Nonis using depth to go shopping....

[TML fan]

Maybe he'll sign in Florida because he's American!

He's from Madison, WI. He played high school hockey there and then for the University of Minnesota. Minnesota is a relative hockey hotbed within the US. So he could get to within a 4 hour drive from home by joining past US teammates Parise & Suter in MN. Or he could get within a couple of driving hours of home in Chicago. Both of those look like they'll still be contenders as of the summer of 2014. He has 22 US destinations to consider assuming Boston wouldn't be on his list.

Or he could just fly from Toronto and be home in just over 2 hours...

Well sure. That applies to all players. But we still hear of players wanting to play closer to "home".

How does that help his family and friends come to see him play or visit him? Is getting their passports in order, booking Toronto hotels and round trip flights sound convenient?

No, but easy for a millionaire.

 

[dappleganger]

Dave Nonis is addressing the media in 10 minutes, have no idea what this is about.

It'll just be to update the media on the nothing going on right now.

Kadri re-signing.

No, I wasn't joking:

David Alter ‏@DavidAlter590 4m
Nonis says not much is happening in trade talks right now but he's sure that'll pick up in the next little while.

I was.

 

[Kin]

No, but easy for a millionaire.

But I think the point is that while Phil Kessel is a millionaire his friends and family probably aren't and, as a result, going to see him play is a little more difficult in Toronto than it would be in Minnesota or Chicago.

Provided his friends and family are good people they probably wouldn't expect Phil to cover those expenses. It's not the be all and end all but it can certainly hold some appeal. Suter/Parise signing in Minnesota despite reportedly receiving more lucrative offers from teams further from their homes lends that some legitimacy.

 

[cw]

markhmasters: Nonis: 'A lot of teams are saying the same thing right now, it's not a year where there's a lot of players available'

Which is why a team like the Leafs, who have little chance of winning it all this spring, should explore flipping a player or two to take advantage of desperate GMs.

 

[Kin]

markhmasters: Nonis: 'A lot of teams are saying the same thing right now, it's not a year where there's a lot of players available'

Which is why a team like the Leafs, who have little chance of winning it all this spring, should explore flipping a player or two to take advantage of desperate GMs.

Especially a guy like Mac who, while he's a decent player, doesn't really have a place in the team's top 6 if everyone is healthy. You could even argue that he ideally ranks as low as 6th on the team's depth chart on the wings. A guy like that should always be on the market, especially if the prices are high.

Ideally, a team like the Leafs in this CBA should always be building for the future.

 

[cw]

markhmasters: Nonis: 'A lot of teams are saying the same thing right now, it's not a year where there's a lot of players available'

Which is why a team like the Leafs, who have little chance of winning it all this spring, should explore flipping a player or two to take advantage of desperate GMs.

Especially a guy like Mac who, while he's a decent player, doesn't really have a place in the team's top 6 if everyone is healthy. You could even argue that he ideally ranks as low as 6th on the team's depth chart on the wings. A guy like that should always be on the market, especially if the prices are high.

Ideally, a team like the Leafs in this CBA should always be building for the future.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 1h
CBJ will be a buyer. Columbus would be willing to part with 1 of their 3 first rnd draft picks for a scoring forward. #tradecentre

I'd trade Mac  for a Columbus' first so fast ...

Burke was offered a 1st rounder for Mac last deadline.

I don't mind Mac but he's replaceable on the UFA market. It's like Burke's finding a wallet idea but in this case, close to finding a free first rounder. For $3.5 mil, you can find another winger this summer.

 

[bustaheims]

Which is why a team like the Leafs, who have little chance of winning it all this spring, should explore flipping a player or two to take advantage of desperate GMs.

It's sort of a double-edged sword though. A lot of teams aren't willing to move guys because they have a chance at a playoff spot, but, at the same time, probably aren't looking to spend much on adding guys because of how tenuous their grasp of that playoff spot is.

 

[Erndog]

markhmasters: Nonis: 'A lot of teams are saying the same thing right now, it's not a year where there's a lot of players available'

Which is why a team like the Leafs, who have little chance of winning it all this spring, should explore flipping a player or two to take advantage of desperate GMs.

Especially a guy like Mac who, while he's a decent player, doesn't really have a place in the team's top 6 if everyone is healthy. You could even argue that he ideally ranks as low as 6th on the team's depth chart on the wings. A guy like that should always be on the market, especially if the prices are high.

Ideally, a team like the Leafs in this CBA should always be building for the future.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 1h
CBJ will be a buyer. Columbus would be willing to part with 1 of their 3 first rnd draft picks for a scoring forward. #tradecentre

I'd trade Mac  for a Columbus' first so fast ...

Burke was offered a 1st rounder for Mac last deadline.

I don't mind Mac but he's replaceable on the UFA market. It's like Burke's finding a wallet idea but in this case, close to finding a free first rounder. For $3.5 mil, you can find another winger this summer.

I came here to post this also. 

Columbus wants to add and said they are willing to deal a first rounder for a winger.

Mac is probably the Leafs 6th or 7th best winger... makes sense in my head.  Dunno if CLB would be willing BUT they do have 3 picks, a shot at re-signing Mac and the wingers are slim pickins' this deadline so it might make some sense.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I came here to post this also. 

Columbus wants to add and said they are willing to deal a first rounder for a winger.

Mac is probably the Leafs 6th or 7th best winger... makes sense in my head.  Dunno if CLB would be willing BUT they do have 3 picks, a shot at re-signing Mac and the wingers are slim pickins' this deadline so it might make some sense.

I'm also hoping for this scenario..

 

[TML fan]

I came here to post this also. 

Columbus wants to add and said they are willing to deal a first rounder for a winger.

Mac is probably the Leafs 6th or 7th best winger... makes sense in my head.  Dunno if CLB would be willing BUT they do have 3 picks, a shot at re-signing Mac and the wingers are slim pickins' this deadline so it might make some sense.

I'm also hoping for this scenario..

MacArthur is a great depth player, but way too expensive. With van Riemsdyk in the mix, there just isn't room for him.

If there's a first to be had, I'd take it.

 

[cw]

Which is why a team like the Leafs, who have little chance of winning it all this spring, should explore flipping a player or two to take advantage of desperate GMs.

It's sort of a double-edged sword though. A lot of teams aren't willing to move guys because they have a chance at a playoff spot, but, at the same time, probably aren't looking to spend much on adding guys because of how tenuous their grasp of that playoff spot is.

A desperate GM might. Sather & McPhee for example might be feeling a little uncomfortable right now and capable of doing something stupid.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Especially a guy like Mac who, while he's a decent player, doesn't really have a place in the team's top 6 if everyone is healthy. You could even argue that he ideally ranks as low as 6th on the team's depth chart on the wings. A guy like that should always be on the market, especially if the prices are high.

Ideally, a team like the Leafs in this CBA should always be building for the future.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 1h
CBJ will be a buyer. Columbus would be willing to part with 1 of their 3 first rnd draft picks for a scoring forward. #tradecentre

I'd trade Mac  for a Columbus' first so fast ...

Burke was offered a 1st rounder for Mac last deadline.

I don't mind Mac but he's replaceable on the UFA market. It's like Burke's finding a wallet idea but in this case, close to finding a free first rounder. For $3.5 mil, you can find another winger this summer.

In this CBA, a good team can only survive with the salary cap by always trying to get a couple of good forwards and defensemen on ELC or 2nd contracts to balance out the veteran contracts.  That is why I believe a team should rarely go the route of UFAs and try mainly with trades and the draft.

That causes me to look at the depth of the players like MacArthur and compare what they bring to the table for the money compared to Lupul, Kessel, JVR, Grabovski and Kulemin as well as Frattin and Kadri.  I would rather see MacArthur traded for a draft pick and use Colborne on an ELC which only has a $875,000 guaranteed salary and shouldn't be much higher on a 2nd contract next season than a $3.5 MIL veteran UFA.

If Nonis is having difficulty with Bozak's contract being re-signed at $3.5 MIL or less then I would hope Bozak would be getting moved as well. 

I figure Nonis should have a pretty good handle on where all the Leafs expiring contract negotiations are at by now as well as the key contracts that are finished the following summer as they can be extended this summer as well.

 

[cw]

Nonis has said he doesn't want picks back - he wants a player. I disagree. To me, picks are like talent currency. He can take some good picks in a trade now and flip them at the draft into a top pick OR flip them with a rebuilding team to get a good youngish player. He doesn't have to get it all done in one deal.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Nonis has said he doesn't want picks back - he wants a player. I disagree. To me, picks are like talent currency. He can take some good picks in a trade now and flip them at the draft into a top pick OR flip them with a rebuilding team to get a good youngish player. He doesn't have to get it all done in one deal.

Agreed. I think that's when the players you would want are available anyway. At the draft..

 

[Frank E]

Nonis has said he doesn't want picks back - he wants a player. I disagree. To me, picks are like talent currency. He can take some good picks in a trade now and flip them at the draft into a top pick OR flip them with a rebuilding team to get a good youngish player. He doesn't have to get it all done in one deal.

I think you'd agree that press conference info is for media consumption, and it certainly isn't a forum for him to show his cards.

He may very well be working on a player, and needs a little media assistance.

I don't doubt for a second that he'd flip a couple of his assets for picks, if the offer was right.

 

[Kessel Run]

I'm really starting to hope the Leafs stand pat. Not in favour of picking up a goaltender (Luongo, Kipper) and really hope we don't dump Bozak or MacArthur for picks. Now if it were trades that made us better immediately and doesn't sacrifice the future then go for it.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Nonis has said he doesn't want picks back - he wants a player. I disagree. To me, picks are like talent currency. He can take some good picks in a trade now and flip them at the draft into a top pick OR flip them with a rebuilding team to get a good youngish player. He doesn't have to get it all done in one deal.

Wow.  Do I ever NOT agree with Nonis on this point.

I agree with you cw.  Infact I was hoping that Nonis would trade some of the redundant players with value to teams trying to win in the next couple of years for those teams top prospects.

 

[drummond]

If someone is willing to give a first round pick in a trade, you simple have to consider that trade. First round picks are hard to come by.

 

[iwas11in67]

If we had 2 first round picks this year we could use them both to move up in this rich draft.

 

[bustaheims]

If we had 2 first round picks this year we could use them both to move up in this rich draft.

The most recent reports about this draft is that it's not particularly rich, but, rather, top heavy . . . which means, it's unlikely a team is going to trade down from an enviable position to take 2 lesser picks.