tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2610527122550067891.post2248676996800309537..comments2023-07-25T11:40:43.810-04:00Comments on Blue Chip Prospects: My Take On The Leafs' Offseason So FarCurt Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817914669452185454noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2610527122550067891.post-57352013905544926102013-07-09T19:18:55.615-04:002013-07-09T19:18:55.615-04:00Wow. That comment is almost as long as the post -...Wow. That comment is almost as long as the post -- that's awesome!<br /><br />I wish I could be more optimistic but aside from being thrilled with our goaltending duo, I think we're still a long way away from reliably being a playoff team.Curt Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10817914669452185454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2610527122550067891.post-87233699664610867112013-07-09T16:09:14.729-04:002013-07-09T16:09:14.729-04:00Nice article. Great to see some new content. Nice article. Great to see some new content. Hope_Smokehttp://hopeinthebigsmoke.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2610527122550067891.post-64463701981513565912013-07-08T22:06:02.799-04:002013-07-08T22:06:02.799-04:00Certainly good to just look at these different tra...Certainly good to just look at these different transactions and think about them.<br /><br />As to the Bernier trade, I'm fine with it. Leafs paid a respectable price for the chance to upgrade in goal. Reimer was great, but his luck with staying healthy has been questionable. Feels like the team wanted insurance with the talent to take over if something happened. I like the talent level with Bernier and whoever ends up winning this goaltending duel will be good for the team.<br /><br />Bolland seemed like a good move. A much more legitimate option for the third line center job.<br /><br />The situation with Grabo sucked. I think he was misued badly, but I'm not sure how bad the relationship between Grabo and Carlyle was by the end. They obviously felt Grabo as the third line center wasn't going to work. So the question was Grabo at 5.5 or Bozak at something lower. Guess they felt appeasing Kessel and hopefully getting an extension from him was worth it. Still not a huge fan of it though.<br /><br /><br />I'm fine with Clarkson. Brings an important element to the top 6 and should work well with a good passer such as Kadri if he's slotted with him on the second line. The cost is just what you have to pay these days and the term isn't something to worry about right now, especially with a guy who has shown to be durable.<br /><br />I'm completely on the opposite side of being far more optimistic. I don't think it will be impossible to keep Kulemin. He got that number thanks to his 30 goal season and isn't likely to score that much if he's on the shutdown third line. The cap should take a good jump next year. Phaneuf won't get a lot more than the 6.5 he's making and neither should Kulemin. Kessel will be the big focus but should be able to afford to up his salary.<br /><br />Luck or not this team did make the playoffs and almost knocked out Boston. They can compete in this division. Top 6 is upgraded, bottom 6 is better with Grabo off it and Bolland in. Put out there a legitimate shutdown line than a make-shift one we had to use last year. A healthy Gardiner will do wonders for the blueline as will a healthy Gunnarsson. Don't have to worry about a Reimer injury killing us either.<br /><br />I think things are looking up.FlareKnightnoreply@blogger.com