Unofficial 2013-2014 Armchair GM Thread

[Jalili]

Franson obviously has his limitations, like that he doesn't skate well, doesn't use his size as much as he should, and should not be handed the tough defensive assignments.

But he has very high offensive IQ, and has a real light touch especially at getting the puck through traffic to the net, in contrast to certain D-men who think it's all about blasting the puck as hard as possible.

 

[Kin]

Just like Grabovski, who by the way is still not signed.

Although, to be fair, he didn't do himself any favours when he bashed Carlyle and "let the expletives fly" on his way out the door.

Doesn't that emphasize the point rather than mitigate it?

 

[Redleaf]

Franson obviously has his limitations, like that he doesn't skate well, doesn't use his size as much as he should, and should not be handed the tough defensive assignments.

But he has very high offensive IQ, and has a real light touch especially at getting the puck through traffic to the net, in contrast to certain D-men who think it's all about blasting the puck as hard as possible.

Agreed. His ability to get the puck through and to the net is underrated. His shot from the point is the best the Leafs have, and may still have, even when Gardiner and Reilly reach their full potential. He's young enough to still develop the weaker areas of his game and big enough to become a solid all around presence on the blue line for years to come. If I'm Nonis, there's no way I trade him.

Edit: He also showed a knack for scoring some pretty timely goals, and raising his level of play against the Bruins in the playoffs as well.

 

[Champ Kind]

Just like Grabovski, who by the way is still not signed.

Although, to be fair, he didn't do himself any favours when he bashed Carlyle and "let the expletives fly" on his way out the door.

Doesn't that emphasize the point rather than mitigate it?

I was trying to say that Grabo's not being signed could be as much a part of his temper tantrum as it is his skill / play.  Or maybe he wants too much money.  Who knows.  I was just suggesting that his not being signed could be the result of more than just his play.

 

[mr grieves]

Just like Grabovski, who by the way is still not signed.

Although, to be fair, he didn't do himself any favours when he bashed Carlyle and "let the expletives fly" on his way out the door.

Doesn't that emphasize the point rather than mitigate it?

I was trying to say that Grabo's not being signed could be as much a part of his temper tantrum as it is his skill / play.  Or maybe he wants too much money.  Who knows.  I was just suggesting that his not being signed could be the result of more than just his play.

Well, sounds like he's looking at three offers. But maybe that's in the same way Jagr was looking at all those offers.

 

[Corn Flake]

Just like Grabovski, who by the way is still not signed.

Although, to be fair, he didn't do himself any favours when he bashed Carlyle and "let the expletives fly" on his way out the door.

Doesn't that emphasize the point rather than mitigate it?

I was trying to say that Grabo's not being signed could be as much a part of his temper tantrum as it is his skill / play.  Or maybe he wants too much money.  Who knows.  I was just suggesting that his not being signed could be the result of more than just his play.

You are emphasizing the point again.

His big mouth got him into trouble for sure with those comments, but that big mouth existed before he got bought out as well, according to what we are hearing.  If he said what he said publicly, imagine what he was saying privately.

 

[Corn Flake]

Well, sounds like he's looking at three offers. But maybe that's in the same way Jagr was looking at all those offers.

I have 3 NHL offers I am looking at too.  My agent says so.

 

[Hampreacher]

Maybe Fraser got it. Now lets get Franson and Kadri Signed. Find a taker for Liles even if retain a portion of his contract for this season.

 

[Champ Kind]

You are emphasizing the point again.

His big mouth got him into trouble for sure with those comments, but that big mouth existed before he got bought out as well, according to what we are hearing.  If he said what he said publicly, imagine what he was saying privately.

Oh you....

The guy can play, no question.  I think other teams must be scared off by the salary demands or the personality / character issues, real or perceived.

It's largely unsubstantiated and retrospective, but, boy, it sure would have been great if Burke had moved Grabo for a first round pick around trade deadline 2012.

 

[Big Daddy]

Dion Phaneuf-Carl Gunnarsson
Jake Gardiner -Paul Ranger
Cody Franson-Mark Fraser

These pairings are all very comfortable with each other..Let them each play 20 minutes are adjust each game slightly depending on who has the extra jump that night
PP1  Dion Phaneuf-Jake Gardiner
PP2  Cody Franson-Paul Ranger

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Dion Phaneuf-Carl Gunnarsson
Jake Gardiner -Paul Ranger
Cody Franson-Mark Fraser

These pairings are all very comfortable with each other..Let them each play 20 minutes are adjust each game slightly depending on who has the extra jump that night
PP1  Dion Phaneuf-Jake Gardiner
PP2  Cody Franson-Paul Ranger

I said it in the Fraser thread, but I don't think the Leafs want to throw Ranger into the fire like that, Scott Gordon said as much in his recent interview, which by the way, was a decent read...

AP: What are your thoughts on Ranger?

SG: Well, obviously he?s not a rookie. He?s played some significant time in the NHL. From the reports that we had from the Marlies he was a very good player for them and he?s trying to get back into the NHL and if he?s going to be near the same player he was when he was with Tampa Bay that?s obviously good for us.

AP: Is Ranger a guy you?d throw in the top 4 from the get-go?

SG: It?s too early to say. He hasn?t played an NHL game in I don?t know how many years. We have to give him an opportunity to get back a feel for the pace of the NHL game and get comfortable. I don?t think any player that?s playing his first games in the NHL or been away from the NHL, I don?t think you want to jam it down their throats. He?s going to want to have a comfort level of knowing that he can go out there and play and not feel like he has to be the saviour. But you know, in saying that, he?s a guy that?s played in the NHL so it?s a different situation.

 

[Tigger]

Yup, that was a decent read, thanks for posting.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Yup, that was a decent read, thanks for posting.

He interviewed Cronin and Poulin also. I don't know who Petrielli is, but I like what I've read from him.

 

[princedpw]

Yup, that was a decent read, thanks for posting.

He interviewed Cronin and Poulin also. I don't know who Petrielli is, but I like what I've read from him.

On these interviews,  Cam Charron writes:

The real issue is that the Maple Leafs are the richest team in hockey and are not doing anything to supplement their view of the game. There's no team run by a strawman general manager that puts together a lineup using only a computer and I'm not a proponent of that, but I'm a proponent of finding as much data you can find to go against a move you're thinking of making. Why? As Nassim Taleb pointed out in his book The Black Swan, a book that you haven't read is much more valuable to you than a book you have read. It's sometimes what you don't know that's of the most value to you.

That hits the nail on the head for me and is the most disturbing thing about the Leafs organization.  It is totally, absolutely, completely foolish and completely unforgiveable for the Leafs to take this meat-head approach... if their goal is to do the most they can to win.

 

[Britishbulldog]

With the Leaf salary cap crunch being discussed in the media I dusted off my 'what do you pay players to make a Stanley Cup competitive team' again.  Since next year's cap is probably going to raise to $73 - $75 MIL here is what I am thinking Nonis should do as a template:

Forwards $44 MIL
$39 MIL for the top 3 forward lines :
- $7.5 Top scorer (Stamkos style contract),
- $7.5 Top Center (unfortunately we only have the incredibly inferior 'Friend of Top Scorer $4.2'),
- $5.25 Potential 30 goal scorers (Lupul and Clarkson),
- $4.25 Potential 20-30 goal scorer (JVR),
- $3.0 Top prospect Bridge contract (Kadri),
- $3.0 Top Defensive forward that can score (Kulemin)
- $2.5 Top Defensive Center (Bolland or McClement)
- $1.25 Top Prospect on ELC (sadly no one is in the system)

$3 MIL for the 4th line - prefer $0.7 rookie, $1.5 vet, $0.8 fighter
$1.5 MIL for the pressbox

Defense $25 MIL
- $7.9 MIL Norris Candidate
- $6.5 MIL Top defenseman (Pietrangelo, Phaneuf, etc)
- $4.5 MIL Offensive dman (Franson)
- $3.0 MIL Top dman prospect on Bridge contract (soon Gardiner)
- $1.2 MIL Tough/fighter (Fraser)
- $1.1 MIL Top dman prospect on ELC (now Gardiner, soon Rielly)
- $0.8 MIL Press box (Holzer, etc)

Goalies $7.0 for both (unless one is a yearly Veniza candidate the $8.5 for both)

Although this adds up to $76 MIL not $73 - $75 MIL, not every position is going to be at that salary next summer including the goalies and the $3.3 MIL being saved on the incredibly inferior 'Friend of Top Scorer' 1st line center for the next 5 years .

This lineup obviously gets tweaked year by year but I think is a balanced perspective.  I just don't see the Leafs keeping over all salaries under control by being able to introduce a good young forward prospect every couple of years.  The rest is realistic I think.

 

[Champ Kind]

The rest is realistic I think.

Where does the Norris Candidate come from?

 

[Big Daddy]

This is my hopeful opening day roster

James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Phil Kessel
Joffrey Lupul-Nazem Kadri-David Clarkson
Mason Raymond-Dave Bolland-Nikolai Kulemin
Frazer McLaren-Jay McClement-Colton Orr
Joe Colborne

Dion Phaneuf-Carl Gunnarsson
Jake Gardiner -Paul Ranger
Cody Franson-Mark Fraser
Morgan Rielly-Andrew MacWilliam

James Reimer
Jonathan Bernier

I would think this ineup can win its fair share of games.  Seeing Reilly for 9 games would be great and Colborne for the season too.  If Frazer McLaren cant play to start the season I would like to see Carter Ashton.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

What are thinking happens with Liles in your above scenario?

 

[dappleganger]

What are thinking happens with Liles in your above scenario?

Swiss League.

 

[Kin]

This is my hopeful opening day roster

James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Phil Kessel
Joffrey Lupul-Nazem Kadri-David Clarkson
Mason Raymond-Dave Bolland-Nikolai Kulemin
Frazer McLaren-Jay McClement-Colton Orr
Joe Colborne

Dion Phaneuf-Carl Gunnarsson
Jake Gardiner -Paul Ranger
Cody Franson-Mark Fraser
Morgan Rielly-Andrew MacWilliam

James Reimer
Jonathan Bernier

I would think this ineup can win its fair share of games.  Seeing Reilly for 9 games would be great and Colborne for the season too.  If Frazer McLaren cant play to start the season I would like to see Carter Ashton.

So would you be sitting Rielly or dressing 7 defensemen?