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The Official 2011/2012 Armchair GM thread

Corn Flake said:
Jeff Carter makes more sense for the Leafs than Rick Nash, and I would guess that he is probably more likely to be traded as well. 

Leafs want a centre with size and scoring punch.  Assuming Getzlaf is not being traded (I don't know this), Carter would be #2 on my list.
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While I'm not against the Leafs acquiring Carter (though, I don't see it happening), I do have a number of reservations about him. Firstly, though he's played a large portion of his career as a centre, he plays much more like a winger. To that point, he's not really the 1st line type centre the Leafs need. Secondly, despite being big, he's not particularly physical. On top of that, his contract, while fair in cap hit, is terrible in term. 9 more years? That's a lot for a guy who is kind of in between being a core guy and a complimentary guy. There's a reason Burke balked at parting with Kulemin and Kadri for him this summer, and, with all the injuries he's suffered plus the fact that he clearly wants out of Columbus already, his value has certainly dropped from there. Like with Nash, Carter would be behind Ryan on my list of guys the Leafs should be targeting.
 
Eklund saying that the Leafs might have some movement on a big trade this week, or maybe nothing happens.  (e3)
 
I'd pass on Carter unless we get him for a relatively cheap price. This team needs two things on forward: a top line centre for Kessel (and Lupul), and a physical top-6 winger. Carter doesn't exactly fit either of those.

Given that they are all shooters, I can't see Lupul-Carter-Kessel being the type of line that has long-term success. On separate lines they could be great, but if we only have one shot at making a trade that fills that gap, I'd prefer we get the right guy and I don't think it's Carter.

And as busta says, if we're looking to acquire a physical guy then Carter isn't exactly that despite his size.
 
Newbury said:
Corn Flake said:
Jeff Carter makes more sense for the Leafs than Rick Nash, and I would guess that he is probably more likely to be traded as well. 

Leafs want a centre with size and scoring punch.  Assuming Getzlaf is not being traded (I don't know this), Carter would be #2 on my list.
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I'd probably give Kadri, Blacker and a 2nd or something like that for Carter. No more than that. Or perhaps something like Schenn, McKegg, and a 2nd.
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I agree with the talent value you propose Newbury,  It is the cap hit though that would be suspect.  That is why I was suggesting Connolly who hasn't been a bust for the Leafs but also hasn't been lights out either.  I included MacArthur because I am expecting that Burke is trying to toughen up the 2nd line and will need to move one of those guys anyway.

Cap-wise MacArthur and Connolly for Carter works for both teams and it gives Columbus 2 decent top 6 forwards on half decent contracts and frees up some breathing space for Burke.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
I'd pass on Carter unless we get him for a relatively cheap price. This team needs two things on forward: a top line centre for Kessel (and Lupul), and a physical top-6 winger. Carter doesn't exactly fit either of those.

Given that they are all shooters, I can't see Lupul-Carter-Kessel being the type of line that has long-term success. On separate lines they could be great, but if we only have one shot at making a trade that fills that gap, I'd prefer we get the right guy and I don't think it's Carter.

And as busta says, if we're looking to acquire a physical guy then Carter isn't exactly that despite his size.
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That's what I was wondering.  If Burke could shed Connolly and MacArthur and keep Bozak and Grabovski then the lines would almost be balanced across all 3:

Lupul / Bozak / Kessel

Kulemin / Grabovski / power forward (Stewart for Schenn??)

Lombardi / Carter / Armstrong
 
DarrenDreger: A couple of sketchy trade rumours out there. Can tell you the Leafs, according to Burke have never discussed Nash trade..."Ever."
 
If people had suggested Connolly and MacArthur for Carter last year they would have been laughed at, now it's a viable trade proposal for some, what a difference a year makes.
 
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=386430

Gleason locked up, theres another option off the table for the Flyers. I bet ol Schenn is probly looking pretty good right now... Fleece them Burke! FLEECE THEM TO DEATH!
 
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
If people had suggested Connolly and MacArthur for Carter last year they would have been laughed at, now it's a viable trade proposal for some, what a difference a year makes.
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Absolutely.  Part of what makes it a wee bit viable is the contract length of Connolly and MacArthur compared to Carters decade+ length.  Plus the great attitude that both Leafs have had in Toronto where as Carter seemed to have issues in Philadelphia and now even the Columbus GM publicly admits that Carter wants out.  That hurts Carter value as well in my estimation on both counts.
 
I'd really like to unload Connolly on someone... Heck, I'd literally give him away. He's eating the 4.75 mil we could be spending on Grabo next year.
 
Sarge said:
I'd really like to unload Connolly on someone... Heck, I'd literally give him away. He's eating the 4.75 mil we could be spending on Grabo next year.
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I'm hoping Burke pulls another Versteeg and just admits this didn't work out. It probably won't happen until the offseason though.
 
If Columbus trades Carter to someone and, assuming another center doesn't come back to them, I wonder if they'd be interested in Connolly for Huselius' dead contract. Maybe a deal like that is something Burke can pull off.  :-\
 
Sarge said:
If Columbus trades Carter to someone and, assuming another center doesn't come back to them, I wonder if they'd be interested in Connolly for Huselius' dead contract. Maybe a deal like that is something Burke can pull off.  :-\
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I'm with you, he is approaching Komisarek status, starting to see why so many Sabres fans got pissy with him.

It's a shame because he had a promising start.
 
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
Sarge said:
If Columbus trades Carter to someone and, assuming another center doesn't come back to them, I wonder if they'd be interested in Connolly for Huselius' dead contract. Maybe a deal like that is something Burke can pull off.  :-\
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I'm with you, he is approaching Komisarek status, starting to see why so many Sabres fans got pissy with him.

It's a shame because he had a promising start.
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Luckily he only has 1 year left after this.  Easy contract to unload when the Leafs want to make room.
 
I would be fine with the Leafs trading Grabovski if they get a Kaberle-esque or better package for him.  If they however move him so they can continue with Komi and Connolly next year my head might actually explode, I'd much rather pay Grabo(obviously within reason), than have those two continue to eat 9(ish) million of the cap and provide nothing.
 
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
I would be fine with the Leafs trading Grabovski if they get a Kaberle-esque or better package for him.  If they however move him so they can continue with Komi and Connolly next year my head might actually explode, I'd much rather pay Grabo(obviously within reason), than have those two continue to eat 9(ish) million of the cap and provide nothing.
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Agreed.  If we can't trade Grabovski, sign him and eat those 2 contracts to free up space.
 
Who are the virtual 'untouchables' on the Leafs?  I say virtual because 'if Gretztky can get traded anyone can get traded'.

The players that Burke seems to like are Schenn, Komisarek, Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul, Liles and Grabovski.

For me I question if Phaneuf is the cornerstone that the Leafs need or is he good enough?  When he was awarded his contract I remember people thinking it was about a $1 MIL too high and say it still is.  People here are concerned that he is slow, can't hit the net when he needs to and gets caught out of position.  That concerns me  BUT.... If he is the cornerstone then the Leafs probably have 10 more solid years with Phaneuf anchoring the defense.

Similarily people thought that Kessel's pay raise from $0.850 MIL to $4.5 MIL was a bit much but explainable and then it was updated as $5.4.  Does he warrant that kind of contract?  Does he get a pay raise when he really hasn't been much better than Grabovski or Kulemin ---or worse--- does Grabovski and Kulemin us his contract to justify pay raises?

I am not saying that we need to blow the Leafs up.  I missed last nights game against but from what I read here and even from Pittsburgh's coach quotes, the Pens were lucky to win last night as the Leafs played really well.

Does Bozak have enough chemistry with Lupul and Kessel? At 6'1" 195lbs Bozak has decent size and seems to click with them well.

The Leafs might be OK with a defense of:
Gunnarsson / Phaneuf
Liles / Franson
Gardiner / Komisarek

until Blacker replaces Komisarek.  If so Schenn and Aulie are disposable although Aulie might not get much so would be better left on the Marlies for now.

I think at this juncture I would only look at 3 moves:

1] Schenn for 2nd line toughness: prefer C. Stewart but could be Morrow or Malone if rumours come true.  Clowe being traded was refered as 'utter madness' by SJ's GM.

2] Get Carter (who currently isn't working out) from Columbus for Connolly (who currently isn't working out) and MacArthur (who IS working out but is also great trade bait).

3] I would see if Komisarek could be traded to upgrade our 4th line.  Someone like upcoming UFA Prust and Press Box bum Wolski (for NYR cap reasons) from NYR or Eager for Edm.  If not then I would stand pat and just keep using Boyce and Crabb.

I don't know...these are just my musings during a snow storm.
 
Columbus isn't going to trade Jeff Carter without some sort of decent young player coming back in return, especially not this early into the contract. Statistically he's still having a decent season considering the mess that is that team.
 
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