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Leaf Rumours

Just a couple quotes I thought I'd share about Clarkson, because why not:
Whatever team that gets him for above 4 per I won't even feel bad for. They will have deserved it. He literally can't skate (no, seriously, he couldn't direct a youth clinic), can't pass, and can't play defense. Oh and can't handle the puck. Awful hockey sense as well.

And I like Clarkson.
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clarkson is literally the dumbest player (in terms of hockey smarts) in the league. he tries the same two moves every time, never passes, isn't very good defensively, isn't a very good skater, barely ever fights anymore, and really isn't good at anything besides shooting within 10 feet of the net and controlling the puck behind that goal. i am simply astounded that anyone who claims to be associated with the game professionally thinks he is worth more then 3.5 million per year.

i love the guy, but i won't be sorry he's gone if it's for these ridiculous numbers.
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This guy is a slightly more talented Colby Armstorng, at almost double the price. Let's hope Nonis hasn't lost his marbles and pays him 5+.
 
I really don't get the fascination with Weiss. Do we really want to pay 5M for another 50-60 point guy? If he was some super awesome defensive player and faceoff guy, I might see it, but he's pretty average in both those departments.

Kadri was close to a PPG scorer this year in limited minutes and he's the ideal C for Kessel long term. He should be given a chance on the top line, unless a top end #1 C becomes available.

As for Clarkson, he's useful if he's signed to a proper contract and used in a proper role. He's a good possession guy and he's good for about 20/40. He's not some super uber talented PF worth 5-6M and if that's what some people think he is, they will be very disappointed.
 
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PlayerToBeNamedLater said:
I really don't get the fascination with Weiss. Do we really want to pay 5M for another 50-60 point guy? If he was some super awesome defensive player and faceoff guy, I might see it, but he's pretty average in both those departments.

.
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I was with you on this for a while, but now I'm not so sure. If we can get something for Grabo in a trade, and sign Weiss for a little cheaper, would you not do that? I feel like he fills more of a need than Grabo, and I don't think he's much worse offensively, if at all. He will also provide faceoffs, which we have absolutely none of at this point, and solid defensive play which could be useful if we slot him with Kessel. I think he'd be more suited on the 2nd line, but it gives us another option to play with Kessel, unlike Grabo. I think I'm on board with overpaying for Weiss, as long as the contract isn't too insane or too long.
 
We probably can trade Grabo, but it would likely be for a contract of equal value or close.

No team is going to absorb of all it, without sending $$$$ back, so the actual savings will be minimal.
 
I hope MacArthur gets undervalued again and we can re-sign him for cheap.

He's still a relatively young guy, who can play in any situation, who provides solid 2nd line numbers and good metrics.
 
Yeah, this would be an especially good year for the Leafs to pick up some bargain-basement type deals.

The team's forward depth needs to be replenished; but there are no glaring holes that should cause Nonis to commit major dollars to players like Clarkson or Weiss.

Even Kadri / Grabo / Bolland down the middle, where the Leafs are weakest, is servicable.
 
I hope we re-sign Mac too... he's a good all around player and contributes offensively when we need it. As long as we get good bang for the buck i'm rooting for him to re-sign.
 
I bet you Frattin outscores Clarkson this year, while brnging more speed to the table to boot.

but we desperately needed to upgrade our backup goaltending, I guess.
 
Weiss is going to cost more than Vinny, is only 3 years younger, more injured.....and not as good.

****.
 
Well let's hope Weiss picks Detroit over Toronto then, because seems like the Wings are keen on signing him after missing on Lecavalier.
 
zeke said:
Weiss is going to cost more than Vinny, is only 3 years younger, more injured.....and not as good.

****.
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Three years is a fair amount of time for starters.

Secondly, he's not "more injured." Since becoming a regular in 2006-07 Weiss has played 479 games. Over that same time span Lecavalier has played 490. That's a difference of 2.3 percent in games.

Thirdly, Weiss is obviously not as talented as Lecavalier (no one would suggest that), but he's still been pretty productive and a good two-way centre who can win face-offs at a 52-53 percent clip. He's as good a plan b option as any right now, especially given the hometown boy factor as well.
 
There are several things fundamentally flawed with that logic.

1. if Bernier is ever going to be a backup goalie either, then your logic is correct, but the entire league knows Bernier has the pontential to be so much more than a backup goalie, and it's that potential you are acquiring.

2. Even if Frattin outscores Clarkson, Clarkson brings something to the table which Frattin doesn't. You look at this group of forwards and there's plenty of speed and finess. Where we lack, is board presence, physicality, and a little nastiness. Frattin is not the softest of the bunch but he doesn't bring those things that Clarkson brings to the table. Frattin was also a highly bipolar, inconsistent player, which you expect for a rookie, except he's also a 25 year old rookie ... Clarkson is a young veteran who brings more NHL experience to the club.

So if all you want is a stats team, go ahead, but hockey isn't simple math. Clarkson or Horton bring something different to our group of forwards. Frattin, not so much.
 
zeke said:
I bet you Frattin outscores Clarkson this year, while brnging more speed to the table to boot.

but we desperately needed to upgrade our backup goaltending, I guess.
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It's sort of hard to justify a trade when the guy you trade away immediately becomes one of your most obvious holes in the lineup...

Bernier could come in and be the saviour and all that, but there's HUGE potential for that thing to blow up in our faces.
 
I thought Frattin had excellent board presence and physicality...

Had a lazer beam of a shot too.

Anyways, doesn't matter, he's gone.
 
johnunit said:
It's sort of hard to justify a trade when the guy you trade away immediately becomes one of your most obvious holes in the lineup...

Bernier could come in and be the saviour and all that, but there's HUGE potential for that thing to blow up in our faces.
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Given the minimal price paid, how?
 
All the Leafs really gave up was Frattin.

And while he's cheap, 11 of his 13 points came in his first 11 games, playing with Kadri when he started out like gangbusters. The other 14 games he played, he only managed 2 points. I mean, Frattin pretty much had 0 presence for more than half of his games played. He's not that young, and it's not like he offers any other intangibles other than hitting.
 
He still played at the same PPG pace or better than Clarkson... and the decline was after his injury. Whether that played a factor or not we dont know.

I think it will suck if we replace Fratiin with Clarkson and add several million in cap dollars in the process.
 
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