Leafs sign Colton Orr to a 4 year contract worth 4m. He will give us that legitimate tough guy and add some toughness. At least Luke won't have to fight to defend his teammates.
Leafs were pretty busy today with signing Orr and Komiserik. They also traded away Kubina/Staplton to the Thrashers for Exelby which was to free up cap room to sign Komiserik. Not hard to tell we are trying to make the team much more tougher with these additions but our man blue-line is going to be some competitive to make. You have Karbele, Schenn, Van Ryn, Exelby, Finger, Frogen, Komiserik, Starlman and White.
We got some depth at the blue line...but i think we should keep Kabby....among our defense, we don't really have a powerplay specialst as Kabby who will generate points. Maybe Whitey and Van Ryn. I think Frogren will leave and Stralman will go to the Marlies.
If we can keep Van Ryn healthy for the season we could have a decent 6. Karble-Schenn MVR-Komisarek White-Exelby
I would of hope to get him for 2m a season for something like 3 years but oh well the guy has the skills, just a bit of a raw talent.
For a 20 goal score and 48 pt player in his first real season in the NHL...i say that's pretty good. I'm hoping he can increase his totals by 10 points next season. He will likely be our #1 center next season.
I was surprised; I was thinking that he would hold out for another year and get a Hossa or Ovechkin type of contract like 12 years for 156 million.
Leafs sign Francois Beauchemin to a 3 yr/$3.8 million deal. Our defense is stacked and filled with depth. Komi, Kabby, Beauchie, Schenn, Van Ryn, Finger, Exelby, Whitey, Frogren. I'm thinking Kabby will definitely be on the outs within the next week.
Kabs-Komisarek Van Ryn-Beauch White-Schenn Finger and Exelby sitting in the pressbox, Frogren and Stralman with the Marlies. Good lord, we almost have too many defenders now. I could see Kabs and another D man moving via trades...
Figured it's time for a new thread seeing as the yearly musical chairs contest that is NHL free agency is well under way. On a somewhat unrelated gratuitous name drop, I got to meet our number one draft pick Nazem Kadri at a Lebanese wedding in London last weekend, kid definitely needs to fill out if he's to play on a Burke squad. Figure on one more year playing for the Knights.
Fired up a new thread for the new season: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1091744 Went with a variation on a theme with the name too.
That's interesting you meet him...he does seem small physically, but he's still young. Given the proper diet and training program, he will bulk up within the next couple years. Ronnie Wilson compared him to Tony Amonte in terms of skating and puck handling. Leafs also being investigating for tampering regarding the Sedins. I don't think anything will come of it as i doubt the NHL would be able to get enough info to charge them. VAN=Nonnis+Burkie has good relations, so i would think they would turn a blind eye. Could be a fine, suspension or loss of draft pick if convicted.
Sportsnet is reporting that Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson has signed with Toronto!!!!!!!! http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/07/07/monster_maple_leafs/
I'd describe him as not done growing yet and needing a few more pounds of muscle on his frame, but for the type of player he is that is less of an issue than it would be for a defenseman. Judging by what NHL teams do with first rounders I would expect him to play in London and the WJC over the holidays this season, possibly joining the Leafs (or Marlies) for a playoff run.
Burkie gave a press conf. yesterday recapping the Jonas deal and other picks at the draft. Burkie states that he's likely to move a D-man in exchange for a forward. We have like 9-10 legitimate defenseman. There's also a video of when Jonas made his visit to T.O a couple weeks ago.
I know reading a lot of different boards that people were not too impressed with drafting Kardi when MPS was still there to be taken. I don't know much about the guy since I only know QMJHL players and don't follow the OHL but reading many reports a lot are throwing out he is similar to a Derek Roy type of player.
Leafs sign Rickard Wallin. He was the captain of the Swedish team that Jonas played for. Supposed to be 29 years old and a two way player. Probably end up with the Marlies. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=284279
Beat to me to opening a new thread, i was gonna go with "Turning over a new Leaf: TML 09/10" Anyways, looking over our forward situation and came up with a few lines, tried to balance them as best i could and keep what worked from last year: Ponikarovsky-Grabovski-Kulemin Blake-Stajan-Stempniak Wallin-Tlusty-Hagman Orr-Mitchell-Ondrus Bozak Hanson Deveaux Good news: I could see any of 7 or 8 of these guys scoring 20 goals next year. Bad news: I don't think we have a 30 goal scorer in the bunch.
That would of been a great title....i agree about the lack of a 30 goal scorer. I'm expecting Grabo to net 25 and having a great season. I think he will our best offensive player with Blakie. I see Stempy as a 3rd liner and Haggy jumping up to the 2nd line with Blakie and Stajan. Bozak, Hanson, Tlusty are undetermined as of yet bc i think they go to the Marlies. Bozak probably has the best shot at a 3rd line center role. Ondrus/Deveaux will be a Marlie for sure.
NHL schedule announced. We host the Habs on Oct 1...looking forward to Dec 1...we play MTL in MTL. Fans will be booing Komi and Grabo...should be a great game. Downside of the schedule is we have (2) 5 game road trips. One in October and January. Recently, Jan. has been our worst month.
Leafs hire Dave Poulin as new vice-president of Hockey Operations. Vacant spot from Joey Nieuwendyk. Don't know much about him, but Burkie has trust in him. In Burkie, We Trust.
Poulin was the Capt. of the Flyers back in the 80's. I remember when i was about 12 (1987) my dad telling me about Poulin getting cut from his Bantam AAA team and now he was in the NHL so i should keep working hard and things can happen. Recently, Poulin was coaching at Notre Dame which might be why Chris Hanson signed with us...