Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site dciem.UUCP Path: utzoo!dciem!jeff From: jeff@dciem.UUCP (Jeff Richardson) Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey Subject: a trade for Vaive? (very long) Message-ID: <1812@dciem.UUCP> Date: Tue, 11-Mar-86 11:58:18 EST Article-I.D.: dciem.1812 Posted: Tue Mar 11 11:58:18 1986 Date-Received: Wed, 12-Mar-86 07:12:15 EST Distribution: net Organization: D.C.I.E.M., Toronto, Canada Lines: 109 I really think the Leafs should trade Vaive now. I've looked around to see what deals I think they could make. They seem to want an experienced defenseman, but I think they need a decent right winger or they would have a big hole at that position. Here's my team-by-team analysis: CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA & DETROIT: Forget it. Vaive is certain to play much better with his new team because his main problem with Toronto is that he's lost his desire to play for them. Trading him to a team in their own division could spell disaster. BOSTON: They blew a chance to get Mike O'Connell, who is probably the type of guy they wanted, but the Bruins could not afford to give up a good defenseman without getting another one in return. Vaive for Crowder has potential. Both teams may be a little apprehensive about that one because Crowder is an agressive two-way winger who would likely help the Leafs with his defensive skills and his attitude, but they may be concerned that he can't score enough goals without a centre like Ken Linseman to feed him. The Bruins on the other hand, would be worried about losing Crowder's defensive skills and they would wonder if Vaive is still capable of scoring a lot of goals. Crowder has more goals than Vaive this season, but if Vaive was on that line, he would probably get a lot more, so if the Bruins think they need someone like Vaive to compete with the Naslunds and Goulets in their division, they might go for it, and I think it would be good for the Leafs. BUFFALO: I'm sure they'd love to have Vaive, but a deal with the Leafs is difficult. I think Foligno is too old to help the Leafs, and none of their other right wingers are good enough to interest the Leafs. They have a few good experienced defensive defensemen, but the Sabres always seem to be trying to improve their defence, so I don't think they'd want to part with them. Phil Housley is probably available, but with all his defensive problems I think the Leafs should stay away from him. Sweetening the pot with a high draft choice is not something I think either team would want to do. CALGARY: Not much chance here. The Flames are overloaded on right wing already. The way Mullen's been playing for them, they wouldn't trade him for God, and I don't think the Leafs would want Lanny McDonald back. Their only experienced defenseman worth getting is Reinhart, but he's too much of a question mark with all his injury problems. EDMONTON & PHILADELPHIA: Too strong and stable to make a major trade like this. I doubt Vaive would fit in with their plans anyway. HARTFORD: I was correct in assuming that Hartford was willing to trade Risto Siltanen, but the deal I came up with there was Vaive for Siltanen and Dineen, and I didn't think the Whalers would be willing to part with Dineen since he's young and could get a lot better, and I didn't think Toronto would want to throw in anything else to make it more attractive. The Whalers may still be interested, but they can't afford to give up a defenseman anymore, nobody else is proven enough to trade Vaive for, except untouchables Francis and Turgeon. LOS ANGELES, NEW JERSEY, PITTSBURGH & VANCOUVER: No experienced defensemen or right wingers that are good enough to consider, except maybe Dave Taylor who is too old or Tony Tanti, who's probably too one-dimensional, but he's younger so he may be good as a last resort. I don't know if the Canucks would be willing, though. MONTREAL: Might have gone for it last season, but now that Naslund has become the big goal scorer they needed, I don't think they'll be interested, especially since the Leafs would probably want Chelios or Robinson. NY ISLANDERS: Pat Flatley is the obvious choice, and probably a good one, but the Leafs would want an experienced defenseman too. Ken Morrow seems to be a good candidate, but is he completely over his injuries? I don't think the Leafs would want Persson, and I don't know enough about Jonsson to know whether he would help the Leafs or whether the Islanders would be willing to throw him in with Flatley. Remember, they have Mike Bossy so they won't be willing to give too much for another high scoring right winger. NY RANGERS: They should be desperate for Vaive because they're very weak on right wing, and they have a lot of experienced defensemen. Ruotsalainen isn't good enough defensively, and I don't know about Greschner. If Barry Beck is over his injury problems, that may be a good deal for both teams. It may sound a little prepostorous to think that the Rangers would give up Beck, but he hasn't played much this year and their defence has been excellent anyway. Their offence stinks though, so they may be willing to do something drastic to improve it. The Leafs couldn't afford the trade though unless they knew they could count on a healthy Beck. QUEBEC: They probably want Vaive badly because they're weak on right wing, but they can't afford to weaken their defence corps and the only right winger they have to give is Anton Stastny, but the Leafs already have one Stastny too many. WASHINGTON: There is a lot of potential here. Scott Stevens and Larry Murphy are experienced defensemen that the Leafs would probably like to have. Murphy isn't good enough to trade one-for-one. Stevens probably is, but trading him would be a major change to their highly successful defence. Because of their high position in the standings, I don't think they'd do it unless their really convinced that Vaive would get them the cup. Besides, trading a defenceman for Vaive would leave the Caps overloaded on right wing. I think they might give Gartner for Vaive. Gartner is having a bad year by his standards. So is Vaive, but the Caps may want him for his leadership and character. I have a feeling that the Leafs may not want to trade Vaive for Gartner, but it looks like an even trade talent-wise, and they're about the same age, so it may be the best they can do. WINNIPEG: They're fairly strong on right wing now, so a trade would have to be either Paul MacLean or Ray Neufeld plus a defenceman for Vaive. However, I don't think they can afford to give up Carlyle or Marois, who are the only two defencemen the Leafs might want. MY RECOMMENDATION: To Washington for Stevens or Boston for Crowder. Jeff -- Jeff Richardson, DCIEM, Toronto (416) 635-2073 {linus,ihnp4,uw-beaver,floyd}!utcsri!dciem!jeff {allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!dciem!jeff