Rumours thread

Post #161 » by **MAS** » Thu Jul 5, 2007 9:59 pm

Rumours that they are interested in Yashin now... not sure how i feel about this

Tor-Rap-Tor · Post #162 » by **Tor-Rap-Tor** » Thu Jul 5, 2007 10:12 pm

vc_dunkchamp wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
It is a damn shame the Leafs are not showing interest. He's the type of player they need to truly make the playoffs.

Not that I'm happy with where this team is headed, but in the short-term, Peca, Tucker and Blake could be key to getting teams off their gameplan and just keep pestering the other team.

I agree Mike Peca should be signed before any thought to signing Yashin...
I think both would be great for the team but given a choice between the two, Peca should be given priority, then if enough cap left Yashin could be signed...

This brings up another problem, unless we make a trade or two, we have a full roster and thats not taking into account some of the young players that we will bring in on try out..Re: R.Kukumberg, N.Kulemin, A.Stralman and B.Aubin...

youreachiteach · Post #163 » by **youreachiteach** » Fri Jul 6, 2007 12:12 am

Tor-Rap-Tor wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I agree Mike Peca should be signed before any thought to signing Yashin...
I think both would be great for the team but given a choice between the two, Peca should be given priority, then if enough cap left Yashin could be signed...

This brings up another problem, unless we make a trade or two, we have a full roster and thats not taking into account some of the young players that we will bring in on try out..Re: R.Kukumberg, N.Kulemin, A.Stralman and B.Aubin...

Look, the problem isn't that Peca doesn't help..the problem is how long he can.

Just like Lindros, the guy seems to have a limited shelf life for playing time. Now, maybe it's just a freak thing, but the guy has now missed significant portions of the last two regualr seasons in a row.

I love what he does, I just don't know if his body is up to the task of doing what he needs to in order to excecute it.

And the Leafs I'm sure are sick of tieing up money into injuryprone players, for the same reason. The last two years have seen more injuries in the regular season than on any team I've ever seen. Just astronomical amounts of man games missed.

If he's willing to negotiate cheaply, he's a good risk--but my guess at his age is, he ain't gonna come cheap, and JFJ needs to fill other holes more.

Post #164 » by **The-Insider** » Fri Jul 6, 2007 12:23 am

I don't have a problem with Yashin if the price was right. He did get 50 points in 58 games last season and we can't say we had many players with that kind of ratio. Yashin reportedly turned down a $2.25M offer and is looking for something in the $3.5 range. If that is the case, I wouldn't be in favor of trading away Raycroft or Kubina to clear up room for Yashin.

mun · Post #165 » by **mun** » Fri Jul 6, 2007 12:27 am

^^^I'd replace Raycroft in a heartbeat for Yashin.

Yashin would be an excellent addition to this Leafs team. Him and Blake played so well last year and it would give the Leafs two players who can be considered legit gamechangers in Sundin and Yashin.

If he's interested in Toronto and vice versa, a 1 or 2 year deal at $3.5M per, sign me up!

Tor-Rap-Tor · Post #166 » by **Tor-Rap-Tor** » Fri Jul 6, 2007 1:59 am

youreachiteach wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Look, the problem isn't that Peca doesn't help..the problem is how long he can.

Just like Lindros, the guy seems to have a limited shelf life for playing time. Now, maybe it's just a freak thing, but the guy has now missed significant portions of the last two regualr seasons in a row.

I love what he does, I just don't know if his body is up to the task of doing what he needs to in order to excecute it.

And the Leafs I'm sure are sick of tieing up money into injuryprone players, for the same reason. The last two years have seen more injuries in the regular season than on any team I've ever seen. Just astronomical amounts of man games missed.

If he's willing to negotiate cheaply, he's a good risk--but my guess at his age is, he ain't gonna come cheap, and JFJ needs to fill other holes more.

Mike Peca is only 33 years old same age as Jason Blake, Matts Sundin is 3 years older...
Any player can get hurt and it's not as though he is injury prone. When you compare him to Nik Antropov who is only 27, Peca is fairly durable, sure he loses games through injury but he plays flat out and is very effective because he throws caution to the wind and gets into the face of opposing players. I would sooner have a player of his ilk and lose him for a few games or a few weeks in a season, than someone who won't go in and get his nose dirty. His leadership is second to none and his work ethic is too...
Players like him are in demand and his fair market value is determined by the offers other teams are willing to give him, he wants to play here and if we offered him a contract similar to what another team had, I'm sure he would sign here...

jalenrose#5 · Post #167 » by **jalenrose#5** » Fri Jul 6, 2007 2:03 am

Red Wings and Coyotes are VERY interested in Raycroft.

Deal 1:

TOR Trades: Raycroft
DET Trades: Igor Grigorenko

Deal 2:

TOR Trades: Raycroft
PHX Trades: Cujo (S & T)

Also, with Yashin, I'd be inclined to go with someone else, but if he remains the lone one available, and at the right price I'd bring him in.

Imagine....

Poni/Sundin/Antropov
Steen/Yashin/Blake
Tucker/Wellwood/Stajan
Devereaux/Pohl/Battaglia

BTW.....Jeff O'Neill....is there any offers on him?

Post #168 » by **Crowned** » Fri Jul 6, 2007 5:06 am

Red Wings sign Hasek, there goes a potential deal with them.

Tor-Rap-Tor · Post #169 » by **Tor-Rap-Tor** » Fri Jul 6, 2007 7:18 pm

Ekland is reporting strong rumors that Raycroft is on the move perhaps to Phoenix thus freeing up cap to sign either Peca or Yashin...

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=8505

Post #170 » by **The-Insider** » Fri Jul 6, 2007 8:07 pm

mun wrote:^^^I'd replace Raycroft in a heartbeat for Yashin.

Yashin would be an excellent addition to this Leafs team. Him and Blake played so well last year and it would give the Leafs two players who can be considered legit gamechangers in Sundin and Yashin.

If he's interested in Toronto and vice versa, a 1 or 2 year deal at $3.5M per, sign me up!

You would want to replace one of the better goalie situations in the league for a cancer in the dressing room? For a guy that's not defensively liable? A player that has had terrible production in the post-season? I really don't see your fascination with Yashin. Him and Blake never really saw "eye-to-eye". This is going to do nothing but take minutes away from Wellwood. He's younger, cheaper, has more upside and is even a lot more defensively responsible. Yashin has been seen as a "soft" player; he doesn't play with energy and refuses to get his nose dirty.

This is the type of signing that could do more harm than good at any price. Considering what the Leafs are trying to do, this is signing would be a big gamble.

mun · Post #171 » by **mun** » Sun Jul 8, 2007 2:14 am

^^^ Replace one of the better goaltending situations? I am not sure if this situation would work long term. It will become a distraction as most goaltending situations become over time. But that being said, this goaltending tandem is better than what we had last year!

In regards to Yashin, you make some great points. However, there is one key issue that is being left out of your opinion on Yashin: in Ottawa and NYI he was deemed "the man" and the "franchise" player. Here he would be another piece on a team. Less pressure means less expectations.

Additionally, regarding your comment about him being a defensive liability etc., I agree with you but on the other hand let's look at our forwards: Battaglia, Devreaux, Kilger, Pohl, Belak, Stajan, and if he is resigned Peca, all these players are for the most part THE SAME PLAYER. Hard forechecking players who have limited offensive skills. We do not need more of those players. That is why I am willing to take a player with good to great offensive capabilities (last year 50 pts in 52 games) because we have enough players to make up for his lack of defense.

I don't think having Yashin stunts Wellwood's growth as a player. You could have Yashin as your third line center or play Wellwood on the wings, the point is that is an assumption that is not founded on any evidence. What is your proof? IF he was signed and IF he played more minutes than Wellwood and IF he was being a cancer, lazy player THEN we could have this discussion. As of now it's all speculation.

The point is that I would take Yashin for a year with his offensive capabilities and roll the dice. IF he plays the way he is capable of (point a game pace) then he would be a HUGE difference maker on this team. I am tired of the Leafs going after the "3rd or 4th character player who plays tough" we have two and half lines full of those players already!

Let's get someone with some flash to his game. And hey if it doesn't work, what's the big deal? It's not like we are going to sign him to a ten year deal or be a real contender next year anyways. But having Yashin would make this team more fun. I would like to be entertained...

youreachiteach · Post #172 » by **youreachiteach** » Sun Jul 8, 2007 3:52 am

mun wrote:^^^ Replace one of the better goaltending situations? I am not sure if this situation would work long term. It will become a distraction as most goaltending situations become over time. But that being said, this goaltending tandem is better than what we had last year!

In regards to Yashin, you make some great points. However, there is one key issue that is being left out of your opinion on Yashin: in Ottawa and NYI he was deemed "the man" and the "franchise" player. Here he would be another piece on a team. Less pressure means less expectations.

Additionally, regarding your comment about him being a defensive liability etc., I agree with you but on the other hand let's look at our forwards: Battaglia, Devreaux, Kilger, Pohl, Belak, Stajan, and if he is resigned Peca, all these players are for the most part THE SAME PLAYER. Hard forechecking players who have limited offensive skills. We do not need more of those players. That is why I am willing to take a player with good to great offensive capabilities (last year 50 pts in 52 games) because we have enough players to make up for his lack of defense.

I don't think having Yashin stunts Wellwood's growth as a player. You could have Yashin as your third line center or play Wellwood on the wings, the point is that is an assumption that is not founded on any evidence. What is your proof? IF he was signed and IF he played more minutes than Wellwood and IF he was being a cancer, lazy player THEN we could have this discussion. As of now it's all speculation.

The point is that I would take Yashin for a year with his offensive capabilities and roll the dice. IF he plays the way he is capable of (point a game pace) then he would be a HUGE difference maker on this team. I am tired of the Leafs going after the "3rd or 4th character player who plays tough" we have two and half lines full of those players already!

Let's get someone with some flash to his game. And hey if it doesn't work, what's the big deal? It's not like we are going to sign him to a ten year deal or be a real contender next year anyways. But having Yashin would make this team more fun. I would like to be entertained...

+1

Having Yashin Blake Antro
or Sundin Blake Wellwood
or Sundin Wellwood Poni

would, for the first time, actually present the team with two frontline scoring lines. (And not just Sundin doing all the work himself with Wellwood being able to play like half the games).

With adequate goaltending and perhaps ONE outstanding D man, you're looking at contention.

In any event, it'd be a dangerous team.

Post #173 » by **Crowned** » Sun Jul 8, 2007 6:11 am

Yashin is more than capable of playing the wing. He could play with Sundin, or with Wellwood....he doesn't need to play up the middle.

youreachiteach · Post #174 » by **youreachiteach** » Sun Jul 8, 2007 8:45 am

Crowned wrote:Yashin is more than capable of playing the wing. He could play with Sundin, or with Wellwood....he doesn't need to play up the middle.

True enough. Yashin would be a big upgrade offensively--especially on the powerplay.

There are some teams that would struggle with a guy like him--but the Leafs already have a ton of grit, and the kind of players who could let Yashin know he wouldn't be allowed to be a passenger.

Post #175 » by **The-Insider** » Mon Jul 9, 2007 8:18 pm

mun wrote:^^^ Replace one of the better goaltending situations? I am not sure if this situation would work long term. It will become a distraction as most goaltending situations become over time. But that being said, this goaltending tandem is better than what we had last year!

Raycroft is now forced to play then he's ever been. He's actually looking "forward" to the challenge. Toskola made it clear that he wants to be the starting goaltender here. This is going to do nothing but motivate their play. It doesn't look it either goaltender is going to be distracted as Raycrofy is up for the challenge and Toskola just signed an extension. fwiw - Raycroft wasn't the starter in Boston before the Leafs acquired him

In regards to Yashin, you make some great points. However, there is one key issue that is being left out of your opinion on Yashin: in Ottawa and NYI he was deemed "the man" and the "franchise" player. Here he would be another piece on a team. Less pressure means less expectations.

He actually was "the man" in Ottawa. NYI was a different story.. past years he had a different role with the club. With that being said, he disappeared in playoff games, became a "cancer" in the dressing room, and rarely ever dominated a shift.

Additionally, regarding your comment about him being a defensive liability etc., I agree with you but on the other hand let's look at our forwards: Battaglia, Devreaux, Kilger, Pohl, Belak, Stajan, and if he is resigned Peca, all these players are for the most part THE SAME PLAYER. Hard forechecking players who have limited offensive skills. We do not need more of those players. That is why I am willing to take a player with good to great offensive capabilities (last year 50 pts in 52 games) because we have enough players to make up for his lack of defense.

Who said they did? Peca was great on the PK, and Pohl, Battaglia, and Kilger turned out to be very serviceable role players on the checking lines. Its defense what wins you games. This was a hard-working gritty club and that's what kept the Leaf's playoff hopes alive despite several key injuries. The team does need more offensive production, and they went out and got a proven scorer on the wing and are still shopping. Yashin isn

Post #176 » by **Crowned** » Mon Jul 9, 2007 9:06 pm

I'd take Yashin on a 1 year contract, nothing more. In NY, he had extreme expectations placed upon him. Although he's known for not showing up in big games, that wouldn't fly here in Toronto. He wouldn't be placed in the spotlight, he wouldn't be expected to be the teams leading scorer, captain, or best player. There are too many strong personalities in that Leaf locker room for him to be lazy on a consistant basis. One of Tucker, Sundin, Maurice, or even *gasp* McCabe would absolutely fly into the guy.

Talent wise, he's worth taking a look at. It's the attitude that tough to overlook, because he is extremely talented, and would do wonders for the team in the offensive zone. It's something that Maurice and JFJ (maybe Sundin too) would have to discuss first, and would even have to discuss with Yashin before a deal is signed.

If Peca signs elsewhere, I think you have to consider Yashin. I personally cannot stand him, but if he changes his attitude under a new system and in a new atmosphere...he'd be alright under a 1 year contract

mun · Post #177 » by **mun** » Mon Jul 9, 2007 9:21 pm

Insider wrote

fwiw - Raycroft wasn't the starter in Boston before the Leafs acquired him

He was a starter the year he won the Calder Trophy, no? He was picked up for a young prospect and paid $2million to be this teams goalie of the future, no? So I'm not sure what you are eluding to other than the fact that Raycroft is willing to accept a shared role at that position. I think that's fair but again. For the reasons stated above, plus the addition of Vesa Toskala, it is no surprise the Leafs are shopping Raycroft. $2 million backups are not the best management of the cap, Yashin or no Yashin.

Insider wrote

Who said they did? Peca was great on the PK, and Pohl, Battaglia, and Kilger turned out to be very serviceable role players on the checking lines. Its defense what wins you games. This was a hard-working gritty club and that's what kept the Leaf's playoff hopes alive despite several key injuries. The team does need more offensive production, and they went out and got a proven scorer on the wing and are still shopping. Yashin isn