Polak and Spaling traded to San Jose

[sneakyray]

Also cool that this is the 3rd straight Leafs trade that wasn't initially reported by an "insider". I believe the sens twitter account broke the Dion deal (that was nice of Lou to let them do that) and @LeafsPR broke both this and the Matthias trade.

To be fair though bobby mac reported rumblings on phaneuf less than 2 hours before the trade.  I remember people on this forum accusing him of trolling for click bait.

 

[Kin]

That's fair. I guess the thing is, could the Leafs have traded Polak for a 2nd rounder this year? Yeah, I think they definitely could have. Could they have traded Spaling in a separate deal to even kind of make up the gap in value between the two trades separately and this one? Not a chance.

See, I look at this trade slightly differently. I think this trade maybe says that A) Spaling had some sort of 5th/6th round value and B) Polak's value was maybe a bit higher than we thought. Not 1st round value but maybe 2nd and a 4th or 2nd and a 5th.

So would you rather two seconds, even if they're future seconds, than a 2nd, a 4th and a 5th/6th? I would. That's why I think it's a really good trade. I just can't get away from the fact that they need more top 50 picks.

 

[herman]

If we keep pumping the tires on how Dubas traded down to stretch one 1st Rder into so many high potential magic beans, do you think we could probably package some spare picks to another 'rebuilding' team for a top 50 pick.

These multiple future picks would make nice pot sweeteners to push another team to concede their 1st round pick too.

 

[sneakyray]

I agree with Nik.  Get the highest possible picks regardless of the year. Quick question.  Is there a limit on how far into the future you can trade picks? Like could a team offer a first in 2020 or something

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Helps replace the picks they have to give up at some point for Babcock/Lou.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Helps replace the picks they have to give up at some point for Babcock/Lou.

I'm hoping the Leafs just act like that never happened. Do you really see Bettman confronting Lou about it?

 

[Kin]

If we keep pumping the tires on how Dubas traded down to stretch one 1st Rder into so many high potential magic beans, do you think we could probably package some spare picks to another 'rebuilding' team for a top 50 pick.

These multiple future picks would make nice pot sweeteners to push another team to concede their 1st round pick too.

Maybe. But the way teams did that was a result of having a bunch of spare 2nds and 3rds. Teams were able to trade up 5 or 6 spots by virtue of including late 2nds/early 3rds. Those are exactly the kinds of picks the Leafs don't really have right now.

 

[jdh1]

Got to believe that these picks will go toward a trade in bringing prospects back,like maybe a Driuan or some one like that,a player on the roster plus a pick or two.

 

[cujo4ever]

Very nice trade for the Leafs. Polak is definitely worth a second, but to get another for Spaling is just incredible, the guy has 1 goal in 35 games this year.

I'm guessing Torres was thrown in to free up a contract spot for the Sharks, his cap hit is only 2 mil this year.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm guessing Torres was thrown in to free up a contract spot for the Sharks, his cap hit is only 2 mil this year.

The Sharks are only at 45 contracts after this trade, so it was likely more about cap space. And they're pretty tight there. So the Leafs could have either retained some of Polak's salary or moved Torres' cap hit onto their books. They've only got 1 retained salary spot left though so this option still gives them some flexibility.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That's fair. I guess the thing is, could the Leafs have traded Polak for a 2nd rounder this year? Yeah, I think they definitely could have. Could they have traded Spaling in a separate deal to even kind of make up the gap in value between the two trades separately and this one? Not a chance.

See, I look at this trade slightly differently. I think this trade maybe says that A) Spaling had some sort of 5th/6th round value and B) Polak's value was maybe a bit higher than we thought. Not 1st round value but maybe 2nd and a 4th or 2nd and a 5th.

So would you rather two seconds, even if they're future seconds, than a 2nd, a 4th and a 5th/6th? I would. That's why I think it's a really good trade. I just can't get away from the fact that they need more top 50 picks.

What is their situation for top 50 picks next season and the one after that?  If it was for a 2nd rounder next year, wouldn't we just be back next season saying "they need more top 50 picks in this draft."  Whether they add a top 50 pick this year, next year or the draft after, they will always be valuable won't they?  And there's certainly time left to add more this year.

 

[bustaheims]

Like others have said, I would have preferred one of those picks to be in this year's draft, but other than that, hard to complain about the return at all. The Leafs are going to need to build a pipeline of talent coming up through the system, and future picks certainly helps with that. Also, Lou pulling a Frattin with Torres is great.

 

[herman]

If we keep pumping the tires on how Dubas traded down to stretch one 1st Rder into so many high potential magic beans, do you think we could probably package some spare picks to another 'rebuilding' team for a top 50 pick.

These multiple future picks would make nice pot sweeteners to push another team to concede their 1st round pick too.

Maybe. But the way teams did that was a result of having a bunch of spare 2nds and 3rds. Teams were able to trade up 5 or 6 spots by virtue of including late 2nds/early 3rds. Those are exactly the kinds of picks the Leafs don't really have right now.

We still have a week UFAs coming here early can always boomerang back out!

Got to believe that these picks will go toward a trade in bringing prospects back,like maybe a Driuan or some one like that,a player on the roster plus a pick or two.

I know what you meant, but I totally read this:

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Also, Lou pulling a Frattin with Torres is great.

It's amazing that it's taken this long for a team to utilize that type of maneuver. I wonder how many teams have gone "wait, we can do that?" recently. Go Pridham!

 

[rdowdall]

If we keep pumping the tires on how Dubas traded down to stretch one 1st Rder into so many high potential magic beans, do you think we could probably package some spare picks to another 'rebuilding' team for a top 50 pick.

These multiple future picks would make nice pot sweeteners to push another team to concede their 1st round pick too.

Maybe. But the way teams did that was a result of having a bunch of spare 2nds and 3rds. Teams were able to trade up 5 or 6 spots by virtue of including late 2nds/early 3rds. Those are exactly the kinds of picks the Leafs don't really have right now.

The only assets left that are going to bring in those types of picks are Kadri, JVR, and Gardiner.  Perhaps the Leafs are holding out on those three because they are trying to drive the price up.  In the case of JVR, they may not be able to move him this year because of his injury.

The Phanuef and Polak trades should have been able to bring in picks for this year.  I wonder if it's a case of they couldn't get those picks for this year, or if they actually had a plan and don't care if the pick is in this years draft or not.

 

[Kin]

What is their situation for top 50 picks next season and the one after that?

No idea. As it stands right now they have their own 1st and 2nd next year and they seem like pretty fair bets to be top 50 picks. They have San Jose's and Ottawa's 2nd now but who knows where those picks will be.

  If it was for a 2nd rounder next year, wouldn't we just be back next season saying "they need more top 50 picks in this draft."

?

 

[herman]

The only assets left that are going to bring in those types of picks are Kadri, JVR, and Gardiner.  Perhaps the Leafs are holding out on those three because they are trying to drive the price up.  In the case of JVR, they may not be able to move him this year because of his injury.

JvR has Draft Day Blockbuster written all over him. He's guaranteed to be better (right away) than any movable first round pick, especially for a contender who fell short in the 2016 playoffs.

I think Kadri gets re-upped, unless someone literally knocks the doors down with an overpayment. Same for Gardiner.

 

[sneakyray]

So if Spaling was enough of a kicker to get an additional 2nd then for me it makes the ell kessel deal a little better adding in a 2nd instead of Spaling.

 

[Zee]

I wonder who is next.  Parenteau?  Komarov?  Bozak? 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Lou says that Percy and Leipsic will be recalled from the Marlies.

Not mentioned in the press call, but Leivo should be back from injury shortly too (maybe even for the next game).