The move for Lashoff looks like a simple salary dump by the Lightning; they don't have to pay the $550,000 to play in the minors, while we will gladly pay that in order to open up some space to make a signing and provide even more depth on the AHL team back-end.

I think the obvious play is Tim Kennedy. Only 24 years old who had a decent first full season in the NHL last year. You gotta think that the most we would have to sign this guy is 1 mm (amount awarded in arbitration), although given some of the signings this UFA season (Torres comes to mind) i'm thinking he can be had for even less. Looking back at his career statistics he was a point a game player through his NCAA days and just shy of that in his one full season of the AHL.

His offensive stats aside, his profile over at hockeyfutures notes his strong defensive play and willingness to take the body, qualities that Big Bad Burke likes in a player (not to mention his American heritage).

It seems that the Sabres writers were pretty upset with letting this guy go. Not that I trust/like what the writers have to say but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt given that I am sure they have watched this guy play way more than I have. Although I do recall some small forward on the Sabres taking it to the Leafs last season. (I hope I'm not confusing TK with one of the other million undersized forwards the Sabres have).

The decision by the Sabres to let this guy go is an obvious result of the cap era taking shape as well as their ridiculous young depth on the offensive side of the puck (ennis & gerbe being the prime suspects). A guy this young and with a decent amount of upside usually isn't available in the UFA pool; signing this guy seems like the move to make.

Throw in the likelihood that we can probably lock him up for under 1 mm; 1 mm at the max and I think it's a lock that we will see this guy in a Leaf uniform within the next couple of weeks. Who knows, maybe we can even get this guy on a 2 way contract.

My only reservation with making this signing is where TK fits in with the team and furthermore which player he takes a spot away from. I envision him right now on the Leafs roster fitting in on either the 2nd or 3rd line. Adding to our PK depth and maybe a couple shifts on the PP from time to time. If he's taking a spot from Caputi/Mitchell/Hanson i'm fine with it, if he's taking it from Kadri...no thanks.

Whatever the case, he brings some more depth and more competition come camp; and if he can be had on a two-way contract (pretty sure I read that somewhere)...we got a steal.

Everything I keep reading about this guy emphasizes his desire to stay in a Duck uniform. Seems like the negotiation issue is term...he wants 3 years to bring him to UFA status earlier while the Ducks want longer term.

You can't blame the Ducks for wanting to lock this guy up and Bobby really doesn't have any leverage as he is pretty much stuck with the Ducks unless they decide to trade him (to which I believe the GM has said would not happen). Although I am a little confused as to why he just doesn't sign a 3 year offer sheet with another team which undoubtedly would be matched by the Ducks in order to retain him. The only thing I can come up with is given that the Ducks will match, the other 29 teams simply feel there is no point?

So can we acquire this absolutely perfect young power forward who has a similar if not more impressive start to his career than Phil Kessel?

Given the above the only way is via trade and even if we did want to sign him to an offer sheet or it made sense to do so we don't have the draft picks to make it happen (1st, 2nd & 3rd next season). The Ducks are undoubtedly weak on the back end and any scenario would certainly have to include Luke Schenn. This begs the question, would you rather go after Bobby knowing the price is a potential Chris Pronger type player for many years to come? Knowing our ridiculous depth on the back end is it worth moving Schenner?

Schenn alone wouldn't even complete this deal. I would think another forward prospect...possibly Hanson? and a 2nd round draft pick would be needed to make this happen.

Under hundreds of different scenarios I wouldn't want to move Schenn. I believe the guy has a great amount of potential and envision him as an outstanding shut-down defenseman with a little bit of offensive flare for a long time. But considering our depth on the back end and not to mention big bad Keith Aulie waiting in the minors (a possible Schenn replacement?), the idea of Bobby in a Leafs uniform is too good to pass up.