What the Leafs Could Do:
Unfortunately, the Leafs are right
up against the cap and can not take on expiring/bad contracts like Burke did in
the past along with acquiring decent prospects or picks. I can see Brian Burke likely doing
this with the Calgary Flames. So what options does Dave Nonis have? Well the following players do not have trade clauses and thus could potentially be easily moved.
1) Trade Nikolai Kulemin - He's the
current longest serving Maple Leaf and he sitting third on either wing on the
depth chart. He's proven capable two-way winger and can play second line
minutes. He's in the final year of $2.1M contract, thus has a reasonable
cap hit for a contender. The Leafs could likely get 2nd round pick or a
decent prospect for him. Kulemin is on the Russian Olympic Team and a strong
play in these games could improve his value. Previously Kulemin had
success during the last NHL strike playing with Evgeni Malkin for
Mettalurg Magnitogrosk in the KHL. He had 38 points (14/24) in 36 games.
He could be a good addition for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
2) Trade David Bolland - He's been
injured for the majority of the season and has only played in 15 games. Bolland is a proven capable third line center, but his opportunity to be second
line center was limited with the Leafs. At the beginning of the season he
scored 10 points in 15 games, Leafs also won their first 10 of their 15 games
with him in the line-up. But, the Leafs most recent win streak coincided
with Bozak's return to the line-up. Bolland has proven to be solid in the
play-offs with his 2 Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks, would they want him
back? Many teams in both conferences could use him as a depth at center.
The Leafs paid a 2nd round pick and 2 4th round picks to get him and likely
as rental the Leafs could a 2nd round pick for him or a decent prospect.
He's a UFA at the end of the season and $3.375 cap hit.
3) Trade Cody Franson - He's an RFA
at the end of the season and is earning $2M at the moment. He's a capable
offensive defenceman and has 4 rounds of play-off hockey experience, mostly
with the Nashville Predators. He's be good on the 2nd or 3rd pairing on a
play-off team and leading the 2nd pair on the power play. With Franson
likely going to push for a new contract around $4.5M the Leafs are going to
have to choose how much they want to spend on their defense. Also, with
Gardiner and Rielly playing a similar game with more potential upside and
Franson not using his 6ft5 frame aggressively I can see him elsewhere. I
think Franson would be worth a late round 1st pick or 2nd round pick and good
prospect.
4) Nazem Kadri - He's a young NHL
player with a growing upside, but has not demonstrated that he's the answer to
the elite center that Toronto needs to win. He's also an RFA and signed
for an affordable $2.9M for next season. He would not be the answer for a
play-off contending team unless they had an injury at wing, but he may
desirable player to a team that wants to rebuild quicker (Calgary, Edmonton,
NYI, etc.) and could garner the Leafs a high 1st round pick and a solid
prospect. A healthy Bolland plays more of a two-way game and is prone to
less turnovers. Kadri is also less needed at wing with Kessel, Van
Riemsdyk, Lupul and Clarkson all signed long term.
5) The Other UFAs - C Jay McClement
and LW Mason Raymond are both on affordable contracts and are capable of
playing third line minutes. McClement is a penalty kill specialist and
shot blocker, he'd be solid depth on the 4th line of a play-off
contender. He may be able to fetch 4th round pick or long shot prospect.
Mason Raymond is smaller forward and speedster, he averages a point every
second game and he'd be offensive depth on 3rd line. Again, maybe you
could get 4th round pick.
The Old Fashion Hockey Trade:
Nowadays a fair number of players have 'modified no trade clauses' and for some you can only trade a player with his permission and other players are contractually required at the beginning of each season to provide a specified number of teams they are willing to be traded to. With the latter I wonder how many players have Edmonton, Winnipeg or Nashville on that list. But, saying that teams can greatly benefit if you can make a win-win trade. As a hockey fan it would be wildly speculative of me suggesting trades and it would largely based on what 'puckheads' are saying to fill air time. But, saying that I've suggested a few ideas for David Nonis.
1) Trading RW David Clarkson to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for 1st Round Pick and Solid Center or Defenceman Prospects.
This trade would make sense for both teams. Clarkson has had a terrible season in Toronto and played very well for New Jersey Devils. Clarkson wanted a pay day and that is why he left, and has a modified no trade clause. This would give New Jersey second line winger and help the team remain competitive with a player who does not take the night off. Also, he would be a good role model for New Jersey as they rebuild. Also, Jagr may choose to retire at season end and that would leave them a player short on the right side. For Toronto this would get other players in the system and potentially one of these could be the core player that will help the Leafs become a contender.
2) Trading D Cody Franson, F Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche for C Ryan O'Reilly and 3rd round pick or prospect.
Colorado has an abundance of centers with Matt Duchene, Nathan McKinnon and pending UFA Paul Stastny who they can resign. Ryan O'Reilly has already previously signed an offer sheet with the Calgary Flames that they matched and will be likely be a contract fight again at the end of this season. He's a two way center and is has 52% career face-off percentage. Kadri is both signed for $2.9m for one more season and will provide equal offense as O'Reilly on the wing and Franson would improve their depth at defence and would be upgrade over Nick Holden or Nate Guenin on the second pairing. This would work for the Leafs as they would get a solid second line center in his prime that can win at face-offs. O'Reilly's defensive ability and his better than average ability in the face-off will cut down on shots against and improve the leafs puck possession. This trade would also work under both teams cap situation. Lastly, O'Reilly is an Ontario boy, so he may want to play in his home province.
3) Trading F Nazem Kadri and G James Reimer to the Florida Panthers for C Aleksander Barkov.
Florida is in third last place and continues to rebuild and has several talented young players from years of high draft picks in the system. Wouldn't it help to put people in the seats if you won a few more games and your goalie was not an aging Tim Thomas? Well Reimer has proven that he can steal games and say nothing to offend anyone. Kadri has demonstrated that he is able to RW or C on the 2nd line in the NHL he continues to have upside, but he's not the #1 Center for the Leafs. Further he's farther along in his NHL development after playing 2 full seasons in the NHL and 2 seasons prior as a call up from the AHL. Barkov could be as he was 2nd overall 2013 pick, he's 6ft3 and 210 lbs, and lastly he's Finnish and probably be adept at ignoring the Toronto Media. Toronto may have to further sweeten this deal by adding a conditional 1st round pick if Barkov meets certain targets in the next 2 seasons.
Conclusion:
If I was in GM David Nonis shoes I'd be
actively listening for offers for my pending UFAs and trying to get first round
picks or high potential prospects. Trading Kulemin would make the
most sense where he is on the depth chart and trading Bolland if you don't
think he wants to stay in the Blue and White. I'd be actively looking to resign
McClement as when he's playing 10 minutes a night he is highly effective in the
defensive zone and on the penalty kill. Raymond I'd let his contract
expire and let player on the Marlies compete for the opportunity next season.
Also, looking at the pending 2014
free agents I think the Leafs should wait until summer and attempt to sign Matt Moulson who born in North York and is capable 30 goal scorer. If that
could be done I'd trade Kadri for first round pick and prospect. Alternatively, if you were able to sign Moulson than you could Trade LW Joffrey Lupul who has reasonable contract for his level of play and he has to submit 14 teams at the beginning of the season he's willing to play for. They are both 30 years of age, but Moulson is far less injury prone. You only need so many top 4 wingers and have so much cap space.
Other player I would have seriously scouted is C Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche. He's 28 and in his prime and capable of putting up 50 to 70 points a season. He also has a career 52% save percentage and that is an improvement over Kadri and Bolland. What the cons are is he's only 6ft tall, has 15 games of play-off experience, none of it in the last 5 seasons and his point totals have been on the decline since 2009-2010 peak of 20-59-79. He'll also likely want a contract that is more then the $6.6M he's currently making and a long term deal. However, I think the Colarado brain trust of Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy will lock him up or let him go depending on how he plays in the play-offs. If he doesn't perform that well, than why would the Leafs want him long term as well.
For list of all pending UFA free agents see Capgeek. Also, for a break-out of who the Leafs have signed and term see there page as well on Capgeek.
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