Grabovski - Under the Watchful Eye Of An Angel

[ZBBM]

Burke..

No tough decisions so far

Grabovski likely staying

Yeah. From the sounds of things, I wouldn't expect the Leafs to do much of anything over the next couple days. He also all but shot down a Nash deal when he said he give up their depth just to make the playoffs.

I just posted in the GDT that he can't really trade Grabs w/o cutting Wilson down -- no Grabs, no playoffs in all likelihood.

I would interpret his Nash remark differently: acquiring Nash is not getting somebody who'll just squeak you into the playoffs, it's a franchise player.  So I wouldn't rule it out but I'd say NYR would likely provide CBJ a much better return.

 

[bustaheims]

I would interpret his Nash remark differently: acquiring Nash is not getting somebody who'll just squeak you into the playoffs, it's a franchise player.  So I wouldn't rule it out but I'd say NYR would likely provide CBJ a much better return.

It was just the way he emphasized building the depth and everything that really gave me the impression that he's not looking to make a big deal like that leading up to the deadline - Nash or otherwise.

 

[ZBBM]

I would interpret his Nash remark differently: acquiring Nash is not getting somebody who'll just squeak you into the playoffs, it's a franchise player.  So I wouldn't rule it out but I'd say NYR would likely provide CBJ a much better return.

It was just the way he emphasized building the depth and everything that really gave me the impression that he's not looking to make a big deal like that leading up to the deadline - Nash or otherwise.

You could well be right.  But I mean, anything's possible.  Grabs could go.

 

[Tigger]

Burke..

No tough decisions so far

Grabovski likely staying

Yeah. From the sounds of things, I wouldn't expect the Leafs to do much of anything over the next couple days. He also all but shot down a Nash deal when he said he give up their depth just to make the playoffs.

Yup, if anything they might be sellers which would be just fine with me.

 

[cw]

Burke..

No tough decisions so far

Grabovski likely staying

Yeah. From the sounds of things, I wouldn't expect the Leafs to do much of anything over the next couple days. He also all but shot down a Nash deal when he said he give up their depth just to make the playoffs.

Yup, if anything they might be sellers which would be just fine with me.

Me too.

Once again, I won't fault him for some over payment for Grabbo because he's been decent and there are no decent UFA centers until summer 2013 at best.

But if Grabbo's looking like he won't sign for anything but crazy dough & term, the heck with Ron Wilson and the playoffs-to-nowhere. I'd deal him.

 

[maplesyrup]

Apparently we've been offered a first (per the hotstove.) Given the direction of the club, I'd take it.

 

[WalterSobchak]

Two things:

1) I think Grabs isn't worried about the money or term as much as he maybe asking for a No Movement or No Trade clause.

2) I would hate to see Grabs go because dollars to donuts, when we finally do get better, we are going to rue the day we traded him.

We may say, man, we really need a player like Grabovski. Didn't we used to have a player like Grabovski?

If we are on the cusp of a playoff spot, why are we worried about getting prospects back in trades, instead of proven players who can help in the mid to long term? The Leafs are not officially dead yet. They need a goalie, or at least one that isn't being thrown under the bus by Messers Wilson and Burke. I wonder what it would take to get Halak out of St Louis?

Sure if they make the playoffs they might get swept, but, it doesn't hurt to get some experience for all these players who are still learning their trade.

I bet Kulemin gets moved to Pittsburgh to play alongside his buddy Gene Malkin.

 

[drummond]

Two things:

1) I think Grabs isn't worried about the money or term as much as he maybe asking for a No Movement or No Trade clause.

2) I would hate to see Grabs go because dollars to donuts, when we finally do get better, we are going to rue the day we traded him.

We may say, man, we really need a player like Grabovski. Didn't we used to have a player like Grabovski?

If we are on the cusp of a playoff spot, why are we worried about getting prospects back in trades, instead of proven players who can help in the mid to long term? The Leafs are not officially dead yet. They need a goalie, or at least one that isn't being thrown under the bus by Messers Wilson and Burke. I wonder what it would take to get Halak out of St Louis?

Sure if they make the playoffs they might get swept, but, it doesn't hurt to get some experience for all these players who are still learning their trade.

I bet Kulemin gets moved to Pittsburgh to play alongside his buddy Gene Malkin.

If this happens, what is the chance that his offence will explode again

 

[cap44]

I hope Kulemin does get traded because I like the kid and he deserves a chance to rebuild his career under the tutelage of a real coach. I hate to keep re-hashing the same old argument but can anyone identify one player on this team who hasn't slid backwards in their development under Ron Wilson.

 

[nutman]

I wonder what it would take to deal Wilson, there must be a team out there that needs a clown behind the bench.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I hate to keep re-hashing the same old argument but can anyone identify one player on this team who hasn't slid backwards in their development under Ron Wilson.

Grabbo, Gunnar, Bozak, Kessel, Lupul, and even Kulemin. He's having a bad year but he progressed every year under Wilson.

 

[Tigger]

I hate to keep re-hashing the same old argument but can anyone identify one player on this team who hasn't slid backwards in their development under Ron Wilson.

Grabbo, Gunnar, Bozak, Kessel, Lupul, and even Kulemin. He's having a bad year but he progressed every year under Wilson.

Mac had a career year playing for him, he's slid a bit in terms of point production but that might have to do with Kulemin, I'd argue Gardiner has steadily improved and Phanuef has turned it around a little bit as well.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Grabovski's agent:

"These are his prime years in his hockey contract. Also this is a very important time for the Maple Leafs to make playoffs and Graba will do everything to help them.

"I don't make comments during negotiations and neither do my Clients. I could tell you that Mikhail wants to play for the Leafs for many years and win the Stanley Cup with them and I absolutely agree with him.

"I am positive that we will make a deal, but we have to be patient. We understand their position and I believe that they understand our position, we are more than fair. Of course it has to be right for Mikhail and right for the Maple Leafs."

Some encouraging words, especially the last bit there.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Grabovski's agent:

"These are his prime years in his hockey contract. Also this is a very important time for the Maple Leafs to make playoffs and Graba will do everything to help them.

"I don't make comments during negotiations and neither do my Clients. I could tell you that Mikhail wants to play for the Leafs for many years and win the Stanley Cup with them and I absolutely agree with him.

"I am positive that we will make a deal, but we have to be patient. We understand their position and I believe that they understand our position, we are more than fair. Of course it has to be right for Mikhail and right for the Maple Leafs."

Some encouraging words, especially the last bit there.

Yeah, after hearing Burke last night and this today, I believe it's at least sure Grabo won't be traded by tomorrow and that they will most likely come to a deal before the draft.

 

[DieWilsonDie]

For what he is asking for he can go win the Stanley Cup somewhere else.  Seriously we Leaf fans fall for some of our players too rapidly.  The best stretch that Grabovski has ever played was at the end of the season last year when all the remaining games were meaningless.  If we can get a first round pick for him great, if not let him walk at the end of the year.  He hasn't done anything negative, but he hasn't helped us get to where we need to be either, disappearing for long stretches this year.  Unless we can move Connelly, Komisarek, Phaneuf, Lombardi, Armstrong, or any other albatross contracts it isn't worth giving a significant cap portion to Grabovski. 

 

[Kessel Run]

For what he is asking for he can go win the Stanley Cup somewhere else.  Seriously we Leaf fans fall for some of our players too rapidly.  The best stretch that Grabovski has ever played was at the end of the season last year when all the remaining games were meaningless.  If we can get a first round pick for him great, if not let him walk at the end of the year.  He hasn't done anything negative, but he hasn't helped us get to where we need to be either, disappearing for long stretches this year.  Unless we can move Connelly, Komisarek, Phaneuf, Lombardi, Armstrong, or any other albatross contracts it isn't worth giving a significant cap portion to Grabovski.

So a late 1st round pick that has a pretty good chance of being nothing?

 

[DieWilsonDie]

For what he is asking for he can go win the Stanley Cup somewhere else.  Seriously we Leaf fans fall for some of our players too rapidly.  The best stretch that Grabovski has ever played was at the end of the season last year when all the remaining games were meaningless.  If we can get a first round pick for him great, if not let him walk at the end of the year.  He hasn't done anything negative, but he hasn't helped us get to where we need to be either, disappearing for long stretches this year.  Unless we can move Connelly, Komisarek, Phaneuf, Lombardi, Armstrong, or any other albatross contracts it isn't worth giving a significant cap portion to Grabovski.

So a late 1st round pick that has a pretty good chance of being nothing?

Unfortunately in this new NHL cap space is an asset.  Giving 5 million dollars to a player on a team full of players with big contracts and no playoff success in this city is a colossal mistake.  We've tried this song and dance in the past with other players only to see us turn on them, do you really think Grabovski is going to be a core player on this team when we are ready to compete, which at this rate will be 5-10 years away? 

 

[proteus2000]

For what he is asking for he can go win the Stanley Cup somewhere else.  Seriously we Leaf fans fall for some of our players too rapidly.  The best stretch that Grabovski has ever played was at the end of the season last year when all the remaining games were meaningless.  If we can get a first round pick for him great, if not let him walk at the end of the year.  He hasn't done anything negative, but he hasn't helped us get to where we need to be either, disappearing for long stretches this year.  Unless we can move Connelly, Komisarek, Phaneuf, Lombardi, Armstrong, or any other albatross contracts it isn't worth giving a significant cap portion to Grabovski.

So a late 1st round pick that has a pretty good chance of being nothing?

I think the value would be in having more assets to move in a trade tomorrow or on draft day than the draft pick in itself.

they are very weak up the middle as it is so losing Grabovski really hurts...unless they can parlay that cap space and assets gained to get a legit centre to replace him on draft day. It's a hard decision, but I doubt that he is going anywhere.

 

[Bullfrog]

Unfortunately in this new NHL cap space is an asset.  Giving 5 million dollars to a player on a team full of players with big contracts and no playoff success in this city is a colossal mistake.  We've tried this song and dance in the past with other players only to see us turn on them, do you really think Grabovski is going to be a core player on this team when we are ready to compete, which at this rate will be 5-10 years away?

In 5-10 years, no. But he can be a core player now. You realize the team still has to play games between now and the mythical 5-10 year timeframe, right?

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

Quite frankly, when the Carter ship sailed, I don't think we have another realistic option. Grabo is the best free agent Centre available. Sure, we could maybe trade for an equivalent guy and save a million on the cap, but that would cost other assets as opposed to the "asset" of cap space.

To anyone who wouldn't sign Grabo, what exactly is the plan for next year's centre positions? Does anyone actually feel confident running with Bozak-Connolly-Lombardi-Steckel, hoping that Kadri/Coulubourune fit in somewhere, as our centres next year?

You know how bad the available UFA talent pool is for top-6 centres 30 and under? Kyle Wellwood may be the best option, and I'm not even 100% sure he plays centre anymore. Let that sink in a little.