Never has it been more apparent that strength up the middle is what wins you games, and it’s what wins you championships. The last several Stanley Cup champions are pure examples of depth down the middle, as the Blackhawks featured Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Toews, along with former Selke trophy winner John Madden and Dave Bolland. The Pittsburgh Penguins boast one of the deepest center cores in the league, with all-stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin bolstered by Jordan Staal, a solid two-way player and former Selke trophy nominee. The Detroit Red Wings featured Pavel Datsyuk, Jiri Hudler and Kris Draper.
The top players in the game are most often centermen. From Gretzky and Lemieux to Sakic and Yzerman to stars of today like Thornton, Richards and Henrik Sedin, it is the most important position in hockey. Your centerman is relied upon to generate offense and control the defense. They are supposed to win face-offs and cover for pinching defensemen. It has become completely apparent that this is what the Maple Leafs truly lack, and have lacked since the days of Mats Sundin.
While the previous administration was never able to build this kind of a team around Sundin, a player of his ilk would be the cure to what ails the Leafs. While players like Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak could one day develop into top centermen, they are young and inexperienced and it’s showing on the ice. The team’s best center, Mikhail Grabovski, has been playing well but is starting to slide on his face-offs and is not often used in defensive situations. Tim Brent does an amicable job imitating a Jordan Staal, John Madden or a Kris Draper, but hasn’t provided the same offensive punch as those other players. Ditto for Mike Zigomanis.
So how does one resolve this problem in the new NHL and the salary cap era? This is what Brian Burke has been tasked with, and it is a monumental task indeed. Burke has at least attempted to fill this hole so far, going after both the Sedins as well as Mike Cammalleri at one point, while bringing in players like Bozak and drafting Kadri. He has a long-term solution in place, but is looking to shore up the position through trade as the UFA market dwindles. Let’s take a look at what I feel are his best options:
Brad Richards, Dallas Stars – Richards is an impending UFA, and could be looking for a big money deal in the vein of Ilya Kovalchuk as he is the only marquee name left on the 2011 UFA list. At just 30 years old, Richards already has a cup ring and a Conn Smythe trophy, and is having a solid season in Dallas. Therein lies the problem. While Dallas does have management issues, if they can be sorted out Richards is open to re-signing with them. If not, you can expect Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk to maximize the return on his star player in a deal similar to what the Thrashers got for Kovalchuk last year, and that price may be one Burke is not willing to pay. Should Richards make it to July 1st without a contract expect Burke to be on a lot of flights to Dallas.
Patrick Marleau/Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks – I’m putting these two together as it’s a one or the other situation. San Jose needs to shore up its defense and get some cap flexibility. Both players have underwhelmed this year after signing contract extensions last season. With the rise of Logan Couture as a bona fide second line center behind captain Joe Thornton, San Jose could be persuaded to give up one of these two pivots in exchange for greater defensive depth and some cap room, a position Burke is comfortable dealing from. Rumours of Devin Setoguchi to Toronto started to circulate earlier in the year, but it’s my bet that Burke will instead target one of these two.
Travis Zajac, New Jersey Devils – The Devils are another team in dire need of some cap flexibility, but Devils GM Lou Lamoriello will be loathe to trade Zajac at this point, a 25 year old who is expected to re-assume the mantle of #1 center once Jason Arnott’s contract expires. Zajac is a big body up the middle and will come at a premium, but the Leafs have assets Lou would be interested in, like cap space, defensive depth and goaltending prospects to replace Martin Brodeur. Zach Parise is another outside candidate to be moved as the Devils will have a tough time fitting his contract extension in under the cap, but Zajac will go before Parise does and he would cost less.
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins – Malkin is having a down year with some injury troubles, but the Penguins have been on fire, buoyed by the play of Sidney Crosby. Jordan Staal has yet to get into the lineup for the Penguins this season but as he gets closer to a return, Malkin could possibly be moved in order to free up some cap space for extensions or to get pieces for another cup run. This is a long shot, and Burke may not have the pieces to make this deal, but it would be a nice thought to have former Magnitorosk team mates Malkin and Nikolai Kulemin back together.
Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators – Spezza is the team’s biggest trading chip, though it may be tough to get Murray to move him given the Senators’ similar lack of depth up the middle and dearth of scoring. However, it seems Spezza is a player that is ripe for a change of scenery after spending his entire career in Ottawa. He has fallen well off his career point per game pace, but is exactly the type of player Burke covets: A big-body, playmaking center who wins draws.
Marc Savard, Boston Bruins – While dealing Marco Sturm has alleviated some of Boston’s cap concerns, the Bruins would still ideally like to get out from under either Savard or Tim Thomas’ contract and add depth at the blue line. Boston has long been interested in Tomas Kaberle, who has said he would only be willing to waive and possibly sign an extension with a team in the Eastern Conference. Savard is an injury risk and carries a long-term contract, but if there aren’t many options available, Burke could call up Chiarelli once again, though it would not be in the Bruins’ best interest to help the Leafs this season.
Brad Boyes/David Perron/David Backes, St. Louis Blues – The Blues have a lot of depth up the middle with TJ Oshie, Alex Steen, Patrick Berglund, Andy McDonald and recent pick up TJ Hensick. Add Boyes, and two wingers who can play center in Perron and Backes, and the Blues could be convinced to part ways with what may be a project deal for Burke. None of these guys have proven to be #1 pivots, but they all have the potential to do so, and Burke may find more options in acquiring a winger with the tools to play center.
Stephen Weiss, Florida Panthers – Weiss is certainly not at the top of the List for Burke, but he and team mate Michal Frolik remain viable options as the Panthers continue in full rebuild mode. Weiss hit career highs last season, but on a struggling Panthers team hasn’t been able to keep up that scoring pace. If Burke is unable to hit the home run and get any of the above players, Weiss remains a line drive double down the left field line to get Burke into scoring position.
As it stands, these are the most viable options I could see happening, though many are highly unlikely scenarios that would come at a high price. However, Burke has been known to pull things completely out of left-field, like Dion Phaneuf and Chris Pronger, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he catches us off guard once again as the NHL’s trade deadline nears. More options will be set in motion come January, once players like Jordan Staal, Chris Pronger, TJ Oshie and Zach Parise are all slated to return from injury.
Until then, Leaf Nation is going to have to continue to swallow some painful losses, such as those last week against the Flames and Canucks, as this team goes through its growing pains in what is already becoming another lost season in Toronto.
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Born and raised in Northern Ontario but currently living in Toronto, Tyler wouldn't have it any other way. Home to his two favourite sports teams, Tyler revels in the day to day sports experience that is Toronto. 