What talents are those that will be wasted on the 4th line?
Kapanen is a good shooter that can skate well but he's not defensively sound enough to be what most coaches will want on the 4th line and 4th lines tend to not have the kind of playmakers that maximize someone like Kapanen. Kadri could but that's going to be up to Kapanen's play to warrant staying there.
One-who has been Braun partner for most of those 6 years? A great dman like Vlasic can carry his partner quite a ways.
Two-repeatedly saying that a 22 year old that hasn’t made the team yet when he clearly has is showing your ignorance
Three-I may be incorrect on this point, but wasn’t it you that said you haven’t watched a lot of Leaf games or a lot of Kapanen? That’s my definition of “irrational bias”
Four-I have consistently said that I have no idea what Kapanen will be! Only that with his draft position,?pedigree and accomplishments at every other level, and most importantly, remember, I actually watch this kid play, what I’ve SEEN, that he’s got a real chance to be good. Whereas with Braun, I saw him play maybe 10 to 15 times last year at most, paired with the best shutdown defender in the league, which is why I’m not convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s a sure fire upgrade for us. At least not an upgrade I’m willing to part with a KID with Kapanen’s potential for. Got it
One, no, Vlasic cannot. Vlasic can't play defense for Braun. That is utterly ridiculous. Someone who is not top four quality isn't capable of playing defense against the best in the NHL.
Two, I didn't say he hadn't made the team. I said if he plays consistently this year in the NHL, it will be his first year of doing so. That is not the same thing. Argue what I said and don't build a straw man.
Three, you are incorrect. Toronto has been my second team for quite some time and I've seen many games of theirs over the years and more so now that my favorite player has been there.
Four, the saying a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush comes to mind. You don't know what Kapanen will be is not a sound argument to make to value over an established top four defenseman who provides something the Leafs desperately need which is solid defense from their blue liners. This line is, whether you know it or not, admitting that you're letting your lack of knowledge about Braun dictate your opinion of him. If you don't know by now that Braun is an established top four d-man and that is regardless of Vlasic's presence because Vlasic cannot play defense by himself or for anyone else then your opinion is not worth anything on the player in question. That's the bottom line.
Kapanen's potential is limited but even if he is as good as you think he could be, what are we talking about here? A 2nd line winger? Those are easy to get elsewhere and shouldn't be held on to like they're blue chip prospects or a stud young roster player when he very clearly is not. Quality defensemen are harder to get than quality wingers. The only exception to that is when those wingers are playmakers in the mold of Patrick Kane or Artemi Panarin. Neither of which Kapanen has the raw skill set to become because he simply doesn't have that kind of vision or passing ability.