4th Line Center

[cw]

As far as two-way deals go, Zigomanis' $300k AHL salary is tied for second highest in the AHL.
http://www.capgeek.com/leaders.php?type=AHL_SALARY

Lashoff is pretty high on that list too, with $250k. He's the youngest player on it too.

Notable that Christian Hanson signed his two way for only $80k in AHL ($525k NHL)
http://www.capgeek.com/players/display.php?id=195

so it couldn't have been major bickering about money given the money they were willing to throw at Zigomanis & Lashoff. Hamilton, Scott & Caputi also got more though Scott & Caputi only $5k more.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Have we heard that the Leafs made an offer to Hanson?

 

[cw]

Have we heard that the Leafs made an offer to Hanson?

http://twitter.com/#!/bradyfan590/statuses/88195648616280064
@bradyfan590
Greg Brady
No surprise, #Leafs done w/ Christian Hanson. They've offered a 2-way deal, he only wants a 1-way deal. He'll take his talents elsewhere.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1019538--kaberle-yet-to-cash-in-on-unrestricted-free-agent-status
The Leafs, meanwhile, appear to have parted ways with Hanson, the one-time high-profile college free agent who spent more time with the AHL Marlies than with the Leafs in his two seasons. Hanson, 25, is believed to be after a one-way NHL contract.

?I would never say we shut the door on anyone,? said Marlies coach Dallas Eakins. ?That kid (Hanson) did everything right, gave us everything he had. I can?t give you a reason why he didn?t find his success. Maybe going to another organization, he?s going to find it. He?s such a good pro.?

If he's after a $525k one way deal with the Leafs and has to settle for a $80k AHL two way deal with the Caps, one can at least suggest that the Leafs were justified to conclude they were pretty darn far apart on a contract expectation. The guy wanted about six and a half times what a NHL team was willing to pay him for his AHL base pay.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Have we heard that the Leafs made an offer to Hanson?

http://twitter.com/#!/bradyfan590/statuses/88195648616280064
@bradyfan590
Greg Brady
No surprise, #Leafs done w/ Christian Hanson. They've offered a 2-way deal, he only wants a 1-way deal. He'll take his talents elsewhere.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1019538--kaberle-yet-to-cash-in-on-unrestricted-free-agent-status
The Leafs, meanwhile, appear to have parted ways with Hanson, the one-time high-profile college free agent who spent more time with the AHL Marlies than with the Leafs in his two seasons. Hanson, 25, is believed to be after a one-way NHL contract.

?I would never say we shut the door on anyone,? said Marlies coach Dallas Eakins. ?That kid (Hanson) did everything right, gave us everything he had. I can?t give you a reason why he didn?t find his success. Maybe going to another organization, he?s going to find it. He?s such a good pro.?

If he's after a $525k one way deal with the Leafs and has to settle for a $80k AHL two way deal with the Caps, one can at least suggest that the Leafs were justified to conclude they were pretty darn far apart on a contract expectation. The guy wanted about six and a half times what a NHL team was willing to pay him for his AHL base pay.

I guess I missed that article.

Funny he was kind of playing hard ball with him and ended up accepting a two-way anyhow. You'd think he would stay loyal to the Leafs in this case, because as some have said, I can't really see the Caps line-up being easier to crack than the Leafs 4th line here. Strange IMO.

 

[hockeyfan1]

According to a Toronto Sun report, the Leafs are intent on giving Mike Zigomanis a chance again.  Looks like there will be competition between Zigomanis and Pascal Dupuis, possibly for the team's 4th line centre position.  Note that Zigomanis is one of the organization's best faceoff men and decent penalty killer, in what little time he's played in a Leafs uniform.  Unless.....

..... Burke decides to trade, but first, he would need to re-sign RFA Luke Schenn, then, if Schenn's contract cap space permits, Burke can trade Colton Orr and a 2nd to the Rangers, for Wojtek Wolski and the Rangers' top propect Chris Kreider, who has been eyed by top scouts as being "NHL-ready", a 6'2" 200 pounder billed as college hockey's fastest skater & top centre. 

Sources:  Toronto Sun, BleacherReport

 

[cw]

According to a Toronto Sun report, the Leafs are intent on giving Mike Zigomanis a chance again.  Looks like there will be competition between Zigomanis and Pascal Dupuis, possibly for the team's 4th line centre position.  Note that Zigomanis is one of the organization's best faceoff men and decent penalty killer, in what little time he's played in a Leafs uniform.  Unless.....

..... Burke decides to trade, but first, he would need to re-sign RFA Luke Schenn, then, if Schenn's contract cap space permits, Burke can trade Colton Orr and a 2nd to the Rangers, for Wojtek Wolski and the Rangers' top propect Chris Kreider, who has been eyed by top scouts as being "NHL-ready", a 6'2" 200 pounder billed as college hockey's fastest skater & top centre. 

Sources:  Toronto Sun, BleacherReport

Loiselle stated they were trying to find a good-sized, 4th line center. Zigomanis is a good faceoff guy but good sized? What are the Leafs supposed to say about his signing? "He's a depth guy and we give him little chance to make the team?" How would that inspire him to show up in great shape for training camp?

Here's the speculative piece from bleacherreport
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/766684-predicting-the-leafs-next-trading-partner-anyone-have-glen-sathers-cell

Wolski is likely to move to free up cap space. That much I agree with. A team taking on Wolski's $3.8 mil salary for one year is NOT going to get the Rangers top prospect to eat that salary. The guy is taking some really fine drugs. A more likely return is something less than Franson - where the Leafs ate two years of salary for a guy unlikely to play at all. Wolski may be overpaid and having troubles finding a fit for his game but he can most certainly still play.

For the Leafs to get Chris Kreider & Wolski, there would have to be a lot more than Colton Orr going the other way or Sather needs to retire immediately.

It wouldn't shock me if Sather was able to get a pick or prospect for Wolski.

In terms of the Leafs search for a center, Christensen or Anisimov might be available due to the addition of Richards but neither of those guys strike me as the kind of center the Leafs are looking for: "a prototypical, good-sized 4th line center good at faceoffs".

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The Rangers would waive or buy-out Wolski long before including Kreider in a package to deal him.

 

[maplesyrup]

I've been a fan of Wolski's since his junior days. It's a shame he hasn't blossomed in to the player I thought he would (yet.) I'd still take a flyer on him but with that said, where would he fit in the current line-up?

 

[dappleganger]

According to a Toronto Sun report, the Leafs are intent on giving Mike Zigomanis a chance again.  Looks like there will be competition between Zigomanis and Pascal Dupuis, possibly for the team's 4th line centre position.  Note that Zigomanis is one of the organization's best faceoff men and decent penalty killer, in what little time he's played in a Leafs uniform.  Unless.....

Sources:  Toronto Sun, BleacherReport

I didn't know we traded for Pascal Dupuis.... Stupid Sun.  :

Philippe is the Dupuis we have.

 

[cw]

I've been a fan of Wolski's since his junior days. It's a shame he hasn't blossomed in to the player I thought he would (yet.) I'd still take a flyer on him but with that said, where would he fit in the current line-up?

I have my doubts he'd be a fit with Wilson (or maybe any coach?). He's got the talent but can't seem to put it together.

here's some history
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_13635961
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_14508884
http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2011/01/10/wolski-and-tortorella-together-this-should-be-good/5778/
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/2011/01/11/20110111phoenix-coyotes-wojtek-wolski-gets-his-wish.html
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/2011/01/10/20110110phoenix-coyotes-trade-wojtek-wolski.html
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/rangers_trade_rozsival_to_coyotes_AfflSDbq7VWTd0cFXDyKYI
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/wolski_deal_gamble_1ENeAQDy1aJZfrz65CWouN
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/slapshot/wolski_scratched_by_rangers_vs_islanders_kNSdqD3N6zzCdQJf10GEnL
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/slapshot/rangers_scratch_wolski_again_LtsXZ0rEtu4rNDUOTuhppK

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/rangers_to_buy_out_drury_keep_avery_bpsplwIfI9uIN1v1FwpfiO
The Post also has learned that the Rangers will not buy out either Wojtek Wolski or Sean Avery, each of whom ended the season with tenuous futures on Broadway

Three teams. Three pretty fair shots. Several NHL coaches that have had issues with him at every stop (more than three). He certainly has talent.

 

[maplesyrup]

I've been a fan of Wolski's since his junior days. It's a shame he hasn't blossomed in to the player I thought he would (yet.) I'd still take a flyer on him but with that said, where would he fit in the current line-up?

I have my doubts he'd be a fit with Wilson (or maybe any coach?). He's got the talent but can't seem to put it together.

here's some history
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_13635961
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_14508884
http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2011/01/10/wolski-and-tortorella-together-this-should-be-good/5778/
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/2011/01/11/20110111phoenix-coyotes-wojtek-wolski-gets-his-wish.html
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/2011/01/10/20110110phoenix-coyotes-trade-wojtek-wolski.html
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/rangers_trade_rozsival_to_coyotes_AfflSDbq7VWTd0cFXDyKYI
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/wolski_deal_gamble_1ENeAQDy1aJZfrz65CWouN
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/slapshot/wolski_scratched_by_rangers_vs_islanders_kNSdqD3N6zzCdQJf10GEnL
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/slapshot/rangers_scratch_wolski_again_LtsXZ0rEtu4rNDUOTuhppK

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/rangers_to_buy_out_drury_keep_avery_bpsplwIfI9uIN1v1FwpfiO
The Post also has learned that the Rangers will not buy out either Wojtek Wolski or Sean Avery, each of whom ended the season with tenuous futures on Broadway

Three teams. Three pretty fair shots. Several NHL coaches that have had issues with him at every stop (more than three). He certainly has talent.

He does. But with him pretty much looking like a LWer at this point and top 3 spots likely occupied by Lupul, MacArthur, and Kadri, I'm not sure where he'd fit. Could Kadri move to RW from LW and then roll with a 3/3B as opposed to a 3/4?

Wolski / Bozak / Kadri
Brown / Dupuis (Ziggy) / Armstrong 

 

[Bender]

I've been a fan of Wolski's since his junior days. It's a shame he hasn't blossomed in to the player I thought he would (yet.) I'd still take a flyer on him but with that said, where would he fit in the current line-up?

I have my doubts he'd be a fit with Wilson (or maybe any coach?). He's got the talent but can't seem to put it together.

here's some history
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_13635961
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_14508884
http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2011/01/10/wolski-and-tortorella-together-this-should-be-good/5778/
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/2011/01/11/20110111phoenix-coyotes-wojtek-wolski-gets-his-wish.html
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/2011/01/10/20110110phoenix-coyotes-trade-wojtek-wolski.html
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/rangers_trade_rozsival_to_coyotes_AfflSDbq7VWTd0cFXDyKYI
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/wolski_deal_gamble_1ENeAQDy1aJZfrz65CWouN
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/slapshot/wolski_scratched_by_rangers_vs_islanders_kNSdqD3N6zzCdQJf10GEnL
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/slapshot/rangers_scratch_wolski_again_LtsXZ0rEtu4rNDUOTuhppK

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/rangers_to_buy_out_drury_keep_avery_bpsplwIfI9uIN1v1FwpfiO
The Post also has learned that the Rangers will not buy out either Wojtek Wolski or Sean Avery, each of whom ended the season with tenuous futures on Broadway

Three teams. Three pretty fair shots. Several NHL coaches that have had issues with him at every stop (more than three). He certainly has talent.

He does. But with him pretty much looking like a LWer at this point and top 3 spots likely occupied by Lupul, MacArthur, and Kadri, I'm not sure where he'd fit. Could Kadri move to RW from LW and then roll with a 3/3B as opposed to a 3/4?

Wolski / Bozak / Kadri
Brown / Dupuis (Ziggy) / Armstrong

I'd be very afraid of a WBK line. Looks like a defensive black hole to me.

 

[cw]

He does. But with him pretty much looking like a LWer at this point and top 3 spots likely occupied by Lupul, MacArthur, and Kadri, I'm not sure where he'd fit. Could Kadri move to RW from LW and then roll with a 3/3B as opposed to a 3/4?

Wolski / Bozak / Kadri

That's three guys together struggling with two way play and none of them the type of player Armstrong is, who could go into a corner and physically battle for a puck.

I think they're counting on Bozak to be smart enough to improve defensively. If you look at the impact Armstrong made in the games he did play last season, you don't want him getting 4th line minutes.

I have sincere suspicions Kadri is in a heck of a fight to keep his spot on that wing with Frattin & Caputi and maybe some of the other Marlies.

People seem to forget that Burke and others said that Caputi, along with Hanson, made the team coming out of training camp last season. Caputi went down to the Marlies and suffered a season ending injury. I'm not ready to count him out. Right now, I'd feel a lot more secure with Bozak defensively as a checking center playing with two physical pillars like Armstrong & Caputi than I would with Kadri.

And again, it was only one game but Frattin really impressed me with his two way game. The guy did not look out of place and also looked like he could get his share of goals while he went about his business.

I think Kadri, in spite of his skill, is on shaky ground.

 

[maplesyrup]

He does. But with him pretty much looking like a LWer at this point and top 3 spots likely occupied by Lupul, MacArthur, and Kadri, I'm not sure where he'd fit. Could Kadri move to RW from LW and then roll with a 3/3B as opposed to a 3/4?

Wolski / Bozak / Kadri

That's three guys together struggling with two way play and none of them the type of player Armstrong is, who could go into a corner and physically battle for a puck.

I think they're counting on Bozak to be smart enough to improve defensively. If you look at the impact Armstrong made in the games he did play last season, you don't want him getting 4th line minutes.

I have sincere suspicions Kadri is in a heck of a fight to keep his spot on that wing with Frattin & Caputi and maybe some of the other Marlies.

People seem to forget that Burke and others said that Caputi, along with Hanson, made the team coming out of training camp last season. Caputi went down to the Marlies and suffered a season ending injury. I'm not ready to count him out. Right now, I'd feel a lot more secure with Bozak defensively as a checking center playing with two physical pillars like Armstrong & Caputi than I would with Kadri.

And again, it was only one game but Frattin really impressed me with his two way game. The guy did not look out of place and also looked like he could get his share of goals while he went about his business.

I think Kadri, in spite of his skill, is on shaky ground.

You might be right there. So as I gathered then, Wolski probably isn't a fit here.

 

[cw]

He does. But with him pretty much looking like a LWer at this point and top 3 spots likely occupied by Lupul, MacArthur, and Kadri, I'm not sure where he'd fit. Could Kadri move to RW from LW and then roll with a 3/3B as opposed to a 3/4?

Wolski / Bozak / Kadri

That's three guys together struggling with two way play and none of them the type of player Armstrong is, who could go into a corner and physically battle for a puck.

I think they're counting on Bozak to be smart enough to improve defensively. If you look at the impact Armstrong made in the games he did play last season, you don't want him getting 4th line minutes.

I have sincere suspicions Kadri is in a heck of a fight to keep his spot on that wing with Frattin & Caputi and maybe some of the other Marlies.

People seem to forget that Burke and others said that Caputi, along with Hanson, made the team coming out of training camp last season. Caputi went down to the Marlies and suffered a season ending injury. I'm not ready to count him out. Right now, I'd feel a lot more secure with Bozak defensively as a checking center playing with two physical pillars like Armstrong & Caputi than I would with Kadri.

And again, it was only one game but Frattin really impressed me with his two way game. The guy did not look out of place and also looked like he could get his share of goals while he went about his business.

I think Kadri, in spite of his skill, is on shaky ground.

You might be right there. So as I gathered then, Wolski probably isn't a fit here.

I'd hate to mess with our second line - they were so good together. Wolski & Kessel might have worked if they had a big 1st line center to help cover for them defensively but even then, I'd have concerns.

If he could be paired with a guy like Iginla or Heatley - a decent sized, quality finisher and a decent top 6 two way center, that would probably be ideal for him. That would be my guess. But we don't have that. Someone else might.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I'd hate to mess with our second line - they were so good together. Wolski & Kessel might have worked if they had a big 1st line center to help cover for them defensively but even then, I'd have concerns.

If he could be paired with a guy like Iginla or Heatley - a decent sized, quality finisher and a decent top 6 two way center, that would probably be ideal for him. That would be my guess. But we don't have that. Someone else might.

Yeah, if Burke is going to make that kind of player swap, he's going to do it for a big time center IMO. My guess is that he's already talked to most of the teams in the league and decided that that is not an option, hence, what we've seen over the free agent period.

If he is to make moves now, it'll be for bottom 6 players, unless he can structure a deal for multiple players that creates holes and fills them with better players and improves the overall team.

 

[cw]

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/13/nhl-notebook-leafs-get-older
CLOSING IN ON BOYCE

The Leafs are nearing a contract agreement with left winger Darryl Boyce and could make an announcement by the end of the week.

?We?re close to getting something done,? Loiselle said.

Like Mike Zigomanis and Philippe Dupuis, who have signed with the Leafs recently, the expectation is Boyce would get a two-way contract.

So both sides are saying the same thing.

Also from that article:
TORONTO  - One of the youngest teams in the NHL last season, the Maple Leafs have become decidedly older in the off-season.

We?re not talking greybeards by any stretch, but barring any more moves, Tim Connolly and John-Michael Liles will represent the elderly when training camp opens in September. Today, they?re the only 30-year-olds on the Leafs? roster.

The Leafs didn?t set out to add age this summer.

?You don?t want older guys who can?t play,? assistant general manager Claude Loiselle said on Wednesday. ?The key is, can they help the process? We feel we have a good core group, with (captain) Dion (Phaneuf) being our leader, and it?s good enough.?

I take exception to the first sentence:
http://nhlnumbers.com/teams?sort=average_age&order=asc&year=
According to NHLnumbers.com, the Leafs average NHL age is the youngest in the league.

Liles is 3 yrs younger than Kaberle. -3
Aulie is 9 yrs younger than Beauchemin -9
Reimer is 11 younger than Giguere -11
Franson is 6 yrs younger than Lebda -6
Connolly is only 3 yrs older than Brent +3
Lupul is 2 years older than Versteeg +2
Kadri is 8 yrs younger than Sjostrum -8

that's probably not all of them but tallies -32 - which is a year and a half younger on average (over the roster) while the rest of the roster got a year older.

Contrary to the article, this remains a very young NHL team.

 

[cw]

http://twitter.com/#!/andystrickland/status/90511102680637441
@andystrickland
Andy Strickland
Wellwood has reached out to some NHL clubs but not one went out of their way to call him #Sharks #NHL

.. not that any one was seriously thinking of Kyle - just a fyi

 

[CarltonTheBear]

http://twitter.com/#!/andystrickland/status/90511102680637441
@andystrickland
Andy Strickland
Wellwood has reached out to some NHL clubs but not one went out of their way to call him #Sharks #NHL

.. not that any one was seriously thinking of Kyle - just an fyi

If it wasn't for the fact that we need size right now in that spot, I wouldn't have had a problem giving him a look. He's a much better/different player than he was in his first time around here.

 

[Omallley]

TORONTO  - One of the youngest teams in the NHL last season, the Maple Leafs have become decidedly older in the off-season.

We?re not talking greybeards by any stretch, but barring any more moves, Tim Connolly and John-Michael Liles will represent the elderly when training camp opens in September. Today, they?re the only 30-year-olds on the Leafs? roster.

The Leafs didn?t set out to add age this summer.

?You don?t want older guys who can?t play,? assistant general manager Claude Loiselle said on Wednesday. ?The key is, can they help the process? We feel we have a good core group, with (captain) Dion (Phaneuf) being our leader, and it?s good enough.?

I take exception to the first sentence:
http://nhlnumbers.com/teams?sort=average_age&order=asc&year=
According to NHLnumbers.com, the Leafs average NHL age is the youngest in the league.

Liles is 3 yrs younger than Kaberle. -3
Aulie is 9 yrs younger than Beauchemin -9
Reimer is 11 younger than Giguere -11
Franson is 6 yrs younger than Lebda -6
Connolly is only 3 yrs older than Brent +3
Lupul is 2 years older than Versteeg +2
Kadri is 8 yrs younger than Sjostrum -8

that's probably not all of them but tallies -32 - which is a year and a half younger on average (over the roster) while the rest of the roster got a year older.

Contrary to the article, this remains a very young NHL team.

I think a lot of folks are looking at where the team was at the last game of the year versus where they'll be at the first game. From the start of last season though, there's no doubt they're younger, nor is there any doubt that they're among the youngest in the league...