Looking to 2011-12

So the Kaberle era/saga is over and the Leafs got a decent return (more than I expected). We also finally got rid of an over-rated Beauchemin and, once again, got a very decent return. On top of that, showboater Versteeg was shipped out and we got a decent draft pick. Overall, the future is looking bright in Leafland.

Now, although this season isn't over yet, our chances our slim. So, lets look forward to next season. If I was Burke, here's what my way-too-early offseason game plan would look like:

1. Hopefully Burke can get rid of him before this trade deadline, but if not, Komisarek has to go to the minors. If you’re going to bury Jeff Finger, there’s no excuse for not doing the same to Komisarek. I like Komi as a person, but his play doesn’t justify keeping him in the lineup….especially at $4.5m.

2. Before looking outside of the organization for additional help, lets get things in order by re-signing key RFAs. Based on what guys have signed for in recent years and recent performances, I’m projecting the following salaries:

Macarthur 3m
Bozak 1m
Brent 0.65m
Schenn 3m
Gunnarson 0.9
Reimer 1.00

3. Up front, the only way the Leafs are going to get a marquee centre without trading away the farm is to target Brad Richards, who is still relatively young and has at least 4 to 5 solid years left in him. In terms of other guys to target, I would look to Vancouver to improve our D by trying to sign Erhoff (offensively skilled dman) and Bieksa (defensive dman):

Richards 7m
Erhoff 4.5m
Bieksa 4.0m

4. With a solid top 6, Kadri doesn’t have to be thrust into a prominent role. I’d like to see him come up and further hone is skills on the third line with two decent players in Armstrong and Bozak. I envision a lineup looking something like this:

Lupul – Richards – Kessel
Macarthur – Grabovksi – Kulemin
Kadri – Bozak – Armstrong
Brown – Brent – Orr

Erhoff – Schenn
Aulie – Phaneuf
Gunnarson – Bieksa
Lebda

Reimer
Gustavsson

5. Cap numbers look something like this:

Lupul 4.25
Kessel 5.4
Richards 7
Macarthur 3
Grabovski 2.9
Kulemin 2.35
Kadri 1.72
Bozak 1.0
Armstrong 3.0
Brown 0.737
Brent 0.65
Orr 1.0

Phaneuf 6.5
Schenn 3.0
Erhoff 4.5
Bieksa 4.0
Aulie 0.734
Gunnarson 0.9
Lebda 1.45

Reimer 1.00
Gustavsson 1.35

Tucker 1

TOTAL 57.468