The Official 2011/2012 Armchair GM thread

[Tigger]

Why exactly are you advocating moving one of the league's best faceoff men to the wing?

That's a fair question, I don't like his speed, his defensive awareness is pretty sound but I think he'd be more effective on the wing, and, he can still take faceoffs in that position, you could spot him or one of the others on offensive lines in times of need too.

Having three of the best faceoff men in the game who can also play a little in the bottom six couldn't hurt, especially with defensive zone assignments.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

To get towards a 'Carlyle' team, bringing in Gaustad/Kelly for the third line and McClement for the fourth ( move Steckel to wing ) would be a good start too.

Burke would likely have to get rid of two of Lombardi/Connolly/Armstrong for that to work cap-wise, otherwise our bottom-6 would probably be more expensive than some teams top-6.

 

[Tigger]

To get towards a 'Carlyle' team, bringing in Gaustad/Kelly for the third line and McClement for the fourth ( move Steckel to wing ) would be a good start too.

Burke would likely have to get rid of two of Lombardi/Connolly/Armstrong for that to work cap-wise, otherwise our bottom-6 would probably be more expensive than some teams top-6.

For sure, I didn't get into the nuts and bolts because it can go all over the map but you're right, the cap would be an issue with that and the CBA results too.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Why exactly are you advocating moving one of the league's best faceoff men to the wing?

That's a fair question, I don't like his speed, his defensive awareness is pretty sound but I think he'd be more effective on the wing, and, he can still take faceoffs in that position, you could spot him or one of the others on offensive lines in times of need too.

Having three of the best faceoff men in the game who can also play a little in the bottom six couldn't hurt, especially with defensive zone assignments.

I like a lot of your ideas but I am not struck on bumping Steckel for McClement.  I would leave the 4th line center job with Steckel and look to get a rugged 4th line winger who can contribute a bit of offense like Eager or Martin or UFAs Prust/Moen/ etc.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Don't worry too much about where they all play. I keep looking at Philli and they should have the same problem but it finds a way of working itself out.  If the skilled young players we have step in and produce then they simply turn the 2nd liners into 3rd liners.

Schenn for JVR...  A poor man's Nash? I would miss Schenn but worth it

J. Staal or Pavelski for the centre job  Can center the top line instead of Pens 3rd.  Bozak, Gunnarsson and Armstrong would be offered

Clowe or Stewart for the #2/#3 winger job.  MacArthur would give them LW scoring, Leafs get tougher

Kelly or Gaustad for the #3 centre job. Big, shut down center with great FO % that costs no assets to acquire...Kelly would be great too if he doesn't re-sign with Boston

Ben Eager or similar for the 4th line checker/fighter/utility man job. $1.1 up for grabs for the right guy. I was hoping that NYI needs to do another Rolston deal to get to the cap floor and would deal Stamkos OHL body guard Matt Martin for Connolly

Goal: Kipprusoff feels like the best option here over a     Luongo.    2 years is a good amount of time to let Reimer apprentice.  How about Lombardi (great speed, good skill), Komisarek (to replace Salo) and Colborne (to replace Hogdson)?


Use collection of assets for these trades which include:  Picks, B-level prospects, Franson, Bozak, Mac, Kulemin, Scrivens,
Colborne or Kadri (not both, and probably only if we are talking Staal), Armstrong and the other obvious parts to sell like Connolly, Lombardi, etc.

Kadri, Ashton, etc still in the system.

I have liked Mark Fraser's style of play with New Jersey and was wondering how he was looking in the Marlies playoffs as a defensive defense man.  He is a good fighter as well and if he fit the Leafs system could replace Komisarek and Schenn's toughness as the 6th dman.

Pay raises for RFAs and Gaustad but still Cap space for the future.

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR ROSTER

FORWARDS

Joffrey Lupul ($4.250m) /    Jordan Staal ($4.000m) /    Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) /    Mikhail Grabovski ($5.500m) /    Chris Stewart ($3.500m)
Nikolai Kulemin ($2.500m) /    Paul Gaustad ($3.000m) /    Matt Frattin ($1.100m)
Matt Martin ($1.100m) /    David Steckel ($1.100m) /    Mike Brown ($0.737m)
Jay Rosehill ($0.600m) /                                                  Joey Crabb ($0.750m)

DEFENSEMEN

John-Michael Liles ($3.875m) /    Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) /    Cody Franson ($1.300m)
Mark Fraser ($0.605m) /    Jesse Blacker ($0.870m)
Matt Lashoff ($0.600m) /

GOALTENDERS

James Reimer ($1.800m)
Roberto Luongo ($5.333m)

BUYOUTS
Darcy Tucker ($1.000m) 
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $60,786,667; BONUSES: $422,500
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $3,513,333

 

[maplesyrup]

Why exactly are you advocating moving one of the league's best faceoff men to the wing?

That's a fair question, I don't like his speed, his defensive awareness is pretty sound but I think he'd be more effective on the wing, and, he can still take faceoffs in that position, you could spot him or one of the others on offensive lines in times of need too.

Having three of the best faceoff men in the game who can also play a little in the bottom six couldn't hurt, especially with defensive zone assignments.

FWIW, our own Jake Gardiner just called Gaustad the most underrated player in the league.

http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=446&id=175338&lang=en

Having said that, I like Steckel right where he is - and his cap number is just right.

 

[Corn Flake]

Schenn for JVR...  A poor man's Nash? I would miss Schenn but worth it

J. Staal or Pavelski for the centre job  Can center the top line instead of Pens 3rd.  Bozak, Gunnarsson and Armstrong would be offered

I think you would have to go with Kulemin over Armstrong to get this done. The Malkin connection sells this.  I would offer Franson insated of Gunnarson and cross my fingers. Since we're playing, I will assume my plan worked.

Clowe or Stewart for the #2/#3 winger job.  MacArthur would give them LW scoring, Leafs get tougher

Possible, but might require a pick too.  I think I might leave this option alone and cross my fingers Burke can still trade Mac for a 1st pick, so that's where I'm going with that for now.

Kelly or Gaustad for the #3 centre job. Big, shut down center with great FO % that costs no assets to acquire...Kelly would be great too if he doesn't re-sign with Boston

I like Gaustad and like Sarge mentioned, he's somewhat underrated.  With him, Staal and Steckel, the Leafs would be INSANE in the faceoff dot.

Ben Eager or similar for the 4th line checker/fighter/utility man job. $1.1 up for grabs for the right guy. I was hoping that NYI needs to do another Rolston deal to get to the cap floor and would deal Stamkos OHL body guard Matt Martin for Connolly

I don't know much about Martin to be honest.  What Eager brings to me is agitation, fierce forechecking, keeps the other team looking over their shoulder when he's on the ice, built like a dump truck and will fight.  He takes bad penalties at times but that's the price for a guy who plays on edge.  IMO, an underrated piece of the Hawks cup run too.  if Martin can do that then by all means..

Goal: Kipprusoff feels like the best option here over a     Luongo.    2 years is a good amount of time to let Reimer apprentice.  How about Lombardi (great speed, good skill), Komisarek (to replace Salo) and Colborne (to replace Hogdson)?

I don't think you get rid of both Lombardi and Komi in that transaction.  One for sure. 

I have liked Mark Fraser's style of play with New Jersey and was wondering how he was looking in the Marlies playoffs as a defensive defense man.  He is a good fighter as well and if he fit the Leafs system could replace Komisarek and Schenn's toughness as the 6th dman.

I think Holzer is the guy who moves up. He is unbelievably solid with the Marlies.  Was paired with Fraser for the games I saw late in the season.  Plays the right side though which is a bit of a log jam at the moment.  I don't know if Fraser is NHL caliber but will throw him in as the #7 this time. I think Lashoff moves on.

FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($4.250m) / Jordan Staal ($4.000m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Mikhail Grabovski ($5.500m) / Nazem Kadri ($1.720m)
Matt Frattin ($1.000m) / Paul Gaustad ($3.500m) / Colby Armstrong ($3.000m)
Mike Brown ($0.737m) / David Steckel ($1.100m) / Ben Eager ($1.100m)
Matthew Lombardi ($3.500m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Carl Gunnarsson ($1.325m) / Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) / Bryan Allen ($2.500m)
John-Michael Liles ($3.875m) / Korbinian Holzer ($0.750m)
Mark Fraser ($0.700m) /
GOALTENDERS
Roberto Luongo ($5.333m)
James Reimer ($1.800m)
BUYOUTS
Darcy Tucker ($1.000m)

 

[bustaheims]

FWIW, our own Jake Gardiner just called Gaustad the most underrated player in the league.

I think Gaustad becomes this summer's Ville Leino - a quality role player that's going to end up with a contract that we'll all look at and say "What?"

 

[Corn Flake]

FWIW, our own Jake Gardiner just called Gaustad the most underrated player in the league.

I think Gaustad becomes this summer's Ville Leino - a quality role player that's going to end up with a contract that we'll all look at and say "What?"

Quite possible, but at least Gaustad's body of work is more consistent over the years where Leino was a one hit wonder.  So if he's overpaid, which he will be, teams know what they are getting and won't be imagining things like Buffalo did with superstar Leino

 

[CarltonTheBear]

This summer's Colby Armstrong would be a better description I think. And as long as we clear out some of the the other overpaid forwards I wouldn't have a problem with giving him an extra $1-1.5 mil.

 

[bustaheims]

This summer's Colby Armstrong would be a better description I think. And as long as we clear out some of the the other overpaid forwards I wouldn't have a problem with giving him an extra $1-1.5 mil.

No, I can seriously see someone giving him 6 years at ~$4M per. Armstrong's contract would have been perfectly reasonable had he been healthy.

 

[Tigger]

Why exactly are you advocating moving one of the league's best faceoff men to the wing?

That's a fair question, I don't like his speed, his defensive awareness is pretty sound but I think he'd be more effective on the wing, and, he can still take faceoffs in that position, you could spot him or one of the others on offensive lines in times of need too.

Having three of the best faceoff men in the game who can also play a little in the bottom six couldn't hurt, especially with defensive zone assignments.

I like a lot of your ideas but I am not struck on bumping Steckel for McClement.  I would leave the 4th line center job with Steckel and look to get a rugged 4th line winger who can contribute a bit of offense like Eager or Martin or UFAs Prust/Moen/ etc.

Thanks. I'm not stuck on it either, and with the way Steckel was auditioned at the end of the year he might end up with the 3rd line job anyways ( maybe I'm going too far against that notion with these musings )

I do feel that the Leafs, especially with Carlyle, need a far larger defensive presence down the middle in general, and that includes depth.

At the end of the day Steckel will likely be ok in that role on the 4th line, I'm just wary of his skating is all and want to have an abundance of pk'rs available, part of the reason I was so keen on Talbot last year too.

 

[caver]

Zenon Konopka is a UFA this summer. He had a great playoffs for Ottawa and gets $600,000 a year. He would  do the 4th line some good.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

This summer's Colby Armstrong would be a better description I think. And as long as we clear out some of the the other overpaid forwards I wouldn't have a problem with giving him an extra $1-1.5 mil.

No, I can seriously see someone giving him 6 years at ~$4M per. Armstrong's contract would have been perfectly reasonable had he been healthy.

I thought we overpaid slightly for Armstrong when he was originally signed and even if he was healthy I don't really think that would change my view. But you always overpay for UFA's so I don't really mind.

As for Gaustad, I really can't see a team going that high considering his lack of offense, but who knows.

 

[bustaheims]

As for Gaustad, I really can't see a team going that high considering his lack of offense, but who knows.

I really didn't think anyone would give up a 1st round pick for him at the trade deadline, but . . .

 

[Tigger]

This summer's Colby Armstrong would be a better description I think. And as long as we clear out some of the the other overpaid forwards I wouldn't have a problem with giving him an extra $1-1.5 mil.

No, I can seriously see someone giving him 6 years at ~$4M per. Armstrong's contract would have been perfectly reasonable had he been healthy.

That's the fear with these guys in a down fa year for sure. I don't know if it would get that crazy but someone might open the vault like that for Gaustad or Kelly.

 

[Champ Kind]

Changing gears just a little bit, but what a playoff run Travis Zajac is having for the Devils.  I recall there were rumours around his availability last year, particularly with the Devils cap pressures.  IMO, no way the Devils lose both Parise and Zajac this year.  However, if Parise signs, Zajac could be available.  Not your typical 1A centre, but more of a really good 2'nd line centre that can fill in, in the mold of a Jordan Stall.  Acquisition price would definitely be less than Stall as well.

 

[Corn Flake]

Changing gears just a little bit, but what a playoff run Travis Zajac is having for the Devils.  I recall there were rumours around his availability last year, particularly with the Devils cap pressures.  IMO, no way the Devils lose both Parise and Zajac this year.  However, if Parise signs, Zajac could be available.  Not your typical 1A centre, but more of a really good 2'nd line centre that can fill in, in the mold of a Jordan Stall.  Acquisition price would definitely be less than Stall as well.

I think Zajac might be the same or more given the hole created in the Devils lineup if they moved him.  He's not behind Crosby or Malkin on the depth charts there.

Parise is an animal out there.  His game has jumped 3 notches too. He doesn't stop skating full tilt out there the entire game.  Fastest guy on the ice by far too.

I think (hope/wish) he's the one guy Burke puts the exception tag on and signs him to some multi year bonanza deal. 

 

[Erndog]

I read some chatter that Dave Bolland could be available.  He would make an excellent 3rd line center- one of the best in the league.

He's 25 with 2 years remaining at $3.375M.

He's excellent 2 ways, plays a pretty pesky, rugged game for his size and can challenge the opposing teams top lines game in and game out.  He's one of those perfect gritty-ish players who excel in tight checking games.  In 47 playoff games he has 37 points. 

Not sure what Chicago would be looking for.  My guess is defence primarily and perhaps a replacement center. 

I know he doesn't address the size issue but I think I worry more about the size on the top 2 lines.  He's not "cheap" but his contract is very digestable and he's a piece that, going forward, could be one of those key cogs in your forward units for years to come.  Like a John Madden or Kris Draper in their glory days. 

In a year or two a Ross-Bolland-Biggs line could, quite possibly, be the most annoying, aggressive, energtic and truclent line in hockey

 

[rdowdall]

I read some chatter that Dave Bolland could be available.  He would make an excellent 3rd line center- one of the best in the league.

He's 25 with 2 years remaining at $3.375M.

He's excellent 2 ways, plays a pretty pesky, rugged game for his size and can challenge the opposing teams top lines game in and game out.  He's one of those perfect gritty-ish players who excel in tight checking games.  In 47 playoff games he has 37 points. 

Not sure what Chicago would be looking for.  My guess is defence primarily and perhaps a replacement center. 

I know he doesn't address the size issue but I think I worry more about the size on the top 2 lines.  He's not "cheap" but his contract is very digestable and he's a piece that, going forward, could be one of those key cogs in your forward units for years to come.  Like a John Madden or Kris Draper in their glory days. 

In a year or two a Ross-Bolland-Biggs line could, quite possibly, be the most annoying, aggressive, energtic and truclent line in hockey

I'm more worried about how many miles he has left on his body.  Yes he is still young, but he has had a couple of concussions.  The style he plays too, he may break down.  I do agree that if he was the Dave Bolland of old, that he would be the perfect fit for the third line as he brings along a bunch intangibles as well, such as leadership.