Peca + Leafs?

[ecjp11 0]

Seems like JFJ is really hanging Sundin out to dry. I remember Paul Maurice in one of his first interviews after getting the HC job saying that he wanted to up Mats' minutes and believed he should be among the league leaders in ice time. That's great, and I don't disagree with him, but who exactly is he gonna play with? Surrounding him with kids and soon-to-be-injured vets is not the answer. If you've got 5 mil for Kubina (unreal money for an overrated player) than you certainly have money for a winger for Mats.

IMO they dropped the ball last year when they passed on Anson Carter (who expressed interest in Toronto) when they could have got him much cheaper. So Carter goes to Van. and proves that he can play with anyone and in fact does so well on the "brothers" line that he stole PT from the 1st. Now Carters value is way up and they haven't snapped him up yet. I'm not sure what direction the Leafs are going in, and frankly I don't care.

But don't be surprised down the road when he gets tired of carrying the load and taking all the heat and asks to be traded.

Where is Renberg and Reichel when you need them?

[mack 44]

No true help on a line with Sundin? I've maimed, drowned, flogged and stoned that horse to death then sold it to necrophiliacs.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Sundin is apperantly good friends with O'Neill and enjoys playing with Wellwood. I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the season with those two on his wings.

I love the fact Kubina's now become overrated since signing with the Leafs. Guys like Mitchell are considered gems when Kubina plays that role, but has better offensive gifts ontop. He isn't a #1 guy, but he doesn't have to be. He can play a shutdown role, or an offensive role. He can log big minutes and play all situations. He's got good speed and is physical. He's not the Leafs savior, but nobody would have said he was overrated until he signed with the Leafs.

[kosydar 0]

Supposedly, Lindros is close to signing with Dallas

Latest rumor I've heard is that Dallas offered him $2 mil. So what does the Leafs media do? Come out and say that we've offered an even older guy a contract, Peter Bondra.

[ecjp11 0]

Yeah Eazy, you hit the nail on the head. Kubina became overrated when he signed with the Leafs for 5 million per! That means he makes just shy of what Kaberle and McCabe make. I'm not saying he isn't a good defenceman, but he's not a top 10 in the league. If you can rate a player by what he makes and his status in the league then yeah, he's overrated by the Leafs. I do agree with you that he is versatile, but for that kind of money he should be able to do 1 thing really well. at leat 1. he doesn't. I think they handcuffed themselves to a huge contract when they obviously needed help elsewhere.

[ecjp11 0]

Didn't Bondra retire? He could actually be nice with Sundin. At the right price that could be a good pickup.

[Steveo 0]

Bondra?!? He's shit, washed up and he never had any heart

As far as Kubina getting too much, I think he did but look at what other D were going for, you don't have to be top 10 in the league to get 5 mil. I think JFJ was running out of available quality D-men. Only time will tell if they wasted their money

[Eazy_b97 1]

Yeah Eazy, you hit the nail on the head. Kubina became overrated when he signed with the Leafs for 5 million per! That means he makes just shy of what Kaberle and McCabe make. I'm not saying he isn't a good defenceman, but he's not a top 10 in the league. If you can rate a player by what he makes and his status in the league then yeah, he's overrated by the Leafs. I do agree with you that he is versatile, but for that kind of money he should be able to do 1 thing really well. at leat 1. he doesn't. I think they handcuffed themselves to a huge contract when they obviously needed help elsewhere.

It's really hard to judge a player by the money he makes. Contracts change so quickly. They filled a huge gap. He is one of the leagues better shutdown D-man and has one of the leagues better shots as well. Think of the D-men who make more than him. Chara isn't worth 50% more than him. Elias isn't "worth" the 8.8 he was going to get on the open market. It's all about supply and demand. As nice as it would be for Sundin to have wingers, they've won in the past without them. They've never won without a solid D-core. They seem to have adressed that need with Kubina.

He actually makes more than Kaberle and less than McCabe. Just like Samsonov makes 3 times what Tucker makes, when he isn't triple the player. Salaries haven't been an indication of the players status league wide for a while. It's pretty well accepted the going rate for D-men was very high this offseason.

[TML4LIFE 0]

Didn't Bondra retire? He could actually be nice with Sundin. At the right price that could be a good pickup.

Why dont they sign Phil Housley while they're at it?

[DarkStar50 679]

Carter had great chemistry with the Sedins last season. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't find it again on a new team. But if he can make a few more bucks, well thats what its all about, right?

[Eazy_b97 1]

He's been a 20+ goal scorer in 5 of his last 7 seasons. He had chemistry with the Sedin's, but alot of people overlook his scoring history. He isn't likely to score 33 again, but he'll likely be in the high 20s and scoring 55+ points on a decent line.

[kosydar 0]

I know its still relatively early, but I really think with Lindros leaving , signing Peca will happen soon. I don't particularly want Peca. If we can get a good scoring winger, then I'd take him. But knowing that JFJFJFJFJFJFJF doesn't always make good decisions, my guess is that we'll start the season with Peca being the only other UFA to be signed.

Peca is an upgrade on Clarke Wilm. I can't see Peca scoring a lot of goals for the Leafs, or creating much offense at all. However, I can see him being invaluable in that he doesn't hurt the Leafs. Look at these two line ups, and as sick as it is, how much better is the second one?

Steen-Sundin-Poni

Tucker-Welly-O'Neill

Antropov-Stajan-Kilger

Ondrus*-Pohl*-Sluggo*

Steen-Sundin-Poni

Tucker-Welly-O'Neill

Antropov-Peca-Kilger

Stajan-Pohl*-Ondrus*

All of the *'s are interchangable with each other and Belak, Bataglia, Sluggo, Westrum, and Williams. Note that Pohl is best of this group and the most likely to have a permanent spot on the team.

Simply having Peca in the lineup reduces the number of *s that play. I have no problem with Pohl in there. I really don't with Ondrus either. In a dream world Williams will make the team and be a big offensive surprise, just can't count on that happening though. The thought of Belak/Westrum/Bataglia/Sluggo/Williams consistantly in the line up is frightning, frightning enough to make me actually want Peca on the team.

[fastmiele 59]

Didn't Bates Battaglia sign with another team ? It was kind of strange he never made the call up once to the big club last season.

Is Sluggo short for that fellow Suglobov or something like that ? If so I watched him play 3 times in the AHL playoffs last year. My friends kept on comparing him to Sergei Berezin because he doesn't pass very much.

[trucks 0]

I believe he is still property of the Marlies/Leafs.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Battalgia was never "Leafs" property last season. His deal was with the Marlies and not a 2-way with Toronto.

Suggy/Sluggo = Suglobov, he plays like Berezin and looks like Mogilny. Seems to have come around a bit more towards the end of the season. He's got a 1-way deal this season so there's a better chance he'll make the team.