Unofficial 2012/2013 Armchair GM

[Britishbulldog]

With McClement and Steckel I think Kadri would have to be one of the top 2 centers on the Leafs.

As a winger I don't see Kadri on the top 2 lines either.  That's why I see him as trade fodder.

I'm pretty convinced that Kadri won't be a center in the NHL, he'll play the wing. As far as where he should play, it's definitely in a top 6 role, not a checking line role.

I see Kadri's skill below Lupul and JVR's at this point as a left winger.  Kadri is below Kessel on RW.  I expect Kadri is below MacArthur and Kulemin as well.  That is 5 wingers ahead of him in depth even though Kadri has to be in the top 4 to be effective.

That is why I was wondering if Kadri could be packaged with one of the 3 young offensive dmen prospects for 30 goal scoring E. Kane.

That would bump Kulemin to the 3rd LW and let MacArthur to be traded for 3rd line RW toughness although with Crombeen going to TBay this week that makes room for Stewart on the 3rd RW position for St Louis.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't think Kadri makes the team until MacArthur is traded or leaves via free agency. There's really only room for one of them on the roster.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I don't think Kadri makes the team until MacArthur is traded or leaves via free agency. There's really only room for one of them on the roster.

I was just going to type that very thing. Burke needs to make room for his young prospects to filter into the line up. Guys like Lombardi, MacArthur, Connolly need to go to make room for some kids or upgrades.

We need a 2 for 1 or even a 3 for 1 deal.

 

[bustaheims]

I don't think Kadri makes the team until MacArthur is traded or leaves via free agency. There's really only room for one of them on the roster.

My hope is that Kadri forces his hand similar to how Aulie did with Beauchemin.

 

[Jalili]

I don't think Kadri makes the team until MacArthur is traded or leaves via free agency. There's really only room for one of them on the roster.

I was just going to type that very thing. Burke needs to make room for his his young prospects to filter into the line up. Guys like Lombardi, MacArthur, Connolly need to go to make room for some kids or upgrades.

We need a 2 for 1 or even a 3 for 1 deal.

Which kind of makes you wish we had traded macarthur at last years deadline for that 1st, assuming the rumour was true.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Which kind of makes you wish we had traded macarthur at last years deadline for that 1st, assuming the rumour was true.

But Burke gambled that these guys weren't going to ruin their playoff chances. I think there is still interest in MacArthur, maybe he'll let Kadri prove himself first, as Busta alludes to.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I don't think Kadri makes the team until MacArthur is traded or leaves via free agency. There's really only room for one of them on the roster.

I was just going to type that very thing. Burke needs to make room for his his young prospects to filter into the line up. Guys like Lombardi, MacArthur, Connolly need to go to make room for some kids or upgrades.

We need a 2 for 1 or even a 3 for 1 deal.

Which kind of makes you wish we had traded macarthur at last years deadline for that 1st, assuming the rumour was true.

Really makes you hope for a 3 nickels for a dime trade.

Well if JVR plays on the top line and Lupul returns to the RW then the top 6 could be:

JVR / Grabovski / Kessel

Kadri / Connolly / Lupul

If that happens then you have Lombardi, MacArthur, Kulemin and Komarov all jockeying for the 3rd line LW position.

 

[bustaheims]

Which kind of makes you wish we had traded macarthur at last years deadline for that 1st, assuming the rumour was true.

Rumour was it was a conditional 1st, and, at that point, Kadri wasn't ready enough to necessitate that move. No sense moving a guy for what may not have even been a quality pick if the guy you want to replace him isn't ready.

 

[Champ Kind]

Franson plus (?) for Dany Heatley??

Damn you!!!

 

[Champ Kind]

With McClement and Steckel I think Kadri would have to be one of the top 2 centers on the Leafs.

As a winger I don't see Kadri on the top 2 lines either.  That's why I see him as trade fodder.

I'm pretty convinced that Kadri won't be a center in the NHL, he'll play the wing. As far as where he should play, it's definitely in a top 6 role, not a checking line role.

I see Kadri's skill below Lupul and JVR's at this point as a left winger.  Kadri is below Kessel on RW.  I expect Kadri is below MacArthur and Kulemin as well.  That is 5 wingers ahead of him in depth even though Kadri has to be in the top 4 to be effective.

That is why I was wondering if Kadri could be packaged with one of the 3 young offensive dmen prospects for 30 goal scoring E. Kane.

That would bump Kulemin to the 3rd LW and let MacArthur to be traded for 3rd line RW toughness although with Crombeen going to TBay this week that makes room for Stewart on the 3rd RW position for St Louis.

Bulldog, I tend to agree with most everything you say but you've developed a recent habit of really overvaluing Leaf assets / undervaluing what teams will take for their assets.  Case in point, Evander Kane for Kadri and a young blueliner?  Really?  Kane will command every bit what Kessel did, if not more.  And you've just articulated very clearly why Kadri isn't even the fifth best winger on the Leafs. 

Start with Gardiner, maybe Morgan Rielly, and start mixing in Colborne, Biggs, and some high-end draft picks and maybe you're onto something.

The Leafs need high-end talent, I get that.  But that comes at a significant price.  This is why I'm liking the JVR trade more and more and more.  Yes, he might not develop into anything more than what he is.  But I think there's a real chance JVR grows into a game-changing, front line player.  Unfortuantely, or fortunately, the Leafs will have to try and unearth some diamonds in the rough because trading for gleaming jewels at this point is cost prohibitive.

 

[maplesyrup]

From what heard yesterday, JVR is taking this shot at center very seriously. Assuming we don't go out and trade for one, I'd be inclined to use a very light pencil and slot him in to that position when toying with the lineup.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I see Kadri's skill below Lupul and JVR's at this point as a left winger.  Kadri is below Kessel on RW.  I expect Kadri is below MacArthur and Kulemin as well.  That is 5 wingers ahead of him in depth even though Kadri has to be in the top 4 to be effective.

That is why I was wondering if Kadri could be packaged with one of the 3 young offensive dmen prospects for 30 goal scoring E. Kane.

That would bump Kulemin to the 3rd LW and let MacArthur to be traded for 3rd line RW toughness although with Crombeen going to TBay this week that makes room for Stewart on the 3rd RW position for St Louis.

Bulldog, I tend to agree with most everything you say but you've developed a recent habit of really overvaluing Leaf assets / undervaluing what teams will take for their assets.  Case in point, Evander Kane for Kadri and a young blueliner?  Really?  Kane will command every bit what Kessel did, if not more.  And you've just articulated very clearly why Kadri isn't even the fifth best winger on the Leafs. 

Start with Gardiner, maybe Morgan Rielly, and start mixing in Colborne, Biggs, and some high-end draft picks and maybe you're onto something.

The Leafs need high-end talent, I get that.  But that comes at a significant price.  This is why I'm liking the JVR trade more and more and more.  Yes, he might not develop into anything more than what he is.  But I think there's a real chance JVR grows into a game-changing, front line player.  Unfortuantely, or fortunately, the Leafs will have to try and unearth some diamonds in the rough because trading for gleaming jewels at this point is cost prohibitive.

Thanks for the feedback Champ.  I do have an issue of seeing what I want and seeing what I have to get rid of and trying to make it work.

I was actually trying to suggest Kadri with either Gardiner, Rielly or Percy when I posted earlier about packaging him with 1 of the 3 offensive dmen prospects but I wasn't clear.  I am not sure if I am over valuing  E. Kane and not.

Kadri + Gardiner + Ashton for Kane.

Edit:  I kind of see what is suggested to land Kane but my concern is the off ice issues that are real with this player.  There is a reason why such a talented kid is being ripped by Winnipeg fans.

I added Ashton which I hate to do. 

 

[#1PilarFan]

Thanks for the feedback Champ.  I do have an issue of seeing what I want and seeing what I have to get rid of and trying to make it work.

I was actually trying to suggest Kadri with either Gardiner, Rielly or Percy when I posted earlier about packaging him with 1 of the 3 offensive dmen prospects but I wasn't clear.  I am not sure if I am over valuing  E. Kane and not.

That might be the package needed to acquire Kane, but it's a big waste of resources in my opinion. This team is overstocked with wingers and Kane does nothing to address the holes on the ice. In fact, that trade makes the defense corps older, less mobile and more expensive. Sure, he's a great talent, but just not what the Leafs need.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Thanks for the feedback Champ.  I do have an issue of seeing what I want and seeing what I have to get rid of and trying to make it work.

I was actually trying to suggest Kadri with either Gardiner, Rielly or Percy when I posted earlier about packaging him with 1 of the 3 offensive dmen prospects but I wasn't clear.  I am not sure if I am over valuing  E. Kane and not.

That might be the package needed to acquire Kane, but it's a big waste of resources in my opinion. This team is overstocked with wingers and Kane does nothing to address the holes on the ice. In fact, that trade makes the defense corps older, less mobile and more expensive. Sure, he's a great talent, but just not what the Leafs need.

I don't see the toughness in the Leafs top 6 that Kane would bring.  That's the hole I was hoping he would fill, similar to Horton in Boston.  Not a goon but can score and fight as a top 6 player.

I just saw that Kane is looking for $5.5 MIL a year for 6 years.  Too bad because he just priced himself out of my fantasy. I had him at $4.25 MIL.

Kadri it is.  Kadri isn't really a fighter like Hartnell ($4.2 MIL), Horton ($4.0)MIL or Kane but oh well. Still no toughness in the Leafs top 6.

 

[Tigger]

I know the CBA uncertainty is a factor but looking at a few of the top cap payroll teams I have to wonder if something might be available out of Minnesota? I'm not sure what or how it would go but it seems like Clutterbuck is a guy they could use coming back, Setoguchi is another though less likely.

 

[Corn Flake]

I know the CBA uncertainty is a factor but looking at a few of the top cap payroll teams I have to wonder if something might be available out of Minnesota? I'm not sure what or how it would go but it seems like Clutterbuck is a guy they could use coming back, Setoguchi is another though less likely.

I'm not sure about Minny and those two signings forcing them to make other moves, but listening to the interviews posted on the Leafs site from Poulin, they seem insistent that some things are going to happen after a few of the bigger pending trades start to drop. 

I wonder if the Nash deal might be the start of it.  May not be directly with Columbus or NYR but other teams who were in on Nash may make alternate moves now that he's off the market.  Tough to really say how this impacts the Leafs but it was interesting how he seemed quite confident they weren't done and some big stuff was coming.

Clutterbuck would be great but I doubt he's going anywhere.

 

[Tigger]

Clutterbuck would be great but I doubt he's going anywhere.

Normally I wouldn't have suggested it but there isn't a lot of wiggle room for player contracts there, maybe Backstrom but then he seems like a real cog, Clutterbuck was being suggested by Minny fans from what I read so I was going with it as he is the kind of player the Leafs could use.

It's so hard to know right now.

 

[Redleaf]

I know the CBA uncertainty is a factor but looking at a few of the top cap payroll teams I have to wonder if something might be available out of Minnesota? I'm not sure what or how it would go but it seems like Clutterbuck is a guy they could use coming back, Setoguchi is another though less likely.

I'm not sure about Minny and those two signings forcing them to make other moves, but listening to the interviews posted on the Leafs site from Poulin, they seem insistent that some things are going to happen after a few of the bigger pending trades start to drop. 

I wonder if the Nash deal might be the start of it.  May not be directly with Columbus or NYR but other teams who were in on Nash may make alternate moves now that he's off the market.  Tough to really say how this impacts the Leafs but it was interesting how he seemed quite confident they weren't done and some big stuff was coming.

Clutterbuck would be great but I doubt he's going anywhere.

There are rumblings that Philly will go hard after Ryan now that Nash has moved to NY. I'd like to see Ryan in a Leaf uni, but looks like that is unlikely.

 

[Tigger]

I know the CBA uncertainty is a factor but looking at a few of the top cap payroll teams I have to wonder if something might be available out of Minnesota? I'm not sure what or how it would go but it seems like Clutterbuck is a guy they could use coming back, Setoguchi is another though less likely.

I'm not sure about Minny and those two signings forcing them to make other moves, but listening to the interviews posted on the Leafs site from Poulin, they seem insistent that some things are going to happen after a few of the bigger pending trades start to drop. 

I wonder if the Nash deal might be the start of it.  May not be directly with Columbus or NYR but other teams who were in on Nash may make alternate moves now that he's off the market.  Tough to really say how this impacts the Leafs but it was interesting how he seemed quite confident they weren't done and some big stuff was coming.

Clutterbuck would be great but I doubt he's going anywhere.

There are rumblings that Philly will go hard after Ryan now that Nash has moved to NY. I'd like to see Ryan in a Leaf uni, but looks like that is unlikely.

I'd love to see Ryan in Blue and White as well, just don't know about how to do it though.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I look at the Leafs as is and I STILL think Burke might go into the season as is.  This year a lot of Leaf contracts are up and could be a major shake up NEXT summer.  Here is how I still see Burke going this year with Luongo as a place holder salary-wise allowing up to $5.5 MIL for a #1 goalie. 

FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($4.250m)  / Tyler Bozak ($1.500m) /  Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m)  / Mikhail Grabovski ($5.500m) /  Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Clarke MacArthur ($3.250m)  / Jay McClement ($1.500m) /  Tim Connolly ($4.750m)
Matt Frattin ($0.925m)  / David Steckel ($1.100m) /  Mike Brown ($0.737m)

Jay Rosehill ($0.600m) / Matthew Lombardi ($3.500m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Carl Gunnarsson ($1.325m) / Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m)
John-Michael Liles ($3.875m) / Cody Franson ($1.350m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) / Korbinian Holzer ($0.575m)
Mike Komisarek ($4.500m)

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

BUYOUTS
Darcy Tucker ($1.000m) / Colby Armstrong ($1.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)  SALARY CAP: $70,200,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,436,667; BONUSES: $212,500
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $1,763,333​

BIG Contracts up next summer include: Connolly $4.75 MIL, Lupul $4.25 MIL, Lombardi $3.5 MIL and MacArthur $3.25 MIL.

Bozak $1.5 MIL and Steckel $1.1 MIL are also up.

I could see Lupul getting offered $5.5 * 5 years to stay.  I would like to see Bozak ($2.2 * 3 years as 3rd line C) and Steckel ($1.5 * 2 years as 2nd line C) get re-signed as well.

McClement must be significantly better than Bozak and Steckel I guess for Burke to bring him in for 2 years.

I am wondering still what trades will happen with the big UFAs and Nash being traded.  Hopefully the Leafs can make some decent moves this summer which would include unloading Connolly, Komisarek and Lombardi to free up $12.75 MIL of this years CAP.

I am still wanting to see 3 moves to address the Leafs team toughness and 1 to address the goal tending.