The Early Bird Rises
Posted 9:28 AM ET | Comments 0
It's 6:15 am out here on the west coast, and I'm sitting here with a cup of tea glued to the television flicking channels between Sportsnet and TSN...not much going on so far. But, there have been some key signings over the last couple of days, with Brent Seabrook staying with the Chicago Blackhawks re-signing for 5 years and Chris Phillips is staying in Ottawa re-signing for 3 years at $9.25 million.
It's interesting that Phillips passed up an offer to a Stanley Cup contender and instead decided to stay with the Senators to help the team with its rebuilding process. Phillips was one of the hot commodities on the blueline that many thought would be shipped by the 3 o'clock deadline today.
So much for my thought that the Toronto Maple Leafs would land Brent Seabrook at deadline day, and now it's been said that the Leafs have also ended talks with the Colorado Avalanche about defenseman John-Michael Liles. It's hard to say if Brian Burke will zero in on another defenseman that could be available...some of the names being tossed around are the Oilers' Jim Vandermeer, the Hurricanes' Joni Pitkanen and the Devils' Andy Greene...just to name a few.
The Leafs have two first round picks to use as bait, and could possibly land a strong offensive defenseman, which is their biggest need since the departure of Tomas Kaberle. It's very likely, that Burke won't make a move to try and help the Leafs squeak into the playoffs, and personally, they should stick to their long-term plan and begin by getting a deal done with Clarke MacArthur and keep those two first round picks and add to their stash before this summer's draft.
It's still real early, so stay tuned for more to come.
It's interesting that Phillips passed up an offer to a Stanley Cup contender and instead decided to stay with the Senators to help the team with its rebuilding process. Phillips was one of the hot commodities on the blueline that many thought would be shipped by the 3 o'clock deadline today.
So much for my thought that the Toronto Maple Leafs would land Brent Seabrook at deadline day, and now it's been said that the Leafs have also ended talks with the Colorado Avalanche about defenseman John-Michael Liles. It's hard to say if Brian Burke will zero in on another defenseman that could be available...some of the names being tossed around are the Oilers' Jim Vandermeer, the Hurricanes' Joni Pitkanen and the Devils' Andy Greene...just to name a few.
The Leafs have two first round picks to use as bait, and could possibly land a strong offensive defenseman, which is their biggest need since the departure of Tomas Kaberle. It's very likely, that Burke won't make a move to try and help the Leafs squeak into the playoffs, and personally, they should stick to their long-term plan and begin by getting a deal done with Clarke MacArthur and keep those two first round picks and add to their stash before this summer's draft.
It's still real early, so stay tuned for more to come.