Unofficial 2013-2014 Armchair GM Thread

[Corn Flake]

I really don't see Kessel coming in for anything less than $7.5M. Perry ($8.625M), Getzlaf ($8.25M) and E. Staal at $8.25M are north of $8M, Gaborik at $7.5M, Datsyuk at $7.66, Parise at $7.5, Nash at $7.8M.

I think these will be used as comparables.  I think Datsyuk's is actually a discount compared to his ability.

For comparison, I don't think you can use centres, especially ones who are the respective captains of their team. That leadership element is a dimension Kessel does not really bring to the table. So that rules out Getzlaf and Staal.

Gaborik at $7.5 is probably the closest comparison in terms of the ability, accomplishments and production, even though I think Kessel will be the better player in the end.  Parise would be there too.

Perry has a Hart Trophy, a Rocket Richard Trophy + a 50 goal season, 61 NHL playoff games and a Stanley Cup ring.  While I think Kessel is capable of all of those things in the coming years, they aren't under his belt when it comes to contract negotiations.

From a numbers perspective, Kessel has two PPG seasons and a very good playoff he can point to.  He an also point to being top 5 in scoring in both of those years.  Good stuff, but not quite what got Perry $8.5

Hey I hope we sign the guy and I hope he's here for 8 years but to go from $7.5 to $8.5 is a mighty big leap.

 

[Bullfrog]

I generally agree. They're comparables, but I'm not necessarily suggesting that's what he should get.

The part I disagree with though is throwing out centers for comparison. I've never been a proponent of the suggestion that center is so much more important of a position or that they deserve to be higher paid. A top player is a top player. Now, of that particular list, the centers do deserve to be paid more, but that's because they have that leadership you talked about and better all-around games.

 

[Tigger]

FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($3.251m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Jay McClement ($1.500m) / Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Frazer McLaren ($0.700m) / Joe Colborne ($0.600m) / Colton Orr ($0.925m)
Trevor Smith ($0.550m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Carl Gunnarsson ($2.550m) / Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) / Cody Franson ($3.000m)
T.J. Brennan ($0.600m) / Tom Gilbert ($2.000m)
Jonathon Blum ($0.650m) / Mark Fraser ($0.860m)
GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
James Reimer ($1.800m)
OTHER
Buyout: Darcy Tucker ($1.000m)
Buyout: Colby Armstrong ($1.000m)
RETAINED SALARY TRANSACTIONS (0.778% of upper limit)
Matt Frattin ($0.437m?0.5%) Ben Scrivens ($0.062m?0.1%)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $62,527,167; BONUSES: $300,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $2,072,833

Trading Liles is probably difficult but I don't mind that scenario, some cap flex for trades and there's still a couple decent, perhaps lower cost wingers available if they could move some more bodies effectively too. ( Raymond, Morrow )

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Trading Liles is probably difficult but I don't mind that scenario, some cap flex for trades and there's still a couple decent, perhaps lower cost wingers available if they could move some more bodies effectively too. ( Raymond, Morrow )

Yeah, I think trading Liles was always the best route to take, as we have left defensemen coming out our rear end. Rielly and Gardiner are the future and Gunnarsson can play anywhere in that group IMO. 3.8 million is a decent contract for Liles, it's nothing against him, he just appears to be the most tradeable guy with the best chunk of change to have available.

 

[bustaheims]

Just an FYI - Blum signed with a Wild a few days ago.

 

[Tigger]

Just an FYI - Blum signed with a Wild a few days ago.

Huh, capgeek still has him listed as an ufa, thanks.

 

[mr grieves]

Trading Liles is probably difficult but I don't mind that scenario, some cap flex for trades and there's still a couple decent, perhaps lower cost wingers available if they could move some more bodies effectively too. ( Raymond, Morrow )

Yeah, lower cost wingers are needed. It's a pretty severe drop off after the third line, and only Kuli is someone I'd trust move up in the event of an injury. Stronger top 4 wingers than last year, pretty weak bottom 4, I think.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Trading Liles is probably difficult but I don't mind that scenario, some cap flex for trades and there's still a couple decent, perhaps lower cost wingers available if they could move some more bodies effectively too. ( Raymond, Morrow )

Yeah, lower cost wingers are needed. It's a pretty severe drop off after the third line, and only Kuli is someone I'd trust move up in the event of an injury. Stronger top 4 wingers than last year, pretty weak bottom 4, I think.

I think Colborne is going to be a guy that we can move up also though. I'd give him a bit of credit, I think he still has top 6 potential.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I wonder if someone really surprises out of camp, perhaps a guy like Leivo or McKegg makes it impossible for the Leafs to send them down.

To hear Jim Highes talk about Leivo, kid could be a pretty solid contributor. I know conventional wisdom says these guys need more seasoning, but there almost always seems to be a surprise out of every camp.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I wonder if someone really surprises out of camp, perhaps a guy like Leivo or McKegg makes it impossible for the Leafs to send them down.

To hear Jim Highes talk about Leivo, kid could be a pretty solid contributor. I know conventional wisdom says these guys need more seasoning, but there almost always seems to be a surprise out of every camp.

Do you just mean the forwards, because I think that guy you're talking about is Morgan Rielly? I suppose Leivo has as good a chance, but I don't think they will play him on the bottom 6, and beating out one of our top 6 would near impossible for him IMO.

 

[leafplasma]

FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($3.251m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Jay McClement ($1.500m) / Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Frazer McLaren ($0.700m) / Joe Colborne ($0.600m) / Colton Orr ($0.925m)
Trevor Smith ($0.550m) /

That third line would be one hell of a shutdown line which makes that combo very tempting.  I think Colborne on the wing in place of McClement gives that line more of an offensive look and would be better use of Colbornes skill set.  Remember Bolland has put up some pretty good offensive numbers in the fairly recent past.  Colborne, Bolland and and Kulemin could provide good size, good bang and be able to chip in offensively so I would choose that trio as my third line.  Something else that is good in either scenario is having two centres on there late in a game in the event one gets waived out.  It also may allow Bolland to cheat a bit more and try and prop up his dismal face-off stats.

 

[bustaheims]

I wonder if someone really surprises out of camp, perhaps a guy like Leivo or McKegg makes it impossible for the Leafs to send them down.

To hear Jim Highes talk about Leivo, kid could be a pretty solid contributor. I know conventional wisdom says these guys need more seasoning, but there almost always seems to be a surprise out of every camp.

The training camp/exhibition surprises have to be taken with a grain of salt. They very rarely keep things going once the games start to matter.

 

[Corn Flake]

I wonder if someone really surprises out of camp, perhaps a guy like Leivo or McKegg makes it impossible for the Leafs to send them down.

To hear Jim Highes talk about Leivo, kid could be a pretty solid contributor. I know conventional wisdom says these guys need more seasoning, but there almost always seems to be a surprise out of every camp.

Leivo being better than most forwards in that camp wasn't really that big of a surprise to be honest.  Maybe it was to media who don't see him or care until these prospects are in front of them, but he's been on the radar for quite some time.  I don't see him making the Leafs out of camp, but I do see him possibly valuting many on the depth chart and could get himself positioned for an early call up.  If Colborne goes to the wing, I could see him stealing that 3rd line job by the end of the season.

 

[Bullfrog]

FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($3.251m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Jay McClement ($1.500m) / Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Frazer McLaren ($0.700m) / Joe Colborne ($0.600m) / Colton Orr ($0.925m)
Trevor Smith ($0.550m) /

That third line would be one hell of a shutdown line which makes that combo very tempting.  I think Colborne on the wing in place of McClement gives that line more of an offensive look and would be better use of Colbornes skill set.  Remember Bolland has put up some pretty good offensive numbers in the fairly recent past.  Colborne, Bolland and and Kulemin could provide good size, good bang and be able to chip in offensively so I would choose that trio as my third line.  Something else that is good in either scenario is having two centres on there late in a game in the event one gets waived out.  It also may allow Bolland to cheat a bit more and try and prop up his dismal face-off stats.

That's a decent looking forward lineup. The 4th line needs some improvement though.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I wonder if someone really surprises out of camp, perhaps a guy like Leivo or McKegg makes it impossible for the Leafs to send them down.

To hear Jim Highes talk about Leivo, kid could be a pretty solid contributor. I know conventional wisdom says these guys need more seasoning, but there almost always seems to be a surprise out of every camp.

Do you just mean the forwards, because I think that guy you're talking about is Morgan Rielly? I suppose Leivo has as good a chance, but I don't think they will play him on the bottom 6, and beating out one of our top 6 would near impossible for him IMO.

The non-forward I was hoping to see was Andrew MacWilliam, past captain of U North Dakota.  He hits like a truck and seems good on his skates.  From what I heard and read he might even be better than Luke Schenn as a tough, hard hitting defensive defenseman.

After seeing Gardiner in the playoffs I was wondering about:

Gardiner / Phanuef
Liles (or Gunnarsson) / MacWilliam
Fraser / Franson

Balanced between offense and rugged defense.  When Rielly was ready Liles (or Gunnarsson) could be moved.  I then noticed that MacWilliam was a LH shot.  Rats!

 

[bustaheims]

Huh, capgeek still has him listed as an ufa, thanks.

The NHLPA has him signed. 1 year, $650K.

http://www.nhlpa.com/the-players/free-agency-tracker

 

[Big Daddy]

Please take this for what its worth.  Talked to a good friend last night at baseball who is a current defenceman in COL.  Had his first conversation with Roy over the weekend regarding upcoming year.  He was told that he would be partnered with Johnson and that they were to be the shutdown pair. Roy told him they are about to get an offensive D for one of their centers.  He also said it looks like Duchene could be done saying he totally doesnt fit into the room.  Can we just imagine what roster player along with Liles we could add to get that done.  Wow

 

[caver]

I hope this is more than scuttlebutt. If it is a trade with the Leafs it would really look good.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Please take this for what its worth.  Talked to a good friend last night at baseball who is a current defenceman in COL.  Had his first conversation with Roy over the weekend regarding upcoming year.  He was told that he would be partnered with Johnson and that they were to be the shutdown pair. Roy told him they are about to get an offensive D for one of their centers.  He also said it looks like Duchene could be done saying he totally doesnt fit into the room.  Can we just imagine what roster player along with Liles we could add to get that done.  Wow

We would have to give up Gardiner. And with Bozak, Kadri, and Bolland all on the roster Duchene probably isn't a target for Nonis right now.

 

[bustaheims]

We would have to give up Gardiner. And with Bozak, Kadri, and Bolland all on the roster Duchene probably isn't a target for Nonis right now.

That's just it - with the type of assets that would be involved, the Leafs really need to get a clear #1 centre back, not a potential #1 centre like Duchene.