We’re approaching silly season in the NHL. The Dallas Stars could be active. Other teams are almost certain to be active. One of those who appears likely to be active is the Toronto Maple Leafs.
For one, the Leafs are bad. This is an actual picture from their Saturday contest against the Edmonton Oilers:
Somewhere in that picture is our old friend Stephane Robidas. Things have not gone well for him with the Leafs. In 40 games with the Leafs he has five points while averaging 17 minutes per game. The Leafs give him fairly easy minutes and he’s been performing poorly in those. We saw both of his awful leg injuries up close and personal last season. It’s possible he has given all of the value he has to give at his age.
On the other hand, the Leafs are terrible. They also seem to be dangling his name in trade talks if you believe the internet.
Robidas signed a three year contract for nine large last off season. In cold hard cash he is only owed another five million over the next two years, but the cap hit is problematic for a player not performing on a team with several players not performing at high cap hits. David Clarkson, Dion Phaneuf, Tyler Bozak, and Robidas have a combined cap hit of 19.25 million dollars. One has to imagine that they would like to eliminate some of that baggage.
The Stars would be a strange fit for Robidas, but not that strange unless the scouts feel that he is finished. The Stars could always use another veteran defender to help the cause, and he wouldn’t exactly be a locker room wild card.
The Leafs also have a goalie tandem. The Stars do not. Goaltending has been an issue here all season. James Reimer has had a pretty down season as the Leafs back up. He’s sporting a .907 even strength save percentage. Over the last three years he has posted even strength save percentages of .923, ,924, and .918. He’s a quality goalie who is a very good buy low candidate.
Would the Maple Leafs package Reimer with Robidas as a way to rid themselves of a cap hit they really don’t want to pay? Moving the duo would free up five million in cap space. The Stars would acquire a goalie legitimately capable of pushing Kari Lehtonen for minutes and more depth on defense which would theoretically allow them more leeway in trades to address other problem areas.
The question though is would you do it? Would you take on the cap hit of Robidas in full knowing how poorly he has played if it meant the Stars were able to acquire a historically capable goaltender?
If the Stars were in a position to pick up the cap hit of Stephane Robidas and acquire James Reimer as a reward for doing so would you support the move?
| Yes, the need for goaltending competition is significant. | 1045 |
| Yes, but it’s questionable. | 710 |
| No, but it’s questionable. | 401 |
| No, Robidas has nothing left to offer and goaltending isn’t a concern of mine. | 327 |