The latest Leafs rumors and Oilers goalie Viktor Fasth reaching a career crossroads.
Dallas Stars interested in Joffrey Lupul?
TORONTO STAR: Mark Zwolinski reported on recent trade rumors about the Maple Leafs, none of which has been confirmed by the club. Among the notable speculation: Different teams have interest in Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, the Dallas Stars have interest in Joffrey Lupul, and there’s talk the Leafs could ship a defenseman (Jake Gardiner or Cody Franson) and a top-six center (Nazem Kadri or Tyler Bozak) to the Colorado Avalanche for versatile forward Ryan O’Reilly. Zwolinski also reports the Leafs are believed in talks to re-sign Franson and forward Mike Santorelli.
TORONTO SUN: Dave Hilson also reports on the Leafs supposed interested in O’Reilly.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both reports note the Leafs players are hearing the growing speculation but are trying to ignore it. If they really want to do something about it, start stringing together some wins. Easier said than done, I know, but that’s the only realistic way to silence the chatter from the punditry.
As for the Stars supposed interest in Lupul, I don’t understand that one. Lupul’s been in and out of the lineup this season with injuries and is currently sidelined until February. He has a lengthy injury history and is earning $5.25 million per season through 2017-18. I realize the Stars need scoring depth but surely to Buddha they can find better options than Lupul in the trade market.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports Oilers goalie Viktor Fasth is reaching a career crossroads as he tries to prove he can be a reliable NHL goaltender. Fasth has struggled since joining the Oilers. He’s a UFA this summer and could become a trade candidate by the March deadline. Matheson suggests the Oilers, still in need of a proven starting goalie, could pursue San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi this summer via free agency or attempt to acquire Carolina Hurricanes netminder Cam Ward via trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I expect the Oilers will listen to offers for Fasth or Ben Scrivens leading up to the trade deadline. They’ll likely keep Scrivens and move Fasth.
Not much to talk about today,
Oh give it time…lol
The Oilers should go after Stalock(SJ) or Talbot(NYR)
What’s thereto talk about lol this core has had 3 coaches, 2gm’s countless assistant coaches, numerous bottom six and defense man!!!! I don’t know how Dave Nonis doesn’t see it and if he doesn’t and do t act on it then his time is done
Name the guys here before Wilson.
Paul Maurice
Pat Quinn
Mike Murphy
Nick Beverley
Pat Burns
Tom Watt
Doug Carpenter
lol the core roster guys that have been mentioned going thru 3 coaches…who are they?
That wasn’t my post….I just listed the coaches before Wilson, as you requested.
My question was part of the post before that mentioned this core going thru 2 GMS and 3 coaches…
It hasn’t. Not saying that some of the core needs to change and built properly, it was mpre meant to show that alot of people just kind of blame the Leafs history oof futility on guys that have been here the past 4 or 5 years…then in the same breath say they are ok with tanking and rebuilds that in all likelyhood will take longer.
Weren’t Kaberle and Schenn the last two guys from before Wilson? and they’ve been gone a long time…so I guess some of these guys are on their 3rd coach, but that happens.
Realistically a few of them spent maybe a year or so with Wilson if that…lots of teams have gone thru as many coaches as the Leafs “core” has.
yeah…lots of crap teams.
I don’t know that the number of GMs or coaches they have played for is all that important. GMs and coaches come and go all the time. Consider this, Crosby and Malkin are not only on their 3rd coach, but also their 3rd GM.
Actually I think Crosby is on his 4th coach, didn’t Eddie Olczyk coach him the first half of his rookie year? but you know, crap team I guess. OV’s had a few coaches in Washington too, lots of players have had lots ofcoaches, I don’t think it means much, coaches and gm’s have a shelf life unless you are gm of NJ.
You know what, I do believe you are right about Olczyk.
Yeah you are right about Eddie O, still thinks he knows everything on NBC
The leafs arent built through the draft. It’s countess attempts to trade for players or sign UFA’s to fix the problem. Meanwhile they’re trading away guys that have become good to very good players for other teams. The leafs are a joke and I the turmoil/ rumours are entertainment for fans of the other 29 teams
Right on the money, Hockeyfan.
bang on hockeyfan
Just for arguments sake….and I understand we didn’t draft some…. but we traded crap for an 11th overall pick in bernier….traded up to 2nd in the Schenn/JVR deal. Then add Kadri, Rielly, Nylander.
No there isn’t a winning team there through picks yet however you can make an argument that they do have high draft picks from the previous few years. Its not the sole reason the leafs don’t do well.
The fact Mark Zwolinski is a life-long Toronto resident and a sports reporter for the leftist Toronto Star since the 1980s, makes his “speculations” smack more of wishful-thinking (a trait commonly found among leftists) than anything in the nature of “informed sources tell me.” I mean, come ON – Lupul, Phaneuf, Gardiner and the King of Floaters? All hugely expensive, long-term deals that any GM with a brain in his head wouldn’t touch with the proverbial 10-foot pole and whose names appear daily in “fan forums” as being the root cause of the Leafs internal rot?? And here I thought Garrioch was the King of Manugfactured Rumours.
And this, I assume is the pessimism of the right?
So no one will trade for a 40 goal scorer because he makes 8 mil for 8 years. I’m not going to go through the list of players half as good as Kessel who have been traded.
You, my friend are the leaf bashing idiot friend who has no idea what he is talking about but uses big words and comes across as brash so people pay attention. Sounds like a conservative or wildroser.
I can not agree with you more. If you (George) dislike the leafs so bad, stop clicking on rumors about the leafs. You obviously have it in for the leafs and your comments about them are getting redundant. their I used a big word like you so that must mean I know what I am talking about, Right?
matty….. kessel has never scored 40 goals! your a rose colored glasses wearing leafs supporter so whose right? you or the leafs basher?
guess we should have said 36 goals once and 37 goals twice. Either way, the guy scores a lot of goals, you have to give him some credit.
sorry, HE, not we.
How bout 80 points? How many guys put up 270 points over the past 3 and a half years or 330 in just over 4 seasons?…never put up 40 goals jeeezus lol
All these points year after year but a career minus player by a good mark. Stacked up agasint the other teams top paid players and he is clearly outmatched by most of them.
oh phil deserves credit for goal scoring but when the leafs don’t have the puck its like a pp for the other team cause phil isn’t around there own end!
Danny Heatley scored 50, 50, 41, 39 and 39 5 years running and is now a washed-up 33 y/o AHLer. It happens.
Sure does, ya know what else happens more often? Guys dont turn out to be Danny Heatly… but I am sure a sour Sens fan like yourself knows that.
Whats your point? I’m not a Leafs fan but any team in the league would love to add Kessel and his “37 goals” and point-per-game pace to their team.
Teams that are interested in winning it all will never pay Phil 8 million per year. Sell him off to another loser team that will do it and start building the team the right way.
Scores 37 and still can’t be trusted. Leads nobody, has terrible body language, backchecks occassionally, etc.
Not any team would want to add Kessel , sorry Ryan , many would be wary of his work ethic and supposed cancer-in-the-locker-room reputation.
Plus minus…again, Kopitar is a minus player so is that great 2 way center ROR…Kopitar was a big minus player for 4 years straight
-45 in fact in LA, Mario had alot of really big years as a minus player. Plus minus to point out a players value especially good players on bad teams is dumb…for so many reasons. Think Kopitar should back check more?
good point mongo! shticky you can say plus/minus is a bad stat but that wont change anyones opinion that phil has no idea how to play defense! even you can see that?
he’s not as bad as you make him out to be. If you consistently ignore the media and have interviews like he did last week then you are going to be in the doghouse. If you hear hockey experts talking they mostly talk about him being an elite scorer without dwelling too much on his defensive game. Kessel has pretty huge value and there are tonnes of teams who will be making space if he hits the trade market.
No one is arguing that he could be better defensively but 8 million is exactly how much he should be paid. Bobby Ryan signed for 7 million, I think Phil is worth the extra million.
mdz he is a good goal scorer and if traded will be a good return but a lot of the other gms will be doing research about his attitude is and how he is in the dressing room!
Insane….anyone that can afford him would take Kessel. Not every hockey player needs to be a leader. His goal scoring is elite, a team that already has veteran leadership in place won’t need him to play a role he’s not accustomed to. Throw a couple forwards with a good defensive game on his line and let him do his thing.
Jello how do you know he is bad for the dressing room? No such reports have come out, no teammate has spoken out about him and there is no concrete evidence to back up your claim. Is it safe to assume that you are basing your opinion on speculation?
mdz…guys polak winnick and lupul have said things didn’t say any names but you could tell it was directed at kessel and I can say the same thing how do you know he isn’t do you have proof?
Semantics
Well millions of people think god exists…….has there ever been any proof?
Oh brother. Talk about touching a war nerve. “Leafs bashing idiot??” Name something positive they’ve done in the past 9 years – from top down – that warrants other than “bashing.” If these sites keep bringing up some aspect of the Leafs at every twist and turn, then what are we supposed to do? Just ignore it and let the blue-and-white pom-pom waving sycophants come up with trade speculations as if they were doing the other 29 teams a favour by suggesting the transfer of their mistakes to them in exchange for better players? Idiot? Look in a mirror.
Its stupid to think that there aren’t some pieces here with serious value.
Any on-ice value the pieces mentioned may have is negated by the size of the cap hit and its long-term nature. That’s all IO keep pointing out. If that’s construed a “Leafs bashing” I make no apologies. I always thought the essence of democracy is that any issue is open for debate and counter-argument. Or do we all have to agree with every Leafs fan who puts forth trade proposals that we find preposterous? Disagree with me – fine – I could not possible care less. But I have a right to say what I think.
As for those objecting to my use of “big words” – again I don’t apologize for using what education I was able to acquire. Or am I expected to drop down into that group that doesn’t know the differences between “no” and “know”, “then” and “than” or “their” “there” and they’re” or who repeatedly use “should of” “could of” and “would of” instead of the proper usage?
totally agree George!! everyone has there own opinion and I have been called a leaf basher too but I don’t care what else can you do they haven’t done crap they just sit back don’t trade for draft picks pay out ridiculous contracts what do they expect? a lot of leaf fans on here I feel wear the rose colored glasses to much and don’t realize how much trouble the team is in!? regardless of if they go for a complete rebuild or one on the go its gonna take awhile the pieces they have are signed to big term big money contracts that aren’t gonna be easy to move and if they can move them it will be a bit of a dump of contract and wont get the return they think they will
George you’re just bored and trolling here right? I don’t think any knowledgable fan shares your thoughts on the Leafs and their players. So are you that blind and dumb or are you trolling?
I think I finally get it. “Trolling” – at least to a member of LeafsNation – is when someone dares to put forth an opinion on the value of a Leafs player – ANY player apparently – that does not conform to THEIR thinking. In other words, when a Leafs fan sets down a proposal involving trades from the Leafs to others, that’s not open to debate. Lyle, why not just hang up a shingle that says “Only Leafs fans are allowed to comment on any trade involving that team – and they have to be favourable.”
No George, trolling means that you post a comment which is supposed to garner a negative reaction from potential readers of your post. I believe the reason you are called a troll is that you always offer a negative opinion (about the Leafs) and really don’t make any good hockey points or talk about anything positive. most of your posts are essentially Leafs roster suck hard and their contracts suck harder.
Just defining trolling and not in anyway calling you a troll, sir.
ron quit trolling with the rose colored glasses on!! its that easy to say this board is meant for your opinion 99.9% of the stuff written on here is wrong its just an opinion
That being said, English is quite the strange language.
Its a language where lead rhymes with read and lead rhymes with read but read does not rhyme with lead and neither does read with lead.
I’m gonna learn Spanish my amigos.
lol I like mdz
I don’t make “any good points” in response to proposed Leafs trades Mdz?? Really? How is pointing out that any proposal sending Phaneuf, Clarkson, Lupul and – to a degree – Kessel to ANY team a non-starter thanks to the idiotic long-term deals? Someone would who thinks they are a contender for the cup would obviously love to have a goal scorer like Kessel in the play offs. But not at a hit of $8 mil per until 2020-21 for a guy with a history of being streaky and showing definite signs of becoming pudgy. So they make that deal, clear the space needed by relinquishing some salaries who are obviously good players and then find themselves with an out-of-shape one-way F a couple of years down the line and still with a few years to go on his monster deal. I don’t think so. As I keep pointing out, Dany Heatley scored 50, 50, 41, 39 and 39 5 years running and he’s now a 33 y/o toiling in the AHL. Don’t think that doesn’t give GMs pause for thought.
George, the issue is that you consistently bash on Leaf fan trades. Just let it be, we’ve all heard your opinion and you repeat the same stuff day in day out. Lets pull up all your posts and see how much repetition there is. Therefore you get called a troll and a doucher (LOL!) not my words but I certainly will have a hard time arguing with it
No doubt Kessel has talent but it’s a team game remember. He’s a defensive liability, a distraction, arguably poison to the team concept, no grit, streaky and lacks determination. Look at how the winners are built, no passengers, Kessel is a passenger. Good player but not worth 8 mil and possibly more of a problem than a solution.
exactly right jeff good offensively but that’s it!
P.Kane?
#George, that’s offensive. Alexander Semin is the king of floaters.
Ya hot me there. But then again, no one is suggesting that some other team take him in a lop-sided deal.
He’s a top 10 scorer in the league, it isn’t unreasonable to say that he would get a lot in a trade, or should get a lot in a trade. Personally I don’t see why you would trade the guy, but that’s my opinion. I’ve said it lots of times if they trade him and get the star centre everyone talks about then they are looking for a top 10 scoring winger. Of course people suggesting trades favour their own team, and the reaction seems to be that Toronto players are all garbage, neither side of that is realistic.
not all toronto players are garbage but in alot of the proposals on here they are offering there garbage for other teams stars…. you never see realistic offer where the leafs might have to a nylander or a rielly ,which in most cases if you listen to the expert they’ll say that most teams ask for those as starting points for deals because they know that the leafs havesome players i.e lupul clarkson phaneuf that are paid way to much and they see the leafs as a desperate team so they want to take advantage of them because that’s all they have…if those teams wanted clarkson phaneuf etc they would ve traded for them but on here leafs fans think it’s ok to offer gardiner who’s ovwerated and not that good and kadri who hasn’t done much think they can get ror or tavres etc for that! well your not… if the leafs get a 2nd or 3rd pick and a c prospect for gardiner you take it! seriously you think the avalanche will take him? no they have tyson barrie who s far superior to gardiner …but yet leafs fans thinkj this is weber or doughty and has that kind of value!
After your little rant about proper use of words and grammar , I thought I should point out to you that lopsided is one word.
There IS a vast difference between the use of proper English and typos – including sp aces where they are not intended. But have your little moment .
LOL Mongo! Have to agree with you, you can make that mistake in regular conversation but when you are preaching your excellence and mastery in language all the while being condescending to the readers; there you can’t make that mistake.
Save your “LOLS” Mdz. I know the difference between a typo and a basic glaring error in English. And as you may have noticed, I only became “condescending” when some targeted me for using “big words.” THAT makes me laugh.
Even hockey has to be politcized? Jeez. Yes, everything is a Bolshevik plot. Guess you won’t be going to see the Red Army movie.
Send Reimer to the Oilers for Scrivens and a 2nd. Reimer is a decent starter and Scrivens is a decent backup and the Leafs need a 2nd.
I think Reimer might end up in San Jose or in New Jersey.
Isn that trade like Frattin for Damigo …oh yea Nonis did that so its possible …LMAO
@Silver, what would you have coming back for Reimer from San Jose or New Jersey? Bibeau is doing great on the Marlies, but he’s not NHL-ready.
@ Dan 39
Id take a 2nd or 3rd rounder just like Dubnyk !
or a package of Reimer & Clarkson & Gardiner
for
Cammaleri & Scott Wedgewood
Lou always likes to take back players ( Clarkson )
( hence Gomez) adding Gardiner sweetens the deal and Cammaleri can help the Leafs on power play and with some leadership.and up and down the line up on top 2 lines!…….Just throwing it out there !
Lou would not be happy to take Clarkson at his salary.
I wish I could be a fly on the wall for that conversation….”Hey, how about we ship you back the guy you didn’t to outbid us on a few years back, that we overpaid for and didn’t work out for us….?”….”C’mon, I mean you took Gomez back as a free agent!” ….lol
Careful Gary and NYR4LIFE – you don’t want to be accused of “trolling.”
Exactly why you are called troll george. Comme t serves no purpose except be a doucher. Jello is another fine example adds nothing to a conversation. Just like the term rose “colored glasses” and saying Leafs suck…difference is you use bogger words lol
quit trolling shticky that comment has nothing to do with hockey! nothing you say on here shticky has any credit same as George or myself the only difference is you take it personally lol I mean to write to lyle and complain about someone?? really? I mean really? soooo funny
Once can only conclude that “practice what you preach” is a foreign concept to him.
Riemer is not a starter…….
why would the Leafs trade him, as the team falls out of the playoff picture, if he was a starter?
Because he isn’t. He is a good backup….could shoulder 30 games a year…..but is just not good enough to be a regular starter.
@ GARY
Thats why I sad New Jersey … to help Schnieder carry the load and to secure the back position in San Jose as Stalock slllooowwllyy moves into a # 1 position there only if they can move Niemi with looks as if they will.
@ Gary
Thats pretty much what he was offering him at teh time and LOU needs to fill out his roster moving into next season and Clarkson had good success there …I dont have a crystal ball but Id say if there is a cold day in Hell …The Devils will take Clarkson back in the right deal with an asset ….Lou is loyal like that to players to give them another chance and they will be moving out Jagr to do so ,
no pun intended !
Reimer is not playing well right now so that has reduced his value however, he has being doing spot duty in back-to-backs.
Year before he basically split the starts (1A/1B) and posted a 911 SV%, year before that he was the clear starter and did 924 SV%.
The average SV% in the NHL is 912…
So he has demonstrated he is a decent starter and unless you’re an idiot, that’s how you think about him.
So you say he’s a starter?
He’s a starter…how? The Leafs saw what most see, and brought in another goalie in Bernier the first chance they got.
He has struggled when given the chance to play, and he has crumbled when the pressure is on. He has gone long periods between wins since Bernier arrived, and yet the Leaf fans still insist he is a starter, and a decent one at that.He can’t even secure the Leaf job, and that team is in free fall.
I would put Reimer in the same class and ranking as Emery…..can be good, works best as a back up, and can’t seem to carry the load.
So in my opinion, only an idiot is still insisting Reimer is a starter….almost 3 years after he last failed as one.
Yeah, he’s demonstrated he can be a starter by (1) being a starter and (2) putting up the same numbers starters do in the NHL… It’s not complicated – you put up 910-920 SV% over a couple seasons and you’ve demonstrated you can be a starter. He’s having a tough year this year in a back-up role, but every player has a tough year and GM’s will bet on a bounce-back if there’s a reasonable explanation like there is with him this year.
Now, I’m not saying Reimer is great or good as a starter, he’s more just okay and you have to discount him some for the bad year this year, but you don’t trade him for backup-value in you’re the Leafs.
@Dan39:
You said, quote
“Send Reimer to the Oilers for Scrivens and a 2nd. Reimer is a decent starter”
Now you say,quote
“Now, I’m not saying Reimer is great or good as a starter, he’s more just okay”
Being a starter is so much more than just sp%
The Leafs weren’t comfortable with him, and went and traded away guys/ picks for a different guy to try as starter…not a ringing endorsement for Reimer.
You say other gms know that guys can have a down year…so then, one would assume, that they also can see that the guy lost the starting role, and in 2 years, has not been able to win it back. Also, they would be able to see that Reimer has struggled since Bernier’s arrival…he went what..3 months last season without a win?
why would the oilers want reimer? when they could go out and get martin jones or dstin tokarski who are better goalies and better options for them!
I hate to say this as Lupul is not superstar status ….BUT ….
The Leafs miss his speed and tenacity and play making on the top 2 lines …there is a noticeable difference when Lupul is missing from the line up …they suffer in the corners and the play making into the slot ….he does produce when he is healthy and gives some energy at the right times. He will be a good pick up for a team rounding out the top 2 lines with scoring and play making depth.
its too bad really.
Once again on the leafs main trade rumors …pulling another Star Wars 5th amendment ….” move along nothing to see here ” Obi one Kanobi
JETS
I think a team to be talking about is the Jets …they have really bought in with Paul Maurice and BUFF has lost weight and is a beast right now !
They have a plethra of decent quality D men to trade including Enstrom who is the smallest and most offensive of the back end.
IMO he would be there best trade bait to a team looking to get better at creating points on the back end like a Tory Krug type player ….would Detroit …OILERS ( Pouliot ) … L A or Ducks be interested in an Enstrom …
would a Matt Belesky (healthy scratch leading scorer on Ducks ) be a good trade to the jets for Enstrom ???
silver the jets are looking good indeed! I like that trade offer of belesky for enstrom I would think Anaheim might have to throw in a pick 2nd or 3rd but that trade would work both ways!
1. Besides resenting George calling anyone a “leftist” as a negative, I am curious why time on the posts start with a 1:31 p.m. and span to 2:11 p.m.
2. I am starting to think most writers really no little about player abilities, the Cap and only are throwing darts to fill space in columns and tweets…
You wonder about the times to?
I did not get the “leftist” comment. I just glazed over it not wanting to figure it out.
Oh an yeah the writers are generating the rumours. They are not writing of rumours. They go about the league asking people who may no something what is happening. Person A says that they know for a fact Team A has contacted Team B about Player so and so. Then the speculation and rumours take wing. It is not rocket science all. It is rumour mongering and no secrete. I see little sense in logging onto a sight that reports on said rumours only to complain of said rumours. If that bothers you simply don’t log on if you don’t like stories of this nature. Myself knowing that 99% of these rumours are likely never actually going to occur still enjoy the debate of the “what if?
Oh and sorry Bill I am not really ranting at you. I am just kinda ranting to open internet space and to anyone willing to read this. 😛
I don’t like it when Jeff makes sense. It’s been hoping more and more lately.
What is this world coming to?
Like most of us who make use of this site, I enjoy the rumors and speculation, and the subsequent conversation and discussion of such. However, unless the source is McKenzie or LeBrun, I don’t really put alot of credence into these rumors. Most of us appear to be well in tune with what’s being generated in the rumor mills, and could could no doubt provide potential trade scenarios just as plausible as some of these “insiders”, who, IMO are just glorified GM wannabees.
Even though the Pens just acquired Perron, it looks as though he will stay on Crosby’s line.They need another top six for Malkin and I think Lupul could fill that at the most reasonable price.
I have to agree that Lupul could be an affordable option for the Pens at the TDL.
I think most teams are actually very very interested in Kessel and Phaneuf. While I am not a Leaf fan at all, those two players are, in fact top tier guys and while I hate to say it, Kessel is an elite forward.
@SJ, what would the Pens give up for Lupul? Their 2nd? That wouldn’t be enough for the Leafs, because even at 65 games/year Lupul is still 50 pts or so as 2nd line winger and he has character. So, I’m not sure he would be so cheap.
@ Dan 39
Id ask for Bortuzzo straight up
First, do the Pens have enough cap space to absorb Lupul’s salary?
I don’t think they trade for another top 6 guy. When Hornqvist returns they’ll be fine.
Crosby, Malkin, Hornqvist, Kunitz, Perron and Bennet looks good on paper.
Maybe they try to aquire a veteran D-man (Maata is out for the season and the other young guns aren’t ready yet imo) or a guy for the bottom 6 with grit and a little bit scoring?
Lupul, when healthy and playing his game is a good player, who helps any team he plays on. The problem is, he is hurt all the time.
I can’t see any team trading for Lupul…at least not until the summer. His salary is just too high for the amount of games he misses.
I could see the Pens going after Doan or Williams before they would look at Lupul.
I agree with you about the Lupul trade Gary. The only question mark is; will Doan/Williams be available?
LA would want to hold onto Williams for the cup run even if it means losing him for nothing. They can’t go into the playoffs missing the mvp from last year. Doan is master of his own domain and might not waive his NTC.
While there might be options other than Lupul, Williams and Doan are probably not it.
Lupul is a pretty good player and we can see the impact his injury has had on the Leafs results. At 5.25 mil a year he is pretty risky. Any actuaries in the house that can break down the risk/reward for us?
Those 2 might not be available, but they make the same or less than Doan, and bring more to the table as they have fewer games lost due to injury.
They were just an example of 2 players off the top of my head that I could see that would be of more interest to other teams at the same type of salary than Lupul.
I think Doan moves on..they look to be gearing up for a full rebuild, and does he really want to stay for for the beginning of it.
I can see Doan being moved, and Yandle…and yes, Doan does control his own destiny, but he might jump at the chance to win it all.
The same or less salary than Lupul*
What do you think the chances are of Lombardi dealing WIlliams to a team he could very well end up meeting in a Stanley cup final are?
The last few years defense and goal tending has absolutely killed the penguins in the playoffs…..so yeah, I think Lupul is exactly what they need?
Seriously, what goalie hasnt struggled in Edmonton?! The D is terrible and they cant score goals in bunches for their life. Scrivens and Fasth arent bad goalies, but they arent elite. the teams they came from had very good D in front of them, that is why they were “Solid”. (Of course when scrivens was in LA)
Good point! Further to that, you could probably throw the nice bounce-back season Dubnyk’s enjoying out there to further support that view.
I too think Lupul is an excellent player. When Healthy? That is going to factor into the return the leafs will receive
Lupul has moved around alot, traded several times Edmonton, Philly, Anaheim and Tronna. That’s alotta moves for a skilled player, so I really don’t see how he can valued too high. Plenty of injuries and he’s 31 – chances are he’s not going to get healther as he gets old.
I am not dissing the guy, just stating the facts. $5.25M is alot for a guy that cannot stay on the ice.
Punch Imlach?
sorry, that was supposed to be up where shticky asked for who was before Wilson. still figuring out my computer-machine.
Here’s a thought for the Leafs – play out the season. Play it out and see which players are willing to suck it up and play hard (and smart) even if a playoff spot is out of reach. Bring Marlies players up and find out how they look with the big club. Make decisions after the season and act on them then. I’m sure that Dave Nonis will be replaced by one of Shanahan’s guys so why tie his hands at the outset?
And, if things look really bad, think of this apparently deep draft and pull for the Jets to go deep in the playoffs.
Life goes on.
@ BC Leaf fan
Please take this with a grain of salt!
BUT
Thats what they have been doing and saying for the past 4 years…with the same results each and every year at this time…
its called insanity.
In the same breath …Iam not sure how this gets overshadowed by some …Brian Burke brought Nonis in with him on the same day in 2008 …thats 7 and half years ago ….and when Burke was here he stated that Nonis di most of the leg work when dealing with trades and signings and input on the direction of the team ….
SO IN SAYING THAT almost 8 Years later ….this mess is a NONIS MESS just the same and wnat him to have NOTHING to do with anything in regards to trades and signings and draft picks right now !
so true silver its like the leafs and oilers teams are stuck on repeat! oilers keep getting high draft picks cant find the right chemistry no playoffs! the leafs getting 7-10 draft picks too many bad contracts no playoffs!
Tough times in Leafs land but as I posted a few days ago; the Leafs have a horrendous draft history in the last decade and a half. You can make the changes to the front office by firing Nonis but in reality he needs to be accompanied out the door with a few scouts as well
very true mdz the scouting would be the first thing I look at if they are thinking about any kind of a rebuild
Having been around for the last Leaf Stanley Cup – the year of birth for our son, whose birthday is a constant reminder of Leaf ineptitude, I guess I’m just tired of the annual merry-go-round.
I really would like to see this group just play together without the revolving door. Bringing back Randy Carlyle was a good example – if you bring the guy back and extend his contract, live with it for a season, then do what should have been done last summer. I don’t see Dave Nonis as Shanahan’s GM – never did actually – and I don’t see him being allowed to make significant moves at the trade deadline. I see him moving on after the season.
Then we’ll see what Shanahan’s strategy is with his people in place.
Not too long before spring training – hope springs eternal.
I follow the Stars and scoring depth and for that matter scoring goals isn’t the issue, it’s the defense. If anything the Stars were interested in veteran Phaneuf this Summer. It’s a possibility Jim Nill would maybe make a deal for him, not Lupul. Also Reimer would be another possibility, Stars have a need for decent backup to push Lehtonen and give him rest. Maybe a Daley for Phaneuf type of deal, they have some wiggle room with payroll.
As a Bolts’ fan, I can see Yzerman needing to make a move at the deadline for a back-up to Ben Bishop.
Currently, Nabokov’s looking like Anders Lindback did, last season – One may lay some blame at the feet of Tampa’s defense (their unwillingness to gap-up, play the man, stop playing hot-potato with the puck in the slot while looking to find the high forward to send the puck up-ice, etc) and the scoring-chances they cough-up with their dingle-dangle twinkle-toes style of play, but the man honestly looks like his career is at an end.
If the Lightning hope to secure some measure of sanity/confidence in their post-season push, Stevie Y needs a sound number-two. And someone such as Reimer may well prove a fit when considering his serviceable record behind Toronto’s (considerably more mistake-prone) defensive corps.
@ Sonny Chiba
Whats wrong with the 3rd goalie Vasilesvkiy..hes promising no??
Don’t think Yzerman and BriseBois want to rush him into the fray, just yet. This is the kid’s first year on the smaller ice-surface, and despite his sparkling international play and great promise as a franchise goalie, they’re trying to shelter him (and Kristers Gudlevskis) for at least a season or two in the AHL.
They’ll bring either of them up for a game or two, to give them a taste (when convenient or necessary) but, I don’t think they want to go into the playoffs’ pressure-cooker relying too heavily on either of those kids, if Bishop gets dinged.
Yzerman’s really big on the Detroit model, and allowing players to “season” properly, in the minors.
(Might even see Drouin head down next year, when he’s AHL eligible – He’s been a work in progress, and there are nights when it seems the game may still be a bit too fast for him.)
Do any of you people have jobs? Lol it is always the same people commenting, it’s like I picture you guys sitting in your parents basement waiting for today’s headlines. All this material is wishful thinking, makes for good talk but seriously, you kids chill out with attacking one another.
Since BALLARD ler Sittler go i’ve despised the Leafs but never their fans. Bungling ownership since n historic UFA patches til now. In this cap era the Leafs cannot get it right. Always trying to appease the fans n not suck it up n do whats needed has been the heart of it all. False hope n mediocre teams n make money hand over fist. Well the crap is hitting the fan finally. Leafs Nation demands a real shake up even a blow up. IMO Kessel Phaneuf Reimer JVR Reilly Komarov r worthy pieces to keep n build around. The rest r expendable for trades. The keepables r tradeable for the right price only n for the right pieces n the new vision.
It is time to end the Nonis insanity. Fire him today Shanny!
@Martin
I hearya about Nonis but he inherited a mess from other GM’s eg Burkey n his bision of trucukence etc when its a skating n D corp depth era.
Any new GM would also need to dig out from under n its notcwasy n will prolly be painful. Cap era means nath sats more than who or what can be done. ALL GM’s face that. That explains why a Kesler Seguin Spezza etc get not as much as they would’ve got years ago. Its tge reality of the cap era n will always be so.
Ask LA about Richards n Philly about Vinny n TO about Clarkson n Florida about Campbell etc.
I like Phaneuf if surrounded with more help n at 6m/yr.
Franson at 5m/5 yrs is fine.
Need a 2 way C like ROR.
Bernier is young n Reimer is solid n they both suffee from constant poor team defence so they are maligned easily.
IMO any big trades or blow up then the Leafs need 25min D man to shut down Ops. STOP UGA signings n start filling the vupboard n take their lumps if necessary. Shanny i believe will be tough n do whats needed not what others want.
Right now he is auditioning players to see what they will do defensively. The entire team is under scrutiny. I expect a huge facelift is coming very soon. As fans expect patience n give it 2-3yrs to see it come to fruition. The Leafs might be in turmoil but only a few key moves away to get going in a real state of improvement. Players like Gardiner Lupul gotta go.
The Oilers should dust off Tommy Salo and bring back Smyth, Comrie, Carter, Brewer & Ninimaa :v Can’t do any worse 😉
What about trading Bernier to Edmonton along with Phanuef and Gardiner for Eberle, Petry, Pittsburgh’s 2015 1st and Edmonton’s 2nd rounder in 2015. If you are going to start a rebuild, then Bernier is going to want to walk. Reimer can carry the load for 3 years while the Leafs focus on retooling the lineup in a different direction.
Lupul when he is hot is an outstanding hockey player. Yes he is frequently injured, but on a good team looking for a playoff boost Lupul is a second line player that on occasion plays like a top 3 player. If a team with cap space can pick him up for basically nothing, then why not? I’m sure someone will say $5.25 reasons, but, if Lupul adds enough offense that a club gets just one more playoff game, then Lupul’s contract is already paid for.
As a 45 year Bruins fan I have to say I really enjoy watching the Leafs struggle.
I do live in Edmonton and root for the Oil when they are not playing the B’s so I do feel the pain of the fans on this site. Shanny is watching closely and he is a smart hockey man who understands what it takes to win and what a winning locker room/culture looks like. Methinks he doesn’t like what he sees. The Leafs have individual talent but they don’t play the game the right way to win. Anybody is tradable it just depends on what you are willing to take back.
A rebuild is coming and it is always slow. 5 years minimum. Or if you are the Oil, longer.
There is also no guarantee it will work, and it takes some luck that when you suck the draft class is strong… Yakupov. We understand that all to well in Edmonton.
Big night for Kessel minus 3.
Must have been hanging for the breakaway pass.
Reminds me of Ovie minus the toughness.
Kessel is a goal scorer with speed but that’s all he brings.
I Don’t think too many gms would trade very much for him and his contract.
I Would hate if my team gave up assets and took on that cap hit.
A lot of GM’s would give up a lot for an 80 point guy. Hell I remember the Leafs giving up Seguin and Hamilton for Kessel. He will bring in a good score easily. Of course no one really wants a $10 million contract on their books but that’s what you pay for star players these days.
They traded two firsts and a second.
They had no idea the picks would be that high.
I don’t think they would trade Seguin and Hamilton for Kessel.
Minus 55 for his career. That means when he’s on the ice the other team scores more then he does. That’s not very enticing to most gms that have any brains. They should trade him back to Burke he likes that kind of player.
Leafs would be happy with Seguin n Hsmllton now. A #1 C with 28 goals n a top 2-3 D man for a scoring winger.
Turn back the clock n today looks better.
I can definitely see the Leafs trading Franson + Kadri/Bozak for O’Rielly.
I don’t see any interest in Phaneuf unless the Leafs are gonna take salary in return and giving up a good prospect.
The Leafs shouldn’t do anything with Kessel. Guys a star player.
Only way the Stars take on Lupul is if the Leafs take on Hemsky.
The Leafs almost have the formula right. They have good goalie 1-2 combo. Offense is good their defense sucks though. They need a new coach that knows what he is doing on both ends of the ice. What do you Leafs fans think of Daley from the Stars? Maybe Lupul and a good prospect for Daley and Hemsky?
JMO Kessel’s contract is going to be brutal in a couple of yrs when the guy is way out of shape….Wait for it.Again JMO
Hi, Lupul isn’t the problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phaneuf needs to bring the physical element every night! Good for him against the Hurricanes, Staal is no fighter, but good for Phaneuf! Kessel has been reading our posts??? He actually looks like he gives a hoot! The wins will come with the right attitude!!!!!