Pavel Kubina
by Jonathan Willis on Jul 24, 2008 6:24 PM MDT
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Some general manager is going to get lucky and steal Pavel Kubina (31) from Toronto. With Bryan McCabe refusing to go anywhere, ever, and Tomas Kaberle viewed as far to valuable to trade, as well as incoming ex-Avalanche "tough minutes" defenseman Kurt Sauer Jeff Finger all signed to big money, there doesn't seem to be room for Pavel Kubina and the ten million dollars he's owed over the next two years. And that's really a shame, if you're a fan of the Leafs.
I say this for a few reasons. According to Desjardins, Kubina played the toughest opposition of any Leafs defenseman. He posted a 2.99 GFON/60 and 2.68 GAON/60. Not only that, he did it in 2006-07 too, and broke even in terms of goal differential. While we're looking at things Kubina led Toronto defensemen in, we might also look at hits (121), and blocked shots (166, a full 67 ahead of the next nearest defenseman).
It gets better, too. Kubina led all Toronto defensemen in PTS/60 5-on-4 (3.97), despite playing behind both Kaberle and McCabe on the seond unit. He also had the nicest goal differential/60 (+6.70). Finally, with the (rather odd) exception of Carlo Colaiacovo, Kubina had the best goal differential of any Toronto defender 4-on-5. Lastly, and while this isn't as important as some people (HHOF selection committee) seem to think, he's been a Stanley Cup champion.
Now, if I were the GM of a team with a suspect defense corps and some salary cap room (cough*Dean Lombardi*cough) and I could get this guy in a deal that would largely be a salary dump for Toronto, I'd be all over it. I don't know who's going to pick him up, but I sincerely hope that whichever team does isn't in the Northwest Division.
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There's quite a few teams that could afford him. Question is who has cap space that's willing to trade something back at this late stage of July?
To TB for Carle? Now has got to be the time for the TBL and the moves they've made. But still a dumb move for TO.
Y'know, TO isn't all that hard up against the cap. If they had signed a couple of cheap vets instead of Finger, they would be even better off.
But they still have room to go after a couple of forwards.
And Kubina as you've pointed out is a useful body.
Their real problem is the woeful state of their development system.
They need to be trading players off for picks at the deadline, then sit back and take Tavares. Suck for another year after that, trade for more picks, and revitalize their program.
And during these Dark Ages keep the peons distracted with retiring jerseys. LOL @ Leafs
To TB for Carle? Now has got to be the time for the TBL and the moves they've made. But still a dumb move for TO.
Y'know, TO isn't all that hard up against the cap. If they had signed a couple of cheap vets instead of Finger, they would be even better off.
But they still have room to go after a couple of forwards.
And Kubina as you've pointed out is a useful body.
Their real problem is the woeful state of their development system.
They need to be trading players off for picks at the deadline, then sit back and take Tavares. Suck for another year after that, trade for more picks, and revitalize their program.
And during these Dark Ages keep the peons distracted with retiring jerseys. LOL @ Leafs
by spOILer on Jul 25, 2008 11:00 AM MDT reply actions
To TB for Carle? Now has got to be the time for the TBL and the moves they've made. But still a dumb move for TO.
Well, I imagine that if Kubina went back to T.B., it would be for a forward (Jussi Jokinen, maybe?) given that they have 18 or so NHL-calibre forwards.
Their real problem is the woeful state of their development system.
They need to be trading players off for picks at the deadline, then sit back and take Tavares. Suck for another year after that, trade for more picks, and revitalize their program.
They have nothing up front. If Sundin doesn't come back, who's going to score? Steen? Antropov?
A useful player who I think Toronto shouldn't trade (and who most everyone disagrees with me on) is Alexei Ponikarovsky. Very underrated, and probably wouldn't cost much.
I don't know what the plan is for the Maple Leafs. I don't even think Cliff Fletcher knows.
Well, I imagine that if Kubina went back to T.B., it would be for a forward (Jussi Jokinen, maybe?) given that they have 18 or so NHL-calibre forwards.
Their real problem is the woeful state of their development system.
They need to be trading players off for picks at the deadline, then sit back and take Tavares. Suck for another year after that, trade for more picks, and revitalize their program.
They have nothing up front. If Sundin doesn't come back, who's going to score? Steen? Antropov?
A useful player who I think Toronto shouldn't trade (and who most everyone disagrees with me on) is Alexei Ponikarovsky. Very underrated, and probably wouldn't cost much.
I don't know what the plan is for the Maple Leafs. I don't even think Cliff Fletcher knows.
by Jonathan Willis on Jul 25, 2008 1:24 PM MDT reply actions
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