I don't know who you are, Paul Hunter, but I love you

Someone finally sees it my way.

Paul Hunter's article in the Toronto Star today gave me a boner. The article, entitled 'If Peca Stays, Stajan Goes' explains in detail exactly what the title conveys in 5 words. The Leafs are pursuing Mike Peca but have already committed themselves to $48 million in salary this year. Obviously this isn't the full $50.3 million salary cap, but the team would like to keep the remaining salary available so as to leave themselves some wiggle room to pick up a rental player for the inevitable drive for the playoffs.

If the Leafs want Mike Peca back, the logical solution to the problem is to lose the player that Peca would effectively replace in the lineup: Matt Stajan. Stajan figures to be the 3rd line centre this year, behind Mats Sundin and Kyle Wellwood. This is the same 3rd line centre spot that Mike Peca would fill. So, why not get rid of the salary needed to sign Peca, while vacating his roster spot at the same time?

The 3rd line on a hockey team - with very few exceptions (ie. the 2006-2007 Buffalo Sabres with Afinogenov/Roy/Vanek) - is the checking line. Thus, our 3rd line centre will be a role player that is expected to help the team in ways other than putting up points. Anyone familiar with Mike Peca's work knows that is exactly what he brings to the table. Anyone familiar with Matt Stajan's knows that he simply cannot compete with Peca in a checking role, and that he is way too young to be going bald. Peca is an above-average faceoff artist, a feared open-ice hitter, a top penalty killer, and one of the more cerebral players in the game. Stajan undoubtedly has an NHL-calibre skill set but has yet to add to that skill set with intangibles such as grit or drive. He is not yet talented enough to be an ideal scoring (first and second) line player, yet not gritty enough to be an ideal checking (third and fourth) line player. He is caught in hockey limbo.

The fact is that Mike Peca is the more valuable player to the team. Take it to the bank.

And now for the part of the story that makes me ashamed to be a Leafs fan:
What the fuck is wrong with hockey fans? Why do they have to make me look bad all the time? Do you know how hard it is to admit being a fan of the Maple Leafs when there are so many ditch-digging douche bags that are also part of Leafs Nation? There was a poll attached to the Hunter column today, which asked "If the Maple Leafs could have only one of Mike Peca and Matt Stajan, who would you rather have?"
The results? Stajan winning 939-421 at the time of writing. Thats a fucking 70% majority that would rather have Stajan than Peca. I'd expect this sort of shit from Toronto Sun readers, but the Star?!?
Next up for Star readers: A petition to trade Tomas Kaberle for Darius Kasparaitus.