ya.

Leafs D is better than a lot of these people think...
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Definitely lots of room to improve, but over paying for UFA D isn't the answer. I think we should inquire about Kulikov and Alzner, but forget it if that's their price tag.

Del Zotto seems like somebody we should look into. If we could get him done for about $3.5m for 3/4 years that might interesting.

I'm also wondering if Lou (and a number of other GMs) are trying to wait out McPhee for his remaining D. However, if guys like Kulikov and Alzner are going for those prices($5M+ WITH term), if McPhee prices the D that he has left to sell well then he could make off like a bandit on/after July 1.

ya.

Leafs D is better than a lot of these people think...
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Yeah, I either want a big block buster trade for a big fish D, or just go with what the leafs have. Try some youth out (dermott) or maybe one of the guy they just signed from Europe can surprise. They made the playoffs last year with rotating garbage in the 4/5/6 spots. I'm sure they can replace those types from within.

Definitely lots of room to improve, but over paying for UFA D isn't the answer. I think we should inquire about Kulikov and Alzner, but forget it if that's their price tag.

Del Zotto seems like somebody we should look into. If we could get him done for about $3.5m for 3/4 years that might interesting.

I'm also wondering if Lou (and a number of other GMs) are trying to wait out McPhee for his remaining D. However, if guys like Kulikov and Alzner are going for those prices($5M+ WITH term), if McPhee prices the D that he has left to sell well then he could make off like a bandit on/after July 1.
- As_I_See_It

the expansion draft was kinda scary because i thought maybe they'd get a 3/4 guy and the Leafs already have enough of those guys.. Either get a big name or just go with what we have.. Rosen might surprise, Dermott could make the jump too.

Yeah, I either want a big block buster trade for a big fish D, or just go with what the leafs have. Try some youth out (dermott) or maybe one of the guy they just signed from Europe can surprise. They made the playoffs last year with rotating garbage in the 4/5/6 spots. I'm sure they can replace those types from within.
- bryant

yeah exactly.

just a little yeah
- Arctic_AARDVARK

the expansion draft was kinda scary because i thought maybe they'd get a 3/4 guy and the Leafs already have enough of those guys.. Either get a big name or just go with what we have.. Rosen might surprise, Dermott could make the jump too.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Great post! and Rosen and Borgman! You guys should check out their highlight videos! Some of the guys from their respective fan bases are not to happy to see them go,but that said that they wouldn't be to surprised if they make the nhl next season! Borgman though being the closer of the two, and their signings were like getting two free later round 1st picks imho and that harmonic trade! That Luo didn't do!!

Soooo... You basically want to make a mediocre UFA 3/4 D the highest paid player on the team?

(frank).
That.
Noise.

That isn't the price of adding good D, that's the price you pay if you're desperate and looking to screw your cap up with bullpoop signings.
- As_I_See_It

He'd be the highest paid for a year or two. With the cost of good Dmen being so high it's really a case of being willing to pay or else you risk having huge gaps in your blueline. Especially if injuries happen.

There's simply no cap issues on this team. c'mon man it's basic math.

JVR isn't back after next year: 4.25m off the books, as I bet he gets offered 6-6.5 on a 6 year deal after next year(look at his stats and tell me he won't get good money).

Even Bozak will be in line to get well over 5 as he's great value at 4.2 and as much as I think he's worth good money for all he does I just don't see us giving him the kind of deal other teams do.

5 years for Either Kuli or Alzner at 5-5.5 is honestly nothing. This team has more cap space than it'll know what to do with even after the entry level deals are finished.

Definitely lots of room to improve, but over paying for UFA D isn't the answer. I think we should inquire about Kulikov and Alzner, but forget it if that's their price tag.

Del Zotto seems like somebody we should look into. If we could get him done for about $3.5m for 3/4 years that might interesting.

I'm also wondering if Lou (and a number of other GMs) are trying to wait out McPhee for his remaining D. However, if guys like Kulikov and Alzner are going for those prices($5M+ WITH term), if McPhee prices the D that he has left to sell well then he could make off like a bandit on/after July 1.
- As_I_See_It

Yeah Del Zotto would be great at 3/4 the cost of Kuli/Alzner and due to play 3/4 the number of games because of injury

I do think the Leafs should avoid filling their 5-7 spots on the blueline with older veterans and instead give those spots to younger guys who've done their time in the system and now need to get real exposure to the NHL.

So spare me a social media shredding but is anyone on the Thornton/Kovalchuk train?

Leafs are in a unique situation with 2 more years of Marner/Matthews ELC. I think we could sell a couple of vets 2 year deals, high cap (because we have it). This would allow us to capitalize on the ELC situations.

Sign Jumbo/Kovy to two year 6M per deals and run this:

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Kovalchuk - Thornton - Marner
JVR - Kadri - Brown
Komorov - Bozak - Kapanen/Soshnikov
Martin/Leivo

I'm at your mercy

So spare me a social media shredding but is anyone on the Thornton/Kovalchuk train?

Leafs are in a unique situation with 2 more years of Marner/Matthews ELC. I think we could sell a couple of vets 2 year deals, high cap (because we have it). This would allow us to capitalize on the ELC situations.

Sign Jumbo/Kovy to two year 6M per deals and run this:

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Kovalchuk - Thornton - Marner
JVR - Kadri - Brown
Komorov - Bozak - Kapanen/Soshnikov
Martin/Leivo

I'm at your mercy
- steve362

I'm definitely on the kovalchuk train. 2 maybe 3 year max term though for him.

Kovalchuk Matthews nylander line

Not sure about Thornton though. Maybe a 1-2 year deal. Depends how he heals from the knee surgeries.

He'd be the highest paid for a year or two. With the cost of good Dmen being so high it's really a case of being willing to pay or else you risk having huge gaps in your blueline. Especially if injuries happen.

There's simply no cap issues on this team. c'mon man it's basic math.

JVR isn't back after next year: 4.25m off the books, as I bet he gets offered 6-6.5 on a 6 year deal after next year(look at his stats and tell me he won't get good money).

Even Bozak will be in line to get well over 5 as he's great value at 4.2 and as much as I think he's worth good money for all he does I just don't see us giving him the kind of deal other teams do.

5 years for Either Kuli or Alzner at 5-5.5 is honestly nothing. This team has more cap space than it'll know what to do with even after the entry level deals are finished.
- AngryWhiteMale

I dislike the idea that it's ok to over spend on players because we have lots of cap space. That's how teams end up in trouble. Continue making smart cap decisions so that when guys need raises or you really need room for one more good player, you actually have that space, rather than having wasted it on someone like Kris Russel.


You might be right about JVR and Bozak, but then again, maybe not. Maybe we'll give JVR a slight raise and keep him. He may want to stay with a team on the rise, in a city he possibly likes...who knows for sure. Maybe Bozak will be kept too. He's a decent player and a center. You can never have too many centers and if he signs a reasonable deal, I don't mind him staying.

I'm definitely on the kovalchuk train. 2 maybe 3 year max term though for him.

Kovalchuk Matthews nylander line

Not sure about Thornton though. Maybe a 1-2 year deal. Depends how he heals from the knee surgeries.
- bryant

Kovalchuk could score 70 goals with Thornton/Marner feeding him all the time

I wonder where the Leafs had Liljegren ranked on their prospects list.

Yeah Del Zotto would be great at 3/4 the cost of Kuli/Alzner and due to play 3/4 the number of games because of injury
- AngryWhiteMale

Right, because Kulikov is a shining example of health and durability. Only missed 35 games this season.

So spare me a social media shredding but is anyone on the Thornton/Kovalchuk train?

Leafs are in a unique situation with 2 more years of Marner/Matthews ELC. I think we could sell a couple of vets 2 year deals, high cap (because we have it). This would allow us to capitalize on the ELC situations.

Sign Jumbo/Kovy to two year 6M per deals and run this:

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Kovalchuk - Thornton - Marner
JVR - Kadri - Brown
Komorov - Bozak - Kapanen/Soshnikov
Martin/Leivo


I'm at your mercy
- steve362

Kovalchuk for 2/3 years would be good. He'd be a liability after that.

Joe doesn't come to T.O. And I don't think we have room for him down the middle IMO

So spare me a social media shredding but is anyone on the Thornton/Kovalchuk train?

Leafs are in a unique situation with 2 more years of Marner/Matthews ELC. I think we could sell a couple of vets 2 year deals, high cap (because we have it). This would allow us to capitalize on the ELC situations.

Sign Jumbo/Kovy to two year 6M per deals and run this:

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Kovalchuk - Thornton - Marner
JVR - Kadri - Brown
Komorov - Bozak - Kapanen/Soshnikov
Martin/Leivo

I'm at your mercy
- steve362

I've always been a big Joe Thornton fan, so I'd love it.

What do we want Kovalchuk for? We have scoring depth. I'd rather we resign JVR if we're going to pay for a winger; he'll probably put up better numbers.

Thorton would be interesting if Bozak is moved, but I don't see it.

Throw 8M at Shattenkirk for 3 years.

What do we want Kovalchuk for? We have scoring depth. I'd rather we resign JVR if we're going to pay for a winger; he'll probably put up better numbers.

Thorton would be interesting if Bozak is moved, but I don't see it.

Throw 8M at Shattenkirk for 3 years.
- gravyface

The thought is signing Kovy for 3 years is better than having JVR for 6-8 years at around the same AVV.

I'm willing to bet Kovy still has it. He was a PPG player his whole career and just had a hell of a season in the KHL. People saying he won't put up good numbers are most likely going to be wrong

The thought is signing Kovy for 3 years is better than having JVR for 6-8 years at around the same AVV.

I'm willing to bet Kovy still has it. He was a PPG player his whole career and just had a hell of a season in the KHL. People saying he won't put up good numbers are most likely going to be wrong
- Santo_44

I don't think we'd have to offer JVR 6-8 years; that's crazy.

He'd probably do 5 years, he wants to stay here, he knows the window is now.

KHL is a garbage league and the game is so much faster, younger now. I don't see him putting up anything special, not for what he's going to want.

new blog everyone