Stop Whining
Posted 1:59 PM ET | Comments 4
The leafs did the best possible thing they could have done yesterday. They went fishing in the pool of free agents and did not try to snag the fish that would not bite.
Lets be honest, the market this year is completely messed up with so many teams needing to reach the floor while also having the CBA looming once again. No one knows what is going to happen next year and the leafs were smart to stay away from over inflated contracts like they have in years past.
Lets take a look at who they were targeting yesterday.
Brad Richards - He was on the path to broadway from the get go. He only left the window open for two reasons. The first being to ensure he was not lowballed too bad from the Rangers and secondly he left it open in hopes of a stupid offer of like 12 million a year. Even I held out a little hope for him to go to Toronto but really he was done before we started since Burke does not like to go beyond 5 years for contracts which is smart. Richards signed 9 years for 60 Million. He will likely play 5 years get his $50 million and call it a day. Leafs did not fail to get him, because they never had the chance.
Ville Leino - 6 years at $4.5M per. Contract is too long, and too expensive. This guy has played less than two full seasons at the age of 27 and is in no way a guarantee to be more than a .5PPG player. At 4.5 Million you money is better spent elsewhere. Remember when Toronto signed Finger? Before coming to toronto he had one campaign under his belt where he played rather well. He got a good deal with Toronto and became a bust. Not saying Leino will be a bust but at 6 years and 4.5 Million I would not take a chance.
Max Talbot - Not a bad tag at 5 years at $1.8M per. But do the leafs really need to clog up the pipes with more third and fourth liners. I would love to have him for what he brings to the table in the lockerroom but really he is not needed badly and not for 5 years. Toronto was better to stay away.
Scottie Upshall - Mega overpayment by the panters. That's all I gotta say about that.
Erik Cole - Overpaid by the habs. He is also not what Toronto really needs and its better for them to leave some spots open for the kids.
So when reviewing the day you have to think it was a better idea for Toronto to stay away from these guys and give themselves options for the future. So please stop whining about Burke being away for the day, or the leafs not signing anyone. It was not in the cards before the day started. They had their game plan and knew what direction they wanted to take this team and none of these signing made sense for them.
Lets be honest, the market this year is completely messed up with so many teams needing to reach the floor while also having the CBA looming once again. No one knows what is going to happen next year and the leafs were smart to stay away from over inflated contracts like they have in years past.
Lets take a look at who they were targeting yesterday.
Brad Richards - He was on the path to broadway from the get go. He only left the window open for two reasons. The first being to ensure he was not lowballed too bad from the Rangers and secondly he left it open in hopes of a stupid offer of like 12 million a year. Even I held out a little hope for him to go to Toronto but really he was done before we started since Burke does not like to go beyond 5 years for contracts which is smart. Richards signed 9 years for 60 Million. He will likely play 5 years get his $50 million and call it a day. Leafs did not fail to get him, because they never had the chance.
Ville Leino - 6 years at $4.5M per. Contract is too long, and too expensive. This guy has played less than two full seasons at the age of 27 and is in no way a guarantee to be more than a .5PPG player. At 4.5 Million you money is better spent elsewhere. Remember when Toronto signed Finger? Before coming to toronto he had one campaign under his belt where he played rather well. He got a good deal with Toronto and became a bust. Not saying Leino will be a bust but at 6 years and 4.5 Million I would not take a chance.
Max Talbot - Not a bad tag at 5 years at $1.8M per. But do the leafs really need to clog up the pipes with more third and fourth liners. I would love to have him for what he brings to the table in the lockerroom but really he is not needed badly and not for 5 years. Toronto was better to stay away.
Scottie Upshall - Mega overpayment by the panters. That's all I gotta say about that.
Erik Cole - Overpaid by the habs. He is also not what Toronto really needs and its better for them to leave some spots open for the kids.
So when reviewing the day you have to think it was a better idea for Toronto to stay away from these guys and give themselves options for the future. So please stop whining about Burke being away for the day, or the leafs not signing anyone. It was not in the cards before the day started. They had their game plan and knew what direction they wanted to take this team and none of these signing made sense for them.
As a Pens fan I can tell you that Talbot is not worth that much at all. The Leafs were wise not to attempt to give him more. A lot of the contracts that were handed out yesterday were insane. Can Florida overpay for anymore guys?
If you're saying he's overpaid it might be like 500k. Not that big of a deal.
If the Leafs signed these guys, you'd be defending these signings.
Not for those terms and prices.