Comments on: Will the Maple Leafs be in on the Brad Richards sweepstakes? Should they be?

By: realistic_leafs_fan

realistic_leafs_fan — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:44:26 +0000

I do find it amusing that a lot of people seem to believe...you just offer the guy(whoever, I don't mean just Richards) a contract and... BOOM!!! he signs with Toronto, then we go after the next guy and...BOOM!!! he signs with Toronto and so on... now we have a cup contender in one summer.

The sad truth is, even though I have tons of faith in Burke...the chances of us landing a Richards(who I have no problem with at the right price and term, not my first choice though), Stastny, Stamkos, Parise (or obviously Carter) is actually fairly slim. Richards is the most likely because Burke can just keep upping the pot...which I am not a fan of.

We may see an addition to the D through UFA and Burke going after a younger centre with potential who hasn't broke out yet...teams are more likely to part with a player like that than a Stamkos to an offer sheet. I'm not being pesimistic...it's just, that is more likely to happen than getting a big name through UFA, offer sheet or trade.

If Burke can get a big name...GREAT!!! but it's not as easy as some seem to think.

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:03:31 +0000

Get out of my head

By: toronto77

toronto77 — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:23:12 +0000

I hope Burke does not sign Richards, though he is a great player, there something about this guy that I don't like. For some reason i don't think he would be a good fit in Toronto. Although Mike Richards would have been perfect because he plays with a lot more energy.

By: toronto77

toronto77 — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:12:44 +0000

lol, it's the other way around. leafs best chance of acquiring a no.1 centre is through trade because the UFA list is so shitty for this summer.

By: LeafsFTW17

LeafsFTW17 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:52:21 +0000

The D would have to step up big if that was to happen. Not just Deffensivly but also offensivly.
I think the leafs D could actually be the best D in the league if each player was to play as good as they can be.
For this to work Dion Phaneuf would have to hit the 20 goal mark like he could do in CGY and Schenn would have to embrace his rare offensive strengths that he does have. (I watched him play in Kelowna when he was 15 to 18 and he has great offensive potential)

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:49:02 +0000

haha Wallace, you are right, but LeafNation91 raises a good point. We just might not be able to land that star. See my comment below.

By: LeafsFTW17

LeafsFTW17 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:46:20 +0000

the funny thing is that is completely relevant to what he is saying…

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:46:10 +0000

I know this isn't what everyone wants to hear, but if we can't get Richards and don't get Stamkos on an offer sheet then we might have to build like Buffalo/Nashville and just try to be able to throw out 3 lines of solid hockey without the definitive star power.

We could be competitive and even fight for home ice if we sign a couple guys like Ville Leino, Michael Ryder, Jussi Jokinen, Scottie Upshall etc. 2 guys like this and then maybe 1 or 2 depth guys like Max Talbot, Chris Drury (if buyout happens) etc.

Could be something like this:

Lupul - Leino - Kessel
MacArthur - Grabo - Kulemin
Ryder - Kadri - Armstrong
Drury - Bozak - Brown *Orr

Phaneuf - Aulie
Liles - Schenn
Gunner - Komisarek

Reimer
Giggy

I don't know how great the team is like this but just that added depth would make a difference and would tag a few extra points in the standings. Again it would have to be like a Nashville/Buffalo mold of scoring by committee and just finding ways to win. I also realize both those teams rely on great goaltending and play a more defensive system, but I also think that if we can't land top end scorers we should switch to play a more defensive system since thats the only way a team lacking star power can really have a great season.

Anyways if Burke can't land that home run player then this type of team might be the best thing we can hope for...

By: Leafs_Wallace

Leafs_Wallace — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:24:45 +0000

masturbation gets you no closer to a woman.

By: DannyLeafs

DannyLeafs — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:00:28 +0000

I still think their could be something of a bidding war, but given that stipulation I don't think it would be as blown out of proportion as I originally believed. I still think that the 4 firsts is a minimum value, not FMV. If Stamkos is moved, he will be dealt for a package of more value then that, and I think it will have to do with the fact that teams who really want him would rather try and get a deal done, then give up complete control of the situation. An offer sheet would be a last ditch kind of thing. Also, an offer sheet will only work if Stamkos signs it, so if Stamkos realizes the teams are talking trade, then he likely won't just go off and sign one, and instead just wait it out.

I can see either Toronto or Philly putting together a pretty substantial deal to get him, but I doubt it involves any more than 2 proven roster players. Tampa will probably prefer guys that are either close to NHL ready, or are in the NHL and could break out. Philly may have more of that to give, but it should be interesting.

I don't think there is an amount on an offersheet that Yzerman wouldn't match (within reason, he would probably let it go if it was a 19 year 12 million per deal), as he could make it work for a year, and then trade Stamkos next season for a better package than 4 firsts.