TSN: Leafs' Connolly placed on waivers - McKenzie: Cleared waivers.

[Leafs at Knight]

This is awesome !

 

[G51 K81*]

Read what I said though. Wilson was always getting the D-men to pinch and play aggressively, which was awful for slower guys. Carlyle doesn't appear to want them to take those risks (based on interviews and what he's said about his team's style of play) and would rather the forwards do a better job getting back and helping.

Him making terrible pinches is one of MANY reason why he is a terrible defender.

 

[Drugstorecowboi]

A lot of people calling for Komi next, but some (including myself) would be willing to give him another chance under Carlyle. The best games Komi played last year were under Carlyle (I think Schenn looked better as well) and it probably has less to do with Carlyle and more to do with the relief of no more Wilson.

We need a stay at home, physical D-man and I know Komi has been pretty bad in the past, but if Wilson was telling him to pinch more and challenge more aggressively it would leave guys like Komi and Schenn exposed way more than if you let them play conservatively with support from the forwards back-checking (which Carlyle apparently preaches).

So I'd like to see how Komi can perform this year playing more defensively. Worst case he's the same old Komi and we sit him or waive him and that's it for him. Best case he gains some confidence and really helps this team with veteran leadership and physical play. I think it's worth the risk for what is likely not a playoff calibre team in such a short season.

Komi is horrible and a poor man's "Stay At Home" d-man, at best. He was sucking long before he came to the Leafs. Habs fans warned us of his horrible play. You can't go blaming Wilson and his system on Komi's horrid abilities. This was a massive Burke blunder, and just another piece of evidence that Burke is not that good at evaluating talent - but has a knack for being able to oversell his signings to the general public.

Nonis appears to be cleaning up Burke's disasters (LACK)... dont be surprised if Komi is next on the chopping block. I don't believe Carlyle is stupid and I think he will not feel comfortable throwing Komi out on the ice in shutdown situations. The guy has two left feet.

 

[zeke]

Buyouts and amnesty buyouts are two dufferent things.

there are no limits on buyouts. the leafs can buy out every player on the team if they want.


amnesty buyouts are a very specific kind of buyout that lets teams completely clear the caphits of players AFTER this year.

connolly doesn't have a contract next year, so cannot even be an amnesty buyout.

actually, if the regular buyout rules haven't changed, then buying out connolly would spread hus caphit out over the next two years.

 

[New Liskeard]

They have to pay him either way, and buyout or not he would count against the teams cap this year even if demoted to the AHL as per the new CBA rules preventing burying of contracts in the minors loophole closed.

Connolly is worthy of a buyout, and Komisarek is the other and then all of LACK (Lombardi,Armstrong,Connolly & Komisarek) have been dealt with appropriately.

Hopefully some team claims him on waivers, saving the need to use a buyout to get rid of him. Either way Nonis is really going to town determined to turn this teams fortunes around by removing a lot of dead weight accumulated in the past.

Leafs have plenty of cap space this year and next, so clearing up cap space is not an issue. Whether traded, or put in the minors or claimed on waivers, Connolly won't be with the team.

 

[ULF_55]

No. It's all about tempering expectations.

Yes, we can't believe everything Carlyle says. Maybe it is to light a fire under a veteran's butt?

Just saying, you are right, there is sometimes a message in a statement.

In saying that!!!

BLOW IT UP, PLAY THE KIDS!

 

[LEAFSIN4]

I don't think this is an amnesty buyout. It would make 0 sense for the Leafs to use it on Connolly at this point.

Komi and Liles should be bought out in the summer. I like Liles and my mind would definitely change if he shows improvement this season however we have too many D prospects coming up. They can replace his production at 1/3 of the cost.

These moves would save around ~8 million and I would personally spend 6-7 million of that money on a 1-2 DMan that can change the identity of this defence.

Edler and Holzer instead of Komi and Liles would be cheaper and better.

 

[Pi]

I freakin' love Dave Nonis.

 

[ULF_55]

Buyouts and amnesty buyouts are two dufferent things.

there are no limits on buyouts. the leafs can buy out every player on the team if they want.


amnesty buyouts are a very specific kind of buyout that lets teams completely clear the caphits of players AFTER this year.

connolly doesn't have a contract next year, so cannot even be an amnesty buyout.

actually, if the regular buyout rules haven't changed, then buying out connolly would spread hus caphit out over the next two years.

However, I believe there are windows for regular buy-outs, and I'm not sure there is an open window right now.

 

[Lebanese Leaf]

I don't think this is an amnesty buyout. It would make almost 0 sense for the Leafs to use it on Connolly at this point.

Komi and Liles should be bought out in the summer. I like Liles and my mind would definitely change if he shows improvement this season however we have too many D prospects coming up. They can replace his production at 1/3 of the cost.

These moves would save around ~8 million and I would personally spend 6-7 million of that money on a 1-2 DMan that can change the identity of this defence.

Edler and Holzer instead of Komi and Liles would be cheaper and better.

Yes please!

 

[MildlyAwesome]

this post better not be serious

100% Serious. But thank you for responding to my post with facts and evidence.

Liles postconcussion was brutal. If you don't think so, look at his offensive stats. Another 3 years of similar production would be awful. He missed 16 games and then had 6 points while going -16 in his final 32 games. He had trouble making a first pass, and was hesitant physically moreso.

Komisarek, I would have rather seen how he'd play for the next 48 games.

Grabovski, I don't see us winning a cup with him. He isn't great defensively, 55 points offensively isn't going to cut it. While sometimes he is our best player, he's been lazy in other games.

 

[ULF_55]

Aucoin claimed by Islanders?

So Connolly replaces Aucoin?

 

[Budsfan]

Since Aucoin has been claimed, Connolly may replace him on the Marlies

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie

NYI claim Keith Aucoin from TOR.

 

[LEAFSIN4]

Yes please!

Edler and Getz would be my top free agent choices this offseason. We have the cap space to get it done and we'd completely change the identity of our team.

 

[JEI]

I don't think the Leafs will send him to the Marlies.

They'll attempt to trade him in a retaining salary type deal if he clears waivers.

They just want someone to take him for free first.

 

[SteveV*]

First the marshmellow Lombardi now the Tin Man! It is Christmas again!

 

[satyr9]

Komi is horrible and a poor man's "Stay At Home" d-man, at best. He was sucking long before he came to the Leafs. Habs fans warned us of his horrible play. You can't go blaming Wilson and his system on Komi's horrid abilities. This was a massive Burke blunder, and just another piece of evidence that Burke is not that good at evaluating talent - but has a knack for being able to oversell his signings to the general public.

Nonis appears to be cleaning up Burke's disasters (LACK)... dont be surprised if Komi is next on the chopping block. I don't believe Carlyle is stupid and I think he will not feel comfortable throwing Komi out on the ice in shutdown situations. The guy has two left feet.

Komi may be next, but only if next is after this season. With another year on his deal there's no reason to waive/buyout when you can amnesty next offseason.

Now it's always possible someone gets desperate for D and trades for him, although if many share your evaluation of his abilities, I doubt we should be expecting that outcome. And sure you're allowed to amnesty earlier, but isn't it better to pay Komi and have the chance to play him over, say Gysbers, if the injury bug hits? The alternative is to pay him, have him on the cap, and not have him available for that potentiality by amnestying him now. That and it would preclude the chance another of the 29 get truly desperate and stupid and take him off our hands.

 

[darty]

100% Serious. But thank you for responding to my post with facts and evidence.

Liles postconcussion was brutal. If you don't think so, look at his offensive stats. Another 3 years of similar production would be awful. He missed 16 games and then had 6 points while going -16 in his final 32 games. He had trouble making a first pass, and was hesitant physically moreso.

Komisarek, I would have rather seen how he'd play for the next 48 games.

Grabovski, I don't see us winning a cup with him. He isn't great defensively, 55 points offensively isn't going to cut it. While sometimes he is our best player, he's been lazy in other games.

This is why no one's taking you seriously. Grabo's arguably the best center we've got (and one of the best 2nd line centers in the entire league) and you want to get rid of him because you don't picture us winning a cup with him, you don't think he got enough points, and at times you think he's lazy (note: he's almost never lazy.)? These are garbage reasons to buy out a player.

 

[LeafsMonster]

Love that nonis is actually doing moves that need to be done. Can't see burke doing that.

 

[zeke]

I don't think the Leafs will send him to the Marlies.

They'll attempt to trade him in a retaining salary type deal if he clears waivers.

They just want someone to take him for free first.

Hopefully this is the case.

 

[LEAFSIN4]

100% Serious. But thank you for responding to my post with facts and evidence.

Liles postconcussion was brutal. If you don't think so, look at his offensive stats. Another 3 years of similar production would be awful. He missed 16 games and then had 6 points while going -16 in his final 32 games. He had trouble making a first pass, and was hesitant physically moreso.

Komisarek, I would have rather seen how he'd play for the next 48 games.

Grabovski, I don't see us winning a cup with him. He isn't great defensively, 55 points offensively isn't going to cut it. While sometimes he is our best player, he's been lazy in other games.

While I agree with the Liles/Komi argument, I disagree with the bolded part.

Grabovski may not have been drafted by the Leafs but he has been developed by us. He bleeds Blue and White, and for you to make a judgement like that before ever seeing him play in the playoffs is nonsensical. I don't remember the last time I seen Grabo take off a shift. He makes the players around him better and he's now in his prime. I don't know about you but I'm tired of trading away players that we developed, especially for the reasons that you listed.

Quick question: Who do you see us winning a cup with?

 

[Kurisu]

add 5 small points to his 55 points, and a 60 point #2 C sounds a whole lot better, don't you think?

 

[JEI]

Hopefully this is the case.

I think it is. As I understand it, teams can only retain three salarys at a time in those types of deals. My guess is the Leafs would rather someone take him for free so they don't have two of those salary deals used up.

And really, they likely wouldn't get a ton back in a trade for Connolly by the sound of it. So if they have someone pick up his full salary for free they probably value that vs. using another salary deal + eating some of his salary and a late pick.

 

[Newfie John]

Grabovski, I don't see us winning a cup with him. He isn't great defensively, 55 points offensively isn't going to cut it. While sometimes he is our best player, he's been lazy in other games.

Grabovski is among our best forwards in his own end.

 

[ULF_55]

I don't think the Leafs will send him to the Marlies.

They'll attempt to trade him in a retaining salary type deal if he clears waivers.

They just want someone to take him for free first.

Hopefully this is the case.

What difference would it make if it is Aucoin or Connolly on the Marlies?

If someone picks Connolly off waivers great, if they don't Aucoin/Connolly both are not prospect and Leafs signed Aucoin for their farm team to help the farm team.

It isn't like the Marlies leading scorers are all under 25, it is a veteran club with prospects throughout.