It’s going to be a wild wild summer. We will continue to watch every news report, every rumor in hope that the Blue and White have gotten bigger, stronger, meaner and more skillful. We will get up every morning hoping for some news, some glimpse of a major trade. Yes, the draft will indeed be a big deal and I suspect our magic man, Mr. Brian Burke will try to get us a top pick. I will put an emphasis on try, because getting a top pick in a draft as deep as this, with only two solid but not spectacular assets to trade (Nikolai Kulemin and Tomas Kaberle) will not be a cakewalk. However, don’t think for a second Burke can’t get it done. But, realizing the degree of difficulty of getting a top 10 pick, one finds some problems in envisioning a trade that would get us that pick without giving too much away. Yes I’m talking about a Schenn + deal. Instead, getting the right player, with the right mindset and skillset, via trades and free agency will be the focal point of this article. Hope you enjoy it.

Jason Spezza. Are you insane? An 8 year member of the Ottawa Senators? That Jason Spezza? Yes, I’m talking about the top pivot of the Sens and I feel really good about the possibillity of him wearing the Leaf. All Ottawa stuff aside, the guy had a bad season, injuries galore, but he was still (almost) a point per game player in 60 games played. In his best seasons he tallied 90, 87 and 92 points. Who on the current Leafs roster can say that? He has huge playmaking talent that would probably make Phil Kessel a 50 goal scorer and can score a solid amount of goals all by himself. 123 goals in the last four seasons which would average about 30-31 goals per season. A wicked shooter, whose defensive game has really improved during the last couple of seasons and one that has a potential to be an even bigger threat scoring wise.

Anyone still want to talk Sens? Ok, with getting him, we would still need to fill up on size, but we do need a first line center first. I understand that Bozak had a wonderful season last year, or at least the final part of it, but I’d be more comfortable with a proven No1 guy on our top line plus giving Bozak a season where he could grow his game on the 2nd line. Also, there are no guaranties as far as Kadri is concerned, yes the kid’s got talent, yes his hands are unbelievable but first off, the kid has to add bulk, then he has to make the team. Next on the list is making an adjustment to the NHL (we all saw him last season in his debut, and we all realize he needs that period). Patrick Marleau is a solid No2 option in my eyes, and he’s only No2 because of his age and tendencies, not because of his skill level. Like I said, it’s all about fit. Spezza is 27, he is just entering his prime. Marleau, on the other hand is in his prime being 30 years old (which is not all that much older). To me, he is the best player the free agency has to offer. Kovalchuk or no Kovalchuk. And he is a scorer. A pure sniper that can blow by defensemen at supreme speed. I would be extremely pleased if we managed to snag him away from the Sharks or as an unrestricted free agent, but I highly doubt he would want to come over here, with offers pouring  from everybody in the league. The reason I think he too would be a great fit (other than him being an elite player and the Leafs needing elite players) is his great two way game and the fact he can be used both in the center and wing positions. Spezza would probably cost us Kaberle and a player, not necessarily Kulemin and we have the cap space to get him. This, of course, also means that we could sign Marleau (if of course he’d be up for it) without giving away anybody in return and either keep Kaberle, or deal him for some size and strength, flexibility is the name of the game. If we do miss on both players Matthew Lombardi is a guy worth taking a look at.

Next on the list is size. Of all the UFA’s Manny Malhotra seems like something we could use on our third line. Colby Armstrong is another player that could add some size, gritt and scoring depth. But size probably won’t come via free agency. Instead, I will look to Burke to make us a trade that would land a player similar to Nathan Horton from the Panthers. I’m dying to have a guy like that on the Leafs roster. I have always been a fan and thought that he could thrive in a real hockey market. He is what I would call a real power forward. He can score, create space and can be used at C position. But it’s highly doubtful the Panthers would trade for an offensive D man (Kaberle) since they have a high pick in the draft, and will probably get Cam Fowler if they are looking in that direction. Plus, the development of Dimitry Kulikov is going exactly as planned which makes it more unlikely. Burke would have to do something really special in order to get us Horton or Ryan, who is more of a long shot, one I would like to have in the barrel of our gun.

As far as other trade rumors are concerned, I’m not that interested in the Leafs making a trade with the Blackhawks for either Patrick Sharp or Kris Versteeg. In my mind, Sharp, while being a really good player and scorer, is not the No1 center we are looking for, and a guy like Versteeg could easily be acquired via free agency. I have a really good, cheap example too. Alex Tanguay. He had a terrible season, I’ll give you that, but that will only shrink his demands in the process. He will not cost as much as earlier and with being just 30 years old I for one think he has something left in the tank. Great passing skills and a scoring acumen, with supreme puck possesion skills, he could have a comeback season in Toronto. He is also a much better and cheaper option then say, Alexander Frolov, not that I would mind having his reach and size on the Leafs. Just his heart. I do realize rebuilding a team is a process which is why I’m only mentioning players who could help the team long term. Mostly players under the age of 31. Another name that’s on my mind lately, and could prove an ever better and cheaper option than Ilya Kovalchuk, is Nikolai Zherdev. Didn’t see that one coming did ya? Great speed, good size and a talent to be one of the best scoring forwards in the league. Now, are the Leafs willing to take the risk? I pray to God they are cause we would get a player of Kovalchuk’s calibre for a greatly reduced price. Zherdev is 25 years old.

That’s it for now, hope you’ve enjoyed my first article here at LeafsHQ, there will be a lot more to come.

Yours truly,

Mislav “Xterratu” Jantoljak