Unofficial 2012/2013 Armchair GM

[Britishbulldog]

AFAIK Connolly's contract is over this season. At this rate dumping him is irrelevant.

I was thinking that if the league removes bonuses counting towards the cap a team like NYI that has used bonuses liberally to reach the floor might want a pro-rated contract of Connolly's to help this year...assuming there is a season...

 

[Kin]

I was thinking that if the league removes bonuses counting towards the cap a team like NYI that has used bonuses liberally to reach the floor might want a pro-rated contract of Connolly's to help this year...assuming there is a season...

As it stands the Islanders are already committed to a cap hit of 50 million with only 2 million dollars in bonuses so unless the settlement included a gargantuan salary rollback, which hasn't been proposed by either side, they're already well above the floor.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I'm glad in the midst of a lockout, I'm not the only one thinking about 2013 UFAs.

;D

Two names really interest me, ...Ryan Getzlaf

I really, REALLY like Getzlaf.  He is my 1st choice for a top center.  I am not sure how many Top 6 forwards can fit under the cap.  I think we are going to be stuck with JVR at center even if it is because of simple economics.  ummm....maybe Burke could trade JVR and someone for Getzlaf.....

and Robyn Regehr .....but with very good d-men coming down the pike in Reilly, Percy, Fraser & Holzer, further complicated by JM Liles still having another 3 years after "this year." perhaps this summer would be the time to buyout Komisarek?

I am hoping that next year the Leafs have a top pairing of Gardiner and Phaneuf (although to your point Phaneuf really seemed to excel in Calgary with an extreme defensive defenceman as a partner)

2nd pairing of Rielly and big defensive defenseman

Fraser and Franson

big, gritty, penalty killing winger for the 3rd line.  Clarkson, Higgins & LaRose ... or Kulemin on the 3rd line, and find a scoring winger to play on the 2nd.

With a player like Kulemin, Clarkson or Stewart playing on the 3rd line, the Leafs would need a rookie salary to break the top 6 like Frattin or Kadri.  If not, the Leafs won't get under $60 MIL unless they do a 'Detroit' and skimp on goaltender salary.

With Kamarov and Frattin available for 'rookie' salary as high tempo 3rd line wingers that hit and can score 10-15 goals each, I can't see Kadri there unless he is a center.  Then what to do with Colborne, Steckel, McClement and Bozak (my personal choice for low cost, all around decent ability 3rd line center).

Resign Lupul.  Try and resign Steckel, unless you want to give Colborne a shot on the 4th line in a Brian Boyle type role.  Let Connoly, Bozak & Lombardi walk.  And although a tough choice, I'd probably let MacArthur walk as well...I think one of Kadri or Frattin can work their way to his spot in the line up.

I really like Steckel.  Fantastic FO % and scoring 8 goals with limited ice time and line mates with stone hands.  Colborne I would expect would be better served as a 3rd or 2nd line center.

So much of this depends on the cap and the CBA, but I would like to see a 2013-14 roster that looks like this:

Lupul - Getzlaf - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - vanReimsdyk
Clarkson - McClement - Frattin
Brown - Steckel/Colborne - Komarov

Regehr - Phaneuf
Liles - Gardiner
Gunnarson - Holzer
Ranger

Reimer
other goalie (Jimmy Howard and Mike Smith will be UFAs as well...hmm...)

I was thinking for next year:

Lupul / JVR / Kessel
Kulemin / Grabbo / Stewart
Komarov / Colborne (Steckel or Bozak) / Frattin
Brown / McClement / Eager

Gardiner / Phaneuf
Rielly / Top young Dman in trade (Gudbranson)
Fraser / Franson

Reimer
Rynnas or Scrivens

In the pressbox:
- Orr (as I suspect with the new CBA his salary will be counting against the cap no matter where he plays and he can take Brown's place for the 25 - 30 games Brown is injured),
- veteran
- dman.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I was thinking that if the league removes bonuses counting towards the cap a team like NYI that has used bonuses liberally to reach the floor might want a pro-rated contract of Connolly's to help this year...assuming there is a season...

As it stands the Islanders are already committed to a cap hit of 50 million with only 2 million dollars in bonuses so unless the settlement included a gargantuan salary rollback, which hasn't been proposed by either side, they're already well above the floor.

NYI was a bad example eh?  Rats.  I thought I recalled them as the poster child for bonuses.  Must be thinking of someone else.

 

[bustaheims]

NYI was a bad example eh?  Rats.  I thought I recalled them as the poster child for bonuses.  Must be thinking of someone else.

They have employed that method in the past, they're just not there right now - though, it's hard to tell for sure without knowing where the cap will be if/when there is a season.

 

[Kin]

NYI was a bad example eh?  Rats.  I thought I recalled them as the poster child for bonuses.  Must be thinking of someone else.

Well, for the most part it's everyone. As Busta says it's tough to project things out because we don't know exactly where the cap will be if a settlement is struck but given what we know about what's been proposed I don't think there are any teams that would have to spend to hit the floor.

 

[caver]

Someone showed a line-up with Ranger in it for next season. That could happen. If the Leafs sign him for the NHL he looks to be better than Fraser.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Someone showed a line-up with Ranger in it for next season. That could happen. If the Leafs sign him for the NHL he looks to be better than Fraser.

I believe that if Ranger signs with the Leafs that he would replace Franson on the 3rd pairing not Fraser.  Ranger's game is nothing like Fraser's.

I see the Leafs line up like this:

FORWARDS
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Mikhail Grabovski ($5.500m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
Joffrey Lupul ($4.250m) / Tim Connolly ($4.750m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Clarke MacArthur ($3.250m) / Matthew Lombardi ($3.500m) / Matt Frattin ($0.925m)
Nazem Kadri ($1.720m) / Tyler Bozak ($1.500m) / Mike Brown ($0.737m)
Jay McClement ($1.500m) /
David Steckel ($1.100m) /

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

GOALTENDERS
James Reimer ($1.800m)
Ben Scrivens ($0.613m)

BUYOUTS
Darcy Tucker ($1.000m) / Colby Armstrong ($1.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $70,200,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,810,833; BONUSES: $1,062,500
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $6,451,667

Of course after this 2012/2013 season these player's contracts are up:

FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($4.250m) *like
Tim Connolly ($4.750m)
Matthew Lombardi ($3.500m)
Clarke MacArthur ($3.250m) *like
Nazem Kadri ($1.720m) *like
Tyler Bozak ($1.500m) *like
David Steckel ($1.100m) *like

DEFENSEMEN
Carl Gunnarsson ($1.325m) *like

I wish the Leafs would either re-sign or trade the guys I like while they have value. 

I wonder after Lupul showed such chemistry with Kessel if Carlyle and Lupul will get along.  Lupul's trade value is probably at the highest of his career (similar to McCabe's that fateful contract season) and might be able to fetch a top player.  If JVR shows chemistry with Kessel I would look to move Lupul.

I just hope the Leafs let Luongo go to Florida.

 

[Big Daddy]

I'm sure they will be trying JVR between Lupul/Kessel.
I'm sure McClement will be third center
I'm sure Grabo/Mac/Kule will be together
I'm sure Phaneuf will be with Gunnar
That's about it

What are you sure about?

 

[Bender]

I think Kostka has earned himself a look on the roster.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I think Kostka has earned himself a look on the roster.

With Gardiner's injury status, I think he and Rielly will get a long look to start.

 

[bustaheims]

With Gardiner's injury status, I think he and Rielly will get a long look to start.

I don't really think Rielly's going to get all that serious a look, to be honest. He'll be invited to camp to give him a taste of what's expected at the NHL level, but, I think the odds of him cracking the roster are extremely slim.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

With Gardiner's injury status, I think he and Rielly will get a long look to start.

I don't really think Rielly's going to get all that serious a look, to be honest. He'll be invited to camp to give him a taste of what's expected at the NHL level, but, I think the odds of him cracking the roster are extremely slim.

I think it's very unrealistic that he plays a full season, but like I said he could potentially fill in for Gardiner for 9 or less games.

 

[bustaheims]

I think it's very unrealistic that he plays a full season, but like I said he could potentially fill in for Gardiner for 9 or less games.

Well, there's been some question as to how that particular wrinkle is going to be dealt with in this shortened season. The whole '9 games of less not burning a year of the contract' thing may not be in play this season.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I think it's very unrealistic that he plays a full season, but like I said he could potentially fill in for Gardiner for 9 or less games.

Well, there's been some question as to how that particular wrinkle is going to be dealt with in this shortened season. The whole '9 games of less not burning a year of the contract' thing may not be in play this season.

That's true. If that's not an option then he definitely goes back to the WHL.

If he and Gardiner both don't start the season it'll force a righty to play on the wrong side. Franson, Kostka, and Holzer all play on the right. Ranger and Fraser both play on the left, but I'd imagine they're on the bottom of the depth chart.

 

[ZBBM]

With Gardiner's injury status, I think he and Rielly will get a long look to start.

I don't really think Rielly's going to get all that serious a look, to be honest. He'll be invited to camp to give him a taste of what's expected at the NHL level, but, I think the odds of him cracking the roster are extremely slim.

I hope the odds are extremely none.  He needs time in the AHL no matter how good he appears to be coming out of junior.  I think that should be de rigeur for all d-men going forward.

 

[Britishbulldog]

With Gardiner's injury status, I think he and Rielly will get a long look to start.

I don't really think Rielly's going to get all that serious a look, to be honest. He'll be invited to camp to give him a taste of what's expected at the NHL level, but, I think the odds of him cracking the roster are extremely slim.

I hope the odds are extremely none.  He needs time in the AHL no matter how good he appears to be coming out of junior.  I think that should be de rigeur for all d-men going forward.

I agree Z B-B McFate.  If the Leafs were starving for offensive talent on defense then I might consider it but with Phanoops, JM Liles and Gardiner already on the Leafs roster I feel the Leafs can be patient with Rielly.

 

[Corn Flake]

Carlyle is heavily preaching defense first and I'm sure he would appreciate having a stay-at-home guy who is tough as nails and no nonsense. A Holzer/Frasor 3rd pairing would make a lot of sense too, given how much they have played together since Frasor was acquired. Both are fairly solid outlet passers so while they aren't the most mobile they can clear the zone if the forwards are doing their jobs.

The more I think about it, the more likely it might be that those two seal up the bottom pair and Rielly heads back to junior. With Gardiner out, that is.  When Gardiner comes back, we shall see.

I also still assume Franson isn't coming back this year.

 

[Tigger]

CF, not sure where it's coming from but supposedly Franson's agent is talking with the Leafs, fwiw.

 

[Jay-Mar]

Trade Franson's rights n a 3rd round pick to Montreal for Subban who's already skating with the Leafs