This topic truly has been beaten like everybody’s favourite dead horse, I agree. However, it’s hit some relevancy in the past few days. With Tomas Kaberle looking set to stay this year, the chances of us trading for a forward are becoming less and less likely. At the present, the Leafs have 2 million in cap space, which could go as high as 5.5 if the right people (*cough* Finger *cough*) are sent down to the Marlies. With this said, there’s no doubt that the most logical option to our issues now is free agency. Unfortunately, the herd has thinned significantly from this time six weeks ago. Alas, here’s what we have left as potential possibilites.
Ilya Kovalchuk
Pro – By far the most dyanmic player on the market. Possibly not only this year, but ever. New Jersey fiasco has shown that he doesn’t care about when he gets his money, just that he gets it, meaning we don’t have to throw 9.5 million his way.
Con - Absolute pipe dream, due to the fact that 5.5M is still not enough to get him, plus the fact that is basically an unspoken rule that he’s going to end up signing with New Jersey anyway, and that its just a matter of getting a legally sound deal together.
Paul Kariya
Pro – Plays Left Wing. Still had a rather accurate slapshot. Continues Burke’s “Former Duck, 3rd Liner, or American” free agent policy.
Con – While he has the skill, he’s definitely up there in age. Has become even more injury prone than he used to be. Has spent his career practically avoiding small markets.
Slava Kozlov
Pro – Was once really good.
Con – People typically respond to the suggestion with “he hasn’t retired yet?”. No gas left in the tank, and I thought he either retired or went to the KHL until I started building this article.
Fredrik Modin
Pro – Better player than he was the last time he was here. Plays left wing. Booming slapshot.
Con – Not quite good enough to be a full time top six player, would likely be on our second line at best.
Jonathan Cheechoo
Pro – Once had the ability to score goals like nobody’s business. Familiar with the province of Ontario.
Con – Has become worse and worse at hockey with every passing year. Some project he’ll try to go for the layups on breakaways by 2011.
Patrick O’Sullivan
Pro – If he can ever get past his issues and develop as the player he was projected to be, could be a force.
Con – Clearly has resonating personal issues still. Horrendous defensively.
Owen Nolan
Pro – Gritty, has a veteran presence. Could settle for a third line role if offensive ability is gone.
Con – Left here in a firestorm, and I assume still has issues with the team.
Lee Stempniak
Pro – Has shown himself to be a fantastic sniper, as evidenced by his time in Phoenix last year.
Con – Is allergic to the blue material on RBK edge jerseys, as evidenced by his entire Tenure with the blue and white.
Darcy Tucker
Pro – Would be a solid veteran player to have around players. Could add to that whole truculence philosophy. Would likely sign for league minimum seeing as we’re already paying him.
Con – Couldn’t score on an empty net at this point. Would probably stop Kaberle from waiving his no trade clause.
Marek Svatos
Pro – Knows how to finish. Very quick. Would probably take a one year “trial-run” esque deal.
Con – Rather soft, easy to push around. Lacking size.
Mike Comrie
Pro – Can play every forward position. Very quick. Has some two-way ability.
Con – Contract would force us to trade
Kyle Wellwood
Pro – Theoretically, has proven to be a solid playmaker in the past, and is better defensively than he was last time he was here.
Con – Maple Leaf Square would be in ruins minutes after Kyle discovers the RealSports Bar and Grill and Longo’s Supermarket.
Miroslav Satan
Pro – Can still contribute clutch goals. Hasn’t lost his skating ability yet. Arguably the second best #81 in recent Bruins history.
Con – Would stop the dream of him being signed by the Devils for another year.
Mixture of kidding and seriousness aside, the market is definitely at a point where it may not be worth looking into anyone unless they’re willing to accept sub-1 million salaries. While its better than the trade speculation, I honestly don’t think we’ll see anything relevant happen, unless some of these names are left over come training camp and are desperate for deals.
i think jeff is ma at the direction we took our conversation
*mad
hey jeff
www.twitter.com/gaylimnk
ya happy?
shawn says:
hey jeff wanna talk about twitter man?
how bout jerseys?
R Munn Hammer says:
www.leafshq.com new article jeff?
shawn says:
jeff tell me the story about how fucking awesome you are at NHL 10 again
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Paul Kariya would be an interesting fit. He still has a few years left in the tank. He still has speed and is, IMO, capable of getting 20g/50p+ if he’s stays healthy. He’s a clutch scorer which is needed. He would automatically make the PP% and Shootout record better. He is the most intriguing name to pop out, for me, in the above list.
Here is some info on an impressive resume for a 35 year old. It really does seem as though Kariya is much older because he has been around for so long.
(Courtesy of Wiki)
Awards
World Junior Championships All-Star Team – 1992
NCAA Hockey East First All-Star Team – 1993
NCAA Championship Title
Hobey Baker Memorial Award – 1993
World Championships All-Star Team – 1994, 1996
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy – 1996, 1997
Played in NHL All-Star Game – 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003
NHL First All-Star Team – 1996, 1997, 1999
Puck Control Competition Champion 1999, 2000
NHL Second All-Star Team – 2000, 2003
Olympic Gold medal for Men’s Ice Hockey (2002)
International
Gold 2002 Salt Lake City
Silver 1994 Lillehammer
World Championships
Gold 1994 Italy
Silver 1996 Austria
World Junior Championships
Gold 1993 Sweden
With all that being said I still have a feeling Burke is working on a trade. Something fairly big.
Yeah, I agree with the last comment; Paul Kariya would be a good left winger, and looking at his recent stats, he still has game in him. Although I still think that either Beauchemin or Grabovski is going to be traded for Marc Savard or Mike Ribeiro, so if Burke can bring in one of those players, maybe Kariya isn’t needed.
[...] Who’s Left- Kill Me Now Edition. Thats uh…optimistic. [LeafsHQ] [...]
I think that Keriya would be an excellent fit for one year, or max two years. i would think he would sign a reasonable deal, in the 2.5 – 3 mil range, which wouldn’t be so bad for the short term. I also heard that he is Kadri’s boyhood idol, which could be great for Nazim’s development. I think it is the only fit left out there, unless Burke pulls off a sweet trade, which I also think he is working on, otherwise why on earth would he have made the Lashoff trade??? Brings the contracts down to 48, leading to signing or a trade I figure.
All the best
Why does it seem half these players used to be Leafs? Lets not turn into Calgary…
Way to guy you start talking about Kariya and the Veteran forward Paul Kariya will miss the upcoming NHL season after being diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.
Interesting…
PATRICK KALETA TYLER SEGUIN THE ENTIRE MONTREAL CANADIENS DANIEL ALFREDSSON TOM POTI RYAN KESLER OLLI JOKINEN BACK IN 20 I GOTTA NAME MORE PEOPLE
I wouldn’t mind seeing either Paul Kariya or Marek Svatos as the Leafs are in need of a scorer. But there is the fact that both are small and would get pushed around…
Sorry to hear about Kariya missing the entire season. I guess my comment “if he stays healthy” is now moot.
I won’t pretend to know what Burke has up his sleeve, if anything at all at this point. I’m anticipating a trade for a top six before training camp starts but if everything remains the same during training camp and pre-season it should be very interesting to see some of the younger talent fight for jobs.
If I scour the UFA list there really isn’t anyone that makes sense. There is no big body forward that can contribute offensively, is physically opposing and plays a smart two way game. So, the question is, can Burke get this type of player via trade? His obvious bait is defensemen. He may also be able to throw in John Mitchell, Grabo or a list of Marlie forwards. He certainly doesn’t have high draft picks to use as bait. If you sit back and observe everything at face-value there really is very little hope that Burke can pull this off. The money might be there but the offerings are slim at best. This type of scenario separates the good GM’s from the mediocre. Everyone knows that the Leafs need more depth up front. Burke wants to ‘win now’ which is enticing for any success-starved fan. What I respect about Burke is he shows that he isn’t interested in making a deal or signing a player just for the sake of doing it. That seems like it was JFJ’s MO. You get the feeling that Burke has something and someone in mind and appears to be staying the course. It’s not a way to operate that is pleasing to the eager die-hards but it’s likely the way to finally land the player(s) needed. Afterall, the Neon Dion deal didn’t happen over night. That’s my spin on things, is there a better way to kill a Saturday morning than think about and chat about the great Blue and White?
The only player on that list who I would want to see donning the Blue and White would be Kovalchuk and we know that is not going to happen. No to all the ex Leafs, no to Kariya who is not going to play this year due to post concussion syndrome, no to the dinosaurs and no to the players who carry too much baggage. That leaves nobody! There are two routes to improving our forward corps and they are to hope that one or two of our prospects pan out (Caputi, Mueller, Irwin, D’Amigo), or make a trade which will likely not happen until Burke and Wilson have had the opportunity to evaluate what they have. I think a trade before Christmas is a possibility but more likely January when the cap hit is more palatable for an expensive veteran such as Brad Richards or Alex Semin. If one of our BIG prospects like Caputi, Irwin or Mueller pan out then Burke might shop for a playmaking centre but if Kadri and Bozak are lighting it up then a power forward might be in the cards. Like I said, it is too early to tell which direction to go in in the trade market.
What about Zajac? With NJ expecting to sign Kovalchuk they will have to make cap room. Rumor has it Travis Zajac maybe available. I’d give up John Mitchell and a Draft pick for him.
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