Confirmed Signing with Link: [TOR] Roman Polak (1 year, $2.25M)

Jmo89

Registered User
Mar 21, 2010
4,595
4,233
Name five teams in the league the Leafs are better than, not better in the long term future, better than in 2016-17?

Maybe CBJ and Vancouver? Everyone else is objectively better by my count.

Polak one year deal? TDL bait, Tank signing.

Isn't that more just being bad /inexperienced rather than tanking though?

Idk, maybe it's semantics, and I have zero issue with teams tanking (didn't have a problem with Edmonton or Buffalo doing prior to this past season either.)

It just seems like this year is more of a developmental year rather than a tank year. Toronto would have most likely not finished last next year with the kids playing all year and Sparks not playing so many games.

Again, I get what you're saying, and maybe it's just semantics depending on what you consider tanking, but to me it's more of a case of Toronto being a young team that still isn't very good.

I predict a 5th or 6th place finish. A few teams always tend to surprise and fall to the bottom. I wouldn't be heartbroken if they finish last though, another high pick would be nice. And watching some prospects develop makes it more interesting to watch at least.
 

A1LeafNation

Good, is simply not good enough!
Oct 17, 2010
27,825
17,977
This is awesome

Rielly Zaitsev
Gardiner Polak
Marincin Carrick
Hunwick Corrado

Under Babcocks system..Leafs defence will surprise.
 

mcpw

WPG
Jan 13, 2015
10,024
2,072
What's up with those Burke moves?

First sign an awful and useless forward because he hits hard, then sign an awful and useless defenseman because he hits hard?

I thought your management was good now, Leafs. I really did.
 

Poignant Discussion*

I tell it like it is
Jul 18, 2003
8,421
5
Gatineau, QC
What's up with those Burke moves?

First sign an awful and useless forward because he hits hard, then sign an awful and useless defenseman because he hits hard?

I thought your management was good now, Leafs. I really did.

Where did the Winnipeg Jets finish last year and where did your farm team finish last year?

Really nothing to gloat about at all
 

Prominence

Ryan Tverberg Fan
Jul 22, 2011
1,254
753
Vancouver
What's up with those Burke moves?

First sign an awful and useless forward because he hits hard, then sign an awful and useless defenseman because he hits hard?

I thought your management was good now, Leafs. I really did.

It's not like we signed Mark Stuart for 2.625 mil aav for 4 years. I mean Polak is slightly better, but he's right handed, which adds a premium for a draft pick (methinks 3rd round pick).
 

Kelly

Registered User
Nov 12, 2012
14,910
7,513
What's up with those Burke moves?

First sign an awful and useless forward because he hits hard, then sign an awful and useless defenseman because he hits hard?

I thought your management was good now, Leafs. I really did.
Dude its a fourth liner and a bottom pairing defenseman... get a grip.
 

Pocket Hercules

Business in the front, party in the back.
Jun 19, 2008
6,747
1,429
York Region
What's up with those Burke moves?

First sign an awful and useless forward because he hits hard, then sign an awful and useless defenseman because he hits hard?

I thought your management was good now, Leafs. I really did.

Your team signed Shawn Matthias...probably the most useless NHL forward playing today. You got your own issues to sort out. ;)
 

seanlinden

Registered User
Apr 28, 2009
25,445
1,864
This is a really solid move for the Leafs -- they needed immediate help on the blueline (ideally a stay-at-home type with size), and while Polak wasn't / isn't the long term solution, this obviously became a case where that long term solution isn't available, so rather than committing long term to "the next best option", commit short term, and have another go at it next year.

I'd imagine he slots right back in where he did last year alongside Gardiner. One of Hunwick/Marincin will play with Rielly, and the other will play with one of Carrick/Zaitsev/Corrado.
 

X66

114-110
Aug 18, 2008
13,585
7,461
What's up with those Burke moves?

First sign an awful and useless forward because he hits hard, then sign an awful and useless defenseman because he hits hard?

I thought your management was good now, Leafs. I really did.

Need a lot more of those type of moves before you're in Burke territory IMO.

2.5 million over 4 years for Martin may not be a move I would have done, but it's not like he's a completely useless player, so we'll see what he becomes. He could be horrible, he could be a fan favourite, just have to wait and see.

Polak is another player I wouldn't have signed, but I know it's only for a few months and he's traded again, so meh.
 

X66

114-110
Aug 18, 2008
13,585
7,461
Your team signed Shawn Matthias...probably the most useless NHL forward playing today. You got your own issues to sort out. ;)

Dude its a fourth liner and a bottom pairing defenseman... get a grip.

It's not like we signed Mark Stuart for 2.625 mil aav for 4 years. I mean Polak is slightly better, but he's right handed, which adds a premium for a draft pick (methinks 3rd round pick).

Where did the Winnipeg Jets finish last year and where did your farm team finish last year?

Really nothing to gloat about at all

Lol guys, I sincerely don't believe he was attacking the team or anything. Just his opinion.
 

ponder

Registered User
Jul 11, 2007
17,044
6,555
Vancouver
Wonder if Lou has a deal in the works? Because when I look at our current top 7:

Rielly, Gardiner, Zaitsev, Hunwick, Marincin, Carrick, Polak

IMO Polak is the worst of those 7. Would have have signed in Toronto to be a 7D? Or maybe Lou/Babs see things differently, and have Polak over one of Hunwick/Marincin/Carrick?
 

mcpw

WPG
Jan 13, 2015
10,024
2,072
Where did the Winnipeg Jets finish last year and where did your farm team finish last year?

Really nothing to gloat about at all

It's not like we signed Mark Stuart for 2.625 mil aav for 4 years. I mean Polak is slightly better, but he's right handed, which adds a premium for a draft pick (methinks 3rd round pick).

Insecure much? The goal is to be the best team in the NHL, not to be better than the Winnipeg Jets.

Dude its a fourth liner and a bottom pairing defenseman... get a grip.

Useful fourth liners and bottom pairing defensemen > useless fourth liners and bottom pairing defensemen.

Your team signed Shawn Matthias...probably the most useless NHL forward playing today. You got your own issues to sort out. ;)

Shawn Matthias isn't great, but he's still 10 times the player Matt Martin is.

Need a lot more of those type of moves before you're in Burke territory IMO.

(...)

Sure. But after more than one year of not doing anything stupid, you make two Burke moves. Makes me think.

Lol guys, I sincerely don't believe he was attacking the team or anything. Just his opinion.

Exactly. Leafs are East, Jets are West. I don't care until we meet in the SCF.
 

Semantics

PUBLIC ENEMY #1
Jan 3, 2007
12,150
1,455
San Francisco
Better than signing a scrub like Russel for 4 years

We shouldn't be happy that we made a dumb signing rather than a completely idiotic one.

I just hope management don't think Polak is actually good at hockey. Hopefully the rationale is that they think it's worth it to make the team worse to have some toughness and the 2nd round pick at the deadline.

I also hope that they never made a long-term offer to Russell, and were just hoping to use him as deadline fodder. Dallas paid an absurd price for him.
 

X66

114-110
Aug 18, 2008
13,585
7,461
Sure. But after more than one year of not doing anything stupid, you make two Burke moves. Makes me think.

Time will tell how stupid they are IMO.

Wouldn't I have signed both? Nope. Can I see though what they're trying to get? Sure.

But these are both such low, low risk moves, they're nothing I'd get upset over.
 

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