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Free Agents Don’t Make Draft Picks Expendable

by on April 3, 2009 in Uncategorized - 19 Comments

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There’s the notion that signing Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak and other College Free Agents allows the Buds to trade off other picks, perhaps even to move up in the draft.

The justification is having signed these free agent Collegians fills roster spots allowing them to maneuver around the draft, possibly even moving up to land a Hedman or Tavares at the number one or two spot.

(My take is forgetting either of them and draft Brampton Battalion forward, Matt Duchene, but that’s a blog for another day.)

I really hope that’s not the case, trading away draft picks just to land a bigger fish. This rebuild/retool is not JUST about drafting; development is key. And the more options to develop, the better. Drafting becomes a moot point otherwise and trading away picks for one player, regardless of the hype surrounding him, does not make logistical sense.

Add the element of competition amongst prospects for roster spots, testing their desire/ability and in effect challenging and elevating their play, and suddenly, there are legitimate NHL players coming through the system.

Toronto’s system isn’t completely devoid, but the franchise won’t be turned around by some shrewd maneuvering come draft time. It’s a must for abundance in the prospect cupboard.

Having said that, if Brian Burke was to explore moving up in the draft, it could possibly work it’s way through a scenario like this:

(I really wish I could take credit for this, but alas I can’t. Built from a conversation with a friend, an Ottawa fan no less …. Courtesy of Maynard … Have fun…)

First call on draft day:

Snow: Hello?
Burke: Snowy, interested in my first, second, third, and fourth picks?
Snow: For what?
Burke: Since he doesn’t want to play on the Island, your first.
Snow: We can still take the Swedish kid at #1
Burke: *^&^$%*
*click*

Second call on draft day:

Lawton: Hello?
Burke: You were a first overall pick right?
Lawton: Don’t remind me
Burke: Sure fire star right?
Lawton: Who is this again?.
Burke: That Stamkos kid sure had a rough ride this season didn’t he? Filatov or Doughty would sure look good on your team.
Lawton: Yeah, there’s no such thing as a surefire top pick.
Burke: Really? Then are you interested in my first first, second, third and fourth picks?
Lawton: For what?
Burke: For saving you the humiliation of drafting a dud with the high pick.
Lawton: Ooohh. Good point. Deal!

[email protected]

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  • neil

    No need to trade away picks like the above…
    If the Leafs fall in the top 10, any pick will be worthwhile.

    Would really like Brayden or Duchene, but….Developing talent is as important as drafting talent

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  • Blue Max
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  • mattb

    haha, that part about the calls is priceless. But I doubt we’d be able to move up that far for a 1st + 2nd + 3rd + 4th, I mean it took the first three of those assets to get Schenn last year, and that was only moving up two spots. You’d need to make a near Lindros-esque deal, IMO, and there’s no way Burke would do that. Like you say, it’s probably easier, and cheaper, to trade up to 3 and grab Duchene.

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  • 13Leafs35

    The Leafs need to do what is best. We need super star and guys that go above and beyond. I’m tired of players that are two way players. We need guys with a high end skill set. I don’t care if its a d-man or a forward but I would like to see the Leafs get a player with Captain written all over him.

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  • http://www.mckeenshockey.rivals.com Gus Katsaros

    @Blue Max — I want to wait for the outcome of the Battalion playoffs first … I’ll get to it afterwards ….

    @mattb — I like your style, dude …

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  • http://www.mckeenshockey.rivals.com Gus Katsaros

    @13Leafs35 — what is ‘best’? Ask 10 different people and you get 10 different answers. Best is to do two things:

    1 — create an atmosphere of winning from the mgmt level filtering down through the coaching staff and onto the ice.

    2 — initiate a system that is entertaining to watch as fans that becomes the signature style of the Buds for seasons to come, when these original parts are jettisoned for higher skilled assets.

    I think that they are on the road to both of these elements and the next step is to bring in as many prospects as possible. Economics and competition dictates prospects being a necessity, not a luxury.

    Having said that, free agency has changed dramatically since the lockout, and it’s not bad dipping into the market under reasonable prices and returns…. again, another blog for another day.

    Kats

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  • Dan

    I agree it doesn’t make draft picks expendable. And I agree on getting Duchene or B. Schenn over Hedman.
    .
    Basically, if we can land Gilroy as well… it will soften the blow of using Kaberle or Kubina as trade bait to move up in the draft. Although I think Kubina would be better trade bait as we can get a better deal for Kabs in the offseason.

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  • shahriar

    @Gus Katsaros

    Best in terms of what the Leafs leadership group thinks. If they trade up in the draft then so be it. If the management group feels that we have enough depth or will have enough depth after we draft with the many second rounders that we have then why not trade that first for an NHLer that fits the rebuild. Maybe Burke believes that these 23 or 24 year olds are better then Khadri or Schreoder then why not trade a our picks to get Tavares. God knows this team has enough secondary scoring. From what I have seen no one in Leaf land needs to second guess the management group.

    After the Leafs cleaned house I was the happiest because I knew that the players we had were just not cutting it. This team got leaps and bounds better just by getting a better coach and management group. Wilson is doing all the right things and so is Burke. I am more than happy with anything Burke does. Although I think Antropov should be signed back because we lost a big time talent in him. I have been one of the few that has always backed him up.

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  • Roacho

    If the Leafs move up the draft order, maybe including a veteran star like Kabs or Kubina along with less picks would make it happen. I personnaly think BB has something up his sleave. I think he’ll work feverishly to move up the draft order

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  • Burn

    Bill Watters hinted at something with TB regarding the deadline deal for the 4th rounder. He said there will be something big to come regarding that deal at the draft.

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  • hockey_guru

    We need Duchene or brayden Schenn! I wouldn’t mind picking up MSP, but we really need the grit moving forward. I’d like to move up to take Duchene and try to get a later 1st to grab Kassian as well… I know that is a lot to ask, but if we can move Kaberle, Poni, Stajan etc. for extra picks to package together, it may be possible.

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  • Ron Guillet

    Good blog, Gus.

    I think it’s important not to get wrapped up in the hype of Draft Day. There is a heap of talent in this year’s draft, so is it REALLY worth trading away a chunk of our draft picks/prospects just to get a SLIGHTLY better pick that could end up being worse?

    The Leafs are in no position to take that gamble. Play it safe, be thankful we’re in the top10, and draft SMART.

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  • TheCupinmylifetime

    Gus, why is no-one talking about Dmitry Kulikov?

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  • Lance

    I agree that they should just concentrate on drafting well with the picks that they have, rather than trading everything to move up. Having said all of that, I would also be excited if they did move up. It’s really more of what is done with the picks than when they are. The TB idea sounds interesting, but I’ll beleive it when I see it.
    Next year already promises to be an exciting time around here.

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  • mattb

    @ hockey_guru – I think that’s probably the plan for Burke going into the draft. Move everyone he can for picks and prospects, then use those added picks to move up in, and into in some cases, the 1st round.

    The return of Kaberle would be at least a mid-1st + a very good young player. With that pick, I’d hope that one of Oscar Ekman-Larsson, David Rundblad, Dimitri Kulikov, or Simon Despres are still available, because all are very good D-men.

    Stajan and Poni should each bring in a 2nd+, which could be packaged to either move back into the 1st for a 3rd time, or with our original 1st to move up.

    With careful planning, this Leafs team could be competitive very soon, which is also why I would probably hold onto Kubina. He is a clutch player and a solid leader, and apparently a great dressing room guy. With all the change going to happen in the next couple of years, he could be very helpful to the young guys, and still be a useful player when the team is competing again (which by Burke’s estimation should be in a couple of years).

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  • jordan

    I as positive there’s something brewing on draft day. If you remember back on deadline day, when Burke responded to the Gerber and Tampa Bay deals, he said quote “I told them I would do them a favour” once I head that I wondered what he ment

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  • Scot Loucks

    Can’t be bothered reading the comments…. too many other places to read and go.
    .
    Just wanted to say…. this was a great read.
    .
    Cheers

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  • http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com Pension Plan Puppets
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  • Nastradamus/TML35

    OHHH how I would love Stamkos

    I would trade our 1st + Kaberle + more for Stamkos

    like he would be A GAWD in Toronto

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