i know we have our center problems but for the teams that could possibly trade away their centers what would you guys think of dubinsky or brassard?? Be realistic though guys like getzlaf or stasny wont be traded unless they get good value, dubi and brassard can be had cheaply.

For the bajillionth time:

Komisarek isn't attractive to other teams because he sucks. No other teams want him on their roster - at any price, and at any cap hit.

If Komisarek was able to take a regular shift, he might be attractive to other teams.

He was a healthy scratch 15 times last year. That number would have been higher if he wasn't hurt so much.

He's so effing bad right now, people are embarrassed to even look at him.

You aren't saving any money if the guy makes no contributions to the team, or worse, has a negative effect.

Liles has a cap hit of $3.875 million, but only makes $2.750 million in his last year. If he is still playing at a reasonable level, he may have some attraction to teams looking to make the salary floor.

Komisarek isn't like that.

Nobody wants him - at any price.
- Atomic Wedgie

All of this doesn't change the fact that both Toskala and Jason Blake were traded.

Rant all you want, nobody's untradeable in the right situation.

Edmonton Signed Shultz

So... you mean like when the drafted Steen and Stajan with their 1st 2 picks in 2002? how'd that work out?

you take the best player available.
- Big_Lightnin

Yeah, because taking the best player available has worked out soooo well for us.

I respect that you have a different approach and that's fine, I just disagree. I'm not saying draft a poopty centre because you need a centre or if you need a keeper draft him first overall even if he shouldn't go until the middle of the second round. But it's pretty clear to me that the best way to build a team is through the draft and one of the keys to any franchise success is a first line centre, first line centres are hard to trade for and even harder to sign in free agency (see: Richards, Brad). Therefore the obvious connection is to draft your first line centre. It frustrates me that for years they have neglected the position and now are playing the "well we're trying but nobody is available" game. Obviously, because other teams were smart enough to draft them and lock them up long term!

So now we're in a no-mans land. We have a pile of defenders, most of whom are going to be in the minors for at least two more years and no centres and even if we draft a centre unless he's a first overall pick odds are he won't be ready for a few years. So we have to trade for one, likely using some of these piles of defenders...but nobody is trading their #1 centres. So now what?

The Liles signing sucks. What should have been done in my opinion: Liles traded at deadline instead of being resigned, Aulie kept, Schenn traded in a package for a first line centre. Easier said than done on the last idea, but I really think Schenn should've been in a package for a better player but most importantly a centre.
- dionschenn

no way in hell does schenn get you a number one centre.
no chance. none.

i know we have our center problems but for the teams that could possibly trade away their centers what would you guys think of dubinsky or brassard?? Be realistic though guys like getzlaf or stasny wont be traded unless they get good value, dubi and brassard can be had cheaply.
- Mapleleafs_91

just more third liners to throw in the pile.
we need elite talent.

no way in hell does schenn get you a number one centre.
no chance. none.
- Barx

In the right package, he does.

i know we have our center problems but for the teams that could possibly trade away their centers what would you guys think of dubinsky or brassard?? Be realistic though guys like getzlaf or stasny wont be traded unless they get good value, dubi and brassard can be had cheaply.
- Mapleleafs_91

I don't think you need a 2nd line center, you have a good one in Grabovski in my opinion. I also don't think either of these two players are an upgrade on Grabovski so essentially you're still left with a void on the first line and 2 second line centers.

My opinion, unless the Leafs find the deal to acquire that number 1 center they need, they might as well roll with Bozak who has chemistry with those two rather than adding more filler to try and square peg it... again.

The Liles signing sucks. What should have been done in my opinion: Liles traded at deadline instead of being resigned, Aulie kept, Schenn traded in a package for a first line centre. Easier said than done on the last idea, but I really think Schenn should've been in a package for a better player but most importantly a centre.
- dionschenn

Until he got rung in the bell, I thought Liles was the Leafs' best d-man last year. In fact, I don't think anyone was even close. His speed allowed him to get back into position. I'm actually a big fan of the guy - and I hope he can re-find that magic.

Aulie was tall. That's about the only good thing I can say about the guy. Leafs fans sooooo over-rate this guy. 36 games with the Bolts, 3 assists, less than 14 minutes a game.

And we all wanted Schenn to be traded for a centre, but at the end of the day, he didn't have high value. His footspeed is too slow, and everyone knows it.

I worry that the Philly phaithful are going to turn on that kid. It is not going to be pretty

no way in hell does schenn get you a number one centre.
no chance. none.
- Barx

He said "in a package" for a number one centre. I mean, the package might have to include a lot more stuff (first rounders, blue chip prospects, young NHLers) but he didn't say Schenn straight up.

Not that it would be worth giving up but I bet you could have got something significant for Schenn, Kadri and a first. You can just replace Schenn with someone else, like Gardiner, and get the same result though.

Again, why I think we should have drafted our centres years ago, we wouldn't be in a position of having to sell the farm to get one.

just more third liners to throw in the pile.
we need elite talent.
- Barx

Id take a gamble on dubinsky surely, could reach 60 pts with kessel and lupul, big body centerman, american, 20+ goal
Guy, and if given top minutes would probably produce with kessel and lupul

In the right package, he does.
- dionschenn

he'd be a throw in, not the key piece.
no way in hell does anyone give up a number one centre for a defensive plug

agree.
can't fight, doesn't clear the net, makes asinine giveaways, brutal defensively and has zero skill to add offensively....what the hell does he offer?
- Barx

Leadership

He said "in a package" for a number one centre. I mean, the package might have to include a lot more stuff (first rounders, blue chip prospects, young NHLers) but he didn't say Schenn straight up.

Not that it would be worth giving up but I bet you could have got something significant for Schenn, Kadri and a first. You can just replace Schenn with someone else, like Gardiner, and get the same result though.

Again, why I think we should have drafted our centres years ago, we wouldn't be in a position of having to sell the farm to get one.
- deerow84

schenn doesn't make or break any deal for a number one centre. period.

Leadership
- ky678468

Until he got rung in the bell, I thought Liles was the Leafs' best d-man last year. In fact, I don't think anyone was even close. His speed allowed him to get back into position. I'm actually a big fan of the guy - and I hope he can re-find that magic.

Aulie was tall. That's about the only good thing I can say about the guy. Leafs fans sooooo over-rate this guy. 36 games with the Bolts, 3 assists, less than 14 minutes a game.

And we all wanted Schenn to be traded for a centre, but at the end of the day, he didn't have high value. His footspeed is too slow, and everyone knows it.

I worry that the Philly phaithful are going to turn on that kid. It is not going to be pretty
- Atomic Wedgie

I think he's going to flourish in Philly. They are better defensively as a team, give up less rushes, so his speed won't be exposed. Luke is good positionally, big body, and good on the PK (generally). It's a pretty good fit depending on who he's paired with.

Id take a gamble on dubinsky surely, could reach 60 pts with kessel and lupul, big body centerman, american, 20+ goal
Guy, and if given top minutes would probably produce with kessel and lupul
- Mapleleafs_91

I like dubinsky, I just don't think he's the right fit....unless we are just trading bozak for dubinsky

I think he's going to flourish in Philly. They are better defensively as a team, give up less rushes, so his speed won't be exposed. Luke is good positionally, big body, and good on the PK (generally). It's a pretty good fit depending on who he's paired with.
- Big_Lightnin

I always liked Schenn. Seemed like a guy who cared a lot. I think the new change will be good for him and he plays a style the fans there will get behind.

I think he's going to flourish in Philly. They are better defensively as a team, give up less rushes, so his speed won't be exposed. Luke is good positionally, big body, and good on the PK (generally). It's a pretty good fit depending on who he's paired with.
- Big_Lightnin

I like dubinsky, I just don't think he's the right fit....unless we are just trading bozak for dubinsky
- Barx

Ya I don't see Dubinsky as an upgrade either, and he costs WAY more than Bozak, but doesn't address the real problem at center.

When I was younger I was pretty against it. Grew up in a pretty conservative family and what not.

Having spent a lot of time with Liz's family, I drink a lot... they like alcohol.

Crazy how it happens.
- Brian Huddle

Welcome to the dark side.

- Barx

comparatively

I've gone through line-up combos and I just don't see a spot for MacArthur, Lombardi or Connolly. They are all far too soft.
Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
JVR-Grabovski-Kulemin
Frattin-McClement-Kadri
Ashton-Steckel-Brown
- Barx

not withstanding "softness", the issue with guys like Connolly & Lombardi is their blocking roster spots.

the only saving grace of having them around at this time of year is their contracts have prevented BB from adding overpriced middling FAs.

it would seem pretty clear that BB needs to move contracts out to make room from graduating players, namely Frattin and Kadri... Armstrong was the easiest/cheapest contract to eliminate. BB has some hard work to do... which I'm sure he's trying to quietly in the background.

I'm guessing that the Komisarek contract "problem" will be addressed through the acquisition of Luongo... IF the Leafs acquire Luongo.... its the only way that could work.

I like dubinsky, I just don't think he's the right fit....unless we are just trading bozak for dubinsky
- Barx

Yeah i wouldnt mind dubinsky if we cant get stasny, getzlaf, or bobby ryan this summer.

Yeah i wouldnt mind dubinsky if we cant get stasny, getzlaf, or bobby ryan this summer.
- Mapleleafs_91

Wasnt Bobby Ryan already traded to Beefallo according to EK?

All of this doesn't change the fact that both Toskala and Jason Blake were traded.

Rant all you want, nobody's untradeable in the right situation.
- Big_Lightnin

OK, BL, be prepared for another rant. Although this one isn't quite so white-hot angry.

Leafs fans seem to think that the Toskala/Blake for Giggy trade was a hands-down win for the Leafs.

The truth was, it was a pretty good trade for both teams, and the Ducks may have actually won it.

First off, throw out Toskala. He never played a single minute as a Duck, and they flipped him to Calgary for a ham sandwich.

So the Ducks took our problem: Jason Blake. $4 million cap hit, but the Ducks never had cap problems, so it's moot. Two years at $3 million in actual salary, plus the remainder of the 2009-10 season. And his numbers weren't spectacular, but they weren't that bad either for a guy making $3 million a year. Cut him some slack for getting injured this year (he was terrible after that).

And we got Giggy. Great that he started his Leafs career with two shut-outs, but he really wasn't very good after that. Maybe you can make the case that he was half decent in 2009-10, but wow was he ever terrible in 2010-11 - especially when they paid him $7 million.

So the Ducks got Jason Blake for 2.5 seasons of meh hockey, and paid less money than if they had kept Giggy for 1.5 seasons.

Sorry, Leafs Nation, but I think the Ducks won that trade.