Bluelines
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- Nov 17, 2013
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I think most of us feel that Bozak will not return this year, are the tools he brings to the Leafs easily replaceable?
I don't see it as so black and white, but there's no middle option so I said yes. I think he brings value in terms of offense but ultimately we need more of a 2 way force than him.
The options aren't very good so I didn't vote. I don't think he's easily replaceable, but I think he's poorly suited as a 3rd line C on a team that has a ton of offence already. He would look better as a Pred or a Duck IMO. Teams that can give a little defensively for some extra scoring.
no, there's not a whole lot of guys in the league who've been 50%+ in 8 of the last 9 years and gives the benefit of being a .61 ppg player
there is no one in the system who can replace him, not Aaltonen, not Brooks and certainly not Gauthier
unless the Leafs are truly considering taking a run at Tavares or are ready to move some bodies, they really have to take a long hard look at retaining him
dark horse!The goat is a wild horse selection, I think this guy might have more to give. His skating has drastically improved over the last season after coming back from a major injury/surgery.
You are correct. He was given every opportunity to be our 4th line center and has not shown he can skate at the level required and he is a big body player who plays like a light weight.dark horse!
yes it has improved, but not enough to make him a decent NHL skater
guys who skate like Dave Steckl don't have a place in the league anymore
You are correct. He was given every opportunity to be our 4th line center and has not shown he can skate at the level required and he is a big body player who plays like a light weight.
If Mathews gets his way look for Marner playing with him and Willy playing with Kadri.There are a bunch of variables involved in this question. What is the price Bozak is going to ask. As others have alluded, if he has a big ask, for that price, he is easier to replace.. maybe not directly, but in totality how we spend that cap.
Offensively, there are four C's last year, who had better, or similar production, who will be UFA this year, and aren't retiring.. Tavares, Stastny, Nash and Thornton. Thornton had an injury riddled season, and might be breaking down... or it could just be a bad year, who knows, but there is that risk there. Bozak has been pretty durable.
All around, he's great in the dot, the PP, though maybe not the strongest in his own end. Of course, he's had some great offensive lineman, but they too weren't the best two way players.
So, is he going to be easy to replace.... well... there are only three or four guys at his level overall, or above... so it would seem the answer is no, he won't be easy to replace. Most of the UFA C's, are also older than Bozak....
There is Nylander of course, though he is pretty unproven as a full time C in the NHL... but maybe it's worth the gamble? But, you'd probably want to sign a very good to elite winger, to play with Matthews if that was the case.
He has had all the chance he is likely to get. He may get training camp but I just do not seeing it happening for us.He shouldn't be written off yet. Not after the severity of injury, surgeries and recovery time. If he gets a full off season to work on his skating, without such an injury, and is still the same... yes, I'd agree, but we should be giving him a chance, given our shallow C depth.
Mark Hunter lack of drafting Cs in the entry draft has created a large hole that internally can't be filled by the loss of Bozak.
If the Leafs were rolling out Matthews, Barzal and Kadri as their top 3 C then we wouldn't even be having this discussion, or rather say Bozak who instead ?, if I were Leafs director of Amateur scouting.
Leafs only real option internally to replace Bozie is to move Willy from #1RW to #3C and build 3rd line around that, but sacrificing the top line in the process.
Externally adding Tavares to the team would push Kadri into the #3 hole and replace Bozak. I more than fine with that, but that is a pretty far fetched unrealistic outcome at this point. IMO due to cap constraints going forward.
TyBo wants to stay and we need a #3C. Why haven't they agreed on a contract ? Me thinks Leafs will look for a better option and might double back if they can't find one.
The strategy should be to keep your core players and replace non-core players with cheaper options as and when needed. TyBo is not part of the core. See ya!.
Yup, 'simple'.Simple solution is to sign Tavares and play Matthews and Tavares 20+, Kadri 15 and a cheap #4C for 5 minutes/game.