Going For Depth, Not Stars

Yes, the Leafs wills be in the bidding for Brad Richards on Friday, but all the while knowing that unless Richards has a special desire to become a Maple Leaf, it won't be happening.

You never know. But the sense out there is Richards' preferences may lie elsewhere.

For the Leafs, the target then has to be depth, not impact players, and you can even debate whether Richards is quite the impact player some believe he is. He would surely be Toronto's No. 1 centre; beyond that, it's a bit of a projection. One GM said he thinks Richards has three good years left. To get that, a team will have to be willing to pay him for five years. Or more.

Christian Ehrhoff, clearly, interests the Leafs. The Islanders, after dealing for his rights from Vancouver, have the inside track and tons of cap room. Some might sneer at Long Island, but they attracted Mark Streit and aren't so far behind the Leafs (12 points last season). In fact, based on prospects and young talent, the Isles may have more upside.

Some might say the Leafs don't need another expensive defenceman, and that's true. But Ehrhoff's an asset, and it would allow the club to move another blueliner - Carl Gunnarson? - in order to address other needs. That may be the way Brian Burke and Co. have to approach this.

Various reports in the past few hours have linked the Leafs to Max Talbot of the Penguins, an eight-goal scorer who may command somewhere around $2 million a year in this inflationary market. The Penguins were willing to send his rights to the Leafs for a fifth round pick and let the Leafs talk to Talbot's agent first, but the two sides couldn't come up with a deal. It's suggested the Leafs were willing to do something in the neighborhood at four years, $1.7 million per, but there was no agreement and Talbot will see what kind of offers he can attract on Friday.

Would Talbot be an impact addition? Of course not, but he's experienced, can kills penalties and knows something about winning. The price might seem high, but UFAs are commanding those dollars this year - look at Brooks Laich's deal - and you're either in the game or not. Having teams (like the Islanders) looking to spend freely to get north of the $48 million floor just adds to inflation. The Florida Panthers are another one of those teams, and reports today suggest they're going to give Tomas Kopecky $3 million a year. So the numbers are, indeed, a bit goofy.

Richards, Laich and Kevin Bieksa were at the top of the Leaf list; two of the three are gone, and Richards is going to be tough to snare. To get the No. 1 centre the club needs, the Leafs are probably going to have to wait into the summer and look for trading partners (Colorado and Paul Stastny?) once the the landscape begins to become clear.

 

 

Comments

[Pat Ribble]

Just curious . . . re the GM who says that Richards has 3 good years left . . . Did he also say 12 years ago that Mark Recchi had 12 good years left? If he did, then his comment about Richards is probably on the mark.

[SDL]

Erhoff would be a great addition to this team ... but is he hostile enough? Okay, now that I have that out of my system, back to what Erhoff actually is. He is an upgrade for the current blue line but is likely to be over-priced. That being said, the idea of stock piling assets based on value rather than function clearly strengthens your position for future trades. It would a great signing and with Tallon driving prices up in Florida, probably a safer bet than an overpaid grinder.

[Steve C.]

Erhoff? No thanks. Did anyone else notice how inept he was in the playoffs? Besides, the Leafs need to start thinking about forwards now.

[Max]

If you only saw the last two rounds of the playoffs Erhoff was injured. Before that he was really good.

[wayne powers]

The rangers just let Dury go, he's an American (#1 priority) can be streaky and not to big. He fits burke's all american concept, and at 4-5 million he looks like just the guy.

[NYCrosbyfan]

Max, don't go to the Leafs. We need you in Pittsburgh. Say it's not all about the money!

[Peter Morrow]

Talbot would be a fantastic addition. A locker room favourite in Pittsburgh, keeps the mood light even when the team's losing, knows his role and does it well.

[Chad]

what about Drury being bought out by NYR? he could be a solid addition at a very cheap price. give 'em a 1 year deal and then take a look at the UFA market again next summer.

[Clay]

I don't think Burke should go after Richards, for the same reason as you Damian. Some NHL GMs try to take one big shot give it all and a few years down the line, they bottom out with overpaid players and no room in cap for new players. I wouldn't give Brad anything more than 5 years. Paul Stasny is amazing and would give a long contract if he was in the same position as Brad. I think a great winger who can take leadership can help Bozak/Kadri/Grabo for first line centre... Hopefully we will have better season next year

[Jeremy]

This is typical Toronto media propaganda. Cox, are you the teachers pension plans proctologist? Because it seems you are kissing the maple leafs butts. We need Richards, bottom line, he is the number 1 centre we need. And all we've got to do is pay for him. We don't need to give up anymore of our future. Burke signs plugs like komasarik for 5 mill a season and we're supposed to believe it would be a bad deal to sign Richards for 7 mill............ Insanity. If Burke doesn't sign Richards than he is a failure. That's it.

[Ricker]

Burke said on the FAN last night that he is not interest in depth players. He is looking for impact players or he is not going to bother. We will see if this plays out on Friday night or not, but we don't need more Colby Armstrong or Colton Orr type players. Leafs need a front line center to play with Kessel PERIOD. Whether free agent (only one of those - Richards) or by trade, that is all he should be focusing on.

[Mike]

Anything but a legitimate number one centre is a failure.

Period.

[Ad]

I agree 100% with Jeremy. It's not every year a 90+ point, PPQB, Conn Smythe winning centre in his early 30s is available on the open market. In fact, it's pretty rare these days with teams locking up their young studs to lengthy contracts (a la Nash).

The Leafs need a #1 C more than any other team. They have loads of cap room, and I will consider it a failure if they don't land him unless a much less likely scenario like landing Stamkos happens.

To those who say he doesn't want to be a Leaf: If he didn't tell you this yourself, what reason do you have to believe it? His agent has stated publicly he's interested in playing for the Leafs, he could make the most money, has the chance to be immortalized like Dougie Gilmour. Brad's also a Newfie, and the Leafs are far and away the most popular NHL team on the rock.

To reiterate: not landing Brad Richards would be an abject failure.

[bill]

I am all for passing on Richards for a number of reasons:

1. what did this guy the last few years before his contract year came up?
2. it appears he doesn't want to come to Toronto, so why would we want him??
3. he is going command a huge salary for at least 6-7 years realistically
4. over-paying a guy like Richards now very well may prevent us from re-signing a young up-and-comer down the road - think ahead.
5. I'd rather Burke make the right moves (even if that means not signing anyone) given that the next CBA may be very different - clearly the current rules aren't working as players are getting grossly inflated contracts it appears. If teams are giving players these grossly inflated contracts so that they can meet the salary cap floor, then maybe it's best to sit this dance out!

I'd far rather Burke find a creative way to sign Stamkos to an offer sheet than chase an overrated 30 yr old like Richards.

[Bob Elliott]

is there not anyone worried about Richards health issues? is he not one hit / concussion away from Mark Savard status? keep in mind there was a lot of people clamouring for savard last year to join the leafs and that was a great non signing by Burke.

[Arthur]

It is clear they need to get rid of the Salary Cap Floor.

[Spanky]

Let's be realistic, Richards will be a very expensive addition that you will regret in 4 to 5 years and 5 years is a minimum that he will take at north of 7.5 mil/. Drury's knee is probably permanently busted, no point going any further. Erhoff is a definite upgrade but lacks that physical presence this D corp must have amonst a young developing group. However, stocking up your 4th liners with guys like Eager, Konopka and 3rd line with Ville Leino (who can play anywhere 1st to 3rd) will buy this team time to develop Colbourne, Kadri and even Bozak to fill their Centre roles. Let the other GM's blow their brains out this year, horde your cap space and show up next year as the only game in town for elite UFA's. Having 3 lines that can score and a 4th that is nasty and will bash a few home is the ticket. Balance the lineup and expect the Leafs young D corp to start adding to the O this year, count on it. Playoff spot in 2012 possible, contender for the Cup no way, even with Richards.

[snacker]

Not sure why another expensive guy on the Blue line is an option here - this team is thin up front!!!! Talbot makes sense...an upgrade on a guy like Tim Brent. Did anyone watch the playoffs?? Erhoff is totally overrated...the fact that Bieksa got 4.6 mil a year should tell you enough about that situation. Erhoff isn't going to do much more than a Gunnersson would anyways and it's not like this team need another 4-5 mill dman. Spend the money up front...take a run at Stamkos as RFA before you waste it on Erhoff.

The real problem in all of this is that the contracts are going to go up because a bunch of teams need to overspend just to get to the cap floor at $48 million....teams like Florida aren't near that and need to overpay just to get to that bottom limit. The NHL is doomed...I can't believe nobody is talking about almost $50 million on the bottom end of the cap...these bottom feaders will never amount to anything with a system like that.

[Musclehead17]

Jeremy, Thank-you! For a minute I thought Burke had some of mental hold on the general public that he was the greatest, with very little to show for it. Sure he won a cup in Anaheim on others coattails but in reality his only claim to fame is signing the Sedin twins. His draft record of roughly 50 choices with Vancouver and only 4 or 5 actually stick really speaks volumes. Missing out on Mike Richards, if all it took were a couple of players means he couldn’t pull it off and failed. Either Kadri is not as hot a prospect as everyone in Toronto seems to think or Burke failed. Either way leaves questions for Burkes forward movement. As far as Brad Richards, this is a Leaf must!! A first line, skilled veteran needs to be first and foremost on the wish list. Cox really takes his own swipe at Burke giving Islanders an upside over Leafs. Wow, a team with a wishy washy owner, flaky GM and finished below Leafs last season has an upside over the Leafs?? What does that tell you? I tend to agree. In any event, Burke needs to start being held accountable. The spoken word is no longer acceptable, I want to see the truculence and belligerence that he’s talking about on the ice. I want to see a bonafide NHL first line. This is Burke's make or break year and with the $50 million he has to be spending on management the joke is soon going to be on MLSE if there are no results.

[WeeDram]

No to Richards, pure and simple. We are (mostly) building the right way. If Reimer continues to play well and there is not a slew of injuries, we will likely be in the playoff hunt at the trade deadline and can acquire an upgrade or two at centre for the playoff run. Then for the next free agency there may be better choices.

[jeff]

Throw the farm at Stamkos - much better player to lock up for big bucks, not Richards. Plus if Burke was willing to give up 2 1st rounders for Kessel, then 4 for Stamkos is a steal.

Enough of the depth guys, this team has enough of them. First line players is whats missing here.

[Jeremy Larter]

How long can this team go without a top line centre? Another year of doubt and questions about the performance of Phil Kessel? Why bother getting a guy like Kessel if you plan on waiting 3 years to get him a bona fide centre? Why does every other team in the NHL covet a guy like Brad Richards but Toronto shouldn't waste their money on him? You need to pay for top talent - pure and simple. This is a point a game player, one of the best passers in the game and a proven leader. How many top drawer prospects do the Leafs have right now? Waiting for Bozak and Kadri to develop? It will be years before they're even close to being top line centres.

[bill]

The people who think we NEED brad Richards are the same types that were SCREAMING that the Raptors should have drafted Kemba Walker. (fringe fans)

[Jersey]

great! thank you for sharing.

[Musclehead17]

Bill, Your ignorance is overwhelming. I could care less about the Raptors. So that in itself makes your statement invalid. Leafs have not had a bonafide first line center since Sundin left. Take a look at the teams that finished in the top 10 last season. Compare those lineups with the Leafs, how many true first line players do they have, have many true second line players do they have? You want Toronto to compete with that with only a couple of second line and balance being 3rd and 4th liners. When will you understand there are 30 teams in the league not 1? In order to compete you have to match talent to talent!! The Leafs are lacking in that catagory right now!