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Leaf Rumours

Regarding Sturm ... I can see why Burke is interested. He's a useful 25-30G, 55-60 points player who turns UFA after this season, and can be had for a song. I can also see numerous other teams being interested, and that's why if Boston has a choice they will not trade him to the Leafs.

I think Burke also has to watch it ... as he is well aware himself, he has the capspace to make ONE big move. If he takes on Sturm, even though we're almost at Christmas already, he still wouldn't have as much cap flexibility for say, Richards, when he becomes available later on in the season.

As for teeds' comment on Phaneuf ... filtering through what is apparently the alcohol talking :) ... it's interesting to say Phaneuf is not mean.

He was a mean SOB and a rock on defense right after the trade last season. He was always looking for big hits, looking for chances to put guys on his butt.

Since he's got the C this season though, it seems like he's played a more 'controlled' game and try to play within some boundaries set by himself, or his coach?

Whatever it is, while I acknowledge any defenseman who plays almost 30 min a night has got to pick his spots (or else you turn into a McCabe ... often taking yourself out of position to make a big hit, and the TO crowd can get on you very soon) but I think Phaneuf's definitely gotta play a meaner brand of hockey.
 
To me, 60-70 point players making 7.7M until they're 40 aren't worth very much. Really not sure why anyone would actually want to take on that albatross.
 
You don't think Phaneuf was playing mean enough? Really?

The Leafs GAA has gone up a full goal since he's been out. It was 2.36 with him in the lineup, and its 3.33 since. He completely shut down the defensive zone when he was out there. Good luck getting to the front of the net with him on the ice.

You guys are crazy. He's been Pronger good defensively in Toronto. And without question the meanest guy on the ice.
 
leafman101 said:
You don't think Phaneuf was playing mean enough? Really?

The Leafs GAA has gone up a full goal since he's been out. It was 2.36 with him in the lineup, and its 3.33 since. He completely shut down the defensive zone when he was out there. Good luck getting to the front of the net with him on the ice.

You guys are crazy. He's been Pronger good defensively in Toronto. And without question the meanest guy on the ice.
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I didn't say he's not playing good defensive hockey. I said he's not playing mean hockey.

And no, he is not playing mean enough.

Schenn is meaner than Phaneuf. Schenn is the meanest guy on our blueline (well, on our team) but Phaneuf is capable of being a meaner guy than Schenn (he didn't get the double-dion nickname for nothing)

I love Dion ... don't get me wrong. I just hope he plays a meaner brand of hockey - gotta be a little crazy, a little unpredictable and that's when you intimidate people.
 
Nah. Phaneuf was plenty mean. He made guys lives a living hell around the net.

I don't know exactly what you are expecting. Schenn doesn't do anything he didn't, and doesn't do some of what he did.
 
Hits Pace

Schenn: 246
Phaneuf: 224
Komi: 183
Aulie: 164
Beauch: 133
Lebda: 82
Gunnar: 64
Kaberle: 47
 
Schenn is probably among the league leaders in hits too I suppose?

But the 'hit count' itself doesn't do Schenn justice. Schenn not only hits often, but he hits HARD. The kid's just 21 but he can simply stand some guy up along the board - no charging, no acceleration, and consistently put guys on their butt. This kid is TOUGH.

Recently I've seen Schenn beginning to line guys up in the open ice ... he hasn't nailed anyone hard yet in open ice, but some day he will catch a guy cutting across and it'll make it to the rock'em sock'em series.

Phaneuf has quite a few years on Schenn and should be the best hitter on the team.
 
League Defensemen Hit Pace Leaders

1) M.Greene (LA): 319
2) R.O'Byrne (COL): 292
3) B.Orpik (PIT): 278
4) F.Bouillon (NAS): 272
5) N.Grossman (DAL): 262
6) L.Schenn (TOR): 246
7) M.Fistric (DAL): 236
8) L.Sbisa (ANA): 236
9) T.Peckham (EDM): 235
10) S.Weber (NAS): 230
11) D.Phaneuf (TOR): 224
12) B.Seabrook (CHI): 221
13) R.Regehr (CAL): 213
14) A.Alberts (VAN): 212
15) S.O'Brien (WAS): 211
16) J.Erskine (WAS): 207
17) D.Doughty (LA): 203
18) M.Niskanen (DAL): 202
19) A.Volchenkov (NJ): 197
20) D.Murray (SJ): 193
 
well, he lost his minutes.

He's at about 25th in the league, playing only 15 minutes per game.
 
I don't drink, haven't for some time. Although if we ever get our get together going, I might have two, no more. Would be close to a year and a half.

Its a cap world, I will, in this world make some player suggestions that might to some still hanging on to the pre-cap paradigm cringe.

We are defence positive and forward negative. Lecavallier has an insane contract, but I think he still has a lot. I don't know enough about him to say much more so....

But if we get rid of Phaneuf AND Komisarek, we could do it. And probably flip him to Montreal for some kind of a WINDFALL because the city of Montreal would go ga ga for Lecavellier.

I love Pronger and I like Phaneuf, he is a serviceable hockey player, but we have others doing his job, cheaper.

Again, for the record, its pretty early, but the guy with the MOST upside on the defence for me is Aulie. Besides Kaberle who is most likely topped out a year or two ago.
 
number17 said:
Recently I've seen Schenn beginning to line guys up in the open ice ... he hasn't nailed anyone hard yet in open ice, but some day he will catch a guy cutting across and it'll make it to the rock'em sock'em series.
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Schenn's already made it to the Rock'em sock'em/Don Cherry series! :thumbsup(22):

Old Don did a nice little tribute to Schenn for his rookie year. It was pretty impressive.
 
As for Sturm, I'm sure the Leafs are interested. Too bad there's no chance Chiarelli's going to do anything to worsen the Leaf pick. I would expect the Kings deal to go through at some point.

On Lecavalier, it's just too long of a deal and Lecavalier is already playing well below the level of his paycheque. I don't anticipate that trend to reverse as he ages. I don't think we have to take on a contract that bad just to get rid of Komisarek. It'll be bad, but not THAT bad.
 
Volcanologist said:
As for Sturm, I'm sure the Leafs are interested. Too bad there's no chance Chiarelli's going to do anything to worsen the Leaf pick. I would expect the Kings deal to go through at some point.

On Lecavalier, it's just too long of a deal and Lecavalier is already playing well below the level of his paycheque. I don't anticipate that trend to reverse as he ages. I don't think we have to take on a contract that bad just to get rid of Komisarek. It'll be bad, but not THAT bad.
Click to expand...

Plus Lecavalier at this point has some fairly serious injury concerns. A Malone for Komi swap may make some sense. Two bad contracts. Not sure if Tampa would want to do that though.
 
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