Draft Watch ’09: Part Three – Chatting up the Expert

[...] key roles on a Stanley Cup Finalist team. As E.J. Mcguire alluded to in the previous chapter of Draft Watch ‘09, there will be plenty of potential impact players available beyond the first round of this [...]

@Josh – you and I are kind of on the same wave length here, with the odd tweak here and there. I don’t want Malone!!! I’m kind of thinking that the Isles take Taveras which means we could get Hedman – not a bad consolation prize. So Hedman, Schenn and one of Cowen, Kulikov or Kassian for basically the players you mentioned is great in my mind! Free agents would/could be signed to replace our d-men – and all of a sudden the Leafs future looks a whole lot brighter! The rebuilding of the Leafs will have officially began – big time!

[...] Full Q+A here [...]

how about this as a dream scenario. i cant see it happening but nice to think about, and they are trades that work for all teams involved. to TB: kaberle, white, 2nd rounder to TOR: #2 (Tavares) and a salary dump (trade i mentioned earlier) . to ATL or LA: kubina and rights to grabovski to TOR: #4/5 (and maybe a 3rd round pick?) both ATL and LA could use the vet Kubina on D to help the young guys and grabovski gives them a young dynamic forward with top 6 skills to make up for the lost 1st rounder. . this gives the leafs Tavares, Schenn/Kane, and Cowen/Kulikov as they keep the 7th pick, for kaberle, kubina, grabovski, white and a 2nd rounder. sounds like a good building block to me along with luke schenn. would make for an exciting draft thats for sure. especially if we can make decent picks in the saturday rounds!

@B Leaf June Sedins want truck load of dough: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/sedins-seek-12-year-deals-report/article1187214/ . I guess twin sisters might be connected mentally, somehow, to each other, but not to reality itself. Good luck Sedins, and keep shaving!

B Leaf – If you think Grabovski can be a significant player on a Stanley Cup team you don’t trade him. But does BB think that? You mention that you would trade Kaberle, Grabovski and our 7th pick (and takling back salary yet) for Taveres. I say “no way”! Much too high a price IMO. Hopefully the Leafs would then go plan B which might be trading up two or three notches by flip-flopping our pick and adding a 2nd rounder to do so. Then trade Kaberle for an additional 1st round choice, hopefully in the top 8-16. This way we woulds still be left with Kubina and Grabovski to either keep – or make additional moves. At #4-6, we would get Kane or Schenn, and with the second first round pick (8-16), hopefully Kassian, Ashton or Larson. If we absolutely can’t move up, then Kulikov or Cowen is still pretty decent at #7.

@ B Leaf I would pull that trade

You guys can speculate all you want, but Heatley wanting a trade will change the dynamics of the whole draft. Burke probably had a deal in place for Kaberle, and then the “Mad” magazine’s portrait requests a trade! Who would you rather have? A two time fifty goal guy, or a soft, almost, almost, top pairing d-man? There’s a reason BB came out against “Bucktooth” Heatley, and it aint for the way he requested a trade. It’s because it scuttled a trade, or two for him.

burke would never do it so no worries he doesnt believe in long term contracts like that

Paynter, I agree that Grabovski is a significant chip. I do think Grabovski can be a significant top 6 forward on a Stanley Cup team which is why I would be very hesitant to move him. If Tavares was there at the 2 spot and it meant dealing Kaberle, the seventh pick, and Grabovski, while taking back salary like Malone, I would have to really think hard but probably say what the hell and take a chance that Tavares will be great. Tavares could prove to be one of the most prolific scorers ever. Sedins want truck load of dough: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/sedins-seek-12-year-deals-report/article1187214/

@ B Leaf, I’d go with Kulikov because I was very very impressed with his play and development on Drummondville this past season, as I followed Dido’s progress. I think he has the potential to turn into an elite two-way player ala Brian Leetch. He or MSP would be the top player remaining on my board. I think Burke would probably go with MSP, because he’s really got that sky high potential to be an elite first line player someday. That and he’s got great size and speed.

Hey guys, I just wanted to throw something out there for discussion that I have been thinking about for a while. Am I the only person that thinks it would be in the Leafs best interest to keep their 7th pick rather than move up to 5th? Now I know a lot of you agree simply because you think the price will be too steep to move up just 2 spots, but I have another reason. Most people will agree that while the exact order of who will be taken in the top 7 is not yet determined we can conclude that the 7 players involved with these picks will be Tavares Hedman Duschene Kane MSP Schenn Cowan Now, if the Leafs stay with the 7th pick, and assuming that Tavares, Hedman, Duschene and Kane will make up the top 4, this would mean that the Leafs would be forced to take the player that is left, likely Schenn or Cowan, either would be a great fit! The thing that worries me with moving up to 5 is that BB will continue his love affair with B. Schenn and take him even with MSP or Kane still on the board. This makes me nervous because if you look at other teams message boards everyone seems to conclude that either of these 2 players are better than Schenn. Personally I would rather BB be forced to take the best possible player at 7, than to be given the 5th pick and botch it, any thoughts?

Some notes: Somehow I do not see Burke selecting MPS – I don’t know why, just my gut feeling – my feeling is if the other six are gone, he will take Kulikov or, go off the board and take Kassian Key player, other than Kaberle, in the Leafs acquiring a second (or third – I’m optimistic – two plus their own) first round pick is Grabovski! Would I ever like to be in the Leaf “war room” and find out their true feeling on him! If Burke thinks he can play top two lines to get the Stanley Cup he stays, if not he is shopped. My feeling is that he will be available! John Taveras? Victor Hedman? Matt Duchene? 1st overall? – I know the Leafs need a scorer – and I guess Taveras is THE MAN, but why do I think that Burke is drooling over Hedman? The Sedins want $63 million over 12 years – each – good luck and good-bye! Burke has a six-week window of opportunity to trade Kubina – will he surely not shop him for the highest bid – and not risk the possibility of losing him when his no-trade kicks back in August 15? Might Buffalo, Columbus or LA (if Jack Johnson leaves) be possibilities? Kubina for LA’s second rounder – and take Oliver Roy – if Gustavsson doesn’t sign? Just some idle thoughts! The excitement is building – hopefully us Leaf fans will NOT be disappointed!

I think any team at the 10-15 spot that has salary to dump burke could pull something off. Like I said alsom if you add in the 26th pick to another middle pick that’s enough for them to move up a decent amount

@Jordan and Roacho The fact of the matter is that Jordan’s trade scenario could work if Tlusty is involved instead of the non-existent 5-15 pick. Many scenario’s could work, in my mind, so Jordan’s not wrong to think up such a trade because Burke will get creative on draft day.

I would guess he would pick MPS because he was rated high, and I think only dropped because he wont be avalible next year to play. Burke says he will draft the best avalible player and Im sure thats MPS

Alex, If the draft goes Tavares, Hedman, Duchene, Kane, Schenn, and then Cowan, who do you pick with the number 7 spot? You have MSP, Kassian, Kadri, and Kulikov as your primary choices. Personally I like Kulikov of that group because he is a pretty sure bet and would compliment Schenn for years to come. I like the fact he came to the CHL to improve his game and forge his career. I think he is highly motivated and comes from a winning program. The Leafs have Dido to confirm his character. Kulikov seems to have the mind and skills to excell. Who would you pick and why? Who do you think Burke picks, and why?

Did you even read that other post I made?

@Jordan Where would this magical 5-15 pick come from?

That’s why Burke has to find a way to get another pick. That’s the hard part. Might involve taking more salary, or maybe the Islanders 26th pick involved to get that pick higher. I don’t knoe for sure but Burke said he knows he would have to give a lot away, and wants to make everyone happy so I just think that’s a good outline of what COULD happen

@Jordan: That three way trade should definitely make everyone happy…the Isles get Hedman and and mid-first rounder (note really sure where that one comes from though), TBay gets Kaberle drops some bad salary to move down 5 spaces and still gets a possible blue chipper and Toronto gets Tavares.

Call me crazy but I would take Malone for Tavares. So what he is on a big contract, Tavares will turn this Franchise around. Its worth it. I also think there would be a three way deal. Not sure but something like: Toronto gets the 1st pick NYI get the second and a 5-15 pick TB gets 7th, Kaberle and a salary dump of some sort Might be a lot to give but Burke said when he’s sure about a guy he goes after them

and if it is 6 years on malones contract i wouldnt have any interest in that either. maybe if he was 2 or 3 years younger. with the cap going down thats sketchy though for that long

i’d be totally fine with kaberle, white and one of the leafs 2nds. and i dont think its so sure of a bet that the isles take tavares. tavares is what would help them for promotional purposes but they have more need at defence. they have some decent young forwards coming up (okposo, bailey, petrov, joensuu) but pretty much nothing on defence. considering how hedman isnt really a step down from taking tavares, i could see them end up taking him to fill their biggest need.

Josh – like I said before, Malone has a contract through 2016 at $4.5 million a season. Terrible contract which we don’t want! In any deal, I certainly don’t want to include DiDomenico – he should be a Leaf for a long time pending a full recovery. It’s almost a given that the Isles will take Taveras – they need him for promotional purposes to save the franchise, can’t see that changing – unless a bone is thrown their way! A big bone! If a deal should come to pass, (which I believe it will) I think a 2nd rounder will be involved.

Looks like a 7 year deal expiring in 2015 …..

(got cut off) …for 6 more years. i dont get it. if its only four more i’d take him as the salary dump if it means getting tavares. malone is an effective player that would be good for the leafs. works hard, scores goals, responsible, and is good in the room apparently. and im sure after 3 years (not all that long) if we dont want him we can trade him with one year left on his contract. . and i do agree that a top pairing of schenn and hedman is something to drool over. i just dont see it as something that is remotely possible. and i cant see burke taking duchene over tavares if hes able to move up to #2

@paynter graham i dont think kaberle, d mitchell, and a 2nd is too much. thats less than kaberle, white, and a 2nd in my opinion, though im not a big fan of white. i suggested that the third piece didnt necessarily have to be a 2nd rounder, id be willing to give dido, mitchell, or a handful of others as the third piece. would love to give stajan and keep the prospects. . as for your question of hedman or duchene i dont think its one that is too important. i dont see TB trading the pick if hedman is still on the board. no way they pass on a guy who has as much potential as him when theyre in desperate need of a big time puck moving dman. . in terms of malone, can somebody answer how long he is actually signed for or what the deal with his contract is? is there an opt out? some cap sites have him for four more years, others have him

A salary dump plus J BO would be pretty expensive, and it would probably cost something like White and an Okay prospect. Also it would have to be a pretty big dump.