The latest on Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf, Loui Eriksson, Jaromir Jagr, Patrik Elias, Cam Ward and more in your NHL rumor mill.
Is there a trade market for Phil Kessel & Dion Phaneuf?
NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: TSN’s Bob McKenzie claims there’s speculation Boston Bruins winger Loui Eriksson could be on the move and the Vancouver Canucks could have interest in him. He also speculates the Montreal Canadiens could have interest in New Jersey Devils winger Jaromir Jagr as a playoff rental if the asking price isn’t expensive…Pierre LeBrun claims a number of GMs he’s spoken with believe there’s a market for high-priced Toronto Maple Leafs Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf…Darren Dreger believes the Winnipeg Jets could use their depth on defense (once their injured blueliners return to action) to add a scoring forward…Canucks GM Jim Benning said he’s not trading his first-round pick in this year’s draft.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Acquiring Eriksson would be an odd move for the Canucks, taking on another aging player with tenure on his contract…A number of teams will have interest in Jagr as a playoff rental if the Devils decide to put him on the trade block…Of course there’s a market for Kessel and Phaneuf, but it won’t open up until the off-season when the salary cap figures for next season are established.
SI.COM: Allan Muir believes the Maple Leafs next move is to shop Phil Kessel. He also believes Dion Phaneuf and Joffrey Lupul could be moved.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Leafs decide to move Kessel and/or Phaneuf, the earliest that will happen is the off-season when teams have more cap space and willingness to spend. Lupul’s injury history and $5.25 million per season contract could prove difficult to move.
STARTRIBUNE.COM: Michael Russo reports bad goaltending has Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher exploring the trade market. Russo lists “Carolina’s Cam Ward, the 2006 Conn Smythe Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champ, San Jose’s Antti Niemi, Buffalo’s Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth, Edmonton’s Viktor Fasth and St. Louis’ Martin Brodeur” as trade possibilities, and notes the Hurricanes could be willing to dump Ward for a limited return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild have some options, but the difficulty is finding the right fit between the pipes and on their payroll. They don’t have much cap space. Ward is the most expensive of their options, as his cap hit is $6.3 million per season through 2015-16.
NJ.COM: Rich Chere reports long-time New Jersey Devils star Patrik Elias hopes he won’t be asked to waive his no-trade clause. “I would not want to be traded. For me it’s different. I’ve been here my whole life,” Elias explained. “I kind of thought about it when Mats Sundin was in that situation. But he was in the last year of his contract. If that was the case with me and it was my last chance to go for a Cup it would be tempting. On the other hand, it’s tempting just to finish my whole career with one team.”
USA TODAY: Johnny Boychuk, Marc Staal, Christian Ehrhoff, Carl Soderberg and Mike Green tops Kevin Allen’s list of this season’s top-25 unrestricted free agents.
NEWSDAY: Arthur Staple reports pending UFA winger Mats Zuccarello would like a long-term contract extension with the New York Rangers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’ll depend on how much he’s seeking for salary and how much cap space the Rangers have left after re-signing Marc Staal, Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples believes the Oilers should try one more time to re-sign pending UFA defenseman Jeff Petry.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think that ship has sailed. Petry has a great chance this summer to sign with a much better team where he’ll have a chance to win.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: Joe Smith reports Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman currently isn’t looking at replacing sidelined defenseman Radko Gudas via trade. “(C)urrently that type of opportunity isn’t out there at this time,” said Yzerman.
I truly hope Jim Rutherford decided to bring Jagr home. He could be the top six winger they seek and might look good next to Malkin.
Perhaps, but given the last snub Jagr did where he talked the talk about giving back to Mario and the community/fanbase before signing with the Flyers, I think many fans, including myself would rather Rutherford avoided it. With me, he’s run out of chances.
From a hockey sense, it makes sense for the PP and for the possession game they play, but given the speed of the team, I don’t know if he would be the best option available anyway (notwithstanding Perron is the perfect fit, those injured come back and the asking price is respectable).
I get the sour grapes, i thought it sucked too but if je came back and it worked, everyone would forget.
if it didn’t work it, everyone would remember harder.
Not sure why you would be upset with Jagr. According to those in Pitts he was supposed to just come back and take whatever the Pens were offering him. They offered 2.5 Mill. He took another offer. Not sure why he owes anything to Pitts. If anything, its the other way around. Next time you are at a game, look up. Remind yourself two of those cups do not happen without him.
You obviously don’t know thw whole jagr / penguins story. He had a chance to comeback to where he was famous and right all the bad crap he said when he left Pittsburgh. He talked about giving back to Mario and the fans of pittsburgh only to sign with all teams the Flyers. (for what a measly extra million) He has made so much money in his career and had the dream chance of coming home and well… No one will ever remember Jagr as a Capital,Flyer, Bruin or Devil. he owes Pittsburgh nothing and if the Penguins were smart hey would avoid the titanic cancer that is Jaromir Jagr. I wanted Jage to come home until he screwed the Penguins three years ago for the Flyers.
Ditto. I was willing to forgive and move on after his comments about giving back and helping Mario out and all that. Thought $2.5 million was not only fair, but a true olive branch from Jags. Then he signed with the Flyers. Had it been LA or the Wild or anyone other than a hated rival, maybe I would be a bit more forgiving today, but the Flyers? Nope I am done with him as a fan.
He doesn’t owe any fan or the team anything, just like I don’t owe him my appreciation or support any more either.
would love to see that
Nah…couldnt be…..there is no market for 70-80 point players, out there unless the Leafs were willing to eat 4 mill a year off Kessels contract and take a third round pick in return he doesnt back check like Kane and Gaborik.
haha…
some of these guys that call that these contracts immovable just kill me…we are 4 months removed from Matt Niskanen getting 6 mill a year. Look no further than Rick Nash, not this years Rick Nash but the Rick Nash who for the last 5 years has been half of the player Kessel is..he was tied up long term at 7.6 million when the actually cap was lower..he was moved in season! Further to your point…why would any team want Phil Kessel for the stretch run?
All that said I wouldn’t deal- would go all in to try and get a defensive conscience like O-Reilly –
Nash half the player as Kessel? The last 5 full seasons (Not counting this year at all) Nash has 303 points to Kessels 333. Lets not go getting crazy. Nash and Kessel are VERY different players. But HALF? LOL I was not a fan of either trade. Imo both times the Rangers gave up WAY too much. But the Callahan, St. Louis trade was a near wash as far as $$$’s are concerned. Especially considering what Callahan wanted in terms and $’s from NY, and ultimately got from Tampa.
haha, yes half was an exaggeration…point I was making was that Kessel was a better player at the time.
That was my point there is always a market even for big contracts
Its a very limited market if there is one at all. 8m contract in mid season is a rare trade in this cap era n highly unlikely.
Off season will fetch much more interest after teams see they lack goals. Phil needs the right fit n less lime light. Maybe a team like Florida cuz cap room n stocked with good prospects is doable.
Just a thought ???
Would the Coyotes be interested in Kessel for Yandle and Domi ??
They need a goal scorer who can play in the abyss market in a silent fashion!
Just a thought …as Domi would be a fan favorite in T.O. and Yandle is not going to be signed long term anyways and the Yotes need a scoring winger !
Max Domi? Not a top prospect, with all due respect to him he will be a 3rd line player good energy.. – many kids have good tournaments as 19 year olds…nor do I think Pheonix would have ability to swallow an 8 million player
The ‘Yotes could take on Kessel’s contract, as Yandle is due a HUGE raise and already makes $5.25m. Taking on $2.75m for a front line winger should be easy enough considering their back end would still spotlight Ekman-Larsson.
Obviously somebody didn’t watch the world juniors.
Not Leaf bashing.
I don’t think the Coyotes would make that deal, as I don’t know if Kessel is the style of player that works with their system.
Also…I believe Domi will be more than a third liner, and will be a player we are talking about for a while. I think the package is a little too much for the Coyotes.
Yandle by himself should be able to fetch a player and pick/ prospect…so I wouldn’t expect him to be packaged with a hyped prospect for a highly priced player. The coyotes just don’t do things that way.
I can see Kessel getting traded….he will bring the Leafs a nice package back…I’d expect a decent player and a high pick/ prospect. But Kessel to me has to fit on the team he will be playing on, and that will limit the options to a few teams.
Gary, you obviously don’t know how the newest packaging in today’s NHL brings. It focuses on what a player makes, and how that works out for the other team having to give up draft picks. For Kessel, a team would have to give up 2 first round draft picks, 1 second round pick and 1 third round pick. Or equivalent.
I don’t believe many players net 2 firsts, a second and a third.
I said Kessel is worth a decent roster player and prospect/ pick. That is what most star players go for.
I am not undervaluing Kessel, and my post was more to the fact that I don’t think Kessel is on the Coyotes horizons.
I don’t think from Arizona’s side they would want to trade Yandle and Domi for Kessel.
I could see Kessel going to the Islanders. They need a top line winger for Tavares, have the space, the assets for it.
Your response sounds more like the compensation you would get for signing an RFA.
I just don’t see any team giving up 2 firsts plus more for Kessel.
I cant see anysense in Kessel to Arizona either and honestly doubt whatever type of ntc he has he would waive to go there amd I am pretty sure it wouldnt be in his top 10 prefered destinations…say what you want about him I do believe any pro athlete wants to win, rather than go thru back to back rebuilds…
Not saying that the Coyotes would want Kessel but as long as there was a guy to play XBox with Kessel would go to the desert regardless of the chances of winning a cup.
I have suggested this before, (and recently,) but I’ll say it again. Kessel to the Penguins for Kunitz, Martin, and two of Kapanen, Harrington, or our 2016 1st. Toronto gets two guys to help them this year, (they are also great locker room guys,) and two quality young assets moving forward. Plus, this deal would be pretty close to cap neutral,(Pens 8.75M – Leafs 8M).
Funny you mention that. I won’t comment on the deal proposed here, but I do think the fanbase would like to see Max play for the Leafs. If I was Nonis, I definitely would be asking the Yotes about him.
As for Max – 3rd liner maybe. Top six? Definitely has the potential. As a 19 year old, he definitely has the good hands and sense to get there, just with any prospect, it’s hard to know if they can make the jump to that level or not.
The fan base was thrilled to see Clarkson too, now they’ve turned on him.
True, but he didn’t start well with the injuries and finding his game in Toronto and is going to have to keep working to win people back. The fanbase as I see it is starving for the post season, winning and success and in his case probably has been a bit too harsh on him.
Domi is not going anywhere, he will be part of the Yotes’ rebuild. I believe Yandle has a chance of ending up in Tronna at some point, but Domi won’t be part of the deal. It’s a g good thought, I just do not see it happening.
If Toronto offered Kessel for Domi and Yandle, Phoenix would be faxing the trade papers so fast before Nonis would wake up out of his nightmare.
I get Kessel is a bad personality fit in Toronto. He can play and he will be a player for the next 3 to 5 years.
if you think Phaneuf gets a hard time in Toronto, a guy who is the same type of player in Yandle will get the same treatment.
I like Domi but does he project to be a top 10 scorer in the league?
I think i will stop reading the trade proposals for the rest of the day.
happy Thursday
some thoughts are best kept internal. um, no the yotes do not trade both or either for kessel.
nothing against kessel, but there is no fit there.
I’d say the Leafs would jump on that deal. Better if it happened now n Yandle was extended. Phoenix might want the pot sweetened up a bit though.
Of coarse there is a market for Kessel. Of coarse it will be much larger come the off season where a trade to division rivals are more likely to happen which would only allow more teams in to the bidding war add on top of that the fact a team can bring Kessel in and sit above the cap and have the rest of the summer to make deals to come below the cap. If done now they can’t accept a move that will move them above the cap.
Kessel’s worth to me is similar to how I feel Hall is worth. I would be disappointed in the Leafs if they move him for much less.
He is a top end player on a struggling team which is not nearly as bad as the poisonous media makes it out to be. I do not think the Leafs need to go a full rebuild. Kessel is still young. Draft and bring in youth and move out some of the vets and take the time to do this team right with no quick fixes. If they rebuild they can take just as much or more time.
It would be fun though to see. Kessel and Kadri go to edmonton for Edmonton’s First, Eberle and I think something else needs to be added but not sure what lol. This might not be balanced I can understand the argument from both sides. I am assuming the 1rst would be MacDavid. In my mind MacDavid and Kessel balance out and Kadri and Eberle balance out due to the needs of both teams, but perhaps Toronto picking up Young Macdavid will need another prospect. Then again if Toronto loses the Lotto and doesn’t get Macdavid……yeah perhaps this is a dumb thought but it is fun to think along the line of a Toronto and Edmonton trade.
Do me a favour and bash the trade proposal and refrain from asking what drugs I am on. I’m kinda just thinking aloud in type here. Not seriously making final offer. I need your help. haha.
As an Oiler fan, I would be completely disgusted if they brought either on of those players in. Neither one fills a need for Edmonton. Kessel is a dressing room cancer, what team needs a guy that doesn’t even work out or try to improve himself in the off season. That’s just a great example for the rest of the room. And we don’t need another small winger here in the west. And Kadri is not a big second line centre that go against the other big centres in the west. He is not the centre needed in Edmonton. Stop trying to dump your garbage in Edmonton for big returns. I am not against Edmonton trading away their first round draft pick in a deal that brings in a legitimate big 2nd line centre, or a top pairing D man. Two of their biggest needs, but not a cancerous winger that kills coaches or another average size centre that can’t impose his will in board battles or in front of the net.
I can understand your response. Although Your a bit harsh on Kessel I think. MacDavid hasn’t proven anything in the NHL he could very well be a Daigle and that is where my thoughts along that line are. Kessel is an gauranteed NHL Talent. MacDavid is not although you can gamble on him if you think that much of him. The oilers thought highly of RNH and Yakupov.
If the Oilers can get 2 top 4 D men n better team D outta the forwards n they will be drastically improved. Boychuck would be great but he won’t sign unless he sees other pieces in place 1st. Thats a big if too. Oilers need to move a Yak &/or Eberle 1st n get a D man 1st IMO. Need Petry to have a reason to resign as well
McDavid balances out Kessel??? Kessel is no where near a generational player. Ludicrous!
Thank you for your insight from inside the Leafs dressing room. You are right to refer to those 2 players as garbage, anyone can be top 10 in scoring every year. They really are nothing compared to the wealth of quality top-shelf players there in Edmonton…
His CHL point production can’t be ignored especially at 17. He’s beating Crosby’s number in his draft year. I would never trade for Kessel. He said it himself at training camp he does nothing all summer. He is a cancer. Kessels value is no where near the 1st overall pick this year. And for the record, I am not hoping the Oilers get McDavid. There is just no way Kessel as a veteran has more value then McDavid as a prospect. This is a generational player of that there is no debate.
I have no problem with RNH and his development. Not saying I agree with him being rushed into the line up. He is trending up, and if he puts on another 10lbs again this off season, he will be getting closer to where he needs to be physically. Which he could have done in juniors.
And as far as Yakapov goes. I would be very wary about trading him away. I think he is going to be a top six player. Has just had a bad developmental path. Everyone forgets his first season with 17 goals under Kruegger. There is a player there yet.
I did not question his points totals. You can put up points and still be a cancer.
In an interview at training camp, Kessel was asked what he did for training in the summer. His answer was fishing, he doesn’t work out in the summer. Now his coach ability is called into question. And although Wilson did name any names, he did make statements that would indicate there is a problem amongst the players. His attitude and approach to the game is garbage compared to someone like Stamkos who works hard in the off season to get into better shape and work on skills. Hockey is more then just showing up to the game and playing. If they are both so great. How come Toronto fans want to trade them both.
Value aside. Even though Toronto wants Connor McDavid, It doesn’t mean any team with that draft picks is going to take what Toronto wants to get rid of, if it does not fill their positional needs. Neither player fills any of Edmontons needs.
Top 10 in scoring hardly makes a player valuable if success is not there. Teams want to win n make the playoffs not brag about player stats.
I guess if you look at it from this point view.
McDavid is still an unknown. Yes he is likely to be a solid player but many 1rst rounders don’t pan out.
Kessel has stat history speaks for it self.
Edmonton needs Centres. They get one with Kadri. Although I understand you arguemen of him being small. They get better offense than Eberle with Kessel.
Toronto gets a young star to build around, and a replacement if not as productive point was as Kessel a viable alternative.
Oh an yes you can tweak it rather than uttterly dismiss it.
You are ignoring just who exactly Connor McDavid is in you evaluation. He is one of three players to be granted special status to play in the CHL at 15. Crosby and Ekblad being the other two. His PPG in the CHL is higher then Crosby’s totals. This is a special player. Not just a 1st overall pick. But a once in a generation player going 1st over all.
So you are saying that 27 year old first line winger, who does not actively try to better himself, and is hard to coach. Is worth a once in a generation center who has put more points per game up then Crosby did when he was in the CHL??? I don’t think so.
As fas Kadri goes you keep missing the point that Kadri is a square peg in a round hole in Edmonton. If a 6ft soft centre was what the Oilers needed. Gagne would still be an Oiler.
You also pass over the fact, we don’t need any more wingers at the moment. We need centres.
Neither player is of any use to the Oilers.
Oh yeah I understand that. I was just giving you my reasoning and the Oilers are likely better off keeping the pick and hoping to land McDavid. They have a 20% chance of winning it if they come in last. Or is it 25%.
My point still remains their McDavid is unproven although I agree he will likely be a great player you take your gamble and that perhaps the lottery is lost and you don’t get him and it is Eichel. But I suppose Eichel is just as highly touted. So yes I can see your arguement I just don’t think my suggestion is ludicrous. I may be wrong but I’m not losing my mind in my proposed offer.
There is no tweaking this deal. The only player of any possible interest to the Oilers in Toronto, would be Phaneuf. Toronto would have to eat some salary to move him IMO. And even with that, I am not convinced he would be the best defence man to go after if the Oilers were going to part with a large asset like this years first overall pick. If it ended up being there’s to trade.
Ok Justanotheroilerfan.
I guess on that note that ends this silly thought of mine.
haha. You guys are right of course.
I believe Kadri gets not enough credit n with the right type of wingers he is a #2 centre easily. GM’s job is putting together players that compliment each other n let the coach make it work. I could see Kadri fitting in nicely in SJ
In your mind Kessel and Macdavid balance out, wow, a once in a generation, franchise fortunes altering player, albeit one that’s never played I’m the NHL balances with a moody, selfish, one dimensional player with maybe 2-3 good years left??? I love Leafs fans. Keep mortgaging your house to afford tickets to one game if that never ending sh!t show. It shows exactly where your heads are.
I’m a Sens fan Deeeeee. But I understand your counter argument. Why do you insist on insulting the poster and Leaf fans too. It is no secrete I am a die hard Sens fan. Just talk of the proposed trade. You are free to adjust it as you see fit. Leave comments about leaf fans out of this unless a leaf fan actually makes this proposal.
But I was actually hoping you’d all put in your sense and we could work out a trade that both sides could live with but instead you all grasp on to one aspect of the trade and trash that.
But yes I can see where I went wrong. Hopefully that first round pick actually becomes McDavid.
No market for Phaneuf!! Guy is an average defenseman making a superstar defenseman’s salary so put two in two together. Nonis made a huge mistake with that contract and Clarkson. The two teams you could possibly take advantage of while Dangling Phaneuf is Edmonton and maybe Carolina. But once they get him they’ll be sorry they ever did. Also Yandle and Myers being available I’m sure teams look towards them before Phaneuf.
There’s always a market for a star player like Kessel!! Any team would be lucky to have him. This coming from a Sabres fan. The guy is a beauty. Can’t believe how the reporters are treating him in TO.
Johnny Boychuk, Marc Staal, Christian Ehrhoff, Carl Soderberg and Mike Green tops Kevin Allen’s list of this season’s top-25 unrestricted free agents.
Man, did Bobby Ryan get some bad advice …
Boychuk, soderberg and still will be resigned. So that leaves Erhoff and maybe green as the top UFAs lol. It’s not the way to sign players anymore, I hope teams finally realize this and stop getting fleeced by these slick talking agents. What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall when they are negotiating guys like Clarksons deal.
AGENT: he scored 30 goals one year and is such a “physical” player and he’s a local boy. 5.5 mil, that’s what we want!
NONIS: uuuuuhhhh where do I sign?
As far as the leafs and Phil are concerned. I would like to see him traded. I don’t hate him and know he’s a deadly talent in the offensive zone. I’m merely suggesting that we look at a nice young centre from a playoff bubble team. A johansson, a granlund, a duchene. I’m not saying a straight up swap because I’ll get ripped for saying that, but maybe a deal could be worked out with those guys being the centre pieces.
Phil needs a change of scenery unfortunately. Hope he has better luck somewhere else.
I guarantee Boychuk will not resign with the Isles.
Oh well if Bruinnyand the jets guarantees it, then it MUST be true! 🙁
Why Would Boychuk NOT sign with the Islanders? He is getting more ice time than he did in Boston and the islanders have the cap space to sign him to a raise and the Isles are a better and younger team than the Bruins! Him being dealt to NYI could NOT have worked out better for him!
Really…….pretty positive are you.
What does a player want. A chance at the cup, Stability for their family. Appreciation from their employer and fan base. The chance to be a key factor on a team (lots of ice time a guess to, goes along with some of this)
Can you explain your guarantee. I am thinking your going with a gut feeling, but I am curious if past history or events are leading you to this confident conclusion.
My comment wasn’t because I think the isles are going nowhere and have no talent, I actually think the opposite, and that is not why I believe he won’t resign. “If” he does resign with the Islanders I will make sure that I will come on here and apologize and deal with the ridicule.
Oh bruinnyandthejets.
I don’t trash posters like most here until it comes to defending the trash sent to me and others.
You may be right. I say this over and over. None of us has the right answer, we are taking the information we have at hand our thoughts and experiences and coming to our own conclusions.
I was just curious as to why you added the gaurantee that Boychuk won’t sign with the Isle. Perhaps there was some rumour floating about where he wants to go somewhere esle.
Myself I think he will sign as the Isle are becoming a contender and it looks like they will be perennial contenders. If that never happened I would of thought he wouldn’t sign.
He isn’t happy at all with life away from the rink in New York.
Boychuck guaranteed not to sign with NYI?
Awfully bold statement when u get the field of 29 teams.
I guarantee Boychuck does not sign in Boston.
mikeyj maybe granlund but not a chance Johansson or Duchene keep dreaming about those too
I doubt Duchene or Mackinnon could be had. But O’Rielly definitely.
The Blue Jackets aren’t going to give there star center for a wing. Doesn’t make sense on their part. Unless they feel like rebuilfing again. Because without a center your team is nothing.
Granlund I doubt because you’d have to take one of the players with big salary in return. I believe the Wild are a $60 mill club this year? So they won’t do that. What would you give up for a package of Vanek and Granlund?
HAHAHAHA your not getting johansson in any deal period he’s the bluejacket #1 center and franchise player they have wisninewski who can do what phanuef does and he’s cheaper
keep dreaming
Bobby Ryan has made his off-season home in rural Idaho. Bobby Ryan and his wife love the rural area just outside of Ottawa. Bobby Ryan never had any intentions of signing with Philadelphia. Bobby Ryan is completely happy with his $7 mil + contract that kicks in next year. Put it to rest .
Are you talking about Bobby Ryan?
LOL. Yep. Just wanted those who constantly spouted the mantra that “Bobby Ryan is coming to Philadelphia” to get the message.
That mantra ended about a year ago. Guy is way overpaid now. He’s all your Sens fans.
You may be right, but he does join a long loooong list of overpaid players led by Kessel, Clarkson, Phaneuf, Gardiner,
Bobby Ryan being a winger has had to play with 2nd and 3rd line players. Last year he did it with a hernia or some odd sort this year he is doing it with a fracture finger.
yes he may not be putting up points like envisioned but this Sens fan is perfectly happy with how he is playing. He back checks hard goes to the hard areas and is a threat every time he goes on the ice.
The Sens are not a very good team. Yeah maybe if they had Toews, Crosby, Getslaf, Seguin etc at centre they’d be better but they Got Turris, Zbad, Legwand, Lazar and Smith at Centre.
That is a huge golf of skill and talent on the roster to explain the huge gap in the standings and the difference between a contender and a bad team.
Not sure where you’re coming from, Philly fans let that ship sail a long time ago, and frankly don’t care where Ryan plays anymore.
You really focused on the Leafs with your list of bad contracts. Kadri at 3.5M for 50-60 pts and improving each year is not a bad contract, and it’s a short bridget deal. Gardiner is 4.5M, which isn’t bad. Kessel gets less than similar types of players…the list of bad contracts would probably start with Semin, Ovetchkin, Bryan Campbell, Vinnie LeCavalier if one were being objective.
tml.gm….. gardiner at 4.5 isn’t bad??? cmon man!!
You think the Kessel deal is a better one than Ovechkin’s? Toronto should be so lucky as to have a high-scoring F who hits like a truck. And where did I mention Kadri? And if you don’t think Gardiner is way overpaid for what he brings to the table on D? – then that more or less sums up what is wrong with the basic thinking of the denizens of LeafsNation.
Philly overloaded on big dumb contracts already n cap trouble. Nobody is helpin out Philly when over a barrel as it is.
Funny how often the word overpaid is thrown arou d so much anymore….perhaps guys juust make more than they used to. See,s like eveyguy in the league is overpaid according to some and this guy is overpaid too but not as bad as that guy and yep he is over paid but os a little better than that overpaid guy…jeesh its starting to get thick, I dont know do people understand the cap goes up or has most every year and if the cap goes up so do the contracts?
If the Canucks are looking at Eriksson it shouldn’t be that odd. Not too long ago he was a 30 goal scorer, he only makes $4.25 mil this year and next (not a lot of term), benning is familiar with him from his time in boston and he plays on a line with the Sedins for team Sweden(and that line looked deadly). He would give them another option for line 2 where they could switch he and Vrbata if need be. Obviously they would have to move a piece(s) too
Only way i see Eriksson in a Canucks uni is if a salary dump. Cannot argue his fit with the Sedins but i see JB in no hurry to pull that trigger either.
JB IMO is keeping his fingers on the pulse n biding time to make any deal. How this season goes will decide for him. Playoff push is on n no need to force a trade so i see off season trades as more likely.
Lyle,
I think you may be quick to come to the conclusion that there is no market for Kessel & Phaenuf until the off season. If Toronto embraces a rebuilding mantra, its very conceivable that they could relieve other teams of their Clarkson’esque contracts as a lever by which they could acquire better futures in a trade.
I.e. Team A offloads a combination of contracts (including a 3-5yr stinker) worth ~8m on their cap, prospect(s)/pick(s) and acquires Phil Kessel.
Team A significantly adds to its offence and increases its chance to win, Toronto gets a healthy kick-start to a proper rebuild.
If I’m Toronto, who cares if we’re getting ‘bad contracts’ back, as long as the lengths of the contract are not more than 5yrs. If you’re properly rebuilding, its not a one year process.
If by fluke a player under a bad contract revitalizes his career and looks like their value is actually approaching their contract value, you can even trade them at a trade deadline or over a summer to increase the number and quality of players available through the draft for the long term rebuild.
unless I am getting back top prospects and picks- I don’t make the Kessel trade? The Leafs cap situation hasn’t prevented them from doing anything- not that we would know, but it isn’t like there is a Stamkos waiting and we don’t have the cap space? Leafs need to make a quality deal- if they deal him.. A team like St Louis which is already strong defensively comes to mind- lot of young depth (Rattie, Jaskin and maybe a mid range player like Berglund) that type of deal
You should expect top prospects/picks for an elite player like Kessel, absolutely.
I just want to see the team avoid eating parts of any of the core’s salaries for years like they did when they bought out the ‘Muskoka Five’. Tucker’s 1m annual cap hit JUST came off the books. Don’t want to go through that again.
I hear you. I think when dealing with a Lupul type deal you take back an earlier expiring deal, you have too, like the WIllie Mitchell discussed deal..but if I’m dealing Phil Kessel I am not taking back a bad contract…just my opinion.
Sam if I wasn’t clear that’s my bad.
I certainly don’t mean to infer that you’d take JUST bad contracts back, but to satisfy the cap to be open to it.
Kessel and Phaneuf are in the first season of very long-term and expensive contracts, plus there’s uncertainty over what next season’s salary cap will be. Good luck moving either guy during the season.
so true lyle people don’t realize it will not only be easier to trade when the salary cap is determined but could also get a better return than too
Yes it is uncertain of exact dollars, but one thing that is for certain, is that the cap is going up.
Totally agree with Lyle. The perfect situation would have to present itself if Kessel were traded. Very few teams with the right prospects the Leafs would want r out there. NYI n Florida come to mind n maybe a couple others. I’d want a Barkov n a 2nd in 2015 in a trade. Not sure Tallon can or would do that deal. Toronto needs to draft out of their current troubles n be patient.
Dion will be hard to move, dollars and term are too large unless the Leafs are willing to absorb some of the money. Teams that are bad now, with cap space hope to be better in a few seasons. Young players in their system will eat more of their cap 3-4 years down the road. It’s not that the contract is that bad now, but it will be a hinderance when these teams get to the point when they have to pay other players more. A team like Buffalo has cap space now, but their young players will be looking for raises on the bad end of Dion’s deal. That’s one way of looking at the situation.
If your uncle had different equipment he’d be your aunt. If you thought that out so carefully and with a modicum of viability, then name one potential “Team A” so we can discuss it without that big IF.
Hey Lyle, do you think a team wouldn’t be able to pull off a Kessel or Phaneuf deal in season? Wasn’t Rick Nash dealt in season? Same for St. Louis and his 5.6 million? Or is more because of character concerns?
If Phil or dion are traded it would be the largest amount of cap to change hands in the league.
As far as doing this suggested take bad contracts and get picks and young guys in return, I’m pretty sure that is what Florida has been doing since Tallon got there. IE Brian Campbell, Luongo etc.
Hey Mikeyj,
While FLA and EDM have stumbled significantly in their rebuilds, in the Cap era I don’t see another real choice. The leafs are my team, but I can’t ignore the feeling that it’s time to tear it down and start fresh.
Once Florida hired Dale Talon they began to rebuild the proper way. Build your offence around your centres and they have two huge, young studs in Bjugstad and Barkov. Anchor your D with a true first pairing like Ekblad and Gudbranson, both are young, mobile and huge. Solidify your goaltending with a veteran (Luongo) and sprinkle in some veterans like Campbell to mentor the kids. Florida is moving up and is now challenging the downward trending Leafs and Bruins.
Now Edmonton, there’s a dumpster fire with no direction to their ongoing rebuild. One centre, no first pairing D and 2 back-up goalies. They are small, soft and poorly managed.
Couldn’t agree more, Paul Holmgren never learned that Lesson, and instead inked players to ridiculous contracts with NMC’s on top of that. Tallon is doing it the right way, hats off to him. It’s going to take Hextall at least 3 years to fix the mess he was handed in Philly.
joseph… how do you figure florida has stumbled with there rebuild? there young talent is already starting to step up and they are knocking at the door of the playoffs??
Taking bad contracts make sense- but not if your the Leafs and not required when trading a guy in the top 5 in scoring for the past 3 years? Would you expect Washington to take bad contracts back in a deal for Ovechkin?
Hey Sam,
I don’t mean to infer you take back only bad contracts for Kessel, without a doubt the one star on the team. I just suggest you have to be open to take back something unpleasant to satisfy the cap requirements.
Whoops, duped my response from another portion. My bad, thought it was lost, and resubmitted. :S
Rick Nash was traded in the off-season. St. Louis was dealt to the Rangers because he wanted out of TB plus he also had one year left on his contract.
Not only that, but the Rangers had plenty of cap space when they got Nash. There have been many questionable signing since then that has put more teams than ever in positions of not being able to move out money they no longer can afford to keep in terms of fleshing out rosters notoriously weak in other spots.
Also when you trade in the off season you can move above the cap. Then take the time to make additional moves to become cap compliant. Something not allowed during the season.
What if the Leafs were to swing a blockbuster deal with Minnisota?
Min
Kessel (8 mil)
Bozak (4.25mil)
Tor
Pominville (5.6 mil) – argaubly a bad contract as he is 32 and has 5 more years on the contract. But we have to assume the leafs aren’t going to get full market value
Niederreiter (2.66mil)
Coyle (3.2mil)
1st round pick 15 or 16
Before you bash it…the Leafs get young players with high potential, and an aging long term contract. It isn’t a rip off to Minni as Pominville’s contract will be one they are looking to dump within 2 yrs. Both Nino and Coyle have shown the potential to be above average players but it is yet to be established if they will live up to their potential.
No this does not address the Wild’s need for goaltending, but I don’t think Reimer is an upgrade over Kuemper. Minni currently has about 7 million in available cap space to make this deal work.
Minni gets another Team USA star player in Kessel, who is good buddies with Parise, and Bozak. Another player with the ability to crack the team USA roster that has excellent chemistry with Kessel and is a reliable above average C. Kessel and Parise on the same line would be a deadly combo. And before everyone starts saying that Kessel is crap, and that Bozak is crap, look at the their statistics. Has it worked out for Kessel in Toronto? Well, as he has been the 4th overall points player over the past 4 years, it kinda has. Is Bozak worth 4.25mil? Well he’s solid in the faceoff circle, and scores 50 points as season, so at 4.25 he’s a steal (consider that Vermette who is 4 years older, over the past 5 seasons has a total of 138pts and is a -23 is expected to get over the 6 million dollar range as a UFA. In contrast Bozak has 185pts and is a -42 (that number hurts).
That’s not bad at all…Wild would have to include Alex Tuch, their top pick this year though
That trade would leave the Leafs without a 1st or 2nd line centre. Replace Coyle with Granlund.
In nor sure I see Granlund as a big improvement on Kadri. Coyle is 6’2 225lbs. Granlund is 5’11 180lbs. It would be a risk, but I’d rather see them add some skilled size over pure skill.
why would minny want kessle?? yes he can score but when minny is sitting with parise,vanek,pominville,koivu,nino,coyle I don’t think they will have any interest in kessle
Cause Kessel is 5 years younger than Pominville, and currently has better numbers for less money than all 3 of the players I mentioned in the above trade. Bozak sweetens the deal as he replaces Coyle. So really they are out a draft pick and LW at the end of the day.
Coyle is used as a winger bozak does not replace coyle, and I kind of have an issue with the assumption that all these big centers are such an upgrade at the center (dont get me wrong the Leafs are weak as wet tissue at C but..) position yet are not top 2 centers on their respective teams…Id be hesitant in giving away too many or too valueable assets to fill a role with a guy who is maybe the third best option on his current team. The position in all likelyhood is going to need to be filed by drafting and developing or a trade for a very young center who is actually not developing as quickly as another team would like thats is currently in the AHL or perhaps a vet that could fill the role for the time being (Thornton Wiese maybe a type) .Bringing in wingers to play center because they have played some center in the past is a bad idea imo.
In otherwords if you are going to use assets to get something of need then you should get what you need, dont make deals for maybes….Maybe Bolland can be a 1C. Maybeif we were togher we beat the Bruins sign Clsrkson maybe it was Reimer trafe for a goalie maybe its vets and leadership trade for Polak sign Robidas…all these msybes are whats made a mess of the Leafs…D and center thats what they need.
I’m not saying that Coyle will be a guarantee’d no 1. But he is a projected top six forward that is both physical and skilled. I think he would look good on a line with JVR. Nino has shown he is both skilled and a pest, reminds me of Franzen (and streaky). A line with Nino/Kadri/Panik going into the 2016 season could be very effective. There would be obvious holes in the line up with this plan, and it would be a big big gamble. But lets face it, the roster as it stands now is a big big gamble every night as well.
For what its worth I really Like Coyle but no this is not enough return for the Leafs who are giving up their top RW and their top Centre.
I’d have to believe that if Bozak and Kessel were shopped seperately they’d each bring back a package of young assets and draft picks to bolster the Leaf rebuild cause if moving both them out I am assuming a rebuild is in place and if so I do not believe the leafs should bring back any bad contracts.
think of it from minnys side tho your giving up 3 roster players 1 older 2 just starting to find there way for a guy who makes 8million a yr who is a defensive liability isn’t much of a leader it just doesn’t make sense! you have your opinion I just gave you mine
Not to mention…that’s a whole lot of money tied up between Parise, Kessel and Suter. Please remember they signed matching 13 year, $98 million contracts in 2012. That’s 7.5 million each….so you would have over $23 million between 3 guys…
Can’t see how you would have much of a team like that.
@gary – Minni currently has $21.6 in Suter, Parise, and Pominville until at least 2019. It might be safe to assume that having $23 million isn’t a stretch if that third guy is the 3rd highest goal scorer over the past 4 years.
I’m afraid the Leafs have gone way past the need for a “medic.” What they need now is a pathologist.
Yeah that Pominvile contract is not very good. I guess the Wild didn’t want to lose him to free agency after what they gave to Buffalo to get him. Wild needs a goaltender and they don’t have alotta cap space to get one.
Silver Surfer, i agree with you 100% I like that trade Kessel+Phaneuf for Yandle+Domi, but i do believe that toronto would need to get a little more back in return as Domi is still unproven in the NHL, in saying that i was at the Canada Slovakia world junior semi-final game and the atmosphere was amazing and the fans were going nuts for Max Domi, and under the spotlight in both the semi’s and the finals the kid performed and he showed alot of character, which is what Toroto needs right now
The reception for Max Domi was great but what would it take to get his centreman? Reinhart was the best player in the tournament. I know – dream on.
In actual money, $18mil, is too much for the Coyotes to handle for just 2 players. Kessel and/or Phaneuf’s contracts would not attract the attention of the Coyotes. Max Domi’s $925thou is much more tolerable under the cap and gives them flexibility in their tight budget.
I think it is safe to say that their are GM’s interested in each player. But I’d almost guarantee that there isn’t one GM interested in trading for both players.
The issue with the leafs making trades is that most players in the league (especially the ones that you’d want) have some form of a movement clause in their contracts. As much as leaf fans want to believe that every player in the league wants to play for the leafs, think about the players you want to ship out. Kessel and Phaneuf are being treated like crap by the media and a lot of fans for example. Being in Toronto is too much of a stress on some people so a lot of people wouldn’t waive their movement clause to go there.
Here is a deal that may work for both teams;
to Toronto;
Evander Kane
Tobias Enstrom
Ondrej Pavelec
Total of 14.9 mil in salaries
to Winnipeg;
Phil Kessel
Jake Gardiner
James Reimer
Total of 14.35 mil in salaries
Would rather keep the headache in Toronto that is consistently in top 5 scorers then the headache in Winnipeg who ..well..never is..
Tho this trade looks even…..do you really think Kane will hold up to the TO media ?
I almpst think ther is a fit there (perhaps and again only in the summer depending on how things tirn out this season but…)
Dino brought up an interesting, suggestion
Jets have been doing quite well,thank you with out Kane and Bogo in the lineup play a solid D game but dont score…
Maybe Kessel for Kane and Bogo as the center piece of the deal and find a way to make the dollars work with a shoter expiring contract and pick or something along those lines going back and forth in the deal…
I put Enstrom/Pavelec and Gardiner/Reimer in the deal to try and balance out the salaries as well as the talent. But I agree using Kessel, Kane and Bogo as the main pieces works for both teams and the Jets don’t actually need a d-man coming back in the deal as they have a log jam there now and Morrissey coming in the next 1-2 years. If Bogo replaces Enstrom the leafs may have to sweeten the deal a bit with some youth / prospect. I can’t see the Jets giving up to very young high potential guys in Kane and Bogo, taking on Kessel’s salary and not getting something for the future back
Ya I think it could the details could be worked out a little better but as for the jist of it is what I am getting at I would think its pretty close. add a pick maybe a prospect maybe a couple contracts flip back and forth that’s the details I was talking about. could be ok for both.
No thanks!
If I were Nonis I wouldn’t do this deal, even if the cap numbers balance out.
The cap hit of Pavelec is 3.9$, he get’s outplayed by Hutchinson and would be the back-up of Bernier. Reimer isn’t better, but cheaper.
Kane has one 30 goal season and all I hear is his potential to be a 40 or even 50 goal scorer. He’s no way better than Kessel, who is a point per game player with Bozak as center! And he’s one of the best wingers in the game, does what he’s supposed to do (score goals) and is treated by media and fans like garbage! If they really trade him, they’ll regret it!
Enstrom is better than Gardiner, but also injury prone and older. I don’t like Gardiners contract, but doing this deal to get rid of Gardiners contract and Kessels is not the solution for the Leafs.
One possibility could be the Islanders. And no, they won’t get Tavares in return. But the isles have a lot of good prospects who would be interesting for the Leafs if they decide to do a full rebuild. The Isles also offerd Vanek similar money what Kessel get, can absorb the contract and Tavares would get a legitimate Sniper on his wing!
Do these work?
Gardiner
Kadri
For
Oreilly
Phaneuf
Lupul
For
Campbell (expiring)
Gudbranson
Draft pick
I would prefer the this compared to the WPG deal. Campbell could be re-signed for less and still fill some of the offence that Gardiner and Phaneuf would be taking with them (albeit not much, but some offence noenetheless) and Gudbranson would be a huge defensive upgrade. The O’reilly deal speaks for itself… defensive minded forward needed for sure… not that i agree, but im guessing a second rounder may have to be added with Gardiner and Kadri, but still worth it IMO.
no no and noooooo its gonna cost the leafs more than just kadri to get orielly! I know you have gardiner in there but cmon on that is a really bad contract! and the leafs florida trade just makes no sense!
I don’t think the Panthers will be moving Kulikov, or Gudbranson anytime soon. Also, Campbell is signed through next year. I believe if they start falling apart they will move him. Not so sure they’d be willing to move him for a larger / longer contract in return. I think they’d sooner eat dollars and deal with it for 1 year.
If the Panthrrs are snywhere nezr the Playoffs they wont move Campbell, cant see them having any interest in Phaneuf or Lupul let alone taking them together…Lupul will be tough to move for anything at this point, Phaneuf I agree with Lebrun and some others could have a market in the right circumstance, but that aint Florida….I am not 100 % sure that if Lupul comes back and gets injured once more this year he doesnt become a buy out candidate.
I actually agree with all of this.
Pimp’n aint easy….
I like how you add “actually” like your surprised with yourself to be agree with shticky.
Shticky has his moments of wisdom.
@ Sam,
No not for me. Stats wise Kadri has 4 more points and is a plus 4 to O’Reillys minus 9. At the risk of being bashed for overrating Leaf players I think that is too much to give up. As for the Lupul and Phaneuf scenario, I cannot see Florida ever giving up Gudbranson, they do not need to unload Campbells salary, and the draft pick would not be a first rounder. Lupul is good but injury prone, and Ekblad and Gudbranson are or will project to be better than Phaneuf. Sorry, do not see either one being plausible.
Leaf fans, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP! Not one of these trade proposals are fair or logical for the other team. Lyle is right Phaneuf and/or Kessel won’t be traded until the off-season when teams have the space to add them and GM’s know what the cap is. Oh and NO Arizona doesn’t want them, they are going into rebuild mode, and those two make zero sense for them, and I’m sure after the world juniors Domi is untouchable.
really Canadian King? bestow some logic upon us…Oreilly at 6 million and a minus isn’t overpaid but every Leaf player is ? I guess this Leaf team is absolutely just terrible- no one of value whatsoever- we should just fold the team…honestly.
Max Domi is untouchable- haha come on…really? He had a good tournament- just like many Canadians have in past…he isn’t in the same class as Reinhart, Duclair Lazar and Mcdavid…too small…a good little player- hardly what I would call untouchable
I guess we should just stop talking about potential trades on a trade site…
Just curious what the mighty Ryan Oreilly commands in return?
Hey Sam, looks like your reading skills are about as good as your knowledge of hockey. Where in my comment did I say that all the Leaf players are untradeable and overpaid?
As for Domi, again show me where i said he was in the same class as McDavid? All I said was for a rebuilding team like Arizona, and after the fantastic tournament he had, he is untouchable. And again Arizona doesn’t want Kessel and Phaneuf, not because they are garbage players, but because they are REBUILDING and are a budget team. As for Domi’s size, get out of the stone ages bud, small players are becoming more and more prevalent in the NHL. Look at Gaudreau and Marchand, you Leafs fans could only dream of having him (which I heard about a million times when I was at the ACC for every single Canada game).
As for ROR’s trade value, since almost every single team in the league is dying to get their hands on a potential number 1 center who could one day become a selke winner, i’d say its pretty high. Not saying Kessel for him isn’t fair, but again Avs need D, not a winger. And NO PHANEUF ISN”T LANDING ROR.
But I will tell ya what, why don’t you crap in one hand and dream about Leaf trades in the other and tell me which one fills up first.
What do you come to this site for to discuss the cost of gas? We talk about trades because that’s what this site is for ..speculation…
I have no issue with small players..just don’t this Max Domi is anything special and for every Johnny Gaudreau and brad Marchand there is a Brandon Kozun …
If someone had proposed the Dion Phaneuf – from Calgary to TO deal before it happened – would have been laughed…
wrong fit in one market can sometimes mean a good fit somewhere else..
But heh keep telling Leafs fans to stop dreaming about trades that somehow you have veto power over…
sam the leaf fans trade proposals are getting a little sickening! and are taking over this discussion board
You realize ROR has about half the points Kessel does this year? Kessel is a consistently elite offensive winger in the NHL. ROR is a solid, second line center, based on last year, which was his only good season. Both are well/over-paid, ROR only has one year left though after this one which also makes him a risk. Those two pieces are not comparable in value.
ROR is more comparable to Kadri who has stepped-up his two way play this year.
kadri is not close to ror in 2 way play
I’m not sold on Max domi.
Nick Paul I did not think would make it to the NHL but he had a great showing in the tourney but still will he make it.
Stone was fantastic his run in the juniour tournament scoring around 6 goals and leading Canada in that department but He isn’t going to be an outstanding NHL player. He likely be pretty good but not worth trading for elite talent.
Domi played well. Was a fan favorite but I am not sold on how good he will be at the NHL level.
The one big thing I noticed during the world Juniorabout Domi (and Nylander aswell) that I have seen about Domis game in Junior aswell…they are going to likely get their head caved in the way they cut towards the center of the ice, there is too much pretty stuff and kind of psying attention to the puck at a high speed…its not really a size issue or a heads up issue its more of an awareness issue, the NHL is a different animal, their are bigger dmen who are quick aswellat this level and smeone is going to catch them if they arent paying attention…going to be a tough lesson if they dont kinda play it a little more simple.
We also have to remember that most of the players have NTC or modified NTC’s so if you think Phil and Dion will accept a trade to the desert YOURE crazy.
And why would the leafs want another spoiled brat in Evander Kane. He’s a little childish and I don’t feel he’s the leader that the leafs desperately need.
Jeezus with the “leaders” already…Toronto has had litterally brought somewhere around10 guys over the past couple years be”leaders” you can bring in all the leaders you want you are not going to win if the team isnt built properly.
Lupul
Kadri
Clarkson
Gardiner
#1 2015
For
E. Staal
Jo. Staal
Ja. Staal
Ward
Then send Reimer to Minnnesota for Backstrom, then Backstrom to Edmonton for Yakupov.
LOL. C’mon MAN!
Ha…he left out the part about Mark signing in Toronto this summer.
Of all the far fetched ideas…..
Of Kessell, Dion and Clarkson, you will have the hardest time getting rid of Clarkson. How this guy ever scored 30 goals is beyond me. It would be a heck of a deal if you could pull it off.
Clarkson is way over-paid in dollars and term obviously.
However, he is on his way to 15-20 goals this season and a character player/leader. In other words, he’s a pretty good piece to have on your wing.
I think if he realizes the 15-20 this year and next, working the remaining term down to 4 years, and the cap goes up significantly, then he could be moved.
Gonna be a tough sale to some team Dan, somebody is going to have to really like him. I think the years in Jersey have taken a toll on him. Jersey system is one thing, he just doesn’t seem like the player he was 2-3 years ago and that edge is not likely to come back. we will see.
I love reading about all the Leaf fans and wanting to tear up their team.
What would the purpose be of trading everything of value right now?
Do you really think the team will drop so fast that they will get the first or second overall…this year?
How many free agents will you attract in the off season?
How many Leaf fans will loose it if they start to fall?
No one in the top 5 is going to trade their pick unless it’s with each other.
Edmonton might be the only one, but you are going to get raped in the process.
Your team is a couple of points out of a playoff spot. Let the dust settle and see how it goes. Maybe Phil likes the new guy and is willing to buy in more. Who knows. Subtle changes will be huge, before the total destruction of Leafs nation.
As a Sabres fan, I can tell you, you want no part of this.
Intelligent post alert!
AGREED!
Well said!
Coache gets canned, now trade all top talent players? when the heck has that EVER happened in hockey??? Never mind the NHL!
welcome to Toronto. a month ago they had a 10 game winning streak and eric staal was coming as the final piece, now we’re blowing it up to start over….like Burke did a few years ago. the tone will change again if they put together some wins.
In regards to the Minnesota goaltending situation, why don’t they just bring up Josh Harding and see how he does? They’re already paying him on a one-way contract and he cleared waivers going down so there’s obviously little risk of losing him if he’s sent down again. They literally have nothing to lose except scratching someone else for a bit.
Unfortunately, You don’t get better when you have MS. You pretty much either stay the same or regress with medication. It effects, balance, vision, muscle spams , weakness, vertigo etc….Sadly, Not really something I see Harding coming back from.
I think he has relapsing/remitting MS, there are 2 kinds, relapsing/remitting and progressive. Relapsing remitting you have periods of symptoms and then periods, which I believe can be years long, with no symptoms. I think, and hope, it’s too early to write him off…it’s a terrible disease.
One of my best friends has it. I have known him for about 18 years, he was diagnosed about 4-5 years ago. My friend has remitting which is more spinal cord than brain. Both are bad. My friend cannot operate a vehicle, or maintain a normal life at all. The problem with either is the symptoms are completely unpredictable. You could be standing there one minute fine, and the next minute lose all vision, or experience vertigo etc.You can go into remission for short periods of time, but not years. And the problem is with every occurrence of relapse, the disease tends to get worse.
Ah, I love the Cam Ward arguments: “But he won a Cup and was a Conn Smythe winner!” Yes, NINE years ago. He has led his team to the playoffs exactly ONCE since then. (And for those arguing he’s been on a sub-par team, surely they were still decent the years after they won the Cup… and when they didn’t make the playoffs, either.)
He’s also had pretty shocking numbers for the previous two seasons, and some earlier ones.
Oh, and also, Giguere was the same: Cup & Conn Smythe winner. And who played a total of 7 playoff games over the next 8 years. And with salaries of $6M and $7M.
I liked Giguere and have no particular issue with Ward – I think he’s decent – but the “But he won a Cup!” argument should probably run dry after a DECADE without subsequent success.
i said this on a prior post from yesterday i believe but, what do you guys think of
Kessel to calgary for bennett and a first seems to be an underpayment for kessel (in my opinion) but it is so because calgary will be taking all the salary
in a prior post someone had had a deal between florida and toronto incolving phaneuf etc for gudbranson etc. that’s a great trade idea. campbell and phaneuf’s contracts will cancel out. florida takes approx 2.5 million extra in lupal. but instead of that maybe go a bit bigger if possible
to toronto: heuberdeau, gudbranson, campbell fleishmenn, 2nd rounder
to florida: Phaneuf, JVR, Santorelli, Lupal
no idea if the salarys all jive. im at work so i havent had the chance to look.
To Toronto: Eberle + 2015 1st (Edmonton’s pick)
To Edmonton: Kessel + 2015 1st
To Toronto: ROR
To Colorado: Lupul + Holland + 2015 3rd
To Toronto: Yandle + Domi
To Arizona: Franson + Gauthier + Kadri
To Toronto: Oshie + Berglund
To St. Louis: JvR + Bozak
Roster
Oshie-ROR-Eberle
Komarov-Berglund-Clarkson
Winnik-Santorelli-Panik
Booth-Smith-Kozun
Leivo
————————–
Phaneuf-Holzer
Reilly-Polak
Robidas-Percy
————————–
Bernier
Reimer
@Leafsmedic….I can’t see that Edmonton deal or Colorado deal even being close to reality. Not sure how I see Kessel helping Edmonton. And I don’t see Colorado giving up ROR for a 3rd-4th line center and Lupul. Doesn’t really fit the needs of the Avs or Oils at all.
@NYR – not my proposal…
You wrote it? If not you then who? ……And why bother proposing someones CRAZY ideas?? Honestly I cant imagine anyone in the sports world proposing these ideas…..if it is a friend or family member you should smack them in the mouth, and disown them!
@NYR it was Leafsadvocate…not me. Those are a little more extreme than I would do.
jeezus man you wonder why Leaf fans get slammed… Your proposals are really lopsided or make no sense to the Leafs in the firstplace so it starts arguments when one of us tries to defend the player in the awful deal… case in point
Eberle and swap firsts awful for the Oilers who would be moving Eberle to get an older more expensive version of Eberle and giving up perhaps a first overall pick for the 8th overall pick I like Kessel and I wouldn’t do that deal in a million years…
ROR for Lupul a2nd/3rd line center and a 3rd round pick? gawd awful why do the Avs need a center? why do they want a player who has been hurt more than he has played for 5 mill over the past few years? where does he fit?
Then you go the other way with Oshie and Berglund for Bozak and JVR?
I will take JVR every day of the week over Oshie, and Bozak for Berglund is just about a wash swap 2 2/3rd line centers and then give up the younger better contract better producing wingers…
Everyone of these trades is lunacy. Just based on who you would like to see in a Leaf jersey…these wouldn’t even be good hockey card trades
The biggest problem I see is J.Moore missing from the defensive pairings…..ZING!
Lol sorry sticky above I got your Leaf fans slammed as well.
I must extend an apology to Leaf Nation.
no no no no no no no no no
wow, when’s the last time a team traded their entire roster in 1 day? I wish, Toronto trades it’s roster to Chicago for their roster. I’m all for reading trade suggestions/dreams but trading away like 3 lines of players doesn’t happen….
I’m a Leafs fan, but c’mon! Really????
Eberle + possibly McDavid or Eichel for Kessel + 2015 1st isn’t going to happen!
And Lupul, Holland and 3rd won’t land you O’Reilly! LOL!
Yandle and Domi for Franson, Gauthier and Kadri? Just don’t like the deal. Would love to have Domi, but Yandle is an offensive d-man and not that good defensively.
Oshie and Berglund for JvR and Bozak makes no sense!
Campbell and Phaneuf cancel each other out for 1 year only. I don’t think Florida will be moving any of their youth anytime soon. Not the worst deal I’ve seen here. But I think Bjugstad, Huberdeau, Ekblad, Gudbranson, Kulikov, are untouchable at this point. If Florida fall out they will be looking to flush some of the older guys out.
I love Leafs fans passion, and I couldn’t imagine what its like to go through the same stuff year after year, but settle down with the blowing the team up trade rumours every day.
Kessel would get a great return for Toronto, but it’d be a package of parts that are less than his skill (and likely prospects/picks that may never turn out). Yeah, he may not play the best D, but why not get guys who can around him rather than insist on trading a point a game player? Its almost like you’re expecting to flip him for a 2008 version of Datsyuk.
Nobody is going to trade for Clarkson on that deal and term. Even if Toronto eats half the cap space they’re stuck paying him $2.8 million a year for the next six years. He also has a full no movement clause and can veto anything.
Lupuls trade value is nonexistant until he can string together a couple healthy seasons. Based on the last few years, thats unlikely.
What exactly do you think you’re going to get for Phaneuf? When he was traded to Toronto, Burke gave up a collection of spare parts to get him. That was five years ago. He was younger, still had potential and was on a better deal in terms of length. I believe the trade was Stajan, Hagman, White and Mayers for Phaneuf, Sjostrom, and Aulie. For argument sake, lets say Sjostrom and Aulie for Mayers and Hagman pretty much even out. So Phaneuf was had for a 3rd line center and 6th dman. Considering hes now much older and signed long term on a bad deal, expect the same. Does trading him to the islanders for, say, Josh Bailey and Thomas Hickey do anything for the team? Probably not. Sure, the cap space would be nice, but if Nonis has taught us anything he’ll free spend it on questionable free agent signings.
Change starts at the top. The Leafs are, for better or for worse, stuck with most of these bad deals. Getting a competent GM/coach doesn’t eat cap space and is the first step to success in a market that has been starved of it.
I agree with a lot of this but I think even tho its long that realistically if you look at the % of the cap Phaneufs contract ate up when the Leafs got him compared to what it is now and going down the road and what D men are signing for, Not that either contract was great but I think from year 3 on Phaneufs deal isn’t going to look as bad as a lot of the experts on this board think…Again still not a good contract but I think it could be argued his last contract was actually worse.
Correct. Cap percentage is a bigger deal than most fans realize. Besides the fact that most if not all trade proposals made by fans are crap they fail to see the value of a good player who currently holds a big cap hit but won’t in a couple years relative to the cap percentage. Hence why big ticket players are more likely, not only, will be traded in the off season.
Making player evaluations like many on this site do, you know watching the games or nightly highlights and taking the words of the talking heads as gospel versus doing the work yourself by being diligent and looking up the stats so they can make decent proposals but then this comment section might not be so funny.
Who are the ufa goalies coming up that could fill in for wild?
Obvious would be Brodeur, Riemer.. But I’m not sure if they’d want either of them to rely on playoffs for. Maybe Reimer but they could have signed broduer multiple times before he went to St louis.
@Shticky I totally agree. Percentage wise he was on a worse deal before, I just think his age/term cancelled that out.
I really think the team needs to stop looking at trades and signings as a means to turn it around and start overhauling their scouting/development group. Teams like thr Hawks/Kings are built through the draft. Currently (to the best of my memory) the only guys on the Leafs that they’ve drafted themselves are Kadri, Reilly, Reimer and Komorov. I may have missed someone, but free agency generally makes players rich and rarely significantly improves a team in the cap era.
Totally agree on that part…thing is I don’t really think there is much point in dealing away all of it either unless the deal fits, I don’t think you “blow up the team” just for the sake of saying you are blowing up the team giving guys like Kadri or Kessel away for draft picks, tanking for years is not the way to go either imo..
keep plugging along make some deals that make sense get some picks here and there if you can but no need to treat it as a tire fire. MLSE has lots of money I don’t think that throwing young resources in to get rid of contracts like Clarkson or Lupul Robidas ect is wise…This team as it sits is flawed enough to draft high and add going down the road (if that makes any sense)
Draft high? Laefs are not drafting high, they’re going to draft at 10-15 and keep muddling along with the current core. They aren’t going to be drafting high unless they lose Franson, move Kessel, Phanuef, trade away Reimer, Lupul, maybe Bozak for picks and prospects and then you’ll start drafting high in 2016! That’s a blow-up and you keep Clarkson until you can work down some term off his deal, because you want to be bad anyway.
Seasons only halfway done.. as it sits now they are drafting 13 with 7 teams with in 8 points of them 4 of which were playoff teams last year and all 7 have games in hand…The Leafs just fired the head coach and are relatively healthy and had goalies standing on their head most of the year…they will be in the top 10 picks with a chance of being a lottery team
…and that’s not even getting in to the difference in the strength of the Leafs sched going forward…Saturday night at home vs the Blue jackets who are playing good now then the Kings Ducks Sharks Blues all on the road & 9 of the next 12 on the road.
Sure, Florida and Dallas and maybe Colorado and Columbus are trending the right way with games, but by the same token the Leafs have had a tough stretch and probably revert the other way after the California trip.
In a bad case scenario, I still see them around 10, whether it’s 8 or 9, still not a high pick. I think they really need to move out pieces like Kessel and Phaneuf to truly go for high end picks in 2016 and 2017.
How about a Canes Leafs deal. E Staal to Leafs plus conditional 1st round and 2nd round pick not in the same year based on Staal resigning …no picks if Staal resigns , Kessel to Canes. This would be the principal players in the deal other players could be involved like say Skinner for Kadri + top 5 prospect or pick.
Carolina gets :
Kessel
Kadri
Prospect or pick
Toronto gets
E Staal
Skinner
Th one guy I would not trade from the Leafs is JVR.
WOW that’s all i can say,
Leafs fans, You will regret running Kadri out of town IMO.
Kessel will command a huge return , problem with making trade proposals is no one really knows what his no trade clause is (I read it wasn’t a full no trade clause). The problem with comparing him to other stars that were traded (Nash,Iggy and so on) they had full no trades and picked where they wanted to go. Hence the limited return.
Phaneuf just resigned, not sure why they would look to move him now or what the effect on signing other players would be.
The Clarkson deal, put this to bed already TO wasn’t the only team willing to pay him that. In fact other teams offered more money and he still went to Toronto. An extra year makes no difference IMO. There isn’t a team in the league that doesn’t have a Clarkson type contract.
Let the year play out, let the new voice in the room change somethings. Who knows 3 weeks from now we could be talking about who Toronto should be grabbing on TDL to make their push.
Please don’t classify me as a Leafs fan. No offence to the Leafs fans out there. Btw born and raised in Montreal , long time Habs fan until Lafleur and Shutt got run out of town in 1985 and then adopted the Wings as my team in 1988 after seeing Yzerman Gallant Probert line in action a few times live.
Funny thing about learning from past mistakes, look at what the Leafs get made fun of bad trades running guys out of town before they devrlop and soon as things get rough… Raask Steen Colborne Boyes Tulusty Stralman all at one time recently young guys just passed over more or less never properly developed good NHLers given away for peanuts…the opposite of what good teams do, keep the young guys let them develop and pass on the Lupuls Clarkson and Bollands Robidas of the world. Watching a game the last night woith how Detroit stivks with its guys and a guy like Reily Sheahan thru some tough spots and now he is starting to look like a pretty good pro, they never tank or pick top 5 but still successful, no one said learning is easy I guess.
OK, so….what do people think kessel is worth? Its time to ask the question. We’ve all hammered out or hammered other peoples ideas. So here is mine
Kessel should be had for. A top prospect and a first, possibly a third rounder.
I.e. kessel to Calgary for Bennett and Calgary’s 15 1st rounder
What do you think?
I think Toronto gets fleeced in that deal, Bennet is coming of shoulder surgery and hasnt played a game in the league. And who knows where that first is going to turn out to be.
I believe Kessel is worth a massive return, I would honestly think along the lines of E.Kane and Zach Bogosian with other pieces added to make salary work.
No i don’t think the Nash deal is comparable, One because he demanded a trade and two because he had a full no trade and decided where he wanted to go.
Ya but both have their drawbacks as far as deals go cbj was ki da hu gout to dry with hus ntc clause and demand of being traded, but Id say overall Nash with his allure (at one time he was thought of as one of the best players in the game imo) not sure he has worked out to be “that guy” exactly but.. Kessel will be on his third team if they did decide to move him which would rasise some concern eventho his production is nothing short of 1 of the best point producers in the game…tough to say but Id say simmilar returns Kessel maybe a little less Nas got a good 2 C a very good 3 c a bottom pairing D and a first round pick (Kirby Rychle)..pretty good haul. I couldnt see Kessel getting that, couple of good players for sure but not with the pick another player aswell.
Honestly Kessel needs to be worth at least a top 6 forward, a top prospect and a first round pick. Laugh all you want, that’s what he is worth.
If I am the Leafs no way I do that trade. How do you knos what Bennett is goint to develop in to? The firstisok but there would be a better deal to be had, besidesthe obvious I am not sure Calgary need a smallish winger. No I honestly doubt Kessel goes anywhere with outleast 1 very good (perhaps a little underachieving) D man or center coming back with some kind of package of a younger player or depth player and a pick…its not going to be prospects and picks going 1 way and 64 million going the other a deal simmilar to Nash..if it were to happen, hockey is a business dollars mean something…not saying Kessel is overpzid and I dont really think he is cheap either…there has to be balance
a top 2 c OR top 4 D, a good checking 2nd/3rd liner or prorspect (notnecessarily a high end one) a pick, something more along those lines 2players tobalace out salary and a pick, or 2 better players and no pick, its also not going to be vital core pieces of a team.
And after that I am still not sure he moves unless he requests a trade.
I disagree with Spectors ascertation that Kessel & Phaneuf would not be able to be moved until the cap for next year is determined. If a GM believed that adding one of these guys gave his team a legitimate chance to win the cup, a missing piece so to speak, then he would try to make the deal. These guys know the vicinity of where the cap is going to fall, regardless it becomes an off season problem.
Two words: salary cap. In today’s cap world you cannot move a high-salaried player on a long-term deal during the season. You just can’t. Those deals take place in the off-season when teams have more cap space and willingness to spend.
Luongo says hi.
The only thing I believe is that Kessel (if traded ) will get return of a player with two balls 🙂 🙂
low blow lol but funny
Garbage joke……. I hope u both suffer double testicular cancer……How is that funny?
Seriously……Nothing but TRASH!!!!! Have a little respect/self respect!!
This is PERFECT for Yahoo sports….go be a classless POS there…….
Utterly classless comment.
Can see Eriksson going somewhere just to dump his salary.
Benning might take him as a favor. Won’t get much of a return.
Benning is a big Koko fan I heard how about Eriksson and Koko for Kassian.
Bring Bonino home. Third line center to replace Soderberg who will more than likely leave as a ufa.
Hi being a diehard leaf fan it drive’s me crazy to watch this team going on a 10-1 run looking like a play-off,this mgr.team is sounding like those nut cases up in edmonton lie after lie if we stay with a rookie behide the bench this year we are done like dinner there are guys out there what would kill to be the bench boss [i know go head and laugh]but you all know its true the leafs must get rid of there GM.he is the cancer on this team bone head move after other.