Players For Sale: Toronto Maple Leafs

Lots of trade rumors out there circulating with Columbus as a focal point. Most of which either involve the New York Islanders , Ottawa Senators or the Toronto Maple Leafs.

For this post I'm going to focus on the Maple Leafs and will hit the Islanders, Sens and other squads in a series of "Players For Sale" posts over the next few days.

On to Toronto.

Puck-rakers reported that the Jackets had two scouts at a recent Leafs game while the Toronto Sun has reported that the Jackets have interest in Nik Antropov and Pavel Kubina.

Toronto is in full blown rebuild mode. They have a new GM in Brian Burke who isn't afraid to pull the trigger on any deal...they have a fanbase that knows this is the year to tank to grab a key building block in Tavares or Hedman and they have plenty of juicy pieces to hang for sale signs on as they look to jumpstart their rebuild process. Basically everyone is writing this year off in Toronto for the good of the "big picture" which is to build a team the right way and forget the shortcuts which have falied them the past 3 seasons.

Columbus on the other hand is going the opposite direction. They've had years of drafting and I think its safe to say they are on their second "rebuild".....they have their fair share of young talent stocked up and are looking to get over that proverbial playoff hump. Their fanbase is growing more impatient by the hour and management has a directive to "win now". They have just won 3 of 4 on the road during their most critical stretch of the season and can afford to sacrifice some future for the sake of now.

Seems like a match made in hockey heaven right? It would seem that way.

First lets take a look at whom the Jackets may be interested in on the Toronto roster:

Tomas Kaberle
Age: 30
Contract: Signed for 2 more years at 4.25 per
Breakdown:
ASSETS: Possesses tremendous hockey smarts and the ability to find his teammates with excellent passes. A swift skater, he loves to join the attack. Defends well.
FLAWS: Still makes occasional mistakes when pinching in. Could use more strength to better handle big NHL forwards. Doesn't shoot enough on the power play.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top pairing defenseman.
Trade value: At minimum a first round pick + top 6 NHL ready forward under the age of 25 or blue chip prospect
Note: Player has No Trade Clause in his contract

Nik Antropov
Age: 28
Contract: UFA after this season
Breakdown:
ASSETS: Can line up at all three forward positions. Plays with poise and patience. Owns good vision and two-way smarts. Has impressive size and reach.
FLAWS: Could still stand to play more of a power game at the NHL level. Is prone to mental lapses on the ice. Lacks natural goal-scoring ability.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top six forward.
Trade Value: 2nd round pick + middle to high prospect

Pavel Kubina
Age: 31
Contract: One more year left at 5 mil
Breakdown:
ASSETS: Has good size and knows how to use it. Possesses a terrific low shot from the point and is a solid point producer. Can log plenty of minutes.
FLAWS: Is starting to become more prone to injury over time. Struggles against speedy wingers and occasionally makes critical mistakes in the defensive zone.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top four defenseman.
Trade value: Late first or high end prospect plus 2nd round pick
Note: Player has No Trade Clause in his contract

Matt Stajan
Age: 25
Contract: 1 more year at 1.75 mil
Breakdown:
ASSETS: Is very heady with or without the puck. Has the versatility to line up at all three forward positions. Owns some offensive upside.
FLAWS: Doesn't have natural goal-scoring instincts and relies heavily on his linemates to put up points at the NHL level. Lacks strength.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Two-way center.
Trade value: 2nd round pick or 4th plus middle tier prospect or bottom line NHLer

Now what does Columbus have to offer that could obtain these players?

Columbus can't afford to give up many if any roster players..outside of a salary dump (Backman anyone?). They need to add not subtract. Howson has already come out and said players like Brassard, Voracek, Filatov and Mason won't be going anywhere and that is a good thing -- it shows he is sticking by his strategy of building the core from within as he is very aware that is how long term success is achieved in this league. He won't sacrafice those blocks for a short term fix and probable first round exit.

That pretty much leaves prospects and picks which it appears are what Burke is after in Toronto.

Howson has said he will only consider trading the first round pick now for a talented young player who can become part of the Columbus nucleus for years to come -- unless its Luke Schenn Toronto does not have that piece to offer. Now of course if come the deadline and it looks like that first may be in that 15-20 range it becomes a lot more expendable.

I think picks 2nd through 7th are certainly on the table.

As far as propsects the Jackets need to deal from their position of strength which is wing. Their most marketable asset that I believe they'd be willing to part with is Maksim Mayorov. If you recall this was a first round talent that slid all the way down to the 4th round b/c of the uncertainly with Russian players. Now that Mayorov is over and contributing in the minors he has some solid value. There are also players such as Pineault, Legein, Hansen, Sestito & Calvert who also have value.

There are some roster players the Jackets could move... for instance from a salary perspective Backman could certainly be headed back in the other direction as a salary dump which a team like Toronto could stomach for the remainder of the year. Players like Tollefsen and Novotny could also be throw ins to give the receiving team a low cost NHL body to fill out their roster the remainder of the year. Malhotra and Peca are also on the final years of their deals but I think the Jackets would hang onto both of those pieces for depth, leadership and their face off and PK abilities.

A few other players that might have value to Toronto are Rusty Klesla, Marc Methot and Pascal Leclaire.

Rusty is a guy I could see the Jackets parting with *if* they get a guy who back is more than a 1 year solution. Maybe he is available for a guy like Kubina.

Lots of trade chatter about Leclaire out there but IMO he's not going anywhere. Mason has been unbelievable but remember he is just a rookie...and as he's clearly shown goaltending is the single most important position on the ice thus if the Jackets have playoff aspiractions you cannot weaken that position... yes Leclaire has struggled but I think Mase will hit a rough patch or two along the way here and we will need Leclaire as insurance. Now if Mase proves he's the guy the rest of the year then maybe you consider dealing Leclaire in the offseason -- but not now.

Some have suggested moving Russell but I can't see that happening when he's our only puck-moving d-man and quite frankly we need more than one of those to take us where we need to go.
So all that said lets take a look at some potential deals:

Kaberle
Proposal: Scratch him off the list folks as Howson will not give up the pieces required to get him. The rumored deal on the table last year was Philly sending a 1st + Jeff Carter for Kaberle but Kaberle would not waive his NTC if that gives you an idea of the value here.

Antropov
Proposal: 2nd round pick + Legein or 3rd round pick + Methot

Kubina
Proposal: 2nd round pick + choice of Mayorov/Methot + Backman (salary dump the other way)

Stajan
Proposal: 3rd + 5th round picks

Now of course Toronto will have their eyes on the guys they like in the Jackets system so a Legein could be replaced by a Calvert or Ruth for instance. Bottom line though is I think picks and prospects for the most part could get it done for each of these 3 guys.

Now if the Jackets want a package deal of say Kubina and Antropov maybe the 1st enters the dicussion....if that were to happen though I think it happens much closer to the deadline when the Jackets have a real good idea where that first will be.

Out of the 3 I'm most intersted in Kubina. He's a right handed shot the Jackets desperately need and has a helluva shot from the point. He's got 20 points in 39 games for Toronto already this season. The catch -- he'd have to waive his NTC to come here.

The question is not "if" in my opinion its "when". With the way injuried are piling up (Klelsa is the latest to go to the IR) how long can Howson afford to wait? The team is keeping them in it and you know Howson is not going to be pressured into a bad "quick fix" deal but at some point you have to pull the trigger before you find yourself on the outside looking in.

-LTL

Jackets should take advantage of Leafs house cleaning

Now let me start this off by saying that (unfortunately) I do not have any inside information but I just came across this article from interim Leafs' GM Cliff Fletcher:

Fletcher is engaged in trade talks, possible buyouts and has wrapped up pro and amateur scouting meetings pertaining to the June 20 draft and July free agency.

"I'm starting to prepare to move forward," Fletcher said. "My stamp is going to be on this, whenever my tenure ends. I'm operating under the goal of making this team the top in the league."

Now we know Howson is going to try at least to be a mover and a shaker this offseason in Columbus. He's got the money and the assets available to do it. So when I read about a team like the Leafs who are certainly in a rebuild mode saying they are engaged in trade talks I take notice. Why? Because they have a number of pieces on the block that could really help the Jackets.

Lets take a look.

First we have what Leaf fans are calling the "Frozen Five" of Matts Sudin, Tomas Kaberle, Darcy Tucker, Pavel Kubina and Bryan McCabe. All five of these players have an NTC (No Trade Clause) and if Cliff Fletcher and the Leafs had their way, just about every one of them would have been moved at the trade deadline to get a jump start on the rebuild -- to pull a "Flyers" as a quick turnaround has been labeled of late.

Unfortunately for the Leafs' brass these players liked Toronto to much as none of them would waive their NTCs. Its started with franchise player and captain Matts Sundin and then the rest followed hence the term "Frozen Five".

That was then and this is now. All of these players are in a different situations now so lets take a look:

Matt Sundin - this guy has spent 15+ years with the Leafs' organization and obviously by his decision to not waive his NTC he has no interest in moving elsewhere. His contract however has expired and he is a UFA but the thought is if he and the Leafs don't reach an agreement he will just retire.

Would the Jackets be interested? Hell yes. Even at age 37 he's still a very productive player in this league notching 32g, 46a for 78p last season. He's a big center and we know how desperate the Jackets would be to fill the center of their ice. He would only be a year or two stop gap though and the Jackets would need to find a younger center as well until Brassard is ready. Bottom line though is Sundin has never won a cup, is loyal to Toronto and the chances of him becoming a Jacket are next to none.

Tomas Kaberle - a 30 year old d-man who excels at both ends of the ice. Perhaps even a top 10 d-man in this league...at least top 15. He's notched 53, 58 & 67 points the past 3 years. He's also signed for 3 more at a very reasonable 4.25 mil per. His NTC is still active but he may waive it if Sundin isn't brought back and veterans are either 1. traded or 2. bought out.

Would the Jackets be interested? Howson and Hitch would salivate at the chance to get a player like Kaberle. He is the exact type of players the Jackets covet this offseason on their blueline. Here is what sportsnet.ca says about him:

"Possesses tremendous hockey smarts and the ability to find his teammates with excellent passes. A swift skater, he loves to join the attack. Defends well."

Uhhh..yeah, I think we could use that. Again though I just don't see him waiving his NTC to come to Columbus but I think the Jackets would make a hellofa run at him including that #6 overall for his services.

Darcy Tucker - a rugged 33 year old 3rd line winger. In the past the Jackets could have really used a guy like Tucker but after his career season of 28g, 33a for 61p his game has started to fade. His legs aren't that good and his production has dropped. He'll still play that agitation role and chip in 15 - 20g but he's signed for 3 more years at 3.3 mil which could make him hard to move.

Would the Jackets be interested? If you'd asked me that two years ago I'd say he was exactly what we needed but with Jared Boll, Jason Chimera and guys like Dorsett and Sestito on their way I think that money and assets it would take to get him can be better utilized elsewhere. That and I don't see Tucker waiving his NTC to come here.

Pavel Kubina - a 30 year old 6'4" 244 lb who is just a solid all around NHL defensemen who gets it done in all 3 zones. One of his best assets is a low point shot and he gets it through. He's had 40, 21 & 38 points the past 3 years playing behind guys like Kaberle and McCabe on the powerplay. He'll also kill penalties and won a cup with the Lightning (yes the same team Modin played on).

Would the Jackets be interested? He's somewhat expensive at 5 mil with two seasons remaining on his contract but he could really really help solidify the Jackets top 4. With money to spend and assets to move I could certainly see Howson making a run at this player with the intention of grabbing another UFA defensemen on the open market to really shore up that group. Look for perhaps that 19th overall pick to be in play for a player like Kubina.

The great thing about Kubina is that there is a clause in his contract that calls for the NTC in his deal to void from mid-June to mid- July. That means he could be dealt to any team including the Jackets.

Bryan McCabe - a 32 year old 6' 2" defensemen who has 3 years remaining on his deal at 6.15, 4.15 and 4.15 mil respectively. McCabe is probably the most 1 dimensional of the 3 defensemen I have listed here. He can bring it offensively as he had 27, 57 and 68 points the past 3 years (he was injured a lot last season) but he's not so good in the defensive zone. Byran Berard comes a bit to mind when thinkin of McCabe but he's not Berard bad defensively. Of the 3 defensemen I'm sure Toronto would like to move him the most but he holds the least amount of value.

Would the Jackets be interested? If all else fails they may turn to McCabe but I think there are a lot of other options they would explore first. McCabe is pretty expensive next year but more reasonable the following two years. He would of course have to waive his NTC which he may refuse to do. The other problem with McCabe was his horrible year last year and if anyone will take a chance on him considering his salary regardless of the NTC. If the Jackets were to make a move they would give up next to nothing for him which is the one positive. Of course if he's a bust we would have a boat anchor of a salary around our necks for the next 3 years.

There are some other players as well that the could be on the block in guys like Jason Blake, who just signed a 5 year deal last offseason as a UFA and is said to already want out, or Andrew Raycroft who has been the Leafs version of Marc Denis since their trade to acquire him 2 years ago. They also have some players I don't see them Leafs moving like Tlusty, Toskala or Antropov.

The "Frozen Five" are the most likely to be moved though and if I had to rank them this would be the Jackets interest:

1. Kaberle
2. Sudin
3. Kubina
4. McCabe
5. Tucker

The most realistic target out of that group is Kubina and for Toronto to move any of those players they are going to want draft picks and young players - both of which the Jackets have to spend.

Only time will tell if any of those trade discussions are going on the Howson and the Jackets though. If the Leafs make a move it should be right at or before the 1st round of the draft on June 20th.

Tick toc.

-LTL