Bernier traded to Anaheim

[lamajama]

This has been a weird offseason, bordering on disappointing.

Mildly agree but I'm more stoked on the fact that (so far... :-X) they have resisted (after losing out on Stamkos)
doing anything stupid UFA-wise as that has been an issue in the past.

We have such a promising group of kids that it's time for them to be given an opportunity to make the team
and a bunch of over-priced, over the hill vets would do nothing for the end goal.

 

[herman]

It all looks like a very convoluted method of treading water.

 

[Kin]

We have such a promising group of kids that it's time for them to be given an opportunity to make the team
and a bunch of over-priced, over the hill vets would do nothing for the end goal.

It's not like those were the only two options.

 

[cabber24]

This has been a weird offseason, bordering on disappointing.

Mildly agree but I'm more stoked on the fact that (so far... :-X) they have resisted (after losing out on Stamkos)
doing anything stupid UFA-wise as that has been an issue in the past.

We have such a promising group of kids that it's time for them to be given an opportunity to make the team
and a bunch of over-priced, over the hill vets would do nothing for the end goal.

I am also glad we didn't overpay for second tier UFAs. Build from within. I feel last year they tried a few one year pump and dump signings and it didn't play out as well as we had hoped. It gave us something to talk about though.

 

[cabber24]

It all looks like a very convoluted method of treading water.

Filling the cupboards and developing it takes time.

 

[lamajama]

So...Lupul to the Ducks to complete the reunion...?  ;D

 

[rdowdall]

This has been a weird offseason, bordering on disappointing.

Mildly agree but I'm more stoked on the fact that (so far... :-X) they have resisted (after losing out on Stamkos)
doing anything stupid UFA-wise as that has been an issue in the past.

We have such a promising group of kids that it's time for them to be given an opportunity to make the team
and a bunch of over-priced, over the hill vets would do nothing for the end goal.

I am also glad we didn't overpay for second tier UFAs. Build from within. I feel last year they tried a few one year pump and dump signings and it didn't play out as well as we had hoped. It gave us something to talk about though.

Even though it didn't work out, the approach still fit with the plan of building through future investment.  This offseason feels more like they are trying to straddle the line of being competitive now as well as in the future.  As we have seen in the past, this approach doesn't work.  You have to pick a side and buy in to that philosophy and see it through. 

The Leafs management was never going to bat 1000 with all of their decisions.  However, this offseason is filled with some questionable moves, and that starts to lead to questions about what their plan is moving forward. 

 

[TBLeafer]

They are keeping the big pieces they want to keep, got rid of the ones they didn't (aside from just Lupul now) and added tough support players for all the young skilled players.

It's not hard to understand.

They've improved the TEAM through doing a bit of a balancing act between last year and this year.

With Bernier's exit, exactly 50% of the team that started last year will now have been switched out.

Right on the money with Lou saying last season that roughly half the players will be different this season.

It just seems to me that all major changes there were to make have all pretty much been made.  They want to keep the rest it appears for now (aside from Lupul) and they have Bozak (and Lupul) as players to expose at the expansion draft as it stands right now.

 

[Kin]

Also, and this is very much a sidepoint, it's pretty tricky to look at the big time UFA's that got signed and say that any of them really got overpaid. I don't think I love any of the deals or wish the Leafs got in on any of them but 6 million-ish for a 25-30 goal 1st line winger(which most of the top UFA's were) is pretty reasonable. Some of them are ugly due to age but if you asked me if I was interested in putting together a winner over the next few seasons the Ladd/Okposo/Lucic deals seem about as reasonable as anything you'll find in free agency.

 

[TBLeafer]

They made a play for Stammer and Stammer stayed loyal.

I don't think they were after any 25-30 goal scoring wingers.  I think they think they already have enough of those for much, much cheaper right now.

 

[lamajama]

Also, and this is very much a sidepoint, it's pretty tricky to look at the big time UFA's that got signed and say that any of them really got overpaid. I don't think I love any of the deals or wish the Leafs got in on any of them but 6 million-ish for a 25-30 goal 1st line winger(which most of the top UFA's were) is pretty reasonable. Some of them are ugly due to age but if you asked me if I was interested in putting together a winner over the next few seasons the Ladd/Okposo/Lucic deals seem about as reasonable as anything you'll find in free agency.

I think those deals on a 3-4 year basis may be "fair" value (in this day and age anyway) but it's the Year 5 and on that will be the issue - as it always is on July 1st.

These 3 may represent the better performance for this years high ticket UFA's (not counting Stamkos) but there is a lot of others that will be pretty quick disappointments.

As I mentioned before I'm happy with the Leaf decision to maintain the course for one more year at least.

And the 2nd best UFA is still out there until Aug 15th as well. So there's that...

 

[bustaheims]

Creating room for Kris Russel.

Pleas NO although I suspect you're right. :-[

I suspect the comment was tongue-in-cheek, as the cap space still isn't really available.

 

[Boston Leaf]

sorry to be late to the party but any idea who backup may be? Or do th Leafs need to retain salary?

 

[TBLeafer]

sotty to be late to the party but any idea who backup may be? Or do th Leafs need to retain salary?

Enroth for me as a backup choice.

 

[bustaheims]

You're right though. It doesn't seem like they've really embraced any particular direction. The rumours of them being in on Russell, the not trading any big pieces, the head scratching draft strategy. Obviously this could all change in the weeks ahead but this seems like a policy of moderation at a time where the only thing that accomplishes is dragging out whatever the end goal is.

I wonder how much this has to do with the types of deals they've been offered. Defencemen seem to going at a premium, and forwards seem undervalued right now. No sense rushing deals if the value isn't there.

 

[herman]

I would've been perfectly content for them to roll with exactly who they already had + sign a cheap backup for Bernier (which we have to do now) and let the kids who fill the holes gain some experience. The following season, when ~30M comes off our books is when fun could be had.

 

[TBLeafer]

[tweet]751490507432423425[/tweet]

Platinum Seat Ghosts @3rdPeriodSuits
Jonathan Bernier with Leafs pre-Mandela quote: 0.929 sv %

Jonathan Bernier with Leafs post-Mandela quote: 0.916 sv %

?\_(ツ)_/?
2:57 PM - 8 Jul 2016

 

[Omallley]

I would've been perfectly content for them to roll with exactly who they already had + sign a cheap backup for Bernier (which we have to do now) and let the kids who fill the holes gain some experience. The following season, when ~30M comes off our books is when fun could be had.

Being one who's a little more on the conservative side of things in terms of asset management, I agree with this. They'll likely be a better club next year because of the trades, but I'm not sure if they'll be better in a couple years time as a result.

These aren't moves that I oppose to the same level as a bunch of the JFJ/Fletcher/Nonis ones, but they don't seem to be in line with maximizing overall value.

 

[herman]

I would've been perfectly content for them to roll with exactly who they already had + sign a cheap backup for Bernier (which we have to do now) and let the kids who fill the holes gain some experience. The following season, when ~30M comes off our books is when fun could be had.

Being one who's a little more on the conservative side of things in terms of asset management, I agree with this. They'll likely be a better club next year because of the trades, but I'm not sure if they'll be better in a couple years time as a result.

These aren't moves that I oppose to the same level as a bunch of the JFJ/Fletcher/Nonis ones, but they don't seem to be in line with maximizing overall value.

That said, once they've made a decision about personnel, I like that they're decisive about it and not waffling around stringing a player along to try to eke out some nominal value. Bernier is this year's Kessel in that regard.

 

[Bullfrog]

They made a play for Stammer and Stammer stayed loyal.

I don't think they were after any 25-30 goal scoring wingers.  I think they think they already have enough of those for much, much cheaper right now.

JvR and ????