Leafs...What Now???

rnrnWowzaaarnrnThe much anticipated acquisition of a goaltender in Toronto threw a heck of a lot of people for a loop, when it wasn't Luongo, Kiprusoff, Backstrom, Theodore or pretty much anyone else except Jonathan Bernier. rnrnAlthough this has caught many off guard there is quite a positive response from the fans in regards to this trade (in my opinion a tad overpaying).rnrnLeaf fans new Miller was incredibly unlikely, Luongo was over priced (Too bad on that contract). Kipper will retire and I never saw signing Backstrom as legitimate. lthough I do see the leafs looking to Theodore for a bit of veteran stability( more on that later).rnrnSo what now in Leafland????? rnrnThe burning question is as always in Toronto and every city in North America with a NHL franchise, except Pittsburgh, Long Island, and Anaheim. WHERE IS OUR FRANCHISE CENTER? Well sorry folks there is no saviour coming to Toronto in the form of a first line center, that leaf fans would all love. To Make my point I ask this, what center would you want here in Toronto that is of the franchise quality you expect?rnrnLets list them by Name 2013 salary followed by cap hitrnrnrn 1 Brad Richards NYR- $12,000,000-$6,667,000rnrn2 Vincent Lecavalier TBL-$10,000,000-$7,727,000 rnrn3 Evgeni Malkin PIT-$9,000,000-$8,700,000 rnrn4 Eric Staal CAR-$8,500,000-$8,250,000 rnrn5 Mike Richards LAK-$8,400,000-$5,750,000 rnrn6 Jason Spezza OTT-$8,000,000-$7,000,000 rnrn7 Steven Stamkos TBL-$8,000,000-$7,500,000 rnrn8 Sidney Crosby PIT-$7,500,000-$8,700,000rnrn 9 Joe Thornton SJS-$7,000,000-$7,000,000 rnrn10 Mike Cammalleri CGY-$7,000,000-$6,000,000 rnrnrnHmm strange list for the top paid guys, I think I would take out of that list Stamkos, Crosby, Staal or Malkin? I am sure most would agree and for the love of Eklund lets NOT forget the dream that is.... J Tavares, and Ryan Getzlaf.rnrnAnd......it just so happens that the likely hood of any of those people being available are well slim to ziltch (taking into account the Gretzky rule).rnrnSo what are Toronto's options at center? As I see it a few decent yet HIGHLY overpaid player are or will become available. These are:rnrnThornton SJrnMarleau SJrnStastny ColrnHorcoff EdrnGagner EdrnLeCavalier TBrnrnNot much else in the terms of a top center according to cap wisdom LOL.rnrnSo where does that leave Toronto...Like every other team in the league except Pitts/TB/NYI/ANA Searching for something that doesn't exist. Well there is a way to obtain it.rnrnDRAFT IT, Like any really smart GM knows you will never get a franchise center via trade you will have to develop it. So lets see who is available in the draft that has "Franchise Center" potential I emphasize the word POTENTIAL because the draft is as much skill as it is luck as it is patience as it is money in the development of players. (This is where the leafs can WIN WIN WIN).rnrnI will put in what I think the probability of becoming the "franchise Center" is in my opinion.rnrnNathan MacKinnon -85% Great attitude/Skill/IQrnrnElias Lindholm-50% Just not Big and Gnarly enough or super skilled enoughrnrnAleksander Barkov-84% Only because of MacKinnon, he is a star with the right team that has some patience with him 1- 2 years before the NHL debut would be amazing for himrnrnSean Monahan- 60% Love this kids determination, C.H.A.R.A.C.T.E.R but will need a year or two to fill out and most likely will need some help with Power Wingers to create space.rnrnCurtis Lazar-68% I see him as a sleeper in terms of franchise potential, if you don't believe me youtube this guy and watch him. Needs a few pounds though.rnrnAlexander Wennberg-30% and that's not a knock he will be a great #2 center but NOT a franchise guyrnrnMax Domi-18% listed as a center but more a wingerrnrnBo Horvat-30%- LOVE THIS GUY ALL HEART, teams want him because you need a guy like him to win. He is all in all the time. Again unlikely that he is a Franchise guy.rnrnHunter Shinkaruk-50% Yep Skill like the big boys, size like the minors, if he can find a way to pack anything on he may well be the steal of this draft.rnrnrnEither way the leafs have to move up to get any of these guys and then spend some time and patience delivering them to the ACC, so don't get your hopes up of any center coming to Toronto other than maybe Sam Gagner which is Just Tyler Bozak is so many way would rather Tyler he has a big heart and cares.rnrnSo leaf fan sorry to burst your bubble but there is no franchise center on the way.... Unless you consider Stastny your guy if so you should maybe watch a Colorado game and if then you still think Stast is your guy, I have a book for you called Hockey for Dummies....rnrnOnto Defense:rnrn So tired of people bashing Phaneuf, the guy was voted for the Norris this year, Do his stats reflect his contract...NO. But WTF people he was incredible all year, with a few mistakes but Weber makes em too????? He is almost perfect at 20-23 mins a game more he gets tired less he isn't as into it. Complain about his contract not his play, he was a coaches dream.rnrnThat leaves some free agents to consider:rnrnFerence?rnHainsey?rnrnI like em both to mentor Gardiner and Reilly, Offer some stability on the back.rnrnGoal????rnrnUmm....WTF, show Reim's some respect and see if there is an opportunity out there for him to start somewhere, no one brings in a name like Bernier without expecting him to be #1...Ring Ring....Hello Garth.. Its Dave...Ahh What do you think of Reimer and Komisarek for Dipietro and Strome or your 15th..................... Just a thought..rnrnThanks for reading I am open to thoughts and comments as long as they are respectable. So the Question remains...WHAT NOW DAVE?rnrnMrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn rnrn