AMinnes

So, you don't like depth? What's with the White bashing? the guys 24 years old. What do you want?

viperstar

I know what u mean like wdf hes 24 he can get better most D-Man get really good at around 28-30 but with the D Toronto Has i think he may get packaged to bad i could see him becoming a Top 4 with time if only he worked on his skating

BE-LEAF-ABLE

Not that I don't like depth, but Toronto already has a logjam at D and White sure isn't going to suddenly overtake Stralman on the depth chart.

He's obsolete, unless he wants to go back to the AHL (where on most nights it looks like he belongs anyway).

__________________
"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

AMinnes

I hope they don't choose to keep an old guy, rather than a young guy like that. Again, makes me question the finger deal. Ian white's making what 600 thousand?

BE-LEAF-ABLE

I honestly know little to nothing about Jeff Finger, except that he has a $3.5M contract and is pretty much a lock for a spot in the top 6. Maybe it's a bad deal... maybe not. I don't have much to go on except tiny clips of his play on youtube, which isn't saying much. That's why I can't really comment on the matter with him really.

I do know that they have to get something for Ian White though, because even with the flaws in his game the one thing he can do is handle the puck and do so well (along with already being able to put up at least 20 points a season). That should be taken into consideration for now since he's only 24.

He's on the outside looking in of the top 6, or even the top 7 or 8 right now.

__________________
"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

AMinnes

Living in the west, I have seen a good amount of finger, even live at Rexall, he's actually pretty decent. A lot of Leaf fans are freaking over the money (it was high), but it's not AS bad as people suggest, most Leaf fans from TO aren't watching Colorado play, and they listen to sportsnet diss the deal, but in reality, a guy like finger who's first priority is defence was sorely needed on the Leafs.

What your saying is true, they do have a lot of guys and it would make sense to move someone, I'm just not convinced they are going to give up on White. They may not move anyone, but if they do, I wouldn't be suprised if it is someone older (if Fletcher was serious about the "go young" method). Quite frankly, they could move anyone, depending what they get back. If it was me, I'de trade Van Ryn (or Finger but good luck with the new contract), and keep the youth movement going because in the end it will pay off.

DarkKnight

Brutal

Going to be a long season

hockeymaster9

I totally agree, the next draft is looking very good thus far.

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~Toronto Maple Leafs~

Spasmic Dan

I'm guessing some trades will happen after camp, as we're currently overloaded with players (although in this case, for the most part, its a quantity over quality approach).

The way I'd set up the lines at the moment would be:

Jason Blake - Alex Steen - Nik Antropov

Not sure if Steen or Antropov would get the center position on this line, but I really think Steen performs better at center than he does on the wing. Basic strategy for this line: Steen dishes, Blake maneuvers and shoots, and Antropov muscles in the garbage.

Nikolai Kulemin - Mikhail Grabovski - Jiri Tlusty

I have high (perhaps too high) hopes for Kulemin and Tlusty, but not so high for Grabbo. Still, I like this line because of its speed and wild card effect. They could bust, or they could be great. Most interesting line on the Leafs.

Alex Ponikarovsky - Matt Stajan - Niklas Hagman

Its got a little grit, defensive responsibility, and more offense than most would give it credit for.

Jamal Mayers - Dominic Moore - Mark Bell

The grit and intensity from Mayers and Bell would be both useful and entertaining, and combine that with Moore's solid play and decent offensive abilities, could be a very effective energy line.

Tomas Kaberle - Pavel Kubina

The obvious first pairing of our top two guys. If Kubina plays like he did after he refused to be traded, its a very good pairing indeed.

Mike Van Ryn - Carlo Colaiacovo

The injury-plagued pair; the make or break couple. Could be very good this year if they see full seasons, although I still expect Van Ryn to be dealt at the deadline. May very well switch positions with, or split time with, the next pairing.

Anton Stralman - Jeff Finger

Finger's either very overrated, or was severely underrated until now. Stralman's potential makes me hope he sees top minutes this year, and Finger's contract makes me think he'd better see some quality minutes or MLSE just wasted some money.

Notes: Jonas Frogren is slated for a spot, but he'd better have to earn it, and better not bump off Colaiacovo or Stralman. Also, would it surprise me to see Schenn play this year? Not at all, but then we're really logjammed. Ian White, while a very good young puck-mover (some of his passes are pure gold), will probably be moved before the start of the season, but I doubt we get his worth in return.

Vesa Toskala

Tosk and Kabs may be the only two true assets on the team that could garner a hefty return, and yet I'm hesitant to trade them both. I expect a great year from Vesa, barring injury.

Curtis Joseph

While I'm happy to see Joseph back, as I always liked him and he's a good leader, I'm thinking maybe its time we see some NHL experience for a certain Mr. Justin Pogge. Its my hope that Pogge sees that time this year, with Joseph as a mentor playing a few games as well. One can dream, I guess.

As for Captaincy, I see one of Kabby and Kuby getting the C, and the other one of the As. As for the other A, could possibly go to one of Stajan, Steen, or Antro.

Edit Note: I didn't forget about Devereaux or Hollweg, but I don't see Devs making the team at the moment, even though I do like his play. Hollweg, on the other hand, I hope only sees time if Mayers or Bell goes down, and even then Devereaux is my first choice. Unfortunately I can see Hollweg getting more ice time than I'd like. Please Ryan, at least cut out the cheapshotting and pay more attention to hockey...

As an afterthought, I read after the draft (from some of the more, shall we say, intelligence challenged media personalities in Toronto) that Toronto was not taking Detroit's tried and true European approach to winning. Seems to me that this lineup likes the potential of European players. Skill and heart are what counts, but Don Cherry will likely lavish us with shame.

__________________
"Toronto shorthanded goal...his 4th goal of the season.....his 3rd goal of the game....and the 500th goal of his NHL career...scored by number 13, Mats Sundin!"

Brings a tear to the eye....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDKsr...eature=related

Spasmic Dan

Hopefully it looks even better after the deadline. Unfortunately, I get the sinking feeling that we'll surprise everybody....and end up in ninth.

Cheers to good mediocrity!

I hope that feeling is dead wrong.

__________________
"Toronto shorthanded goal...his 4th goal of the season.....his 3rd goal of the game....and the 500th goal of his NHL career...scored by number 13, Mats Sundin!"

Brings a tear to the eye....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDKsr...eature=related