Draper to Toronto For Allison?

[WindsorPlaya 0]

Just curious to see what hockey fans out there think of this proposed trade. I live across the river from Detroit and have been a Wings fan for a long time.

Like other Detroit fans, I have been disappointed with Draper's play this year (offensive). Yes I know he is a defensive specialist and I probably shouldn't expect him to put up numbers like 04 but I'm sure Holland thought he would contribute more for 2 mill. plus a year.

Truth is, I have never been a big Draper fan even though he brings speed, energy and great defense to the table. Why?...For me, its the fact that he can't hit the broad side of a barn! I have never seen a hockey player with that many breakaways miss the net so often. With as many chances as this guy gets, he should have 20 goals every year.

Why does this trade makes sense?

1. Detroit has other excellent penalty killers. Franzen, Maltby, Cleary, Zetterberg have all been impressive defensively this year. Draper's marketability is at its highest right now but I can see it dropping quickly in a short time. He won't be winning the Selke again this year.

2. New rules haven't helped Draper. His speed and his play down low in the offensive zone cycling, killing penalty time etc. has always been a huge plus for him. But with less clutching and grabbing, I haven't seen him take advantage of it. Its like he doesn't know how to bring his game into the new NHL.

3. Allison is making 1.5 mill. and is starting to really turn it on...his point production has been very good as of late.

4. Detroit would benefit by adding his size to the line-up. Its one thing they lack. Besides Shanny and Lang, there are not too many other big guys at forward. He is big, gritty and hard to knock off the puck. Detroit is very good team when they get pressure to the net, when they don't, they aren't. He would be a perfect fit. Also, with Lang hurt and Yzerman playing some center in his absence, we get a guy who can step in to play 2nd and 3rd line center. Above anything else, you now have a 3rd line scoring threat opponents have to watch. Centers are supposed to make plays and make other players around them better which he will do. Draper hasn't been a threat all year.

5. With Sundin back in Toronto's line up and Wellwood/Lindros playing well, they have a surplus at center and need a player with Draper's expertise on PK.

6. He is from the Toronto area, I believe his wife and kids still live there. Also, Detroit will not play Toronto this year unless they meet in the Cup Final.

Two Cons:

1. Special teams play a huge role in today's NHL. How would losing Draper impact our PK.

2. I believe Allison becomes a free agent next year again (can be seen as a pro as well).

What do you people think?

[Barnes52 0]

People are going to have heart attacks because you did the unthinkable....bring up trading a Red Wing player. Having said that, I think it's an interesting deal, my problem with Allison is that he has some injury baggage and his skating is suspect. But I can be convinced otherwise, it'd be the type of trade that would take balls, and Holland is not known for unloading players that have been around for the glory years.

[DRW Dominance 255]

Allison is a forward version of Lilja. Lotsa size but never uses it. He is also slower than Chelios. I veto that trade.

[bringback91 2]

Personally, I think Allison sucks, so I'd pass. I'd be looking for a D-man myself, forwards are fine. I'd say get bigger on D.

[Barnes52 0]

Allison is a forward version of Lilja. Lotsa size but never uses it. He is also slower than Chelios. I veto that trade.

But Allison at least can score, Lilja doesn't seem to score on the ice...or off the ice (Unless he's with a few teammates )

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Just wait till thread has been around for 30 minutes. I think things are about to get nasty.

Interesting trade idea, nonetheless.

[norrisnick 1]

Why would we want Allison? We have Lang. The same player except one is Czech and the other is Canadian and a couple years younger yet much more injury prone and slower.

peace

[WindsorPlaya 0]

Allison's stats in 31 games played, he has 6 goals 24 assists for 30 points. Granted he is injury prone and did start the season slowly but if you have watched any Leaf games as of late, he looks very good.

I agree we need an agressive Dman but Detroit would certainly give teams nightmares when they have 3 centres that are all scoring threats. Teams with deep rosters always go farther in the playoffs because you aren't counting on 1 or 2 lines for goals.

If he doesn't play well, he won't be resigned. Not being on the hook for Draper's contract, we can use that money to sign Chara or Jovo.

By the way, if Lilja is a good as Allison, he should be making 1.5 mill as well.

[wingsfan27 1]

trading draper for alison is insain, draper gives us so much more then just goals , besides how can he be expected to score 25 goals again if hes on the 3rd -4th line and plays less minutes ?

what he and maltby bring to the table especially on the penalty kill is priceless

i seen toronto games , and jason alison is freakin slowwww, for the longest time all i kept seeing on the media was rumors of how toronto wanted to get rid of him and how it was a mistake to of gotten him in the first place

so no i wouldnt trade drapes for alison , just my opinion

[wingschamps 0]

Draper has a no trade clause. if he didnt i wouldnt do the trade. i think drapes is too important to the PK.

[Heaton 1]

People are going to have heart attacks because you did the unthinkable....bring up trading a Red Wing player. Having said that, I think it's an interesting deal, my problem with Allison is that he has some injury baggage and his skating is suspect. But I can be convinced otherwise, it'd be the type of trade that would take balls, and Holland is not known for unloading players that have been around for the glory years.

It's not so much trading the Red Wings player as it is who we're getting back. Some of the trades brought up are laughable at best.

[WindsorPlaya 0]

I don't expect Draper to score 25 goals but he should be making more of an impact offensively and making the players around him better. That is also his role as a center.

What needs to be evalutated is Drapers role on PK... is it more valuable than an offensive threat. Allison have proven he will make his linemates better by the number of assists he has. He is also playing better offensively than Draper.

Normally if Detroit was relying solely on Draper and Malts to carry the load on PK I would not propose this trade but there are other players who are excelling in this aspect of the game and come cheaper.

If Detroit had more cap room I would say lets trade Draper for someone who is a better player than Allsion like Morrison in Vancouver, but they don't. For 1.5 mill, I think Allison is a good pick-up and if things don't work out they have 2.3 mill extra for next year.

[Magus Relmyn 0]

Jason Allison is a Robert Lang clone. Although he carries a lot more baggage than Lang (doesn't use his size, suspect skating, injury prone), I would not trade one of the best defensive forwards in the game who is probably the best penalty killer in hockey right now for him.

Edited December 13, 2005 by Magus Relmyn

[BringDMacBack 0]

I saw this exact same post on one of those ficticious hockey trade rumor forums, I think it was Eckulnds or Spectors. Same exact post to the word. I think this whole thing is being perpatrated by a leafs fan hoping to make a sorry team better and dump Allison in the process. VETO.

[norrisnick 1]

I don't expect Draper to score 25 goals but he should be making more of an impact offensively and making the players around him better. That is also his role as a center.

What needs to be evalutated is Drapers role on PK... is it more valuable than an offensive threat. Allison have proven he will make his linemates better by the number of assists he has. He is also playing better offensively than Draper.

Normally if Detroit was relying solely on Draper and Malts to carry the load on PK I would not propose this trade but there are other players who are excelling in this aspect of the game and come cheaper.

If Detroit had more cap room I would say lets trade Draper for someone who is a better player than Allsion like Morrison in Vancouver, but they don't. For 1.5 mill, I think Allison is a good pick-up and if things don't work out they have 2.3 mill extra for next year.

The point here is that we have zero need for Allison and what he brings to the table. We have Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lang, Draper, Franzen, Williams, Hudler on our roster that are all natural centers. Some offensively minded, some defensively minded, and Hank being damn solid going both ways. What good is removing our best defensive center for another offensive minded one? Sure we save some cap room but we could do that in a number of different ways. The Draper/Maltby/Franzen line is doing everything you could ask of them (aside from actually potting the goals).

peace

[Barnes52 0]

Allison is 2.5mm cheaper, so if he's the same player as Lang, shouldn't we acquire Allison because it's cost effective? I'd rather go after a physical forward and a punishing defenseman to make up for Fischer....I know that comes as a shock to a lot of you

[WindsorPlaya 0]

BringDMacBack,

I posted the same message on Spector's but didn't get any responses so I figured I would try here...and no I am not a Leaf's fan.

[norrisnick 1]

Allison is 2.5mm cheaper, so if he's the same player as Lang, shouldn't we acquire Allison because it's cost effective? I'd rather go after a physical forward and a punishing defenseman to make up for Fischer....I know that comes as a shock to a lot of you

But we're not trading LANG for Allison. We're getting BOTH by moving Draper. EDIT - in this crazy trade hypothetical. not real life, cuz we're not getting Allison.

peace

Edited December 13, 2005 by norrisnick

[WindsorPlaya 0]

My biggest concern is come playoff time, its a repeat of 03/04 where no one including Dats or Zetter can put the puck in the net and we lose games by a goal after our goal keep stands on his head.

I also feel that as the season progresses, Draper's role on PK will have less of an impact because I think you won't see as many penalities called. With him not playing as much PK, he will need to bring offence to the table to make an impact.

[norrisnick 1]

My biggest concern is come playoff time, its a repeat of 03/04 where no one including Dats or Zetter can put the puck in the net and we lose games by a goal after our goal keep stands on his head.

I also feel that as the season progresses, Draper's role on PK will have less of an impact because I think you won't see as many penalities called. With him not playing as much PK, he will need to bring offence to the table to make an impact.

5 on 5 Maltby - Draper - Franzen have been dominating shifts all over the ice. Last night they drew two penalties. Those goals will come. They are a line BUILT for the stretch run and playoffs. Allison is not going to be any more effective than the skill guys we already have and is absolutely useless in trying to prevent goals being scored against his team.

peace

[Barnes52 0]

But we're not trading LANG for Allison. We're getting BOTH by moving Draper. EDIT - in this crazy trade hypothetical. not real life, cuz we're not getting Allison.

peace

You're right, forgot about that....

[WindsorPlaya 0]

I would love to know what the plus/minus is for that line combination for the time they have played together.

If they can shut down teams 1st and 2nd line threats than it makes it harder to trade Draper. But in a new offensive minded NHL, I really think that a line like that will find it hard to shut scoring lines down. It seems the importance of offensive plays a larger role than defensive play (at least when it comes to forwards). If you can't score goals, its hard to win games because your opponent is going to have too many chances to put the puck in the net with all the penalties that are being called.

Edited December 13, 2005 by WindsorPlaya

[FUUFNF 1]

allison is just one good check from following his former teammate, deadmarsh, into retirement... i'm surprised the guy is still playing considering the extensive number of games he missed while he was still with the kings... allison is way too much of an injury risk... i'll pass.

[BeeRYCE 2]

Umm, yeah.. Allison sucks.

[Idaho Winger 0]

Allison has way too much injury baggage. Draper, Maltby and Franzen are our best chance of shutting down the oppositions top line in the playoffs.