Leafs Looking at Zajac

[rdowdall]

Zajac an option for the Maple Leafs?

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/zajac-an-option-for-the-maple-leafs~712498

 

[CarltonTheBear]

This talk stems from a bit in Elliotte Friedman's 30 Thoughts this week:

7. There?s more than one NHL exec who thinks Lou Lamoriello would love to get his hands on Travis Zajac.

Thought that the radio guys handled it fairly well. He really makes 0 sense. If it's something like Bozak for Zajac with New Jersey retaining salary I'd think about it, but Zajac's extra 2 years still hurt.

Regardless though, Lou's arguably the most tight-tipped GM in the history of the league. I highly doubt NHL execs who I'm assuming aren't part of the Leafs or Devils organizations are privy to what's going on in Lou's head right now.

 

[Frank E]

Yeah, this is kinda like the Phaneuf deal in that what it would take to make it go away isn't really affordable for NJ right now.

 

[bustaheims]

Leafs are looking at Zajac as an example of what not to do more of. Zajac might be a slightly better version of Bozak, but that's about it. His contract is much worse, though, so . . .

I'm with CtB - I'm not sure there's much meat on the bones of this rumour.

 

[Zee]

We'll see, I don't buy any rumors of trades anymore with this new regime.  The M.O. of Shanahan has been to keep everything quiet -- no leaks -- and then boom there's a deal nobody was talking about before hand.

 

[bustaheims]

We'll see, I don't buy any rumors of trades anymore with this new regime.  The M.O. of Shanahan has been to keep everything quiet -- no leaks -- and then boom there's a deal nobody was talking about before hand.

Yup. We can speak somewhat about the bigger picture, because they've talked about that a little and we can glean some information from the moves they have made, but in terms of specific moves - not gonna get a whole lot of info until deals are pretty close to being finalized.

 

[dappleganger]

Leafs are looking at Zajac as an example of what not to do more of. Zajac might be a slightly better version of Bozak, but that's about it. His contract is much worse, though, so . . .

I'm with CtB - I'm not sure there's much meat on the bones of this rumour.

I don't even think he's better than Bozak.

 

[Kin]

We'll see, I don't buy any rumors of trades anymore with this new regime.  The M.O. of Shanahan has been to keep everything quiet -- no leaks -- and then boom there's a deal nobody was talking about before hand.

We heard that Toronto was talking to Pittsburgh about Kessel at least a week beforehand.

 

[Redleaf]

Could it be a contract/salary dump for NJ with a pick/prospect attached? Nothing else makes sense.

 

[Tigger]

Could it be a contract/salary dump for NJ with a pick/prospect attached? Nothing else makes sense.

The Devils would be flirting with the cap floor ( not a big deal really ) but even that deal doesn't make a lot of sense for the Leafs.

 

[Frank E]

We'll see, I don't buy any rumors of trades anymore with this new regime.  The M.O. of Shanahan has been to keep everything quiet -- no leaks -- and then boom there's a deal nobody was talking about before hand.

We heard that Toronto was talking to Pittsburgh about Kessel at least a week beforehand.

I think it's worth noting that deals involve 2 teams, so even if one team is a vault...

 

[bustaheims]

We heard that Toronto was talking to Pittsburgh about Kessel at least a week beforehand.

To be fair, that was pre-Lou (who I realize wasn't referenced, but impacts things now) and, by the point we started hearing about it, it appears as though the deal was virtually completed. There were really just some procedural issues to work out (the NTCs that weren't waived in the end and adjustments to the deal because of that, sorting out the conditions on picks, etc.).

 

[Kin]

We heard that Toronto was talking to Pittsburgh about Kessel at least a week beforehand.

To be fair, that was pre-Lou (who I realize wasn't referenced, but impacts things now) and, by the point we started hearing about it, it appears as though the deal was virtually completed. There were really just some procedural issues to work out (the NTCs that weren't waived in the end and adjustments to the deal because of that, sorting out the conditions on picks, etc.).

I don't really think those are minor procedural issues when the deal has to be reworked in the very conceivable case of those NTCs not being waived. That seems to be a pretty initial discussion. Also the way I remember it the Kapanen/Pouliot question wasn't settled either.

Regardless, we'd certainly heard about the team's desire to move Kessel before then. Likewise with Franson/Santo/Winnik and even deals that didn't happen like Phaneuf to Detroit. Really the only deal that came about without us knowing a deal was imminent was Clarkson.

Like you say, none of those deals came about with Lamoriello here but that makes my point that much more indisputable which is that we don't really have a lot of precedent to say whether rumours are hard to be believed because of the current management's predilection(or lack thereof) for information getting out to the public  and the information we have about the team under Shanahan probably indicates the opposite.

 

[Zee]

We heard that Toronto was talking to Pittsburgh about Kessel at least a week beforehand.

To be fair, that was pre-Lou (who I realize wasn't referenced, but impacts things now) and, by the point we started hearing about it, it appears as though the deal was virtually completed. There were really just some procedural issues to work out (the NTCs that weren't waived in the end and adjustments to the deal because of that, sorting out the conditions on picks, etc.).

I don't really think those are minor procedural issues when the deal has to be reworked in the very conceivable case of those NTCs not being waived. That seems to be a pretty initial discussion. Also the way I remember it the Kapanen/Pouliot question wasn't settled either.

Regardless, we'd certainly heard about the team's desire to move Kessel before then. Likewise with Franson/Santo/Winnik and even deals that didn't happen like Phaneuf to Detroit. Really the only deal that came about without us knowing a deal was imminent was Clarkson.

Like you say, none of those deals came about with Lamoriello here but that makes my point that much more indisputable which is that we don't really have a lot of precedent to say whether rumours are hard to be believed because of the current management's predilection(or lack thereof) for information getting out to the public  and the information we have about the team under Shanahan probably indicates the opposite.

In the past reporters would get specific player names involved in potential Leafs deals.  I don't recall anyone accurately predicting what the return would be for any of the trades that did happen. Franson/Santorelli/Winnik were all players that analysts agreed the Leafs could move and get some value back for.  Given the contract statuses of each player they were good guesses to be moved.  As far as teams/deals beforehand, we didn't hear what the returns would be.

The Phaneuf supposed deal never happened so how does that add to your indisputable point that rumors aren't any more difficult to come by under the Shanahan regime?  I would count this as a bogus rumor since nothing ever came of it.

The signing of Babcock was supposedly "dead" according to insiders the very morning that he signed. It was only late in the morning, after the Leafs had already agreed to terms with him that word finally started to get out. 

The hiring of Lamoriello was also not rumored at all.

The only trade where the rumors were correct was Kessel, and given that he had a limited number of teams he could be dealt to, it wasn't that hard to envision the Penguins as the most likely candidate to trade for him.  As someone else pointed out, there's 2 teams involved in a trade, the leaks about Kessel going to Pittsburgh could well have come from the Pittsburgh side and not Shanahan.

I say there's ample evidence under the Shanahan regime to suggest that he doesn't like information to leak out beforehand.

 

[Kin]

In the past reporters would get specific player names involved in potential Leafs deals.  I don't recall anyone accurately predicting what the return would be for any of the trades that did happen. Franson/Santorelli/Winnik were all players that analysts agreed the Leafs could move and get some value back for.  Given the contract statuses of each player they were good guesses to be moved.  As far as teams/deals beforehand, we didn't hear what the returns would be.

So you're saying that because reporters didn't have the details of a finished trade before a trade was finished, they didn't have information on that trade? 

The Phaneuf supposed deal never happened so how does that add to your indisputable point that rumors aren't any more difficult to come by under the Shanahan regime?  I would count this as a bogus rumor since nothing ever came of it.

Except they never reported it as a finished deal. They reported the discussions. If Detroit and Toronto are discussing a Phaneuf trade and a reporter writes "Detroit and Toronto are discussing a Phaneuf trade" you would count that as bogus information if the trade doesn't happen?

The signing of Babcock was supposedly "dead" according to insiders the very morning that he signed. It was only late in the morning, after the Leafs had already agreed to terms with him that word finally started to get out.

Emphatically not true. I can link you to the threads where Babcock coming here was very much alive right up until it happened. It was never reported as being already finished but, again, that is not a reasonable standard for information getting out.

The hiring of Lamoriello was also not rumored at all.

That's largely true.

I say there's ample evidence under the Shanahan regime to suggest that he doesn't like information to leak out beforehand.

Information leaking out is not limited to 100% of the details being known ahead of time. In all of these cases save Lamoriello important details of what was about to transpire was known by the press beforehand.

 

[Zee]

I doubt the leaks are coming from the Leafs side of things. The Babcock rumors were just that, rumors until someone spotted the MLSE plane taking off to Detroit and flying back again. Like I said all the so called "insiders" claimed Babcock wouldn't be coming to Toronto.

Leading up to firing of Nonis and all those scouts , once again the reporters had no clue what would happen. There were articles claiming Nonis might actually STAY on as GM -- pure speculation because he had been allowed to go through the trade deadline and finish up the season. Nobody knew of the massive firings that Shanahan executed until they happened.

Perhaps rumors of trades have some merit because there are agents and other teams involved who could leak details, but in terms of the Leafs, they seem to be very tight lipped as to what they want to do if you go by all the firings and hirings.

 

[lamajama]

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then. It's not all that difficult to look at a roster and make up semi-vague rumours - something the Toronto media seems to excel in.

Calling a trade rumour on Kessel and Phaneuf was pretty simple. Even throwing out possible destinations.

Getting to Zajac, if this deal ever went through I'm afraid that would finally be it for me as a fan. While technically the Leafs have won 4 Cups in my lifetime, I have zero recollection of same.

So I've  lived through Ballard, the WHA, JFJ et al and remained blindly loyal despite the Leafs never "doing it right". Renewed hope with every new Saviour, a kick in the groin for doing so.

Now it appears they are finally doing it right. Hope springs up again.

If they get Zajac it will mean The Plan is lip service again.

The only possible positive outcome could be if the Leafs give up nothing and get NJ's 1st round pick in any deal. And JFJ isn't in the GM chair in NJ...so that ain't happening.

So help us with mentoring, Lou, and leave everything else alone.

 

[jonlleafs]

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then. It's not all that difficult to look at a roster and make up semi-vague rumours - something the Toronto media seems to excel in.

Calling a trade rumour on Kessel and Phaneuf was pretty simple. Even throwing out possible destinations.

Getting to Zajac, if this deal ever went through I'm afraid that would finally be it for me as a fan. While technically the Leafs have won 4 Cups in my lifetime, I have zero recollection of same.

So I've  lived through Ballard, the WHA, JFJ et al and remained blindly loyal despite the Leafs never "doing it right". Renewed hope with every new Saviour, a kick in the groin for doing so.

Now it appears they are finally doing it right. Hope springs up again.

If they get Zajac it will mean The Plan is lip service again.

The only possible positive outcome could be if the Leafs give up nothing and get NJ's 1st round pick in any deal. And JFJ isn't in the GM chair in NJ...so that ain't happening.

So help us with mentoring, Lou, and leave everything else alone.

I agree and would be so pissed if they traded youth in Kadri or JVR for him. Both who are still young and entering their prime.  Why do we need to be better now?  We don't. Unless we are getting 2 firsts and Zajac and it's a salary dump I say no way!

 

[Andy007]

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then. It's not all that difficult to look at a roster and make up semi-vague rumours - something the Toronto media seems to excel in.

Calling a trade rumour on Kessel and Phaneuf was pretty simple. Even throwing out possible destinations.

Getting to Zajac, if this deal ever went through I'm afraid that would finally be it for me as a fan. While technically the Leafs have won 4 Cups in my lifetime, I have zero recollection of same.

So I've  lived through Ballard, the WHA, JFJ et al and remained blindly loyal despite the Leafs never "doing it right". Renewed hope with every new Saviour, a kick in the groin for doing so.

Now it appears they are finally doing it right. Hope springs up again.

If they get Zajac it will mean The Plan is lip service again.

The only possible positive outcome could be if the Leafs give up nothing and get NJ's 1st round pick in any deal. And JFJ isn't in the GM chair in NJ...so that ain't happening.

So help us with mentoring, Lou, and leave everything else alone.

I agree and would be so pissed if they traded youth in Kadri or JVR for him.

I'd be pissed if Toronto gave up Mitch Marner for Zack Kassian. But neither that deal nor Kadri/JVR for Zajac is going to happen.

 

[rdowdall]

http://www.tsn.ca/could-maple-leafs-be-in-play-for-zajac-1.367408

According to Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger in New Jersey, the Leafs and Devils may have a trade on the table that would send the 30-year-old centre to Toronto.

Well, there goes that rebuild.