Leaf targets are simple. Upgrade truculence, PK and bring in Ontario players.
From London... Brandon Prust 3rd line truculence
From Toronto... Daniel Winnick 3rd line truculence Pk
From Kingston... Jay McClement 4th line centre PK and faceoffs
From Kitchener... Dennis Wideman top 4 d puck moving d-man
Assuming leafs don't get Justin Schultz. Who do they replace? Komisarek, Armstrong, Connolly and Steckel. Also, remove Brown, Liles, Crabb and Lombardi. The veteran leadership of these players last season was awful. They all have to go.
I have a feeling guys like Gaustad, Prust, Moen and maybe Penner are going to be significantly overpaid, so I'd rather take my chances with a Guillaume Latendresse or David Moss, short-term 'reclamation project'-type signing.
Best case scenario, we land ourselves a quality player on a good contract; worst case, he gets hurt or plays below expectations and leaves a spot open for a younger guy without hurting us long-term. The last thing we need is LACK to turn into GLACK or PLACK.
Assuming we don't manage to trade for a goalie, I'm wondering which free agent goalie might be the best pickup for us. I've just started looking at the list of who is available so haven't quite figured out who I would prefer just yet.
Assuming we don't manage to trade for a goalie, I'm wondering which free agent goalie might be the best pickup for us. I've just started looking at the list of who is available so haven't quite figured out who I would prefer just yet.
Well the FA goalies available are mostly of the backup variety:
Chris Mason
Martin Biron
Johan Hedberg
Ty Conklin
etc
Would love to see the Mule (Hedberg) given a 1 year deal to supply some experience and relieve some pressure from the Reimer, but it looks like Burke is adamant in giving Scrivens a shot.
I have a feeling guys like Gaustad, Prust, Moen and maybe Penner are going to be significantly overpaid.
The reason they will be overpaid is because they are upgrades. Leafs will have to pay to play. Prust is a must have for the leafs to improve the truculence and forecheck.
I have a feeling guys like Gaustad, Prust, Moen and maybe Penner are going to be significantly overpaid, so I'd rather take my chances with a Guillaume Latendresse or David Moss, short-term 'reclamation project'-type signing.
Best case scenario, we land ourselves a quality player on a good contract; worst case, he gets hurt or plays below expectations and leaves a spot open for a younger guy without hurting us long-term. The last thing we need is LACK to turn into GLACK or PLACK.
If Armstrong is traded, we are going to have a hard time making a catchy acronym for the un wanted players on our team.
Kadri is as good as a bust. I don't even think the Leafs project him as a long-term player anymore. He is a top 6 player or nothing at all, and right now with the current team depth he's nothing at all.
What? The guy who's only a 2nd year pro is already a bust? Give me a break, that's stupid logic.
The reason they will be overpaid is because they are upgrades. Leafs will have to pay to play. Prust is a must have for the leafs to improve the truculence and forecheck.
I am sure same thing was said about Colby. Signing all these mediocre players to bloated deals has not worked.
and absolutely no one else. If August comes and someone is looking for a team, and he's cheap and he fits what we need, then sign him. Keep our 2013 cap space.
Go Big, or go home. Play the kids and shed the useless contracts without filling us back up with more useless contracts.
Schultz would be ok, possibly Penner if a reasonable contract can be ironed out.
I'd rather see opportunities given to guys like D'Amigo or Dupuis or Deschamps etc...
Why? If we can get a bottom 6 guy for cheap, why not sign him?
Our bottom 6 is currently the softest and most useless in the league. If we can get a couple good bottom 6 guys who come for <2Million it would help our team tremendously.
Although I am opposed to giving any bottom 6 players over 2.5million, Gaustad may be an exception. Carlyle gives his shut down Center about 15-17 mins a night, therefore, we should get a good #3C he can use.
Would be perfect as a bottom 6 upgrade. Has a history with Burke too.
Habs want to keep Moen and have started contract talks with his agent. He enjoys playing in Montreal. Unless his salary demands are really too high, he will re-sign in Montreal.
I don't se us signing anyone new, IMO. Burke goes hard after Suter and Shultz to shore up the defense, and thats all he tries. Outside chance he goes after slightly lesser guys like Allen or Sarich.
Don't predict any forwards signed, and new faces up front will come from the Marlies.
All of the above forwards can come in and be 4th line/depth guys for us and add much needed toughness.
Tootoo might even be a decent 3rd line guy.
I want us to become a tougher team next season. We need to add more grit, toughness, size, we need to add more physical players, guys who will fight and stand up for teammates, aggressive players.
Biron (probably resigns with NY though)
Ellis
Hedberg
Defense:
Ryan Suter
Justin Schultz
Jason Garrison
Dennis Wideman (probably asking for to much)
Forwards:
Zach Parise
Travis Moen
Jason Arnott (3rd liner with toughness and veteran leadership)
George Parros
Zenon Konopka (4th line grinder to replace Steckel)
Jordin Tootoo
