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Leaf Rumours

PlayerToBeNamedLater said:
I'd like to know what our Fenwick was with and without Gardiner in the lineup.

I agree, puck mobility from the blueline plays a huge role in possession.
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And its not to say that a guy like Clarkson wouldn't help. But I just don't think you can afford to overpay for that. You do what the Wings to and grab guys off the scrap heap like Cleary and Bertuzzi.

Maybe a guy like Dustin Penner for example.
 
PlayerToBeNamedLater said:
Way to much finesse. JVR might have the size of a PF, but he doesn't play like one, at least consistently. Lupul is good along the boards, but again he's not great at it. He just looks great compared with the rest of the team.

The Leafs need a C, a #2 dman and a bigger forechecking presence . Whether the forechecking presence comes via C or W, doesn't really matter to me.

The Leafs have a lot of great pieces in place and they earned their place in the standings (no luck involved), but we can't ignore that that this team just isn't able to maintain puck possession nearly enough. And if the goal is to win the cup and not just make the playoffs, it needs to be addressed.
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I agree. Having a stronger forechecking presence is more important than any “on paper” positional needs. I mean, there’s a reason many teams look worse than the Leafs on paper, but end up better on the ice.

NOW is the time to fix this problem (well, this offseason at least). Two poor possession players in Bozak and MacArthur can be replaced. And the Leafs have two amnesty provisions (one after Komisarek) as well. Plus, there could be a lot of free-agents / trades with other team’s amnesties and with the cap going down.
 
leafman101 said:
And its not to say that a guy like Clarkson wouldn't help. But I just don't think you can afford to overpay for that. You do what the Wings to and grab guys off the scrap heap like Cleary and Bertuzzi.

Maybe a guy like Dustin Penner for example.
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I'm not suggesting to overpay for Clarkson. I'm suggesting he'd be a good addition at the right price. He has a good goals to corsi ratio. Goals and Corsi are the two most important indicators for a forward imo.
 
number17 said:
We need a solid #3 though, that much is for sure.

Should have gone after JBo.
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Yep. With Kadri's emergence at center and Reimer's emergence in goal, another big-minute defenseman that can be counted on to anchor one of our top-two pairings is definitely the biggest need on this club. If you could put J-Bo, or even someone who's somewhat comparable on the second pairing with Franson instead of trying to force Fraser or Kostka into that role, then we'd be pretty much set on D.
 
LeafGm said:
Yep. With Kadri's emergence at center and Reimer's emergence in goal, another big-minute defenseman that can be counted on to anchor one of our top-two pairings is definitely the biggest need on this club. If you could put J-Bo, or even someone who's somewhat comparable on the second pairing with Franson instead of trying to force Fraser or Kostka into that role, then we'd be pretty much set on D.
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That dman can still be Gardiner or even Rielly. We need to remember that we got two blue chippers at or close to the NHL level who both project into top 4 dmen with the potential to be top 2 dmen.

That's why it sucks that because of injuries and a lack of playing time, a year of Gardiner's development was wasted. Now the Leafs might need to go out and spend money on a dman when they could have filled the position from within cheaply.
 
PlayerToBeNamedLater said:
That dman can still be Gardiner or even Rielly. We need to remember that we got two blue chippers at or close to the NHL level who both project into top 4 dmen with the potential to be top 2 dmen.

That's why it sucks that because of injuries and a lack of playing time, a year of Gardiner's development was wasted. Now the Leafs might need to go out and spend money on a dman when they could have filled the position from within cheaply.
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Absolutely. But if we can help it, I'm not sure if I'd like to depend on one of those players to turn into that guy for us next year.
 
I can't believe how much and how quick Liles has regressed though. It's unbelievable.

I thought he would be a good bridge-gap solution until Reiley / Percy / Gardiner is fully ready.

He can't last that long ... he has been brutal since the concussion.
 
UPDATE: The Star-Ledger reports the New Jersey Devils are engaged in talks regarding David Clarkson. But the subject of actual money has reportedly yet to be addressed.

"We'll continue to work on it. We've certainly started the process, but until (contracts) are complete there is nothing done," Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said Wednesday.

There's no doubt the Devils would like to have Clarkson back. But whether the club is able to cough up the dough the 29-year-old forward deserves is another story altogether.
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Forward David Clarkson may have played his last game for the New Jersey Devils. Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger suggests the Devils will have a hard time in finding the cash/salary cap space to retain the likes of Patrik Elias and Clarkson. Especially since the club has so many free agents -- restricted and unrestricted -- to deal with this summer.

"... Clarkson (is) probably leaving, maybe to Toronto ..." -- Chere

A native of Toronto (Mimico, technically), the 29-year-old is believed to be interested in signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. And Clarkson seems prepared to part ways with the only club he's played for in the NHL.

"It'll be new to me. I'm still going to go and have my meetings here and see what is said," Clarkson said, in regards to becoming a UFA. "It's obviously something I think about. I'd be lying if I said it's not. I'm going to enjoy this summer and just take it step by step."
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.
 
The $$ for Clarkson scares me. And I'm not sure I've ever heard reporters so sure that a guy was coming here.. Reminds me of how sure everyone seemed that Richards was going to NY.
 
Just for fun, cause we're in an off season now....

Kessel-Kadri-JVR
Lupul-Elias-Kulemin
Clarkson-Colborne-Frattin
Orr-McClement-Komarov

Phaneuf-Gunnarsson
Robidas-Gardiner
Franson-Rielly
 
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