The latest on the Leafs, Blues, Ducks, Canadiens, Penguins, Canucks and more.
Leafs to undergo “scorched earth policy.”
Is this the final season in Toronto for Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel?
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: Cathal Kelly reports two sources claim MLSE have given Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan and his associates “a broad mandate from ownership to scorch as much earth as they see fit in order to return the Leafs to contention.” Kelly expects it’ll be a “controlled demolition” beginning with pending UFAs like Mike Santorelli and Daniel Winnik at the trade deadline. He anticipates Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf will be moved in the off-season. Kelly cites the risks of such a roster teardown, noting it hasn’t worked for the Edmonton Oilers, while the Chicago Blackhawks suffered for several seasons before becoming a Cup contender.
NBC SPORTS: Jason Brough noted the above article and wonders if we’re seeing the last of Phil Kessel in Toronto. He advocates trading Kessel to a contender now for draft picks and prospects, even if it means offsetting his $8 million per season contract by taking back a bad contract or two.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe we see a big move involving Kessel at the trade deadline, but I still think the likely moves is shipping out the pending UFAs like Winnik, Santorelli and Cody Franson on deadline day, perhaps even Tyler Bozak, and the big trades (Kessel and Phaneuf) happen in the offseason. One way or another, regardless of when the deals take place, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be a significantly different team when they hit the ice in 2015-16.
Rumblings from Pierre LeBrun.
ESPN.COM: Pierre LeBrun reports the Pittsburgh Penguins want to add a forward and defenseman. They’re keeping an eye on Toronto’s Daniel Winnik and Mike Santorelli. If they can swing it, they’d also like to add a blueliner and have Toronto’s Cody Franson, Edmonton’s Jeff Petry, San Jose’s Scott Hannan and Colorado’s Jan Hejda on their radar…The Winnipeg Jets remain in the market for a top-six or top-nine forward…If other Minnesota Wild forwards fail to step up and replace sidelined Matt Cooke, Jason Zucker and Ryan Carter, GM Chuck Fletcher could be working the phones by the trade deadline…The Montreal Canadiens would like to add a forward and a defenseman before the trade deadline…The St. Louis Blues would, if possible, like to add an affordable, physical depth defenseman, though they’re happy with their blueline depth even with Kevin Shattenkirk currently sidelined by an abdominal injury. They have $5.9 million in cap space to spend if they need it this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: While there’s been talk of the Penguins going after bigger-name forwards, they have to keep their salary cap constraints in mind. I think they go for the affordable rental players. Perron seems to be their biggest acquisition for this season… The Jets aren’t done dealing and I could see them having interest in Winnik or Santorelli…The Wild will have some cap relief with Cooke and Zucker on LTIR but they cannot take on much salary beyond this season…Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin isn’t afraid to make a significant deal at the deadline, but he won’t make one just for the sake of doing so. It has to help his team. He’s believed very interested in Antoine Vermette of the Coyotes…The Blues have the luxury of making a move if they wish, but it’ll be a rental player if they do. They need cap space for Vladimir Tarasenko’s big raise after this season.
Latest Canucks options.
SPORTSNET: Damien Cox believes the Vancouver Canucks face four options at the trade deadline. They can either stand pat, seek immediate help (Cox suggests Toronto’s Tyler Bozak or Arizona’s Antoine Vermette to add depth at center though it could prove costly, plus they could use a replacement for the sidelined Kevin Bieksa), or start dumping veterans to load up with more youth for the future.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As long as the Canucks are in playoff contention I expect GM Jim Benning will try to find a deal to help his club now without sacrificing his future. He was interested in Evander Kane before the Jets dealt him to the Sabres, but wouldn’t part with Bo Horvat or Jake Virtanen.
Ducks seeking “D”.
NBC SPORTS: Mike Halford cites a report in the Los Angeles Times in which Anaheim Ducks blueliner Cam Fowler said his club is still seeking blueline depth. Halford speculates they could be in on Ottawa’s Marc Methot, Toronto’s Cody Franson or Washington’s Mike Green.
If Pitt is looking to add anything of substance they will be moving prospects as They gave up their first and can’t see them moving their second as well..
Canucks would be silly to give up much this year as I like some of the young players they could have playing full time in a year or two in virtanen, mccan and horvat.
Aki
Agree totally. Pens n Canucks calls bang on.
Regardless whether Edmonton break down didn’t work or Chicago suffered for years the leafs have to change the direction the team has been going in, and if blowing everything up is what management has decided to do I as a leaf fan are okay with that. We just can’t keep seeing the same results year after year and kid ourselves that it will be better next year. Trade as many players as you can if you can get good deals, send prospects who are not developing packing, and fire anyone who can’t or won’t dig in and believe in the re-build. This is a great draft year so don’t waste the opportunity. A turn around for this franchise may not be as far away as naysayers keep spouting.
Imo the leafs are ahead of both Chicago and Edmonton at this point in time in rebuilding. If you move the current ufas and kessel and phaneuf you still have a bunch of young players that are already nhl proven. Add whatever prospects and picks you get and you have a fair start to a rebuild. Just don’t trade them away to get a “fix”. They need to build it right and slow.
How can Toronto be ahead of Edmonton and Chicago at this stage of the rebuild when the rebuild hasn’t started? The Leafs have yet to make a single move.
IMO, the return for Phaneuf and Kessel will be less than most fans are expecting because they are overpaid for what they bring to the table. Phaneuf is paid like a #1 D but he would probably be the 2nd or 3rd best D on most teams and taking him would really screw up most teams’ salary structure. Kessel is paid like Crosby and the othe league stars but he doesn’t have the defensive awareness or the willingness to battle that most of the other stars have – he’s too one dimensional.
I’m saying the leafs are ahead because they unlike Edmonton already have some young players and prospects to build with. If they get a top 5 pick this year which it looks like they will they are actually setting up pretty well. The key will be patients are staying the course.
As for your kessel comment. Patrick Kane just signed a contract for 10.5 yes he has 2 cups but that’s because he plays on Chicago. The limited playoff action kessel has had he has shown up 22 gp 21 points. The kessel isn’t a key player talk is crap it’s just he’s not Sydney Crosby or johnathan toews but guess what there are only one of each of those players in the world. Kessel is an elite scorer and those are hard to come by and so will garner a big return.
As for phaneuf I have no idea what his return would be but its more get a prospect and rid yourself of his contract
I think what is being suggested is that with young playerslike Rielly Nylander Kadri JVR Percy Brown Johnsen Sparks,and to to not even have “Started” a rebuild yet, one could say they have a bit of a head start compared to some other organizations that start rebuilds from scratch…ahh the benifits of being a bad team and years of mismanagement.
@shticky yes thanks for putting it in English for me lol
lol glad to help….and totally agree.
I agree with this as well, I think the last few years the leafs have helped themselves more than even they think. As suggested we haven’t even officially “started” the rebuild and we have Reilly, Nylander, Brown(OHL star), Percy, Kadri, Bibeau and whoever we select top 5 in this draft….. Not to mention Finn, Loov and the secondary guys in the system.
I don’t think we will be contending anytime in the near future but in. 4-5 years when these players develop and mature. Kadri and Reilly by then will have 4-5 years experience and Nylander a few years under his belt. I think this team if coached right can look pretty good. Not even mentioning the prospects they will pick up or draft until then. I’m all for this rebuild , been waiting quite a while.
When it comes to the Leafs they have some great supporting players, but the guys they depend on for leadership are not leaders. Kessel, Phaneuf, Lupul, Clarkson are not bit minutes, reliable leaders…I think they should concentrate on moving those guys and offering long term deals to the guys who show up every night. Franson, Santorelli, Winnik have all shown much better consistancy and coachability than some big names. If the Leafs could move 3 of those big contracts and get 2 extra first round picks, plus 2 very solid prospects, while clearing cap room, then I think any rebuild would stand a much better chance.
Whatever the Leafs do whether blow it up or get close they need character. Terms like leadership they have. Problem is nobody is a top dog IMO.
Reilly will be one soon enough.
Sign Franson 5.5m/5yrs
Sign Santorelli 2.5m/3yrs
Reimer for Fasth/2nd
Winnik for Jets 2nd
Jake/Lupul Richards(60%)2nd
Kessel for Florida 1st/1st
Kadri/Franson for Eberle
Pick apart thx
Trade franson for a first or a second and a prospect ah la to Dallas for oleckiak and a second/third
Santorelli, Winnik and Biggs for winnipegs first via Buffalo (lowest of theirs)
Reimer to edmonton sounds great but may be a third coming back instead of a second.
If I’m moving gardiner with Lupal I’m asking for a first with Richards
Kessel to Florida I think is great but I’m adding jvr and I’m getting, along with expiring contracts, barkov, 2015 first and 2016 first at least.
Kadri I’d send to edmonton for a crappy contract and their first (more prices from toronto).
I am overvaluing some I know but tear away.
Btw. I’d move phaneuf and levio to Anaheim for Richie and a second
I think all my PREDATORS NEED IS just 1 more offensive piece and think Santorelli would be a good fit and could probably get him for a second, thoughts?
My favorite the avalanche would be great for franson and Bozak and a draft pick for o’reilly. Thought’s? Some in the media are suggesting Duchene and Landeskog might be available. ok we’ll take Stamkos then lol.
I agree it would be great for Nashville. I’d take a run at Winnik too for their bottom six. Maybe a prospect going back to toronto. Maybe go big and try and get Kessel. Two first, fiala and some salaries.
While I think a proper rebuild is long overdue in Leafsland,at the same time I am terrified of the prospect. Draft picks, in and of themselves only hold value if they are used wisely and astutely. Unfortunately, the Leafs’ draft history is a text book example of how not to build the perfect beast. History has shown us that the Leafs have been complete and utter failures in the area of drafting and developing players. It boggles my mind how the richest organization in the NHL, so willing to throw bushels of money at whatever solution they perceive to be for a specific problem, doesn’t invest more heavily in the area of scouting. Forget Babcock! Chase after the preeminent scouts. Target the best in the business and make them rich men. Poach other team’s top bird dogs! This rebuild has to be done the right way, and I really don’t have much faith in TO’s brain trust to get this done. History doesn’t lie.
In the 2010 draft, Toronto, without either a first or second round pick, sent ’08 second rounder Jimmy Hayes to Chicago for a second round pick that they turned into Brad Ross. Hayes has proven to be a pretty useful player in FLA, while five years later, Ross is still yet to be heard from. Further to that draft, just four picks after the Leafs chose Ross, LA selected Tyler Toffoli, and Minny chose Jason Zucker 12 picks after that. T-Bay grabbed Radko Gudas in round three and Montreal unearthed a gem in round five, selecting Brendan Gallagher 147th. The Leafs had already made six selections prior to Gallagher going to the Habs.
Want more examples? in 2011, the Leafs sent the 30th overall pick (acquired from Boston in the Kaberle trade), along with the 39th pick to Anaheim for the #22 pick, with which they chose Tyler Biggs. The Ducks used the two picks they acquired to select Rickard Rakell(#30) and John Gibson(#39). In the fourth round of that same draft the Flames used the 104th overall pick to select Johnny Gaudreau. Biggs can’t even crack the Marlies’ line-up on a regular basis.
The Leafs need to vastly improve in the areas of identifying and cultivating talent.That’s where this rebuild needs to start. Those who don’t learn from history, are condemned to repeat it.
My apologies for the rant!
I do believe Mark Hunter will be much better.
Agree with the rant…here’s to hoping they change. They have to at some point
Honestly a forward for the bottom 6 and a defensive defenseman is all the pens need if they can stay healthy. There is alot of talk about the pens landing Jagr but honestly where would you place him in the lineup. With the top two lines fixed especially with Comeau showing he belongs there is no spot for him. The biggest need right now is a shut-down d-man and a younger Adams with a scoring touch to replace him.
I agree they could move Kessel and Phaneuf in the offseason, but I am not sure they move both, and just because they could I doubt it means they are giving them away just to clear cap. So I wouldnt hold my breath.
Kessel will be traded for a very nice package or wont be moved, dedline or draft its not going to matter, and I am not so sure there will be any money held on Phaneufs deal (unless it significantly improves the offer). They are going to get a nice pick this draft and with the UFAs probably pick up a couple to afew seconds atleast along with arospect or 2, guys like Bozak and Lupul could possibly moved for some space but the scorched earth thing I thing 8s just a fancy way of saying what everyone already knew was coming and I dont see it changing much.
Found it interesting tonight that on twitter some hve mentioned the Devils mayne having some interest in Clarkson, apparently the Islanders broadcast guys were talking about it aswell….hmmm wishful thinking.
I don’t know about you shticky but I’m alright with keeping clarkson during a rebuild but with saying that, if toronto keeps 2.5 million for a few years who cares, nj will very soon be rebuilding like toronto
2 blessings
who ever thinks that emelin is a worse d man then gilbert needs to give their head a shake hes the only hard hitting d man the habs have and gilbert is just terriable hes like hammastrong was in his leafs days … ballard said he could go into a corner with a dozen eggs and come out with out any broken lol
emelin to me is number 3-4 d man for the habs thinks he would be evern better if he had weaver with him
and being a habs fan , subban last night sucked on all counts seemed disinterested
just the way I saw it , im hoping I don’t get a different hockey game then everyone else does lol
A rebuild is definitely required and I’m glad to hear that ownership has given the “green light”. Problem I have is that the media will not “allow” one to be done properly, nor will the “fair weather” fans and as a result, my biggest fear is that ownership/management will cave prior to allowing the rebuild to happen.
I would personally would rather keep Reimer and get what you can for Bernier as I think the return would be better and also because Bernier is “good” for at least one soft goal per game regardless if he’s on his game or not. Reimer, while streaky yes, tends to be more solid and seemingly plays with more drive that Bernier. In order to keep that drive there see if you can find a reasonably priced vet backup who can step in and steal games when required.
As for the others, I’ll agree with keeping the young guys (JVR, Reilly, Kadri) and getting what you can for the others with the heavy, long term contracts.
I am a Ranger fan (hence MDZ is awful – good riddance) but for some reason always pulled for the Leafs (when not playing the Rangers). Perhaps it has been written here or elsewhere and I just have not seen it but I am surprised there is not more written about how dramatically the fortunes of Leaf Nation changed when they choked against Boston a few years back.
I am convinced there would currently be a wholly different landscape had the Leafs hung on and beat Boston that year. They would have beaten Boston and with the confidence gained from that they may have had quite a run and I think very likely would have translated into more success in the years since.
This is not meant to open up an old wound as I know how badly that one hurt (I hate Boston sports so I was pulling for the Leafs BIG TIME) but I cannot help but think about how differently things would have played out if they shut the door on the Bruins that year.
Cathal Kelly reports two sources claim MLSE have given Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan and his associates “a broad mandate from ownership to scorch as much earth as they see fit in order to return the Leafs to contention.”
So he didn’t have this mandate when he was hired? I wonder how that job interview went…. “Just a bit of tinkering Brendan… we have a brand to manage….”
Will he still have this mandate when he starts tearing it down? Just who was driving this clown car anyways?