Leaf Trade Options

Looking at the Toronto Roster, none of you can tell me it’s looking good. If any of you disagree with that notion, tell me how you expect to win more than 30 games with this as our 4 lines

Jason Blake (40) Nik Antropov(26) Alexei Ponikarovsky(21)

Alex Steen (18) Matt Stajan(16) Mikhail Grabovski (3)

Jiri Tlusty(10) Niklas Hagman (27) Jamal Myers(15)

Robbie Earl(0) Mark Bell(25) Boyd Deveraux(9)

Combined goals from their best season's in the NHL: 210

That would put the leafs 6^th worst in the NHL according to last year’s stats. Granted it does not count defensemen goals, but also, this is all of their career best and who expects Jason Blake or Mark Bell to get anywhere close to their career highs next year. The leafs are a much better defensive team. We’ve got good goaltending, and fairly solid defense. So the style you can expect next year is extremely defensive and not scoring too many goals… Feel free to become a curling or bigger NFL fan, you won’t miss much “action” from the leafs. Nonetheless this is a team we are looking to contend in a few years, soo suck away leafs, we want Tavares anyways. The leafs can add some scoring punch without subtracting much from the defensive side. We are deep on the back end. With Bryan McCabe being persistent in holding to his no trade clause, I think we should look more at Kubina being traded. There is a market for him, and luckily we can trade him wherever we want without him having any say, basically, the way it should be. Here’s a look at possibly trading partners, and assets they have, that we could use.

Toronto Gives up Pavel Kubina

Atlanta gives up Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito.

The Thrashers are in need of adding some salary, they are below the low end they need to be in the salary cap, so don’t expect much money coming back our way. They don’t have much to offer, and other than Kovalchuk, they could be as bad as us. I could easily see this trade happening. They didn’t pick Esposito so he isn’t “home grown” and the leafs would want at least one NHL player in return, with still some upside in Armstrong. He could be substituted for a high draft pick or a couple prospects. This would give the leafs a prospect, a solid NHL player, and some salary cap relief for next year.

Toronto Gives up Kubina

Carolina Gives up Justin Williams

Looking at the Hurricanes defense core, it is looking weak. I could see them wanting an upgrade, they have the cap space to do so. Williams gives the leafs the upside they want in a forward. He’s 26 and in his best year has scored 76 points. This would be a steal for the leafs, unlikely to happen, but food for thought nonetheless.

Kubina to the Kings for Jarrot Stoll and Brad Richardson.

Now you may think, why would The Kings give away Stoll who they just got. I’m sure he doesn’t want to leave either. He’s going out with one of the hottest women in the world in Rachel Hunter and she must be very happy that he’s moved down to LA. The reason I see this happening is that the Kings were pushing hard to get Rob Blake back, the reason being that they wanted him to be the veteran presence for the defensemen they have now. Since he’s signed in San Jose, there now looking for that guy. Kubina could fill that role. There are some guys out on the free agent list out there to do this, Jason Smith comes to mind, but don’t count out the Kings as a trading partner.

Bryan McCabe and Ian White and a second round pick to the Islanders for Kyle Okposo, Chris Campoli and Trent Hunter

Now even without Trent Hunter in this trade I would take it in a second. Okposo has the potential to become one of the best players in the NHL and was an absolute steal at the 7^th pick in the ’06 draft. The reason why I could see White going is that, he could be the odd man out in our defensive core. Campoli has more upside and someone I would rather have. Trent Hunter is a valuable forward. I think he would be involved because he is signed long term and the Isles might want to unload some long term salary in order to take Cabers contract. This deal would be the best that could happen.

Toronto Gets Jonathan Cheechoo for Kubina and a second rounder.

Now I know when you see this deal it seems extremely unlikely, and it is. But consider this. There are a lot of rumblings going on that the Sharks are looking to unload Kyle Mcclaren ( infact he was coming to the leafs for Kubina in the deal he denied at the deadline), and the Sens are interested. If that happens, there is a chance this could. The Sharks are keen on Kubina and would like to have him. With the cap going up, it’s not crazy to have 16.67 million tied to your top 3 defensemen. Cheechoo coming back would again fit the age group the leafs are looking for. The Sharks are open to trading him as there have been rumors of him being available for some time now. He’s signed to an affordable deal long term, which is a huge plus for the leafs. The Sharks are stockpiling picks for next year, already with 2 second rounders, they could add another as trade bait at the deadline.

Now these are trades I believe work for both teams. Some teams need to add payroll and that is why we aren’t taking much in return, others are in need of a reliable defensemen. At the moment, after his strong second half, Kubina is seen as a valuable defenseman to have. He’s won a Stanley cup and seems to have regained his form. Hopefully the Leafs can get some valuable pieces for either him or McCabe.

Ozel