Question Period – Leafs Edition

1) Convert him to the wing or trade him. He’s not spectactular on draws and he’s not the most defensive minded (as a center should be); he’s also diminuitive in stature and seems to be a streaky player with perhaps and attitude problem. He’s not worth keeping if it means losing Moore or Stajan to make room for Mitchell or whomever else they bring aboard.

2) If Kaberle is still a Leaf after TD day I will be mildly surprised, but that means he must be traded before free agency opens up.

3) He’s a great leader off the ice but he’s expensive and not getting it done in his own end. Either trade him or reduce his minutes significantly.

4) Trade him for what ever you can get. If he goes cold again everyone will fry Burke for not getting a return while he could and that salary could prevent signing major free agents down the road. Plus he’s a roster spot.

5) Either way I’m doubting Burke will unload Toskala unless it’s part of a package. I’m sick of the groin and weak D excuses, as well as his “oh well” attitude.

6) I think Antropov is worth more than that, but if he’s not traded it’s “mission failed” for Burke. If there was a player you could trade and sign, it’s probably Antropov.

7) Lower. Ottawa has games in hand and once this club is cut to the bone after the deadline they will struggle for points. Or so I hope.

8 ) Let Toskala play out the season in reduced action with Pogge called up once a week. The more games the kid can play the better.

9) This team NEEDS to become that pesky, rough Toronto team of the 90′s. If Burke fails to acquire players that fit that typical Western conference mould I will lose quite a bit of faith in this rebuild. This is his only real chance to re-tool via trade. The Leafs need some REAL character guys.

10) 2 years before making a run at the playoffs. If they’re a Western conference built team admist a bunch of Eastern conference teams they may be able to go far.

1) Grabovski should be our #2 centre of the future. He can also play on the wing if two better centre’s come along. 20 goal season for a rookie is quite impressive. He has tremendous upside and will turn into a reliable top six forward, secondary scorer. We shouldn’t rely on him for primary scoring though.
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2) I pray to god that yes it is. Get him out while team’s still consider him an elite defenceman. I don’t see it. He is way too soft and is good in the offensive zone only. Sure he can move the puck but his weak defensive play doesn’t make up for it. Let’s get a 1st rounder and blue-chip prospect for him.
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3) Like Kaberle, he should be traded in order for the Leafs to stockpile high picks and good prospects. We need several more pieces in our rebuild and a return for both Kubina and Kaberle will definitely help this along.
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4) I’m not convinced any team will take on his contract due to the three remaining seasons. The money isn’t the issue it’s the length. Leafs should retain him to provide offensive production while our prospects develop. The return won’t be worth it anyways. Plus if we trade Kaberle and Kubina, we need some salary to stay above the cap floor.
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5) I doubt Vesa is going anywhere. And are we in any hurry to bring Pogge in to the NHL? Are we in any hurry to even win? No. Let him play out the rest of his contract.

6) Antropov is worth a 1st, easily. Look at who else is available at the deadline? And how many Western team’s will be buying. Team’s will overpay for him big time. 25g potential, cheap contract, decent +/- throughout his career, chance to resign him… but most of all his SIZE. 6’6, team’s will drool over his size come the deadline. I predict a 1st rounder.

7) I predict they will end with #5. They’re bad but not bad enough to finish any lower. They’ll draft Brayden Schenn… they have to!

8 ) He could pull a 40/40 game tandem with Toskala. Would be good for him and for Toskala (who has only played more than 40 games once, last year). It would keep Toskala sharp and injury free. Not 100% sold Pogge is ready next year though. May need one more.

9) Kaberle, Kubina, Antropov, Ponikarovsky are must-go’s if I were Burke. Other guys like White, Stajan, Stempniak and maybe Moore could be thrown in to certain deals to sweeten the return. Although I’d like Moore to stick around. I’d pick up picks, at least one more 1st and 2 2nd rounders… and then some mid-level picks to fill the void we have in the middle of the draft. Also look for any blue-chip prospects if available (previous 1st/2nd rounders) and plumbers…. Hard nosed, big guys with a mean streak to play a Burke style of game.

10) At least three years. By the time our picks in THIS years draft have properly developed, we should be ready to contend.

1. I’d sign Grabs for like 2 yrs at a decent price and see what he can do.

2. I used 2 like Kaberle but he’s jus too passive now and could bring us sumthin good back in return, I’d like 4 him 2 be traded but only for the right deal.

3. I’d trade Kubina too cuz he doesnt figure into the future plans and could bring back sumthin nice too… Only trade if its a good deal..

4. Trade Blake if a good offer comes in but if nothin good comes in hold onto him til next year

5. I’d hope ToskaLOL could keep up his good play and boost his tradeability but its styl up in the air n we’ll have to see what happens..

6. Antropov could styl lobby a decent return and if Burkes smart he’ll re-sign him in the summer..

7. The Leafs could draft from anywhere from 3-8th… I wish it could be lower but it jus wont happen wit da Islanders and Thrashers around..

8. If ToskaLOL gets traded they should bring him up for the end of the season cuz we all know we cant put that on CuJo’s shoulders either lol but if Tosk stays around jus bring Pogge up periodically

9. I would try and trade Antro, Poni, Blake, Kaberle, Kubina and ToskaLOL but in reality a max of like 4 of them will actually get moved if they’re lucky…

10. I give it 4 years til the Leafs are respectable again…..

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1. Grabs is still young. I dont think hes untouchable but hes deff worth keeping around another year or two to see what happens because we didnt really give anything up to get him in the first place.

2. I think we keep him because hes a decent price, good leader and excellent puckmoving defenceman and hes only 30. Keeping him makes us have to part with Kubina IMO though

3.Like I said, I think we trade Kubina to free up the 5 mil and I dont see him as part of our solution right now

4.I say keep him unless we get a really decentg deal. Hes starting to show he can put points up without having alot of talent around him. Last year was bad on and off ice but hes playing good now and worth the 4 mil. Could be a part of our rebuild because not EVERYONE can be young and remember he came into the league at like around 30 (not really sure) so his age of 36 does not exactly tell the full story. I say either moving him or keeping him can benefit us

5.When Toronto got Toskala he was thought to be the best goalie avalable at that time. I dont think you can judge him on this year because of being over worked and injured and the fact that the leafs are a$$ bag in team defence. I say you keep him but dont commit to him yet. He is a good goalie and I expect him to be a good part of the puzzel

6.Antropov has to be delt plain and simple. I think they will get a decent amount because theres not alot of good players out there for rental at 2 mil, let alone there are not alot of teams even saying they are sellers yet and its less then 3 weeks away

7.I see them finishing 28-27th. I dont think the Islanders will pass them or Atlanta. Tampa is deffinitally playing better hockey then Toronto as of late and we will se tonight. I also see the sens passing them with the two games they have in hand and they are starting to pick it up. Toronto will be unloading players here soon only hurting their chances every game to win. Then again I also wouldnt be surprised if Toskala and other played better and we ended up between 25-20

YOU DO NOT TRADE THE BEST PUCK MOVING D-MAN IN THE NHL WHEN HE MAKES $4.25 MILLION. KEEP HIM, IF ONLY TO TEACH AND MENTOR YOUNG JEDI WARRIOR LUKE SCHENN. FUCK. ENOUGH WITH THE TRADE KABERLE TALK.

Keep Blake, too. He’s ripping it. He’s worth the $4 million this season.

Grabs is young. We can’t write him off after one season. Give him another cheap contract after this season and we’ll go from there.

1) Grabs – I like him, have liked him all season, but whether he’s going to be a solid second-liner remains to be seen. Try to sign him for 2 years cheap and give him one more year on trial. If not, trade him with a year left on his contract.

2)Kabby – right now, we need to try to get at least one more first rounder, and Kaberle is our best choice. He’s been defensively questionably the last couple of years at least, so this is the time to maximize your return for him.

3) Kubina – trade him, again, assuming that someone is willing to shell out what we want for him.

4) Blake – First of all, no one will pay for Blake so you might as well keep him – doubly so if his current form seems likely to continue into next year.

5) Toskala – again, I don’t think there are going to be too many buyers – truthfully, the only teams that seem to be in serious needs of goaltending help would be Ottawa, Tampa Bay, and maybe Atlanta – none of whom would be likely to give up a first to get a goalie who has been, frankly, as bad as Toskala has been this year. That being said, if Toskala proves to be a better goalie in any of those three markets than he was in Toronto, then simply moving him there will increase our position in the draft, which has benefits all it’s own. Toskala to Ottawa for a veteran D-man (Jason Smith or Chris Phillips), and maybe a 2nd rounder may be the best option.

6) Antro – easy: remember what Carolina did to us with Glen Wesley. Trade him at the deadline, let him know that you plan to re-sign him in the offseason anyway (given that he’s happy here), and take what useful pieces you can get from him – ideally a first or an early second and a prospect somewhere.

7) We’ll probably move up – Ottawa should be better than they’ve been playing – especially if they solidify in goal, Tampa Bay could get better as well, and we’re definitely looking to get worse after the fact. Will we get Tavares – probably not, but Hedman is a definite possibility.

8) Given that I’m calling to trade Toskala, it’s time to bring Pogge up. Curtis Joseph is definitely showing his age, but he could be a great mentor for Pogge, and he will definitely NOT be returning as a player next season. Might as well utilize his experience for something.

9) Trade Kubina, Kaberle and Toskala as long as you can get a decent return for them, rent Antropov, and keep Poni – who is also finally living up to expectations as well. As well, do anything and everything possible to get rid of Jamal Mayers and Ryan Hollweg – possibly in a “trade cap space for draft picks” sort of deal. Maybe give Mark Bell another look on the fourth line – he can’t possibly be worse than Mayers.

10) Playoffs in ’10, serious contenders probably in ’11. Whether we win the Cup or not remains to be seen.

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