Eklund Rumor: Leafs in on Cam Fowler

[Kiwi]

It does, but you also need to consider other needs.

I think there are a number of Anaheim fans who agree with you that this wouldn't be a bad approach. The issue is that the team is also trying to improve themselves up front. Moving someone like Fowler could help that. The question is whether it's an overall gain for the Ducks. I'm skeptical of that.

But if you move Fowler for a first line LW most of the deals are going to be at best cap neutral
Moving him for a top winger will help your scoring but I don't see how it helps you internal cap situation (presuming you guys still have one)

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Yeah but we also don't need 4 offensive LHD in our top 4 for the next 10+ years badly enough to give up value for Fowler. He's just not a need for the leafs

Well, you don't have to worry about that because Rielly plays on the right side.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Well, you don't have to worry about that because Rielly plays on the right side.

He plays both and is a left shot. Considering Fowler's strengths are skating and puck moving, he doesn't bring anything that we can't expect from Rielly, Gardiner, Zaitsev, and Dermott. Fowler is a good piece, he just doesn't fit our puzzle.

 

[Sojourn]

But if you move Fowler for a first line LW most of the deals are going to be at best cap neutral
Moving him for a top winger will help your scoring but I don't see how it helps you internal cap situation (presuming you guys still have one)

Oh, it likely wouldn't. It would just be trying to move the salary/cap from the blue line to the top six.

Additionally, the question then becomes how much are we weakening the blue line vs. how much are we improving the forwards? Anaheim was strong defensively last season. That was a real strength for them. If removing Fowler makes the blue line a bit more average, that could potentially hurt the Ducks more than adding the scoring. Being average across the board is not what you want. You want to be better than the opposition. And if you can't be better than them in every way, you definitely want to be stronger in some.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

He plays both and is a left shot. Considering Fowler's strengths are skating and puck moving, he doesn't bring anything that we can't expect from Rielly, Gardiner, Zaitsev, and Dermott. Fowler is a good piece, he just doesn't fit our puzzle.

Rielly is predominantly on the right side and the fact is that you need depth in skating and puck movement on the back end plus you cannot bank on either Dermott or Zaitsev actually making it.

 

[Kiwi]

He plays both and is a left shot. Considering Fowler's strengths are skating and puck moving, he doesn't bring anything that we can't expect from Rielly, Gardiner, Zaitsev, and Dermott. Fowler is a good piece, he just doesn't fit our puzzle.

Don't kid yourself Fowler would be a massive upgrade for us
Fowler Rielly
Gardiner Zeitsev (hopefully)
That looks solid

 

[lindholmie]

What can Fowler do for the Leafs that Gardiner/Rielly/Dermott can't do?

damn a buncha fowlers. you must have one of the best D corps in the league

 

[Kiwi]

Oh, it likely wouldn't. It would just be trying to move the salary/cap from the blue line to the top six.

Additionally, the question then becomes how much are we weakening the blue line vs. how much are we improving the forwards? Anaheim was strong defensively last season. That was a real strength for them. If removing Fowler makes the blue line a bit more average, that could potentially hurt the Ducks more than adding the scoring. Being average across the board is not what you want. You want to be better than the opposition. And if you can't be better than them in every way, you definitely want to be stronger in some.

How much would it hurt your D core though?
Despres I think won't really hurt you guys in the back end but losing Fowler could be painful
Thats why if I was you guys I'd move Despres and try to add some depth scoring and keep the best of your Dcore together
Help your internal cap situation to

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

damn a buncha fowlers. you must have one of the best D corps in the league

I'm not talking purely about talent but skillset. Although it's not like fowler is a good top 2 defenseman

 

[Sojourn]

How much would it hurt your D core though?
Despres I think won't really hurt you guys in the back end but losing Fowler could be painful
Thats why if I was you guys I'd move Despres and try to add some depth scoring and keep the best of your Dcore together
Help your internal cap situation to

You won't find me arguing with you on that.

I'd much rather enter the season with Fowler than without. Changes can happen during the season too, and I'd feel much more confident knowing our blue line is set, and rock solid(this also carries the advantage of helping Gibson) and then, if need be, working backwards from that.

If there is an opportunity to move another defenseman, that can still happen. But right now, without Fowler, I think the team would be banking on across the board improvement from all of their young D. I'm just not comfortable with that.

 

[Currysux*]

Leafs fans said Andersen wouldn't fetch a 1st lol

Read the Sportsmet rumor thread. Ducks fans wanted to attach Stoner to Andersen. Leaf fans wouldnt pay a 1st for that. Many were ok paying the Pit 1st which is essentially a high 2nd for Andersen.

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

1) its eklund
2) fowler has poor adv stats, dubas would never let the trade happen

 

[Currysux*]

I am hoping that Fowler returns a forward that we can afford to keep for more than 2 years, and if JvR pots 30 here he is looking at 6M-ish which we cant afford.

Well if Fowler is as good as some Ducks fans on here are saying he is probably going to cost 7M+ so either way your going to lose somebody.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Leafs fans said Andersen wouldn't fetch a 1st lol

I'm sure not many people questioned whether he would fetch a 1st, but rather was worth a 1st...

And I think that is a fair question from our perspective.

Lou obviously didn't have that concern, given he was "Andersen first, price second" (hence why he probably vastly overpaid for Andersen). So at least I have my fingers crossed that Lou ends up proving me wrong and that he didn't make a costly error.

But it's that same attitude that gives the impression that either the price on Fowler, at least in any sort of preliminary talks, was way too much (or included players we'd rather keep, which is essentially the same thing) or we don't want him at all or Anaheim doesn't want to move him. Otherwise, chances are the deal would have happened by now.

I think the initial question that needs to be asked is how much Anaheim thinks Fowler is worth. That alone can determine whether any sort of deal is possible (assuming we even want him and Anaheim even wants to move him).

 

[Toronto makebeleifs]

It is Eklund. So the Leafs aren't getting Fowler.

This is more of a fact than anything Eklund ha produced.

 

[HansonBro]

I just miss Fraser on the Leafs....sigh

 

[pierre gagnon*]

Kapanen and small add for Fowler?

Lmao, they going just give him away

 

[leafsrule123]

Not sure where he would fit, our left side is full with Reilly, Gardiner, Hunwick, And Marincin

 

[aufheben]

and fowler averages around 35 points per season(.5PPG in the playoffs). Which is good since he plays against the toughest competition. Vatenen is sheltered by Fowler and Lindholm and he averages around the same amount and people love him. Idk why so many people hate Fowler.

It's more that some people don't think he's a #1/#2 defenseman.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Robidas is only LTIR if they reach the cap ceiling. They may not even get there and even if they do, they also have Horton and potentially Cowen to where Robidas isn't exactly necessary to keep. And of course the Leafs don't need Stoner but if that's part of the price to acquire someone like Fowler, it would make a lot of sense for Toronto to do that.

No.

We don't need to lose Robidas, he'll just be LTIR'd if we really need to. We're not losing a 2nd for cap space.

If the Leafs put anyone on LTIR, any bonuses paid this season would be deducted from next year's cap.

And they already have $2.533M in dead cap in 2017-18.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Fowler has got to be the most overrated D in the league, all offense.

Take it for what its worth.

[/IMG]

Ducks would be lucky to get either JVR or Tatar straight up.

Another strong indication that so-called "advanced stats" are useless...

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

I'd rather wait than pay anything of major value for Fowler. No point in overpaying for a big name defenseman when we can just wait for expansion next year.

Waiting for Godot ?

 

[Kelly]

If the Leafs put anyone on LTIR, any bonuses paid this season would be deducted from next year's cap.

And they already have $2.533M in dead cap in 2017-18.

Look at what contracts expire in 17/18.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

And like clockwork, this thread has turned into a thread about how terrible Fowler is because fancy stats says so, and he is getting carried by better players (like Bieksa lol).

"Advanced metrics" is the newest shining toy, so...

Let the kids have fun.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

I not arguing anything or defending, your the one who quoted me multi times.

If you want to believe Fowler is top pairing good for you. I guess I just learnt Mark Stuart is top 4 b/c we played him there and he played in major role on a playoff team two years ago. Sweet Jets need to trade him for top 4 value.

Classic HFB fan logic

Are you serious ?

Quite a fallacy you've got there.

Hint: 4 seasons vs 1 season...