Unofficial 2012/2013 Armchair GM

[bustaheims]

From what I have seen of Rielly, defense isn't going to be a big issue in the sense of him not being a typical high-risk offensive d-man. He is pretty mature there, relative to most 18 year olds.  He is also physically strong enough already, something I think Carlyle noted at camp. 

I think he is going to make it real tough on them to send him back to junior next year, but they probably should anyway.

Sure, but we've heard similar sentiments about 18 year old defencemen in the past. Another season in junior won't do him any harm. Take the time, do it right and have him come up as a fully formed player. If he's there next year, that's great, but, if not, let the media and the fans moan all they want.

 

[Corn Flake]

KKKKKKRAAZZZZZYYYY TARDE IDEAZZZZZ...

1. Liles + Bozak for Stastny + O'Byrne

Leafs get a 1st line centre who I think needs a fresh start to get the offense going again. Overall he's still a good player but very expensive.  O'Byrne gives Leafs a righ side stay-at-home guy with size & toughness who they don't need to keep if he can't hack it.  Leafs can walk from Stastny if he can't get it together next summer.

Avs get back a puck moving d-man they are familliar with plus pending UFA in Bozak who has lots of Colorado connections and they can probably extend. They free themselves of Stastny's heavy contract and get a guy back who can fill most of the void for much less. 

Worth a shot.  Cost is relatively low considering both Liles & Bozak not part of long-term future.

2. Call up Gardiner to replace Liles and relieve the sheer agony the media and fan base have been suffering from for so so long now. 

 

[Corn Flake]

From what I have seen of Rielly, defense isn't going to be a big issue in the sense of him not being a typical high-risk offensive d-man. He is pretty mature there, relative to most 18 year olds.  He is also physically strong enough already, something I think Carlyle noted at camp. 

I think he is going to make it real tough on them to send him back to junior next year, but they probably should anyway.

Sure, but we've heard similar sentiments about 18 year old defencemen in the past. Another season in junior won't do him any harm. Take the time, do it right and have him come up as a fully formed player. If he's there next year, that's great, but, if not, let the media and the fans moan all they want.

I agree with you 110%.

 

[TML fan]

KKKKKKRAAZZZZZYYYY TARDE IDEAZZZZZ...

1. Liles + Bozak for Stastny + O'Byrne

Leafs get a 1st line centre who I think needs a fresh start to get the offense going again. Overall he's still a good player but very expensive.  O'Byrne gives Leafs a righ side stay-at-home guy with size & toughness who they don't need to keep if he can't hack it.  Leafs can walk from Stastny if he can't get it together next summer.

Avs get back a puck moving d-man they are familliar with plus pending UFA in Bozak who has lots of Colorado connections and they can probably extend. They free themselves of Stastny's heavy contract and get a guy back who can fill most of the void for much less. 

Worth a shot.  Cost is relatively low considering both Liles & Bozak not part of long-term future.

2. Call up Gardiner to replace Liles and relieve the sheer agony the media and fan base have been suffering from for so so long now. 

It's not so crazy.

 

[losveratos]

KKKKKKRAAZZZZZYYYY TARDE IDEAZZZZZ...

1. Liles + Bozak for Stastny + O'Byrne

Leafs get a 1st line centre who I think needs a fresh start to get the offense going again. Overall he's still a good player but very expensive.  O'Byrne gives Leafs a righ side stay-at-home guy with size & toughness who they don't need to keep if he can't hack it.  Leafs can walk from Stastny if he can't get it together next summer.

Avs get back a puck moving d-man they are familliar with plus pending UFA in Bozak who has lots of Colorado connections and they can probably extend. They free themselves of Stastny's heavy contract and get a guy back who can fill most of the void for much less. 

Worth a shot.  Cost is relatively low considering both Liles & Bozak not part of long-term future.

2. Call up Gardiner to replace Liles and relieve the sheer agony the media and fan base have been suffering from for so so long now. 

It's not so crazy.

I'm not so sure. For the basis of a trade it's a starting point. As long as we go to the table knowing that we need to add.

Stastny is worth more than Bozak even at the caphit because he's signed for another year and will likely take a lower return next contract. Whereas Bozak isn't as good and will be getting a raise.

Then the defencemen... O'Byrne is a guy that's only a -1 with 4 points in 20 something games. That's a fairly reliable stay at home guy. And it's not exactly sheltered minutes. He's been getting towards 20mins some games. Also he's cheap and will stay cheap. And he's younger than Liles and on a shorter contract. However Liles is quite a bit longer and more than twice the caphit.

I think we could do this. But I'm afraid of what the prospect or pick we'd need to add would be. If it was anything near Rielly or a 1st I don't think we should say yes.

 

[Britishbulldog]

KKKKKKRAAZZZZZYYYY TARDE IDEAZZZZZ...

1. Liles + Bozak for Stastny + O'Byrne

2. Call up Gardiner to replace Liles

It's not so crazy.

I'm not so sure. For the basis of a trade it's a starting point. As long as we go to the table knowing that we need to add.

I think we could do this. But I'm afraid of what the prospect or pick we'd need to add would be. If it was anything near Rielly or a 1st I don't think we should say yes.

Bozak, Liles and Holzer for Stastny and O'Byrne. 

Liles and Holzer are locked in to reasonable contracts.  Bozak and O'Byrne are UFAs.  Stastny is way over paid. 

It is a salary dump with good pieces still involved.

 

[Corn Flake]

I'm not so sure. For the basis of a trade it's a starting point. As long as we go to the table knowing that we need to add.

Stastny is worth more than Bozak even at the caphit because he's signed for another year and will likely take a lower return next contract. Whereas Bozak isn't as good and will be getting a raise.

Then the defencemen... O'Byrne is a guy that's only a -1 with 4 points in 20 something games. That's a fairly reliable stay at home guy. And it's not exactly sheltered minutes. He's been getting towards 20mins some games. Also he's cheap and will stay cheap. And he's younger than Liles and on a shorter contract. However Liles is quite a bit longer and more than twice the caphit.

I think we could do this. But I'm afraid of what the prospect or pick we'd need to add would be. If it was anything near Rielly or a 1st I don't think we should say yes.

Look at it more this way:

Stastny for Liles - both players are underachieving. Both probably could use the fresh start.  Liles makes way less per year but is signed for 4 years.  Avs know what they are getting in Liles coming back.  Stastny is a very expensive attempt to rejuvinate a guy who has lost his offensive touch even though he still logs 1st line centre ice time. Avs are desperate for mobile help on defense and I can't see them being able to handle Stastny's contract, especially after the ROR one they just signed. Leafs are desperate to find a 1st line centre and care far less about the $$$.  helps both teams, IMO.

Bozak for O'Byrne - both expiring contracts.  Both are good-not-great players. I think this is quite even, maybe even quite in Colorado's favor, but then again I don't hate Bozak like many do.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

The team needs a shutdown type, stay at home defenceman. Fraser does this well but is a 3rd pairing talent at best. With the team having many offensive type dmen (Liles, Franson, Gardiner) and Gunnarsson and Holzer showing holes in their game too many opponents are left alone in front of the net. I don't know how you label Phanuef. Some games he looks good defensively; others he looks lost. Some games he makes nice offensive plays and others he looks like he panics and fires the puck away randomly. If Nonis could pick up a talented stay at home dman it would help in the 2nd half. 

I really think this should be very high on Nonis' priority list in the summer. Ideally our defence should look something like this next season:

Gunnarsson-Phaneuf
Gardiner-x
Fraser-Franson
Kostka/Holzer

I wonder what happens if Ranger is healthy and decides he would be willing to make the jump next year.  I would think he would slot in above at least a couple of guys on that list.  Not a bad problem to have.

 

[Deebo]

The team needs a shutdown type, stay at home defenceman. Fraser does this well but is a 3rd pairing talent at best. With the team having many offensive type dmen (Liles, Franson, Gardiner) and Gunnarsson and Holzer showing holes in their game too many opponents are left alone in front of the net. I don't know how you label Phanuef. Some games he looks good defensively; others he looks lost. Some games he makes nice offensive plays and others he looks like he panics and fires the puck away randomly. If Nonis could pick up a talented stay at home dman it would help in the 2nd half. 

I really think this should be very high on Nonis' priority list in the summer. Ideally our defence should look something like this next season:

Gunnarsson-Phaneuf
Gardiner-x
Fraser-Franson
Kostka/Holzer

I wonder what happens if Ranger is healthy and decides he would be willing to make the jump next year.  I would think he would slot in above at least a couple of guys on that list.  Not a bad problem to have.

He would be an NHL UFA, if he wants to play in the NHL, no guarantee it would be with us.

 

[Champ Kind]

I'm feeling KRRRRRRAAAAZZZYYY too.....


Kessel for Schneider

*POUR ME ANOTHER*

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

I'm feeling KRRRRRRAAAAZZZYYY too.....


Kessel for Schneider

*POUR ME ANOTHER*

The franchise goalie with the .910 SV % on one of the best teams in the league?

Am I the only one who thinks he's been a little exposed this year?

 

[bustaheims]

The franchise goalie with the .910 SV % on one of the best teams in the league?

Am I the only one who thinks he's been a little exposed this year?

Luongo's only at .905, so it be that the team itself is being exposed a little this year. With injuries and such, they're not as deep as they have been in the past.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

The franchise goalie with the .910 SV % on one of the best teams in the league?

Am I the only one who thinks he's been a little exposed this year?

Luongo's only at .905, so it be that the team itself is being exposed a little this year. With injuries and such, they're not as deep as they have been in the past.

Ok but many people are saying Luongo is no longer in his prime years, isn't a franchise goalie etc.

Schneider is being touted as a Franchise #1 goalie. It's not like the Canucks are the Leafs circa 07-08 bad.

Kessel may be underperforming somewhat, but there's no way I'd move him for the question mark that is Schneider atm. If he's @ .910 on the Canucks I'd be terrified to see how he'd fare here.

 

[maplesyrup]

Shattenkirk, Pietrangelo, Stewart, Berglund... All StL RFAs this summer (I'm probably forgetting another.) - It's going to be awfully expensive for them! 

 

[Britishbulldog]

Shattenkirk, Pietrangelo, Stewart, Berglund... All StL RFAs this summer (I'm probably forgetting another.) - It's going to be awfully expensive for them!

The standout goaltender from Fredericton NB, Jake Allen.  RFA.  So basically the Blues 2 top goal scoring forwards and their 2 top point getting dmen added to their top goalie.

 

[bustaheims]

The standout goaltender from Fredericton NB, Jake Allen.  RFA.  So basically the Blues 2 top goal scoring forwards and their 2 top point getting dmen added to their top goalie.

Allen's not going to be a big contract. Even if he holds the starting job for the rest of the season, it's not even the equivalent of half a season as a starter - and, with Halak and Elliott under contract, they can afford to play hardball with him.

 

[maplesyrup]

Either way, I'd be more than happy to extend a helping hand.

 

[Bullfrog]

KKKKKKRAAZZZZZYYYY TARDE IDEAZZZZZ...

1. Liles + Bozak for Stastny + O'Byrne

Leafs get a 1st line centre who I think needs a fresh start to get the offense going again. Overall he's still a good player but very expensive.  O'Byrne gives Leafs a righ side stay-at-home guy with size & toughness who they don't need to keep if he can't hack it.  Leafs can walk from Stastny if he can't get it together next summer.

Avs get back a puck moving d-man they are familliar with plus pending UFA in Bozak who has lots of Colorado connections and they can probably extend. They free themselves of Stastny's heavy contract and get a guy back who can fill most of the void for much less. 

Worth a shot.  Cost is relatively low considering both Liles & Bozak not part of long-term future.

2. Call up Gardiner to replace Liles and relieve the sheer agony the media and fan base have been suffering from for so so long now. 

I would definitely go for that. We'd probably have to add something though.

 

[maplesyrup]

Do the above trade and with Stastny/Kadri as your 1/2, move Grabovski for a pretty good defenseman?

 

[Kin]

Look at it more this way:

Stastny for Liles - both players are underachieving. Both probably could use the fresh start.  Liles makes way less per year but is signed for 4 years.  Avs know what they are getting in Liles coming back.  Stastny is a very expensive attempt to rejuvinate a guy who has lost his offensive touch even though he still logs 1st line centre ice time. Avs are desperate for mobile help on defense and I can't see them being able to handle Stastny's contract, especially after the ROR one they just signed. Leafs are desperate to find a 1st line centre and care far less about the $$$.  helps both teams, IMO.

I think the highlighted bit, even though it's presented as a positive, strikes me as a pretty good reason why Colorado wouldn't make this deal. Colorado is familiar with Liles and I think that they were willing to deal him for a fairly low price, rather than sign him to a long term extension, is a pretty compelling argument that they wouldn't want him back signed to a long-term extension. Unless, that is, a case could be made that he's really acquitted himself well since signing that deal.

Personally, while I think Colorado might be motivated to move Stastny because of the glut they have at the position I don't think his value has fallen to the point that they would have to take a bad contract, maybe even a worse contract, back.