We need to sign Paul Ranger

[Paris in Flames]

I hope Carlyle has been scouting players like Holzer, Ranger and Franson because he won't have much time to evaluate players with a shortened camp.

Will probably carry 7 to start the season anyways. Do you have a guy like Fraser be the 7th where he can suit up against tougher opponents?

Will Franson be signed?

Does Rielly get a look to start the season?

Lots of questions. Looking forward to the answers

I love Fraser and what he's doing for the Marlies. Adds great toughness and great veteran presence for all the young kids on the team. He adds so much of the aforementioned that despite him probably earning it, I'd rather keep him in that role in the AHL.

 

[613Leafer]

Schenn is gone.
Franson is unsigned, and stated he wasn't intending to return this season. Granted he said that months ago, so who knows what's going to happen with him.
Gardiner is injured. I've heard various timelines. Could be back opening day, could be back a month after, who knows.

Ranger IMO is probably a better defenceman than Franson. Franson just isn't very good. Ranger was pretty solid for TB a few years ago. Not spectacular, but a decent player nonetheless. We should definitely sign him. There's room on the roster, and he's already potentially an improvement over a guy like Franson anyways.

 

[Dangles McGavin]

Mr. Paul Ranger is very happy with the Toronto Marlies at this point in time.

Him coming out of retirement was to simply just play the game he loves.

Heck, he was coaching a AA Midget team in his home town just to stay attached to the game.

His issues are things of the past, and the Toronto brass are having discussions about him signing a contract.

If this was earlier in the NHL year (September/October), I would say Paul would want to stay in the AHL for the entire season, but he's been progressing so well and his confidence has been running the same path. So at this point he's mulling it over, and may indeed for the first time in a while consider stepping back into the spotlight.

He's a very private person and doesn't exact drop hints as to what direction he is leaning and the decision is solely his, but you can tell he is starting to get the itch.

Edit: I know this doesn't say much, but your guess is as good as mine. I just know that the Leafs have been impressed and do plan on extending the contract/invitation, but don't plan on pressuring him by any means. If he's happy as a Marlie, they will be happy to have his presence there for the likes of Blacker, Holzer etc.

The signal worked!

Thanks. And yeah, his confidence has got to be moving up steadily because he's been getting his game back. At the start of the season you could see the rust, and now he makes just about no mistakes, and now his offensive game is picking up... he's an NHL'er for sure, a good one.

Hopefully he signs. If not this year, then next.

 

[mapleleaf979]

I've noticed this as well, there is a slight "full of shat" quality when he speaks, a bit phoney. As long as he can clear the zone and make an outlet pass I don't care though.

Completely agreed with the first part and the last. Phoney and a bit of a story teller. I dont think Ive heard him answer one question honestly. Its spun into some philosophical, subtle condescending answer. I think he believes he is smarter than everyone asking him a hockey question, he surely has an arrogance quality about him. As long as he produces on the ice and his teammates like him, who cares.

 

[thewave]

I am in full support of making room for Ranger.

 

[FreeBird]

I am in full support of making room for Ranger.

If only they can dump Liles.

 

[Rare Jewel]

I am in full support of making room for Ranger.

They will.

But, By the sounds of it they want to give him a longer run in the A. Which is understandable given his nearly 3 years break.


With Ranger on hold and Gardiner on the mend, It could open a spot for Kostka to show what he's got, Who's been on fire with the Marlies.

 

[Mystifo]

If only they can dump Liles.

What is with all the Liles hate? He had one bad season and now every is looking at him like he is a useless player? This is the guy who QB our PP (Before his Injury.) to 3rd in the league...

 

[Rare Jewel]

What is with all the Liles hate? He had one bad season and now every is looking at him like he is a useless player? This is the guy who QB our PP (Before his Injury.) to 3rd in the league...

I'm not sure either.

I think it mostly comes from the section of our fans who think every player should in the mold of Wendel.

Which is ok I suppose, But not every player is Wendel.

 

[mapleleaf979]

What is with all the Liles hate? He had one bad season and now every is looking at him like he is a useless player? This is the guy who QB our PP (Before his Injury.) to 3rd in the league...

I think the issue is age vs contract length/money given. No more upside than what u see.

 

[Mystifo]

I think the issue is age vs contract length/money given. No more upside than what u see.

Yeah but in all fairness compare him to players of similar style/production his cap hit is quite reasonable. (Took between 500k and 1 million paycut.) I understand all the concussion worries but before you call him a waste of cap space let him at least play some games with a clean bill of health.

 

[Razz]

I think signing Ranger is one of the top 3 priorities for Burke the minute the CBA is ratified.

He's going to play for the Leafs this year guaranteed.

 

[cyris]

What is with all the Liles hate? He had one bad season and now every is looking at him like he is a useless player? This is the guy who QB our PP (Before his Injury.) to 3rd in the league...

It wasn't even really a bad season. It was a bad half a season. He was pretty good in the first half until his concussion. An injury he got knowingly taking a hit to make a play.

 

[Paris in Flames]

Don't you people get it? He signed a contract. He's useless!

 

[Crispy Crust]

What is with all the Liles hate? He had one bad season and now every is looking at him like he is a useless player? This is the guy who QB our PP (Before his Injury.) to 3rd in the league...

Yeah Liles is a quality player with a decent cap hit. The length might be a little long but there are worse contracts out there.

 

[New Liskeard]

It wasn't even really a bad season. It was a bad half a season. He was pretty good in the first half until his concussion. An injury he got knowingly taking a hit to make a play.

Liles was very good before his injury. No question. As far as Ranger is concerned, why wouldnt he sign an NHL contract with the Leafs if he was willing to come here, of all places in the NHL, to play for the Marlies.

 

[fahad203]

I think signing Ranger is one of the top 3 priorities for Burke the minute the CBA is ratified.

He's going to play for the Leafs this year guaranteed.

I agree. I am sure they had a verbal agreement already in place. It makes no sense for the Marlies to take in a player that's not going to play for the big club.

Marlies don't have a ECHL team this year, so they would have declined to sign a player just to play for the Marlies instead of playing one of our own player. He was brought in to get in shape and learn the system.

 

[Riellyfan04]

lol someone posted Kostka as our top pairing?????? wtff lol... wow, that dude wont even be a good 7th dman.. Stop overrated players Leafs fans!!!!

 

[joepeps]

apparently Ranger signed and AHL only deal for personal reason, and if it was up to the leafs they would have offered him an NHL deal... I just heard that on the Fan about an hour ago

 

[fahad203]

apparently Ranger signed and AHL only deal for personal reason, and if it was up to the leafs they would have offered him an NHL deal... I just heard that on the Fan about an hour ago

Thanks for posting it.

I am not sure why would the Leafs comply, we need space for our prospects who are playing in odd cities.

Hopefully he gets signed, if he wants to play, I can't think of a better and suited place for him

 

[The Blue Devil]

Yeah but in all fairness compare him to players of similar style/production his cap hit is quite reasonable. (Took between 500k and 1 million paycut.) I understand all the concussion worries but before you call him a waste of cap space let him at least play some games with a clean bill of health.

The lock-out will probably turn out to be a huge plus for Liles, gave him some extra time to rest up.

 

[The Blue Devil]

Thanks for posting it.

I am not sure why would the Leafs comply, we need space for our prospects who are playing in odd cities.

Hopefully he gets signed, if he wants to play, I can't think of a better and suited place for him

Really? You don't see the benefit of having a quality top 4 NHL veteran Dman helping out some of the younger guys on our team? His experience is a very valuable asset.

 

[Leafidelity]

What is with all the Liles hate? He had one bad season and now every is looking at him like he is a useless player? This is the guy who QB our PP (Before his Injury.) to 3rd in the league...

Not even one bad season, half a bad season. That's Toronto for you.

 

[Mowerman]

What is with all the Liles hate? He had one bad season and now every is looking at him like he is a useless player? This is the guy who QB our PP (Before his Injury.) to 3rd in the league...

"What have you done for me lately" with little significant experience and understanding of the player prior to last season. Half a season of hockey missed, a not very good second half, plus the lack of real familiarity with the player will do that. Him thriving in Toronto is like a decade ago in the eyes of many on these boards it seems.

As someone who is as much of an Avs fan as a Leafs fan I can vouch for Liles any day of the week. Many Avs fans I know really weren't pleased with the manner in which Liles was lost to Toronto, he's a good player. Management seems to agree.

 

[Sam Slick*]

God no.

Kostka is a ways away from the NHL.

Phaneuf
Liles
Gardiner
Gunnarson
Liles
Ranger
Komisarek
Franson
Holzer are in front of him. - After injuries if we needed offense i'd try Kostka, if we needed defense badly i'd grab Fraser but Kostka is by no means even pencilled in.

God no

Now we have two of them.....