herman
Well-known member
Bender said:bustaheims said:herman said:Pens picking up Reaves, and everyone chasing guys like Russell, Alzner, Methot, Girardi... copying the Leafs free agency moves from last year, eh?
This notion is popping up on Twitter already, but if Montreal gets Alzner, Tampa Bay gets Girardi, Florida continues to Tallon it up, and Ottawa continues crying into its cereal bowl by trading Phaneuf, and Boston hangs onto a fading Chara, the Leafs are looking pretty good just sitting there doing nothing.
I mean, the Leafs getting ahead in the division because other teams do stupid doesn't really improve their chances of getting out of the conference or winning the Cup, but, considering their cap situation, the mediocrity of the UFA class, the prices some of these guys are signing for already, etc., there may be wisdom is mostly standing pat this summer and sticking with smaller moves to shore up the 4th line/3rd pairing/depth.
You wonder if all you need is a better backup with the rest, apart from maybe the 4C role, as not as important for now. Mirtle mentioned that maybe the best option for the Leafs is to trade for a stud D at the trade deadline next year rather than adding pieces now.
Then again the more I think of the Hamonic trade the more I would've wanted to give up that first rounder.
Other than getting an average backup and a 4C that can carry the puck, I was pretty certain going into this next season we would be better than last year by subtraction and experience/chemistry.
It's nice that the tide seems to be going out for some teams in our division (but not all of them, as Nik noted). At the minimum, I would like to avoid these stupid UFA deals, or trades for players at the drop off point of their performance curves, and the easiest way to do that is to stand pat and assess some of their fringe players when we have the opportunity to do so (last season).