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The Official 2011/2012 Armchair GM thread

RedLeaf said:
I'm thinking Kulemin might have to be included in the package used to get Staal. Malkin and Kulemin are friends and former line mates and showed some good chemistry together in Russia. He could be a reason for PIT to do a deal with the Leafs.
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I've heard that point being made before, but I'm not convinced that Pittsburgh sees that as much as we think. I mean I hope it could be true to give us an option, but I'm not sure about that right now.
 
BlueWhiteBlood said:
RedLeaf said:
I'm thinking Kulemin might have to be included in the package used to get Staal. Malkin and Kulemin are friends and former line mates and showed some good chemistry together in Russia. He could be a reason for PIT to do a deal with the Leafs.
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I've heard that point being made before, but I'm not convinced that Pittsburgh sees that as much as we think. I mean I hope it could be true to give us an option, but I'm not sure about that right now.
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Agree.  Neal seemed to have great chemistry with Malkin.  In fact, I think an old jar of peanut butter would play with playing on Malkin's wing.
 
Champ Kind said:
BlueWhiteBlood said:
RedLeaf said:
I'm thinking Kulemin might have to be included in the package used to get Staal. Malkin and Kulemin are friends and former line mates and showed some good chemistry together in Russia. He could be a reason for PIT to do a deal with the Leafs.
Click to expand...

I've heard that point being made before, but I'm not convinced that Pittsburgh sees that as much as we think. I mean I hope it could be true to give us an option, but I'm not sure about that right now.
Click to expand...

Agree.  Neal seemed to have great chemistry with Malkin.  In fact, I think an old jar of peanut butter would play with playing on Malkin's wing.
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Go get 'em Skippy!!!!
 
IMO Kuleman would be one of the Leafs that management would least want to trade.  He is coming off a horrible year, so his value is low.  (Funny how the adage "Buy low, sell high", makes so much sense in theory, but we find it so hard to follow in practice.) 

More importantly, Kuleman is exactly the type of player the Leafs are trying to obtain.  He is big, can play in all situations, and apparently is one of the hardest workers off of the ice. 

There should be no untouchables on the team for the right deal, but there are a lot of other players that should be shopped before Kuleman.

 
Etiam Vultus said:
IMO Kuleman would be one of the Leafs that management would least want to trade.  He is coming off a horrible year, so his value is low.  (Funny how the adage "Buy low, sell high", makes so much sense in theory, but we find it so hard to follow in practice.) 

More importantly, Kuleman is exactly the type of player the Leafs are trying to obtain.  He is big, can play in all situations, and apparently is one of the hardest workers off of the ice. 

There should be no untouchables on the team for the right deal, but there are a lot of other players that should be shopped before Kuleman.
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Who suggested shopping Kulemin?
 
RedLeaf said:
Etiam Vultus said:
IMO Kuleman would be one of the Leafs that management would least want to trade.  He is coming off a horrible year, so his value is low.  (Funny how the adage "Buy low, sell high", makes so much sense in theory, but we find it so hard to follow in practice.) 

More importantly, Kuleman is exactly the type of player the Leafs are trying to obtain.  He is big, can play in all situations, and apparently is one of the hardest workers off of the ice. 

There should be no untouchables on the team for the right deal, but there are a lot of other players that should be shopped before Kuleman.
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Who suggested shopping Kulemin?
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Kulemin is one of most common names to be suggested in trade rumours both one this site and in the media.
 
hockeyfan1 said:
Re: Jordan Staal and why the Leafs should get him...

Though he has one year left on his contract, the superb center may be available sooner than later thanks to the crushing reality of the salary cap and the pivot?s own natural desire to be the best he can be. And if this holds true, the Toronto Maple Leafs should throw the kitchen sink at Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero.

Why?

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Staal naturally fits the bill here, but becomes more intriguing thanks to his particular skill set. Staal is a two-way force who excels on the penalty kill, one of the bigger voids in Toronto right now. The Maple Leafs? PK finished 28th overall this past season, while Staal posted three shorthanded goals (one off the league lead) to squire the Pens to the third-best kill percentage.

Despite playing just 62 games in 2011-12, the big Thunder Bay, Ont., native also hit a career high with 50 points...keep in mind Staal was largely buried behind Evgeni Malkin and, in the past, Sidney Crosby..Staal?s running mates were grinders Matt Cooke and Tyler Kennedy. Now imagine what he?d do feeding passes to Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul.

Mikhail Grabovski has the second line locked down in Toronto and Clarke MacArthur is his wingman, along with restricted free agent Nikolai Kulemin, who had a down year, but has shown in the past what he?s capable of contributing.

Kessel and Lupul were two of the few point-per-game players in the NHL this past season and Staal?s big body and attention to defense would make the duo even more dangerous to contend with.

The Maple Leafs give Staal the chance to be the man, something he can only get in Pittsburgh when Crosby and Malkin are on the shelf..since he has a Stanley Cup ring already, the chance to play for a rebuilding team rather than one right on the cusp of a title is a little more alluring. Imagine the legacy of being the centerpiece in a Toronto championship.

Penguins want to keep Staal, but with his contract coming up at the same time as Crosby?s, decisions will have to be made...while the salary cap might be higher next season (who knows what a new CBA will decree), Pittsburgh will be in tough to balance its lineup. James Neal?s well-deserved $5 million cap hit kicks in next season and Malkin takes up $8.7 million of his own. Staal is entitled to at least the same as Neal.. While the Penguins aren?t rebuilding, they do need to look at the near future and do what?s best for the long term before it?s too late.

And Toronto would do well to be at the front door when that time comes.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/47649-If-Jordan-Staal-is-available-Maple-Leafs-must-pounce.html
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I would love Staal , except he is 1 year away from free agency and there have been plenty of rumours that the Staal brothers want to play together.
How much do we give up for a 1 year rental ?
 
I don't know how much truth there is to anything regarding Jordan except he's unrestricted next year. As far as I can tell it's all just rumours.

However, if they're true, maybe you could trade for Jordan ( though that would have to come with an extension of some sort ) and then try to trade for his brother... :)
 
Interesting and balanced article by Damian Cox.  I think his overall logic and tone are reasonable, if somewhat underwhelming for those of us who dream bi.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/article/1211958--cox-maple-leafs-likely-to-pass-on-rick-nash-pitch-for-roberto-luongo

 
Looks like Prust may go into free agency and test the market. Part of me thinks it's just posturing to get the contract he wants from New York, but I would think that Burke would be interested if he did hit the market.

Though Brandon Prust?s first choice is to re-up with the Rangers, and the Blueshirts have keen mutual interest in retaining the impending free agent, it appears there is enough of a gap in the contract negotiations between the parties to make it increasingly likely that the winger will at least test the open market when free agency opens July 1.

Prust, cited repeatedly by coach John Tortorella as an invaluable member of the club?s core leadership group for his willingness to step up, fight and put his body on the line for his teammates in addition to his value on the penalty-kill unit, changed agents at the conclusion of the playoffs, moving to Ritch Winter from Newport Sports.
 
Well, so much for the Kane jibber jabber.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger
Jets gm K.Cheveldayoff met E. Kane's agents today(Newport). Dismissed rumours of Kane's unhappiness. Talked contract parameters, but no #'s.
 
SGT said:
Well, so much for the Kane jibber jabber.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger
Jets gm K.Cheveldayoff met E. Kane's agents today(Newport). Dismissed rumours of Kane's unhappiness. Talked contract parameters, but no #'s.
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Would have likely cost too much anyway.
 
SGT said:
Well, so much for the Kane jibber jabber.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger
Jets gm K.Cheveldayoff met E. Kane's agents today(Newport). Dismissed rumours of Kane's unhappiness. Talked contract parameters, but no #'s.
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Is E Kane worth Leaf's #5 pick (possibly Forsberg or Galchenyuk) and Kadri?
 
I don't know... Maybe?  :-\ If I was going to deal that as a package though, I'd probably do my best to get a center in return.
 
Not a chance I give up the #5 for Kane alone, let alone Kadri as well.

Maybe Kadri and #35, but they wouldn't go for that unless he holds out I would have thought.
 
Yeah, like I implied, I'd really lean towards "no." I think we might be able to get a better player for that package and again, hopefully a center. 
 
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
Not a chance I give up the #5 for Kane alone, let alone Kadri as well.

Maybe Kadri and #35, but they wouldn't go for that unless he holds out I would have thought.
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I don't know, even with his contract dilemma I would still flip that 5th overall pick straight up for kane in a second.
 
Kush said:
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
Not a chance I give up the #5 for Kane alone, let alone Kadri as well.

Maybe Kadri and #35, but they wouldn't go for that unless he holds out I would have thought.
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I don't know, even with his contract dilemma I would still flip that 5th overall pick straight up for kane in a second.
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So would I.
 
TML fan said:
Kush said:
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
Not a chance I give up the #5 for Kane alone, let alone Kadri as well.

Maybe Kadri and #35, but they wouldn't go for that unless he holds out I would have thought.
Click to expand...

I don't know, even with his contract dilemma I would still flip that 5th overall pick straight up for kane in a second.
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So would I.
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When you see a highlight package showing the dexterity and hand/eye co-ordination like this one, I figure there isn't a Leaf currently who matches his skillset.  Add his ability to hit and fight (which aren't in the highlights) and you have a pretty complete player:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx5XEVaRvzw
 
 
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