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Leaf Rumours

Isnt the cap going down again as well?

I just dont see any GM being that enamoured with Carter to give him Iginla money. Carter's good, just not that good.
 
JackBurton said:
Well it doesn't look like he likes Atlanta that much.
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I never said he liked Atlanta, just the low-key aspect. The whole fact that it's NOT a hockey market. He wants no part of a Canadian team. I bet he'll end up in either San Jose, or Los Angeles.
 
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Back to Lecavalier for a second...

Tampa Bay got Mike Smith, Jeff Halpern, Jussi Jokinen and a fourth-round pick when they traded Brad Richards who at the time had a similar cap hit and point production as Lecavalier does now. There were a couple differences -- one being Richards contract was about half as long, and he didn't have the injury history Lecavalier has. Given these two differences, you can probably get him cheaper than Richards.

Even though I realize all the risks that come with Lecavalier, I still think it would be a good risk to trade for a potentially elite #1 centre, in his prime, whom you wouldn't have to trade many good assets in return for.

I don't even care about the money aspect. MLSE can afford to pay the actually cash. It's the cap hit that's important. If Vinny can score in the PPG range (which is just a little higher than his current range), I can live with a 7.7 cap hit from my #1 centre.

I think you have to be a lot more flexibile with your options, because finding a good #1 centre is probably the hardest thing to find.
 
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Well, that's kind of a simplified analysis. Lecavalier is also better, and held in higher regard than Richards. You won't get him for less than the Lightning got for Richards.
 
msun30 said:
Well, that's kind of a simplified analysis. Lecavalier is also better, and held in higher regard than Richards. You won't get him for less than the Lightning got for Richards.
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I don't know about that. Especially after Vinny's rather lackluster past two seasons and all the money he's owed. Not many teams can afford that contract.

Brad Richards was a Conn Smyth winner who was viewed as one of the best defensive players in the league. And he was a consistent 70+ point forward.

It's funny, Richards is probably more likely to make team Canada than Vinny is.
 
msun30 said:
Well, that's kind of a simplified analysis. Lecavalier is also better, and held in higher regard than Richards. You won't get him for less than the Lightning got for Richards.
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I really hope he gets traded so we can find out for sure. I still think that TBay will take whatever they can get just to get rid of the MONSTER contract for their #2 center.
 
Habspatrol said:
I really hope he gets traded so we can find out for sure. I still think that TBay will take whatever they can get just to get rid of the MONSTER contract for their #2 center.
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i know people have been salivating over stamkos' start, but he has cooled off considerably, and lecavalier has almost caught him in scoring.

for what it's worth, lecavalier is definitely a superior hockey player to stamkos. the latter is a nice goal scorer but i don't see the sort of take-charge ability lecavalier has demonstrated (really, since his first season in the league) when at his best.

but there are definitely some character concerns with lecavalier, and we saw that as early as his second season in the league. i don't know if he gets pouty when things are not going well or what it is, but he has definitely been prone to playing below his capabilities.

i wouldn't call him tampa's #2 centre, though. he is definitely still superior to stamkos.
 
Actually, I see Stamkos as definitely being that front line, take charge guy.

And I think his presence will be another contributing factor to TB willing to take less to shed Vinny's contract.
 
Stamkos is awesome, but he's not as good as Vinny when he's at the top of his game. Few are.

Only problem is Vinny isn't there much.
 
Stamkos and Kessel are similar players, imo.

Lecavalier is better even when he isn't at the top of his game. He's a few notches below that right now but, frankly, still performing about as well as Stamkos has.
 
Lehtonen:


The Atlanta Thrashers have officially put Kari Lehtonen on the market, according to RDS's Bob Hartley, and a trade might be coming soon because Lehtonen is nearly completely back from injury.

He will likely be ready to play in the NHL after the New Year, which might mean GM Don Waddell will pick up the phone and try to deal his goalie.

The cost for him, as rumored, is a conditional draft pick.

That said, the market for goalies should be interesting come trade time. Several are on the market -- including Lehtonen, Martin Biron, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Vesa Toskala and Jaroslav Halak -- but because of team situations, the teams that want Halak will also likely look at Lehtonen. Hartley, in fact, suggests that the Habs should trade Halak before Lehtonen goes on the market.

Lehtonen will be back from injury around New Year's, but Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg have proven to be a solid one-two combo. So Lehtonen is the odd man out.

As the Hockey News writes, despite his $3 million salary, Lehtonen's suitors will only have to pay part of his salary.
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I'd love a Lehtonen/Gus combo.
 
The goaltending depth in the Leaf organization is really poor, and while Gusto is an NHL caliber goalie, we could really use another goaltender.
Lehtonen is young and has shown himself to be pretty decent already... I think we should take a chance on him while his stock is low, as there is more upside in his case than with any of the veteran goalies.

He makes $3 million this season, but is an RFA this offseason. Considering his injury problems, I think we would be able to resign him for less. He has been over the .910 mark the last 3 seasons, and considering the Leafs goaltending post-lockout, .910 is pretty much vezina-caliber to us.

There is absolutely no reason Toskala should ever play another game for the Leafs, but unless Burke acts soon, I don't see how he won't.
 
Biron is probably a better option than Lehtonen. He'll come cheaper in trade, he'll likely sign a significantly cheaper contract, and he's at least as good a goaltender.

I think we're past the point of Lehtonen being a potential elite goaltender, he just can't stay healthy enough to put it all together. Not that I'm against landing him, but I think Biron is the way to go. NYI is about to give him away for a song.
 
MindzEye said:
Biron is probably a better option than Lehtonen. He'll come cheaper in trade, he'll likely sign a significantly cheaper contract, and he's at least as good a goaltender.

I think we're past the point of Lehtonen being a potential elite goaltender, he just can't stay healthy enough to put it all together. Not that I'm against landing him, but I think Biron is the way to go. NYI is about to give him away for a song.
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Biron isn't close to being as good of a goaltender.

The only advantage he has is over Lehtonen's injuries.

But Biron is the one guy who just doesn't live up to the whole save % thing. His save % always seems to exceed his abilities. He's horribly inconsistent, cannot be relied on at all, and has a penchant for allowing bad goals. No thanks.
 
05/06
Lehtonen: 38 gms, 906 SV%
Biron: 35 gms, 905 SV%

06/07
Lehtonen: 68 gms, 912 SV%
Biron: 35 gms, 903 SV%

07/08
Lehtonen: 48 gms, 916 SV%
Biron: 62 gms, 918 SV%

08/09
Lehtonen: 46 gms, 911 SV%
Biron: 55 gms, 915 SV%

09/10
Lehtonen: N/A
Biron: 16 gms, 897 SV%




I wouldn't mind either of them, but I prefer Lehtonen because he has much bigger potential.
 
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