Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 30 under 30

June 2012 - Best young Maple Leafs

Once again, this list is skewed towards players that are close to being NHL-ready, and are envisioned as having the ability to compete and contribute for the Maple Leafs within the next 2 to 3 years.

Phil Kessel

Joffrey Lupul

Jake Gardiner

Dion Phaneuf

James Van Riemsdyck

Mikhail Grabovski

James Reimer

Clarke Macarthur

Tyler Bozak

Matt Frattin (RFA)

Carl Gunnarsson

Nazem Kadri

Cody Franson (RFA)

Nikolai Kulemin (RFA)

Joey Crabb (UFA)

Ben Scrivens

Joe Colborne

Mike Brown

Colby Armstrong

Phillippe Dupuis (UFA)

Jerry D'Amigo

Matt Lashoff (UFA VI)

Jesse Blacker

Mark Owuya

Brad Ross

Jay Rosehill (UFA VI)

Tyler Biggs

Carter Ashton

Korbinian Holzer (RFA)

Nicolas Deschamps

Mark Fraser (RFA)

5 Players over 30: Connolly, Liles, Lombardi, Steckel, Komisarek

Marlies: McKegg in as Frattin, Kadri, Zigomanis out with injuries

Time for Joe Colborne to step up and shine


Greg McKegg has been practicing with the Marlies for the past couple of days so look for him to crack the Marlies lineup, either for the opener in Norfolk or further down the line. With Frattin, Kadri, Zigomanis and Ashton all out, McKegg's scoring could be a welcome addition in the Calder Cup finals.


The key player to watch for the Toronto Marlies will be Joe Colborne. He started the season spectacularly and played well during a callup to the Leafs in November / December, however struggled mightily when sent back down to the AHL. It is now time for Joe to put the Marlies on his back and carry them to victory, which will go a long ways in convincing Brian Burke and Randy Carlyle that he is ready to join the Maple Leafs for the 2012-2013 season. 

Toronto Maple Leafs already signed for 2012-2013

May 2012 - Leafs signed for next season, ranked by ability to help team over next 2 to 3 seasons

1. Kessel

2. Lupul

3. Grabovski

4. Phaneuf

5. Gardiner

6. Schenn

7. Reimer

8. Liles

9. Bozak

10. Connolly

11. MacArthur

12. Kadri

13.  Armstrong

14. Steckel

15. Gunnarsson

16. Komisarek

17. D'Amigo

18. Lombardi

19. Dupuis

20. Deschamps

21. Owuya

22. Colborne

23. Brown

24. Biggs

25. Ashton

26. Komarov

27. Scott

28. Orr

29. Fraser

30. Blacker

31. Granberg

32. Garrett

33. Percy

34. McKegg

35. Ross

36. Acton

Free agents (bold = priority signings)

unrestricted free agents

crabb, gustavsson, zigomanis, hamilton

restricted free agents

frattin, scrivens, kulemin, franson, lashoff, holzer, rosehill, mikus, rynnas,  mueller, gysbers

Leafs Top 25 Under 25 Years of Age – May 2012

25 BEST Toronto Maple Leafs 25 and Under

To qualify for this list, a player's NHL rights must be owned by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he must be born in 1987 or later. Although overall potential is considered, the rankings are biased in favour of older prospects who have a significant chance of contributing playoff-calibre performances over the next 3 to 5 years. The final bias is toward players in the NHL, AHL and Canadian Junior Hockey, as it is harder for me to access and assess US college and foreign statistics.

Top 25 Young Toronto Maple Leafs

This Month (Last Month)

1. (1) D: Jake Gardiner

2. (2) RW: Phil Kessel

3. (3) G: James Reimer

4. (4) RW: Matt Frattin

5. (5) C: Nazem Kadri

6. (6) D: Luke Schenn

7. (9) D: Cody Franson

8. (11) C: Joe Colborne

9. (18) RW: Jerry D'Amigo

10. (12) D: Jesse Blacker

11. (13) LW: Brad Ross

12. (10) RW: Tyler Biggs

13. (7) RW: Carter Ashton

14. (8) G: Mark Owuya

15. (15) C: Greg McKegg

16. (19) D: Korbinian Holzer

17. (22) D: Stuart Percy

18. (23) D: Simon Gysbers

19. (24) LW: Marcel Mueller

20. (25) LW: Nicolas Deschamps

21. (/) RW: Greg Scott

22. (16) C. Josh Nicholls

23. (17) RW: Sam Carrick

24. (14) LW: Josh Leivo

25. (20) G: Jussi Rynnas

Summary: Leafs need help on Left Wing and at Centre, and could also benfit from a proven #1 NHL goalie. Trading for 27 year old RW Rick Nash, a $7.8 mil player, may not be as wise as signing 27 year old LW Zach Parise for the same amount of money as a free agent, without having to give up anything.

24th in NHL scoring:

Zach Parise - 69 points

59th in NHL scoring:

Rick Nash - 59 points

Now, if Burke were to arrange for both of them to come to Toronto, most fans would be willing to give up a few names from the above list, especially below the top dozen.

Similarly, signing Martin Brodeur to a 2 or 3 year deal may be wiser than taking on Luongo's 10 year contract, though if we can get 5 good years out of Roberto, that could still work. As Luongo is more likely headed to Tampa (near his wife's family) than Toronto, Burke should make a stellar offer to Brodeur.

Dandy Dozen MAY Update: Top 12 Toronto Maple Leafs prospects

Top Twelve Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects - May 2012

This Month (Last Month)

1. (1) Nazem Kadri - Nazem was great during the final weeks of the seasion and has been steady to spectacular during the AHL playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs have a winning record with Kadri in the lineup, both this year and last, so he will stick with the Buds for the full 2012-2013 schedule.

2. (2) Matt Frattin - Matt looks able to secure a Big Nine position coming out of Carlyle's training camp this September. In this Spring's AHL Calder Cup playoffs, Matt has been a hard-hitting sniper, and his rough'n'tumble style of play appeals to the Toronto Maple Leafs new coach.

3. (3) Ben Scrivens - His season has gathered momentum from month to month, and though I have ranked Owuya as a better NHL prospect in the past, Ben appears ready for a shot. The AHL playoffs have seen Scrivens continue exhibiting his late season fortress-type goaltending; BRAVO!

4. (/) Jerry D'Amigo - After a so-so regular season, D'Amigo's trade value has skyrocketed because of his explosive offense in the AHL playoffs, with 6 goals and 2 assists in the first seven games. As an American, he may be moved for Luongo or Nash, or could find himself on a Leafs youthful KFD line with Kadri and Frattin.

5. (4) Korbinian Holzer - Only a few months ago the Leafs D looked impenetrable for a stay-at-home defender such as Holzer. Now with Aulie gone and Komisarek likely to be moved to free up cap space, Holzer could see plenty of NHL action next year. The AHL playoffs will also be crucial for him; look for him to be included in a big trade or to be given every shot to make the Leafs team this September.

6. (5) Joe Colborne – An uneven regular season and an injury in the playoffs mean that Joe is most likely headed back to the Marlies for at least part of next season.

7. (10) Brad Ross – Named WHL Player of the Week during the playoffs, the Portland Winter Hawks star looks able to contribute to the Marlies next season, and is likely only a year or two from the NHL.

8. (6) Carter Ashton – Currently out with an injury, Leafs brass would love to see Carter back in the lineup to contribute to a Calder Cup victory.

9. (7) Tyler Biggs - Will turn pro for 2012-2013 and will probably play for Marlies.

10. (8) Jesse Blacker

11. (9) Mark Owuya

12. (/) Greg Scott

More top prospects: Greg McKegg, Stuart Percy, Josh Leivo, Jamie Devane, Marcel Mueller, Spencer Abbott, Sam Carrick, Nicolas Deschamps

To qualify as a prospect, the player must be 25 years or younger and have played less than 50 NHL games.

Connolly, Rynnas and Holzer for Luongo?

Vancouver Canucks - Toronto Maple Leafs trade possibilities Though I am not a fan of Luongo's contract, it is a fact that Toronto is one of the few teams that require goaltending AND have the ability to take on that contract. If Brodeur and Vokoun re-sign with their respective teams and the Leafs are not impressed with Harding and Clemmensen, then Luongo becomes the main name in play.

No way Jose regarding Gardiner, Kessel or Lupul

Now, Vancouver is likely to ask for Gardiner straight up, and Burke would be wise to chuckle at that idea and respond with "How about Franson?"

Then Vancouver will ask for Kesel or Lupul, knowing full well they can't get BB to give up on Phil Kessel, as that would mean having traded two firsts and a second for an aging goalie...

So the Canucks will press hard for Lupul, which should only be considered by the Leafs if the Canucks have a big forward prospect that is close to NHL-ready, however even then it will be best to try and keep Lupul, at least until the trade deadline when we will know whether we are buying or selling.

Connolly could be a good fit in Vancouver, and if the Leafs add in Rynnas, that would pair Luongo and Reimer with the Leafs, and Scrivens and Owuya with the Marlies. That still won't be enough to get the deal done, so let's add one D and call it a deal.

To Toronto: Roberto Luongo

To Vancouver: Connolly, Rynnas and one of Holzer, Lashoff or Komisarek.

Comments, anyone?

Luongo's long deal not likely for Leafs

Considering that the Maple Leafs have two goalies appearing NHL-ready (Reimer, Scrivens) and one super hot prospect (Owuya), their need to bring in a number one starter may be for a year or two only. This means that Luongo's contract, with 10 years and $50 million to go, is more likely to end up in Tampa than Toronto.

Ideally, the Leafs would land a free agent, keeping the cupboard full to trade for a big forward. Here are the best 2012 NHL free agent goaltenders:

15 Martin Brodeur NJD 59 2.41 .908

22 Tomas Vokoun WSH 48 2.51 .917

26 Scott Clemmensen FLA 30 2.57 .913

Here are all the NHL goalies currently making a mil or more and are 2012 free agents:

Cristobal Huet Chicago Blackhawks $5,625,000

Martin Brodeur New Jersey Devils $5,200,000

Dwayne Roloson Tampa Bay Lightning $3,000,000

Antero Niittymaki San Jose Sharks $2,000,000

Chris Mason Winnipeg Jets $1,850,000

Michael Leighton Philadelphia Flyers $1,550,000

Dan Ellis Anaheim Ducks $1,500,000

Tomas Vokoun Washington Capitals $1,500,000

Jonas Gustavsson Toronto Maple Leafs $1,350,000

Johan Hedberg New Jersey Devils $1,250,000

Scott Clemmensen Florida Panthers $1,200,000

Alex Auld Ottawa Senators $1,000,000



The best value currently is Nabokov at 570k but he just got re-signed by the Islanders for $2.75 mil on a one year deal.



Summary:

Leafs should offer Brodeur a 2 year deal, if he's not available, then go after Vokoun or Clemmensen. Brodeur is worth $4 mil per year, while Vokoun will likely get $3 mil, and Clemmensen will move to the $2.3 mil range.