well, everyone laughed at Burke, criticized him,called him every name in the book when he traded 2 firsts and a second for Kessel..5 years later, he is looking like a genius!! MacT needs to take a chance, trade a pick and a high end prospect to address what he needs now..a goalie..not all first overall picks will come too fruition and become superstars, as we all know..trade yakupov now while value is high, get what you need..you don't need him.

Go to NHL.com, bring up the boxscore of the Leafs v Oilers game and click on the video of the third goal (the second by Kessel). Watch it a few times, focussing on #64. Yakupov is either clueless or the most selfish player I've seen in years....or both. He can't be on an NHL team with that kind of play.

Upon further review, he was on the ice for ALL four goals and was flat footed and caught out of position for all of them.

I think he needs to either go to OKC or to another team.
- JLO961

No other team would want him, he's such a flight risk at this point. I'm kind of glad miller won't go to Edmonton because I know Darcy would try and get yakapov. Send him to the ahl and let him work his way up. He sounds and looks like an over confident teenager that doesn't know how to play with a team.