[ProfessorChaos]

Smyth or Gomez? I've heard a lot of rumors about both.

[blueandwhite]

welcome, chaos.
You know, that is a really hard one.
I love Smyth and think i want him as a leaf more than anyone. he's young and bright and a great leader.
But Gomez has sparks of genius.
Both are expensive.
Who would i pick?
Smyth, for the long run.

[ProfessorChaos]

I wrote an interesting post on another forum about Gomez.


"Apparently we need a second line center? A new first liner? Um okay...

I am NO Wellwood fan, but Wellwood, had he played every game, would have scored 20 goals, Gomez, had he played every game, would have had 15 goals. Wellwood, had he played every game, would have scored 71 points, Gomez was on pace for 68.

Gomez is a fine player, but why not just keep Wellwood, and add a winger *cough*Smyth*cough*Kariya*cough*Bertuzzi*cough*"

[blueandwhite]

I agree - Gomez didn't have such a hot year. he's hoping to coast on his playoff stats.
The big if is wellwood playing all year - he was out too much.
are kariya or Bertuzzi even options at the end of this season?

[ProfessorChaos]

Both are UFAs, and Kariya is just about done in Nashville because of money, and **** like that, and Bertuzzi reportedly wants to be a Leaf.

Personally, if I could add any five players this summer, anand if I wanted to win a Cup this year, I'd get Smyth (5.5), Kariya (3.5) Roberts (.750) Nolan (.750), and Joseph (.500)

Smyth-Sundin-Nolan
Kariya-Wellwood-Tucker
Ponikarovsky-Stajan-Antropov
Deveraux-Steen-Kilger
Pohl*

Kaberle-Kubina
McCabe-Colaiacovo
Gill-White

Joseph
Raycroft

*I wish Pohl was Battaglia.


Unrealistic as hell, but it'd be freaking great.

[blueandwhite]

First off, are you off your rocker re nolan? that was one of the most expensive mistakes we ever made the first time round.
And emotionally, getting Cujo back would be like bending over, after the way he left.
getting kariya would rock.
Do you like Pohl, then? i think he's a fire starter - he gets things going. He just needs a better team.
The team above could be that team.

[ProfessorChaos]

I'm not a Pohl fan. I'd prefer Battaglia.

Nolan wasn't an expensive mistake. Boyes turned out to be ****. McCauley too. The first rounder turned into nothing. Nolan however had a solid tenure in Toronto, had JFJ said to hell with Allison, and used the money to keep Nolan, we'd have a happy healthy cheap Nolan this past season. He had a solid recovery year last year, and he'll be good this year.

Joseph is great, and he's admit his worst mistake was leaving us. It wouldn't be us asking for him back, it'd be him asking to return.

[blueandwhite]

maybe when you word it that way. I HATED him for the longest time.
i think us getting Nolan was a nothing purchase. he was a favourite of mine, then he came here.
I do like battaglia, but i think he and Pohl are very similar players in style, except Pohl's younger.
battaglia works well under maurice.

[ProfessorChaos]

Lets consider Owen Nolan for just a second.

He missed a lot of one year, and didn't come to us until late another. Look at it as one season.

While he had a terrible playoffs in 2003, which, lets face it, who on the Leafs didn't that year? He had 26 goals and 60 points in 79 career games as a Maple Leaf. That's about as good as Darcy Tucker right now.