Yes, very frustrating. Kessel is just a strange guy who doesn't really know how to express himself properly and deals with things in his own way.
That's irrelevant. He's a competitor, yes. But he isn't and never will be the feisty, hard-nosed, aggressive, 2-way, truculent player that we should be modelling our team to. THAT's the issue. Not that he's quiet and awkward.
I can't tell you how many times I've seen Kessel shy away from a puck along the boards to dodge a hit - THATS what's frustrating.
I can totally live with the awkward, shy type. Dustin Brown is awkward and shy, very quiet. But on the ice? ... you get the point.
I'm not necessarily advocating that we purposely move away from Kessel, but an argument can certainly be made why.
That's irrelevant. He's a competitor, yes. But he isn't and never will be the feisty, hard-nosed, aggressive, 2-way, truculent player that we should be modelling our team to. THAT's the issue. Not that he's quiet and awkward.
I can't tell you how many times I've seen Kessel shy away from a puck along the boards to dodge a hit - THATS what's frustrating.
I can totally live with the awkward, shy type. Dustin Brown is awkward and shy, very quiet. But on the ice? ... you get the point.
I'm not necessarily advocating that we purposely move away from Kessel, but an argument can certainly be made why.
Oh ya I totally agree with all of this! But I was more referencing his interviews. Where people make it seem like he wants out and that he's not a team kind of player, but in his interviews the words don't sound the way he thinks they are coming out. Haha if that makes sense. He's is for sure competitive, and hates losing, but like you said he's not going to be the first guy into the corner. I can live with that if he has linemates that can. I think his teammates respect his goal scoring enough to know that he needs space to get his shot off and that he mostly has to rely on his teammates to create that for him.
If you think McCarthur is going to get LA's first you are dreaming. The Leafs were offered a conditional first for him, so even if the stars align the pick wouldn't be in the 2012 draft.
If Kessel is traded, I wan't "Fire Burke" chants to fill the ACC.
It's not Kessel's fault, but we'd have had elite talent in our farm if it wasn't for the Kessel trade. Trading Kessel, who I love by the way, would be like throwing those assets away for nothing in the end.
I'm going to write down the names of all the haters of Kessel in this thread, because I'm sure you'll be the same guys singing his praises if we manage to get a #1 C to give him help.
They're probably hiding under their beds after they read this.
Please, for the love of god, don't sign any FA defensemen this summer!
I've never been a fan of giving defensemen long-term big money contracts, but it makes even less sense this summer. The Leafs have 6 defensemen under contract for next season (plus Franson who is a RFA).
Does anyone actually realistically think that adding someone like Suter would be a good idea? This team is already overpaying their defense corps as it is. And from what I've seen over the last decade, you don't get nearly enough of a return on investing in long-term deals with defensemen. For example, long deals for Redden, McCabe, Komisarek, Pronger have been pretty disasterous in handicapping their teams cap-wise and providing little benefit. Chara is the only d-man who I can think of who has been worth one, and he's an extremely rare player.
Would it really be a bad thing to just stick with what we have, bring up young (and cheap) kids like Holzer and Blacker as some of these contracts expire and just roll with them in the future?
When you see the St. Louis Blues rolling towards a President's Trophy with a defense that includes names like Jackman, Pieterangelo, Polak, Colaiacovo, Shattenkirk, Russell, Cole and Huskins on cost-controlled deals (none is making more than $3.7M), it makes you wonder why the hell you would even consider throwing out a 5-year, $22.5M contract for a defenseman whose career high in points is 19 and is a defensive nightmare (a la Komisarek). Now I'm not directly comparing Komi to Suter, but I can't help but think fans will be facepalming in a similar manner (immediately or in the future) if a d-man is signed to a long-term, big money deal this summer. Stay away! This team has far more pressing needs!
Overpaying our defence? Please say you are not saying that just because we are overpaying Komisarek... Liles, Schenn, Franson, Gunner, Gardiner are either great or decent contracts.
Overpaying our defence? Please say you are not saying that just because we are overpaying Komisarek... Liles, Schenn, Franson, Gunner, Gardiner are either great or decent contracts.
As it stands right now, I'd disagree that Liles or Schenn are on great or decent contracts. The other three, sure. But the way this team epically collapsed after the all-star break, I don't see how replacing one or two of Phaneuf, Komi, Schenn or Liles with cheaper alternatives would be any worse in terms of playing output.
I've never been a big fan of Dion, I can see how he's voted the most overrated amongst his peers. Komi's atrocious play throughout his tenure as a Leaf goes without saying. I'm not going to hate on Schenn and Liles because they bring some good attributes. But if you brought Holzer in for Schenn and replace Liles' minutes with Gardiner, you save upwards of $5.7M of cap space. And can you honestly say that there would be any dropoff in play if the team did that? The Leafs were rolling right along without Liles in January and Schenn's been spotty at best.
What exactly makes Suter so great and worth the investment?
There are a lot of people that think Ryan Suter is a better overall defenseman than Shea Weber and that Weber plays and looks as good as he does because of Suter.
Suter? I don't think so. You'll have teams like Detroit (perennial contenders) going after him that can offer contracts Burke can't because of his beliefs (cap circumvention).
Suter? I don't think so. You'll have teams like Detroit (perennial contenders) going after him that can offer contracts Burke can't because of his beliefs (cap circumvention).
Just taking a look at the UFA market at the end of this season and ive compiled a list of whom i think we could add to our team to make it more competitive next season.
The list below are the players id be willing to sign if the price is right and the position is there. Those with X's beside their names would be my primary targets (realistically available players). Some names listed are their for playoff experience and veteran leadership some are there for grit, size and toughness, others skill.
Who would you want ideally?
Zach Parise X
Shane Doan X
Ryan Smyth X
Nicklas Lidstrom
Teemu Selane
Ryan Suter X
Jason Arnott X
Paul Gaustad
Brad Stuart
Jarret Stoll
Jaime Langenbrunner X
Carlo Colaiacovo???
Chris Kelly
Travis Moen
David Moss
Jordin Tootoo X
Greg Campbell
Shawn Thornton
Josh Harding X
Jason Garisson
Evgeni Nabokov X
I've never been a fan of giving defensemen long-term big money contracts, but it makes even less sense this summer. The Leafs have 6 defensemen under contract for next season (plus Franson who is a RFA).
Does anyone actually realistically think that adding someone like Suter would be a good idea? This team is already overpaying their defense corps as it is. And from what I've seen over the last decade, you don't get nearly enough of a return on investing in long-term deals with defensemen. For example, long deals for Redden, McCabe, Komisarek, Pronger have been pretty disastrous in handicapping their teams cap-wise and providing little benefit. Chara is the only d-man who I can think of who has been worth one, and he's an extremely rare player.
Would it really be a bad thing to just stick with what we have, bring up young (and cheap) kids like Holzer and Blacker as some of these contracts expire and just roll with them in the future?
When you see the St. Louis Blues rolling toward a President's Trophy with a defense that includes names like Jackman, Pieterangelo, Polak, Colaiacovo, Shattenkirk, Russell, Cole and Huskins on cost-controlled deals (none is making more than $3.7M), it makes you wonder why the hell you would even consider throwing out a 5-year, $22.5M contract for a defenseman whose career high in points is 19 and is a defensive nightmare (a la Komisarek). Now I'm not directly comparing Komi to Suter, but I can't help but think fans will be facepalming in a similar manner (immediately or in the future) if a d-man is signed to a long-term, big money deal this summer. Stay away! This team has far more pressing needs!
Agree or disagree?
I vehemently disagree with your position.
For starters anytime you can sign a all star caliber player at market value, you do it.
Secondly of those disaster D FAs you listed, the only one that that is of Suters talent/age level on that list IS Chara.
Sorry, Pronger a bad signing, how exactly? Injury can happen to any player at anytime. Cap relief is granted on LTIR.
Was signing Crosby a bad move at the time?
IF Suter would be willing to sign here at market value , you do it, no hesitation, NONE!
Who we trade to make room on the roster or who we stuff in the AHL to make $ is irrelevant. Save for the return you get for said traded Dman.
When you can get a young top 5/10 Dman in the whole of the NHL, YOU DO IT!
Add in the beautiful bonus that he plays the opposite side of DP and what that could do for his game, oh my.
I have never wanted a FA more then Suter in my 40 years of being a NHL fan.
Schulz, if he becomes available.
DeKeyser, if he likes TO
Eriksson, G
Makes Scrivens, Franson and maybe Schenn available for trade during the off-season or trade deadline.
For the big team? Not sure.
Nabokov or Vokoun if either'd take a 2-year deal.
There seem to be kids in line to fit into third/fourth line roles - resign Kulemin and Mueller, and see who wins the jobs (Kadri/Mueller/D'Amigo all ready/close to ready for full-time jobs). Save the cap space for big-additions up front.
With the 5/6 year contract limit imposed by BB, neither Parise or Suter seem realistic, so I see the trade route being the best option.
XXXXX
