Draft Pick Watch - WE PICKED NYLANDER!!1!!

[Redleaf]

Also to give an example of what I would try to trade JVR for, I'll give my best try here.

JVR to Colorado for O'Reilly

Reasons it might happen for them:
They have a log jam at center.
They are weak on the wing.
He's young enough to suit their core.
They can resign Statsny to make up for losing ROR.

Reason for us:
He's a #1 Center. Been a while.

I don't think the Leafs make that deal for a number of reasons. The biggest being the chemistry between him and Kessel. Why take away a sure thing for one that may not be? That first line has clicked at an outstanding pace this past season with Bozak centering it. You just don't break apart something that works that well.

If they want a centre for the second line, than you don't upset the first line to do it. ROR would be a great addition to the Leafs, but not at the expense our top line winger.

A few things to think about though before you poo poo my idea!

JVR is 25 ROR is 23
Despite being younger ROR has played 21 more games than JVR
ROR's best season (points) is better than JVR's and he did it without a PPG Winger
We're not getting a #1 center without losing a piece we didn't want to
This will free up Kadri to be traded for another decent piece (or holland or not resign bolland or perhaps ship off bozak ++ to get something good)

Numbers aside, we know JVR works well with Kessel. We don't know if ROR does or doesn't. Age and production are both similar. JVR holds the advantage in size, and ROR may hold the defensive advantage. Otherwise they're a wash, except their positions. Like I said, the chemistry issue would be the biggest obstacle to overcome if I were contemplating making that deal as Leaf GM. The upside just isn't big enough to make the trade.

Fair enough. I'm just of the opinion that JVR is almost topped out. At say 27-28yrs old I think at best on a career year we're looking at 35-40g 80p and I don't think he'll do that more than twice. After that he'll toil around 70ish points until he starts putting aging numbers besides 0 after 3. Now for a left winger.. that's fantastic, don't get me wrong. I love the guy. But I honestly believe ROR is gonna break out bigger this year or next. I'm thinking 90 points won't be impossible and I think he'd be PPG (more or less) consistently. It's also much better position to have a player in than left wing. I think we'd be getting ROR just before his value skyrockets and we'd be trading JVR a little before his value caps.

So I agree that we'd be selling JVR a bit early in terms of absolute value. But if we cold get ROR I think the upside is higher than JVR at his best. I also think that Kessel can gel with anyone that doesn't hog the puck too too much and ROR isn't that guy.

I know these are bold statements but they're just my opinion. I could be hella wrong. I'll make sure I eat a shoe later if I turn out to be wrong and ROR stays pretty much as is now

I like O'Reilly. A Lot. Its quite possible he has a better NHL career than JVR. Perhaps much better. I just don't see the Leafs trading away JVR to get him.

If there were a deal that doesn't effect the first line, trades away our goalie or our top D man in Rielly, than I'd do it in a minute.

I would think Colorado has to do something with that roster, and either ROR or Stastny will be on the move very soon. Either of those guys would look great in a Leafs uniform!

I might be tempted to offer up Gardiner (and a pick) for O'Rielly.

 

[Joe S.]

What about Stastny? Isn't he a UFA?

 

[Redleaf]

What about Stastny? Isn't he a UFA?

Realistically, what are the odds the Leafs get him? I'm sure there will be a lot of teams going after him hard.

Edit: My guess is he stays in Colorado, working for the guys he used to play with.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

What about Stastny? Isn't he a UFA?

Realistically, what are the odds the Leafs get him? I'm sure there will be a lot of teams going after him hard.

Edit: My guess is he stays in Colorado, working for the guys he used to play with.

He's pretty good friends with Kessel, JvR and Bozak, no? Can Colorado even put out the money for him? I'm thinking they trade his rights in the next couple weeks, as opposed to signing him and then trading either him or another one of the centers. McKinnon isn't going anywhere, that leaves ROR or Statsny.

EDIT: I would try hard to sign Statsny, besides, it would be worth it just to see Don Cherry's head pop off his shoulders. "Another American"!

 

[Redleaf]

What about Stastny? Isn't he a UFA?

Realistically, what are the odds the Leafs get him? I'm sure there will be a lot of teams going after him hard.

Edit: My guess is he stays in Colorado, working for the guys he used to play with.

He's pretty good friends with Kessel, JvR and Bozak, no? Can Colorado even put out the money for him? I'm thinking they trade his rights in the next couple weeks, as opposed to signing him and then trading either him or another one of the centers. McKinnon isn't going anywhere, that leaves ROR or Statsny.

EDIT: I would try hard to sign Statsny, besides, it would be worth it just to see Don Cherry's head pop off his shoulders. "Another American"!

He was actually born in Canada (Quebec), had duo citizenship, and chose to play for the US internationally, because his brother had chosen that route.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

He was actually born in Canada (Quebec), had duo citizenship, and chose to play for the US internationally, because his brother had chosen that route.

Let's be honest, would Cherry bother to check?

If we could somehow land Statsny, we'd have a good 5 year window there to bring in a cup I would think.

JvR - Statsny - Kessel Looks pretty awesome to me...

 

[hockeyfan1]

Trade JVR?  Not all agree.  This from THN:

Everything about the 2012 trade that netted JVR for Luke Schenn has been a coup for Toronto. Van Riemsdyk has displayed great chemistry with Kessel and he?s learned to use his big frame as a weapon in tight spaces around the opposing goal. He?s fresh off a 30-goal season and his 18 goals in lockout-shortened 2012-13 pro-rated to 31. He?s 25 years old, with the pedigree to keep improving, as he was the No. 2 overall pick in 2007.

And with four years left at a $4.25-million cap hit, van Riemsdyk is one of the NHL?s best bargains. Even if the Leafs are rebuilding, this is just the kind of cap-friendly deal you want to build around. For some perspective, here are the 2014-15 cap hits of every other 30-goal scorer in the NHL this season, excluding restricted free agent Ryan Johansen and unrestricted free agent Jarome Iginla:
 
Alex Ovechkin, $9.54 million
Sidney Crosby, $8.70 million
Corey Perry, $8.63 million
Ryan Getzlaf, $8.25 million
Phil Kessel, $8.00 million
Patrick Marleau, $6.67 million
Patrice Bergeron, $6.50 million
Joe Pavelski, $6.00 million
Patrick Sharp, $5.90 million
Alexander Steen, $5.80 million
Tyler Seguin, $5.75 million
Jeff Skinner, $5.73 million
Martin St-Louis, $5.63 million
Jason Pominville, $5.60 million
Marian Hossa, $5.28 million
Jamie Benn, $5.25 million
Max Pacioretty, $4.50 million
James van Riemsdyk, $4.25 million
Chris Kunitz, $3.85 million
 
Methinks JVR gives the Leafs good bang for their buck through 2017-18. This is the type of contract and player you dream of acquiring, not trading away. It?s thus difficult to believe Toronto is shopping him. If so, Nonis needs an intervention.

 

[nutman]

The Leafs are not shopping him, and he is on the real untouchable list. Sometimes Rumors are just to far out there to believe.

 

[losveratos]

Trade JVR?  Not all agree.  This from THN:

Everything about the 2012 trade that netted JVR for Luke Schenn has been a coup for Toronto. Van Riemsdyk has displayed great chemistry with Kessel and he?s learned to use his big frame as a weapon in tight spaces around the opposing goal. He?s fresh off a 30-goal season and his 18 goals in lockout-shortened 2012-13 pro-rated to 31. He?s 25 years old, with the pedigree to keep improving, as he was the No. 2 overall pick in 2007.

And with four years left at a $4.25-million cap hit, van Riemsdyk is one of the NHL?s best bargains. Even if the Leafs are rebuilding, this is just the kind of cap-friendly deal you want to build around. For some perspective, here are the 2014-15 cap hits of every other 30-goal scorer in the NHL this season, excluding restricted free agent Ryan Johansen and unrestricted free agent Jarome Iginla:

Alex Ovechkin, $9.54 million
Sidney Crosby, $8.70 million
Corey Perry, $8.63 million
Ryan Getzlaf, $8.25 million
Phil Kessel, $8.00 million
Patrick Marleau, $6.67 million
Patrice Bergeron, $6.50 million
Joe Pavelski, $6.00 million
Patrick Sharp, $5.90 million
Alexander Steen, $5.80 million
Tyler Seguin, $5.75 million
Jeff Skinner, $5.73 million
Martin St-Louis, $5.63 million
Jason Pominville, $5.60 million
Marian Hossa, $5.28 million
Jamie Benn, $5.25 million
Max Pacioretty, $4.50 million
James van Riemsdyk, $4.25 million
Chris Kunitz, $3.85 million

Methinks JVR gives the Leafs good bang for their buck through 2017-18. This is the type of contract and player you dream of acquiring, not trading away. It?s thus difficult to believe Toronto is shopping him. If so, Nonis needs an intervention.

I'd still trade him for a bunch of the guys above him on the list. I'll hi-light them for you

This obviously has a few +'s and -'s here and there. But for the most part I'd do them straight up.

 

[Kin]

I think some people really don't understand the concept of shopping a player. It doesn't mean being desperate to trade someone and willing to take anything in return.  That JVR would have very high value in a trade is a good thing and should be explored. In '91 the Leafs traded a 25 year old center who was coming off of season of 42, 38 and 32 goals and 75, 90 and 88 points. In return they got the guy who'd be the team's best defenseman during two runs to the conference finals.

You can make good trades with valuable pieces.

 

[Joe S.]

Are you talking about Rouse? Because I'm pretty sure that was the Iafrate trade.

 

[Kin]

Are you talking about Rouse? Because I'm pretty sure that was the Iafrate trade.

I'm talking about the Olcyzk + Osborne for Ellett trade.

 

[Joe S.]

Are you talking about Rouse? Because I'm pretty sure that was the Iafrate trade.

I'm talking about the Olcyzk + Osborne for Ellett trade.

Ah.. OK.. Honestly Ellett didn't even cross my mind... When I think of best defenseman from that era it's rouse and lefebvre that come to mind.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[Kin]

Ah.. OK.. Honestly Ellett didn't even cross my mind... When I think of best defenseman from that era it's rouse and lefebvre that come to mind.

But that's just my opinion.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that, just from a matter of minutes, the #1 and #2 guys were Ellett and Gill.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

Ah.. OK.. Honestly Ellett didn't even cross my mind... When I think of best defenseman from that era it's rouse and lefebvre that come to mind.

But that's just my opinion.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that, just from a matter of minutes, the #1 and #2 guys were Ellett and Gill.

Maybe while Brophy was coaching. Once Doug Carpenter took over, Todd Gill was nowhere to be found 

 

[Joe S.]

Ah.. OK.. Honestly Ellett didn't even cross my mind... When I think of best defenseman from that era it's rouse and lefebvre that come to mind.

But that's just my opinion.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that, just from a matter of minutes, the #1 and #2 guys were Ellett and Gill.

Could be - I honestly don't remember that level of detail. I don't think TOI is captured anywhere that far back.

 

[dappleganger]

Dave Ellett was our best d-man back then. He had 18 points in 18 games in the '93-'94 playoffs.

 

[KW Sluggo]

What about Stastny? Isn't he a UFA?

More to the point: what does any of this have to do with this thread?

But since we are here, I do not trade JVR.

 

[L K]

What about Stastny? Isn't he a UFA?

More to the point: what does any of this have to do with this thread?

But since we are here, I do not trade JVR.

I think the biggest knock against Stastny is that he's a very good center, but not necessarily a #1.  Quite frankly I don't think any of the guys on Colorado have really established themselves as legitimate #1 guys just yet.

Stastny had a strong start to his career - 264 points in 274 games (.963 PPG) over his first four years in the NHL.  Since then he has put up 194 points in 264 games (.735 PPG).  Still very solid numbers but not necessarily something you are going to look favourably at a very large cap hit and long-contract that he will get as a 28 year old UFA. 

Ultimately I would rather spend money on Stastny and not give up assets if Shanahan/Nonis insist on adding salary to the top 6 because it still gives you the freedom to make other trades and maximize your assets, but I really don't think that Stastny would turn out to be a significant improvement out of the top line with Bozak in the #1 slot. 

 

[bustaheims]

I think the biggest knock against Stastny is that he's a very good center, but not necessarily a #1.  Quite frankly I don't think any of the guys on Colorado have really established themselves as legitimate #1 guys just yet.

Yeah. Stastny's good, but he's really a #1B type. That's great if you have another one of those or an exceptional #2 centre, but, otherwise, you still find yourself in a position where you need to upgrade down the middle to take that next step.