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Leaf Rumours

Seems like a pretty unproductive offseason so far considering what we were expecting.

Not that I disagree with keeping Kaberle, but one has to think Burke/Nonis cannot be satisified going into next season with this line-up.

In every interview after the season ended Burke pointed out that while we improved after double D day this team had a bunch of first-liners by default.

Just because they want to improve the offence doesn't make it so if the opportunity isn't out there, but I have to think Burke and Nonis are going to explore every angle to improve the team in the time left.

I think I'll reserve passing judgement on this offseason until the first puck drops.
 
Let's hope Sept. 1st is our draft, because July and Aug 1st certainly weren't it by a long shot.

Very disappointing offseason so far. I'm fine with keeping Kaberle, but by signing Lebda Burke has compounded instead of solved the overbalanced defence.
 
I know a lot of people are unhappy with the Armstrong signing, I'm not too fussed, but ya Lebda seems like a dumb move all around.

Doesn't seem like he'll contribute much more that a Holzer-type prospect probably could. 1.5 mill total waste.
 
What will drive me absolutely nuts is if we go into the season with all our existing defensemen, and Burke/Wilson do the easy thing and send Carl Gunnarsson and his two-way contract back to the Marlies in order to make room for Lebda.
 
LeafGm said:
What will drive me absolutely nuts is if we go into the season with all our existing defensemen, and Burke/Wilson do the easy thing and send Carl Gunnarsson and his two-way contract back to the Marlies in order to make room for Lebda.
Click to expand...

I don't see this happening. Wilson loves the guy. He was playing close to 22 minutes as a rookie.

If no moves are made, I see the lineup looking like this:

Phaneuf Beauchemin
Kaberle Komisarek
Gunnarsson Schenn
(Lebda)

Finger: Marlies
 
True, but unless you move 1 of Komi / Beauch, that's the way it's gonna be.

And I can't see Burke moving Komi or Beauch. Beauch had great chemistry with Phaneuf down the stretch, and while you can't rule out Phaneuf developing chemistry with other dmen, it's not exactly a combo you want to tinkle with. Plus, Beauch is relatively cheap.

Burke just LOVES Komi OTOH, and he played last season with a shoulder injury. Though he doesn't wear the C, he is a great leader and a great guy in the dressing room. For starter, you can see from pic's and what not he's one of the first to welcome new comers like Versteeg, Armstrong to the club. This is the kindda guy you wanna have on your team, especially a young team. And, he deserves at least a chance to show what he can do after the shoulder surgery.
 
There are enough minutes to go around.

Phaneuf 24
Beauch 22
Kaberle 20
Gun 19
Schenn 18
Komi 17

Thats not really a concern. The concern is a lot of money is being spent back there, and the Leafs still need some scoring.
 
Aberdeen said:
There isn't enough minutes to go around with our D. I'd hate to see Schenn/Gunner getting 12 minutes a game.
Click to expand...

1. Phaneuf: 24 mins
2. Beauchemin: 24 mins
3. Kaberle: 21 mins
4/5/6: Gunnarsson, Schenn, Komisarek: 17 mins




It's workable, but obviously some players would have to sacrifice minutes.
 
Lebda looks like a dumb move now, but Burke expected to move Kaberle, and even if that chance is 50-50 you don't really want to expose yourself and have Finger as your #6 in case Kabby is moved. So for $1.xM, I think it's a fair contingency plan.

But I really don't see Burke moving anyone from our buleline now, I really don't. He loves Komi, and Komi deserves a chance to show what he can do after the surgery anyways. He's not gonna trade Phanuef, can't trade Kaberle. Beauch is good value for his contract, and Wilson did put him on the top pairing with Phaneuf. Schenn and Gunnarson are the team's future and it's unlikely he moves either of them.
 
The mistake was still signing Komi last year. Burke underestimated what he had in youth on D big time (White, Schenn, Gunnarson). They didn't need him last year, they still don't need him, and he is making a lot of money for what is a bottom pairing defenseman on this team.

It'd be nice if he were willing to admit and fix the mistake.
 
number17 said:
Lebda looks like a dumb move now, but Burke expected to move Kaberle, and even if that chance is 50-50 you don't really want to expose yourself and have Finger as your #6 in case Kabby is moved. So for $1.xM, I think it's a fair contingency plan.

But I really don't see Burke moving anyone from our buleline now, I really don't. He loves Komi, and Komi deserves a chance to show what he can do after the surgery anyways. He's not gonna trade Phanuef, can't trade Kaberle. Beauch is good value for his contract, and Wilson did put him on the top pairing with Phaneuf. Schenn and Gunnarson are the team's future and it's unlikely he moves either of them.
Click to expand...

i hate jeff finger, but is lebda really a whole lot better?
 
Exactly, even with the questions marks around Kaberle's future I don't think the needed Lebda. It would have been easy to get a player of equal effectiveness by other means - be it Finger or a call-up.
 
The Lebda signing means that Finger is a goner for sure. For that reason alone, i'm happy. They aren't keeping 8 dmen up.

But I agree he's overpaid. There are vet dmen still unsigned that can be had for 0.7 - 1.0 mill. That being said, with a cap around 60 mill, a 0.4-0.7 overpayment isn't the end of the world.
 
Lebda was such a stupid signing. This team does not need more defensemen. Even if Kaberle was traded they didn't need him. He's not going to see much ice-time.
 
it was more that he jumped the gun.

they could given some invites to training camp or just signed a guy at the last minute. and the overpayment is closer to $1mn.

not a smart move by burke, imo.
 
Unless Kadri comes out and lights the world on fire, this Kaberle slave exhibit thingy just put out a huge stench on MLSE again.

Perhaps a new fan might not interpret it as such, but it was so Ballard for me. Roger Neilson with a bag over his head could only one up this fiasco. MLSE sucks.
 
As much crap as Burke got last year, he did very well. This summer has been terrible.

Him whoring out info to the media on Kabs was embarrasing.
 
Can we not re-open the 'mistreatment of Kaberle debate' again? It's too subjective, people are not going to agree.
 
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