Comments on: Staal sweepstakes could heat up

By: SabresFan220

SabresFan220 — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:49:17 +0000

I expect the Sabres will kick the tires with Staal, but if the asking price exceeds Roy and the 2 1st rounders I think they'll take that same offer elsewhere. Teams like Vancouver and the Sharks should also be looking to shuffle the deck, players like Marleau and Kesler could be shook loose. But I doubt Gillis wants to trade another center to Buffalo and potentially get fleeced twice by the same team in a few months time.

By: TheLeafNation91

TheLeafNation91 — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:11:51 +0000

Oh, that is a given...Don't think anyones arguing that.

However, in Cheechoo's big 56-goal year...Thornton only played 58 games with the Sharks (due to him being with Boston) so Cheechoo must have had a decent pace before that. He also put up around 30 before the lockout. As well, every players stats that year were a bit inflated due to the new rules being put in place.

Every other year after that...Cheechoo was at a steady decline. Kulemin, on the other hand, went from 30 goals...To 7. That's pretty much ridiculous and unheard of unless the player was injured the entire year.

By: blaze

blaze — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:29:54 +0000

Staal isn't just any basic second or third line center. Both you and myself slotted him into our respective top lines if that tells you anything. Picks carry value but 2 firsts doesn't mean you can get any second line center in the league.

Perhaps Buffalo should look elsewhere although Staal would make the team much more well rounded IMO. If I were Pittsburgh I wouldn't even consider that package.

By: blaze

blaze — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:21:52 +0000

No comparing Grabovski to Art Ross winner, best playmaker in the world in his prime Thornton is stupid.

By: TheLeafNation91

TheLeafNation91 — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:58:41 +0000

True. I would deal Martin back to New Jersey if anything. Go back to the place that made you successful.

Same with Gomez. Sign a cheap contract with the Devils. Sometimes, players need to learn not to leave a good a situation.

By: thisgamewelose

thisgamewelose — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:54:04 +0000

He's saying that if the Leafs are going to trade names like Kadri and Schenn, then the return better be for a solid number 1 center. In no way does that say Kadri and Schenn are bigger names than Staal.

By: thisgamewelose

thisgamewelose — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:44:34 +0000

Personally, I don't see how you can take Joe Colborne, Kulemin, Schenn/Franson, Reimer, and Steckel and turn that into Staal, Luongo, Kunhackl and a 3rd, and still get out of having Martin's contract.

By: MystifoLeafs

MystifoLeafs — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:51:07 +0000

I liked this kid last year when I just saw a glimpse of him on YouTube/U18 and if it is at all possible we draft him I would love for us to try and trade for his buddy in Tampa Nikita Kucherov. That kid is a offensive force.

By: leafmeister

leafmeister — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:52:01 +0000

Guys, c'mon. Moved on from the Kadri vs. Colborne debate? Can we go over that one again?

By: leafmeister

leafmeister — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:42:12 +0000

I would take Grigorenko in a second. That said, he would be my last choice of the top forwards. Hopefully another team feels differently.

However, the upside for this guy is too much to pass. He would be by far the closest thing we would have to a solution for size/skill at centre.

Stick him with Kulemin and Grabo, who, while streaky offensively, are hard working and know how to grind it out, and can produce good offence in the right situation.