tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74326410555298931952010-01-08T04:23:30.582-08:00Shane HouseShane Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803222925973075656shane_gordon_house@hotmail.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432641055529893195.post-3111713078159606812009-02-20T23:10:00.000-08:002009-02-20T23:16:35.801-08:00Top Ten Toronto Maple Leafs That Could Be Gone Come Trade Deadline<p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">With trade talks heating up and the Trade Deadline looming in the not-to-distant future, teams are shopping around looking for the best deal.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Seeing what assets teams are willing to give up or seeing what future assets teams are willing to give up.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs will be most active.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">They are in the midst of a rebuilding season where the goal is a high draft pick.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Most likely John Tavares but the Islanders are probably going to win that race.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Regardless, the Leafs have a lot of assets that they are willing to get rid of in order to gain as many prospects/draft picks they can.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Here are the top ten players that are available come trade deadline: </span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">10. Lee Stempniak</span></strong></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">When the Leafs traded for Stempniak near the beginning of the season, I thought that we got a legitimate second-third line player who could score 20-goals a season.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Sadly, it hasn't panned out that way.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Ever since arriving to Toronto, he hasn't been playing with the confidence he showed in St. Louis and has dropped right off the map.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">I don't see there being a lot of demand for him, but he still has the potential to bounce back and can provide depth for a playoff team that doesn't have a lot.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Will most likely stay but don't be surprised if he fetches a mid-round draft pick when the Trade Deadline rolls around.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">9. Anton Stralman</span></strong></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">When this guy came over to Toronto from Sweden, some people were comparing his talent to Niklas Lidstrom even, but the Leafs made a mistake that might have screwed this kid right up, they rushed him into the NHL.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">He wasn't ready.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">He wasn't used to the speed and size of the NHL yet.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">He showed glimpses of excellence in some games, but they were usually over-shadowed by major mistakes and bad misfortune.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Besides, can you really see him fitting into a Brian Burke type of team?</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">I don't think so.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">I think that he will be traded, if not this season then eventually because the Leafs might have jumped the gun on bringing him up from the AHL and ruined his confidence.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Look for him to be sent to a team that has a rebuilding defense for another prospect.</span></p><p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">8. Jason Blake</span></strong></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Most people have counted Jason Blake out at the Trade Deadline, because he apparently has too big of a contract and is not worth the money.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">What people seem to be forgetting is that ever since late November, Blake has been on fire scoring at a point-a-game pace …</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">… He may not be cheap, but the Leafs might trade him now for another player that has a big contract or just offer to pay some of the contract every year till it runs out.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Either way the Leafs could be able to get out of his contract if he keeps playing well, but in all honesty why get rid of the guy, he is producing and playing very well.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">7. Dominic Moore</span></strong></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">A fan favorite and for all the right reasons: Dominic Moore has been the biggest surprise of the season.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">He went from a borderline fourth line player to a solid two-way player who can play on second-third line—not bad for a waiver wire pick-up.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">His value cannot get any higher at this point and with a $900 thousand contract is probably the best deal a team can get.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">It is all just a matter if whether Brian Burke likes him or not.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">If he does, then he will stay.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">If not then he will receive a lot of demand on Trade Deadline.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Look for a team to pick him up for a second-third round pick.</span></p><p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">6. Justin Pogge</span></strong></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">I guarantee I will get a lot of arguments about this one, but hear me out.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Every time that the Leafs have called up Pogge, it has been against a team that, at the time, had problems scoring and instead of waiting till the Leafs moved Toskala at the Trade Deadline and giving him consistent playing time at the end of the season, they bring him up for one game and send him back.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Now, me being a Leafs fan, the thought of even considering trading Pogge is brutal to think about.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Brian Burke said he had a plan, but he never illustrated it to the media.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Maybe he is bringing him up to show teams what the kid has or maybe he has a plan that has to do with developing the goaltender.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Either way, this idea is an interesting prospect.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">We can trade him now and get something guaranteed back or we can wait it out and see if he can develop.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">It is all up to Brian Burke, but if for some reason he does trade Pogge, look for Toronto to get a big prospect back or an experienced player that is in his prime.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">5. Alexei Ponikarovsky</span></strong></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Ponikarovsky's contract is over at the end of the season and with a big overhaul being predicted for the team, it is almost a guarantee that he will be traded—it’s just a matter of where.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">The issue here is Poni's lack of consistency.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">When he is hot, he is a good player. When he is cold he is almost absent from the ice.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Right now, Ponikarovsky is cold, which means that he will not sell at a high price, which Burke will not like.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Regardless of how he is playing when the Trade Deadline comes, he will be dealt.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Look for him to fetch a third round pick; maybe a second round pick if he can get “hot.”</span></p><p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">4. Pavel Kubina</span></strong></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Controversy surrounded Pavel Kubina during the off-season.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Everybody thought that he would be traded, because the clause in his contract that if the Leafs didn't make the playoffs that there would be a small window of opportunity where he can be traded.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">I am guessing when this window was open; Kubina was on pins and needles.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Luckily for him, he wasn't traded and is having a good season.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">The problem is the team is still not doing well and Kubina is once again swirling in trade rumours.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Brian Burke asked both Kaberle and Kubina for a list of teams that they would be willing to lift there no-trade clauses for.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">At the end of the season, the no-trade clauses will be once again lifted and then Kubina will have no control of where he will go, so I am guessing that he will give his list eventually.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Look for Kubina to fetch a first round pick and a lower pick, along with a conditional pick for next years draft.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">3. Vesa Toskala</span></strong></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">At the beginning of the season, Toskala was considered to be the Maple Leafs best player, but after consistently playing poorly all season, he is looking more and more like he will be gone by the end of the season.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Burke has already called Toskala out in the media and said he was fed up with his play.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">The only thing yet to be determined is whether he will be leaving at Trade Deadline, or at the end of the season.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Vesa Toskala is still a good goaltender and looks like he just needs a change of scenery.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">The problem is, because of his contract and the lack of good play, his value is not very high. Burke will still receive offers for Vesa Toskala, the issue is that they might not be to his liking—the offers being too low or just unacceptable.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Brian Burke is a smart man though and I am sure that he can find a way around the situation.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Look for Vesa Toskala to fetch a second-third round pick, along with a conditional pick in this years or next years draft, depending on Toskalas personal performance for the team.</span></p><p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">2. Nik Antropov</span></strong></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">He’s the most talented forward on the Toronto Maple Leafs.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">The problem is he is also one of the most inconsistent.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Nik Antropov is a huge body that is almost impossible to move from the front of the net.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">When he is on, he has amazing puck-handling ability and is hard to stop. When he is off, he makes mistakes and the only thing you notice is his lack of speed.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">This is the second person that Brian Burke has called out, saying that Antropov's play "does not warrant a new contract," meaning that if Antropov wants to stay, then he should step up his play.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Ever since the comment was made, Antropov's play has gotten better, just not amazing.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">I am guessing that Brian Burke said that to get him to play better so he would get more in return for the big forward.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Antropov is relatively cheap for a top six forward and is impossible to move from the opposing teams net.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Look for Antropov to get a first-second round pick, along with a prospect and maybe a conditional pick as well. Matters how well he is playing when he is traded.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">1. Tomas Kaberle</span></strong></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Kaberle is easily one of the top 15 defenseman in the NHL.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">He has always been able to produce no matter who he has played with and his stats this season are suffering, because of the mediocrity of the team.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">He can run any power play and has one of the best first passes in the NHL, but the issue here is that the Maple Leafs are making there team younger and Kaberle is there top asset.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Kaberle has already handed Burke the list of the ten teams he is willing to be traded to which means that he will he traded eventually.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">The only issue is the fact that Kaberle's hand is broken and there hasn't been a return date set, meaning that his value might drop slightly when the Trade Deadline rolls around.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Still, Kaberle will receive the most interest for a defenseman behind Jay Bouwmeester and will give Toronto the most assets coming back our way.</span></p> <p style="padding: 0in; line-height: 130%; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">He is a top defenseman who, for his skills, has one of the best-valued contracts in the NHL, only making 4.25 million for two more seasons.</span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Because of this, look for Kaberle to give Toronto a first round pick, a top prospect, and another high pick or a very good player.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7432641055529893195-311171307815960681?l=shaneghouse.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Shane Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803222925973075656shane_gordon_house@hotmail.com0