Steve Stamkos?

[Zee]

They are building a hockey team guys, not a building.

This one line made me laugh for some reason.

 

[TBLeafer]

I'm going to go about this circular debate another way.

Let's say today is July 1st, they've already drafted Matthews (and a goalie at 30 and a defenseman at 31), and Shanahan called a press conference and just announced that they've signed Stamkos to a 7 year $70m contract.  Shanahan is glowing with pride, says that they've got a elite leader who leads by example, and that they're one step closer to building a strong contending team for the future.  Babcock asks for patience again from fans as this is just one step in the process, and that they've got a long way to go before they'll be a team that'll be competitive.  Stamkos says that he's excited about the opportunity to be part of this building process, and he himself echos Babcock's plea for patience, long road ahead, blah blah blah...

Now what do you do with the roster moving forward?

Arizona knocks on the Leafs door now that we have Stamkos and Matthews.  They still really want Matthews.

We say okay, you can have Matthews and we'll take OEL, Strome and your 2017 1st rounder.

Did we just improve our team with Stamkos AND shore up our D?

 

[bustaheims]

Arizona knocks on the Leafs door now that we have Stamkos and Matthews.  They still really want Matthews.

We say okay, you can have Matthews and we'll take OEL, Strome and your 2017 1st rounder.

Did we just improve our team with Stamkos AND shore up our D?

Arizona says "yeah, we don't want him that badly" and they walk away.

 

[Al14]

I'm going to go about this circular debate another way.

Let's say today is July 1st, they've already drafted Matthews (and a goalie at 30 and a defenseman at 31), and Shanahan called a press conference and just announced that they've signed Stamkos to a 7 year $70m contract.  Shanahan is glowing with pride, says that they've got a elite leader who leads by example, and that they're one step closer to building a strong contending team for the future.  Babcock asks for patience again from fans as this is just one step in the process, and that they've got a long way to go before they'll be a team that'll be competitive.  Stamkos says that he's excited about the opportunity to be part of this building process, and he himself echos Babcock's plea for patience, long road ahead, blah blah blah...

Now what do you do with the roster moving forward?

Arizona knocks on the Leafs door now that we have Stamkos and Matthews.  They still really want Matthews.

We say okay, you can have Matthews and we'll take OEL, Strome and your 2017 1st rounder.

Did we just improve our team with Stamkos AND shore up our D?

Hasn't Phoenix already declared OEL untouchable even for the opportunity to draft Matthews?

 

[Britishbulldog]

Arizona knocks on the Leafs door now that we have Stamkos and Matthews.  They still really want Matthews.

We say okay, you can have Matthews and we'll take OEL, Strome and your 2017 1st rounder.

Did we just improve our team with Stamkos AND shore up our D?

Now you are entering my realm TB. 

......That makes Gardiner unneeded and can be paired with a young asset(s) for a top RH dman.  Sparks and Bernier blow enough games this season that the Leafs re-sign neither and address the situation by aquiring a top goalie days before the expansion draft solidifying the Leafs for many years to come.

 

[TBLeafer]

I'm going to go about this circular debate another way.

Let's say today is July 1st, they've already drafted Matthews (and a goalie at 30 and a defenseman at 31), and Shanahan called a press conference and just announced that they've signed Stamkos to a 7 year $70m contract.  Shanahan is glowing with pride, says that they've got a elite leader who leads by example, and that they're one step closer to building a strong contending team for the future.  Babcock asks for patience again from fans as this is just one step in the process, and that they've got a long way to go before they'll be a team that'll be competitive.  Stamkos says that he's excited about the opportunity to be part of this building process, and he himself echos Babcock's plea for patience, long road ahead, blah blah blah...

Now what do you do with the roster moving forward?

Arizona knocks on the Leafs door now that we have Stamkos and Matthews.  They still really want Matthews.

We say okay, you can have Matthews and we'll take OEL, Strome and your 2017 1st rounder.

Did we just improve our team with Stamkos AND shore up our D?

Hasn't Phoenix already declared OEL untouchable even for the opportunity to draft Matthews?

The former GM that is no longer GM did.

 

[Al14]

Arizona knocks on the Leafs door now that we have Stamkos and Matthews.  They still really want Matthews.

We say okay, you can have Matthews and we'll take OEL, Strome and your 2017 1st rounder.

Did we just improve our team with Stamkos AND shore up our D?

Now you are entering my realm TB. 

......That makes Gardiner unneeded and can be paired with a young asset(s) for a top RH dman.  Sparks and Bernier blow enough games this season that the Leafs re-sign neither and address the situation by aquiring a top goalie days before the expansion draft solidifying the Leafs for many years to come.

Too bad Phoenix is in a completely different realm.  OLE is not available for anyone not named McDavid IMHO.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The former GM that is no longer GM did.

Their owner said the same thing.

 

[TBLeafer]

The former GM that is no longer GM did.

Their owner said the same thing.

Well if that's the case, they were never going to get Matthews without winning the lottery.  Every trade discussion with every team that could have won the 1st OA besides Arizona would have insisted on OEL for talks to even start.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Well if that's the case, they were never going to get Matthews without winning the lottery.

I think that's the only way any team was ever going to get Matthews. 1st overall picks of his calibre just don't get traded. Arizona likely knows that.

 

[Kin]

 
Well if that's the case, they were never going to get Matthews without winning the lottery.  Every trade discussion with every team that could have won the 1st OA besides Arizona would have insisted on OEL for talks to even start.

The idea that Arizona was ever desperate for Matthews or would make some massive trade for him irrespective of where they actually ended up in the draft was always a fantasy in the minds of some fans. It certainly wasn't anything actually coming from the Coyotes.

Matthews being local wouldn't help the team anywhere near as much to the Franchise as the prospect of starting from the bottom again would hurt them and any realistic trade proposal would have crippled their team.

 

[TBLeafer]

Steven Stamkos is simply a goal-scoring machine: A statistical breakdown of this summer?s top pending free agent

Steven Stamkos is the top player poised to hit the NHL free agent market this summer. The Tampa Bay Lightning captain is a legitimate first-line centre, in the prime of his career, and almost undeniably the best pure shooter in the game of hockey.

http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/nhl/steven-stamkos-is-simply-a-goal-scoring-machine-a-statistical-breakdown-of-this-summers-top-pending-free-agent

 

[TBLeafer]

 
Well if that's the case, they were never going to get Matthews without winning the lottery.  Every trade discussion with every team that could have won the 1st OA besides Arizona would have insisted on OEL for talks to even start.

The idea that Arizona was ever desperate for Matthews or would make some massive trade for him irrespective of where they actually ended up in the draft was always a fantasy in the minds of some fans. It certainly wasn't anything actually coming from the Coyotes.

Matthews being local wouldn't help the team anywhere near as much to the Franchise as the prospect of starting from the bottom again would hurt them and any realistic trade proposal would have crippled their team.

TBH I agree and Matthews could grow the sport locally there no matter what team he ended up on if he becomes an icon.

 

[Kin]

I'm going to go about this circular debate another way.

Let's say today is July 1st, they've already drafted Matthews (and a goalie at 30 and a defenseman at 31), and Shanahan called a press conference and just announced that they've signed Stamkos to a 7 year $70m contract.  Shanahan is glowing with pride, says that they've got a elite leader who leads by example, and that they're one step closer to building a strong contending team for the future.  Babcock asks for patience again from fans as this is just one step in the process, and that they've got a long way to go before they'll be a team that'll be competitive.  Stamkos says that he's excited about the opportunity to be part of this building process, and he himself echos Babcock's plea for patience, long road ahead, blah blah blah...

Now what do you do with the roster moving forward?

This is such a weird question because it presupposes that the team wants to make the Stamkos signing. So do I answer from that perspective or what I think is the right thing to do in terms of building a winner?

Because if I'm of the opinion that signing Stamkos is the right move then it doesn't make sense for me to sit around and hope that my defensive prospects turn out decent. So I start making trades. I deal JVR and probably one of Marner or Nylander in the hopes that I can land a top pairing defenseman and #1 goalie then I do what I can to clear up more cap space and try signing other free agents I guess.

If it's what I'd do, I'd have to counter the signing I don't like by making trades I don't like to ensure the team is near the bottom of the league again. So deal JVR and probably Gardiner for picks. Think about sending Marner back to the OHL for a third year.

 

[Tigger]

Steven Stamkos is simply a goal-scoring machine: A statistical breakdown of this summer?s top pending free agent

Steven Stamkos is the top player poised to hit the NHL free agent market this summer. The Tampa Bay Lightning captain is a legitimate first-line centre, in the prime of his career, and almost undeniably the best pure shooter in the game of hockey.

http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/nhl/steven-stamkos-is-simply-a-goal-scoring-machine-a-statistical-breakdown-of-this-summers-top-pending-free-agent

Heh, if anyone here didn't know Stamkos could score, boy howdy!

 

[Peter D.]

The more I think about it, the more I believe that Detroit is the darkhorse team to sign Stamkos.

 

[TBLeafer]

I'm going to go about this circular debate another way.

Let's say today is July 1st, they've already drafted Matthews (and a goalie at 30 and a defenseman at 31), and Shanahan called a press conference and just announced that they've signed Stamkos to a 7 year $70m contract.  Shanahan is glowing with pride, says that they've got a elite leader who leads by example, and that they're one step closer to building a strong contending team for the future.  Babcock asks for patience again from fans as this is just one step in the process, and that they've got a long way to go before they'll be a team that'll be competitive.  Stamkos says that he's excited about the opportunity to be part of this building process, and he himself echos Babcock's plea for patience, long road ahead, blah blah blah...

Now what do you do with the roster moving forward?

This is such a weird question because it presupposes that the team wants to make the Stamkos signing. So do I answer from that perspective or what I think is the right thing to do in terms of building a winner?

Because if I'm of the opinion that signing Stamkos is the right move then it doesn't make sense for me to sit around and hope that my defensive prospects turn out decent. So I start making trades. I deal JVR and probably one of Marner or Nylander in the hopes that I can land a top pairing defenseman and #1 goalie then I do what I can to clear up more cap space and try signing other free agents I guess.

If it's what I'd do, I'd have to counter the signing I don't like by making trades I don't like to ensure the team is near the bottom of the league again. So deal JVR and probably Gardiner for picks. Think about sending Marner back to the OHL for a third year.

Not if Stamkos is sold on the Shanaplan. You remain patient and free of any further bold moves as you evaluate your team in the fall and determine who fits where.  He's just another piece of the puzzle.

 

[Kin]

Not if Stamkos is sold on the Shanaplan. You remain patient and free of any further bold moves as you evaluate your team in the fall and determine who fits where.  He's just another piece of the puzzle.

It's what would I do. Not you. You actually get no say in what I would do if I were in charge.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The more I think about it, the more I believe that Detroit is the darkhorse team to sign Stamkos.

It'd really be the perfect match if they could just ditch Datsyuk's contract somehow.

 

[bustaheims]

The more I think about it, the more I believe that Detroit is the darkhorse team to sign Stamkos.

I'm leaning towards St Louis. They let Backes walk and replace him with Stamkos, and move Shattenkirk to clear some cap space, while bringing in some quality pieces.