Leafs/Blues trade

[CrocRob]

Steen and Cola for Stempniak.

I think the Leafs get the best of that. Stempniak hasn't been a healthy scratch this year, at least.

[blny]

tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=257162&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main

There's the link.

I think the Leafs easily win this deal. Stempniak is the best player involved, scoring at nearly a point a game on a bad Blues team. He had a break out year last year, and is showing it isn't a fluke (though his goals are down a bit).

Steen is a two-way player who's not showing any offensive ability and Carlo is a walk in clinic.

[jkr]

Not sure about that.

He went from 27 goals in 2006/07 to 13 goals in 2007/08 & he played the same amount of games. That's a pretty big drop off.

And St Louis is not that bad - thay are 8-8-2. They are about on par with Leafs. Unless Stemniak regains his form from 2 years back, I wouldn't call this a clear win for the Leafs.

Does Burke have a hand in this?

[blny]

I thought last year was the good year, but yes he did tail off.

I still think it's a good deal for the Leafs, because they get the best player in the deal.

[Anardil1]

That's pretty cheap return for a "potential" 30 goal scorer. Looks like they're not "tanking for Tavares."

[seventeen]

On the other hand, you always want to trade a guy after he's had an outstanding year, especially if all the stars lined up and everything went his way. Could be he'll never come near 20 again, much less 30. I don't know much about Stempniak other than he has a difficult to pronounce name. Colaiacovo (who more than replaces Stempniak in the name dept), is really brittle, but if takes a lot of iron supplements, he's a pretty good skater and a decent possibility. Same with Steen. The Blues are really counting on some upside.

[CentreHice]

Ever since Wilson got there, the message has been "no more passengers".

I don't respect Wilson for airing the dirty laundry i.e. "I tell Carlo every day that he's not in shape, and that it's his own fault." And I think that'll wear thin on the rest of the team pretty quickly. Isn't that closed-door stuff?

Don Cherry has no use for Wilson's tactics, calling him "Little Napoleon" on Saturday night's Coach's Corner. I was watching in Leaf territory and my buddy said, "Yeah, Cherry doesn't like Wilson at all...the way he bullies the players."

Then again, Cherry was always a player's coach.

[NWTHabsFan]

Stempniak was a stud at Dartmouth while our own JT Wyman was busy cutting his teeth there. I always had him on my radar screen as a player to watch. He had a great pro debut that backed it up even more, so the Leafs are going for the fence with his potential. They give up on their most injured and out of favour guy, and another guy that I was never really sold on the hype. Who knows who wins this, but the Leafs should early on. Not sure if Carlo and Steen ever reach their potential in a better environment..I guess time will tell.

If this team ever goes south, how long will Grabovski last once Wilson starts calling him out in public...the circus in ACC is still open for business. Never a dull moment.

[CrocRob]

I was talking to a buddy of mine who's a Leafs fan about this trade, and he made a good point. He had two, actually.

1. Why are the Leafs not in a position to deal with Coliacovo's injuries? He's actually a pretty good defenseman when he's healthy, but at this point in the Leafs development I think you swallow the pill and take an injury-laden defenseman with a considerable amount of upside.

2. Where's the draft pick? They just traded two roster players for one. While Stempniak scored a bunch of goals in the past, so did Jason Blake. Where's the draft pick or prospect to strengthen the depth in the club?

I thought both were valid. Straight up I still think the Leafs win this trade, but I don't think it addressed anything that a rebuilding club should be addressing.

[jkr]

Nov 26, 2008 12:44:25 GMT -5 CrocRob said:

I was talking to a buddy of mine who's a Leafs fan about this trade, and he made a good point. He had two, actually.

1. Why are the Leafs not in a position to deal with Coliacovo's injuries? He's actually a pretty good defenseman when he's healthy, but at this point in the Leafs development I think you swallow the pill and take an injury-laden defenseman with a considerable amount of upside.

2. Where's the draft pick? They just traded two roster players for one. While Stempniak scored a bunch of goals in the past, so did Jason Blake. Where's the draft pick or prospect to strengthen the depth in the club?

I thought both were valid. Straight up I still think the Leafs win this trade, but I don't think it addressed anything that a rebuilding club should be addressing.

Both good points. Wilson made it pretty clear what he thinks of CC. He called him out for being out of shape & said that's the reason why he's injured so often. His latest injury was a shot of the foot - what's that got to do with conditioning.

Fletcher has been giving up picks - I think I read yesterday (Toronto Star) that they have 10 picks in the next two drafts.

Pierre McGuire can go on Toronto radio all he wants & exaggerate the job Fletcher has done but if you want facts & figures try Damien Cox. He may be very critical but he usually backs it up with numbers.

[CrocRob]

Nov 26, 2008 15:02:06 GMT -5 jkr said:

Nov 26, 2008 12:44:25 GMT -5 CrocRob said:

I was talking to a buddy of mine who's a Leafs fan about this trade, and he made a good point. He had two, actually.

1. Why are the Leafs not in a position to deal with Coliacovo's injuries? He's actually a pretty good defenseman when he's healthy, but at this point in the Leafs development I think you swallow the pill and take an injury-laden defenseman with a considerable amount of upside.

2. Where's the draft pick? They just traded two roster players for one. While Stempniak scored a bunch of goals in the past, so did Jason Blake. Where's the draft pick or prospect to strengthen the depth in the club?

I thought both were valid. Straight up I still think the Leafs win this trade, but I don't think it addressed anything that a rebuilding club should be addressing.

Both good points. Wilson made it pretty clear what he thinks of CC. He called him out for being out of shape & said that's the reason why he's injured so often. His latest injury was a shot of the foot - what's that got to do with conditioning.

They said the same thing about Wellwood. Some guys just don't have "that" kind of shape in them. Last I checked, Wellwood was a solid NHL player. No reason Cola can't be, either.