Leafs acquire Plekanec

[herman]

My biggest surprise about this really nice deal for both teams is that it was Rychel being shipped over instead of Gauthier. Probably could've worked the pick down to a 4th if we gave up a francophone centre.

I dunno, teams are probably on to Gauthier by now.

Have you seen Bergevin's moves?

Bonus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMYY2ODUisQ

 

[cujo4ever]

Tomas Plekanec is a Leaf. Blargh.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Marleau - Kadri - Marner
Johnsson - Aaltonen - Kapanen
Komarov - Plekanec - Brown

This is how I hope the forwards look by the deadline tomorrow, that third line has absolutely dominated in the AHL, it gives you two legit NHL third lines. Also, Aaltonen is really blossoming in the AHL as a two way forward, he is great with those wingers and the chances against when he is on the ice are extremely low.

McDonagh-Rielly
Gardiner-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev

Andersen.

^^^^
That looks like a lineup that would be a handful for any opponent.

 

[sickbeast]

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Marleau - Kadri - Marner
Johnsson - Aaltonen - Kapanen
Komarov - Plekanec - Brown

This is how I hope the forwards look by the deadline tomorrow, that third line has absolutely dominated in the AHL, it gives you two legit NHL third lines. Also, Aaltonen is really blossoming in the AHL as a two way forward, he is great with those wingers and the chances against when he is on the ice are extremely low.

McDonagh-Rielly
Gardiner-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev

Andersen.

^^^^
That looks like a lineup that would be a handful for any opponent.

While that's interesting, it's risky.  Those guys are unproven at the NHL level.  It's one thing to light it up for the Marlies but some guys just can't handle the NHL.  If they were going to do this they should have tried it by now.

I do like it though.

 

[Redleaf]

I think a lot of us are already pencilling in McDonagh as our next top pairing defenseman. There is apparently a lot of interest from other teams for his services. Fingers crossed, but I'm not as positive as some that it will happen.

Is there another available D-man (a consolation prize) that would still appease this crowd? Or is it McDonagh or bust tomorrow?

 

[Kin]

I think a lot of us are already pencilling in McDonagh as our next top pairing defenseman. There is apparently a lot of interest from other teams for his services. Fingers crossed, but I'm not as positive as some that it will happen.

Is there another available D-man (a consolation prize) that would still appease this crowd? Or is it McDonagh or bust tomorrow?

Just speaking personally I don't particularly think McDonagh is a sure thing or even likely, just that he's the type of defenseman the team needs and the Rangers are clearly in sell mode. Obviously there's no way to know who's available on a given day but outside of Karlsson, who the Leafs don't have the assets for and couldn't get even if they did, no other similar defensemen are rumoured to be available.

I don't think the Leafs need to make a move tomorrow for a defenseman and they shouldn't be thinking short term so I don't need a consolation prize. Any assets they'd be spending on someone who isn't of McDonagh's quality should probably be saved to see if they can make a similar trade in the off-season.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Yup, I like it but I'd rather keep Bozak and dump Leo. Leivo can go on the 4th line there. Leo has absolutely zero hands and he wasn't exactly stellar on the defensive end last night. His only real positive  is as a pk'er..Now with Plekanec and the emergence of Kaps, he could be expendible. Who knows. I guess we'll see by tomorrow night.

I think a lot of us are already pencilling in McDonagh as our next top pairing defenseman. There is apparently a lot of interest from other teams for his services. Fingers crossed, but I'm not as positive as some that it will happen.

Is there another available D-man (a consolation prize) that would still appease this crowd? Or is it McDonagh or bust tomorrow?

McDonagh or bust for me and as long as its from assets gained from a JVR/Bozak/Leo trade. Want no part of selling the farm to get him.

 

[dekedastardly]

I think it's more likely the Leafs end up with Green. He's a righty and would do a lot to fix a struggling powerplay.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think it's more likely the Leafs end up with Green. He's a righty and would do a lot to fix a struggling powerplay.

I hope you're wrong. Want nothing to do with him unless he comes cheap and that's not going to happen..

 

[slapshot]

I think Plekanec is simply to strengthen the existing roster for the playoffs.
JVR, Bozak and Komarov will likely all be sticking around.
I think it's highly unlikely they deal for McDonagh unless it's using picks and prospects, the Rangers are thinking rebuilt not rentals like the Leafs pending UFAs - that would make no sense.
I could see the Leafs adding someone like Mike Green if the price wasn't too high.
The Leafs might be able to get a second rounder back for JVRs negotiating rights with some team, should they choose to let him walk.

 

[Bill_Berg]

My biggest surprise about this really nice deal for both teams is that it was Rychel being shipped over instead of Gauthier. Probably could've worked the pick down to a 4th if we gave up a francophone centre.

I dunno, teams are probably on to Gauthier by now.

Have you seen Bergevin's moves?

Bonus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMYY2ODUisQ

Ha, I liked that clip!

 

[L K]

I think a lot of us are already pencilling in McDonagh as our next top pairing defenseman. There is apparently a lot of interest from other teams for his services. Fingers crossed, but I'm not as positive as some that it will happen.

Is there another available D-man (a consolation prize) that would still appease this crowd? Or is it McDonagh or bust tomorrow?

Just speaking personally I don't particularly think McDonagh is a sure thing or even likely, just that he's the type of defenseman the team needs and the Rangers are clearly in sell mode. Obviously there's no way to know who's available on a given day but outside of Karlsson, who the Leafs don't have the assets for and couldn't get even if they did, no other similar defensemen are rumoured to be available.

I don't think the Leafs need to make a move tomorrow for a defenseman and they shouldn't be thinking short term so I don't need a consolation prize. Any assets they'd be spending on someone who isn't of McDonagh's quality should probably be saved to see if they can make a similar trade in the off-season.

That's where I'm at.  Ideally I would love to see them add, but if they aren't getting a Karlsson, McDonagh, or Doughty back tomorrow I would sooner they not make a move simply to push Polak back.

If they want to flip Carrick + something for an alternative 5/6 guy who Babcock is more likely to use and is a modest upgrade, fine, but it's not really something I'm super keen on them doing.

 

[Highlander]

Sounds to me like all this amounts to a mild upgrade on Moore, who I thought was doing just fine.

Pro rated Plekanec would have around 33pts to Moore's 20. I'd say that's an upgrade. And Plekanec is good defensively. Either way if a C goes down we've got some depth. Good enough.

The 2nd round pick for a rental is not brilliant.  The rest is OK.

Don't be like my brother in law. No matter what you pay for any product imaginable, he'll say you got ripped off and could have gotten a better deal .

How do we have the same Brother in Law???

 

[Bill_Berg]

Sounds to me like all this amounts to a mild upgrade on Moore, who I thought was doing just fine.

Pro rated Plekanec would have around 33pts to Moore's 20. I'd say that's an upgrade. And Plekanec is good defensively. Either way if a C goes down we've got some depth. Good enough.

The 2nd round pick for a rental is not brilliant.  The rest is OK.

Don't be like my brother in law. No matter what you pay for any product imaginable, he'll say you got ripped off and could have gotten a better deal .

How do we have the same Brother in Law???

When he comes to you with those deals before you buy something. Beware.

 

[bustaheims]

Of note, the Leafs moved their own 2nd round pick here instead of San Jose's. As thing stand right now, the Sharks' pick will be earlier in the round than Toronto's.

 

[mr grieves]

It is not very likely that this move paves the way for unloading JVR for a 1st and a top prospect is it?

Don't see how it makes it any more or less likely, really.

I guess you could make the case that trading JVR is effectively saying that the team isn't too concerned about the playoffs this year in which case the Plekanec deal doesn't make a great deal of sense. You're not going to trade a 2nd round pick for a depth piece if you don't want to make a push into the playoffs.

That said, you can still flip JVR for McDonagh indirectly so who knows.

You could make that case, but I don't think you really would, unless your take on JVR came with "only if they don't try to add elsewhere" clause that I missed.

Spend some assets to improve where the team's weak, get some assets by moving out pieces where they're pretty deep. You probably net a better team and some pieces for the future so they'll stay good -- or, as you suggest, so you can add some to where they're weak.

 

[Kin]

You could make that case, but I don't think you really would, unless your take on JVR came with "only if they don't try to add elsewhere" clause that I missed.

Spend some assets to improve where the team's weak, get some assets by moving out pieces where they're pretty deep. You probably net a better team and some pieces for the future so they'll stay good -- or, as you suggest, so you can add some to where they're weak.

Except 4th line C wasn't really a position of need, Moore was fine in the role, and it's only a short term move. Trading a real asset for Plekanec is a pretty solid sign the team cares about the short term over and above just letting things play out.

Addressing what is a hopefully long/medium term need like top pairing defenseman is a very different thing from adding rental depth pieces.

 

[princedpw]

I think a lot of us are already pencilling in McDonagh as our next top pairing defenseman. There is apparently a lot of interest from other teams for his services. Fingers crossed, but I'm not as positive as some that it will happen.

Is there another available D-man (a consolation prize) that would still appease this crowd? Or is it McDonagh or bust tomorrow?

The price and left-handedness of McDonagh leave me hoping we don?t get him.

Tanev, if he is healthy, seems like a better fit and perhaps cheaper.  A righthanded penalty killer to push Polak out of the lineup.

Gardiner-Tanev
Riley-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev

 

[princedpw]

It is not very likely that this move paves the way for unloading JVR for a 1st and a top prospect is it?

Don't see how it makes it any more or less likely, really.

I guess you could make the case that trading JVR is effectively saying that the team isn't too concerned about the playoffs this year in which case the Plekanec deal doesn't make a great deal of sense. You're not going to trade a 2nd round pick for a depth piece if you don't want to make a push into the playoffs.

That was my thinking.

 

[Zee]

Of note, the Leafs moved their own 2nd round pick here instead of San Jose's. As thing stand right now, the Sharks' pick will be earlier in the round than Toronto's.

Polak actually did something good