Toronto and Kubina.....
Posted 5:32 AM ET | Comments 10
Whats the issue really. I'm not exactly writing a blog on this one. But I want your thoughts on why Toronto wants to dump this guy so bad.
Me personaly cap space, but who knows it could be just because they want more depth upfront. Of course I see no purpose to trading Kubina if all the Leafs plan on doing is signing Tony Salmaleinen. Which personally I'm excited about this guy can skate. I think he would be great playing with Stajan and Battaglia. Anyways what do you guys make of all the Kubina hype.
Pecafan
Me personaly cap space, but who knows it could be just because they want more depth upfront. Of course I see no purpose to trading Kubina if all the Leafs plan on doing is signing Tony Salmaleinen. Which personally I'm excited about this guy can skate. I think he would be great playing with Stajan and Battaglia. Anyways what do you guys make of all the Kubina hype.
Pecafan
Leafs are deep in defence, really the only spot at which they can say that. Kubina is a proven performer, last season notwithstanding....he should be good for 45 points per year when he has a 2 or 3 D spot on a team, guaranteed 22 - 24 minutes. Not the case last year. They still have his kind of size in Hal Gill, and have plenty of points from the blueline in McCabe, Kaberle, and you can even throw Ian White in there. All of this spells expendable. 5 million is a nice piece of change wto have in your pocket if you are looking for more scoring. I dont see any sense in the Salmalienen deal either....I dont think that will come to fruition.
nonono... we're really deep in 3rd and 4th liners :P
is this salmalienen guy any good all i know is that hes young
The only thing that is really against Kubina is his salary..Given the same ice time as Kaberle and McCabe I see no reason why he wouldnt make us proud.I bet he 'almost' wishes he had signed a lower paying contract so the spotlight wouldnt be on him so much.If McCabe or Kaberle gets injured this season we will see just what he can do.He is a top pair defenceman and would get the same money with another club.Lay off Kubina...McCabe also gets this negative press over his contract.I say keep the club together..We have help on goaltending now and Blake is also here to help in scoring..Let us not screw around with this too much..Kubina stays for this year..
I agree, the only valid reason would be to dump some salary. He is a solid d-man that will contribute more to the team this year then he did last. Of course all leaf fans want to see some superstar come to our team but really thats not going to happen. Atleast not this year! If we could get Lecavalier out of Tampa as a replacement for Sundin then I say go for it but again Vinnies not going anywhere. Leafs managemnet most be $h--ting themselve because they know that Sundin doesn't have that much time left before his skills start diminishing, They need someone to take over for him, but where are they going to find it. Marleau (as good as he is) I don't believe is a superstar, same goes for Richards, so who's out there????? Any thoughts???
I don't know who the next franchise player will be for the buds, it would be great to see it come from within with a player like Wellwood or Steen or someone else...but there will be no replacement for Sundin I dont think. When Sundin retires there will be a hole in the leafs line up for a while, even if they go out and spend his contract on someone else, it won't be the same. Although we'll still have guys like Tucker and Kaberle around, it'll take a special player to fill Sundins spot.
The leafs need to drop kubinas salary hes paid way to much to be a mediocre defenseman and when time comes for the playoff push (if the leafs dont decide to spend kubinas cap space before the season) then the leafs have 5 mil sitting in the bank to make a big trade. bring on the young guys develop our team and pull an anaheim ducks stanley cup run GO LEAFS GO!!!!
Guys, Salmelainen is not that young: he's 26. On the plus side, he has breathtaking speed. On the downside, his speed is straight-line, and it's not always under control: he's like a Ferrari zooming down the road, only with one wheel about to come flying off. His speed can create havoc and scoring chances in the offensive zone, but he lacks the ability to finish more often than not. He's very small (5-9 and 185 seems awfully generous to me). Chicago tried to use him on the PK a little bit later on in the year, but I wouldn't call him a good defensive player by any stretch of the imagination: he's average at best. I think they were trying to get their opponents' PP to worry about him. Not to temper your enthusiasm, but Chicago had one of the worst offenses in the league last year and a noticeable lack of quality top-6 forwards, and they didn't want him back. Could turn into something, but don't get your hopes up.
Salmelainen must be just another Suglobov...great Speed,No Finish.
Maybe the reason his name keeps coming up in trade talk is he is the guy other teams are trying to get. He is a good defensemen signed for 4 more years at a slightly inflated price, with a Stanley Cup ring, an offensive upside, and he has some size. And hey, there are lots of names on this website who never get moved. If the Leafs can add a good winger for him, great, if they keep him, he isn't going to hurt you. Also, saving $5 mill now is worth $12 mill at the trade deadline.