Dreger : Leafs actively looking for another top forward.

[Bullfrog]

I'll reserve judgment on Lupul until the regular season.  Can't get a read on pre-season.

Same. I try to do my best not to get excited about players good or bad play in preseason.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Just listening to the radio on the way in to work this morning and apparently the Oilers lost three defensmen due to injury last night.. They did not say who or how serious the injuries were.... With Gardiner looking so good and Gunnarsson looking to be the odd man out (mostly due to his very movable contract.) Do you see anything of suitable return in Edmonton? 

Eklund's all over it:

"The Leafs are talking to quite a few teams about forwards, but the Oilers are the best fit."

That from a major source in Toronto.

The Oilers are after Gunnarsson, but Toronto is hesitant to move him.
The Leafs like Brule and Hemsky. It could get interesting if the Oilers take Jeff Finger.

Floyd has been out-ed as Eklund's major Toronto source.

 

[bustaheims]

It could get interesting if the Oilers take Jeff Finger.

Yup. It could get very interesting if the Oilers take on a player in the last year of his contract that isn't counting against the cap for the richest team in the league that isn't desperate to dump his salary (though, I'm sure they'd be happy to, should the opportunity present itself).

 

[bustaheims]

Eklund's all over it:

"The Leafs are talking to quite a few teams about forwards, but the Oilers are the best fit."

That from a major source in Toronto misinterpretation of a blog post by Darren Dreger, my own wild speculation and the fact the Oilers need defence.

The Oilers are after Gunnarsson the current flavour of the month to be traded, but Toronto is hesitant to move him.
The Leafs like Brule and Hemsky random older Oiler forwards that casual hockey fans know or I've previously mentioned in at least a dozen various rumours. It could get interesting if the Oilers take Jeff Finger a player Leaf fans have been hoping will be traded for multiple seasons, even if doing so has little to no impact on the team or organization.

Deciphering the Eklund formula.

 

[Madferret]

Eklund? Booo!

 

[maplesyrup]

Deciphering the Eklund formula.

Yeah, I was only looking at who may need and who might have surplus... Only two differences... Ek is full of poo on his sources and gets paid for it. 

 

[maplesyrup]

Don't know if this is a legit account but... 

koshtorontosun Terry Koshan #Leafs D Carl Gunnarsson not taking part in pre-game warmup, to be replaced by Matt Lashoff. Lashoff paired with Liles

(probably nothing)

 

[bustaheims]

Don't know if this is a legit account but... 

koshtorontosun Terry Koshan #Leafs D Carl Gunnarsson not taking part in pre-game warmup, to be replaced by Matt Lashoff. Lashoff paired with Liles

(probably nothing)

Leafs TV just confirmed Lashoff in, and no Gunnarsson in their line-up graphics.

 

[4th Liner]

Don't know if this is a legit account but... 

koshtorontosun Terry Koshan #Leafs D Carl Gunnarsson not taking part in pre-game warmup, to be replaced by Matt Lashoff. Lashoff paired with Liles

(probably nothing)

Come on, you know that this is (for sure) a sign of a TRAAAADEEEEEEE!!!!

 

[maplesyrup]

Legzzz?

 

[bustaheims]

Legzzz?

More like FEETZZZZ

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

A guy I can't help but feel this reflects on is Lupul.

I feel the same way.

I liked his effort last season, he really hasn't brought it during the preseason.  Mind you, I think some of the liking of Lupul last year was that we were comparing him to a lineup that was rotating Joey Crabb on the 1st line.  Most competence NHLers will look great in comparison.

He did score at a 26-goal pace with the Leafs.  That's more than just looking good compared to Joey Crabb.

 

[bustaheims]

He did score at a 26-goal pace with the Leafs.  That's more than just looking good compared to Joey Crabb.

Kessel also started producing a point per game pace after he arrived, so, I mean, there's that, too.

 

[maplesyrup]

I like Lupul. No doubt he had a positive effect on Kessel upon his arrival and no doubt that when healthy, Lupul is a nice contributor. Having said that, I really don't think he's a "first line" winger. I'd have no problem moving Lupul + to upgrade that position right now. 

 

[princedpw]

I certainly wouldn't mind moving lupul to upgrade his position but it seems unlikely that another team would want to unload a first line winger at this point in the season.  I don't want to vastly overpay which seems like the only way anything will get done.

 

[L K]

A guy I can't help but feel this reflects on is Lupul.

I feel the same way.

I liked his effort last season, he really hasn't brought it during the preseason.  Mind you, I think some of the liking of Lupul last year was that we were comparing him to a lineup that was rotating Joey Crabb on the 1st line.  Most competence NHLers will look great in comparison.

He did score at a 26-goal pace with the Leafs.  That's more than just looking good compared to Joey Crabb.

Certainly he did some good stuff, but I think the combination of partial sample size, a fresh start, and replacing an awful player maybe created expectations that are going to be hard to live up to.  Lupul has had injuries derail his career a bit, but he also has been on 5 teams (Anaheim twice) in 8 seasons.  Not an indictment on his play, but he's flawed and I think we are going to see more ups and downs with his game over an 82 game season than we saw in his 28 games last year.

 

[Redleaf]

Nobody posted this yet, I don't think...

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2011/10/02/18769286.html

 

[lamajama]

These comments are semi-annoying. Dreger could say this about 29 other teams in the pre-season. Well Ok maybe not 29 but a whole lot of them.

 

[dintymoore]

Do you see anything of suitable return in Edmonton?

Penner

 

[Madferret]

Do you see anything of suitable return in Edmonton?

Penner

Penner is in LA