Nonis using depth to go shopping....

[Kin]

I like Staal and all, but, he's not the guy the Leafs really need - and, definitely not at that price, both in terms of assets and cap hit.

To me, it's almost entirely the cap hit. I don't care what a guy has done in the past, if he's making more than 8 million per cap wise and he's legitimately played himself into a position to be traded I almost feel like you'd have to get something just to take him for free or, at the very least, be able to acquire him for bad contracts in return. I know he's been a good playere and is likely to be again in the future but at that kind of money it's just such a risk if it doesn't work out.

 

[ZBBM]

Rutherford is not a BSer.  I don't think he's trading Staal.

 

[Redleaf]

Rutherford is not a BSer.  I don't think he's trading Staal.

Agreed.

 

[maplesyrup]

Rutherford is not a BSer.  I don't think he's trading Staal.

Agreed.

I second that. Also, I understand that Burke is a man of principle but I have my doubts he would turn down a deal of this magnitude (not necessarily this rumoured deal) with 11 days still remaining before Christmas.

 

[stingray]

Also - you really would hesitate to make that proposed deal?!? Staal for spare parts and what probably wouldn't be a high draft pick anyways...I'd rather have Staal / Kessel over anything Kulemin is going to bring to the table - he's really the only asset you're losing here.

If Staal didn't come with an $8.25M cap hit, it might be different, but, that's a big chunk of the team's ability to have depth and improve other areas of need. And, truthfully, I'm not sure adding Staal really helps Kessel's game all that much - assuming Kessel can keep up the level of play we've seen for the past 2 months - and that's assuming Staal can get his game back in order any time soon. I just feel that, going forward, Kulemin and Kadri could provide more for the team's success as secondary scoring than Staal as a 1st line centre. I like Staal and all, but, he's not the guy the Leafs really need - and, definitely not at that price, both in terms of assets and cap hit.

Fair enough.

I agree with this post. 8.2 mil for a 70-75 pt. player is a bit steep. For those suggesting he is only in a slump, better look again. This year would mark the 4th year he has not cracked those totals.

 

[cw]

Rutherford is not a BSer.  I don't think he's trading Staal.

Agreed.

I second that. Also, I understand that Burke is a man of principle but I have my doubts he would turn down a deal of this magnitude (not necessarily this rumoured deal) with 11 days still remaining before Christmas.

I agree about Rutherford as well. But even he qualified in his radio interview - nobody is untouchable depending on the price.

As for Burke and Xmas, Burke would just find a salary to eat for the 11 extra days to help top Rutherford up for the dough. I don't think that would present a big problem for Burke and he wouldn't break his word. Rutherford wouldn't be trading Staal and care deeply where he finishes in the standings this year.

 

[L K]

I like Staal and all, but, he's not the guy the Leafs really need - and, definitely not at that price, both in terms of assets and cap hit.

To me, it's almost entirely the cap hit. I don't care what a guy has done in the past, if he's making more than 8 million per cap wise and he's legitimately played himself into a position to be traded I almost feel like you'd have to get something just to take him for free or, at the very least, be able to acquire him for bad contracts in return. I know he's been a good playere and is likely to be again in the future but at that kind of money it's just such a risk if it doesn't work out.

It's the Lecavalier thing...or to a lesser extent the Komisarek thing.  Neither player is living up to their contracts and so paying for their value on top of taking a cap loss just doesn't add up. 

 

[crazyperfectdevil]

i find it hard to believe that burke is really pressing for anything right now ...not that the leafs are perfect by any stretch ...i like the idea of keeping kadri and seeing what happens

 

[cw]

I agree with this post. 8.2 mil for a 70-75 pt. player is a bit steep. For those suggesting he is only in a slump, better look again. This year would mark the 4th year he has not cracked those totals.

Staal has never been below 70 pts for a season. He was 11th overall in scoring last season with 76 points and that was 4th among NHL centers.

I had a look at media on his slump. The reports about him were pretty good including from Maurice. He was working hard, playing two ways, etc.

Looked at his stats. The only significant fall off is in PP scoring - not even strength where one has to work a little more for what they get. Pitkanen has been concussed and Kaberle was not in good shape so that hurt their PP back end. And the other thing that's off related to his scoring is his shooting percentage 6.x% - like he's snake bit. He's still getting close to his typical rates of shots, takeaways, hits, blocks, etc.

Traditionally, like his brother and often with other tall, lanky centers, he hasn't ever been that good on faceoffs. This year, he's slightly over 50%.

His injury history is very good. - missed 13 games in 6+ seasons (2 games for personal reasons). No concussions or serious injuries noted. He's only 27 years old - likely in his prime probably for 4-5 more years

I also looked at the team salary rankings. Aside from '07-08, the other five years, the Canes have been in the bottom third of the league in salaries or lower - close to a bottom feeder/cap floor team. Rutheford is a good GM so he's often been able to flip them into a slightly below average team nibbling for a playoff berth. But it's not like he's playing with a really talented roster like a number of the top centers in the league - which has to hurt his scoring some. When he did in their Cup run, he scored 100 pts.

If he wasn't an ideal fit for Kessel and I'm not sure that's the case, he could drive a second scoring line - kind of a 1A 1B top six.

I don't see any obvious issue other than a slumping center on a slumping team. If I have no shot at Getzlaf, I'd probably do that deal. Good centers are so hard to come by.

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

I don't see any obvious issue other than a slumping center on a slumping team. If I have no shot at Getzlaf, I'd probably do that deal. Good centers are so hard to come by.

See, to me, Getzlaf isn't even a concern about this.

You do the deal now, then in a year and a half if Getzlaf is available *and* he wants to come to Toronto *and* you prefer how Getzlaf is playing at that time to how Staal is playing, you get Getzlaf and then move Staal for whatever pieces you need at the time.

 

[lamajama]

$8.2 mil is a huge chuck of change against the Cap.

Are we "sure" that adding Staal as Phil's center is going to turn Phil into
a 50 goal scorer? Because he's heading to a 40 goal season with Bozak
as his center right now. Is the incremental improvement worth it? I mean
the Leafs signed Connolly to be with Phil and that has not been either
required or seriously attempted. I know that the Leafs would *improve* with a superstar calibre centre but IMO we need a Cam Ward first.

 

[Corn Flake]

I think the Leafs would add Staal because the team still needs a 100% legit 1st line centre with all the attributes one needs to have to do that job, who is still young and is star level caliber.  Its not really directly related to Kessel at all.  For the Leafs to do any true damage in the east, they need another top end game breaking forward.  Staal is one of those, has proven it already, and is still really, really young.

Yes he's struggling, but his history suggests this year is an anomaly, and you don't get a chance to acquire guys like this unless they either have an off year, or some other crazy circumstance.

If there is even a remote chance he's available, if you are Burke I think you go for it.

 

[maplesyrup]

If there is even a remote chance he's available, if you are Burke I think you go for it.

Absolutely. Which is why I'm raising the BS flag to this rumour. I mean, Burke made forced Grabo to switch his jersey number from 84 to 54 but moved off his principles when he traded for Kessel. If there was a deal Burke liked for Staal just two days into Burke's self proposed trade freeze, I'm struggling with why he wouldn't move off his principles again.

 

[Corn Flake]

If there is even a remote chance he's available, if you are Burke I think you go for it.

Absolutely. Which is why I'm raising the BS flag to this rumour. I mean, Burke made forced Grabo to switch his jersey number from 84 to 54 but moved off his principles when he traded for Kessel. If there was a deal Burke liked for Staal just two days into Burke's self proposed trade freeze, I'm struggling with why he wouldn't move off his principles again.

I don't really think the freeze thing changes things much. If there is truly a deal (which I have 98% doubt given the senile source) then it can still happen after the freeze, which is really only about a week longer. 

I don't think bending on number choices is the same as a freeze that Burke strongly feels is to treat his players at a higher level this time of year.

 

[maplesyrup]

If there is even a remote chance he's available, if you are Burke I think you go for it.

Absolutely. Which is why I'm raising the BS flag to this rumour. I mean, Burke made forced Grabo to switch his jersey number from 84 to 54 but moved off his principles when he traded for Kessel. If there was a deal Burke liked for Staal just two days into Burke's self proposed trade freeze, I'm struggling with why he wouldn't move off his principles again.

I don't really think the freeze thing changes things much. If there is truly a deal (which I have 98% doubt given the senile source) then it can still happen after the freeze, which is really only about a week longer. 

I don't think bending on number choices is the same as a freeze that Burke strongly feels is to treat his players at a higher level this time of year.

Well, I'd agree with you re. the freeze if he was well into it... but he wasn't. - Just me.

 

[Corn Flake]

If there is even a remote chance he's available, if you are Burke I think you go for it.

Absolutely. Which is why I'm raising the BS flag to this rumour. I mean, Burke made forced Grabo to switch his jersey number from 84 to 54 but moved off his principles when he traded for Kessel. If there was a deal Burke liked for Staal just two days into Burke's self proposed trade freeze, I'm struggling with why he wouldn't move off his principles again.

I don't really think the freeze thing changes things much. If there is truly a deal (which I have 98% doubt given the senile source) then it can still happen after the freeze, which is really only about a week longer. 

I don't think bending on number choices is the same as a freeze that Burke strongly feels is to treat his players at a higher level this time of year.

Well, I'd agree with you re. the freeze if he was well into it... but he wasn't. - Just me.

He wasn't? What is the date he starts it again? the 10th?

 

[maplesyrup]

If there is even a remote chance he's available, if you are Burke I think you go for it.

Absolutely. Which is why I'm raising the BS flag to this rumour. I mean, Burke made forced Grabo to switch his jersey number from 84 to 54 but moved off his principles when he traded for Kessel. If there was a deal Burke liked for Staal just two days into Burke's self proposed trade freeze, I'm struggling with why he wouldn't move off his principles again.

I don't really think the freeze thing changes things much. If there is truly a deal (which I have 98% doubt given the senile source) then it can still happen after the freeze, which is really only about a week longer. 

I don't think bending on number choices is the same as a freeze that Burke strongly feels is to treat his players at a higher level this time of year.

Well, I'd agree with you re. the freeze if he was well into it... but he wasn't. - Just me.

He wasn't? What is the date he starts it again? the 10th?

Unless I've got the timing wrong, I think the rumour was Rutherford called just two days into it?- Whenever is started. Though it seems kind of funny to be discussing the accuracy of pop poo.  :-\

 

[Corn Flake]

Unless I've got the timing wrong, I think the rumour was Rutherford called just two days into it?- Whenever is started. Though it seems kind of funny to be discussing the accuracy of pop poo.  :-\

So the freeze was on already, Burke held to his word of the freeze... got it.

Burke thinks its a big deal to let players know around Christmas they won't be moved.  He held to that.  I don't see that being a negative, even on a potential deal here.

Anyway I think we are discussing all this over an invented rumor by a guy desperate for some eyes and ears on him.

 

[rdowdall]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Getting lots of questions about trade rumors of Eric Staal to Toronto Maple Leafs. Here's reaction to that from Carolina GM Jim Rutherford:

TSNBobMcKenzie: "I have no interest whatsoever in trading Eric Staal or Cam Ward. That's not going to happen." -- Jim Rutherford

Phanuef wasn't available either.

 

[hockeyfan1]

According to CBC's Eliotte Friedman, Kadri was being "scouted hard" as rumours pointed to Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson taking in a Marlies game at the ACC not too long ago.  Blue Jackets are reportedly willing to trade forward Derek Brassard because they cannot afford his contract (3.2M cap hit).

Burke would have go clear "sufficient cap space" before anything is done.  And, oh yeah, the trade freeze.

Source:  THN