[quote_box_center]In a league where contenders are looking for defence, there’s interest in Toronto’s Roman Polak. The Los Angeles Kings, who have discussed Dion Phaneuf, are in on this too, but they are not alone. It probably comes down to a.) price and b.) how a potential trade partner feels about term.
Polak has one more year left on his contract at $2.75 million. Even in a tight cap world, there are teams who prefer multiple years if giving up an asset.[/quote_box_center]
If the offers are less than a 2nd round pick, keeping Roman Polak around for another season — a good veteran player with some game, who sets the right example amid a rebuild — might make sense, but without a second in the 2015 draft the Leafs have to make the move if they can get one. The 2nd round in particular is the money round where the good scouting can really separate itself from the bad, and it makes too much sense not to grab one in what has to be a big draft year for the management team and scouting staff. It would be nice to have a couple once the deadline passes, and zero is unacceptable.
[quote_box_center]There are wildly divergent opinions on whether or not Florida is serious about Phil Kessel. Some yes, more no, but remember one thing: the Panthers took a very hard line with Vancouver during the Roberto Luongo negotiations. They refused to part with their best prospects, and would not make the deal until it was on their terms.[/quote_box_center]
Well, this isn’t anything close to the Roberto Luongo situation, who carries one of the more ridiculous contracts in the League and needed out of Vancouver. The Leafs in no shape or form should cave to another team’s idea of Kessel’s value if it isn’t commensurate with that of an elite scorer.
[quote_box_center]Toronto should expect no different treatment. By the way, Kessel has eight he can be traded to. Dion Phaneuf has 10 and Tyler Bozak has 12. Those can be altered, if the player wishes to do so.[/quote_box_center]
Just an FYI here for those unsure about the constraints of the individual no-trade clauses. There seems to be some serious smoke around Bozak in particular right now, and thankfully his list isn’t too limiting, though it definitely doesn’t help.
Thursday Links:
- Elliotte Friedman: 30 Thoughts — Fedorov could be future NHL GM (Sportsnet.ca)
There are several GMs concerned the players will not use their five per cent escalator to raise the salary cap next season. That’s going to make the trade market even tighter. - Alec Brownscombe: The Leafs shouldn’t retain a dollar of Phil Kessel’s contract (MLHS)
If Kessel has to go for a rebuilding Leafs team to improve in the long haul, in hopes of shoring up its deep weaknesses at the vital C and D positions with some young assets, then so be it; we’ll take our medicine. However, if Dave Nonis and Brendan Shanahan want to move Phil Kessel and have to retain salary for 7 more seasons to move him for good value, it’s because they aren’t doing their jobs. - Anthony PetriellI: Leafs Notebook — February 17 (MLHS)
The draft represents the greatest opportunity for the Leafs to improve. Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas will have first-handed knowledge of players going back to their bantam AAA years, and right now the Leafs have a top 10 pick in the making, a late 1st, and their 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th rounders. That’s not nearly good enough to have a huge draft. This trade was a solid start, but the work is far from over. - James Mirtle: Leafs need to focus on bringing in talent (TSN 1050)
James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail joins Dave Naylor and Dave Feschuk to discuss the Leafs current roster and what they might do in the coming weeks approaching the trade deadline.
- Crlaitken: Did the Maple Leafs learn their lesson? (Pension Plan Puppets)
Since the corporate message is now one of acceptance that the Leafs are a bad team, the spin has changed from it being all about how awful people our players are to how this time the team is going to be rebuilt right, with patience and drafting and development. After all, we know that devotion to putting a terrible product on the ice and just waiting for the #1 picks to roll in is a panacea that guarantees future success. This is why theEdmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers should be hooking up to contest the Stanley Cup in a few short months although we shouldn’t count out those pesky Colorado Avalanche or Columbus Blue Jackets. No, the Maple Leafs are going to “do this rebuild right”, a thought so hilariously obtuse and devoid of any actual meaning that people could say the Leafs plan for this rebuild is “purple monkey dishwasher” and it would provide just as much insight into their future plans. - Michael Traikos: Leafs hope Olli Jokinen can bring positive attitude to team steeped in ‘negative energy’ (National Post)
The 36-year-old, who was acquired by the Maple Leafs on Sunday in a multi-player trade with the first-place Nashville Predators, said even he was taken aback by the defeatist attitude inside his new dressing room. - Luke Fox: Why Maple Leafs’ Jokinen cut 14 inches of hair (Sportsnet.ca)
The 36-year-old father of three girls had a date circled on his calendar, Feb. 13, when he would chop his mane and donate it to Pantene in Tennessee, which weaves real-hair wigs for children losing their own hair to chemotherapy. - Brandon Worley: Dion Phaneuf to the Dallas Stars? Don’t bet on it (Defending Big D)
It would be an incredible commitment for the Stars to have to make without ever being able to determine how he’d actually fit in Dallas — that’s a six-plus year gamble you’re making on a player that has been pretty bad for a terrible Maple Leafs team the past few years.
Tweet of the Day
Kyle Dubas, speaking at Conn Smythe dinner, on #leafs: "We have to do things the right way. That may mean starting from the beginning."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 19, 2015
