Would you make this deal?

[gordphish]

A short time ago a mock trade was bandied about Vancouver that had the Canucks sending Kesler, Schneider, Bourdon and their first pick to Toronto for Sundin. In light of the news filtering out of Tampa that Lecavalier wants to be traded, I'm going to propose a similar mock deal here and see what CANUCK fans think...

Kesler, Bieksa, Cooke, Schneider and their first round pick to Tampa for Lecavalier.

So CANUCK fans, how about it? Would you make that deal? Lecavalier's cap hit is 6.875 million and he is signed through to the end of next season.

[AtLossForWords]

Sorry, I'll have to pass on this one. That is just too much to give up for Vincent LeCavalier.

Where you lose me is Ryan Kesler, I won't give him up for a player only signed through next season. If Raymond were put into the deal and Kesler were taken out I'd go for it, but Kesler, Bieksa, Schnieder and a first is just far too much to give up for one player albeit an impact player.

I'd try to persuade Feaster to give up St. Louis for Bourdon, Cooke, and Schnieder, and a second round pick.

[gordphish]

I'm of two minds on it, myself.

Why I wouldn't do it:

With Lecavalier UFA after next season, that leaves them with the huge challenge of resigning him along with the Sedins and Ohlund. There likely isn't enough money to go around and still keep the team competetive. They also take a big hit at centre. Lecavalier is of course an upgrade over Kesler, but with Morrison UFA and White still two or three years away, they'd have to go hunting for a third line centre. Somehow I don't think Bliznak or Gendur would cut it.

Why I would do it:

Lecavalier is one of the top 5 players in the league, and he's in his prime. Guys like him rarely become available, even in today's age of player movement. If you were looking for someone to help bring along your skilled young wingers, there aren't too many better choices than Lecavalier. Somehow it seems a lot like the Luongo deal...in other words, when you get a chance to add a player of his calibre, you don't say no...as this franchise should have learned recently when they turned their noses up at Neidermayer.

Ultimately I don't think that package would get it done anyways...I'm sure Feaster would think long and hard about it, especially if he manages to land Stamkos in the draft. But should Montreal have any interest, a package from them that included Price, Plekanec, a first rounder and a top prospect would likely be more appealing to him.

[Nelson19777]

Wow, nice mock up. It seems like it's quite a realistic expectation from TB's side. Agree with Lossy that it seems too much. You'd have to gauge his desire to stay. If it looks like a resonable deal can be done on an extension, yes, I do it. I obviously try to do it for less but I think with Luongo and Vinnie you've got one hell of a base to "re-tool" around. In a couple years we'd be saying, Ryan who?

As for St. Louis. I'd pass. Another small forward is not what this team needs.

[gordphish]

Wow, nice mock up. It seems like it's quite a realistic expectation from TB's side. Agree with Lossy that it seems too much. You'd have to gauge his desire to stay. If it looks like a resonable deal can be done on an extension, yes, I do it. I obviously try to do it for less but I think with Luongo and Vinnie you've got one hell of a base to "re-tool" around. In a couple years we'd be saying, Ryan who?

As for St. Louis. I'd pass. Another small forward is not what this team needs.

If we did get him, I'd pitch him on an extension that worked like this...

Year 1 - 10 million
Year 2 - 8 million
Year 3 - 8 million
Year 4 - 6 million
Year 5 - 6 million
Year 6 - 6 million
Year 7 - 4 million
Year 8 - 4 million
Year 9 - 4 million
Year 10 - 4 million

That's 60 million over ten years, a cap of hit 6 mil per year. Yes, you're paying 4 mil when he's 39, but the Leafs are paying Sundin 5 mil when he's 38...

Then I'd approach Luongo on a similar deal.

[TimmyTabasco]

No

We already have three big players

So, I dont really see us adding another

But, I do see us adding a solid supporting cast

[Nelson19777]

If we did get him, I'd pitch him on an extension that worked like this...

Year 1 - 10 million
Year 2 - 8 million
Year 3 - 8 million
Year 4 - 6 million
Year 5 - 6 million
Year 6 - 6 million
Year 7 - 4 million
Year 8 - 4 million
Year 9 - 4 million
Year 10 - 4 million

That's 60 million over ten years, a cap of hit 6 mil per year. Yes, you're paying 4 mil when he's 39, but the Leafs are paying Sundin 5 mil when he's 38...

Then I'd approach Luongo on a similar deal.

Gotta agree Gordo. Maybe only 8 years instead of 10, but you gotta keep talent like Lou and Vinnie if you can get them.

Timmy, who are the other two? Just kidding. I think Vancouver has a special situation with the twins. IMO they can't ask for 6+ million each because I don't think anyone can afford to sign them both for that kind of money if they went to free agency. They would presumably be useless once split up, so I think they have to take less to continue playing together. Their current deals reflect that. I think these guys would be re-upped for around 4-4.5 million max. even though their individual numbers might show they deserve more.

[gordphish]

Gotta agree Gordo. Maybe only 8 years instead of 10, but you gotta keep talent like Lou and Vinnie if you can get them.

Timmy, who are the other two? Just kidding. I think Vancouver has a special situation with the twins. IMO they can't ask for 6+ million each because I don't think anyone can afford to sign them both for that kind of money if they went to free agency. They would presumably be useless once split up, so I think they have to take less to continue playing together. Their current deals reflect that. I think these guys would be re-upped for around 4-4.5 million max. even though their individual numbers might show they deserve more.

I expect the Sedins to get at least 5 million each per season, with an NTC thrown in to keep them here. There are plenty of teams around the league that could and would offer them 6 mil each per, and while the Sedins may be happy with everything they have right now in Vancouver, they aren't stupid either. If they are used as first line players, they are going to want first line money.

And I don't think for a minute they'd be useless split up. Both are very talented players. It might take them both time to adjust, but they'd still be PPG guys. But that's moot. They aren't going to sign with different teams, and Nonis isn't going to trade one without the other.

Timmy, I'd point to the Ducks as a response to your post on this matter. You woudn't have thought a team with Neidermayer that had already made it to the conference final would have had any reason to trade for Pronger. But then, if they hadn't, they wouldn't have taken the next step and won the Stanley Cup.

Again, I don't think this deal would get it done with Feaster because he'd likely get better offers, but with a few days to think about it, I'd make this deal. Adding Lecavalier's leadership, experience and competetiveness to Luongo and Mitchell would give them a sound core to really start developing their younger players. For example, I think Raymond becomes an instant 30 goal threat with Lecavalier as his centre.

[AtLossForWords]

Personally I think when you're giving up this much talent you're mortaging the farm for a team that wants to build through it's youth and through the draft.

Sure you have Sedins as your top line with either Naslund or Pyatt and then you stick LeCavalier with the flavor of the month. In a defensive system, LeCavalier will put up numbers like Richards does in Tampa Bay now playing alongside poor offensive players.

Maybe Raymond is a thirty goal threat, but when LeCavalier scores 60 of 100 points playing with Martin St. Louis, you can't leave out the possibility that his numbers are really going to drop playing in Vancouver unless he's playing with an amped up Markus Naslund and Taylor Pyatt.

[gordphish]

Personally I think when you're giving up this much talent you're mortaging the farm for a team that wants to build through it's youth and through the draft.

Sure you have Sedins as your top line with either Naslund or Pyatt and then you stick LeCavalier with the flavor of the month. In a defensive system, LeCavalier will put up numbers like Richards does in Tampa Bay now playing alongside poor offensive players.

Maybe Raymond is a thirty goal threat, but when LeCavalier scores 60 of 100 points playing with Martin St. Louis, you can't leave out the possibility that his numbers are really going to drop playing in Vancouver unless he's playing with an amped up Markus Naslund and Taylor Pyatt.

I kind of look at it the other way...I don't think St. Louis would have sniffed the Art Ross without Lecavalier or Richards as his centre.

[AtLossForWords]

I kind of look at it the other way...I don't think St. Louis would have sniffed the Art Ross without Lecavalier or Richards as his centre.

Honestly I think the better player wins the Art Ross, that's why Sakic and Forsberg won Harts like St. Louis when they shot Hejduk numbers to top line quality along with a Rocket Richard.