Leaf Pieces

Its almost funny reading how the Leafs have nothing in their cupboard to make meaningful trades with going into the draft. What fans seem to forget is that all teams do not have the same objectives. We are in a salary cap NHL so some teams have contracts on the books that they would love to move so that they can help their team elsewhere. Other teams are struggling in this economic climate and need to cut costs, or need to make a big splash to attract a big name talent to help sell tickets.

So for starters, the Leafs have some assets that do not involve players on their roster. They have the flexibility to take on some contracts that other teams may want to dump. They have the financial strength to be able to burry some contracts in the minors which effectively allows them to go beyond the cap. They also have no concern about selling tickets and have a fan base that is willing to accept a major rebuild, so they have the flexibility to do what is right without regard to selling tickets.

Those are all big pieces for Burke to use. In addition they have some players on the roster that are somewhat attractive. Many teams would love to add Kaberle who immediately strengthens a team and is on a reasonable contract. Some teams would even like to add Kubina for the immediate help that he provides and is only a one year salary commitment. Other players like Grabovski, Stajan and White are players that are not in the Leafs long term plans, but have value and are not tied into big dollar contracts.

Let’s take a look at a few teams and see what components are there for a trade.

Tampa is a team struggling with what to do with Lecavalier. They would love to trade the $10 million per year salary commitment, but can they afford to do that when Lecavalier is the face of the team in Tampa? The Leafs could help Tampa by taking Malone and Meszaros off their hands which removes a commitment of over $8 million per year for the next four years off Tampa’s books. What is that flexibility worth to Tampa and how much more would the Leafs have to add to that to get Tampa to flip picks first round picks with the Leafs?

In Atlanta, Kovalchuk is one year away from free agency. This could be Chris Bosh kind of case where if Atlanta does not improve next year, will Kovalchuk not resign. How much will Kane or Brayden Schenn help Atlanta next year picking at four, versus what they could get with the Leafs pick at seven? Giving the Thrashers a Kaberle or Kubina might be enough to get Atlanta to flip picks with the Leafs and they might even be willing to take Blake off the Leafs hands for the immediate help next year.

LA has loads of strength up the middle and is trying to land a high profile player like Heatley or Lecavalier. Doughty is their stud on defense and there have already been rumblings about them looking at moving Johnson since he will be looking for a big salary bump for next season. Maybe the Leafs can get a young talented player like Johnson for their blue line if they are willing to also take the $4 million per year that the Kings will be paying Handzus for the next two years. LA’s pick at five could also be in play here and allow the Leafs to pick Brayden Schenn.

Anaheim is committed to Hiller as their starting goalie and are desperate to move Giguere off the books who will earn $6 and $7 million the next two years as the back up. The Leafs could flip Toskala, who only has one more year left at $4 million to Anaheim if they would give the Leafs the 15th overall pick for one of Toronto’s picks later in the draft. Giguere would be reunited with his goaltending coach and would be the Leafs goalie for two years while they groom his replacement.

Yes I do think there are moves to be made for Toronto and they have some intriguing pieces once we start to understand the motivation of the other teams.