Leafs are making all the right moves..... with more to come
Posted 8:03 PM ET | Comments 0
Well Leaf fans, after a dismal and disappointing July 1 many of us were left shaking our heads wondering 'what gives'? We have the most cap space we have had in years, are slowly becoming more appealing to big ticket free agents, and had many depth holes to fill up front. And we are the only team in the NHL not to make a splash on day one? C'mon.
Well, it is now clear that Mr. Burke was simply biding his time waiting to make the right move. Deep down, we all knew Richards coming to T.O was a bit of a stretch. He had no desire from the get go to jump into the hockey crazed market that is the GTA. He opted for the limelight of New York City and the cup hungry Rangers. It's not a suprise--the Rangers have a history of being one of the big players in the free agent market year in and year out. Losing out in the Richards sweepstakes, in all honesty, is a great omen for Leaf Nation. We have more money to shore up our our leaky forward corps.
We settled for Tim Connoly, the often injured but incredibly skilled pivot from Buffalo, also the second best free agent centerman on the market. Connolly, when healthy, brings a skillset much needed to the blue and white. Burke finally found us a comparable #1 center. I know many Leaf fans were not thrilled with the signing. Yes we overpaid, but it's free agency. Unless your name is Tomas Vokoun their are no real bargains to be had on the free agent market. Connolly is a solid player who will compliment Kessel well and take some of the pressure off of him. Mission accomplished.
Burkey wasn't done their however. Yesterday we were blessed by the hockey gods (and Nashvilles need to free up space to ink weber) with the most lopsided deal since Colorado shipped Stewart and Shattenkirk to STL for Johnson and McClement (I still shudder thinking of that deal). We get Matthew Lombardi, when healthy, a speedy 2 way centre with a knack for the net, and most importantly Cody Franson. I really don't get Nashville getting rid of Franson, so much upside and so young. Check speedy centre and powerplay QB of the future off the list.
All and all a succesful first week of the free agency circus for the Leafs. Now we have $10.5 mill to play with. Hopefully the signing of MacArthur and Schenn are soon to follow. And hey, any of you cap floor hungry teams want Komisarek. He is a real, uhh, bargain for $4.5 a season. He has Dave Tallon and the Florida Panthers written all over him.
Heres a big cheers to what is hopefully an exciting 2nd week of free agency for all of us Leaf fans. By the way, is it just me or does anyone else feel a really, really big deal coming on? Enjoy!
Well, it is now clear that Mr. Burke was simply biding his time waiting to make the right move. Deep down, we all knew Richards coming to T.O was a bit of a stretch. He had no desire from the get go to jump into the hockey crazed market that is the GTA. He opted for the limelight of New York City and the cup hungry Rangers. It's not a suprise--the Rangers have a history of being one of the big players in the free agent market year in and year out. Losing out in the Richards sweepstakes, in all honesty, is a great omen for Leaf Nation. We have more money to shore up our our leaky forward corps.
We settled for Tim Connoly, the often injured but incredibly skilled pivot from Buffalo, also the second best free agent centerman on the market. Connolly, when healthy, brings a skillset much needed to the blue and white. Burke finally found us a comparable #1 center. I know many Leaf fans were not thrilled with the signing. Yes we overpaid, but it's free agency. Unless your name is Tomas Vokoun their are no real bargains to be had on the free agent market. Connolly is a solid player who will compliment Kessel well and take some of the pressure off of him. Mission accomplished.
Burkey wasn't done their however. Yesterday we were blessed by the hockey gods (and Nashvilles need to free up space to ink weber) with the most lopsided deal since Colorado shipped Stewart and Shattenkirk to STL for Johnson and McClement (I still shudder thinking of that deal). We get Matthew Lombardi, when healthy, a speedy 2 way centre with a knack for the net, and most importantly Cody Franson. I really don't get Nashville getting rid of Franson, so much upside and so young. Check speedy centre and powerplay QB of the future off the list.
All and all a succesful first week of the free agency circus for the Leafs. Now we have $10.5 mill to play with. Hopefully the signing of MacArthur and Schenn are soon to follow. And hey, any of you cap floor hungry teams want Komisarek. He is a real, uhh, bargain for $4.5 a season. He has Dave Tallon and the Florida Panthers written all over him.
Heres a big cheers to what is hopefully an exciting 2nd week of free agency for all of us Leaf fans. By the way, is it just me or does anyone else feel a really, really big deal coming on? Enjoy!