The Possibilities

The fact that the Maple Leafs would love to get bigger up front, well, that's nice and all. But try to find the players to fit that need.

We've talked lots about Ryan Getzlaf, but wanting that big centre and getting him out of Anaheim are two entirely different things.

So Brian Burke may have to set his sights a little lower looking six weeks ahead to the Feb. 27 trade deadline after making big deals to acquire Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf and Joffrey Lupul the last three seasons.

Not just a little lower. Also at a financial cost that may be less appealing.

Which brings us once more to Tampa Bay Lightning left winger Ryan Malone, once one of the more highly regarded power forwards in the game, now less of a force for the Bolts, who sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings right now.

The 6-foot-4 winger would, nonetheless, look good in the Leaf lineup. But he's 32 years old, has only nine goals in 38 games this season and carries a contract that comes with a salary cap hit of $4.5 million the next three years after this one.

The money-losing Lightning might well like to shed that deal, particularly with more than $20 million annually tied up in Vinny Lecavalier, Steve Stamkos and Marty St. Louis. But with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire after this season, is it the kind of contract a team like Toronto would like to add?

We've already seen some movement like that around the league. Last week, Calgary added winger Mike Cammalleri at a cost of a deal that will pay him $7 million in cash the next two years, more than the annual cap hit of $6 million. Montreal, meanwhile, added defenceman Tomas Kaberle earlier this season in a trade with Carolina, and Kaberle is owed $4.25 million per season for the next two years.

In that context, Malone's deal doesn't seem quite as onerous. Burke has largely resisted adding the bad deals of other teams, although he was forced to accept J.S. Giguere's contract in a deal with the Ducks and Lupul's $4.25 million deal, although that no longer seems as unattractive given the winger's production this season.

The Bolts surely need goaltending and depth, things the Leafs might have to supply. It's important not to get too caught up in the size issue after a loss to the Rangers on Saturday, but for three years Burke has lamented the absence of a big body up front that would give the club the crease presence it currently does not have.

Malone, aside from being a winger, not a centre, isn't Getzlaf. But even if the iikes of Bobby Ryan and Zach Parise start to move before the deadline, there's going to be a lot more players along the lines of Malone on the market. The Leafs have coveted the big winger for at least two seasons, but the Bolts have resisted moving him. In addition, Malone has a no-movement clause in his contract through the '12-13 season, although these things can be negotiable.

Given the state of the Lightning, Malone could become available. Even with the contract, he still may be a fit for the Leafs.

 

 

 

Comments

[Paul McDougall]

the Leafs shouldn't be trading for anyone over 26 just to help them get into the playoffs. Because even if they get in, they are not going to win the Cup this year, and that's what it's all about. Continue the youth movement and go for a couple of free agents in the summer.

[Sammy Vallet]

Malone's contract would be suffocating. His production does not justify taking on that albatross.

[neilt]

I largely agree with this analysis, the only caveat is that Malone would be yet another injury-prone forward. His style of play lends itself to injuries. I'm not sure that Toronto can afford to have Malone, Connolly and Armstrong amongst their Top 9.

[Ralph Smith]

Malone is too old for the Leafs, when they'll be contending he may be in a hockey players nursing home groping the nurses with his cane. Why not try for try for a stud player like Lecavalier, Stamkos or St. Louis? Tampa Bay might like to rid themselves of these hefty contracts & the Leafs could afford to send a couple of daft pick to Tampa.

[Matt]

If Burke could do what he has in the past, add the overpaid player along with a good prospect(Phaneuf/Aulie, Lupul/Gardner, Lombardi/Franson) then I would be alright with picking up Malone if the dollars worked out.... otherwise he is too old and not producing for his contract already... so no thanks!

[Mark Whitney]

Adding a big body up front I can see. But Malone? At that age? With that contract? C'mon Damien, do you really think Burke is that desparate? Frankly, this looks to be just another media hack doing some blue sky thinking. Luckily, Damien, you aren't the GM.

[Conn Smythe]

I'd love to have Malone on the Leafs - providing the Bolts also send us Stamkos. Otherwise, he isn't worth the money or the players it would take to get him. I'm hoping Burke is not interested and looks elsewhere.

[leefan]

@ Ralph Smith; Malone may be older than the players the Leafs should be looking at, but Lecalvier is only 4 months younger, he will be 32 in April. Martin St Louis is 36. Tampa Bay might very well want to dump some contracts but the only player much younger than Malone on your list is Stamkos and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for him to become trade bait.

[Mark]

I'd really not see the Leafs return to their pre-cap history of having a young team start to show promise, and then continually adding veteran wingers to "push them over the top", aging the lineup and leading to another purge.

It didn't work well in the old NHL. In the new one, it would work less well. Speed is the only thing the leafs actually have going for them, and they have a bevvy of secondary scoring prospects already without roster room.

It simply doesn't make sense to add a forward unless they are a clear cut first liner, and preferably under 30.

[Wade]

Damien, I know it's your job to speculate, get conversations going, and pose "what ifs", but this one makes no sense, even for us who to pretend to be GMs. If you mentioned this to Burke directly -- say on a local radio program -- he'd point out the reasons why such a trade won't happen -- some of which you mention, like cap hit, age, not a centre -- plus probably three or four more that you haven't even thought of. Malone makes so little sense in Burke's rebuild, why even mention it? Sorry but this piece is here to take up space. If Malone becomes a Leaf this year I promise I'll buy a five subscription to the Star.

[JT]

Not sure the Leafs payroll/cap could comfortably absorb Malone's contract for the next few seasons for a player on the wrong side of 30 and already having a down season. History suggests the chances of Malone bouncing back and having great/productive seasons aren't good.

Silly suggestion by Cox. I'm so glad he's not the GM.

[Richard Griffin]

DUMB DUMB DUMB...

[JP]

Part of the point of this article seems to be that because other GMs have taken on stupid contracts, Brian Burke should go ahead and do the same.

[Billy Biroux]

The guy I would take off Tampa would be Steve Downie.
This is Burke's type of player.
A belligerent forward who can fight and score.
The kind of guy you need to play against the physical teams.
The kind of guy who will let the Rangers or Bruins know that you can't be hitting our top players.
I would give Tampa any two of Gravobski, Connely, Macaurther, or Kadri.
.

[Bill]

Cox, what are you smoking man??

A) His age + that contract are a huge NO-NO
B) I don't see the leafs giving up much more than a bag of pucks to take on that contract - no way should they deal an actual asset for Malone with that contract
C) Where does he fit? We already have too many wingers as is and I don't see who he bumps.

[Deke]

I don't think this proposal is that far fetched. Let's not forget that Malone is an American born player, and we all know how much Burke covets those American born players. He signed Lebda for over 1 million per for God's sake. Terrible player, terrible contract, but "Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light...".

[Musclehead]

Everyone hints that going after an older player is not the right move. I counter this with the fact that you need to have some age and experience to bring in youngsters. I truly think that a quality vet brings a lot to the table and has been a weakness over the last 3 yrs. You need a mentor and while Malone's numbers aren't that great there is an upside in addition to some much needed size. As long as you don't give up too much and most certainly not a tender at this point. Somethings in the works that is for sure and usually with Burke, when his mouth is shut it's for a reason.

[Ron]

Damien, I agree with most of the posts. We don't need another player whose best before date is up. We have had that act for the last 15 years. No need to panic, as this team was always going to be life and death to make the playoffs this year. For the love of god let the young guys grow together for the next year or so and see what happens. There is no magic bullet to building a contending team other than to continue to have faith in the scouting department and farm system. Montreal has moved away from that and look where they are in terms of a franchise.

[Jim Jack]

Don't think that Malone is a fit. Expect a big trade soon for the big forward as it really seems to be the missing piece of the puzzle. Lots of weaknesses still (in goal, defensive zone coverage) but this is the one I believe Burke believes will help the most. Don't really want to give up on either Schenn or Kadri, but both look like the right price to pay for a Ryan and add a first round pick you could get Staal of Getzlaf. I realize that Schenn and Kadri are not well regarded by Leaf fans, but I assure that packaging these two together (the brightest of Leafs young players) would be attractive enough to enough GM's in the league to trade a big wheel in return.

[Jeff]

His value is rapidly sinking. No thanks.

[Dan]

The only way Malone to Toronto would work would be if Komisarek went the other way...where do I sign?

[Jimmy]

Damien, I am not sure why you always want to the Leafs to get Malone. He wouldnt be an upgrade over any of our players and only blocks young guys from getting minutes. Worst Idea Ever.

[Luke Joseph Menkes]

From 8th place to a shot at the finals isn't that far away. Florida, Edmonton and Calgary all did that in recent years. Heck, Chicago came so close to knocking out Vancouver last year and had they done so, they would likely have faced Boston in the final.

Toronto is nowhere near the level of Boston or New York, but I believe they are 2-3 pieces away from being able to play with the big boys every night. Burke will make another move soon, I can feel it. Most of Burke's trades are looking pretty good so far. Not all of them, but most of them. This is definitely a better team than it was when Burke started here.

[Rob]

Yup, another Yankee in Burkie's cross hairs. I've been a Leaf fan all my life until this year.... Hate the Toronto Maple Americans.

[Nick Martin]

On a related matter, your trade target poll elsewhere on the page includes Eric Staal. Where in the world is that coming from?