NHL Offseason News/Views -- Free Agency is Go!
- Thread starter Timby
- Start date
THANK YOU, HOSSA, FOR GETTING OFF OF MY TEAM.
I was so happy, I danced around my living room. Good riddance, moron.
I was so happy, I danced around my living room. Good riddance, moron.
Thirded.
Heatley should thank his lucky stars he's still in the NHL. His actions led to the death of a team mate which would be vehicular homicide if he wasn't a star.
I like the Leafs pick-ups so far, but we still need a top 6 forward and some forward depth. Also need to clear the logjam on defense.
That logjam just got bigger. Toronto signed Francois Beauchemin this afternoon. That's 11 on defense now. It's time to move someone. Hopefully we get some scoring.
Hossa's starting to leave an impressive trail of pissed off fans in his wake.
Problem is who will take someone like a Finger (contract) or a Van Ryn (injury prone).
If you look at the depth chart even minus Kaberle:
Schenn
Komisarek
Beauchemin
White
Exelby
Van Ryn
Finger
Stralman
Oreskovic
Sifers
I wouldn't trade White or Oreskovic as they play their heart out every game.
I don't personally like Stralman, but he is one of the best defensive prospects we have.
Brings me back to my original question: who would take Finger or Van Ryn?
Finger's contract is absurd. I think "Trader Cliff" showed signs of senility with that one. Van Ryan does indeed seem to have a glass body so I we're stuck with them too.
And don't forget Frogren. I liked what little I saw of him last season. And he seems to be the kind of player Burke likes so... yeah, we've got a big problem. I'd try to move Kaberle and one of the AHL defensemen in a package for some offense. With the big name D already off the market, Kaberle should have some value. At the same time, with every GM knowing the Leafs have too many on the backend...
And don't forget Frogren. I liked what little I saw of him last season. And he seems to be the kind of player Burke likes so... yeah, we've got a big problem. I'd try to move Kaberle and one of the AHL defensemen in a package for some offense. With the big name D already off the market, Kaberle should have some value. At the same time, with every GM knowing the Leafs have too many on the backend...
Gustavson signs with the Maple Leafs! 
I can't recall the last time I was anywhere near this excited about the moves the Buds have been making in the off-season. Now Burke just needs to shop Kaberle around to try and get some new offensive talent. With "The Monster" signed, he might even be able to sweeten the pot with Pogge... someone out there must still believe he has potential. Either way, it's a great time to be a Leafs fan!
I can't recall the last time I was anywhere near this excited about the moves the Buds have been making in the off-season. Now Burke just needs to shop Kaberle around to try and get some new offensive talent. With "The Monster" signed, he might even be able to sweeten the pot with Pogge... someone out there must still believe he has potential. Either way, it's a great time to be a Leafs fan!
We have had so little to get excited about lately. With goal and defense taken care of, one week into the FA season, I'm quite interested in seeing what Burke does about offense between now and the season.
I certainly don't expect a one year miracle turn around but with the right pieces in place up front we could be competitive next year. At least our big bad D should entertain, crunching those tiny little Habs forwards.
I certainly don't expect a one year miracle turn around but with the right pieces in place up front we could be competitive next year. At least our big bad D should entertain, crunching those tiny little Habs forwards.
We have had so little to get excited about lately. With goal and defense taken care of, one week into the FA season, I'm quite interested in seeing what Burke does about offense between now and the season.
I certainly don't expect a one year miracle turn around but with the right pieces in place up front we could be competitive next year. At least our big bad D should entertain, crunching those tiny little Habs forwards.
Habs forwards? I don't see any Habs for- ohhhh! You mean the little crumpled heaps on our blueline?
And yeah, I don't expect to make the finals next year, but I think, finally, the playoffs may be within reach once again. Plus, Burke seems to be doing a very good job of laying the groundwork for Cup number 14 within the next few years. We can only hope...
There is speculation out there that old Cliff actually signed the wrong defenseman:
Hilarious Link
Just another chapter in the book of Maple Leafs Mismanagement.
It will be quite satisfying too see you guys miss the playoffs yet again.
I had no idea you guys were that hard up.
Joe Sakic and Yzerman are my two favorite players to play the game. Sakic's actually a hometown boy, good old Burnaby Joe.
I had a the pleasure of seeing him quite a bit live, the guy was just a Canucks killer - it was so bittersweet. He was one of the more clutch guys ever to play the game too, always seemed to score when his team needed it most, or feather that beautiful pass so the recipient would have a wide open net to shoot at.
And then of course there's the memory of Joe captaining Canada to gold in 2002 at Salt Lake. He killed it in that final game against the US, just a stunning performance.
One of the best players ever to play the game, and just a class act all around, I'll miss watching Joe Sakic play.
I had a the pleasure of seeing him quite a bit live, the guy was just a Canucks killer - it was so bittersweet. He was one of the more clutch guys ever to play the game too, always seemed to score when his team needed it most, or feather that beautiful pass so the recipient would have a wide open net to shoot at.
And then of course there's the memory of Joe captaining Canada to gold in 2002 at Salt Lake. He killed it in that final game against the US, just a stunning performance.
One of the best players ever to play the game, and just a class act all around, I'll miss watching Joe Sakic play.
Not sure if you meant this literally, but Mario Lemieux was the team captain for Canada in Salt Lake. Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman were the alternates. Even so, Joe Sakic certainly lead that team with his on-ice play, as you pointed out.
One thing I would like to point out to those questioning the length of contracts that some players are getting, such as Hossa's contract. These contracts tend to be front-loaded, with every expectation that the player will retire during the later years of the contract when his salary is much smaller. Teams take smaller annual hits to their salary cap when they construct contracts in this fashion.
Finally... just learned that Koivu has been signed by the Anaheim Ducks. Great pickup for them... a solid second-line centreman behind Getzlaf. Should play great with Selanne.
Claude Lemieux retires again. He was somewhat useful for the Sharks, and I kind of wish Mclellan played him more in the postseason. I thought that was why the Sharks took the risk to sign him so throughout the series I was confused why he wasn't getting ice time.
*smacks head* You're right. Sakic captained the 2006 team that we shall never speak of.