Maple Leaf's Moves On July 1st

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chakhae1

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Well, Burke said he wanted players with toughness and truckulence and he sure got it after the moves from yesterday. Colton Orr from everything I have read about him is an improving enforcer that can do more than just fight. The bigger moves were done on the blue line and getting rid of Kubina will hurt the team from an offensive side, but getting Exelby who is one of the nastiest and meanest players in the league adds an element the Leaf's have not had since...ever???

The marquee signing was Komisarek. Another young and up and coming stay at home defenceman in the Schenn mold, with a couple of more years on him. What do I think these moves mean? Well, looks like Kaberle is not going anywhere since you need a puck moving, scoring defenceman and he is the only one with a proven track record. Strallman should also get every chance to make the team next year or perhaps Ian White will play a bigger role. He really impressed me last year with his saavy and solid all round play.

It would have been nice for the Leaf's to sign a scoring forward today, but the Leaf's do not have a problem scoring and haven't for a few years. Their main problem has been keeping the puck out and now they have an identity on the back end with Schenn, Finger, Exelby and Komisarek all having reputations as aggressive/tough, stay at home defencemen. Sort of reminds me when the blue and white made their first final four run in the 90's with the likes of Rouse, Macoun, Nattress and Lefebevre.

I am excited that Burke has gone out and done exactly what he has said he is going to do, but I don't see him doing anything else major this off season. Just some house keeping with players he needs to re sign such as Grabovski.
 
Camellari 6 a year.... no thanks
Gaborik 7.5 a year.... no thanks
Hossa for 12 years .... no thanks


Of the big guns the only ones that signed contracts with numbers I could live with were the Sedins and Havlat. The Sedins were unattainable, so that just leaves Havlat who I don`t think we ever had any interest in.

There are still some decent options out there that could help support the offence. Antropov, Kovalev, Tanguay, Afinogenov, Larose and some others could all provide some offence.

I don`t think this was the best year to sign a star scorer as they were limited and going at a high rate. The Leafs still may work out a trade, you never know.
 
Agreed. The Rangers overpaid BIG TIME for Gaborik. For someone that plays maybe 50% of the games per year over the past few seasons and to dish out all that dough was ridiculous. Cammalieri would have looked good in a Leaf's jersey being a local boy and all, but again overpaid and not their most pressing need. Hossa's deal..Totally insane. Aren't Toews and Kane RFAS next year??? Good luck with that. Looks like the Hawks are going to go for it this year, so maybe they're not done?

I can see the Leaf's signing a guy like Tanguay b/c Wilson likes the speed game, but the other names you mentioned don't interest me at all. I think the Leaf's are going to save all the money they can and go all out for Rick Nash next year. That would be HUGE..
 
I wasn`t saying I wanted all of them :). Tanguay is ok as long as we don`t expect him to be the leader of the team. I wouldn`t mind Antropov back in the 2 - 3 million dollar range. I would vomit if we got Kovalev or Afinogenov, although I think Burke would too!
 
I'm glad Burke is making the moves that will set him up for next year. Let other teams pay big bucks for guys who will likely be stiffs for their teams and pick up toughness that the Leafs sorely lack.

Next summer, when guys like Rick Nash are UFAs, make a run at them.

I also expect that the Leafs/Bruins deal for Kessel will still make a comeback. Kaberle might be a tad overrated and in the twilight of his career while Kessel can probably give the Leafs another 8 years of good, solid play.
 
Afinogennov and kovalev are absolutely not what the leaf's need so there is no way in hell they should even be considered to be coming here. larose is a pretty handy player, but the leaf's have too many players that play the same role. score about 20 goals in a second line role. bottom line is that the team got better with the moves and it builds excitement to the bigger names that will be available next year..
 
Success is built from the net out. These additions will make the Leafs a tough team to play against especially in their own end. So far I am happy. The leafs are in the process of gutting a team of Afinogennov and Kovalev type players. I agree with BBB, I think the leafs will try and pick up a forward probably Kessell and will really go after highend players like Nash. Lets hope that Nash don't redo his contract this year with an extention as rumored.
 
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I don`t really know if I want them to trade Kabs. He has played his entire career here and is signed to a very nice contract. Also we don`t have anyone that can come in and adequately fill his position now that Kubina is gone.

If he is traded, it will have to be for a great young player that will be with us for years to come.
 
While Kaberle may or may not be part of the Leafs long term plans, Burke isn't giving him away either.

A defence corp of Kaberle, Schenn, Komisarek, Exelby, and Finger is much tighter than the Leafs have had in a long time. Burke's made some real smart decisions and isn't doing anything stupid just so he can say he did something.

The goalies in Toronto haven't had a fair shake over the past few years. I always thought it was the players in front of them. Toronto is going to be a hard hitting, defensive minded team that will grind out games. Not saying they're going to surprise anyone next year. But Burke has done alright thus far.
 
So far Burke has done exactly what he has said he was going to do. He wanted to make the team tougher and he did that in spades. They have young skill up front despite what the detractors might say as well. Kulemin showed a good two way game in his rookie year, Tlusty tore up the AHL when he was sent back down, Grabovski was just re signed and scored 20 goals and even John Mitchell filled a nice role with the team.

I am not saying the Leaf's will contend for the Cup anytime soon, but it's not that bad. If they sign Gustavson that will shore up their goaltending big time. I have heard that he is better than Hiller was at the same point in his career and we all know what he did during the playoffs.

Burke's plan is in motion and the team is improving and I think that is the most important thing for us Leaf's fans.
 
Re signed Grabovski for 3 years. Good call. Looks like they will sign one more d man and I keep hearing Beachemein's name..
 
at this stage do they need more d?

finger, kaberle, komisarek, schenn, exelby, and the forgotten ian white (who i believe can fill kaberle's role should they move him). they have all those young guys that came up and played admirably to fill in for injuries.....i think d is now their strongest point on the team.
 
Ian White had a breakthrough year last year, but I don't think he can be a front line guy such as Kaberle. A very solid secondary type player is his most likely role. I was thinking the same thing, but they have to see what their youngsters up front can do before they start trading Kaberle. My guess is that Burke keeps him until the trade deadline next year for the best package unless he gets his socks blown off this summer. Personally, I wouldn't even do the rumored 1:1 trade for Kessel. He tailed off at the end of last year and he has way more talent there in Boston. Here in Toronto, he would just be another one of the young forwards...
 
chakhae1 said:
Ian White had a breakthrough year last year, but I don't think he can be a front line guy such as Kaberle. A very solid secondary type player is his most likely role. I was thinking the same thing, but they have to see what their youngsters up front can do before they start trading Kaberle. My guess is that Burke keeps him until the trade deadline next year for the best package unless he gets his socks blown off this summer. Personally, I wouldn't even do the rumored 1:1 trade for Kessel. He tailed off at the end of last year and he has way more talent there in Boston. Here in Toronto, he would just be another one of the young forwards...
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I agree that maybe White isn't the same caliber that Kaberle is in, but I think he is a guy that can run your power play.

I think they keep Kaberle as well for now. The young guys will be fine in injury call ups I think, I don't think they need another guy like Beauchimen though.
 
I think Kaberle is still going to be dangled for a top forward. The Leafs badly need a legitimate top-line scorer. I wouldn't rule out the Kaberle-Kessel deal just yet, but there are also going to be other teams that lost out on Bouwmeester not hitting the market that may become interested.

Now obviously trading Kaberle would leave a hole on the blueline, but every year there seems to be a top-end pucking moving defenseman that hits the market. Also, Burke hasn't forgotten that nabbing Pronger was the final piece to his puzzle in Anaheim...it's possible he wants to do the same thing again.

Also, don't forget that Schenn is no slouch at moving the puck. By the end of last year he was starting to get more confidence in that regard, and it's reasonable to expect him to take a step or two forward.
 
leafs4_cup said:
I think Kaberle is still going to be dangled for a top forward. The Leafs badly need a legitimate top-line scorer. I wouldn't rule out the Kaberle-Kessel deal just yet, but there are also going to be other teams that lost out on Bouwmeester not hitting the market that may become interested.

Now obviously trading Kaberle would leave a hole on the blueline, but every year there seems to be a top-end pucking moving defenseman that hits the market. Also, Burke hasn't forgotten that nabbing Pronger was the final piece to his puzzle in Anaheim...it's possible he wants to do the same thing again.

Also, don't forget that Schenn is no slouch at moving the puck. By the end of last year he was starting to get more confidence in that regard, and it's reasonable to expect him to take a step or two forward.
Click to expand...

Moving Kaberle would definitely mean that Schenn will play a bigger role with he team. I don't like the comparisons that everyone is making with Adam Foote either. Foote is a solid NHLer and all, but isn't Schenn bigger and have better puck moving skills? Plus he's young and to bill him as the next anyone is a little premature. Let's just hope he develops into the best player he can be..
 

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