By Alex Hobson
Tomorrow is a day for tons of Canadians to celebrate the birth of their wonderful country. But for the average hockey fan, July 1st is a day to celebrate two things. A, Canada Day. And B, free agent frenzy. The day where tons of UFA's and RFA's explore different teams in hopes of cashing in and enjoying a change of scenery. The Leafs have made the announcement that they wouldn't be making any big splashes in terms of free agents on free agency day, but you can expect them to sign a couple of players. There is a chance that the roster overhaul takes place this summer, and if it does, you can't fill up your team with prospects, and Leafs management has made that clear. They will more than likely be signing players to one year contracts to fill in roster spots, and then potentially trading them at the deadline for prospects and picks. Even if the Leafs won't be as active as they usually are, Leafs fans should still be prepared for tomorrow. Without further ado, here are three potential players the Leafs should sign.
1. Cody Hodgson (C/LW, 6'0, 185lb)
After an atrocious 2014/15 campaign with the Buffalo Sabres, Hodgson was recently bought out by the club. He recorded only 13 points in 72 games with the Sabres and was regularly seeing fourth line time. As stated earlier, they recently bought him out, and the Leafs could look to give him a second chance where he'll likely see more minutes. A former first round draft pick by the Vancouver Canucks, Hodgson had a good first season in 2013, recording 34 points in 42 games, and even performed well last season, recording 44 points in 72 games. He's still young, at only 25 years old, so this could show to be a perfect match for Hodgson and the rebuilding Leafs squad.
2. Brad Boyes (LW, 6'1, 197lb)
Boyes was also recently bought out by his old team, the Florida Panthers, and could potentially be a low-risk high-reward player for the Leafs. He was a former first round pick by the Leafs in 2000, and he put up a respectable 38 points in 78 games with the Panthers in his 2014-15 campaign. With the Leafs needing to fill in holes on the roster, Boyes should at least be a consideration. He can fill in on any line for the rebuilding Leafs, and would be worth a couple of picks at the deadline from a contender, if signed to a one year contract.
3. Cody Franson (D, 6'5, 213lb)
Franson should be a familiar name to Leafs fans. He spent four seasons with the Leafs before being dealt to his former team, the Nashville Predators, in exchange for Olli Jokinen, Brendan Leipsic, and a 1st round pick. He's a solid defenseman, no doubt, but the asking price he wanted at the time was too steep for us to afford. That being said, he didn't appear to enjoy his time in Nashville and has stated that he would like to return to Toronto if given a call. This is a player that the Leafs should look into signing, but only if it's for the right price. Bad contracts have made this rebuild harder, and sometimes they take a miracle to get rid of (Hence the David Clarkson trade). But otherwise, a deal no longer than 5 years at $3-5 million would be ideal.
What do you think, Leafs fans? Should we pursue any of these free agents? Weigh in below.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Leafs 2015 NHL Draft Recap
By Alex Hobson
Well, the 2015 NHL Entry Draft has passed. The speculation, the mock drafts, the possible trades, it was all forgotten on June 26th, 2015. This was an exciting team for fans of teams of NHL teams, whether they be contending or rebuilding. Leafs fans were looking forward to this day for an extremely long time. It would be the day where the official rebuild began, the day where, at the time, 8 new prospects would join the Leafs' system as prospects. So how did the draft go by for the Leafs? Let's take a look.
To kick off the draft, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman took to the stage and gave his introduction, and then things took off. The Edmonton Oilers, who owned the first overall pick, walked up to the podium and selected generational talent Connor McDavid, to the surprise of no one. The Buffalo Sabres then made their pick and drafted the world's best consolation prize in Jack Eichel. And then, things began to heat up.
The three prospects that all Leafs fans were debating over were Dylan Strome, Mitch Marner, and Noah Hanifin. Whoever the Arizona Coyotes took with the third overall pick in the draft, would potentially dicate who the Leafs would draft at #4. The Coyotes stepped up, and drafted Dylan Strome. That left Marner and Hanifin as possibilities. A few minutes later, Leafs' Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter took to the podium and announced a name that could bolster their prospect pool. That name was Mitch Marner.
The trade generated a number of different reactions from Leafs fans. Half thought he was too small, the other half loved his skill. The reality is, Marner is now the Leafs' best prospect, and you can't go wrong with a player of his skill. The first round progressed, and right around pick #23, lots of Leafs fans were on their feet. They held the 24th overall pick in the draft, but then an announcement was made. The Toronto Maple Leafs had traded the 24th overall pick in the draft to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for the 29th and 61st picks in the draft. This seemed like a smart move, the draft was so insanely deep that the Leafs were essentially trading down to get more picks. The time came around again for the Leafs to pick at #29, and then another trade was announced. The Leafs had traded the 29th overall pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for picks #34 and #68. And voila, the Leafs turned a late first round pick into an early second, a late second, and an early third. Things were shaping up for the buds at the draft, so what came next?
It was the next day, June 27th, 2015. The Leafs had re-acquired their own second round pick, and there was tons of talent still availible. Names such as Brandon Carlo, Paul Bittner, Daniel Sprong, and Jansen Harkins, all projected first round picks, were still on the board. The Leafs went off the board a little bit at #34 and selected Travis Dermott, a six foot, 196 pound defenseman. Dermott was projected to go anywhere in the second round, but don't let the sudden pick scare you away. He was the Erie Otters' number one defenseman, and recorded 45 points in 61 games in the regular season, and had a postseason to remember, recording 15 points in 17 games. Later on in the second round, the Leafs went and selected a very small winger by the name of Jeremy Bracco, out of the USNTDP. Bracco was largely overlooked by his size, standing at 5'10 and 165 pounds, but this guy can score like a machine. He is third in all time scoring in the USNTDP, sitting behind only Patrick Kane and Phil Kessel. A couple picks later, the Leafs went with defenseman Andrew Nielson, a solid defensive defenseman from the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL. They then picked up a Latvian player by the name of Martins Dzierkals, a small scorer playing in Russia. Later on, they picked up defenseman Jesper Lindgren, a big, puck moving defenseman out of MODO of the Swedish Hockey League. The draft was going well so far. This is where it gets even more exciting.
With the Leafs' fifth round pick, they drafted a Ukrainian-Swedish winger named Dmytro Timashov, a player who most scouts reckoned would be gone by the end of the third round. The Quebec Remparts scorer put up an outstanding 90 points in 66 games in his first year of competition in the QMJHL. A pass-first type of player, he recorded above an assist per game with 71 assists over the 66 games he appeared in. With their sixth round pick, they drafted reliable defenseman Stephen Desrocher, who recently helped his OHL team, the Oshawa Generals, to a Memorial Cup. He recorded 23 points in 66 games as a defenseman, and is not shy in his own zone either. And finally, the Leafs drafted a huge steal in Nikita Korostelev, a big, scoring winger of the Sarnia Sting. Many scouts considered him as second or third round talent. He recorded 53 points in 55 games on the Sting, and he has a blistering wrist shot along with size.
This marked the end of the Leafs' draft. They steadily bolstered their prospect pool at the hands of Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas, and chipped in lots of prospects to help out in the rebuild. If they were to be given a grade for their efforts in this draft, they would be given a B+. They without a doubt added lots of solid prospect depth, but they are already stacked on the wing and could have used a centre prospect or two. That being said, they still did a great job at the draft and there are very few regrets to be made.
What do you think, Leafs fans? Are you satisfied with the draft? Weigh in below.
Well, the 2015 NHL Entry Draft has passed. The speculation, the mock drafts, the possible trades, it was all forgotten on June 26th, 2015. This was an exciting team for fans of teams of NHL teams, whether they be contending or rebuilding. Leafs fans were looking forward to this day for an extremely long time. It would be the day where the official rebuild began, the day where, at the time, 8 new prospects would join the Leafs' system as prospects. So how did the draft go by for the Leafs? Let's take a look.
To kick off the draft, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman took to the stage and gave his introduction, and then things took off. The Edmonton Oilers, who owned the first overall pick, walked up to the podium and selected generational talent Connor McDavid, to the surprise of no one. The Buffalo Sabres then made their pick and drafted the world's best consolation prize in Jack Eichel. And then, things began to heat up.
The three prospects that all Leafs fans were debating over were Dylan Strome, Mitch Marner, and Noah Hanifin. Whoever the Arizona Coyotes took with the third overall pick in the draft, would potentially dicate who the Leafs would draft at #4. The Coyotes stepped up, and drafted Dylan Strome. That left Marner and Hanifin as possibilities. A few minutes later, Leafs' Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter took to the podium and announced a name that could bolster their prospect pool. That name was Mitch Marner.
The trade generated a number of different reactions from Leafs fans. Half thought he was too small, the other half loved his skill. The reality is, Marner is now the Leafs' best prospect, and you can't go wrong with a player of his skill. The first round progressed, and right around pick #23, lots of Leafs fans were on their feet. They held the 24th overall pick in the draft, but then an announcement was made. The Toronto Maple Leafs had traded the 24th overall pick in the draft to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for the 29th and 61st picks in the draft. This seemed like a smart move, the draft was so insanely deep that the Leafs were essentially trading down to get more picks. The time came around again for the Leafs to pick at #29, and then another trade was announced. The Leafs had traded the 29th overall pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for picks #34 and #68. And voila, the Leafs turned a late first round pick into an early second, a late second, and an early third. Things were shaping up for the buds at the draft, so what came next?
It was the next day, June 27th, 2015. The Leafs had re-acquired their own second round pick, and there was tons of talent still availible. Names such as Brandon Carlo, Paul Bittner, Daniel Sprong, and Jansen Harkins, all projected first round picks, were still on the board. The Leafs went off the board a little bit at #34 and selected Travis Dermott, a six foot, 196 pound defenseman. Dermott was projected to go anywhere in the second round, but don't let the sudden pick scare you away. He was the Erie Otters' number one defenseman, and recorded 45 points in 61 games in the regular season, and had a postseason to remember, recording 15 points in 17 games. Later on in the second round, the Leafs went and selected a very small winger by the name of Jeremy Bracco, out of the USNTDP. Bracco was largely overlooked by his size, standing at 5'10 and 165 pounds, but this guy can score like a machine. He is third in all time scoring in the USNTDP, sitting behind only Patrick Kane and Phil Kessel. A couple picks later, the Leafs went with defenseman Andrew Nielson, a solid defensive defenseman from the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL. They then picked up a Latvian player by the name of Martins Dzierkals, a small scorer playing in Russia. Later on, they picked up defenseman Jesper Lindgren, a big, puck moving defenseman out of MODO of the Swedish Hockey League. The draft was going well so far. This is where it gets even more exciting.
With the Leafs' fifth round pick, they drafted a Ukrainian-Swedish winger named Dmytro Timashov, a player who most scouts reckoned would be gone by the end of the third round. The Quebec Remparts scorer put up an outstanding 90 points in 66 games in his first year of competition in the QMJHL. A pass-first type of player, he recorded above an assist per game with 71 assists over the 66 games he appeared in. With their sixth round pick, they drafted reliable defenseman Stephen Desrocher, who recently helped his OHL team, the Oshawa Generals, to a Memorial Cup. He recorded 23 points in 66 games as a defenseman, and is not shy in his own zone either. And finally, the Leafs drafted a huge steal in Nikita Korostelev, a big, scoring winger of the Sarnia Sting. Many scouts considered him as second or third round talent. He recorded 53 points in 55 games on the Sting, and he has a blistering wrist shot along with size.
This marked the end of the Leafs' draft. They steadily bolstered their prospect pool at the hands of Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas, and chipped in lots of prospects to help out in the rebuild. If they were to be given a grade for their efforts in this draft, they would be given a B+. They without a doubt added lots of solid prospect depth, but they are already stacked on the wing and could have used a centre prospect or two. That being said, they still did a great job at the draft and there are very few regrets to be made.
What do you think, Leafs fans? Are you satisfied with the draft? Weigh in below.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
3 Potential Trade Destinations For Phil Kessel
Well, the 2015 NHL Entry Draft is two days away. June 26th will be the day that every Leafs fan has waited and hoped for. Not only does it mark the day that we bring two top prospects into the organization, it also marks the day that we begin our rebuild. And part of this rebuild includes getting rid of our core. The main piece of this core, being star winger Phil Kessel. Lots of Leafs fans love Phil Kessel, others don't. You can't argue with the fact that he's a great hockey player. He has never had a #1 centre to work with over the years, yet he has still managed to put up points at almost a point per game pace every year. That being said, you can't build a cup winning team around a player like Phil Kessel. He would be a great compliment to any contending team, but it's time we restart and try to rebuild properly. In this article, we take a look at three possible destinations for Phil Kessel.
1. Florida Panthers
The Panthers may not have had too much success over the past couple of years, but in 2014-15 they proved that they're on their way to contending for a playoff spot, improving from getting the first overall pick in the 2014 Entry Draft, up to the 11th pick in the upcoming 2015 draft. They have lots of cap space to work with, and Kessel would be a fine compliment alongside of Aleksander Barkov on the top line. This all being said, the Leafs could look to take a struggling Jonathan Huberdeau off of Florida's hands. Huberdeau is a restricted free agent this year, and the Leafs could look to trade for him and then re-sign him, if Florida is getting Kessel back. Kessel would drastically improve their chances at a playoff spot next season, and it would work well on the Leafs' behalf considering they are already looking to pursue draft picks and prospects in return for their core.
Potential deal with Florida: Kessel to FLA in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau and the 11th overall pick in 2015
2. New Jersey Devils
What's the one thing New Jersey desperately needs? Scoring. They need scoring. With the Devils hiring newly-appointed GM Ray Shero, he will surely look to turn things around in Newark and trade for some offense. The Devils' organization has also previously stated that they would be willing to deal their first round pick. This almost looks like a match made in heaven. If interim GM Kyle Dubas and Ray Shero can work out a deal for "Phil the Thrill", then this trade could benefit both sides greatly.
Potential deal with New Jersey: Kessel to NJ in exchange for the sixth overall pick in the 2015 draft and prospect Reid Boucher
3. Montreal Canadiens
It's the same story for the Habs every year. They have a great regular season, and then they head into the playoffs, and the weight collapses on Carey Price's back. They have an outstanding goaltender, they have a good defensive core, but they lack that top scorer. They do have Max Pacioretty, but the scoring rate completely drops off after there. Almost every Leafs fan would hate to see Phil Kessel in the Bleu-Blanc-et-rouge, but this deal could prove to benefit both sides, as the Habs have Zach Fucale, a goaltender prospect whom they're unhappy with his development, they have a young centre in Alex Galchenyuk, whom they could be willing to fork over if they're getting Kessel in return, and they have a late first round pick. Fans of both sides would love and hate to see this deal take place, but in the end it could help both teams.
Potential deal with Montreal: Kessel to MTL in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk, Zach Fucale, and the 26th overall pick in the 2015 Draft.
What do you think, Leafs fans? Would you like to see any of these trades take place? Weigh in below.
1. Florida Panthers
The Panthers may not have had too much success over the past couple of years, but in 2014-15 they proved that they're on their way to contending for a playoff spot, improving from getting the first overall pick in the 2014 Entry Draft, up to the 11th pick in the upcoming 2015 draft. They have lots of cap space to work with, and Kessel would be a fine compliment alongside of Aleksander Barkov on the top line. This all being said, the Leafs could look to take a struggling Jonathan Huberdeau off of Florida's hands. Huberdeau is a restricted free agent this year, and the Leafs could look to trade for him and then re-sign him, if Florida is getting Kessel back. Kessel would drastically improve their chances at a playoff spot next season, and it would work well on the Leafs' behalf considering they are already looking to pursue draft picks and prospects in return for their core.
Potential deal with Florida: Kessel to FLA in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau and the 11th overall pick in 2015
2. New Jersey Devils
What's the one thing New Jersey desperately needs? Scoring. They need scoring. With the Devils hiring newly-appointed GM Ray Shero, he will surely look to turn things around in Newark and trade for some offense. The Devils' organization has also previously stated that they would be willing to deal their first round pick. This almost looks like a match made in heaven. If interim GM Kyle Dubas and Ray Shero can work out a deal for "Phil the Thrill", then this trade could benefit both sides greatly.
Potential deal with New Jersey: Kessel to NJ in exchange for the sixth overall pick in the 2015 draft and prospect Reid Boucher
3. Montreal Canadiens
It's the same story for the Habs every year. They have a great regular season, and then they head into the playoffs, and the weight collapses on Carey Price's back. They have an outstanding goaltender, they have a good defensive core, but they lack that top scorer. They do have Max Pacioretty, but the scoring rate completely drops off after there. Almost every Leafs fan would hate to see Phil Kessel in the Bleu-Blanc-et-rouge, but this deal could prove to benefit both sides, as the Habs have Zach Fucale, a goaltender prospect whom they're unhappy with his development, they have a young centre in Alex Galchenyuk, whom they could be willing to fork over if they're getting Kessel in return, and they have a late first round pick. Fans of both sides would love and hate to see this deal take place, but in the end it could help both teams.
Potential deal with Montreal: Kessel to MTL in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk, Zach Fucale, and the 26th overall pick in the 2015 Draft.
What do you think, Leafs fans? Would you like to see any of these trades take place? Weigh in below.
CBJ of the Day: Matt Calvert
By William Espy
The Blue Jackets increasingly find diamonds in the rough when
it comes to the entry draft, but this extends back up to seven years ago. In
the fifth round of the 2008 NHL entry draft, the Blue Jackets drafted a small
winger (currently in 2015, he is 5’11” 187 pounds) named Matt Calvert. At the
time, Calvert appeared to be nothing special compared to most NHL prospects
however he has grown into a core piece on the Blue Jackets.
“Matty Hustle” as he is affectionately called by the Blue
Jackets faithful is known for what his name implies. Even during the dark parts
of recent history, whether it be the end of the Nash period or the injury
plagued season that Columbus fans remember like it was yesterday (because it
essentially was) Calvert was always a bright spot. During the successful run
however, Calvert seemed to be forgotten by many. His contributions seemed to
not matter as much. One thing that will never be forgotten about him, is that
he scored the game winning goal to give the Blue Jackets their first playoff
win in franchise history.
FREE AGENT
STATUS: RESIGN
Calvert is currently a pending RFA, and he has never been
able to have his “breakout” year due to injuries that occur almost annually. Once
he is able to have that year which appears to be coming sooner rather than
later, he will cement his place in the Blue Jackets lineup. I would not be
surprised if the Blue Jackets match any offer sheet that he receives after July
1 (If they give him a qualifying offer) if it becomes necessary.
STATUS:
AVALIABLE FOR THE RIGHT PRICE
If the Blue Jackets do resign Calvert, there is no guarantee
that he will stay in Columbus long-term. If Jarmo Kekalainen receives what he
feels to be a fair offer that fills a need, he will likely take it. The “right
price” for Matt Calvert would be similar to that of Cam Atkinson. If Calvert is
going to be moved out of Columbus, it’ll likely have to be a massive
overpayment coming back. Expect to see Matty Hustle back in the union blue next
season.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Trade Bait for the Bruins
By Isaac Edwards
In today's NHL, It's not easy to have a team that's capable of winning the Stanley Cup, and staying within the salary cap. That's something that's been haunting the Boston Bruins for too long now. They've had the right pieces of the puzzle in previous years, but have had to let a few players walk due to the salary cap, and have paid the price for it, especially this past season. Here are a few players I think they could possibly deal during the off-season and the 2015-16 season as a whole.
Chris Kelly
At 34 years of age, Chris Kelly is a veteran forward in the NHL, and could be a valuable player for a young team who needs a veteran's experience like Toronto or Edmonton. I've been saying that the Bruins should try and deal Kelly along with Malcolm Subban, a few prospects, and maybe a draft pick or two for a guy like Jordan Eberle. The trade would work for both teams, as Edmonton needs a guy like Kelly to help lead the team to success. Subban has great potential, and could become a #1 starter in the NHL someday, and the Oilers could for sure use him. Even though Edmonton has a ton of young prospects without this years upcoming draft, a few other players couldn't hurt. As for Boston, they desperately need a goal scorer, and that's where Eberle comes in. One thing that could certainly hurt Boston in this deal is that they'd need the Oilers to retain some of Eberle's salary, just because Kelly's contract is only worth 3M, and Eberle's is 6M. If this trade was to ever happen, I'd really like to see it happen before the upcoming draft.
Dennis Seidenberg
Much like Chris Kelly, Dennis Seidenberg is a veteran player who would fit with a team who needs a player who rookies can look up to. He's 33 years old, with a cap hit of 4M for the next 3 seasons. I'm not exactly sure who they would trade Seidenberg for, or who they would get in return for him, but if they need to dump some cap space to make room for a player to sign, Dennis is a nice option to have. A possible destination for Seidenberg could possibly be Ottawa. Though they already have star players like Erik Karlsson and Mark Methot, they also have several younger defensemen like Cody Ceci who could use the extra help from the experienced D-man. I'm not quite sure what the Bruins would get in return, but I'd like to maybe see a guy like Colin Greening come over along with maybe a prospect and a draft pick or two.
Zdeno Chara
Every single Bruins fan has their own opinion on this topic, and I don't want to see Big Z get traded. He's one of the best defensemen in the league, and is an absolute monster at 6"9. But if the right deal ever came up, I think Bruins' GM Don Sweeney should consider it. I have no idea what they would get in return, or who they would send him to, but they would probably get something good in return. If he ever is traded, it will probably be around the trade deadline, and only if the Bruins are on the track of missing the playoffs again. He has a monster of a contract at just about 7M for the next two seasons, and then 4M after that.
Dougie Hamilton
I think that if the Bruins trade Dougie Hamilton it will for sure be before the draft this coming Friday/Saturday. I've heard rumors that they could possibly trade his rights to Arizona for their 3rd overall pick. I would like if that happened, because Boston could draft a goal scorer like Dylan Strome. Hamilton is asking for a monster contract extension this off-season and wants around a 6-7M deal which Boston obviously can't afford.
Reilly Smith
Like Chara and Hamilton, I don't really want the Bruins to trade Reilly Smith, just because he has great potential. He's inked for around 3.5M for the next two seasons, and probably deserves a bigger contract, but signed for cheap with Boston knowing their cap space issues. I think that if he is traded, it will be part of a big deal that could possibly involve a name like Zdeno Chara or Milan Lucic which I would not like to see. A more likable deal would be trading Smith and Marc Savard's contract somewhere's else. Savard's on the Long Term IR, and has a cap hit of just a bit over 4M for the next two seasons. Like Chara though, I'd doubt you'll see Smith get traded.
In today's NHL, It's not easy to have a team that's capable of winning the Stanley Cup, and staying within the salary cap. That's something that's been haunting the Boston Bruins for too long now. They've had the right pieces of the puzzle in previous years, but have had to let a few players walk due to the salary cap, and have paid the price for it, especially this past season. Here are a few players I think they could possibly deal during the off-season and the 2015-16 season as a whole.
Chris Kelly
At 34 years of age, Chris Kelly is a veteran forward in the NHL, and could be a valuable player for a young team who needs a veteran's experience like Toronto or Edmonton. I've been saying that the Bruins should try and deal Kelly along with Malcolm Subban, a few prospects, and maybe a draft pick or two for a guy like Jordan Eberle. The trade would work for both teams, as Edmonton needs a guy like Kelly to help lead the team to success. Subban has great potential, and could become a #1 starter in the NHL someday, and the Oilers could for sure use him. Even though Edmonton has a ton of young prospects without this years upcoming draft, a few other players couldn't hurt. As for Boston, they desperately need a goal scorer, and that's where Eberle comes in. One thing that could certainly hurt Boston in this deal is that they'd need the Oilers to retain some of Eberle's salary, just because Kelly's contract is only worth 3M, and Eberle's is 6M. If this trade was to ever happen, I'd really like to see it happen before the upcoming draft.
Dennis Seidenberg
Much like Chris Kelly, Dennis Seidenberg is a veteran player who would fit with a team who needs a player who rookies can look up to. He's 33 years old, with a cap hit of 4M for the next 3 seasons. I'm not exactly sure who they would trade Seidenberg for, or who they would get in return for him, but if they need to dump some cap space to make room for a player to sign, Dennis is a nice option to have. A possible destination for Seidenberg could possibly be Ottawa. Though they already have star players like Erik Karlsson and Mark Methot, they also have several younger defensemen like Cody Ceci who could use the extra help from the experienced D-man. I'm not quite sure what the Bruins would get in return, but I'd like to maybe see a guy like Colin Greening come over along with maybe a prospect and a draft pick or two.
Zdeno Chara
Every single Bruins fan has their own opinion on this topic, and I don't want to see Big Z get traded. He's one of the best defensemen in the league, and is an absolute monster at 6"9. But if the right deal ever came up, I think Bruins' GM Don Sweeney should consider it. I have no idea what they would get in return, or who they would send him to, but they would probably get something good in return. If he ever is traded, it will probably be around the trade deadline, and only if the Bruins are on the track of missing the playoffs again. He has a monster of a contract at just about 7M for the next two seasons, and then 4M after that.
Dougie Hamilton
I think that if the Bruins trade Dougie Hamilton it will for sure be before the draft this coming Friday/Saturday. I've heard rumors that they could possibly trade his rights to Arizona for their 3rd overall pick. I would like if that happened, because Boston could draft a goal scorer like Dylan Strome. Hamilton is asking for a monster contract extension this off-season and wants around a 6-7M deal which Boston obviously can't afford.
Reilly Smith
Like Chara and Hamilton, I don't really want the Bruins to trade Reilly Smith, just because he has great potential. He's inked for around 3.5M for the next two seasons, and probably deserves a bigger contract, but signed for cheap with Boston knowing their cap space issues. I think that if he is traded, it will be part of a big deal that could possibly involve a name like Zdeno Chara or Milan Lucic which I would not like to see. A more likable deal would be trading Smith and Marc Savard's contract somewhere's else. Savard's on the Long Term IR, and has a cap hit of just a bit over 4M for the next two seasons. Like Chara though, I'd doubt you'll see Smith get traded.
CBJ of the Day: Rene Bourque
By William Espy
On March 2, 2015 the Columbus Blue Jackets traded
fan-favorite defenseman James Wisniewski to the Anaheim Ducks for William “Wild
Bill” Karlsson, a 2015 second round draft pick, and a 33 year old left handed
right wing by the name of Rene Bourque. Bourque was an undrafted forward who
first appeared in the NHL during the 2005-2006 season with the Chicago
Blackhawks. He would reach the peak of his career with the Calgary Flames in
the 2009-2010 season and then quickly went downhill. The Alberta native had a
solid season in 2010-2011, however in 2011-2012 a trade to the Montreal
Canadiens would seemingly shatter his good play. In 76 games between Calgary
and Montreal, he would be held to only 24 points, and then with Montreal he
posted 13, 16 and 2 over the next three years never playing a full season and
eventually being sent down to the Hamilton Bulldogs. In the 2014 playoffs,
Bourque showed that he could still provide a scoring touch putting up eight
goals (2 GWG) over seventeen games.
On November 20, 2014 Bourque would be traded to the Anaheim
Ducks in exchange for defenseman Bryan Allen. Bourque had hoped to restart his career;
however he would only post two goals and eight points in his thirty games with
Anaheim. Just before the trade deadline, he cleared waivers and it looked to be
all over for him. But suddenly, he was traded to Columbus. Once he arrived in
Columbus, he was immediately sent down to the Springfield Falcons but before
long injuries began to continue taking a toll on the Blue Jackets roster and
Bourque got his chance. Bourque knew that this was likely his final chance to
make an NHL roster and he showed it in his play. He seemed determined to make a
play whether it was a goal or a big hit. His tenure in Columbus would start off
slow with only one point in his first six games, however in his final two games
of the season he would score three goals bringing his total in the union blue
to four points (all goals) in eight games.
STATUS:
UNMOVABLE
Do not confuse “unmovable” with untouchable, for the right
price Bourque would quickly be available in trade negotiations and that price
likely wouldn’t be very high. At this point in his career, it is unlikely that any
team would be willing to take a chance on him with his relatively high cap hit
and only one year remaining. If a team is willing to take him on, they will
likely wait until next off season and sign him on a much more affordable deal.
Bourque however, knows this almost certainly is his final chance at the NHL
level and needs to play like it. His desperation could help the Jackets in
various ways as he will likely play harder in all three zones in an attempt to
impress general managers around the league. Jarmo Kekalainen may have found a
diamond in the rough at a perfect time.
AROUND THE WEB RECAP OF DUCKS’ MOCK DRAFT SELECTIONS
By Sean James
Bleacher Report on Jun. 22
Kelly Friesen of Bleacher Report on Jun. 6
Winging it in Motown of SB Nation on Jun. 11:
Daniel Sprong – RW, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
In terms of skill, he’s a top 10-worthy pick. However, his smaller size seems to have hurt his ranking. However, he has some very good offensive upside with a good wrist shot with a quick release. He has good hands and can burn by many defenders with his speed. He has a very high hockey IQ when he has the puck. Needs to add muscle and work on his game without the puck and play in the defensive zone. His talent has been compared to Alexander Semin.
Damien Cox of Rogers Sportsnet on Jun. 13,
NESN on Jun. 22:
Paul Bittner – LW, Portland (WHL)
Has excellent size at 6’4”-194. His style of play has been compared to Scott Hartnell of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He’s a hard worker along the boards and gets to the dirty areas. He has soft hands and a powerful skating stride. He’s a big strong kid with a big shot, but scouts have said that he needs to learn how to use that size and strength more consistently.
BSN Denver on Jun. 3,
The Cannon of SB Nation on Apr. 2:
Denis Guryanov – RW, Ladia Togliatti (MHL)
This guy is an interesting prospect. He has only played eight games of professional hockey and has not yet appeared for Russia’s top junior team. However, scouts have said that his skill level could potentially make him a top-line player. He has shown a natural ability to score goals and create opportunities. He has good puck skills with a good shot and a fast release. At 6’2”-185, he does possess some decent size. Much like many other Russians, he is an excellent skater with a great first step. Scouts have also said that he should not have a problem acclimating to the North American game.
CSN New England on Jun. 2,
USA Today on Jun. 1:
Jordan Greenway – LW, USNTDP (USHL); Will be attending Boston University
Greenway is another guy that could be available at the Ducks’ slot that has a good power forward game. Scouts compared his play to Milan Lucic, who while he can be quite a dick at times, is still a pretty good power forward. Greenway is 6’5” and listed at 223. Scouts have raved at his ability to winning battles along the boards with his physicality while also using that strength to protect the puck. He does not possess an overly powerful shot and his release reportedly needs to be worked on. Also, his overall consistency has not been impressive apparently.
Broad Street Buzz of the Fansided Sports Network on Jun. 14:
Jake DeBrusk – LW, Swift Current (WHL)
DeBrusk is one of the better two-way prospects available in this draft. To go along with his good two-way play, DeBrusk has good mobility and a nice scoring touch. He has always been willing to get to the dirty areas and play below the hashmarks. He is not physically imposing, but he has some nice skill that can be used to create space for himself and his teammates.
The Draft Analyst on Jun. 1:
Colin White – C, USNTDP (USHL); Will be attending Boston College
His rankings are kind of all over the place. He has been ranked anywhere from 18-49. Scouts compare him to Ryan Callahan in his style of play. He is very responsible in the defensive zone and is a hard backchecker and forechecker. He also is an excellent passer with nice vision and quick hands. However, scouts have said he needs to work on his skating and also needs to add some muscle to his frame.
The Hockey Writers on Jun. 4:
Jeremy Bracco – C/RW, USNTDP (USHL); Will be attending Boston College
His style of play is much like fellow young American, Johnny Gaudreau, who has comparable size. Bracco is only 5’9”-172, but his talent makes up for that small size. He has excellent playmaking skill that could help him excel on the PP. His vision, speed and hockey IQ have had scouts raving about his offensive upside. Bracco has a huge work ethic, but his defensive ability and backcheck is not good.
MyNHLDraft.com on Jun. 16:
Jansen Harkins – C, Prince George (WHL)
His all-around style has drawn comparisons to David Krejci who combines blue collar, defensive responsibility coupled with good playmaking ability. As some scouts have said, he does all the little things well. He makes high-percentage plays in all three zones and is a very smooth skater who garnished the reputation of a guy who outworks the opposition on a nightly basis. He has also shown leadership qualities that could lead him to being a captain or an alternate at the NHL-level.
TodaysSlapshot.com on Jun 4th:
Jack Roslovic – C, USNTDP (USHL); Will be attending University of Miami (OH)
Roslovic has been a surprise and a bit of a late bloomer. He began his career with the USNTDP as a fourth liner, but has progressed to play with future 1st round picks Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk on the top line. He has developed a nice offensive skillset with hands that help him stickhandle in difficult situations and tight spaces. He is a good passer with good vision on the ice. However, when playing against older opposition, it was noticeable that he was being shoved around too much. He was not effective and it became clear that he needs to bulk up more and work on his shot so he can become a complete scoring threat.
To be honest, I would be happy with any of these prospects. I have full faith in Ducks GM Bob Murray and scout David McNab to make good use of every draft pick, as usual. Over the last handful of years, the Ducks have become one of the best drafting teams in the league and Ducks fans are accustomed now to them picking prospects who develop into NHL-caliber players. They will almost certainly go with a forward in the first round with how well the blue line is shaping up for the future.
Bleacher Report on Jun. 22
Kelly Friesen of Bleacher Report on Jun. 6
Winging it in Motown of SB Nation on Jun. 11:
Daniel Sprong – RW, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
In terms of skill, he’s a top 10-worthy pick. However, his smaller size seems to have hurt his ranking. However, he has some very good offensive upside with a good wrist shot with a quick release. He has good hands and can burn by many defenders with his speed. He has a very high hockey IQ when he has the puck. Needs to add muscle and work on his game without the puck and play in the defensive zone. His talent has been compared to Alexander Semin.
Damien Cox of Rogers Sportsnet on Jun. 13,
NESN on Jun. 22:
Paul Bittner – LW, Portland (WHL)
Has excellent size at 6’4”-194. His style of play has been compared to Scott Hartnell of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He’s a hard worker along the boards and gets to the dirty areas. He has soft hands and a powerful skating stride. He’s a big strong kid with a big shot, but scouts have said that he needs to learn how to use that size and strength more consistently.
BSN Denver on Jun. 3,
The Cannon of SB Nation on Apr. 2:
Denis Guryanov – RW, Ladia Togliatti (MHL)
This guy is an interesting prospect. He has only played eight games of professional hockey and has not yet appeared for Russia’s top junior team. However, scouts have said that his skill level could potentially make him a top-line player. He has shown a natural ability to score goals and create opportunities. He has good puck skills with a good shot and a fast release. At 6’2”-185, he does possess some decent size. Much like many other Russians, he is an excellent skater with a great first step. Scouts have also said that he should not have a problem acclimating to the North American game.
CSN New England on Jun. 2,
USA Today on Jun. 1:
Jordan Greenway – LW, USNTDP (USHL); Will be attending Boston University
Greenway is another guy that could be available at the Ducks’ slot that has a good power forward game. Scouts compared his play to Milan Lucic, who while he can be quite a dick at times, is still a pretty good power forward. Greenway is 6’5” and listed at 223. Scouts have raved at his ability to winning battles along the boards with his physicality while also using that strength to protect the puck. He does not possess an overly powerful shot and his release reportedly needs to be worked on. Also, his overall consistency has not been impressive apparently.
Broad Street Buzz of the Fansided Sports Network on Jun. 14:
Jake DeBrusk – LW, Swift Current (WHL)
DeBrusk is one of the better two-way prospects available in this draft. To go along with his good two-way play, DeBrusk has good mobility and a nice scoring touch. He has always been willing to get to the dirty areas and play below the hashmarks. He is not physically imposing, but he has some nice skill that can be used to create space for himself and his teammates.
The Draft Analyst on Jun. 1:
Colin White – C, USNTDP (USHL); Will be attending Boston College
His rankings are kind of all over the place. He has been ranked anywhere from 18-49. Scouts compare him to Ryan Callahan in his style of play. He is very responsible in the defensive zone and is a hard backchecker and forechecker. He also is an excellent passer with nice vision and quick hands. However, scouts have said he needs to work on his skating and also needs to add some muscle to his frame.
The Hockey Writers on Jun. 4:
Jeremy Bracco – C/RW, USNTDP (USHL); Will be attending Boston College
His style of play is much like fellow young American, Johnny Gaudreau, who has comparable size. Bracco is only 5’9”-172, but his talent makes up for that small size. He has excellent playmaking skill that could help him excel on the PP. His vision, speed and hockey IQ have had scouts raving about his offensive upside. Bracco has a huge work ethic, but his defensive ability and backcheck is not good.
MyNHLDraft.com on Jun. 16:
Jansen Harkins – C, Prince George (WHL)
His all-around style has drawn comparisons to David Krejci who combines blue collar, defensive responsibility coupled with good playmaking ability. As some scouts have said, he does all the little things well. He makes high-percentage plays in all three zones and is a very smooth skater who garnished the reputation of a guy who outworks the opposition on a nightly basis. He has also shown leadership qualities that could lead him to being a captain or an alternate at the NHL-level.
TodaysSlapshot.com on Jun 4th:
Jack Roslovic – C, USNTDP (USHL); Will be attending University of Miami (OH)
Roslovic has been a surprise and a bit of a late bloomer. He began his career with the USNTDP as a fourth liner, but has progressed to play with future 1st round picks Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk on the top line. He has developed a nice offensive skillset with hands that help him stickhandle in difficult situations and tight spaces. He is a good passer with good vision on the ice. However, when playing against older opposition, it was noticeable that he was being shoved around too much. He was not effective and it became clear that he needs to bulk up more and work on his shot so he can become a complete scoring threat.
To be honest, I would be happy with any of these prospects. I have full faith in Ducks GM Bob Murray and scout David McNab to make good use of every draft pick, as usual. Over the last handful of years, the Ducks have become one of the best drafting teams in the league and Ducks fans are accustomed now to them picking prospects who develop into NHL-caliber players. They will almost certainly go with a forward in the first round with how well the blue line is shaping up for the future.
Three Possible Trade Destinations for Dion Phaneuf
By Alex Hobson
With the NHL Entry Draft taking place on friday, the Leafs have lots of trade chips to work with as they enter their rebuild. When you think of players that the Leafs could potentially trade, one name that comes to mind is defenseman and captain Dion Phaneuf. Phaneuf was nearly dealt to the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline in exchange for defenseman Brendan Smith, prospect Teemu Pulkkinen, and forward Stephen Weiss, but the Leafs backed out of the deal because they didn't want Weiss and his contract. That being said, the Leafs could still possible look to trade the captain over the next week in exchange for prospects and draft picks. The Leafs were aiming to return to Detroit to pursue a potential Phaneuf deal, given the fact that highly-touted prospect Anthony Mantha was on the trading block, but they informed Leafs management that they were no longer interested in trading for him any longer. So without further ado, here are three possible trade destinations for Dion Phaneuf.
1. Colorado Avalanche
In 2013-14, the Avalanche went from having the first overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, to nearly claiming the President's Trophy for having one of the best regular season records in the NHL. Unfortunately, their run of glory was cut short in round one of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs after being defeated in seven games by the Minnesota Wild. One reason for this was that they need a little more help on defense in order to go farther in the playoffs, and Phaneuf could be a perfect fit. He could play alongside of Erik Johnson, the Avalanche's top right handed defenseman. They currently have the cap space to work with him, and at the moment they're shopping around centre Ryan O'Reilly. Could this work for a potential deal?
Potential trade with Colorado: Dion Phaneuf to Colorado in exchange for Ryan O'Reilly
2. Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are yet another team that needs lots of help on defense. They have mentioned that they are willing to part with their fifth overall selection in the draft this year, so the Leafs could be sitting on a gold mine for this one. They will need to take back some salary as a cap dump, which makes perfect sense because the Hurricanes currently have forward Alexander Semin, who has three years left on a six year contract at $7 million per year, so the Leafs could take back Semin for three more years and see if he can prove himself, and if not, release him at the end of his contract.
Potential trade with Carolina: Dion Phaneuf and the 24th overall pick in 2015 to Carolina in exchange for Alexander Semin and the 5th overall pick in the draft.
3. Edmonton Oilers
After years and years of failiure, the Oilers look like they're actually going to turn it around. They hired Peter Chiarelli as general manager and Todd McLellan as head coach, and after winning the draft lottery, they're positioned to select Connor McDavid, a generational talent, with the first overall pick in the draft. If the Oilers are serious about pushing for the playoffs next year, they're going to need some help on defense, and they have lots of cap space to work with. Edmonton also has a second first round pick to work with, acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh that sent forward David Perron to the Penguins in exchange for their first round pick and Rob Klinkhammer. This could be a straight up trade to the Oilers if they wanted to make a playoff push. They could also be willing to unload some salary if they're bringing in Phaneuf, and they have a couple of players to work with in that area.
Potential trade with Edmonton: Dion Phaneuf and a 4th round pick in 2016 to Edmonton in exchange for the 16th overall pick in the draft and Nikita Nikitin.
Keep in mind, newly appointed head coach Mike Babcock is a big fan of Dion Phaneuf, so there is always the offchance that Phaneuf remains in Toronto for the next year at least, and looks to redeem his game under Babcock, but there is also the possibility of him getting dealt within the next week.
What's your take on this, Leafs fans? Would you like to see any of these deals go through? Weigh in below and leave feedback.
With the NHL Entry Draft taking place on friday, the Leafs have lots of trade chips to work with as they enter their rebuild. When you think of players that the Leafs could potentially trade, one name that comes to mind is defenseman and captain Dion Phaneuf. Phaneuf was nearly dealt to the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline in exchange for defenseman Brendan Smith, prospect Teemu Pulkkinen, and forward Stephen Weiss, but the Leafs backed out of the deal because they didn't want Weiss and his contract. That being said, the Leafs could still possible look to trade the captain over the next week in exchange for prospects and draft picks. The Leafs were aiming to return to Detroit to pursue a potential Phaneuf deal, given the fact that highly-touted prospect Anthony Mantha was on the trading block, but they informed Leafs management that they were no longer interested in trading for him any longer. So without further ado, here are three possible trade destinations for Dion Phaneuf.
1. Colorado Avalanche
In 2013-14, the Avalanche went from having the first overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, to nearly claiming the President's Trophy for having one of the best regular season records in the NHL. Unfortunately, their run of glory was cut short in round one of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs after being defeated in seven games by the Minnesota Wild. One reason for this was that they need a little more help on defense in order to go farther in the playoffs, and Phaneuf could be a perfect fit. He could play alongside of Erik Johnson, the Avalanche's top right handed defenseman. They currently have the cap space to work with him, and at the moment they're shopping around centre Ryan O'Reilly. Could this work for a potential deal?
Potential trade with Colorado: Dion Phaneuf to Colorado in exchange for Ryan O'Reilly
2. Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are yet another team that needs lots of help on defense. They have mentioned that they are willing to part with their fifth overall selection in the draft this year, so the Leafs could be sitting on a gold mine for this one. They will need to take back some salary as a cap dump, which makes perfect sense because the Hurricanes currently have forward Alexander Semin, who has three years left on a six year contract at $7 million per year, so the Leafs could take back Semin for three more years and see if he can prove himself, and if not, release him at the end of his contract.
Potential trade with Carolina: Dion Phaneuf and the 24th overall pick in 2015 to Carolina in exchange for Alexander Semin and the 5th overall pick in the draft.
3. Edmonton Oilers
After years and years of failiure, the Oilers look like they're actually going to turn it around. They hired Peter Chiarelli as general manager and Todd McLellan as head coach, and after winning the draft lottery, they're positioned to select Connor McDavid, a generational talent, with the first overall pick in the draft. If the Oilers are serious about pushing for the playoffs next year, they're going to need some help on defense, and they have lots of cap space to work with. Edmonton also has a second first round pick to work with, acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh that sent forward David Perron to the Penguins in exchange for their first round pick and Rob Klinkhammer. This could be a straight up trade to the Oilers if they wanted to make a playoff push. They could also be willing to unload some salary if they're bringing in Phaneuf, and they have a couple of players to work with in that area.
Potential trade with Edmonton: Dion Phaneuf and a 4th round pick in 2016 to Edmonton in exchange for the 16th overall pick in the draft and Nikita Nikitin.
Keep in mind, newly appointed head coach Mike Babcock is a big fan of Dion Phaneuf, so there is always the offchance that Phaneuf remains in Toronto for the next year at least, and looks to redeem his game under Babcock, but there is also the possibility of him getting dealt within the next week.
What's your take on this, Leafs fans? Would you like to see any of these deals go through? Weigh in below and leave feedback.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
CBJ of the Day: Jared Boll
By William Espy
The 2005 draft is one that most Jackets fans would like to
forget. The draft known as the “Crosby lottery” featured talents such as Sidney
Crosby, Bobby Ryan and many others. The Jackets selected sixth overall and
chose talented center Gilbert Brule. Brule’s talent would not flourish at the
NHL level, and would come to be known as possibly the biggest bust in franchise
history. The 2005 draft did have one success for the Blue Jackets however; in
the fourth round they would select Jared Rittenhouse Boll. The enforcer made
his NHL debut in 2007 and has been with the Jackets ever since. He created fear
around the league and quickly became a fan favorite in Columbus. Recently, his
usefulness to the team has come into question as it begins to move forward.
In the 2014-2015 season, Boll posted a measly 5 points in 72
games for the Jackets. While scoring has never been his main role with the
team, Boll is no longer feared league-wide like he used to be and has seemingly
been replaced by Dalton Prout as the team’s go to enforcer. The one positive
for Boll about that season was setting the franchise record in penalty minutes
breaking the mark previously set by current Fox Sports Ohio announcer Jody
Shelley. Near the end of the season, Boll became a healthy scratch regularly as
Todd Richards attempted to use four scoring lines rather than three scoring
lines and an energy line which proved to be a massive success.
STATUS: NOT
NEEDED
Boll is a massively overpaid enforcer and with the abundance
of forwards in the Blue Jackets system, he does not fit into the lineup if he
cannot produce any points. The transition from three scoring lines to four has
removed the need for an enforcer for the most part. When an enforcer is
required however, Boll has seemingly been replaced by Dalton Prout. The only
option for Boll would likely be a buy-out in order to remove him from the team,
however that is highly unlikely. The buyout window ends June 30, and it would
be a massive sign of disrespect for the longest tenured player on the team to
be bought out in his final year under contract. I expect him to spend a
majority of the season in the press box unless he does prove to management that
he has a place on the team when he gets an opportunity. The stat chart below
shows that over the past few seasons Boll has not even played to the level of
the average fourth liner in any category which will need to change for him to stay in Columbus.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Who We Need To Trade And Why
By Alex Hobson
There has been tons of speculation over the past two months about who the Leafs need to trade in order for this rebuild to function well. From trade rumours, to possible returns, to people arguing about who's worth what and what they could return, it's all been covered by analysts and different writers. There are four players I can think of off of the top of my head that I think need to be shipped out of the blue and white to kick off the new era of the Toronto Maple Leafs. So who needs to go?
1. Phil Kessel
It all began on September 18th, 2009, when Kessel was acquired from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2010 first round pick (Tyler Seguin), a 2010 second round pick (Jared Knight), and a 2011 first round pick (Dougie Hamilton). This trade was a sign that newly-appointed general manager Brian Burke wanted to win. Now, everyone knows Kessel is an elite scorer. he scored consistently for the Leafs throughout the last four seasons. He doesn't have a true number one centre to play with, but he still manages to put up close to a point per game rate every season. That being said, Kessel is not the type of player you want to build around. He can definitely put up points, but he's not good defensively and never throws his body. All in all, he's a one dimensional player, and not someone you use during a rebuild. On the bright side, Kessel still has tons of value, and he has a really high price for any team that takes him. If Kessel can generate a good return if he's traded within the next week, then I believe it'll work well for both sides.
Possible return for Kessel: First round pick, prospect, and roster player.
2. Dion Phaneuf
Everyone misses the Dion Phaneuf from 2010. The hard-hitting, sharpshooting, defenseman that every team hated to play against. From the moment Phaneuf arrived in Toronto in 2010, he was pinned with a large amount of pressure. He was given constant top two minutes, compared to the top four minutes he was recieving in Calgary, and he was named team captain shortly after the season ended. Phaneuf was expected to play like a top two defenseman, but unfortanately the pressure got to him, and he isn't performing as expected as of late. He was almost traded to Detroit at the trade deadline for Brendan Smith, Teemu Pulkkinen, and Stephen Weiss, but the Leafs backed out of the trade. Phaneuf seems to just need a fresh start, and he might get that this summer. But there's always the possibility that he's given another chance to prove himself under head coach Mike Babcock, as Babcock is a big fan of Phaneuf and was one of the main reasons he was almost dealt to the Wings. If he stays, expect him to be stripped of his captaincy and be given less minutes, to hopefully help him thrive as a player.
Possible return for Phaneuf: Prospect, roster player, cap dump.
3. Joffrey Lupul
Here's the deal with Lupul. He's a great player when he's playing, but when he's injured, he's a liability to the team due to his salary. And unfortunately for Lupes, he's injured a lot. He's prone to play as little as 30 games per season for the Leafs, and if that's going to be the case every year, then there's no point in keeping him if all he's going to do is eat up cap space. Lupul, to Leafs fans, is either a fan favourite or someone everyone wants shipped out. If he had a couple million less on his annual pay, he might be someone to keep during this rebuild, but $5.25 million per year is nothing to be cracking jokes about. There is a large possibility that the Leafs will be looking to trade him, but not many teams will be looking to acquire him due to his salary and durability, so there's a 50/50 chance as to whether he gets moved or not.
Possible return for Lupul: Second round pick or prospect, roster player
4. Tyler Bozak
Bozak made his way onto the Leafs in 2009 as an unsigned free agent. Unfortunately for Bozie, he's been given way too much to handle during his time with the Leafs, most of this pressure being first line minutes, playing alongside of Phil Kessel due to their close friendship and chemistry, and being given first powerplay and penalty kill unit minutes. Bozak has put up a decent amount of points since his arrival, with his career year being 2013-14 when recorded 49 points in 58 games, but 49 points was his highest total, and that doesn't cut it for a number one centre. He's very good at faceoffs and he's good defensively, which would look good on a resume for teams that need a second or third line centre. There are teams out there that would like a guy like Bozak for their team, and would be willing to pay a decent price for his services.
Possible return for Bozak: Second round pick and a prospect
What do you think, Leafs fans? Would you like to see these guys shipped out for the right price? Weigh in below.
There has been tons of speculation over the past two months about who the Leafs need to trade in order for this rebuild to function well. From trade rumours, to possible returns, to people arguing about who's worth what and what they could return, it's all been covered by analysts and different writers. There are four players I can think of off of the top of my head that I think need to be shipped out of the blue and white to kick off the new era of the Toronto Maple Leafs. So who needs to go?
1. Phil Kessel
It all began on September 18th, 2009, when Kessel was acquired from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2010 first round pick (Tyler Seguin), a 2010 second round pick (Jared Knight), and a 2011 first round pick (Dougie Hamilton). This trade was a sign that newly-appointed general manager Brian Burke wanted to win. Now, everyone knows Kessel is an elite scorer. he scored consistently for the Leafs throughout the last four seasons. He doesn't have a true number one centre to play with, but he still manages to put up close to a point per game rate every season. That being said, Kessel is not the type of player you want to build around. He can definitely put up points, but he's not good defensively and never throws his body. All in all, he's a one dimensional player, and not someone you use during a rebuild. On the bright side, Kessel still has tons of value, and he has a really high price for any team that takes him. If Kessel can generate a good return if he's traded within the next week, then I believe it'll work well for both sides.
Possible return for Kessel: First round pick, prospect, and roster player.
2. Dion Phaneuf
Everyone misses the Dion Phaneuf from 2010. The hard-hitting, sharpshooting, defenseman that every team hated to play against. From the moment Phaneuf arrived in Toronto in 2010, he was pinned with a large amount of pressure. He was given constant top two minutes, compared to the top four minutes he was recieving in Calgary, and he was named team captain shortly after the season ended. Phaneuf was expected to play like a top two defenseman, but unfortanately the pressure got to him, and he isn't performing as expected as of late. He was almost traded to Detroit at the trade deadline for Brendan Smith, Teemu Pulkkinen, and Stephen Weiss, but the Leafs backed out of the trade. Phaneuf seems to just need a fresh start, and he might get that this summer. But there's always the possibility that he's given another chance to prove himself under head coach Mike Babcock, as Babcock is a big fan of Phaneuf and was one of the main reasons he was almost dealt to the Wings. If he stays, expect him to be stripped of his captaincy and be given less minutes, to hopefully help him thrive as a player.
Possible return for Phaneuf: Prospect, roster player, cap dump.
3. Joffrey Lupul
Here's the deal with Lupul. He's a great player when he's playing, but when he's injured, he's a liability to the team due to his salary. And unfortunately for Lupes, he's injured a lot. He's prone to play as little as 30 games per season for the Leafs, and if that's going to be the case every year, then there's no point in keeping him if all he's going to do is eat up cap space. Lupul, to Leafs fans, is either a fan favourite or someone everyone wants shipped out. If he had a couple million less on his annual pay, he might be someone to keep during this rebuild, but $5.25 million per year is nothing to be cracking jokes about. There is a large possibility that the Leafs will be looking to trade him, but not many teams will be looking to acquire him due to his salary and durability, so there's a 50/50 chance as to whether he gets moved or not.
Possible return for Lupul: Second round pick or prospect, roster player
4. Tyler Bozak
Bozak made his way onto the Leafs in 2009 as an unsigned free agent. Unfortunately for Bozie, he's been given way too much to handle during his time with the Leafs, most of this pressure being first line minutes, playing alongside of Phil Kessel due to their close friendship and chemistry, and being given first powerplay and penalty kill unit minutes. Bozak has put up a decent amount of points since his arrival, with his career year being 2013-14 when recorded 49 points in 58 games, but 49 points was his highest total, and that doesn't cut it for a number one centre. He's very good at faceoffs and he's good defensively, which would look good on a resume for teams that need a second or third line centre. There are teams out there that would like a guy like Bozak for their team, and would be willing to pay a decent price for his services.
Possible return for Bozak: Second round pick and a prospect
What do you think, Leafs fans? Would you like to see these guys shipped out for the right price? Weigh in below.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Scooby Dooby Don't
By William Espy
The Minnesota Wild goaltending situation is an ever-evolving
matter. The 2014-2015 season started with a goaltending duo of Niklas Backstrom
and Darcy Kuemper following an injury and team suspension to Josh Harding. On
January 14, 2015 the Minnesota Wild sent a 2015 third round pick to Arizona in
exchange for goaltender Devan Dubnyk. Dubnyk has spent a majority of his career
with the Edmonton Oilers and was seen as a bust. The 14th overall
pick in the 2004 draft, Dubnyk posted very poor numbers in Edmonton, Nashville
and even became the fourth string goaltender in Montreal. In July 2014, he
became an unrestricted free agent and signed a one year deal with the Arizona
Coyotes. He posted decent numbers in his short stint with Arizona before having
a breakout with the Wild.
He would do so well in Minnesota that he would help save
their playoff chances, and presumably coach Mike Yeo’s job. The numbers he
posted included a 27-9-2 record, a goals against average of 1.78 and a save
percentage of .936 as well as a Vezina trophy nomination.
This performance also came with a steep price for the Wild.
Dubnyk’s subpar performance in the playoffs resulted in an early elimination
but the biggest downside has just begun. Dubnyk is now set to become an
unrestricted free agent once again on July 1st, and he is asking for
a seemingly astronomical long term deal. The 29 year old wants $25M over the
course of 5 years, a steep jump from 800,000 over one year.
The opinion of fans regarding this issue will vary extremely,
however there is no doubt in my mind of how management should handle this
situation. Dubnyk came into a very strong defensive team and in the past has
never been able to consistently post numbers even slightly close to this
season. While it is entirely possible that he will continue this phenomenal
play, after the Backstrom deal the gamble seems to not be worth the risk. With
goalies such as Antti Niemi available in free agency, Ottawa shopping around
Lehner or Anderson and New York offering out Cam Talbot there are much more
affordable and safe options for Minnesota.
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