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Leaf Rumours

hockeylover said:
- If any team wants Kris Versteeg, here's the likely scenario the Chicago Blackhawks are pitching: They will give him up for a second-round pick, but the team getting the winger also has to take defenceman Brent Sopel's $2.2 million contract off their hands.

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Like+father+like/3177724/story.html#ixzz0rQSC03P8
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Gee, that's ****ing nice of them.

Not only do you have to pay nearly full pop for an undersized ~50 point winger, you have to take on 5.3 million in total contracts for the honour of doing it. 2.33 million of that on a #6-7 defender.

Where do I sign?
 
i think people see versteeg as being young and having the potential to blossom on a team where he'll maybe get a bit more time on the PP, etc.

thing is, nothing in his track record indicates that. he looks like a rob brown-lite -- a mediocre player who puts up good numbers early in his career because of his linemates, and nothing more.

i wouldn't touch him.

but i think some team will, if they can get him for a second rounder (even if it means swallowing sopel's contract for a year).
 
Players similar to Versteeg wouldn't cost much more than a 2nd to begin with in the open market. Though I do get the untapped upside argument even though nothing about his track record or physical skill set suggests that he's capable of significantly more than he's already done.

If someone wants to take on 5.3 million in caphit for Versteeg long term (paid every cent that he's worth) and Sopel (paid 3x what he's worth this season), all the power to them. It's a mistake, but it's not like GM's don't make those.
 
I'll do that kind of deal with Sharp instead of Versteeg, but only if we can't just land Marleau for free without taking on any bullshit contracts.
 
Thing is, Chicago is probably in a bit of a rush to get some of these deals done so that they can re sign their RFA's before anyone else gets to send an offer sheet. Chicago is in a really vulnerable position concerning offer sheets right now.
 
You can't sign any RFAs to offer sheets til after the draft. IIRC, the deadline for Qualifying Offers is the Monday following the Entry Draft.
 
That's what I'm saying though, they would like to have their business conducted and cap space cleared prior to July 1 so that they can re sign their RFA's before July 1 and avoid potential offer sheets.
 
Now, Nieuwendyk is staring at a roster that includes Neal, Benn, Brenden Morrow and Steve Ott as potential top six left wings ... and he's waiting on a new owner to provide deep pockets.

So should he deal from a position of strength and move one of those players to get a puck-moving defenseman – the Stars' No. 1 need right now? It's certainly something he has to be considering.

Nieuwendyk is still in the first steps of his plan, and he really could use that new owner pretty quickly to give himself the leverage to make some trades. But he is fully aware that the Stars' system is in need of defensemen, and there's no guarantee they come in the draft Friday and Saturday in Los Angeles. And even if they do, there's no guarantee they provide any immediate help.
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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/hockey/stars/stories/062010dnspoheika.1e61ba1.html
 
It's very unreasonable to expect a 18, 19 year old defenseman who just got drafted can step right in and help your NHL team rightaway ... never mind playing top 4 minutes.

Defensemen take a long time to develop and usually they can't even make the league till at least 21, 22. There are exceptions, but most need a few years before they can make the team.

So if Dallas needs a puck moving defenseman to play top 4 minutes RIGHT NOW, they should make a trade.
 
Lebrun:

In Toronto, the Maple Leafs' phones are ringing more loudly of late regarding Tomas Kaberle, the team's most salable asset.

"We have received several offers we have had to discuss, and expect another today," Leafs GM Brian Burke told ESPN.com on Monday morning. "Nothing we have received to date meets our requirements."

Still, the interest and offers are getting more serious, which is what you'd expect as you we get closer to the draft this week. The poker faces turn to real offers. Toronto needs a legitimate top-six forward in return for Kaberle.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/blog/_/name/lebrun_pierre/id/5310319/florida-aggressive-calls-heat-up
 
Just spoke with someone in the "know". He said MLSE doesn't think Kaberle has ever been the same after that big hit that resulted in a concussion. He is definitely gone in two weeks. No question my source said. Fait accompli as they say.

Of course all the local trolls will say that is not anything new. And my reply is whatever.
 
teeds said:
Just spoke with someone in the "know". He said MLSE doesn't think Kaberle has ever been the same after that big hit that resulted in a concussion. He is definitely gone in two weeks. No question my source said. Fait accompli as they say.

Of course all the local trolls will say that is not anything new. And my reply is whatever.
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As soon as Kaberle returned from that big hit, he went on to score 9 pts in 9 gms to end the season -- and he was a +3 in those games.

I think he will be traded, but I don't buy the argument that that hit has had an effect on his production.
 
MyNameIsJonas said:
Production...perhaps not.....styile of play and timidness...perhaps
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I honestly don't see a difference at all. Maybe he's not as slim as he used to be, which could be factor. But the elite puck skills and passing is still very much there.

His offensive production this year still put him among the top 10 in the entire NHL. If the Leafs powerplay was anything but horrid, he could have easily posted 60+ points, which would have put him in very elite company.
 
His style of play? Timidness? If that were true, WHY would he still be such a wanted player by so many other teams? You guys crack me up. Kaberle is one of the best defenders in this entire league, bar none.
 
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