Comments on: Leafs make line changes ahead of western trip

By: albertateams

albertateams — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:40:29 +0000

Yeah, Backlund can look like a potential first line center one night and then an AHLer the next. He has really shored up his defensive game the past couple of months. I think he's probably going to be a 2nd 3rd line center or LW as he really needs to work on his faceoffs.

If the Flames got Carter I doubt they play him with Iggy, for the reasons you mention plus how well the Tanguay Olli Iggy line is going. However rolling out that line plus Cammy Carter and GlenX really would be the best top 6 we've had in years.

One guy that was a great pick up is Comeau really adds some speed to the line up, has been great defensively and maybe his offensive side will come around.

By: Steven_Leafs

Steven_Leafs — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:28:19 +0000

yeah it turned out bad for us but we had to pay him big bucks since he was a UFA, luckily Burke only gave him 2 years which is a perfectly fine 'failed experiment'. With a front-loaded contract, a cap floor team might be willing to take his contract if we want to dump him. Depending what Burke would want for him it could be a no risk purchase.

Worse case we are stuck with him for another year and he plays that poorly again, it isn't like we desperately need the cap space for this off-season.

By: Steven_Leafs

Steven_Leafs — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:23:51 +0000

I'm not sure if PHI wants Gunnarsson at all, every time I hear about PHI going after a D they are always after a big strong defenseman like to replace Pronger. You may have to switch Aulie and Gunnarsson around or something. lolAnd then maybe grab a rental D from Columbus like Johnson or Martinek for our 7th D-man. I do like the look of that top 6 though.

By: reinjosh

reinjosh — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:13:32 +0000

To be honest on Backlund, I haven't watched him enough to know whether or not he should be kept or not. I just figure if we can get a potential ppg playmaking center like Roy then we should do it even if its using Backlund. But yeah I don't want to give him away, that would be just a recipe for disaster.

Carter could be a steal, I'm just worried about how he fits into the team. I highly doubt he fits with Iggy. The experiment with Nash hasn't worked and Nash and Iggy are similar players. I suppose it could work, and maybe its more just Nash doesn't mesh well with players, but I'm not sure I'm willing to take that chance. That said, having a guy like Carter would make teh offense much more terrifying. You then have Iggy, Cammy, Carter, Jokinen to build two scoring lines around. It would be the deepest offense the Flames have had in years.

By: albertateams

albertateams — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:58:57 +0000

I've been saying it all year, with Kipper in net the Flames are at worst a 9-11 team. He's been good all year but the last 7 games he's been lights out.

Probably nothing. Injuries have really handcuffed moving out UFA's for any kind of return. The kids have looked good but nobody is scheduled to come back before the deadline. Difficult to add anything substantial without dramatically over paying I think they have to wait to the offseason to make any major changes. I think they have to keep the status quo and try to make the playoffs with more or less the group they already have.

From what I here he is going to be resigned, his family loves Calgary he wants to stay. I hope its not for more than 2-3 years at 4-5 million per.

Yeah something like that is probably the extent of a move they make, if they do anything. I think they move Sarich or Babchuk before the deadline but outside of that I think the group stays the same.

I just hope they don't trad the 3 pieces you mention above, I also wouldn't move Backlund, Irving or Brodie unless the return is a reasonably young guy that is proven.

I really go back and forth on trying to get Carter. The cost would have to be pretty minimal to take that contract back, but if you get a healthy 30+ goal guy he could be a steal.

By: reinjosh

reinjosh — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:37:11 +0000

Kipper has been unreal this year. He's still one of the best goalies in the league and gives the Flames a shot every game he plays. I don't think a top 5 pick is realistic with him playing in net.

What do you do know with Calgary being 1 point out? I still think they need to make some restructuring changes, clear some guys out for picks and prospects, try and get a top 10 pick. However I understand the allure of a playoff spot. And they have the momentum, even with the injuries they keep sustaining.

Jokinen is playing awesome right now. Almost on pace for a 70 point season. You could get a lot for him at the deadline with the prices the way they are, but do you forgoe that and sign him the way he's playing?

Maybe you try to make a deal that helps now but also for teh future? Something like trying to package Backlund and something for Roy? Just making sure that something isn't Reinhart or Baerstchi and probably not this years first.

By: TheLeafNation91

TheLeafNation91 — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:55:58 +0000

Leino's contract is byfar worse than Connolly's but I agree with you.

It was a project, but that's why Burke only signed him to a two-year contracts so I'm not that worried about him.

By: albertateams

albertateams — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:44:32 +0000

That was a clinic by Kipper last night. The leafs offense actually looked really good, created good scoring chances and were able to control the puck in the offensive zone for extended periods. Unfortunately, their defense is horrible in their own end, I actually felt bad for the Monster last night. Positioning and mental mistakes by the D resulted in 4 of the five goals.

By: SabresFan220

SabresFan220 — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:41:40 +0000

Is anyone questioning why the Sabres let Connolly walk last summer? I find it funny the Leafs actually paid him more than what he wasn't earning with his play in Buffalo. Some would say Leino has been even worse, but I don't know if I'd go that far. Considering how badly the whole team has underachieved this season he's not been the worst.

Let Connolly do what he's adapted his game for in recent seasons, be a defensive 3rd line center. He's become an excellent PK guy who can win a few faceoffs. He's no longer the offensive dynamite playmaker we hoped he'd be, the concussions and hip problems have taken that from him. He can pass, but keep him on the half wall on the powerplay, he's not the pointman he used to be either.

By: LeafsFTW17

LeafsFTW17 — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:54:52 +0000

my turn to make trade proposals, weooo..

To TOR: Rick Nash.

To CBJ: Kadri, Kulemin, Aulie, Scrivens, Lombardi.

-Kadri will be a perfect fit there, Aulie will find playing time and be effective for them, Kulemin can replase Nash (not close to as well) and will help out Nail Yakupov when they draft him, Scrivens will be a huge part of this deal being a young and talented goalie. Lombardi will justify the salary.

To TOR: Brayden Schenn, Lapperriere.

To PHI: Gunnarsson, Grabovski, 3rd.

-Gunnarsson fills in that spot on defence that the flyers have desperately needed while Grabovski upgrades Schenn on that line with Briere. The 3rd is there for good measures.

I think if the leafs traded Kulemin Grabovski would be pretty p'od and would try to get as much money as possible to take it out on managment.
Leafs top 6: Pretty sexy.

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
Macarthur-B.Schenn-Nash

Also would anyone else want to see a line of Biggs-Colborne-Frattin in the future?