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Leaf Rumours

Would you do Johnson + for Beauchemin. That would be a good fix for LA, as they get a cup winning defenseman that they are familiar with.

Depending on what the plus is, I might do it.

Lombardi killed the trade value of Johnson though by saying that he doesn't know how to play defense and that Michigan doesn't coach anything. So that plus would have to be something interesting.
 
Johnson doesn't know how to play defence. He's a -18 on a roster where Wayne Simmonds is a full THIRTY SIX POINTS HIGHER at +18. That's just horrendous. No one on the team is even remotely close to JJ's total either. And in terms of GA/60 minutes he's one of the five or six worst defenders in the league along with Finger and Exelby. Does he have upside? Sure. Is he worth it? I don't think so. He doesn't have a mind for the game, his family is crazy (particularly his father who still thinks he's a frat boy), and he's been making ridiculous salary demands that he has never even come close to demonstrating that he's worth.
 
Anyway, do we need to even think about acquiring defence?

We have more defenders than we need right now, and moving Beauch for him would be a definite downgrade.

This is the kind of deal where I'd think LA should send over their 1st rounder and we can throw in a Stemp too.

Otherwise, why would we do it?
 
As for Beauch, I dunno. I could certainly do without his boneheaded plays, and IMO one of the big money D needs to be moved.

Kaberle-Komi
White-Schenn
Gunn-Johnson
Mikus

Looks good, and young.
 
There's no question Johnson is approaching "bust" status, but I'd still take a chance on him, for cheap....especially if we're trading kaberle.
 
Anyone catch Brian Burke on Hockeycentral today? I'm sure they'll put the clip up on the website. Didn't really say a whole lot, but he did not sound interested in Ilya Kovalchuk, as he immediately started talking about the money and term the player has already turned down. When asked if he had or would be placing a call to Waddell, he said "no" both times.

He was asked if he'd started talking to any of the team's UFA's about a new contract, he said "No". He talked about how some players are good but are not producing enough for what they are paid, and if they are willing to take a pay cut they could be re-signed. I don't see Stajan or Poni taking a pay cut from what they're making, and Toskala won't be back, so my guess is that he was talking about Stempniak. Or, shudder, Exelby.

When asked if he's approached any RFA's to negotiate, he said he had been talking to the agents for one or two RFA's, but that he wasn't going to name names. Have to think he was referring to White or Gustavsson.

He was asked why they go down 1-0 or 2-0 every game, and he couldn't explain it. He said that if they were getting outshot or outplayed early in games, it could be blamed on lack of focus or preparation, but this isn't the case. It's always a different mistake that leads to a goal. He mentioned a couple of examples, including Poni taking a dumb penalty that led to a 1-0 PP goal.

He said that who starts in net is the coach's decision, but that Wilson has already stated publicly that Gustavsson will play the majority of games going forward.

Asked about trading Kaberle, he was pretty emphatic that while he would consider trading anybody in the right deal (and that it was public knowledge he did try to trade him last summer), he isn't going to go out of his way to trade Kaberle in the off-season. Listed the various things Kabs brings to the team that he'd have to replace.
 
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Great. Love the part about no interest in Kovy.

We're all set going forward, especially up front.

Man, I hate Burke more and more each day.
 
And I'd definitely be interested in Mueller if the price was reasonable enough. As for Jack Johnson, I don't know what to say there. If we trade Kaberle we could use an offensive d-man with upside and JJ fits the bill. I don't think this guy will ever really develop into a high-end player, and his attitude is ridiculous, but he is very talented and if we could get him for next to nothing, why not. But certainly I wouldn't give up major assets for him.
 
Stajan ($1.75) and Poni ($2.1) are producing far better than their contracts. No way they can be asked for a discount.

Stempniak ($2.5) also can't really be asked for a discount.

Not sure who Burke is talking about.
 
Stemp is $3.5M, and making way too much at that.

But this is all lip service by Burke. He wants to recoup draft picks and he's already setting up his excuses for trading two of our best players for next to nothing.
 
Burke was also asked if he'd be willing to take on salary for draft picks, he said yes rather emphatically, and if they don't have cap room this year they could create some by sending someone to the Marlies. He didn't clarify if he meant the guy coming in, or someone already here.

I like the Stemp, but he's making $3.5M this year (although, with a 2.5M cap hit) and just isn't producing enough points, so that is my guess.
 
Stemp's horrendous, horrendous defensive play is the primary reason I want him gone. His horrible contract and poor offensive skills are the other reasons.
 
I have zero interest in re-signing Stemp. I just hope he's done enough to earn us a 2nd rounder at the deadline.
 
I'd have some interest in re-signing Stempniak, but he certainly isn't going to get a raise from $3.5M.

As for Blake and Finger, I'm not sure what you expect. I doubt there is a team out there that will take on either of those contracts. Although I am open to sending Finger to the Marlies. If he plays well there, maybe some team would take a chance on the 50% recallable waivers discount.
 
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