Kuzmenko is just another it player. He's a 1 demensional scorer that doesn't really enhance the Leafs. The thought that any winger will automatically compete the top 6 is false. Kuzmenko may find some chemistry with one of the top 2 lines but he's also the 3rd option on any one of those lines instead of the 2nd option behind the Canuck centreman he's playing with. The 2LW spot many seem to think is the biggest weakness TO has, is a specific role. Much like how Bunting plays, hard nosed, create havoc in front, forecheck etc etc. That's not Kuzmenko's game and if he doesn't contribute to the top 6, he's just not good enough defensively to work in the bottom 6. I have zero interest in Kuzmenko. And 2@6 makes the first year of Matthews new deal very tough. You likely lose Nylander then.

Caps going to jump 4 mil after next year, not worried about keeping the stars, and Mitch is underratedly good at forchecking.
I switched the lineup to reflect a better optimization

We need offence throughout the lineup. It cannot just be the big 4

keep kerfoot and skip JVR, would rather spend 3.5M on Kerfoot for his versatility. Even better if you can swing both. I like Kuzmenko though. But the Leafs have zero russians and he doesn't speak much English which isn't great, though I do want him.

edit: forgot samsonov nvm

Kerfoot would be needed for VAN since they don't want an all future package

It was supposed to jump 4 million next season and is only going up by 1. There is no guarantee it rises that much

Thats not true at all.
It was always supposed to be 1 next season, but Bettman a few months ago said that the 4 mil jump could happen early if certain (near impossible) thresholds were met

Which is why we need ROR, adds offence and helps tighten up defensively as well. Kuzmenko is not good defensively.

The Leafs are excellent defensively. We need offense and Kuzy is cheap (cap wise). If you can swing Kuz and RoR I'm down but I'm not sure a both option is available

The Leafs finally have a total buy in on a team identity. Every player on the roster is playing smart defensively, as we move into the playoffs we need to keep that mindset. Adding players who don't fit the identity is likely to cause more harm than good. Kuzmenko isn't going to backcheck like our players, won't be half as good in his zone as we need him to be. It's a subtraction as much as an add. Likely more of a subtraction from the identity than the increase in scoring will benefit us. Getting someone who can score and also add to our defensive prowess is the way to go. Especially if we are giving up a 1st.

I think this is an unbelievably gross exaggeration based on absolutely nothing

Kuzmenko is an offensive play driver that is good defensively.

JVR is going to pull a second at the deadline.

He is not good defensively. He isn't a liability. Important distinction


Lebrun reporting he is going to pull much less

While Marek said on 32 thoughts he could go for a late first. I mean that’s crazy talk but the guy produces. We’ll see.

No one on the canucks is good defensively

Maybe the value comes out somewhere around a 2nd with the retention (say a mid pick + meh prospect) but I don't see it going much higher

Oh they’ll retain half and take back an expiring contract. I think they get a second but we’ll see.

what use is a rental to them

Theyd extend him. Keep up with the news they are trying to win AND sell. Its hilarious

lol I know its so dumb. Just trying to think rationally even if the GM won't

Which episode did Marek say this on? Or was it just the one from yesterday when he said JVR was available

You're just being an annoying troll at this point. At least put some effort in your troll attempts

Or you know, they could just wait until UFA and grab him like they did with Mikheyev...There is 0 reason for a trash Canucks team to acquire a pending UFA

The team is bad defensively and hasn't been good for several years. Some are not bad but most just aren't good.

Most aren’t good. That is correct. That doesn’t mean everybody is bad. Kuzmenko is not one dimensional like you say he is. He is one of the few players actually responsible defensively