Comments on: A Detailed Look at the 2008-2009 Toronto Maple Leafs Teams

By: lukeleim

lukeleim — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:24:35 +0000

If you take a glance at the depth chart, the overabundance of depth both up front and on the back end suggests either Fletcher has a series of trades in the works or there is going to be plenty of competition at training camp. And once the season begins, there will be the impression that no one is safe. The country club atmosphere is out and accountability is in.

Goaltenders: Vesa Toskala, Curtis Joseph

Defensemen: Bryan McCabe, Pavel Kubina, Tomas Kaberle, Anton Stralman, Ian White, Carlo Colaiacovo, Jeff Finger, Staffan Kronwall

Centermen – Matt Stajan, Alex Steen, Dominic Moore, Boyd Devereaux, Mikhail Grabovski

Right Wingers: Nik Antropov, Jeremy Williams, Jamal Mayers, Nik Kulemin

Left Wingers: Jason Blake, Niklas Hagman, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Jiri Tlusty, Mark Bell, Ryan Hollweg
-----------------------------------------------------------
Trade Alexei Ponikarovsky and Ian White for draft picks.

Trade Bryan McCabe to the Buffalo Sabres for Maxim Afinogenov.

Jason Blake - Nik Antropov - Maxim Afinogenov
Mark Bell - Alexander Steen - Nikolai Kulemin
Niklas Hagman - Matt Stajan - Jamal Mayers
Jiri Tlusty - Mikhail Grabovski - Boyd Devereaux
----------------------------------------------------
Ryan Hollweg - Dominic Moore

Tomas Kaberle - Pavel Kubina
Jeff Finger - Carlo Colaiacovo
Jonas Frogren - Anton Stralman
------------------------------------
Staffan Kronwall

Vesa Toskala
Curtis Joseph

Prospect Depth:

Robbie Earl - Darryl Boyce - Jeremy Williams
Dale Mitchell - Chris DiDomenico - Jimmy Hayes
Alex Foster - John Mitchell - Tyler Ruegsegger

Luke Schenn - Dimitri Vorobiev
Phil Oreskovic - Korbinian Holzer

Justin Pogge
James Reimer

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:27:12 +0000

Antropov would be on the first line in 25 out of 30 teams. He's a coach's dream. The other 5 teams he would be a 2nd line player, and that includes Detroit. Antropov is an overall better player than Holmstrom. I would actually go ahead and put him top line with the Wings if he were to go there.

You Antropov bashers are ridiculous, you haven't watched the guy play, you're all just Leaf haters (or clueless Leaf fans). I'll take the votes of 300+ players/GMs/Coaches over the opinions of idiots like i-know-hockey and Lafleur10.

Koivu better than Antropov?? He was.... in 2002 and earlier. Since 2003, Koivu has been better than Antropov in just 1 season (the one season where Saku surpassed 70 pts, he did have a monster year).

By: i_know_hockey

i_know_hockey — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:57:19 +0000

this is going to be antropovs 9th season.... i think the verdict on this guy is already in.

Ps he needs to get rid of the gay visor wat a loser

By: i_know_hockey

i_know_hockey — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:44:03 +0000

luke ur an idiot

By: cam7777

cam7777 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:34:16 +0000

well, agree to disagree...there's no arguing with a habs fan, is there?

but to answer your question, the leafs haven't traded him because they believe he's a center piece worth building around. it's not the leafs that value him so high, as i've already explained. many gms and coaches have commented on antropov. if you believe you know better than them, then good for you.

i also never said anything against the kostitsyn's or plekanec, so relax.

By: lafleur10

lafleur10 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:29:15 +0000

i forgot to mention that plekanec and the kostitsyn's are players on the rise more so than antropov!

By: lafleur10

lafleur10 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:23:26 +0000

antropov couldn't touch koivu on his best day!!!!his production isn't better than koivu's go back over the last 2 seasons and you'll see koivu has more points over that span!antropov is on the rise!boy that's a good one he rose to a level where he is and will either stay where he is or get worse! remember he palyed with sundin and that is the only reason (plus the fact that he was finally healthy)is the reason he had 56 points A CAREER HIGH!and yes i wouldn't want him on my team because he wouldn't make our team period1if he is so undervalued then why haven't the leafs traded him by now?.is it maybe because we see what all the other teams see an overacheiever that simply had a career year and has leveled off or will never be to us what leafs think this guy is1 i think that's it! and teams don't want this guy or you guys would have traded him by now!i can't understand why leafsfans overvalue this stiff!(which is exactly what he is)

By: cam7777

cam7777 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:42:09 +0000

his production is better than koivu's now, he could take that spot pretty easily. koivu is great, don't get me wrong. i have his jersey, love the guy. but antropov is on the rise, and you're forgetting the intangibles that antropov brings. he's considered one of the better two way forwards around right now, which is more than can be said for tanguay. and there's no way he'd be over looked for lapierre or latendresse.

you're right though, montreal would be a good example of a team where nik wouldn't necessarily be top tier. i'm just saying, antropov is a power forward who can play center....you can't tell me you wouldn't want him on your team (isn't that exactly what the habs have been searching for?). if he puts up 56 points with the Leafs...what's he gonna do for the habs? it would be a whole different ball game for him to play with higgins, kostitsyn, kovalev, tanguay and the gang

also, i did say that detroit would be the only team i could think of that would be a stretch. he could definitely take satan's spot in pittsburgh's top line, or fedentko's on the 2nd. he could easily be a second line asset for the sharks. so really, i think you're being the delusional one. i can't understand why people under value antropov so much. Apparently everyone knows better than the GMs.

By: cam7777

cam7777 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:30:28 +0000

well, my mistake in not understanding why bieska was on the block. all the same, in that trade i would easily take any of the less attractive defensemen vancouver has to offer. anyone who can be a solid addition to our defensive corp. and not be injured as often as colaiacovo would be a welcome addition. of course, my mind could change if colaiacovo manages to be an assett and stay healthy leading up to the trade deadline (still, this is toronto's problem….not taking advantage of trading guys while they have value).

By: Bure96

Bure96 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:15:59 +0000

I really didn't know Buffalo's offense was that good last year. My mistake.

The reason Bieksa was on the trade block was, because of all of the big four defensemen in Vancouver he was the most attractive player. Mattias Ohlund, Sami Salo, and Willie Mitchell are all over 31, have less upside then Bieksa, and make about the same salary.