God Forbid... But Just a Thought

God forbid that this would ever happen, and I seriously don't think it will, but say just for the sake of argument that the Leafs end up seeing a few key vets go down hurt for a good portion of the first half of the season, and our young dmen don't perform as we expect, and maybe even Belfour has a sub par year... God forbid all that would happen, BUT as I said, for the sake of argument, let's say that it does happen and the team falters out of the gate and around trade deadline we don't look to be in playoff contention... (PLEASE LORD NO!!!!)

IF IF IF IF IF that did happen, could you imagine the players we could be at the trade deadline????? Could you imagine the situation that could put us in heading into the lockout?????

Teams contending for the cup could potentially pick the following players from us for draft picks, prospects and young players:

Gary Roberts
Owen Nolan
Alexander Mogilny
Joe Nieuwendyk
Travis Green
Robert Reichel (As if anyone would want him)
Mikael Renberg (see Reichel)
Tom Fitzgerald
Maybe even Darcy Tucker
Ed Belfour
Bryan Marchment

Any one of those players could help a contending team in one capacity or another and with the exception of Tucker, all of those guys would be expendable going into a lockout if we were out of contention... We could get some pretty decent return on guys like Nolan, Mogilny, and somewhat on Roberts, Nieuwendyk and Belfour... We'd set the stage for us to have a solid base of youth in our system going into 2005-2006, PLUS we'd have tons of salary room (although we already will) going into that season so we could sign some free agents to fill the cupboard again until the youth developed...

Our defense would be nice by then, giving youth a couple of years more to develop.... By 2005-2006, having these dmen in our system:

Kaberle
McCabe
Colaiacovo
Bell
Hedin
Jackman
Kondratiev
Kronwall
Berg
Pilar
White
Harrison
Turon

Plus Tellqvist with two more years to develop, and MAYBE even Kidd having time to get his game back after the shoulder surgery... Remember, before the shoulder problems he was statistically the best goaltender in the NHL... I'm not saying that with it fixed he'll be the best again, but he could be a solid starter for us if Tellqvist isn't ready...

Then you throw in a couple of years more for development for forwards like Tucker (if not traded), Antropov, Steen, Stajan, Wellwood, Ponikarovsky, Immonen, Volkov and any other prospects we get in trades at the deadline, and add in some free agent signings and likely still having Sundin, and we could be in decent shape for the future for a LONG time...

The only weakness I see in our team now for the future is forwards, particularly wingers...

Anyways, I know this is all VERY far fetched... I was just sitting here thinking of the value of our players and realized that the best value we'd get for guys like Roberts, Mogilny and Nolan would be at the deadline, then I started thinking about the what ifs and it all went from there...

Whoa slow down a little there.

- Nolan wouldnt be traded, he still has a big year left on his deal and no one would want to take that off our hands.

- Roberts I think still has a no-trade clause although I could be wrong, Im not sure if when he signed his extension last year it also extended the no-trade clause.

- I doubt anyone would have any interest in Reichel, Renberg, Green or Fitzgerald although I suppose if some team was looking for forward depth we might get lucky and score a 9th round pick for one of them.

Mogilny, Nieuwendyk and Belfour would be the biggest movable assets and I think a couple teams would pay nicely for Almo at the deadline.

Whoa slow down a little there.

- Nolan wouldnt be traded, he still has a big year left on his deal and no one would want to take that off our hands.


Oh I know it could be hard to move him cuz of his deal, but I'm sure going into the lockout a few teams might be willing to add a bit of salary for that last push... Just like I'm hoping we might if we are there...


- Roberts I think still has a no-trade clause although I could be wrong, Im not sure if when he signed his extension last year it also extended the no-trade clause.


I'm not sure about the no-trade either, but if not, he could be VERY useful in the playoffs to some teams...


- I doubt anyone would have any interest in Reichel, Renberg, Green or Fitzgerald although I suppose if some team was looking for forward depth we might get lucky and score a 9th round pick for one of them.


Reichel and Renberg I doubt anyone would want either... (thus my comments in brackets)... Green I could possibly see as a faceoff specialist for some teams... And Fitzgerald I could possibly see as a depth guy and penalty killing specialist... Plus, he's a great leader... But yes, I agree, nothing more than maybe a 9th rounder here...


Mogilny, Nieuwendyk and Belfour would be the biggest movable assets and I think a couple teams would pay nicely for Almo at the deadline.

I think Mogilny is certainly the cream of the crop too... he'd be our ringer in this scenario... BUT as I said above, GOD FORBID... This was just kind of thinking out my ass...

its a tough yr to sell merchandise.

unless you like the idea of discarding mogilny for a 2nd rounder

its a tough yr to sell merchandise.

unless you like the idea of discarding mogilny for a 2nd rounder

Your correct except that any player whose contract expires after this season would be owed very little money for the remainder of this season.Those guys like roberts which are playoff performers would have a very high return value because the teams acquiring them would pay them little while reaping the rewards of a surefire excellent playoff performance.We could essentially put a package together that could win somebody a cup,and at worst make a team a front-runner to do so.

If that happened Roberts and Nolan (and probably Nieuwendyk wouldn't go anywhere). Mogilny, Green, Belfour, Marchment would all have high trade value. Mogilny and Belfour would be the most valuable and would each get the Leafs at least a top prospect or first round draft pick. I dont' think they would be a bad thing to happen with the Leafs, finally stop being a vet. filled team and turn into a team that building from within and becoming an NHL powerhouse that way.

If that happened Roberts and Nolan (and probably Nieuwendyk wouldn't go anywhere). Mogilny, Green, Belfour, Marchment would all have high trade value. Mogilny and Belfour would be the most valuable and would each get the Leafs at least a top prospect or first round draft pick. I dont' think they would be a bad thing to happen with the Leafs, finally stop being a vet. filled team and turn into a team that building from within and becoming an NHL powerhouse that way.

You honestly don't think Roberts would move? Why? Because the Leafs couldn't move him or because they won't want to move him? Neither makes sense to me... If they are not a playoff team, I don't think the Leafs really want Roberts around in 2 years from now (if there's a lockout)... and if he's healthy, Roberts would be a GREAT playoff performer and leader for any team that is contending...

Also, I have to disagree with you on Belfour... I think he could get us decent return, but at his age, and him being a UFA at the end of the year, I seriously doubt we'd be able to get a first rounder for him... I'd love to think we could be it seams to be a bit much for a guy that will likely retire after this year if there's a lockout....

I'm pretty sure Roberts has a no trade clause, which would meanthey can't move him. I would be fine with Roberts retiring as a leaf. THey'd still ahve to play for about a month or so.

The fact that Belfour only has a year left on his contract is what makes him so valuable. A team could bring him in, get a good playoff run out him (maybe a cup) then forget about him and not have to worry about paying him after the new CBA. That makes him a VERY valubale player.

I'm pretty sure Roberts has a no trade clause, which would meanthey can't move him. I would be fine with Roberts retiring as a leaf. THey'd still ahve to play for about a month or so.

The fact that Belfour only has a year left on his contract is what makes him so valuable. A team could bring him in, get a good playoff run out him (maybe a cup) then forget about him and not have to worry about paying him after the new CBA. That makes him a VERY valubale player.

Even if Roberts does have a no-trade clause i'm sure he would waive it if faced with the dismal scenario which this thread is based on.Roberts is a competitor not a playoff spectator.

Yes, but Roberts is also a Toronto boy, playing ont eh team he wants to play on with his best friend, he may just want to retire as a Leaf, and I think he would.

Yes, but Roberts is also a Toronto boy, playing ont eh team he wants to play on with his best friend, he may just want to retire as a Leaf, and I think he would.

I very much doubt that Roberts would choose to simply fade into the sunset rather than take 1 more shot at a cup.The guys a warrior.

Yes, but Roberts is also a Toronto boy, playing ont eh team he wants to play on with his best friend, he may just want to retire as a Leaf, and I think he would.

Yeah, but in the circumstances we're talking about Roberts would fall into the Ray Bourque syndrom. The Leafs would or at least should allow Roberts to take a run and trade him and I'm sure Roberts would love to have another ring before retiring.

It's nothing to do with loyalties or ties, everyone thinks of Ray Bourque as a Bruin and always will so and never questioned his commitment to the team he played his entire career for.

If the Leafs are undoubtedly out of contention around the deadline then I say let Roberts go wherever he wants with our blessings, even if it means only getting a mid round pick in return (although I would think better than that would be obtained).

As for Belfour, same thing, trade him, although not so much for a shot at the cup as much as it allowing Telqvist to come in and play the majority of the last games as a starter.