So I am getting some concepts of what I think Nonis and the Leafs should do.
Here is what I am thinking this week:
- 1st off, I hope that they don't try to correct everything this summer.
- use the 1st amnesty buyout on Komisarek
AT FORWARD
- I also like Iginla but Clarkson wants to play for the Leafs and he would also cost no assets to acquire. MacArthur was given $3.25 MIL as a RFA and Clarkson is bigger, can match him in scoring and can fight middleweights. Sounds like a $3.75 to $4 MIL contract is coming to Clarkson. I would consider making Clarkson a Leaf for life and offering him the UFA max of 7 years as he has been quite durable over his career. A contract of $4, $4, $4, $4, $4, $2.5 (age 35), $2 (age 36) would be a $3.5 MIL cap hit.
I hate his streakiness as a goal scorer because he looks like a superstar power forward for some games and then disappears for LONG stretches. JVR seems a bit similar so I can't haggle about that point to much.
- Kadri should be re-signed to a reasonable contract. Matt Duchene scored 24 goals his rookie season and 27 in his 2nd year compared to Kadri scoring 3 and 5 goals respectively as Kadri couldn't crack the line up. Kadri also got neutralized at the end of this season when teams zeroed in on him and had his production abruptly stop. I hope he gets signed to a Kulemin style contract at most.
- I hope Colborne can step into the protected 3rd line center role next season.
- Grabovski has skill, work ethic and decent experience in the league and should bounce back as one of the top 2 centers. IF he doesn't then Nonis uses the 2nd amnesty buyout on Grabovski next summer.
- if one more power forward could be had from a cash strapped team then McLaren and Orr could be sat most nights and Komarov, McClement and Frattin would create a low cost/high impact 4th line.
If not then Frattin plays on the 3rd line and Clarkson on the 2nd with Orr on the 4th.
ON DEFENSE:
- Keep Phaneuf, Gardiner, Franson and Fraser. Leave space at the 5th spot for a Marlie like Blacker or Holzer/Kostka.
- I think Franson is going to get around $3 MIL/year on his next contract making him a 2nd pairing defenseman budget-wise.
- I do wish for 1 veteran to help on defense 1st pairing. Bieska was coveted by some and would be great if Vancouver's cap issues don't resolve themselves with Booth/Ballard's buyouts and Luongo getting traded. If not, don't panic and keep Gunnarsson for $2.5 MIL for now.
So this week (compared to last season):
JVR / Grabovski Bozak / Kessel
Lupul / Kadri / Stewart - trade
Kulemin / Colborne / MacArthur Clarkson - ufa
Komarov / McClement / Frattin
*Orr
*McLaren
Gunnarsson (or vet) / Phaneuf
Gardiner / Franson
Fraser / Blacker (or Marlie like Holzer)
*warm body
BTW, what happened to Brad Richards in NYR? Was it simply coaching like Carlyle and Grabovski?