Key to Tavares lies in $$$ (but not how you think)
Posted by Rangerblue on Monday, December 29, 2008 @ 00:09:15 EST
Contributed by markjohnston
In a season featuring nothing but drama (Burke saga, who will be traded, will they tank, etc) for Maple Leafs fans, I'm going to propose a simple plan that would give the leafs the absolute best chance at landing Tavares, and in turn - saving their season...and maybe the next 7 or so after that.
I am not a hockey historian, but I believe I am correct in saying the Maple Leafs have never had THE best player in hockey while he was the best. Never a Gretzky, Orr, Richard, Lemeiux or even the new guys - Iginla, Crosby, Ovechkin, etc.
Well, there is a player we all know coming up who just may grow into a #1 player in the league and almost certainly a top 5 player for years and years.
John Tavares is clearly a very special player - he was drafted young into the OHL, where he proceeded to break the Great One's record for goals as a 16 year old. His agent pushed for him to get drafted a year early, and he probably could have been - maybe even should have been. Even now in the world juniors, Tavares is racking up big numbers with not-so-big wingers.
The kid is special.
He also happens to be from Oakville, Ontario - a short drive down the QEW from Toronto.
He also happens to be set for this years draft.
The Leafs also happen to be stinking it up and clearly in a rebuilding mode. The first rebuilding mode in as long as I can remember.
It would seem all the stars are lining up for Leafs fans - finally!
One problem: While the leafs are certainly too crappy to be good, they're also too good to be crappy. They're sitting at 11th in the East right now with a somewhat respectable 34 pts in 36 games.
So, the question is...How can the Leafs make moves to get Tavares?
The answer lies in money. Big surprise, eh?
The Leafs need to trade the following players to ANYONE who will give them picks/prospects
- Kaberle
- Kubina
- Antropov
- Poni
- Toskala
- Blake (if you can)
Okay, no surprise there. You've probably read that 8 million times.
The key, however, is along with picks/prospects you need to bring back GARBAGE players making big money. This has a two-pronged effect.
1. By taking back $$$ (even taking back MORE than you give), you can get a better deal. If a team can get your good players (say Kaberle) AND dump 2 million on you, that's incredibly valuable in this cap era. By offering to take money players (and the leafs have lots of room) back, you are making your trade even MORE valuable than just your good player.
2. You are getting overpaid stiffs in return. This overpaid stiffs were stinking it up on playoff-bound teams. Think of how bad they will suck on the leafs. Just what they need to finish 30th!
The catch!
The only catch is you have to take back players who have
a) a year left on their contract, 2 max
b) good attitudes
c) if they don't have good attitudes or have long contracts, you need to be prepared to buy them out so they don't poison your locker room
So, there you have it, a plan to tank the season while gobbling up picks and prospects. Hopefully the end result is a 30th place finish, a cupboard full of young studs...and hopefully a lucky ping-pong ball before draft day.
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Re: Key to Tavares lies in $$$ (but not how you think) (Score: 1) by Trevor on Monday, December 29, 2008 @ 09:22:04 EST (User Info | Send a Message)
Interesting idea actually. Basically what your proposing is getting a bunch of Jason Blake's, except worse. As long as those players don't have long contracts it could work and who knows, maybe one or two would turn it around and become valuable players.
On the downside, let's not forget there is a draft lottery between the top 5 teams. So Toronto could tank, finish dead last and end up with the 5th pick. Which isn't that bad, but its not Tavares.
Re: Key to Tavares lies in $$$ (but not how you think) (Score: 1) by BigT on Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 23:59:07 EST (User Info | Send a Message)
The only difference from what you are suggesting compared to the Leafs past trading history is now they are ACTUALLY planning to get worse..
Re: Key to Tavares lies in $$$ (but not how you think) (Score: 1) by antmonkey on Monday, January 05, 2009 @ 11:49:49 EST (User Info | Send a Message)
I've been saying that for ages... but I still don't think they're bad enough to be bottom 5. I'm thinking their best bet at Tavares (if they have any chance at all) is to trade their 1st pick, Kaberle and Toskala and hope whoever has the 1st pick is willing to give it up for that price.
