Franson, Kadri, Gardiner, Reimer ... still Leafs at the deadline?

[OldTimeHockey]

Franson, Kadri, Gardiner for Yakupov and 2014 1st round pick.

I'd do Franson for Yakupov, but not much more than that. I'd also rather keep Gardiner and Kadri, than have Edmonton's 1st and I know that that could be a very valuable pick.

So Franson, a 26 year old pending UFA, somewhat mediocre defenceman, is worth a former 1st overall pick, who is only 20 years old, and only has 90 career NHL games... but not much more than that.

Franson is pending RFA, only 25 and better than his current season is showing. He's also in the top half of the league in scoring from the back end.

Yakupov's value is more about his situation than anything. Yeah he's a top pick, but what does that mean? He's not playing like one and may never. His defensive skills are brutal and it sounds like he just wants to score goals and not much else. If he was such a high value player, Edmonton would have already reaped the bag of gold for him in a trade, because by some accounts, he's been offered around the league and nobody wants him. What's the reason, if he's so good?

Oh and the KHL risk is there, regardless of what he says IMO.

Where has it been said that he's been offered around the league...And if so, where has it been said that noone wants him?

I love how Franson is worth a lot because he's better than the season he is having but Yakupov(a 20 year old, 1st overall) is worth less because of the season he's having 

 

[Corn Flake]

My biggest issue with Kadri is this:

If what the media is saying is true, and he's just not 'this coaches type of player', was that not the same problem with Wilson when Kadri 1st arrived? He just didn't fit?

The kid has a boat load of skill though and unless the deal blows you out of the water, he stays put in my books.

I think the media is very wrong on that one. It's just an easy thing to say for them, IMO.

Carlyle helped Kadri break out as a legit player last year. How is he not his kind of player?

 

[Joe S.]

I'm sorry but if he was available for franson then that trade would have happened already.

And franson is 32nd in the league in scoring amongst defenceman, this is impressive why?

 

[OldTimeHockey]

My biggest issue with Kadri is this:

If what the media is saying is true, and he's just not 'this coaches type of player', was that not the same problem with Wilson when Kadri 1st arrived? He just didn't fit?

The kid has a boat load of skill though and unless the deal blows you out of the water, he stays put in my books.

I think the media is very wrong on that one. It's just an easy thing to say for them, IMO.

Carlyle helped Kadri break out as a legit player last year. How is he not his kind of player?

That's my thought as well. And as much as some have a problem with Carlyle stating that Kadri has a bit too much 'swagger' I have no issue with it. It's not like he called him a cocky little punk. He just said he needs to tone it down a bit and refocus that energy..or atleast that's the way I took it.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Yakupov's value is more about his situation than anything. Yeah he's a top pick, but what does that mean? He's not playing like one and may never. His defensive skills are brutal and it sounds like he just wants to score goals and not much else. If he was such a high value player, Edmonton would have already reaped the bag of gold for him in a trade, because by some accounts, he's been offered around the league and nobody wants him. What's the reason, if he's so good?

From an outsiders perspective you could say all those same things about Franson, Kadri, and Gardiner.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Where has it been said that he's been offered around the league...And if so, where has it been said that noone wants him?

I love how Franson is worth a lot because he's better than the season he is having but Yakupov(a 20 year old, 1st overall) is worth less because of the season he's having 

They were more snide remarks than anything, I don't know enough about Yakupov to debate his worth. I guess you just expect more from him with all the hype. I don't have any directs quotes, but his name has been connected to rumours for a while now, so you'd think that if somebody really wanted him, they'd put the package together, any other 1st overall would probably get Edmonton multiple offers.

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm sorry but if he was available for franson then that trade would have happened already.

And franson is 32nd in the league in scoring amongst defenceman, this is impressive why?

200+ defensemen in the league and he's near the top. That seems fairly impressive.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I'm sorry but if he was available for franson then that trade would have happened already.

And franson is 32nd in the league in scoring amongst defenceman, this is impressive why?

I didn't mean that NHL GM's would make that trade, I said I would. He's not a player I would want, you can't like them all, just because they were drafted high. Maybe he's the next Ovie, but I don't think so.

 

[Kin]

I'm sorry but if he was available for franson then that trade would have happened already.

And franson is 32nd in the league in scoring amongst defenceman, this is impressive why?

200+ defensemen in the league and he's near the top. That seems fairly impressive.

That's a little misleading though as probably 1/3 of the defensemen in the league receive nothing in the way of PP time and probably the same amount are exclusively defensive players.

 

[Redleaf]

Point-wise, Franson was pretty impressive in the playoffs against the Bruins. His game however, came completely unglued, much like most of the Leaf defense did in the final period of game seven. I can't forget the OT winning goal for Boston though, when Franson just shoveled the puck out of Reimers goal crease in desperation. He didn't look up first to see who was around him. On his backhand and facing his goalie, he just weakly shoveled it out, gift wrapping the OT winner for Boston. That is Franson in a nutshell. Good offensive instincts, marred with poor defensive decision making.

 

[Highlander]

that Orr won't paddle but may sink the boat.

 

[Corn Flake]

Do nothing with Kadri until the off season. See what transpires at the draft.

I think the Oilers are going to be losing their minds to do something big to improve their team right away.  I think they either move their pick or they move one of their current "stud" guys to get help right away.

Dangling a Kadri/Reimer package to them could get interesting.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Dangling a Kadri/Reimer package to them could get interesting.

They'd definitely have interest in Reimer but I don't see why they would want Kadri. They already have RNH and Gagner down the middle, and a Gagner/Kadri swap doesn't really make sense for them.

 

[Redleaf]

Dangling a Kadri/Reimer package to them could get interesting.

They'd definitely have interest in Reimer but I don't see why they would want Kadri. They already have RNH and Gagner down the middle, and a Gagner/Kadri swap doesn't really make sense for them.

Gagne's name has popped up from time to time in media rumours in Leafland. I'm not saying there's a match or that the rumours are legit, but where there's smoke there's often fire.

Ain't no way this will happen, but I'd love to be able to pry away Eberle somehow.

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm sorry but if he was available for franson then that trade would have happened already.

And franson is 32nd in the league in scoring amongst defenceman, this is impressive why?

200+ defensemen in the league and he's near the top. That seems fairly impressive.

That's a little misleading though as probably 1/3 of the defensemen in the league receive nothing in the way of PP time and probably the same amount are exclusively defensive players.

A minor point, but I don't think that's misleading. They don't receive PP time because they don't have Franson's offensive abilities.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I'm sorry but if he was available for franson then that trade would have happened already.

And franson is 32nd in the league in scoring amongst defenceman, this is impressive why?

200+ defensemen in the league and he's near the top. That seems fairly impressive.

Impressive enough to make up for all his defensive short comings and the -12 beside his name?

 

[Kin]

A minor point, but I don't think that's misleading. They don't receive PP time because they don't have Franson's offensive abilities.

In some cases that's probably true, although I think if you stuck just about any NHL calibre defensemen on a PP they'd add a bit to their point totals, but I still don't know if it adds much to how people should think of Franson to point out that he's outscoring people who can't reasonably be expected to be outscoring him. I think it's a little fairer to judge him and his place among other offensive defensemen.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Where has it been said that he's been offered around the league...And if so, where has it been said that noone wants him?

I love how Franson is worth a lot because he's better than the season he is having but Yakupov(a 20 year old, 1st overall) is worth less because of the season he's having 

They were more snide remarks than anything, I don't know enough about Yakupov to debate his worth. I guess you just expect more from him with all the hype. I don't have any directs quotes, but his name has been connected to rumours for a while now, so you'd think that if somebody really wanted him, they'd put the package together, any other 1st overall would probably get Edmonton multiple offers.

We don't know how many offers Edmonton received on Yakupov.

He was on pace for 34 goals in his rookie season. I'd say that's living up to the hype. He took a step back this season but to be fair, he was sold down the river pretty damn quickly by the media.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

Dangling a Kadri/Reimer package to them could get interesting.

They'd definitely have interest in Reimer but I don't see why they would want Kadri. They already have RNH and Gagner down the middle, and a Gagner/Kadri swap doesn't really make sense for them.

A Reimer+Gardiner or Reimer+Franson combo would be of more interest to the Oilers unless Scrivens can show he can be their stopper.  The Oilers problem is on the blueline which would pique their interest in Gardiner or Franson.  Quesions are do the Leafs have a backup for Bernier should Reimer be moved?  What would the Leafs want in return for Reimer+__________ a roster player+dman or #1pick+dman or something else? 

 

[Jalili]

As much as I think that a perfect storm exists for another team to snatch up Yakupov from the Oilers at a low price, I don't really see the Leafs being in a position to do that.

They've already committed over $23M to 4 wingers in long-term deals, and are in dire need of help at center and defense while not having a whole lot of cap space to make that happen.

To add another guy at wing who'll make minimal defensive contributions isn't really where I'd want the team to go. That leaves even less room to make those necessary maneuvers at other positions.