What does Lou Lamoriello’s hiring as Maple Leafs GM mean for the Leafs’ core players? Are the Hurricanes looking to fill holes in their roster?
Will Lamoriello ship out Leafs core players?
Does the Leafs hiring Lou Lamoriello as GM mean core players like Tyler Bozak will be dealt soon?
TSN: Among Frank Seravalli’s 10 questions to consider regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs hiring Lou Lamoriello as GM is what happens to their core players like Joffrey Lupul, Tyler Bozak and Dion Phaneuf? Seravalli believes Lamoriello won’t pre-judge those players, who’ve been fixtures in the NHL rumor mill for months. He feels the new Leafs GM will evaluate those players next season, giving them a chance to prove themselves. Seravalli also notes Lamoriello has historically built his teams with veterans.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seems sensible for Lamoriello to take time to assess those core players before deciding who to move and who to keep. It would be foolish to just come in and start slashing the roster willy-nilly.
Even if Lamoriello wanted to make big changes right away, he won’t find many takers at this point in the offseason for those expensive players. Few teams have the cap space to absorb their contracts, and those who do are under self-imposed lower cap ceilings.
Those clubs looking to shake up their rosters with trades entering this summer have already done so. Best to give Phaneuf, Bozak and Lupul the opportunity to prove themselves, or at least improve their trade value, through next season before deciding who stays and who goes. If Lamoriello makes any moves this summer or during training camp/preseason, it will involve secondary players rather than the core guys.
Hurricanes still seeking depth.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Luke DeCock reports Carolina Hurricanes GM Ron Francis has some holes to fill on the wing and defense, preferably another top-six winger and another reliable blueliner. “There’s been some dialogue with some guys, but we’re still sitting and waiting to see where the numbers go,” Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said Friday. “The guys we’ve talked about are not in a range we’d be comfortable with yet, so we’re keeping an eye on it. I’m not in a hurry to jump in.” DeCock also notes the Hurricanes have listened to offers for forward Jeff Skinner, but haven’t received anything worth doing.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s really not much available via free agency for the Hurricanes, but several players are available who could interest them. Wingers include Curtis Glencross, Brad Boyes and former Hurricane Jiri Tlusty, while defensemen include Christian Ehrhoff, Cody Franson and David Schlemko. As for trading Skinner, I think the best opportunity to do that has already passed for this offseason.
Why when a new person comes into the leafs media always reverts back to oh this will be a chance for the new guy to evaluate the core and give them a chance to prove themselves. These guys have had multiple chances and don’t deserve any more chances. Lamarello doesn’t need to see them, Dubas shanahan and hunter have already seen them.
The reason they will still be with the team is because they won’t be able to move them not because they don’t want to.
Ehh I am not so sure they are in any hurry to maove them, I agree maybe would like to move a couple or a few of them but not at all costs. Give them a season under Babcok see if the can get some kinda value out of them.
I can see Babcock wanting to at least see what Phaneuf can/could do if maybe he had his role on the team lessened or altered. Afterall, he was interested in bringing him to Detroit last season, so I imagine he’ll at least give him a fair shake. Otherwise, I’d have to agree with Shticky’s assessment in that they’d LIKE to move some of these players, but not for the pennies-on-the-dollar type offers they’d be getting.
It is interesting Aki. When Edmonton got. New GM most still argued for then to trade away there players. When it’s the leafs it seems their players need another chance to prove themselves.
New gm’s same failing players, somehow the math adds up differently for people.
I heard this rumour yesterday from Zeisberger in an interview that shanny might be preparing to leave. If this is true who knows the direction of this team will take. He said he still lives in NY witch is kind of strange.
Not sure I didnt hear the interview but Lieweke maybe around for another yrear, and I am not sure where Shanny lives has anything to do with anything, Carlyle Nonis Burke never lived in Toronto either during the summer. I doubt the board would grant this much upheaval and authority to a guy who is prepairing to leave. Never say never especially after the past few months in Toronto but not sure I buy it.
Scotty Bowman lived in metro buffalo for many years after leaving the Sabres. it never stopped him from working in other cities. Would not surprise me to see Shanny leave – too many egos and experiences in Tronna head office. I still do not know who is running the show.
He was the one that brought all the egos in I doubt he has much of a problem with the egos…Not sure but dealing with Bettman, the NHL front office and 30 gms while director of player safety and in other capacities with the NHL and as a player has probably developed a thick skin and a fair sized ego himself….
What “egos” did Shanny bring in that would cause him to leave? He hired Babcock, Dubas and Lou. Of the three hires, I see one ego, and it isn’t the first two names listed. But again, Shanny brought this crew into the fold. I HIGHLY doubt he agreed to the job, just to leave less than a year later, and especially not after getting the guys HE wanted
I have no issue with the Leafs loading up their front office with whoever they want. Again, I look at Lou just like John Hart for the Atlanta Braves. Hart is teaching a young GM-to-be and building the youth of the Braves back up for the future. Lou will be there for the short term, school Dubas and move on. He will not have his current position in 3 years.
How well Leaf management gets along will be as interesting as the moves they make off the ice. I am not saying it won’t work, but it will certainly be interesting to watch.
Hard to believe anyone lives in Buffalo.But I agree with you 100%.It’s going to be interesting to see how Shanny,Lou and Babcock get along.All 3 are pretty head strong.
Alotta ex-NHL-ers live in Western New York. Scotty and Muck have been seen regularly at a Tim’s in Williamsville.
I don’t live in Buffalo – but your comment is a bit ignorant.
good thing there is Leaf news every day otherwise not much to write
Yet here you are commenting anyway…lol
Agreed. Best just to put the well used, multi site Leaf filter on and eliminate the non events from Leafland.
As much as this has been the summer of “never saw that one coming”, people would be hard pressed to believe Shanahan is leaving the Maple Leafs.
As for core players still here between now and October, if Dubas, is in fact, to be groomed by Lou for the GM’s job in 3 years time thereabouts, there’s also no reason for Dubas not to approach Lou and tell em what he has on the table in terms of player movement and get some feedback as Lou likely knows nothing of any potential trades in the hopper so it would be in the best interest of Dubas to bounce these ideas off of him and see what happens.
What’s so difficult about moving decent size contracts at this time of year? There are enough bad contracts out there to even up the money. Clowe in New Jersey at 4.75, Hemskys 4 mill in Dallas, Philly has at least three in Umberger, Vinny and Luke Schenn, not to mention McDonald, Campbell in Fla and his 7 + mill. Who knew Trevor Daley, Dougie Hamilton and Saad would be moved? The insiders were blind sided by those deals and Lou coming to Toronto, the Leafs will make a few more significant moves before camp, JVR and Bozak will be involved.
Look at when Daley, Hamilton and Saad were moved, and the teams involved. That will tell you all you need to know why it’s increasingly difficult over the remainder of this summer to move high-salaried players.
lyle why not point out te fact that this writer makes no sense . why would the laughs trade there horrible longterm contracts for other teams over the hill and or horrible long term contracts . tradeing four quarters for a dollar does not make sense
Horrible long term contracts George? JVR and Bozak? 3 yrs and 4.2 per yr? They had terrible yrs no doubt but that’s not a lot of term, league avg has gotta be around 3 mill by now or close, JVR was -34 that’s terrible but he was -3 in 320 games prior, thats probably a better indication of who he is in regards to a stat that is debatable at best. Teams take back contracts for all sorts of reasons, to get to the floor, even up the money in a trade or to get an asset in return for doing so. Clarkson- Horton, trading of Marc Savards and Chris Prongers contract, three of those guys aren’t even playing anymore. All I am saying is move them in an even money deal and if the contract u r getting back helps your trading partner out you might get an asset back and move on in your rebuild.
The Leafs sure love to shoot themselves in the feet any chance they get. They are supposedly in full rebuild mode and trying to do it through the draft. So who do they chose as GM? The guy with the WORST draft record maybe ever out of any professional sport. A guy who left poor Ray Shero with an entire team that could qualify for Grey Power insurence. And if it’s supposed to be a situation like Pittsburghs where they hired an old guy who is just supposed to be a figure head and use his connections to accomplish what the young guys who are supposed to be the ones making the decisions ask them to. It didn’t work out that way in Pittsburgh and it likely won’t work in Toronto. Unfortunately those old guys egos won’t allow them to step back and listen to anyone else. And they end up working alone and just doing whatever they want. So for every Kessel they get for nothing they give away a Despres for nothing. I can’t wait to watch this latest mess unfold in Toronto. And after it looked so promising even just a week ago. And I am very amused by all the Babcock worship that is coming out of that fanbase. Like he’s some super guru who can turn bad players into superstars. His roster in Detroit was much, much better than the Leafs and they barely made it into the playoffs. All these people who actually think the Leafs have realistic playoff hopes just because of who their coach is are delusional.
my god, fans have to leave the Despres trade go. Yes Despres for Lovejoy alone is a bust and felt like the pens should have got a pick back in the trade as well to even it out, but at the same time the Pens sent Bortuzzo to the blues for Cole and won that trade. So if you break it down like this Despres for Cole and Bortuzzo for Lovejoy then things where pretty even if not the Pens have a little advantage sense Bortuzzo isn’t anything great and Despres wasn’t going to pan out in a penguins system.
Did you see Despres play in the playoffs? He tore it up. The series against the Blackhawks he was a monster. The Rangers scored 12 goals against the Penguins and Lovejoy was on the ice for 11 of them. You don’t trade a 23 year old, 6’4″, 220 pound defenseman with a high offensive acumen for a 31 year old, tiny, 6-7 dman who loses his assignment and gets scored on every time there is pressure. Pens fans see that trade as being in the Martin Erat for Forsberg level of terrible. Yes you could look at it as Despres for Cole but if he doesn’t make the Despres trade then they have Cole and Despres in the playoffs and maybe the Rangers get taken to the brink. That series was crazy close. Considering the Penguins played without their 4 best dmen they did pretty well. How many teams can play 2-1 games against the presidents trophy winners with their top 4 defensemen unavailable? Imagine Chicago without Seabrook, jalmerson, Oduya, and Keith? Even with all their talented forwards they arnt winning anything. Rutherford had a few other blunders. Signing Greiss was a mistake. 2 2nds for Winnik was crazy. Signing Erhoff was a mistake.
Reading Leafs fan comments is fun. Don’t worry, Babs will leave in 5-6 years, if that long, he’s not going to endear the psychopathic tor media and he will be made aware of that. I know nothing about your minor league teams but Babs was successful in the pre-salary cap era with DRW. Our budding NHl’s stepped up enough to get us into the playoffs and that had less to do with Babs than it did with Blashill. DRW should have went deeper in the playoffs last year but Babs could not seem to get them to adopt the killer instinct (plus the complete bs suspension and the whiniest coach ever in TB). So enjoy Babs speak and see you at the home opener!
Lamoriello evaluating the players he has could be the best move he could make. After all he has a new coach and a new system coming in and chances are some of the older players could become better under it. Could get more value from players if you chose to completely rebuild as well if they perform better as well. Joffrey Lupul, Tyler Bozak and Dion Phaneuf right now don’t have much of a value but if they perform under the new system they could increase their values and worst case is those that don’t, with the NHL having a possible expansion draft next year all you have to do is leave the play exposed and hope one of them takes that player to help build up there team. After all who doesn’t believe that Lupul wouldn’t have been left open if the expansion draft wasn’t today and without Kessel, Bozak has to perform and play with others which could increase his value if he can maintain his numbers or help another players numbers.
I believe the mainstream media has it slightly wrong here. Lou, I think was brought in not to create a plan but rather to help the less experienced guys implement the plan that Shanahan and his cohorts already have in place. By using Lou’s extensive experience and knowledge of other Gm’s and how they do business they now have a guy who can “show the ropes” or teach the “tricks of the trade” so to speak to Dubas, Hunter and even Shanahan. Don’t forget Lou practically single handedly wrote the first salary cap CBA, he’ll also be helpful to Pidham. If the plan was to trade Bozak and company 3 days ago then the plan is the same today only now they have a cagey vet to help implement the plan. Enjoy our day ppl
Laughable situation in TO
I love how they haven’t even played 1 game yet.. But Babcock is the saviour.
Just because you get a (new coach/new system) that doesn’t change the subpar players they have on the team. And they are paying him how much?? 5 million per year!!!!! Way to just throw money at a problem
(Not smart economics)
And how many cooks do they need in the kitchen?
Shanny, Dubas, Lou and some Hunter guy… Terrible offseason for the leafs so far
2/10 in my books
They are going nowhere fast!! Shticky
lol not sure why you ae pointing me out, Ive said repeatedly I dont think its a playoff or winning teamjust because Babcock is here but since you mentioned me we may aswell go over your latest trollish post…lots of teams have a president a gm and assistants…but its too many cooks for the Leafs? And You havent heard of Hunter and the Knights kinda speaks for itself…you should maybe google some of the players he picked and developed. Finally who cares how much coaches make if it doesnt count against a cap?
It matters how much you pay a coach.. Because there are expectations with big money
The leafs are just in a sad state and think they can throw money at their problems.. Not smart management
The issue is the Leafs need to bottom out next year and holding players to increase their trade value is counter productive.. just get rid of the garbage already!!!
Not like their value will increase anyways.. I mean lets just be realistic
Lol.. The leafs are just terrible at everything they try to do
You are speaking out 8f both sides of youre mouth they need to bottom out next uear so get rid of the garbage players already… if the players are terrible wouldnt keeping them help them bottom out? Whats to lose if they dont increase their value get another top 5 pick certainly wouldnt hurt a rebuild, if they keep them and they succedthey can possibly move them for others teams picks or prospects….again good for a rebuild. What are the expectations from a coach that has said its going to be painful for the next few years? Did you see or read anything that the expectations of a team that has repeatedly said its rebuilding or is that just the expert hockey opinion of a guy who doesnt know who the Hunters are or has obviously never heard of the London Knights? lol
K is just a troll with no opinions except to hate on the leafs and use a lot of exclamation marks. Best to just ignore him instead of trying to make sense of his nonsensical arguments. Sorry I meant is nonsensical arguments !!!!!!!
Except that he is right that they are terrible and everything they try to do. That’s why they couldn’t hire a coach that so many teams wanted.
The leafs are a bad team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But they have enough talent that they won’t bottom out.
Great plan for the rebuild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And they also payed a 3rd round pick for Lou!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to give up assets for a GM(to funny).. I can’t wait to hear how people will spin this in to a good deal for the leafs
Great point, because I’m sure they’re the only team that did that to talk to an executive under contract. What a great hockey mind you are. Taking a rule that applies to everyone and trying to make Toronto look like idiots for using it. You are such a troll
I regularly read Spector’s trade rumours and I quite often read the comments because at times they can be entertaining but I can’t understand the general hate for 1 team and the complete asinine comments. Are these individuals children because I have never seen adults act this way in public. Sadly for Lyle these children are ruining this site for hockey fans who enjoy reading the posts on here and I for one will probably not return as I can go to the local high school and hear the same garbage that gets spewed out here.
Ignore the comments and just read my stuff.