Are THE MAPLE LEAFS paving the way for a Big move?

[langway05]

Here's the linkie loo: www.tsn.ca/nhl

At face value, it looks like a garden variety exchange of draft picks.

And maybe it is, but could it possibly be more than that?

We will see.

The Toronto Maple Leafs today re-acquired their own much-travelled 2010 second-round pick from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Toronto's third-round pick in 2011 and a 2011 second-round pick that was previously acquired by Toronto from Calgary.

Why would the Leafs effectively pay a net price of a third-round pick to get a second-round pick in the 2010 draft instead of the 2011 draft?

Well, the move now gives Toronto their own first, second and third-round picks in the next NHL entry draft, which is the prerequisite for any team that would want to submit an offer sheet on a top restricted free agent player this summer.

Very interestin'.....

 

[hami12]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ...... hate the leafs ... but i love Burke at the helm

 

[2fnlo]

Maybe he is trying to trade back for Dustin Penner? Seriously if he submits an offer sheet, he is the biggest hypocrite alive. I would put a hate on for him, which seeing as he is now the Leafs GM would be fitting I suppose.

 

[leafschik1967]

Maybe he is trying to trade back for Dustin Penner? Seriously if he submits an offer sheet, he is the biggest hypocrite alive. I would put a hate on for him, which seeing as he is now the Leafs GM would be fitting I suppose.

Why? He didn't say he had a problem with offer sheets. He said he had a problem with a gross overpayment for an unproven player. Given how things have turned out with Penner, its hard to say he was wrong.

If it is an offer sheet, Kessel is the most likely candidate. They could also trade the picks for Kessel's rights.

 

[Leafsfan1967]

I think Trish is bang on with Kessel. I think he's gonna end up in blue, and white before long!

 

[Triple B]

Kessel was the first name in my head when I saw that deal. Building from the D up...I like it and it certainly does set things up to make Toronto a good destination for offensive players now that the defense is about to be set.

 

[canucksfreak19]

My roommate, and avid Leafs fan, also believes this move to revolve around getting Kessel. Boston doesn't have the money to sign him and as much as it pains me to say it. I think this would be a really good move by the Leafs.

 

[2fnlo]

Jason Blake, Komisarik, Wilson, Burke, and possibly Kessel?

F*** YEAH!

 

[DredJAw]

Maybe he is trying to trade back for Dustin Penner? Seriously if he submits an offer sheet, he is the biggest hypocrite alive. I would put a hate on for him, which seeing as he is now the Leafs GM would be fitting I suppose.

Hypocrite? For what exactly...

Burke's comments on the Penner offer sheet:

“I have no problem with offer sheets, they are part of the CBA,” Burke said on a conference call. “I think it’s a tool certainly a team is entitled to use. My issue here is this is the second time this year in my opinion Edmonton have offered a grossly inflated salary for a player, and it impacts on all 30 teams and I think it’s an act of desperation by a general manager who is fighting to keep his job.”

Like Trish told you. He doesn't care about offer sheets. He cares about grossly inflated ones.

 

[Boom Boom]

Jason Blake, Komisarik, Wilson, Burke, and possibly Kessel?

F*** YEAH!

:beer: priceless!

 

[DredJAw]

Or, you know, how the St. Louis Blues have David Backes, Keith Tkachuk, Erik Johnsson, Ty Conklin, BJ Crombeen, TJ Oshie, Brad Winchester, Cam Janssen, and GM Larry Pleau as Americans.

 

[lumm0x]

I like Kessel. He would be a good addition for just about any team.

 

[hadesvengeance]

Burke'y does make things interesting lol.It is nice seeing someone who wants to put this franchise back on track.
Kessel would be alright too,good step in the right direction.But on a side note ,does anyone know of any other interesting restricted agents off hand?And when does Kovy go up for restricted free agency btw?
Thanks for any info.
mike

 

[leafschik1967]

Assuming you mean Kovalchuk, whenever he goes up he will be unrestricted. As far as interesting RFAs, the only other one is Brandon Dubinsky, I think.

 

[2fnlo]

Hypocrite? For what exactly...

Burke's comments on the Penner offer sheet:



Like Trish told you. He doesn't care about offer sheets. He cares about grossly inflated ones.

If he didn't care then he would just sit and watch Edmonton eat up Penner's contract, at the expense of the team. And not go on and on about it. I mean Edmonton surely knows now what a colossal mistake they made. Burke just likes to put his finger in an open wound and twist.

We will see what he offers Kessel, if he even does.

 

[leafschik1967]

If he didn't care then he would just sit and watch Edmonton eat up Penner's contract, at the expense of the team. And not go on and on about it. I mean Edmonton surely knows now what a colossal mistake they made. Burke just likes to put his finger in an open wound and twist.

We will see what he offers Kessel, if he even does.

Right, but that makes him a jerk - not a hypocrite. If he offered Kessel $10 million per season, it would make him a hypocrite.

 

[supercec]

I`d say something in the 5 to 6 million range would be a fair price for a player of Kessels stature. He's played 3 full seasons and has increased his point totals each year(last year significantly).

Penner had only played 1 full season and had lower point totals. To compare the two just doesn't work for this arguement. Kessel would be more comparable to Vanek in terms of this situation. We'll just have to see how much Burke offers before we call him hypocritical.

 

[sholi2000]

Why am I the only one who says that Kessel is unsigned because he's recovering from surgery. Did I dream this up? I thought that that was the reason the Beans haven't signed him yet.

I figure the Bruins will sign him, they be over the cap, and have the month of Sept to sort it out.

Then again, if Kessel can't play until Christmas, then why bother talking contracts until you know what's what.

I think TSN is being nice, Leafs dead last in the East?

 

[supercec]

Why am I the only one who says that Kessel is unsigned because he's recovering from surgery. Did I dream this up? I thought that that was the reason the Beans haven't signed him yet.

I figure the Bruins will sign him, they be over the cap, and have the month of Sept to sort it out.

Then again, if Kessel can't play until Christmas, then why bother talking contracts until you know what's what.

I think TSN is being nice, Leafs dead last in the East?

I'm pretty sure it's a cap issue. If Kessel was injured Boston could sign him and place him on the IR not having to pay his cap hit until he comes back.

The Leafs won't finish dead last. They are just too solid in the backend and although the offense is not good, it is not as atrocious as some sports writers make it out to be. Expect a finish anywhere between 6 and 12. The East is if anything wide open this year, many teams have question marks

 

[2fnlo]

I`d say something in the 5 to 6 million range would be a fair price for a player of Kessels stature. He's played 3 full seasons and has increased his point totals each year(last year significantly).

Penner had only played 1 full season and had lower point totals. To compare the two just doesn't work for this arguement. Kessel would be more comparable to Vanek in terms of this situation. We'll just have to see how much Burke offers before we call him hypocritical.

Vanek is a better player than Kessel, Vanek scores all by himself. Kessel has some pretty decent company in Savard and Lucic. Once he plays with Dominic Moore, and the guy from Slapshot we will see how good he really is. He is the kind of guy I would like to sign for the $4.5 - $5 million range. I think too much more than that could be a little scary, at least for my liking.

Still its no use to argue with fans.