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Everybody is aware that the Toronto Maple Leafs would have traded Bryan McCabe for a bag of pucks. Instead, they got Mike Van Ryn. Nothing against Mike Van Ryn—but there is just no room for him on the Leafs squad...

Mike Van Ryn and Ian White on the Trading Block for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

by Jack Porter (Scribe)

21

1,353 reads

Sports

September 06, 2008


Everybody is aware that the Toronto Maple Leafs would have traded Bryan McCabe for a bag of pucks. Instead, they got Mike Van Ryn.

Nothing against Mike Van Ryn—but there is just no room for him on the Leafs squad.

The defense will include Thomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, Jonas Frogren, Jeff Finger, Anton Stralman, and either Carlo Colaiacovo or first-round pick Luke Schenn. Van Ryn will get the short end of the stick, and may have a very short career in Toronto.

Also, Ian White—who isn't a favourite of GM Cliff Fletcher—may be done as a Leaf as well. So what could the Leafs get in return for these two defenseman?

As always, Philadelphia may be in the market for a defenseman. A trade including White or Van Ryn to the Flyers could see the Leafs pick up young forward Scottie Upshall—who isn't a key to the Flyers success but could develop into a top-nine forward for Toronto.

The Leafs could even acquire Flyer prospect Patrick Maroon if they added a roster player like Alex Ponikarovsky.  An ideal trade to Philadelphia would be Alex Ponikarovsky and Ian White or Mike Van Ryn for Scottie Upshall and Patrick Maroon.

Another team in the market for defenseman is the Oilers, who may just have the worst defense in the league.   Sourey, Visnovsky and Staios are Edmonton's only good defenseman—save maybe Ladisvlov Smid, if he manages to improve.  Ian White, Mike Van Ryn, or both would be a big help to this team and round out their defense.

So what could the Leafs get in return? For one of the two defensemen,a prospect or a third- to fourth-round draft pick may be a good trade for the rebuilding Leafs.

I think the best deal for Toronto would come if they put both White and Van Ryn on the table. I could see Edmonton shoveling over Rob Schremp or a good prospect like Riley Nash, and a second- or third-round draft pick.

The ideal trade would be Rob Schremp or Riley Nash and a second-round draft pick for Ian White and Mike Van Ryn.

So as we approach training camp, rumours still swirl around the Leafs' roster.

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21 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Aaron Brenker 10 months ago

    Good article, a trade of Van Ryn or White for Upshall would be a steal for the Maple Leafs in my opinion.

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  2. Andrew Mason 10 months ago

    IMO no way the Flyers trade Upshall unless the Leafs make a knockout offer to them.

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    • Jack Porter 10 months ago

      i dont know i could see them doing it for a good young defense man (more likely White than Van Ryn) and an ok forward in Poni. They do have Giroux and Van Remisdyk coming up so upshall can be replaced.

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    • Andrew Mason 10 months ago

      the flyers also have 7 defensemen right now i forgot about. They have Lasse Kukkonen, Kimmo Timonen, randy jones, steve eminger, ryan parent, ossi vaananen, and Braydon Coburn this year. And 6 of them are 28 or younger.

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    • Smiles G 8 months ago

      A knockout offer? Are you kidding me? Scottie is on pace for 25 points this year. Which compares to his 30 points last year. The Flers would be lucky if the Leafs offered Stajan straight up! Stajan - a year younger - bettered Upshall by 3 points last year and is on pace for 60 points this year - with the same ice time, and lesser linemates! And remember Scottie was 6th overall pick!!

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    • Andrew Mason 8 months ago

      dude that was two months ago. That is completely out of context. Going into this season the flyers look poised to dominate but obviously that has not happened.

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  3. Nelson Santos 10 months ago

    Jack, nice article. But your suggested trades with the Flyers would never fly. First off Philly is in need of an offensive minded/puck moving TOP FOUR quality Dman....not White or Van Ryn....the player Philly got in the draft day trade with Washington, Eminger is much better than either of those Dmen already and he is not slotted to be a T4 Dman on Philly yet. Also Philly has little to no cap space so acquiring Van Ryn at his $3M+ contract would make no sense. Again Ian White is not good enough to make a difference on Philly's backend even though he is cheap.

    Also in your article you say Upshall COULD develop into a top 9 forward for the Leafs....I think he WOULD be a top 9 forward IMMEDIATELY.

    EDM could be a home for White. He is a western Canadian boy and his price tag could intrigue them...they are also in desperate need of any upgrades to their D-corps.

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  4. Chris Bouthillier 10 months ago

    I like the article, don't get me wrong. The following is not criticm to your writing but I don't see the Oilers being involved in such a deal.

    I personally think Edmonton's blue-line is better than most people think. Rounding out the top six along with Souray, Visnovsky and Staios are Tom Gilbert, Denis Grebeskov and Jason Strudwick.

    Gilbert is turning into one of the better puck-moving defenseman and hasn't even hit his prime yet. I wasn't a big fan of Grebby before, but after seeing him play in Edmonton's top-four when Souray was out last year surprised me. He was one of very few players who finished with a positive plus-minus rating.

    Strudwick is up there in age (33) but I still think he could use his frame to his advantage. Ladislav Smid has turned into a disappointment thus far and I think that he'll start the year in Edmonton but can find a new home if his horendous play continues.

    Also, I can't see them giving up Schremp. Too much potential in that kid to give up on. He's only 22.

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  5. Derek Harmsworth 10 months ago

    I like the article, but I just don't see the Maple Leafs dealing Van Ryn before the season starts. He is a hometown boy who wants to play there. He has been riddled by injury, but he has a decent two-way game, and will bring some simple play to the back end for the Leafs.

    Besides, Colaiacovo is bound to go down with an injury within the first month, and White just doesn't get it done out there.

    As for the Schremp thing, I have talked to a few connected people who say that Mac-T simply doesn't like the kid because of his attitude, and he isn't willing to give the kid a fair shake. I can't say for sure it's completely true, but I have heard it from three people who are in the London Knights organization, so I would read at least a little into it.

    Schremp's two way game has improved as well, which was a glaring weakness in junior, despite his sniping prowess.

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    • Bryan Thiel 10 months ago

      Schremp was a bum and that's putting it nicely. His head is as big as those moves he pulls off in shootouts. I'd love it if Toronto could get him, but only if they knew (or this was previously done) how to sort that kid's head out.

      Really disappointing, but sometimes it happens.

      And jeeze Derek...give Coli a little credit :P

      I saw he's healthy until December...then he gets a dibiliatating injury that ends his season :) None of this coming back crap haha

      BT

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  6. Mark Rosal 10 months ago

    I won't comment on your article, because I don't really know how the Leaf's brass looks at this deal. The way I see it is simple. Ian White, has potential, lots of potential. I can see his talent when he plays. Why, can't we simply develop this hockey player? Why are the Leafs obsesed with trading away their emerging talent? This is really the questions here. The same question that should have been asked about many other young players, from Gary Unger to Frederick Modin. This knee jerk trading must stop .

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  7. Rafal Ladysz 10 months ago

    Ian White is horrible, nobody wants him. McCabe junior

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  8. lazaros 10 months ago

    paul holmgren is running the flyers,not ferguson,NO WAY he trades maroon and upshall for van ryn(6th defence at best) or ian white(shouldnt even be in nhl,career minor leaguer)

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  9. Alan Bass 10 months ago

    No way Upshall would be leaving Philly. Holmer has basically sworn much of the team's future on this guy, and I don't think he's willing to give up a 40-point per year player for van Ryn.

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  10. Craig Parsons 10 months ago

    Call me crazy, but White is only 24, has only two full NHL seasons under his belt, and has played very well for very average to poor teams. If I traded him I would want a decent return - more then a third or fourth pick. Anybody who thinks White is not an NHL player does not watch very much hockey. White would make any teams top six and would be on most teams first unit power play.

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  11. lazaros 10 months ago

    Hey craig you related to ian white?? I watch hockey and he's SHIT!!!!!!

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  12. Flinton Rice 10 months ago

    I don't think anyone in Toronto would sing the praises of Ian White. He is small, poor defensively and really has no shot. Its like he's related to Wellwood. I saw him play all year long and I could not imagine why anyone would want him. I think he stayed with the Leafs because the Marlies didn't want him. No way that Van Ryn is as bad as White. Stats prove how bad he is too!

    I wouldn't deal D yet, they'll be worth more in a couple months. I definitely don't think there is any premium on young forwards who might show promise and might be able to crack the top 9. Upshall would be a good pick up though.

    What about the Kings? You would think that Van Ryn with a good size salary would be a perfect fit. The Kings are under the cap and need D.

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  13. Jack Porter 10 months ago

    van ryn salary is 3.6 or around that but the salary hit for hime is 2.7 million so it wouldnt be a good deal for the kings who are looking for salary

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  14. brandon higgins 10 months ago

    good read...the leafs are going to have to do something about all the D men we have. the ideal thing for the maple leafs would be to thin out the blue line to strenthin up front. i would also like to add the even though it is a good idea to tank this year and get a good draft pick...with the type of hard nosed players fletcher has assembled this offseason the fact that all the sports shows and website are wrighting the leafs off before their pre season puck drop or training camp is not going to sit well with the boys and may end up suprising the NHL and hockey world by not being as bad as they are "supposed" to be.

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  15. Ravi Dhaliwal 9 months ago

    Leafs should send Ian White to the Lightning in exchange for Jussi Jokinen

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  1. Ravi Dhaliwal 9 months ago

    Mike Van Ryn and Matt Stajan or Alexei Ponikarovsky to the Kings for Patrick O'Sullivan

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