Leafs sign Ben Scrivens

[Traps92]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=319772

Wow, I think this is great for our goalie depth. But now that we have Giguere, Rynass, Monster and then Reimer down at the AHL. What do you guys think is going to happen ? What I can see is Scrivens going down to the ECHL or Reimer gets traded in a deal.

Discuss

[bryant08]

Good call, I think Scrivens will fight for a spot with the Marlies or likely end up in the ECHL. I just think this has to do with depth, if we can move Reimer in another deal involving some sort of movement into the draft I'd definitely like to do that. I'm just going to assume this is another depth signing to ensure we're strong in the goaltending department moving forward.

[sh00n]

Can't complain about that. I just don't think Toronto's problem next year will be goaltending, so why keep adding to it?

[hsb]

But you did complain.

[sh00n]

Really? I could care less what Toronto does. Adding depth is nice and all, but when you already have an NHL starter, a borderline young starter, and you just signed another young netminder from overseas, what's the point? It's just making the Marlies better at this point.

Toronto should be thinking of guys they should be targeting at forward more than anything. I always thought they should've went for Cammalleri (thank God you guys took Komisarek instead), and I still think they should go hard for Nathan Horton and Patrick Sharp. Guys like that are indispensable for a hockey team and any team who lands those two are getting a great pick up.

What I said wasn't complaining. I personally love seeing Toronto in the bottom of the NHL every year (and it's even better when they have no picks to make up for it).

[hsb]

Your whole opinion can hold some significance if the assumption that Toronto is not thinking enough of forwards to target is correct. But from what I know in Leaf land, it isn't.

This move has no bearing on the other.

[Crowned]

Really? I could care less what Toronto does. Adding depth is nice and all, but when you already have an NHL starter, a borderline young starter, and you just signed another young netminder from overseas, what's the point? It's just making the Marlies better at this point.

Toronto should be thinking of guys they should be targeting at forward more than anything. I always thought they should've went for Cammalleri (thank God you guys took Komisarek instead), and I still think they should go hard for Nathan Horton and Patrick Sharp. Guys like that are indispensable for a hockey team and any team who lands those two are getting a great pick up.

What I said wasn't complaining. I personally love seeing Toronto in the bottom of the NHL every year (and it's even better when they have no picks to make up for it).

You need 5 goaltenders in your system, we have 4. If Reimer or Rynnas is injured next year, who backs up in the Marlies? So, yes, it is making the Marlies better...and I certainly don't see an issue with that, considering we can't do a whole lot right now.

Cammelleri didn't want to come here, otherwise I'm willing to bet he'd be a Leaf right now. He was quoted as saying he doesn't want to play in a city where he spends his summers (or lives?)...something along those lines.

[sh00n]

Cammelleri didn't want to come here, otherwise I'm willing to bet he'd be a Leaf right now. He was quoted as saying he doesn't want to play in a city where he spends his summers (or lives?)...something along those lines.

Yeah that was his reason. I still think they could've persuaded him if that was his only reason though. Would've been THE perfect player for the Maple Leafs. Easily my favourite signing of the summer for Montreal.

[bryant08]

I don't see why the Leafs don't add depth to a position that has so clearly plagued them in recent memory.

In terms of Cammalleri, I wasn't a fan watching him with the Kings previously, and I thought he benefited from playing on a very talented Flames team. Brought back memories of Jason Blake personally. But in actuality he's played nothing like Blake with Montreal. He's worked out well for the Habs, he's a pretty dynamic all around player and likely would've been a good fit in Toronto. But man, that $6M pricetag is still pretty hefty. The Habs can't complain about that pricetag, seeing as that they're in the 2nd round and as long as your successful and under the cap, it really doesn't matter who's making what (he also had a great first series). Not so sure he would've been worth the $6M for the Leafs, but if it's any consolation I'd way rather have him here at that price than Komisarek, who we seemed to do just fine without when Phaneuf arrived.

[sh00n]

I always felt that Komo was overrated, but I still liked having him on my team. But there's no way in hell I'd pay him what TO did for him to jump ship. 2.5-3 per is the max I'd give Komisarek. I just think as a whole, Toronto's whole defense is ridiculously overpaid. Everyone knows my opinion on Phaneuf. Komo's making double what he's worth, Beauchemin's overpaid, Finger's overpaid. Then you look at what Kaberle's making and it's even worse. Him and Phaneuf should switch contract figures and it would work out.

[bryant08]

^Again, we're in no position to criticize, but $18.4M among Gomez/Gionta/Cammelleri long term? Obviously they had injury concerns (that's something you have to consider in signing them as well), but they average over $6M in cap hit each, and only averaged close to 52 points each this season. Collectively the team is getting the job done, but if you throw an overpaid Plekanec into the mix, if they do re-sign him this offseason, that's a crazy amount of your cap tied up in 4 forwards that may be good, but are they good enough to get you deep in the playoffs? That's above 40% of your cap in 4 forwards. Also, Gomez is signed until he's 33, Cammelleri 31, and Gionta 34. Those guys ARE the core of Montreal's forwards for the next 3-4 years.

Edit: And thank God Hamrlik's only signed 1 more year.

I don't see how Beauchemin at $3.8M is overpaid considering the experience he brings, his ability and the fact he's 29, not into his mid 30s. I don't know what you think about Phaneuf, but he's 24, a fantastic leader (our captain going into next year) and he was a force in the defensive end for us. That's not even taking into consideration his main talent as a d-man, his ability in the offensive end, which we obviously didn't see enough of, but we expect to come with time. You don't get defensemen like that cheap. Komisarek would've been paid no matter where he went, I just think it's a matter of he's not really needed here at that price. Can't argue with Finger and the whole corps together being overpaid, but I definitely don't think we're locked in with some ridiculously overpaid defense group.

[sh00n]

^Again, we're in no position to criticize, but $18.4M among Gomez/Gionta/Cammelleri long term? Obviously they had injury concerns (that's something you have to consider in signing them as well), but they average over $6M in cap hit each, and only averaged close to 52 points each this season. Collectively the team is getting the job done, but if you throw an overpaid Plekanec into the mix, if they do re-sign him this offseason, that's a crazy amount of your cap tied up in 4 forwards that may be good, but are they good enough to get you deep in the playoffs? That's above 40% of your cap in 4 forwards. Also, Gomez is signed until he's 33, Cammelleri 31, and Gionta 34. Those guys ARE the core of Montreal's forwards for the next 3-4 years.

I'm not gonna argue about that point, but it also looks a lot worse once you take out Gomez's contract, seeing as he's making 8 million alone this season and 7.3 for 5 years if I'm not mistaken. I love his game but he's only worth 4-5 million, easily. And with Markov getting hurt every time someone touches him, I honestly hope we swing some package deals involving Halak, Gomez, Hamrlik, Markov and the Kostitsyn sisters. And with Florida saying they wanna clear house and rebuild, and that they have interest in Gomez (Horton for Gomez & 1st was discussed this season), I would easily move Markov and Gomez for Booth and Horton, which would probably never happen.

I think in order for Montreal to really get over the hump, we need to package big contracts with Markov and the Sisters, and we need to trade one of the goalies - I'm hoping Halak. He has way more value and he's absolutely reached his ceiling. I'd even be open to moving Markov to Toronto for a re-signed Kaberle +. It's going to be an interesting summer, regardless.

[bryant08]

^I don't think Gomez is really movable, but I understand your thinking. I'm not sold on Montreal's management moving Halak, but I see the logic in it. Are both Halak and Price going to be re-signed for sure?

[sh00n]

Nope. We have little to no cap space this summer and have to re-sign Plekanec, Halak, Price, Pouliot, Lapierre, Moore, Metropolit, Pyatt and the more useless Kostitsyn.

So Hamrlik absolutely has to be moved without taking salary back, and hopefully we can find some way to figure out the Laraque situation so we can get rid of his 1.5 hit on the cap. That in itself would clear up 7 million and give us the space to re-sign almost everyone. I'd love to get rid of Spacek's ugly contract, too.

As good as we're playing right now, there's still a lot of guys I'd like to get rid of to bring back value; we're basically playing with 3 lines and 2 defensive pairings right now. Halak has boatloads of value, the Kostitsyns have value and Hamrlik is an expiring next season. We have a few younger guys who have some value too (Pacioretty, Weber), but they're on cheapy contracts so I'd rather get the big ones off the books first.

If I had my ideal summer, we'd be resigning Pleks, Pouliot, Lapierre, Pyatt, Metro, Moore and both goaltenders, trading out the Kostitsyns, Hamrlik, Spacek, and Laraque, and signing Recchi, Torres and Malholtra. And I honestly wouldn't mind sending Hammer's expiring contract with a prospect to Edmonton at the draft to bring back Souray.

Cammalleri/Plekanec/Moen
Pouliot/Gomez/Gionta
Torres/Malholtra/Recchi
Lapierre/Moore/Pyatt
Extra: Metropolit

Markov/Souray
Gorges/Gill
Subban/O'Byrne

I can dream. . .

[Crowned]

I don't quite understand how you can criticize the contracts on the Leafs blueline, but be interested in acquiring Souray (who very well be one of the most overpaid/overrated players in the league).

[sh00n]

Because he works in Montreal's system. The system revolves around guy's with rockets on the blueline and when it comes to that Souray is the best of the best, and the most realistic option to pick up. His last season here he had 64 points and broke the record for most powerplay goals for a defenseman in one season. He dropped off after he signed with Edmonton, but who exactly has done anything in Edmonton the last few years? I guarantee had he stayed in Montreal his production would still be hovering around 45-50 points a season.