30 for 30 in 30 - Dallas Stars

**AS OF TIME OF WRITING**

TJ Molland: With a new coach and new ownership, the Stars had really hoped to make the post season for the first time since 2008. It was a good year for the team.....but not good enough. Like the Avalanche they finished with more wins than several playoff teams but didn't have enough points to get to the second season. It was a promising season for the Stars though, lots to look forward to. Jamie Benn will be receiving a hefty raise, and he rightfully deserves it. Improving his point totals in each of his first 3 seasons while showing he is capable of playing in all situations has earned him the right to call this his team. Kari Lehtonen gives the team a chance to win every night but he has got to find a way to stay healthy. Losing him for chunks of the season is only hurting the Stars chances at the post-season. 

I have a soft spot in my heart for this Dallas team (not the ones of the past....here's looking at you Brett Hull *shakes fist*) and really hope they make the playoffs this year. They have a good prospect pool to choose from, which may get raided to keep costs down. The Stars hovered just above the cap floor last year, and I don't imagine they want to venture too far from it this year either. The fact they were that competitive last year with how little money they spent should show they don't need to go out and sign big names to get to the next level. 

To do that the focus should be on the depth up front with this team. The line of Nystrom (-10) - Dvorak (-16) - Fiddler (-13) were the only regular players to finish worse than -5. They each put up 21 points which is not bad for your depth players, but not when they are giving up that many goals against. Oh and did I mention they ALL PLAYED ON THE SAME LINE!! The good news is upgrading on these players won't be expensive and can be done via free agency, so it won't cost you any players/picks (Tom Kostopoulos or Jordin Tootoo)(I know not the prettiest of names but cheap and reliable).

Sidebar: These next couple posts are the toughest ones because you are trying to say what a team that is average in nearly every stat category should do to improve. There aren't any real GLARING holes, no must do's, just get a little better....everywhere. It was a lot easier just to say "Your defense sucks. Fix it"

Bik Nizzar: Step 1: Sign Jamie Benn to a long-term deal.

Step 2: Sign Jamie Benn to a long-term deal.

Step 3: Sign Jamie Ben...... you get the idea........ Man alive is this guy good. He is so much fun to watch, gives it his all. Plays a very contagious game, just a bruiser, and people follow his lead. It’s kind of a shame this team has been toiling in virtual obscurity the past few seasons, because I think they’re a lot better than people realize. Benn is an RFA – so sign this guy up long term. He really strikes me as a player that others are going to want to play with. Lock him up for 7 years and send a statement to the league and other players that you’re here to win.

There are no glaring needs on this team, but the makeup of the defense could be a bit more elite. I think Kari Lehtonen’s play made it look a bit better than it actually is, but then again, that’s exactly what you pay a goalie to do. They do have Phillip Larsen and Jamie Oleksiak coming up on the blue-line so that’ll help. Their prospect depth on the wings is great, which right now might be their biggest need. There’s no piece that screams out to you as an ELITE scoring winger who’s going to wow you, but there’s so many prospects that they can work with, that they’ll form a solid foundation with their wingers. In the center, prospect wise, it gets rather light but when you already have Benn (who played LW but can move into the Center spot), Ribeiro (who I cannot even begin to tell you how much I despise... not as a player, just as a person), and Ott – I think they’ll be ok, but perhaps going center in this draft to groom someone into a future #2 center role would be beneficial.

TJ Molland: It's a good thing I only wrote one line about Jamie Benn or you might not have had much to talk about. One word you said pretty much summed up what this teams need. Elite. Benn, Ribeiro, and Ott just don't have that extra....umph I guess is the word I am looking for (although Benn is close to getting there). You know that extra bit that makes them the MUST HAVE player a Parise Stamkos or Suter pulls down. Same with the defense, you don't look and go "oh man these guys are awesome/suck." They are just...there....doing their job.....doing it well. Of all the non-playoff teams the Stars are one of the better structured. No glaring needs to address but it is time to take it to the next level.

I don't think going out and signing one of the top free agents is going to push them over the top. But they should target at least another top 4 defenseman and a top 6 forward. Not the big names but the under the radar help (Brad Boyes/Dennis Wideman combo?). It will be unlikely that you will see the owners open up their wallet. With the financial disaster this team has been you can bet after signing Benn (which is what they should do right Bik?) there won't be much more cash thrown around. Even though new ownership said they would spend money for the right cause, there is that hesitancy to spend the big dollars. Maybe we see a few more prospects crack the lineup because of that. Depending on how they pan out it could be a move in the opposite direction for them.

Bik Nizzar: I can’t believe we’re into our 4^th e-mail and we haven’t mentioned this player, although he is VASTLY underrated..... Loui Eriksson. Back to back to back 70+ point seasons, 118 goals over the past 4 seasons (which is better than Selanne, Parise, Kesler, Kane, Backes, Kopitar, Datsyuk). A quiet dude who just quietly goes about his business and now has morphed into a new version of Jere Lehtinen (for those mid 90’s stars fans) because now he’s playing well defensively and become a responsible two-way player. I’m a big fan of his game and he and Benn really add different elements to different scoring lines.

You’re right about how this team just goes about and does its job, so when you look at the targets available in free agency or via the trade route.... Perhaps this isn’t the most attractive off-season for Dallas to make a big splash. There’s nothing wrong with staying the course and continue to cultivate talent like they have been doing. This will only provide them with more assets down the road if/when they feel they’re ready to make a push. It’s a young core and still an emerging team. 

TJ Molland: It was just typical of us to not look at Eriksson until this late. The man has flown under the radar for years, and probably prefers it that way. One other man that doesn't get enough respect in my opinion is Stephane Robidas. The quiet leader on this back end will be asked once again to be a mentor for the younger players, and help groom them into NHL regulars. His calm demeanor and hard work ethic are the kinds of things you like to have in your organization. I would really like to see the Stars make the playoffs this year but they will be in tough against the rest of the Western Conference.

30 for 30 in 30 - Buffalo Sabres

**AS OF TIME OF WRITNG**

Bik Nizzar: First and foremost about this team – Congrats to Rick Jeanneret for winning the Foster Hewitt Award and entering the Hall of Fame. Some people love him and hate him for the same reason, but I’m very much in the camp of loving this guy.  It’s always entertaining to listen to him on a broadcast because he’s got so much energy and enthusiasm.

Onto the team – It’s hard to decide what this team should do. They’ve long embraced the idea of going with high skill players no matter the size, and there was a time when it looked like it was gonna work but then injuries took over and their chance was squandered. Briere and Drury departed and they haven’t really had the same contender feel since. Last season they were a bit of a victim to their own riches. They finally got sound ownership and were willing to spend, and they spent money wildly, and it really backfired. Ville Leino – really?! $4.5 MILL?!? This team is always gonna be too small up front, so for me they need to remedy that first.

On defense, it’s forming nicely. Tyler Myers has kinda regressed from his rookie campaign and they locked up Christian Ehrhoff to that MAMMOTH deal, but add in Brayden McNabb and Mark Pysyk from the prospect ranks, and this team can provide a quality back end in front of an elite goalie in Ryan Miller (and yes, despite his early season struggles, he still is an elite goalie).

TJ Molland: I will second the congrats to Jeanneret. The man has so much passion and excitement.

It was remarkable the two faces this team had. There was the pre-new year Buffalo that was terrible on the ice, mentally breaking off it, and in a downward spiral no one thought they would get out of. Then there was post new-year Buffalo that made an incredible run that almost resulted in a playoff berth (the opposite to the Maple Leafs strategy). You nailed it when saying they shouldn't have got all greedy and signed all these players to albatross contracts. I'll re-iterate....VILLE LEINO....$4.5 MILLION!!!! EEEEEWWWWWW.

They got away from their 'build from within' mentality and it didn't work. The Sabres have all the pieces to be a contender still, as exhibited by their defense. You forgot to mention the veterans they have in store ahead of the prospects. Jordan Leopold, Robyn Regehr, Ehrhoff and Myers form a formidable top 4, and when they are backed by Ryan Miller it should be a top 10 defense. Being the third highest paid defense as well means you HAVE TO be a top 10 defense this year.

Ryan Miller (who I never realized had so much anger, but was thoroughly entertained by it) didn't have a terrible season as far as statistics went. But he needs to be better than average for this team. This team is built around him and his ability to steal games. When he isn't doing that, this team won't be a playoff contender. 

As far as average teams go, this is the one. Seriously. I was looking at some of the basic stat categories for teams and Buffalo finished in the middle third in GF, GA, PP, PK, FO, 5-on-5. I know this team is better, it just needs to show it. Someone on this team needs to take charge, make it their own, and start leading the way to a playoff appearance

Bik Nizzar: I think Miller’s season statistics were weighed down by the HORRENDOUS start he had, because he was INCREDIBLE the last month of the season. Trust me, I know. I had to go against him in my fantasy hockey playoffs and it wasn’t fun.

As much as you wanna say this team needs to take charge..... Who on this team is gonna do it? Cody Hodgson?! Sorry but he doesn’t strike me as THAT kind of player. A good player, I grant you that, but I just don’t see the “don’t worry guys, I got this” gene in him. At the drop of a hat he’s going to get a goal. Vanek has more of that in him I believe and I’m not sure he’s the guy even. What’s strange is that being “average” or even just consistent in the Eastern Conference should net you favourable results. It’s shocking how up n’ down the Eastern Conference is in comparison to the Western Conference.

The defense is pretty good and will definitely be formidable with Miller behind it, but to me this team lacks some character. You referenced how angry Miller got last season, and I don’t blame him. That whole Lucic running him episode was something to get angry about, but also the way that NOBODY on that team stood up for Miller. And I have no reason to believe this so I’m just shooting off the cuff here, but I wonder if that incident played a role in their early season woes. Maybe the locker room atmosphere just wasn’t where it should be for this team.  It’s 1 of those unwritten rules in hockey’s code – you run our goalie, you pay the price – and this team just decided to omit it for that moment, and I think it played a bigger part in their season than it should have.

TJ Molland: So how does this team fix the off ice issues? I mean what players do you target? Or is that even the solution? It pains me to say this but it could be time for a change behind the bench. Now hear me out first. This isn't a move that you make this off-season. But I think the leash needs to be shortened on Lindy Ruff. The man has an impeccable resume and deserves everything he has earned. But making the playoffs twice in the last 5 years is concerning. And in each of those two playoff appearances they fell in the first round. It's not always the coaches fault they get canned, sometimes change is just needed. If this team is faltering out of the gate, and are once again near the bottom of the standings come the New Year, it could be Ruff who gets the boot.

There is a lot of good talent on this team but that lack of character is going to be tough to address. I fear they will make some irrational moves to bring in some goons to help "protect" Miller. Not the solution they need. In fact the solution they need they probably won't find via free agency. You don't just find a carry-the-team player on free agency too often, and as we have noted, and noted again, this crop is not providing much help to anyone.

This has got to be one of the first posts where I have used an intangible as the best thing this team can acquire in the off-season. Where they find that 'character' will be interesting to see. Or maybe last year was a blip on the radar and the Sabres can benefit from being in a mediocre Northwest Division to once again make the playoffs. I'm really at a loss for ideas for this team.

Bik Nizzar: There’s a select few coaches that if you have them, you just don’t fire. And Lindy Ruff is in that hierarchy. The list is basically: Mike Babcock, Dan Bylsma, Lindy Ruff, Joel Quenneville. I think GM Darcy Reiger and Ruff have a great working relationship, and for the most part are great talent evaluators (despite me griping about their player sizes, it’s hard to argue that those players aren’t skilled) but I think the issue is the mentality and strategy they are forming. And you look at a guy like Zack Kassian, EXACTLY the type of player this team could use.... and they shipped him out for another glaring need (a move that I think will be win-win for both teams). But that player who plays on the edge, badass kinda player.... help keep other teams honest.

Perhaps they should get things started by bringing back Paul Gaustad. Netting a 1^st round pick for him was incredible. But it will all be for naught if they continue to use those picks on the Tyler Ennis’ of the world. 

30 for 30 in 30 - Colorado Avalanche

**AS OF TIME OF WRITNG**

TJ Molland: So at the moment the Avalanche only have 10 players signed. Now in fairness they have 9 RFAs they can and probably will sign. Not a bad strategy, leaving yourself lots of flexibility with cap room and contracts. Being the youngest team (by average) in the NHL but still finishing with more wins (41) than 2 playoff teams (LA - 40,  FLA - 38) has to be promising for this squad. The surprise playoff appearance in 09/10 was marred by the abysmal 10/11 season where they finished with 27 less points than the season before. Last year was a good rebound year for this young team however.

Although they finished out of the playoff picture they showed they are at least capable of competing for a spot in the ridiculously competitive Western Conference. Trading away their top pick was a bit of a gamble but with a young talented team it might be time to seek out some veterans to complement the kids.

Bik Nizzar: I didn’t like the trade for Varlamov when it happened, and I like it less now. For a team that had things going in the right direction, it was too big of a gamble (not trading the pick, the fact that it was Varlamov that they targeted) for an injury prone goalie. Now we all recognize the potential that is there, and he did show flashes of that potential in the back-end of the year, but he also showed the other side of the spectrum where he lost 7 in a row in November and had to allow JS Giguere to come in to remedy the situation.

Their biggest problem was defense, and they addressed that by going out and trading for Erik Johnson. I wasn’t crazy about that deal when it first broke (because they gave up Chris Stewart AND Kevin Shattenkirk), but they’ve done a great job since then, especially at the last draft. They hit an absolute home-run with Gabriel Landeskog and then followed that up with snagging Duncan Siemens with the 10^th overall pick. I don’t like what’s on their pro-roster for defense, but absolutely LOVE what they’re building with Siemens, Stefan Elliot (who had a brief cameo with the big club last season and did well) and Tyson Barrie. The most intriguing prospect of the 3 is Barrie for me. He’s another over-looked defenseman out of Kelowna. There’s something about Kelowna Rocket d-men that for some reason they go a little later than they should (Barrie drafted in the 2^nd round), but they’ve got such a storied history of producing great NHL d-men. Weber, Keith, Edler, Gorges, Myers, Schenn, Souray, Hannan come to mind, and Barrie could be joining those ranks soon.

There’s a lot of talk about Edmonton being the biggest threat to Vancouver for the Northwest Division crown, and that may be true down the road, but for next season... It might be the Avalanche.

TJ Molland: Totally agree with you on Varlamov. It seemed like a desperation move almost. Not a totally unreasonable trade but they overpaid for a somewhat unproven goalie. He had good numbers but had yet to be the starter for a full season, and apparently those numbers were tough to keep up in a full season. 

I had the fortune of watching Barrie play a couple times in the year he was drafted, and he is going to be the real deal. Same with Elliott, got the chance to follow him and thought actually the Canucks should have made a move up for him. Time will tell with him but I definitely like what the back end in Colorado is looking like. It will still have its ups and downs this year, same with their goaltending, but the experience they get will help them in the future. I still think they should go after one of the veteran defenseman from this year’s crop of free agents, just to have some more stability. A Pavel Kubina or Michal Roszival will go a long way in helping this defense develop. 

Colorado is so tough to dissect because it really is just a patience game with them. Keep the core, keep moving forward, and don't make any irrational moves to disrupt what you have going for you. 

Bik Nizzar: The organization has actually shown remarkable restraint from ownership down to the coaches. Some of their moves could have led to firings but they’ve opted to stick with Greg Sherman as GM and Joe Sacco as coach. I’m never a fan of mass changes, especially with a younger team because it can alter developments of players. I like the idea of bringing in a veteran defenseman, but I don’t know if I want it to be someone who is going to log top 2 minutes. Ice time is what’s going to be best for those 3 prospects. Mike Commodore, Hal Gill, or Mark Eaton could all fill that spot and since they’ve got cap room, maybe the trade route works for them as well. They can afford to take a bad contract for next season and the 2013 UFA’s on D look a bit better. Sergei Gonchar, Roman Hamrlik could help aid those guys along.

It’d be great if they owned a 1^st round pick to add to their offense. But with their cap-space, do they target some of the free-agents? It’s hard to find a team willing to take a chance on a player like Alex Semin but, does he make sense for them? They can’t rely on Peter Mueller being available to them considering his concussion history. David Jones is likely to hit the open market, but he could come back. They’ve got some nice pieces up front, but I would like to see them get that 1 dynamic scorer. And this year’s free agent list basically has Semin or Parise... 

TJ Molland: If they can entice one of those high end players to come play at a reasonable price (which pretty much rules out Alex Semin) it wouldn't be a bad idea. Keep in mind that with a young team, managing the length of contracts will be key. You don't want to end up over paying free agents on long term contracts only to be forced to let one of your young talents go because of cap issues several years down the road. I think they will make a few signings of some veterans to short term contracts just to help them through some growing years and when they really feel they can make a run they will spend the money.

The animals are running the Zoo

Boxing is broken, and it was never more obvious then Friday night.

One of the top two pugilists on the planet put together another sterling performance, perhaps finally setting the table for the much-talked-about bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. to decide who this generation's greatest prizefighter truly is.

Boasting power in his left hand that a man of his size simply shouldn't possess, Manny Pacquiao thoroughly thrashed a game Timothy Bradley.

And then all hell broke loose.

*****************************************************************************************

Maybe we should have seen it coming.

If the fact there was enough late action on Bradley to move the betting line significantly didn't raise an eyebrow among fans looking for a just bout, Pacquiao's locker room lingering surely did.

The suits at HBO decided to briefly delay the main event until Miami and Boston had finished slugging it out in game 7 of their NBA Eastern Final series. Fair enough.

When it was finally time to pull back the curtain, there was Bradley -- wrapped, gloved, and ready to go. Then came play-by-play guy Jim Lampley's bewildering admission: Nobody knew where Manny was.

An amber alert was issued. Cash sniffing hounds were dispersed. Turns out -- as Pacquaio's trainer Freddie Roach relented with a sheepish grin -- the champ was waiting backstage to see how the Celtics-Heat game played out. With Bradley, fans, and ringside officials impatiently biding their time, Pacquiao -- still without his gloves taped --was then given time to hop on a treadmill so he could 'stretch his calves.'

Who's running this show anyway?

The answer to that became clear when Pacquiao emerged from his locker room surrounded by an entourage that was missing only an elephant, and a small army of bikini clad slaves to feed him grapes and fan him with oversized leaves.

As the most marketable name in boxing, the Filipino Congressman calls the shots and there's nothing fans, opponents, or boxing brass can do about it.

But Manny learned a lesson last night: You never leave the judges waiting.

*****************************************************************************************

Pacquiao started to find his range and timing late in the first round, staggered his opponent several times throughout the bout, and controlled the fight until the eleventh.

Perhaps it can be attributed to rolling his ankle in the fourth round, but Bradley could offer little outside of awkward footwork and occasional flurries of strikes that resembled slaps as much as punches.

Later in the bout, he began to aggressively wade forward and ate a steady stream of counter shots for his trouble. The American was relentless, though. His cardio never in question, Bradley pushed on and made judging the last two rounds a difficult task.

But the sentiment among broadcasters, fans, fighters, tweeters, and CompuBox numbers (total punches were 253-159 in the champ's favor) was the same: Manny Pacquiao dominated this fight, and may have earned a clean sweep on the cards.

The only reason to continue watching was to see if his elephant had arrived.

Some swear the decision -- 115-113, 115-113, 113-115 in Bradley's favor -- reeks of a fix perpetrated by the villainous Bob Arum. In the fight's aftermath, the Promoter admitted he stands to make a fortune off the inevitable rematch, but also pointed out that he has never been as ashamed of boxing.

Arum simply stands to lose too much in the revelation that his business is nearing a complete lack of legitimacy.

Maybe he should introduce Manny to a PVR before he drives the final nail into the coffin of a Pacquiao/Mayweather Jr. fight… if you still care.

30 for 30 in 30 - Tampa Bay Lightning

**AS OF TIME OF WRITING**

Bik Nizzar: How good is Steven Stamkos? Seriously! That’s all I got to say. This team is fine so long as they have Steven Stamkos.... Then again, this man might think otherwise..... Ooof- It begins and ends with goaltending for this team.

A year removed from a surprising playoff run that led them to a 7th game in the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Boston Bruins, here they are drafting 10th in the upcoming NHL draft. Needless to say, that is not the encore Steve Yzerman and Guy Boucher were expecting outta this team. Goaltending was the crutch all year with Mathieu Garon being preferred at times to Dwayne Roloson who was erratic at best. They’ve done some things to remedy the play in front of the goal by trading for d-man Keith Aulie to add with Victor Hedman to build on the blue line, but they’re still left with some serious questions to ask themselves. If goaltending is the main problem, what do we sacrifice to keep a window of opportunity open?

The candidates to be in the crease for the Lightning next year have been pointed out. Roberto Luongo, Jonathan Bernier, Anders Lindback, Josh Harding. I don’t know if you wanna be the team that buys into Lindback or Harding, so let’s focus on Luongo and Bernier. Tampa’s biggest piece is Brett Connolly. If you move him, well now you’re sacrificing future secondary scoring, and hoping Marty St. Louis goes another 2-3 years with elite production (his point total went down by 25 pts last year). If Teddy Purcell is actually coming into his own and continues his 2nd half performance (38 pts in 34 games) into next season then that helps. Along with Vincent Lecavlier and Ryan Malone they should be ok for scoring for now, but you always wonder what this team was gonna do when Marty  St. Louis retires? (Doesn’t he just have 1 of those names that you have to say the full name every time? I can’t just say “St. Louis” or “Martin” or “Marty”... it just flows so nicely, Marty St. Louis!!!) The answer USED to be “They’ve got Ashton Carter and Brett Connolly coming”, but they moved Carter for Aulie and if they want a goalie like Luongo or Bernier, it might cost them Connolly... It’s a slippery slope for Tampa.

TJ Molland:  They haven't really left themselves in a good position. There is a lot of money tied up in the offense and it has left little to no room to work on the back end which is just awful. How awful you ask? The worst GAA in the NHL last season (3.39 GA/G). The next closest was Toronto (3.16) a difference of .23 GA/G. In comparison a .28 GA/G difference separated Toronto from 24th place Ottawa. You can't blame one of defense or goaltending because that would be too lenient to one of them. They were abysmal. If we haven't drilled it home yet the free agency market for defenseman/goaltending is not going to solve your problems. So let’s get back to the goaltending options you mentioned then rip apart the defense.

If there is one hope for this team it's Dustin Tokarski. The young goaltender put up decent numbers in the AHL and could finally have his chance with the big club. It's the cheapest, easiest option right now. If you aren't confident in him I think the best options are Bernier out of LA or Lindback out of Nashville. Tough to say what the value of them will be (simple supply and demand could push their value way up) but I don't think it's unreasonable for TB to part with one of their 3 second round picks and maybe a prospect for either of them. Don't know why you were hating on Lindback or Harding, both put up similar numbers to Bernier, and could be just as valuable. Harding could be the toughest to get because I don't know how sold Minnesota is on Nicklas Backstrom for the future and Luongo's contract essentially makes him impossible to move to Tampa.

Bik Nizzar: I disagree that the Luongo contract is impossible to move, but I’ll get into that more in the Vancouver 30 for 30 in 30. What’s really comical about this team is that they had Mike Smith last year, and surprise surprise! Mike Smith is one of the darlings of this year’s playoffs. Now mind you, part of that is thanks to the Dave Tippett system making him look a little better, but it’s funny to see him flourish a season after being in Tampa. I’m not Lindback hater, (who btw, has one of the funnier parody twitter accounts @FakeLindback) I’m actually a fan, but even you have to admit he’s an unproven commodity. I’m not so sure that I’d wanna be the GM who buys into him and putting my job on the line, especially when I have a talented core like Tampa does. Is Lindback or Harding going to be the guy that can get you a cup in the next 2-3 years while you still have Marty St. Louis (see – full name again)? I’d say Bernier presents the most upside but Luongo is the proven piece to get you where you want to be.

*cut to Canuck fans snickering*

It really depends on what Steve Yzerman and the Lightning think they can be. Are they legitimate Cup contenders next year with a goalie? For 2 years? I think they can get back to that place from 2011 if they bring in the right piece. But it could wind up being a short-term gain for long-term pain. Plus bringing in a veteran would be good for Tokarski. If you bring in Bernier and he struggles, then you open up the “goalie controversy” doors.

This team does have two 1st round picks this year (10 and 19) thanks to a shrewd move by Yzerman by acquiring Kyle Quincey for Steve Downie then moving Quincey to Detroit for a 1st rounder (for those keeping score, that’s essentially a 1st rounder for Steve Downie) so I’d like to see them address their defense with the 10th pick (depending how the draft shakes out) and then adding another winger to their prospect cupboard.

TJ Molland: We haven't really touched on the offense because they put up good numbers last year. Numbers can be deceiving though. The Lightning only had 6 players break the 10 goal mark. Not exactly showing depth up front. Now this is the easiest area to fix via free agency (Jiri Hudler, Chris Kelly) for the short term, and for long term you can use your second 1st round pick to get a scoring winger. There is talent in the prospect pool (unlike everywhere else on this team) that will help with that too.

I don't see Yzerman wanting to do the quick fix (like Toronto has tried for years)(yup still hating on the Leafs) after his years of being in the "never-have-to-rebuild-ever....EVER" Detroit system. He will want to build a core that can be competitive year in and year out, especially in a market that can easily be forgotten if they don't constantly stay relevant. I really like what he has done, and think he has a few more surprises up his sleeve (How did he turn Downie in to a first round pick? #magiciansneverreveal). Stanley Cup contender? Probably not. Playoff potential? Likely. See Lecavalier break 100 pts again? You are more likely to see the Blue Jackets make the playoffs.

Bik Nizzar: How did Yzerman turn Downie into a 1st? Easy – Steve Yzerman is a legend.

Sidebar: I’ll defend and promote anything Stevie Y does, because he was my favourite player as a kid and still remains my all-time favourite player.... How much did I like the guy? Ya know when ya play EA Sports NHL... and used to create your own player..... I would give my guy perfect ratings (#JustLikeRealLife #false), and still put me as a 2nd line center on Detroit because even in a video game, nobody should knock Yzerman off the top line.... also the line of Federov – Me – Shanahan was utterly unstoppable.

The offense should be fine; I’m more worried about the long-term plan up front with this team. For now, Stamkos, Marty St. Louis, Lecavalier, Malone, Purcell should be able to carry the load.

It all depends on how they view the team. In their eyes, why can’t they be a Stanley Cup contender? When you have 1 of the best 5 players in the NHL in Stamkos, you should be pushing for that South East Division title every year (also I want to point out that we’re 10 days into this 30 for 30 in 30 and we’ve done 3 South East teams and by tomorrow 3 North West teams.... Sure there’s parity in the league, but where’s the parity in the divisions?). In a 7 game series, Stamkos can single handily win a series on his own. I wasn’t being boastful at the beginning of this just to show a “Condescending Wonka” meme (well – 50/50). He and Marty St. Louis might be the most entertaining pair to watch work together. With some clever drafting and consistent goaltending, this team SHOULD be in the playoffs next year, and a dangerous team to face, unless they continue with these tactics. That was the worst thing of the 2011-2012 NHL Season. BAR NONE.

30 for 30 in 30 - Winnipeg Jets

**AS OF TIME OF WRITING**

TJ Molland: So I learned something today. Blake Wheeler led the Jets in points.....I did not know that. Injuries to Byfuglien had a role to play in that, as he had the same pts/g average, but surprising to say the least.

Not so surprising was the way the season went for the Jets last year. Sure people expected them to make the playoffs but it was no surprise they were battling for the last of the playoff spots all year. It really was a shame they didn't make it. It would have been the perfect coming home story for the Jets. The fans deserved it. But if the team wants to give the fans what they deserve they need to step it up a notch.

Evander Kane took great steps forward last year with his play but the other prospects seem to still be lagging behind. The few core pieces all played well, but sometimes well, isn't good enough. They will need more out of the likes of Burmistrov and Antropov all the while hoping Ladd, Little and Pavelec can find that next gear. With lots of cap space ($33 million) and few players (14) signed it could be a way for the front office to put a Winnipeg stamp on this Thrasher carcass.

Bik Nizzar: Blake Wheeler had a very good season and things are looking up for Winnipeg with him a part of it. Good to see him come into his own again after a good year in Boston, which seems a distant memory. It’s incredible what a change of scenery can do for not just a player – but an entire team. This team was dead in the water in HOTlanta (if I didn’t get to say HOTlanta at least once in this, I’d have been pretty upset with myself) and are COMPLETELY reborn and exciting in Winnipeg as the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!!!!! Andrew Ladd’s overall impact doesn’t always show up on the box score, so yeah in a way it’d be nice for him to have 30-30.... I think that 50 pt mark, if he can CONSISTENTLY hit that, is just as valuable considering how much he means to that team, and how he’s embraced that city.

The question is, can they duplicate what they did last year? Honeymoon season is over. Now it’s time to get down to brass tacks and wear off some of the stink in the prospect cupboard. Outside of Mark Scheifle there’s not much else to like down the middle. They’ve got former 2^nd rounder pick Ben Maxwell, who I only remember for fighting PK Subban in rookie camp (seriously – Maxwell was drafted in 06, what’s he doing in ROOKIE CAMP in 2010).

Brian Little showed why he was made a high selection, but in spurts and I’m sorry, but Kyle Wellwood isn’t a long term solution at center. This team played a LOT better than I imagined they would, and credit to the fans in the MTS center for that. But also a ton of credit to Claude Noel. He’s a different kinda guy and sometimes it off-puts people but he did a tremendous job getting the best out of this team. The defense still frightens me and I think that’s what they should go after in the draft. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!! That’s just fun to shout out.

TJ Molland: Hahahah you seem pretty amped to be writing about the Jets. I too am excited about the Jets but I think we need to get down to the hard issues here. This team needs work. I'll start with goaltending.  Ondrej Pavelec is not the goalie they were hoping he would be. He is still young (24) and will improve his play, but when your best statistical year is a 2.73 GAA and a .914 SV% you aren't exactly screaming starting goaltender. I will cut him some slack because of the poor defensive play in front of him. As a RFA he will likely be back, but this may be the last chance he gets to prove he is THE guy.

Maybe he needs a little push? How about bringing in a goalie that could challenge him for the #1 spot? Say a Josh Harding or Jonas Gustavsson? (Like I said during my Toronto rant.....the free agent goaltending market is uhhh GROSS!!!!) I am not surprised this defense scares you. It has some decent names but they really do not live up to expectation. With 6 veteran d-men already signed it looks like they will be going with the same group unless someone surprises at camp. With (strikethru)little(strike) nothing in the form of prospects on the back-end it might be wise to use their first round pick on a defenseman. 

Up front the Jets could use some good secondary scoring. How about brining in the last remaining original Jet, Shane Doan? Think of how awesome that would be.

Bik Nizzar: Or Teemu Selanne....... heck, bring the pair of ‘em in – Now THAT would be special.

Pavelec, ech...... I legitimately don’t know what to make of him. 2 Weeks he looks AWFUL... 2 works he looks world class. And when you’re getting goaltending that is erratic like that – it’s time to find your netminder elsewhere. He can be an ok stop-gap for another year or 2, but they need a marquee goalie to either develop or go out and acquire via trade or free agency. Problem with going the trade route, they aren’t exactly full with prospects. A veteran guy like a Biron (who I think is gonna get over-paid in the free agent market because he seems to be a popular choice for a lotta teams this off-season) could work for them, but that still isn’t a LONG term solution.

Perhaps trading down outta their draft spot – pick up another 2^nd rounder, and go after the goalies in the draft. Both Malcom Subban and Andrei Vasileski are highly touted (mind you I subscribe to the theory that there is never a sure fire goalie to select early in ANY draft, but this would enable them to stock up on picks/prospects and get a goalie to develop). Canadian Fans will remember Russian goalie Vasilevski for his play in the World Junior Hockey Championship last holiday season. But if the Jets are content at staying in the 9 spot, start building the LA and Nashville way. Stockpile on Defense, build from the goal out – you have some pieces up front so you’re ok there, but start solidifying the back end.

Players like Dustin Byfuglien (does anyone actually pronounce that Buff-lin or do we all still say Bye-fuuuug-lee-en?), Tobias Enstrom are nice but offensive minded, albeit very elite at that skill. The likes of Ron Hainsey (how and why does Ron Hainsey have a No Trade Clause?! That’s basically all you need to know about the Atlanta Thrashers organization, that Ron Hainsey got a No Trade Clause) and Mark Stuart don’t strike me as the imposing stay-at-home d-men you want to off-set your offensive d-men with. I will say Zach Bogosian might have shredded the “bust” label with his play last season.

TJ Molland: First off how dare you doubt Ron Hainsey's NTC. He once put up 39 points and was only -16! That is totally worthy of that no trade clause. I'm beginning to doubt your credentials.....(end sarcasm) I think you made my point about drafting a defenseman even more valid with your points about drafting a goaltender in early rounds. Why gamble on a goalie that you can possibly grab with your own second round pick. Take one of the top defenseman who have a way better chance of panning out. Still fits your mold of building from the back end out, you just have to find a way to get a goaltender still. Which in essence should be the only reason you part with your first round pick. To trade for a legit goaltending prospect.

Before I go any further I would like to scald myself for forgetting Selanne was a Jet (any and all insults are welcome and much deserved). They should bring back both for their swan years just to keep fans excited through the somewhat rebuild that is much needed. Be patient Jets fans. You inherited a mess and it won't turn into gold overnight. 

PS: As a Canucks fan it will forever by By-Fugly

PPS: I totally contributed nothing in this e-mail except sarcasm and the encouragement to verbally abuse me....

Bik Nizzar: Your contribution, or lack thereof, is noted. You basically pulled an Alex Kovalev on this e-mail thread. Just showed up for a paycheque.... From here on out you’re known as a paycheque blogger until proven otherwise. Fans of The Extra Period will shout at you as you hit keystroke after keystroke with a meek conviction.

I really hope this team makes the playoffs, because I badly want to see what the MTS Center will be like in a playoff atmosphere. It’ll be the other 29 buildings to shame I imagine. 

30 for 30 in 30 - Carolina Hurricanes

**AS OF TIME OF WRITING**

Bik Nizzar: You hear it a thousand times during a season.... Missed opportunity – whether it is on the power-play, a breakaway, in whatever scenario..... In every game a team fails to take advantage of a presented opportunity. The 2011-2012 Hurricanes missed an opportunity when instead of trading away their UFA’s (Bryan Allen, Tuomo Ruutu), stockpiling draft picks and doing the ole’ *wink-wink-nudge-nudge “we’ll re-sign you when you become a free agent.” It made too much sense to do it, and I don’t think guys like Allen and Ruutu are players you should MAKE SURE you have on your team at the expense of your future. Sure they’re decent players and there’s a lot to be said for dressing room atmosphere, but they could have capitalized on a winning hand that was dealt to them, and folded on it. I will say though, they made the right decision in not moving Gleason, a player who is a bit underrated and can do good things for them down the road.

The biggest thing for the ‘Canes is that they already accomplished something remarkable. They convinced SOMEBODY to take that albatross of a contract that was Tomas Kaberle. Seriously, I wanna know what pictures GM Jim Rutherford had of former Habs GM Pierre Gauthier to get him to take on that contract. (Surprise surprise Gauthier no longer employed... have you seen Pierre Gauthier’s Wikipedia page? The Montreal section is really funny... Anytime your tenure as a GM is highlighted by you hiring an unpopular interim head coach – you know you did a good job #not) So cap wise they’re set up ok, depending on how much they want to spend. And I’ll say this – Eric Staal........ is a beast. He was TERRIBLE to begin the year, but then in comes Kirk Muller and Staal was flawless down the stretch. All for naught considering they were so far removed from the playoff picture (which is why not moving those players made even less sense) and it’s not like these team has a bevy of prospects coming up that securing depth and role players was crucial.

Also if they want to win, they need to embrace their Hartford Whalers heritage. Seriously – break out the Green Whale 3-5 times a season.

TJ Molland: I was so surprised they re-signed Ruutu versus moving him. Like you said it was a perfect time to bring in some draft picks before they maybe sign him in the summer. The Canes are in an awkward situation. With 19 players signed for next year (not including some of their prospects that could push for position) there isn't a lot of room for change. The team has made the playoffs once since winning the Stanley Cup and a lot of that has to do with the lack of depth this team has. There is some young talent on this team that can help lift them back to playoff success, but you are asking a lot of young players to all lift their game up a notch or two, all at once (Skinner, Stewart, Sutter [all S's again]). I thought this team would do better but since I have started writing this I have lost faith in their offense. Not that I had much before but oh man that lineup is shallow. Their defense looks better than the numbers it put up though. Am I missing something there? I know Cam Ward's numbers weren't great but the team shouldn't be giving up that many goals should they?

Bik Nizzar: The departure of Paul Maurice and inclusion of Kirk Muller as head coach just shows the contrast in their seasons. PM went 8-13-4 while KM got the team to go 25-20-12. And they were MUCH better post All-Star break, led by Staal’s 34 pts in 31 games and Tim Gleason being +10 in 31 games. Plus their goals against improved from 2.7 Pre All-Star break to 2.4 post. But you’re right – little faith in their offense I have #YodaTalk (am I too lazy to hit delete and re-structure that... yes... yes I am... Do I realize that it’s taken more keystrokes and characters to type out this parenthesis than to amend that sentence.... yes...yes I do) but they do have some vital pieces already in place. A Big #1 Elite Center, a young scoring winger. They sit 8th in the draft, and I know he PROBABLY won’t slip to 8 (and by probably I really mean definitely) but we’ve talked about teams ahead of Carolina really needing defense... so if Filip Forsberg is still there at about 6... I think Carolina needs to... NEEEEEDS TO... trade up to get him. They’re defense is better than it played with Gleason, Pitkanen, Faulk showing some good flashes last year, and Ryan Murphy coming through soon. Forsberg just seems like another good fit for them, and I’m not enamoured with the wing depth in this draft, so maybe even if Forsberg gets to 3-4-5... they should try to move up.

TJ Molland: It should be a no-brainer to part with at least one piece of the D to either move up in the draft or obtain a good second line winger (or legit first line winger for that matter). Brad Boyes jumps out at me on the free agency market. A big able bodied guy who could give some depth at wing, and relieve some of the pressure off of Staal. If they are willing to overspend they could also go after PA Parenteau who is coming off a career high 67 points. Although they have their hands full with so many contracts they have over $24 million in cap space to make a few moves.

It is actually quite remarkable how much better the Canes did under the guidance of Muller over Maurice (who was a bad hire to begin with). It will be interesting to see how they perform under him for a full year (and an offseason to develop a team game plan). I don't think playoffs are totally out of the question but don't expect them to be favourites.

30 for 30 in 30 - Minnesota Wild

**AS OF TIME OF WRITING**

TJ Molland: After a few big trades, a new coach, and a new outlook, the Minnesota Wild were the "wild" card (see what I did there) in the Northwest division. Were they finally poised to make it back to the playoffs after several years of disappointment? They looked it. Going 20-11-5 to start the year, and as of the Christmas break they were leading the NW division. That memory quickly faded as the team went 15-25-6 the rest of the season with a goal differential of -63. Devin Setoguchi was not what was advertised, Dany Heatley failed to break 25 goals for the second time in his career (first time he only played 31 games). It was a disaster. The new high flying offensive style worked until the offense dried up, and so did the wins. The good news for the Wild is they have a strong core they can build on and lots of good young offensive players in their system. So let’s kick this off by asking the question.....Are Coyle and Granlund going to be the difference for this offense?

Bik Nizzar: I still haven’t gotten over how they stole Charlie Coyle from San Jose. And with that acquisition, I like what they’re building up front. It’s quietly become a potentially dangerous team if they can add a marquee free agent. And by all accounts that free agent is Zach Parise. Credit to them for trying this and pulling the hometown kid strings. If Parise does make it to July 1^st as a free agent – Minnesota is gonna walk up with a Brinks truck to get him to sign. With nearly 20 million in cap space to do this, boy oh boy could this offense be productive. Mikko Koivu doesn’t get the credit he deserves for the amount of work he does and the talent he has. His contract is a bit over-priced, but really, they needed to keep him there, so over-paying for that #1 center (and yes he is a legit #1 center) is ok. Even if they miss out on him their forwards are shaping together nicely. Their defense is a bit of a mess.... and that’s putting it nicely. Rather funny considering for years this team was all about defense and boring hockey. #karma

TJ Molland: Totally didn't even think of Minny as an option for Parise but it makes a ton of sense now. The top six will still be missing some added depth but that can be easily acquired through free agency. Maybe a Jiri Hudler or Johan Hecht? I like what is happening on the defense for the Wild. Some real promising talents. The big issue though is they are still missing a top pair. Not a top pair defenseMAN, but an entire #1 set of d-men. Gilbert is good but needs some work and the young guys (Marco Scandella, Jared Spurgeon, Clayton Stoner) are still a few years away from being the leaders on this team. (What is with all those 'S' names?) As we have stated over and over there is not a lot to get from free agency so it may not be an easy fix for the Wild this year. Playoffs are still a bit of a dream for them but they have a nice core going for them. If they can adopt the Phoenix Coyotes mentality of everyone chip in where needed and play good fundamental hockey they could at least compete each night. Lots of cap space leaves them plenty of options for this summer to start building a playoff contender.

Bik Nizzar: If they can just find some common ground between that blistering start, and that TERRIBLE finish, they could be a sneaky team next year. Maybe not for the playoffs considering how daunting the Western Conference is, but certainly that 9-11 range. They need a 2^nd line center though. You hope Granlund can be that guy right outta the gate but perhaps a wing role on the 2^nd line with a proven vet in the middle for the time being. As for the D – I’m not a Tom Gilbert fan at all. They seriously made a mistake trading Nick Leddy for Cam Barker and now they have nothing to show for that deal. Of the 3 S’s (yeah seriously, what is it w/ the S’s) Spurgeon and Scandella intrigue me with Scandella probably having the most upside – he just needs to develop a more well-rounded game and temper his offensive instincts. -22 in 63 games last year... yikes. Depending on who they value in the draft, the top 6 picks could shake out in a very favourable way for them. It’s still a 1-2 year project for them to get back to the playoffs so any of Matt Dumba, Jacob Trouba or Griffin Reinhart (either of the latter 2 would be TREMENDOUS for them) – things could be looking up for the Wild very soon.

TJ Molland: When I realized they had given up Leddy for Barker I shook my head. That was a brutal mistake. But I like what they are building. And that is a young mobile defense. It seems to be the way of the new NHL. Scandella's +/- is not great but he is only 22 (same with Spurgeon), and has lots of time to mature. They used him in all situations last year which goes to show how confident they are in him. Spurgeon has more offensive upside but still remains defensively responsible. Stoner was the lone Wild defenseman on the plus side of the +/- stat but at age 27 he will be asked to do a lot more for this team. Not saying I want that to be my defense but as far as foundation goes it's a good start. Add in one of the names you mentioned and this could be a formidable group in the near future.

We have yet to touch on the goaltending situation, and really why would we? Backstrom has been solid for this team year in and year out. In fact last year was his best statistical year since 08/09. He is getting up there in years but they have time to groom a prospect in the mean time. That prospect being Matt Hackett who put up good numbers in the 12 games he appeared in for the Wild last year (2.37 GAA .922 SV%).

30 for 30 in 30 - Anaheim Ducks

**AS OF TIME OF WRITING**

Bik Nizzar: Quack quack quack quack QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK!!!!!! That was the only way I could get motivated to write about the Anaheim Ducks. There is 1 glaring fix that this team has to do right away. Find ANY loophole in the NHL’s CBA to see if Sidney Crosby is playing in the wrong district. (ok last Mighty Ducks reference I promise)(Actually I can’t promise that at all.....) It seems that this teams most PRESSING need right now is Justin Schultz. He’s a highly regarded prospect out of the University of Wisconsin who has never signed a contract after 4 years in the Anaheim system, so his rights are about to be released to the open market. And if I were him, I would hit the open market. It’s unfortunate for the Ducks but really – how can you allow this to happen. Supremely dropping the ball and now they’re missing out on a prized free agent. After Schultz they need to decide if they’re committing to Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan. Perry and Getzlaf’s contracts are up so now is the time to either re-sign and extend them or perhaps consider other avenues. Oh – and also BEG AND PLEAD TEEMU to come back.

TJ Molland: If they can't sign Schultz they will really be kicking themselves. Having him with Sbisa and Fowler could finally establish a nice core of young defense that will grow together. Looking down the prospect line there is not a lot there that could even come close to replacing Schultz. With Perry, Getzlaf and Ryan what do you do? I mean they should all be 25+ goals 80+ points. Yet only one of them cracked 60 points last year, and Getzlaf only had 11 goals. That was as many as Tim Stapleton....yeah....not good. I imagine Anaheim's management holds off on signing them until at least mid season to see what they can provide. If they can't produce and you are far out of it maybe move them at the deadline for anyone named Charlie Conway......The cupboard is thin behind them though. Devante Smith-Pelly looks like he can play full time, and after watching Emerson Etem live earlier this year at a WHL game (in which he scored 3 goals and had an assist and completely dominated the game) he should get a good look from the big club this year. One thing the Ducks need to address is their scoring depth, but outside of pleading Selanne what do you think their options are?

Bik Nizzar: If Selanne hangs them up (honestly I think he EASILY has 2 years left in him) it is beyond a MASSIVE blow for this team. You mentioned Etem and Smith-Pelly and I like both of these players and they can really round out their top 6. Selanne is just SOOOOOO valuable on the power-play (28 of his 66 pts came on the PP) that his departure would cause a shuffle I don’t think they could recover from right away. I can’t believe I’m actually going to utter these words –2^nd line centre is a problem for them (cause I don’t think Koivu is that anymore) but MAYBE Olli Jokinen could help that *GULP*..... Another Finnish player to go with Selanne and Koivu. It’s not so much top 6 scoring that I worry about for this team, its bottom 6... Andrew Cogliano led that group with a whopping 26 points, and even he featured in the top 6 this year. The bottom 6 really has no identity.

You brought up the defense and yes they’ve got some highly touted pieces, but Cam Fowler absolutely needs to make a jump this year. You can’t be -53 after 2 seasons. You just can’t. I think Schultz is all but gone so we can figure him out of that core prospect group. So basically it’s Sbisa and Fowler, a 36 year old Lubomir Visnovsky, Francois Beauchimen (who admittedly plays a lot better in Anaheim than in Toronto) and Toni Lydman. That group looks like it’s gonna get scored on and scored on a LOT. They need someone to show Fowler the finer points of defending (think Drew Doughty and Rob Scuderi pairing. It’s worked wonders for Doughty), and if Barret Jackman hits the open market, he can be the guy and brought in at a good price for them. Finally goaltending – I like Jonas Hiller and he is the guy. But he doesn’t strike me as a guy who can play 73 games this year.... his goals against to begin the year was truly awful (and for those of us that owned him in Fantasy Hockey...... brutal) so bringing in a solid backup that isn’t Dan Ellis or Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers could help bring that 73 number down to a more reasonable 59-62.

TJ Molland: Hiller could use a somewhat of 1A behind him just to ease the pressure. Not entirely his fault though. You are right about the defense being mediocre at best. I had higher expectations for the Ducks last year but after looking at their roster....I really question why I did? They are a one line team that really lacks identity. With only 7 forwards signed for next year it will be easy to do an overhaul and bring in players to form the identity they so desperately need, but being a somewhat weak free agency class, they might not get so lucky in their signings. Semin could be an intriguing player for them. Will solve a lot of their scoring depth problems if they feel he can bring it every night. Jackman would be the ideal signing for the Ducks back-end. A proven stay-at-home defenseman that should ease the pressures on Hiller and show Fowler and Sbisa what the next level looks like. It’s going to be another tough year for the Ducks. And can I just say that I thought it would be unfathomable we would get through the Ducks without mentioning Coach Bombay? Did we really just do that?

Bik Nizzar: Or just adopt the Flying V as a strategy.

30 for 30 in 30 - Toronto Maple Leafs

**AS OF TIME OF WRITING**

TJ Molland: Hmmmmm, I will just start by saying there will likely be some bias in writing this, because like the majority of people who live outside Toronto, I too dislike the Maple Leafs. So in trying to be as neutral as possible I will refrain from making waffles jokes.

The city planned the parade in November and by February they were planning to parade OVER TOP of the team. So what happened? Well inconsistent goaltending, a lack of depth, and some poor defending are a nice place to start. So what do you do to fix it? A lot of things. And to make matters worse The team has no free agents coming off the books except Kulemin being a RFA. So he will likely return. Do you really want to go into the season with the same team that looked playoff bound only to wilt like an unwatered flower? But you have to start somewhere so why not try to fix the second worst defense in the league. The same squad that was ever so generous to opposing teams offenses last year, is all poised to come back and deliver more of what everyone has come to expect. Signing players looks to be almost out of the question (less than $8 mil in cap space to sign 5-7 players) so trade routes will be the option. But does anyone really want to do business with Burke? Bik you need to jump in here quick before I start to get on a real offensive tirade.


Bik Nizzar: It’s the same song and dance with this team – Play well early in the season, and just like leaves, come winter they wilt away and disappear.... until spring when they play well and remind everyone that they can be good, but by then it’s too late. There is enough talent on this team to make the playoffs, but they’ve done such a poor job putting massive funds into key positions for players who don’t deserve it. Tim Connolly and Mike Komisarek are making too much money AND have no-trade clauses. Mikhail Grabovski is making 5.5 million while Ryan Kesler, Patrice Bergeron and James Neal all make less than that. Just because the league needs 30 #1 centers – doesn’t mean you have a #1 center. And Mikhail Grabovski is not a #1 center. When you look at their payroll, you don’t really see ANY contract that jumps out to you and makes you say “wow – that’s a bargain!” They’ve propped up players on pedestals and tried to make them look better than they actually are. Matt Lombardi 3.5 million? Really?!

Nazem Kadri has shown he’s got some skill but I feel like he’s going to be undersized and over-worked as a #1 center and will be pushed out to the wing eventually. Joe Colborne is a tremendous prospect BUT the pressure of winning might make him the most attractive trade piece to acquire a goalie. This team’s first job has to be shedding salary, then figuring out goaltending, then centre.

TJ Molland: Bang on with that last line. The trouble is you usually have to package talent with the burden contracts and the Leafs can't afford that. I can see that with the players they have they COULD make the playoffs. But will they really be able to compete? Burke said he doesn't want to be a team that squeaks into the playoffs, but with the roster he has I don't know how you can see yourself as a legitimate contender. Time to focus though. Lets go with goaltending which has more holes than a bad movie (I wish I watched movies so I had a great analogy here....but I don't). Gustavsson is set to become an UFA and I don't know with his numbers and inconsistency that Toronto will really want him back. But when you look at the available free agents in the goaltending position there are not many better options. If the Leafs really want to sign a #1 goalie Tomas Vokoun is the only legitimate candidate. Scrivens has played well for the Marlies this past year so he may get a shot at the big club. Or you know....trade for Luongo...Or better yet, trade with Boston for Tuukka Rask back. You know, that guy you traded for Raycroft, who is playing for.....not the NHL... (thumbs up with huge sarcastic grin)

Bik Nizzar: I think the movie reference you were looking for was: The Leafs are a Michael Bay movie – a lotta money spent, but no real direction and it’ll be entertaining for better or for worse.

The checkered history of Burke and Gillis and the Canucks makes a Luongo trade probably unlikely but it’s also the 1 that makes the most sense. Burke has to recognize the pressure that’s on him and the team to make the playoffs, so if he can check his ego (also unlikely) and make this trade happen, it’s probably the best move for them.

You touched on the Rask trade (which to me is equal to if not worse than the Kessel trade) and it just goes to show that this team has taken shortcut after shortcut to try to build a winner and its hurting them now. Rask – Seguin – Dougie Hamilton could have been your core and that’s not even a stretch to say that could have happened. If they go ahead and make ANOTHER trade – what do you see in return for Luongo?

TJ Molland: For me it begins and ends with Jake Gardiner. He was quite the pleasant surprise for the Maple Leafs last year putting up 30 points in 75 games. I would probably ask for one of D'amigo, Colborne or Ashton as well. Maybe a little much to ask for and highly unlikely Toronto parts with Gardiner, but I don't see much else on this team the Canucks could use. Like we discussed the Leafs would probably want to dump a contract on us to ease some cap room, I just don't see any contract Vancouver would be willing to take back.

Speaking of bad contracts....wait, this whole e-mail set has been about bad contracts, but I digress....Colby Armstrong has all of a sudden jumped to the top of my bad contracts list. $3 million for a guy who had 3 points in 29 games, and played just over 9 MINUTES A GAME!! Multiply by 82, carry the one....yup $4065 per minute on the ice and a really nice pro-rated value of $352,941 per point. (Math is cool) /rant.

Before this gets to long can I just admit I don't see a fix for the longest playoff drought in the NHL? I guess you can ride out this season with the team you have and hope last years early season success repeats (without you know, the second half sucking) and you maybe contend for a playoff spot? It's a case of too many contracts still in play to really tweak the team. Wait a year until whomever you draft this year gets some experience, bring in a bunch more prospects and do a real face lift for 2013/14 when you have a lot of contracts come off the books.

Bik Nizzar: It really depends what they wanna build around. Gardiner by all accounts is that piece they wanna keep so any trade talk involving him is moot. They ARE building something (unlike the Islanders as we broke down earlier) with Gardiner, Phaneuf, Lupul, Kessel, (sorry Phil Kessel but you’re not a cornerstone – you’re an elite complimentary piece), Schenn, Kadri, Franson, Colborne, and Brad Ross (who I reckon will become a fan favourite for his toughness).

The defense didn’t help out the goaltending last year. James Reimer was ok before his injury but when your defense is comprised of J-M Liles and Mike Komisarek (both of whom aren’t at the same levels they once possessed) and Carl Gunnarson – you’re gonna have a bad time. I don’t think Franson was given enough time to develop and feature heavily on the team’s power-play so hopefully under Carlyle they’ll give him another chance. If their top 4 looks something along the lines of Gardiner-Schenn-Phaneuf-Franson, that’ll make Reimer look better, but when you’re financially committed to Komisarek and Liles, maybe getting a different goalie like Luongo makes them look better.

This all seems like it’s shaping up for more short-cuts for this team. Which if they’re going to go with the trade route they HAVE to be sure to keep draft picks. Brian Burke’s philosophy of moving picks has to stop and they need a continuous rebuild. So if we’re going with trades and since we keep bringing up Luongo for the Leafs, the Canucks now have a hole at Center with the departure of Cody Hodgson, someone like Joe Colborne could fit that role. But here’s another wrinkle... Rather than fix goaltending and commit to Reimer, what if they acquired a Center? Could they pry Thornton or Marleau out of San Jose for the right price?

TJ Molland: It's very likely. SJ could be a more willing trade partner, and may cost you a little less than Luongo. The same pieces I have mentioned before (again Gardiner probably won't be moved) will be the cost, so getting one of Thornton or Marleau is not totally out of the question. I have a feeling the Sharks will be more eager to move Marleau/Thornton than the Canucks move Luongo. If the Leafs can finally get a legit number one center you may see Kessel finally break the 40 goal mark (as hard as it is to say that) and see this team turn the corner into "Playoff Team". You make a great point in Burke not moving draft picks. This team has had a poor prospect pool for a long time and with your high end draft picks FINALLY coming to YOUR team, it would be ridiculous to try and move them for a quick fix.