Comments on: Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports …..

By: thisgamewelose

thisgamewelose — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:28:57 +0000

Ignore the spelling errors. Although, there should be a player called backstroom.

By: thisgamewelose

thisgamewelose — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:10:54 +0000

I just don’t see why it makes sense for washington. In your opinion, this helps because they get speed and a puck mover on the wing,and already have Ribero, then why not try backstrom on the wing with them? IMO, Backsroom would be a better option than Kessel. Plus, Ribeiro is about to be 33. I think they go with Backstrom over him. Call it speculation, but I don’t see Ovi getting along with Kessel.

It sounds more like a good trade because the leafs get a #1 center, and Washington gets a star return back, but this is still a complete loss for Washington.

By: realistic_leafs_fan

realistic_leafs_fan — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:33:40 +0000

The key would be that Caps have a playmaking centre in Ribero who could feed both. Ovie isn’t going anywhere and they need to do something to get him going on the ice. The trade could help Ovie…and Kessel actually. Leafs get thier number one centre and get a little tougher. Washington gets speed and puck movers, which may be the better style for them to play.
I think it could help both teams…now is it possible? Who knows?lol

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:55:14 +0000

Kessel is a terrific playmaker, I think it could work. But I agree that Washington probably shouldn’t (but I wouldn’t say wouldn’t, given the decline of that franchise) move Backstrom for Kessel.

By: thisgamewelose

thisgamewelose — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:41:19 +0000

I’m not sure Washington is going to give up backstrom to have Kessel and Ovie on the same line. I’m not so sure that would even work out that well. Kessel has a lot of speed and can keep up with Ovie, but I don’t see them working well with each other.

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:34:23 +0000

Ya something like that. Looks pretty cool to me. I would love to have Backstrom, to me he is a lot more valuable than Phil Kessel. Backstrom is a force, and he’s tougher on the puck than 99% of the league.

As for the whole re-signing UFA’s, list gets smaller when July 1 rolls around thing – I really feel with the cap coming down so significantly this summer that there will be a lot more actual free agents hitting the market compared to usual. This will be a very unique summer in that regard as teams adjust to the new CBA. So my hope is that this will be a summer in which a team like Toronto could really revamp its roster in a hurry with so much talent on the table.

By: doorman

doorman — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:00:14 +0000

You guys are gonna start debating whether it’s times or years now are you? lol

By: realistic_leafs_fan

realistic_leafs_fan — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:49:03 +0000

LOL frustrating YEARS LOL

By: realistic_leafs_fan

realistic_leafs_fan — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:46:23 +0000

I agree with most of what you’re saying Mojo. Although, as you know, many free agents available now, will not be come summer(re-signed prior), but some good ones will be available as you said. Plus a few buyouts may be available. I agree completely with what you originally said about Phaneuf and Kessel and that Bozak and MacA should be moved, maybe even as part of a package. I’m not sure if you agree with this or not, But my thought is, I really don’t understand why people insist on building around 2 players(Kessel&Phaneuf) when we could move them for pieces to build around many(JVR,Grabo,Lupul,Kulimen,Frattin, Gunnar, Gardiner, Franson for example). That makes more sense to me, but I seem to be on a bit of an island here.
It may be a bit early yet, but Washington is struggling large. They have huge money tied up in 3 centres (Backstrom, Ribero, Laich-hurt) and 2 long term deals-Ovie and Backstrom. Ovie is struggling…wouldn’t the thought of Ovie and Kessel on the same wings make McPhee droul. Could Backstrom be had if Kessel was offered?
What if something like (I took about 5 minutes to think this,lol)
To Caps
Kessel,Liles, Bozak
To Leafs
Backstrom, Chimera, Erskine, 2013 2nd

cap hit is about $800,000 in our favour.

Ribero moves up with Kessel and Ovie, Bozak fills in til Laich is back then moves to third line and Liles adds veteran puck moving for Washington.

We now have
Lupul Backstrom JVR
Kulimen Grabo MacA.
Chimera Kadri Frattin

If we could get a Clarkson, Perry, Horton type to replace MacA…I think we have something.

By: blaze

blaze — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 01:00:27 +0000

Fair enough. These are frustrating times.