The Official 2011/2012 Armchair GM thread

[Corn Flake]

The 5th could be a top line centre.

A 1st and 2nd line centre is worth more to me than Rick Nash, especially when we have Kessel and Lupul and no centre depth.

Agreed. . I'm starting to lean away from ridiculous high priced trades to get a Nash level player.  I could see a Staal level move but not the Nash lunacy. 

I think this team with a big upgrade in net and probably on defense, plus some added size and leadership up front can probably make the post season and buy 2-3 years while the kid they draft matures, and maybe that becomes the piece to vault to contender status.

I don't know what the price for Staal would be, but I wonder if something could be worked out around Kulemin++.

Making and Kulemin have played well together on a few occasions.

At least with a Staal level acquisition, the trade cost would be (assumed at this point) more reasonable.. probably one good roster player like a Kulemin and one good prospect, but not that 5th overall pick.  He fits the age bracket, adds the size and defensive awareness we dearly need up front, plus he's won it all so there's that. 

I think that improves the centre position and along with other changes buys time for the #5 pick to develop and be ready... give that player 4 years to be in the lineup and making an impact.  if it takes less, then bonus.

 

[Kin]

I don't know what the price for Staal would be, but I wonder if something could be worked out around Kulemin++.

Making and Kulemin have played well together on a few occasions.

People have said this, and I suppose crazier things have happened, but I just would be blown away by something like that.

For starters, I find it really hard to believe that Shero would look at what happened this season and think a premium should be put on wingers who can score with Malkin.

But more to the point, after that playoff exit, it would seem to be pretty irresponsible on Shero's part to trade a big chip like Staal and not get anything in return that addresses anything that resembles one of their real needs. If I'm a Pittsburgh fan, trading Staal for Kulemin+ would be like the Leafs trading their pick and coming back with a scoring winger instead of a centre.

And the particular problem with Kulemin is that there's almost no upside to him if you're Pittsburgh. To start, you have to sell your fans on the idea that you're trading your best defensive forward for a guy who scored  seven goals last year but then, even in the best case scenario, he scores 35-40 goals playing on Malkin's wing and they have to pay him like he's a great player when, by most accounts, money is the reason they're looking to deal Staal in the first place.

I wouldn't rule it out but if I'm Pittsburgh's GM the + in a Kulemin+ trade would have to be of significantly greater value than Kulemin which, realistically, comes back to the fifth or Gardiner at which point it's kind of a non-starter.

 

[Tigger]

I wouldn't call Nashville's offense anemic - they were 8th in the league.

You're right, I was totally operating on my impression of that from last year.

If it helps, it completely surprised me too.  At least you can say Suter contributed to that.

True, and he did the year before when they were hard up for offense too.

 

[Deebo]

I don't know what the price for Staal would be, but I wonder if something could be worked out around Kulemin++.

Making and Kulemin have played well together on a few occasions.

People have said this, and I suppose crazier things have happened, but I just would be blown away by something like that.

For starters, I find it really hard to believe that Shero would look at what happened this season and think a premium should be put on wingers who can score with Malkin.

But more to the point, after that playoff exit, it would seem to be pretty irresponsible on Shero's part to trade a big chip like Staal and not get anything in return that addresses anything that resembles one of their real needs. If I'm a Pittsburgh fan, trading Staal for Kulemin+ would be like the Leafs trading their pick and coming back with a scoring winger instead of a centre.

And the particular problem with Kulemin is that there's almost no upside to him if you're Pittsburgh. To start, you have to sell your fans on the idea that you're trading your best defensive forward for a guy who scored  seven goals last year but then, even in the best case scenario, he scores 35-40 goals playing on Malkin's wing and they have to pay him like he's a great player when, by most accounts, money is the reason they're looking to deal Staal in the first place.

I wouldn't rule it out but if I'm Pittsburgh's GM the + in a Kulemin+ trade would have to be of significantly greater value than Kulemin which, realistically, comes back to the fifth or Gardiner at which point it's kind of a non-starter.

By ++, I did mean significant value.

Next years 1st, maybe top 5 protected, and a good prospect or young player like Kadri or Schenn and another lower pick or prospect in addition to Kulemin.

I think thats a fairly significant package but I don't know if it would get it done, but I do think it could be possible to put together a deal that could bring Staal in without including #5 or Gardiner.

 

[Deebo]

And the particular problem with Kulemin is that there's almost no upside to him if you're Pittsburgh. To start, you have to sell your fans on the idea that you're trading your best defensive forward for a guy who scored  seven goals last year but then, even in the best case scenario, he scores 35-40 goals playing on Malkin's wing and they have to pay him like he's a great player when, by most accounts, money is the reason they're looking to deal Staal in the first place.

I thought the reason they would look to deal him is that they would look to deal from positions of depth to fill areas where they need more.

Shifting money positionally, not cutting salary would be the motivation on pittsburgh's part, that's if they even are looking to deal Staal.

 

[Kin]

I thought the reason they would look to deal him is that they would look to deal from positions of depth to fill areas where they need more.

Shifting money positionally, not cutting salary would be the motivation on pittsburgh's part, that's if they even are looking to deal Staal.

I'd heard otherwise but, if true, I think the wing is the one position and depth quality where you're probably better off going via free agency.

 

[Kin]

I think thats a fairly significant package but I don't know if it would get it done, but I do think it could be possible to put together a deal that could bring Staal in without including #5 or Gardiner.

I don't know. Personally I wouldn't be inclined to make the sort of four quarters for a dollar kind of deal you're talking about. I think Staal's a player with enough profile and value that you can look to turn him into that one B+ or A level asset or even get that in addition to other things.

 

[iwas11in67]

No I think it boils down to how good you think Rick Nash is.

I think he's that good. I guess I'm alone.

Not alone. I'd trade Kessel straight up for Nash in a second. Not a sideways move in my opinion. Nash brings so much more to the table than Kessel ever will, again in my opinion. Then I would try and trade for Getzlaf. A first line of Lupul-Getzlaf-Nash would be very formidable.
Thats only IF Burke goes the re-load route. I can be patient as well though.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I am really hoping for some youth which I consider 25 or under giving the Leafs a foundation for the next 10 years that they could augment occasionally with a prospect or FA.

Need for youth to build a future not vets for the present:
That is why when the press talks about '79 J. Thornton, '82 Clowe and '79 Luongo for a top center, toughness in the top 6 and a veteran goalie I get worried.  I would hope that '88 J. Staal, '87 C. Stewart and '85 Halak would be pursued.  4th line '89 Martin is the other player I like if the Leafs could send Komisarek to NYI.

Marlies:
Do the Leafs leave Frattin, Colborne, Kadri, Ashton, D'Amigo and others in the AHL to dominate one more year?

Waivers:
Komisarek can't be waived only traded so hopefully NYI wants him.
Connolly can be waived saving $4.75 MIL in Cap space and taking a spot from a prospect
Lombardi can be waived but I would wait on that.
Armstrong can be waived saving $3.0 MIL and taking a spot from a prospect

Trades:
St Louis : With Chris Stewart's obvious redundancy in St Louis, St Louis' need for scoring as well as a LH dman combined Elliot's play, as you all know I would hope that we could send MacArthur but I am considering adding Liles and a goalie (Reimer, Scrivens or Owuya) for '87 Stewart and '85 Halak.

NYI : yeah I am clinging to the hope that NYI would take Komisarek for Martin which is the only player of worth that NYI might be willing to give the Leafs.

Pitts: J Staal for Bozak, Colborne (top prospect and big), Armstrong and any dman (most likely Gunnarsson).  Pittsburgh has cap room to do this trade.  Kulemin is a un-signed FA coming off a terrible year.  I am assuming Armstrong's connection with Crosby is bigger than Kulemin's with Malkin.

UFAs:
This would give the Leafs the cap room to:

NJ - try to sign Parise to a $7 MIL for 7 years

Nash - try to sign Suter to a $7 MIL for 7 years

Edit: Wow...there has been 17 replies since I started this post this morning.  I hope it is relevant as I can't read the replies until later tonight.

 

[caver]

I'm always pulling for my friend, Zenon Konopka, to become a Maple Leaf. He will become a UFA again this July. Here is my thoughts on a possible bottom 6 for 2012-2013.

3rd line - Joey Crabb - David Steckel - Matt Frattin

4th line - Ryan Hamilton - Zenon Konopka - Mike Brown

This addresses a few Leaf issues. Both Konopka or Steckel could center the 3rd or 4th lines. Both are excellent face-off men. The team gets tougher and a little better at hockey (Rosehill out, Konopka and Hamilton both big guys who can play) and there is no need to put players who fit the top 6 mold into the bottom 6 (like Kadri, Lombardi, etc).

 

[princedpw]

i have heard that Konopka is good at faceoffs but otherwise a terrible hockey player ... not sure that will help us much ... better to use our own low-cost inhouse developed player?

 

[Erndog]

I'm always pulling for my friend, Zenon Konopka, to become a Maple Leaf. He will become a UFA again this July. Here is my thoughts on a possible bottom 6 for 2012-2013.

3rd line - Joey Crabb - David Steckel - Matt Frattin

4th line - Ryan Hamilton - Zenon Konopka - Mike Brown

This addresses a few Leaf issues. Both Konopka or Steckel could center the 3rd or 4th lines. Both are excellent face-off men. The team gets tougher and a little better at hockey (Rosehill out, Konopka and Hamilton both big guys who can play) and there is no need to put players who fit the top 6 mold into the bottom 6 (like Kadri, Lombardi, etc).

I know what you're trying to do but lets be honest here... thats more of less an quasi-AHL lineup.  That won't get us very far.  It's quite possible that none of those 6 score even double digit goals (in fact, other than Frattin and maybe Steckal I wouldn't bank on any scoring more than 5).  I know the bottom 6 isn't always about goals, but our top 6 definitely isn't strong enough to have a black hole offense in the bottom 6.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I like them, but on a playoff team Steckel and Crabb are 4th liners. We need to upgrade our 3rd line, not our 4th. I think Crabb-Steckel-Brown can do a really good job in that role.

 

[bustaheims]

I like them, but on a playoff team Steckel and Crabb are 4th liners. We need to upgrade our 3rd line, not our 4th. I think Crabb-Steckel-Brown can do a really good job in that role.

This, and, if the team is looking for upgrades down the middle, those upgrades need to happen at the top of the lineup, not at the bottom.

 

[Erndog]

I like them, but on a playoff team Steckel and Crabb are 4th liners. We need to upgrade our 3rd line, not our 4th. I think Crabb-Steckel-Brown can do a really good job in that role.

I have that pencilled in as my 4th line going into next season.

Brown for the speed, toughness and forecheck.

Steckal for the size, faceoffs, and PK/defensive ability.

Crabb for the "offense", and versatility.

Seems like it has the makings of a solid 4th line if they stick together, stay healthy and know their roles and play within it.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I like them, but on a playoff team Steckel and Crabb are 4th liners. We need to upgrade our 3rd line, not our 4th. I think Crabb-Steckel-Brown can do a really good job in that role.

I have that pencilled in as my 4th line going into next season.

Brown for the speed, toughness and forecheck.

Steckal for the size, faceoffs, and PK/defensive ability.

Crabb for the "offense", and versatility.

Seems like it has the makings of a solid 4th line if they stick together, stay healthy and know their roles and play within it.

Yup. The only upgrade I would make in that area is on the 13th forward. I'm assuming both Orr and Rosehill won't be returning, but I'd still like to get a big crash and bang type player available to enter the line-up every now and then. Especially considering Brown's frequent injury woes.

 

[jdh1]

I think we might be surprised at who the Leafs pickup and trade this season...My reasoning is the Carlyle factor..He's probably telling Burke the kind of players he wants and in return he's saying ,I can get in the playoffs with my system in place.

Get me a goalie and a couple of changes here and there and we're in.

 

[AvroArrow]

Anyone have interest in picking up Jagr (73GP 19G 35A 54P +5) for a year if he'd be interested?  Give us some size, puck possession, and leadership...
Maybe as a last option/stop gap solution for a year...

 

[bustaheims]

Anyone have interest in picking up Jagr (73GP 19G 35A 54P +5) for a year if he'd be interested?  Give us some size, puck possession, and leadership...
Maybe as a last option/stop gap solution for a year...

With the roster is as it is right now, he's not really a fit in terms of what the team really needs, but, depending on other moves that may happen, he's worth potentially considering.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Anyone have interest in picking up Jagr (73GP 19G 35A 54P +5) for a year if he'd be interested?  Give us some size, puck possession, and leadership...
Maybe as a last option/stop gap solution for a year...

With the roster is as it is right now, he's not really a fit in terms of what the team really needs, but, depending on other moves that may happen, he's worth potentially considering.

Yeah, if we somehow cleaned house on some bad contracts and were able to slide Kulemin down to the 3rd line he could make for an interesting match with Grabovski and Mac or Kadri.

With that said, I can't see him being too interested in signing here unless we outbid every other team.