The Official 2011/2012 Armchair GM thread

[caver]

I don't understand the people who want to bring Grier into the Leafs. His best days are far behind him and his role would suit a younger man better.

 

[L K]

I don't understand the people who want to bring Grier into the Leafs. His best days are far behind him and his role would suit a younger man better.

The lack of veteran presence on the team can be just as detrimental as "evil age".

 

[Bender]

I don't understand the people who want to bring Grier into the Leafs. His best days are far behind him and his role would suit a younger man better.

The lack of veteran presence on the team can be just as detrimental as "evil age".

I don't think too many people would complain if said veteran was effective. (Not a shot at Grier)

 

[cw]

I don't think I would mind it either, but I can't see it as likely...especially given what they're purportedly looking for - a (younger?) larger body that can win faceoffs...a 5'10" 35 year old...

A lot of people have talked about the team's interest in being young and why that's a reason to not sign player X but I have to say, if that is an accurate reflection of how the current staff is thinking it strikes me as really shortsighted. For a team with a bottom 6 as crummy as the Leafs have the idea of not having one spot available for a guy to provide veteran leadership just doesn't make sense to me. Especially on a team like the Leafs that has a number of guys who've had their attitudes questioned in the past.

(not directly specifically at you Omallley, just saying in general.)

I haven't seen a strong indication of that by posters or the team. UFA Connolly is 30. Liles is as well. Richards was 31. They targeted 10 UFAs and most UFAs are 27 or older. By far it seems, the prohibitive factors in adding some UFA vets were the crazy contracts being given out on July 1 and the shallow pool of UFA talent.

Now if they were in contention and a particular vet was the "missing piece", one might justify overpayment to get that vet. But with where they are today, in a retooling mode, that sort of transaction doesn't make a lot of sense to me when they can pick up a character vet if they feel the need, closer to the start of the season without paying through the nose to get him.

I think the top 7 are set - the 7th being Armstrong. After that, there's a contest for the other seven forward spots with Brown, Bozak & Orr likely to survive - probably four spots up for grabs in some way or another.

The 4th line center contest for example (assuming Bozak is penciled in for the 3rd or 4th line):
- Loiselle's statement that they're trying to acquire a "prototypical, good sized, strong faceoff center"
- if they fail to acquire via trade, UFAs like Drury, Madden, Morrison and probably others are out there
- Zigomanis, Boyce, Dupuis and Colborne are also in the depth chart to try and win a job and three of those guys have NHL experience

I think Frattin & Caputi are going to give Kadri a good run for his spot on the third line. Maybe someone else surprises.

Folks may be aware of Mueller, Brenner & D'Amigo expecting they'll get a look but I'd be paying some attention to Ryan Hamilton (who we got for Robbie Earl). He's big (230lbs), skates really well and played wing on one of the best checking lines I've ever seen play for the Marlies/AHL Leafs (with Scott & Foster). He has some scoring ability (some importance in the NHL that a checker can chip in) but PKs and checks well in my opinion. Eakins made him an assistant captain last season. My only knock on him is that he could use his size more. If he added some truculence, Burke would love him.

If Caputi shows up and performs well as he did last September and Dupuis lives up to the positive reviews he got in Colorado:
Caputi-Bozak-Armstrong
Brown-Drury-Dupuis
- might be our 3rd and 4th lines when Orr isn't needed. Defensively and physically, those guys might be pretty good and that 3rd line could chip in with some scoring.

I think this 3rd line/4th line debate is fairly premature. It's a work in progress where we don't know all the candidates for the job as is common with the domino effect while constructing a roster. There are so many things that could happen and to some extent, preseason will determine who earns a spot as it should.

 

[maplesyrup]

(previous post removed) I just realized I was actually trying to drum up discussion on a hockeybuzz rumour. (I feel shame.)  :-[

 

[Tigger]

(previous post removed) I just realized I was actually trying to drum up discussion on a hockeybuzz rumour. (I feel shame.)  :-[

Yeah, that's a bad Sarge! ...but I was going to say that one for one I'd rather keep Nazem but if they could pry away Korpikoski in the deal as well for not much more I might be interested.

 

[maplesyrup]

(previous post removed) I just realized I was actually trying to drum up discussion on a hockeybuzz rumour. (I feel shame.)  :-[

Yeah, that's a bad Sarge! ...but I was going to say that one for one I'd rather keep Nazem but if they could pry away Korpikoski in the deal as well for not much more I might be interested.

Sorry. That being said, if our pro scouts like Turris, I wouldn't mind. With Kadri unlikely to bump MacArthur or Lupul out of a top 6 LW spot anytime soon and D'Amigo possibly being able to crack the line-up in a year or two I might think he's somewhat expendable. Kadri might not be suited for a bottom 6 role and the Caputis and Frattins of the world just might be better in that role. - Who knows though.

Turris could be some nice insurance for Connolly and if both Colborne and Turris reach their potential, I'd be very much excited about those two being our future down the middle - and I'm not forgetting about McKegg either. 

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

What about Drury for el cheapo?

I'd rather keep el cheapo.

 

[Tigger]

(previous post removed) I just realized I was actually trying to drum up discussion on a hockeybuzz rumour. (I feel shame.)  :-[

Yeah, that's a bad Sarge! ...but I was going to say that one for one I'd rather keep Nazem but if they could pry away Korpikoski in the deal as well for not much more I might be interested.

Sorry. That being said, if our pro scouts like Turris, I wouldn't mind. With Kadri unlikely to bump MacArthur or Lupul out of a top 6 LW spot anytime soon and D'Amigo possibly being able to crack the line-up in a year or two I might think he's somewhat expendable. Kadri might not be suited for a bottom 6 role and the Caputis and Frattins of the world just might be better in that role. - Who knows though.

Turris could be some nice insurance for Connolly and if both Colborne and Turris reach their potential, I'd be very much excited about those two being our future down the middle - and I'm not forgetting about McKegg either.

I've read good things about Turris and he played well against Detroit in the playoffs. Anything that helps out the center position is fine by me but I'm a greedy sob thus the desire to add Korpikoski ( young, fast and top pk'r for Phoenix ). For some reason I think Kadri could have a higher ceiling but that might just be la vie en bleu et blanc on my part.

 

[cw]

(previous post removed) I just realized I was actually trying to drum up discussion on a hockeybuzz rumour. (I feel shame.)  :-[

Yeah, that's a bad Sarge! ...but I was going to say that one for one I'd rather keep Nazem but if they could pry away Korpikoski in the deal as well for not much more I might be interested.

Sorry. That being said, if our pro scouts like Turris, I wouldn't mind. With Kadri unlikely to bump MacArthur or Lupul out of a top 6 LW spot anytime soon and D'Amigo possibly being able to crack the line-up in a year or two I might think he's somewhat expendable. Kadri might not be suited for a bottom 6 role and the Caputis and Frattins of the world just might be better in that role. - Who knows though.

Turris could be some nice insurance for Connolly and if both Colborne and Turris reach their potential, I'd be very much excited about those two being our future down the middle - and I'm not forgetting about McKegg either.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/1020463--kadri-on-the-wing-reimer-in-the-net-maple-leafs-all-set-burke-says
It was a gruff and grumbly Burke who addressed the media between periods today at the Leafs prospects camp game at the MasterCard Centre. He said Nazem Kadri will come to camp as a winger.

?What we ask our centres to do at both ends of the rink, are not his strong suit,? Burke said of Kadri, likening him to Paul Kariya. ?He can make a play. Paul Kariya played his whole career on the wing, but once they crossed the centre line, he was a centre.?

That's not a great report card for Kadri. It will be tougher for him to flourish offensively on a checking line this season but arguably good for his overall development if he can stick. Maybe that situation makes him more tradeable now. It certainly suggests that he's unlikely to ever be a #1 center and may have difficulty becoming a #2 center in Toronto.

The thing with Turris is that he hasn't demonstrated much defensively at this point in his career. He doesn't really satisfy a need right now depending where they anticipate he'll fit in the NHL in the future.

Where they project Colborne to wind up may also factor in to the Leafs thinking on what they do with Kadri.

I don't mind Korpikoski but I doubt Tippett will want to part with him.

Having said all that, I'm not implying Kadri's a write off or anything like that. I do think he has a real fight on his hands to play for this NHL team this season. Hopefully, he has a great summer, comes in and blows everybody away putting Lupul on the third line.

 

[maplesyrup]

(previous post removed) I just realized I was actually trying to drum up discussion on a hockeybuzz rumour. (I feel shame.)  :-[

Yeah, that's a bad Sarge! ...but I was going to say that one for one I'd rather keep Nazem but if they could pry away Korpikoski in the deal as well for not much more I might be interested.

Sorry. That being said, if our pro scouts like Turris, I wouldn't mind. With Kadri unlikely to bump MacArthur or Lupul out of a top 6 LW spot anytime soon and D'Amigo possibly being able to crack the line-up in a year or two I might think he's somewhat expendable. Kadri might not be suited for a bottom 6 role and the Caputis and Frattins of the world just might be better in that role. - Who knows though.

Turris could be some nice insurance for Connolly and if both Colborne and Turris reach their potential, I'd be very much excited about those two being our future down the middle - and I'm not forgetting about McKegg either.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/1020463--kadri-on-the-wing-reimer-in-the-net-maple-leafs-all-set-burke-says
It was a gruff and grumbly Burke who addressed the media between periods today at the Leafs prospects camp game at the MasterCard Centre. He said Nazem Kadri will come to camp as a winger.

?What we ask our centres to do at both ends of the rink, are not his strong suit,? Burke said of Kadri, likening him to Paul Kariya. ?He can make a play. Paul Kariya played his whole career on the wing, but once they crossed the centre line, he was a centre.?

That's not a great report card for Kadri. It will be tougher for him to flourish offensively on a checking line this season but arguably good for his overall development if he can stick. Maybe that situation makes him more tradeable now. It certainly suggests that he's unlikely to ever be a #1 center and may have difficulty becoming a #2 center in Toronto.

The thing with Turris is that he hasn't demonstrated much defensively at this point in his career. He doesn't really satisfy a need right now depending where they anticipate he'll fit in the NHL in the future.

Where they project Colborne to wind up may also factor in to the Leafs thinking on what they do with Kadri.

I don't mind Korpikoski but I doubt Tippett will want to part with him.

Having said all that, I'm not implying Kadri's a write off or anything like that. I do think he has a real fight on his hands to play for this NHL team this season. Hopefully, he has a great summer, comes in and blows everybody away putting Lupul on the third line.

Yeah... but at the end of the day, I still call BS because that would leave Phoenix awfully thin at center.

 

[Tigger]

In fairness Burke did, sort of, compare him to Kariya...

Perhaps adding Turris could be with an eye to trading Grabbo down the line? That's not based on anything but speculation, he's unrestricted next year so it gives me pause ( well, briefly anways ).

 

[cw]

(previous post removed) I just realized I was actually trying to drum up discussion on a hockeybuzz rumour. (I feel shame.)  :-[

Yeah, that's a bad Sarge! ...but I was going to say that one for one I'd rather keep Nazem but if they could pry away Korpikoski in the deal as well for not much more I might be interested.

Sorry. That being said, if our pro scouts like Turris, I wouldn't mind. With Kadri unlikely to bump MacArthur or Lupul out of a top 6 LW spot anytime soon and D'Amigo possibly being able to crack the line-up in a year or two I might think he's somewhat expendable. Kadri might not be suited for a bottom 6 role and the Caputis and Frattins of the world just might be better in that role. - Who knows though.

Turris could be some nice insurance for Connolly and if both Colborne and Turris reach their potential, I'd be very much excited about those two being our future down the middle - and I'm not forgetting about McKegg either.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/1020463--kadri-on-the-wing-reimer-in-the-net-maple-leafs-all-set-burke-says
It was a gruff and grumbly Burke who addressed the media between periods today at the Leafs prospects camp game at the MasterCard Centre. He said Nazem Kadri will come to camp as a winger.

?What we ask our centres to do at both ends of the rink, are not his strong suit,? Burke said of Kadri, likening him to Paul Kariya. ?He can make a play. Paul Kariya played his whole career on the wing, but once they crossed the centre line, he was a centre.?

That's not a great report card for Kadri. It will be tougher for him to flourish offensively on a checking line this season but arguably good for his overall development if he can stick. Maybe that situation makes him more tradeable now. It certainly suggests that he's unlikely to ever be a #1 center and may have difficulty becoming a #2 center in Toronto.

The thing with Turris is that he hasn't demonstrated much defensively at this point in his career. He doesn't really satisfy a need right now depending where they anticipate he'll fit in the NHL in the future.

Where they project Colborne to wind up may also factor in to the Leafs thinking on what they do with Kadri.

I don't mind Korpikoski but I doubt Tippett will want to part with him.

Having said all that, I'm not implying Kadri's a write off or anything like that. I do think he has a real fight on his hands to play for this NHL team this season. Hopefully, he has a great summer, comes in and blows everybody away putting Lupul on the third line.

Yeah... but at the end of the day, I still call BS because that would leave Phoenix awfully thin at center.

For sure. They lost Belanger & Fiddler as UFAs (good 3rd/4th center guys - both of which I wish the Leafs had grabbed). They signed Boyd Gordon but they're arguably weaker down the middle than the Leafs are right now (or will be assuming the Leafs make the addition they hope to).

 

[Tigger]

That does leave Phoenix shy at center. Maybe this has more to do with speculation around his status as an unsigned rfa? Can't imagine they see Kadri as a center prospect.

 

[maplesyrup]

Not really an armchair thing (wasn't sure where to post this) but I was just checking out out roster at mapleleafs.com and made a shocking discovery. Nazim Kadri is our only player born in Ontario. Huh.  ???

 

[caver]

Some of the Eastern conference teams are muscling up and getting more tough guys. I wonder how that will affect Burke.  If he wants more truculence how about getting Clarkson from Jersey and Carkner from Ottawa?

 

[Guilt Trip]

Some of the Eastern conference teams are muscling up and getting more tough guys. I wonder how that will affect Burke.  If he wants more truculence how about getting Clarkson from Jersey and Carkner from Ottawa?

Carkner is a D man, which we don't need, and a punching bag.  Clarkson was pretty much useless last year. It was worse then his rookie year points/pims wise.
Would def depend on what we'd need to give up to get Clarkson.....no interest in Cark tho....

 

[caver]

Clarkson did have a down year but there was interest in him last year. He has some scoring ability and plays tough. I don't understand how you can say Carkner is a punching bag. He is rated as one of the top enforcers in the league. Colton Orr did knock him out but we have all seen Orr knocked out too and no one calls him a punching bag. Check out Carkner ending Boogaard's season on youtube.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I never liked the idea of an enforcer as a defenceman. Particularily if you're only dressing 6 of them like most teams do. I think it puts a team in an awful position. What happens when Carkner takes a 5-minute penalty and then another defenceman gets called for a minor during that time? There's only 4 defencemen left on the bench and there's a chance one of them might not be a regular on the penalty kill.

Besides, there's enough toughness on our blueline. Odds are one of Phaneuf, Schenn, Aulie, and Komi will be on the ice at all times. Of course it's not ideal to have any of those guys fighting for the reason mentioned above and because most of them are top-4 guys, but if push comes to shove they can handle themselves.

 

[Tigger]

Yeah, Aulie showed up against Hartnell pretty fair last year and the other 3 can handle the rough stuff too if needed but frankly I don't care if the Leafs have a player in an enforcer role who contributes nothing else, Orr seems completely unnecessary, never mind one who plays defence, I agree with Carlton there.

Clarkson seems a like a bit of an expensive cap hit to me for what he brings and I wouldn't trade my hat for Carkner.