Hockey Trade Rumors

Disclaimer: This article contradicts many things I have recently posted and simply being put out for the purposes of speculation. I do not demand that the approach I’ll be suggesting need to be pursued or that it is the best solution.

When Cliff Fletcher took over for the Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager position in late January of last year, he made one thing clear. That this team was going to be a young team and its primary focus is to grow as a team and build for future success, not short term gain. The rebuilding process started when the Leafs shipped out Hall Gill, Chad Kilger and Wade Belak. In exchange for these players, the Leafs got a 2nd, a 3rd and two fifth round draft picks. In May with no permanent General Manger found, Fletcher fired head coach Paul Maurice, and hired former San Jose coach Ron Wilson, who vowed to make the Leafs a much better team in the long run Then in June at the NHL entry draft Cliff Fletcher traded up to select standout CHL defenseman Luke Schenn 5th overall. Shortly after the Leafs bought out the contracts of both veterans Darcy Tucker and Andrew Raycroft. On July 1 Fletcher signed forward Niklas Hagman to a 4 year 12 million dollar deal, little known Jeff Finger to a 4 year 14 million dollar deal and fan favourite Curtis Joseph to a 1 year 750,000 deal. As well Fletcher acquired forward Ryan Holwegg from the New York Rangers, in exchange for a 5th round draft selection and as well acquired Mikhail Grabovski from Montreal in exchange for a 2nd round pick and prospect, Greg Patryn, also the Leafs signed defenseman Jonas Frogren out of Sweden to a 2 year deal. The Leafs also remained in the Mats Sundin sweepstakes by offering him a 1-year contract worth 7 million dollars.

Just for fun, starting now predicting the Leafs every move until this time next year.

Sept. 1 2008- Toronto trades defencemen Bryan McCabe and Alexei Ponicarovsky to the Florida Panthers for Mike Van Ryn and David Booth.
-The Leafs pull the deal everyone expected when it comes to Van Ryn and McCabe but the Poni and Booth comes to the surprise of everyone.

Every one says the leafs are so bad, and as a leafs fan, it does get tiring. But im sure these kinda articles and attention to the leafs also gets annoying to none leafs fans, as it does to me as well. But are the leafs really as bad off as everyone says? I don’t think that they are.

A list of prospects and what I feel there potential is in the NHL. (Tlusty and Stralman will be included to make things more interesting)

the following is an overview of the 2008-2009 leafs squad and how it should compete barring any trades or other transactions made

Morrison, Jagr probably not on Leafs radar

Derek Harmsworth of The Bleacher Report says the Maple Leafs have apparently agreed to terms with Swedish defenseman Jonas Frogren.

Additionally Frogren’s Swedish team Farjestad BK have posted an article on their website saying that Frogren has signed with the Leafs, and is following in the footsteps of Hall of Famer Borje Salming.

Some teams made big splashes on July 1st, while others made tweaks, and some decided to stand pat. The Maple Leafs, however, in a seven hour period summed up everything that is wrong with their organization.

Although the Leafs may not be in the run for any big name UFA’s as has been the case in recent years, the Leafs are very interested in a number of free agents hitting the market next Tuesday. Here I have composed a list of the UFA’s Toronto is said to be in the running for, and why.

The Star is reporting that the Leafs have decided to buy out Darcy Tucker.

As the 2008 NHL Entry Draft came and went, no one could hide the shear enjoyment of Leaf fans all over the city of Toronto; as they finally felt they took some progressive steps into the direction to a positive rebuild. Though success could be miles away.

Here’s the link for the new trailer for Mike Myers new movie “The Love Guru” (featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs): http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/02/28/mike-myers-the-love-guru-trailer-has-arrived/

The movie hasn’t been getting very good reviews, but to be honest, I’m still gunna catch it in theatres opening day. It stars Myers, Verne Troyer, Jessica Alba, and Justin Timberlake. Myers plays a “Love Guru” who is hired by the Leafs to get their star player to get back with his wife before the Stanley Cup finals.

Any thoughts about the movie?

Sorry for yet another Leaf article but if you don’t like it, don’t read it. As evidenced by my name, I’m a Habs fan. BUT, I am also a Hockey Fan first and foremost and as much as I enjoy watching the Leafs suffer(As I know Leaf fans enjoyed how the Habs suffered through the late 90′s and early 00′s) it’s unnatural that the 2nd oldest Franchise can’t seem to get on track.

Its two days before the trade deadline, and their has been only three major deals–> stillman, and commodore to ottawa for eaves, and corvo to carolina and modry to philadelphia for a 3rd round draft pick in 2008 going to l.a. and jim vandermeer to calgary for a 3rd round draft pick in 2009 going to philadelphia.

*sigh*
You guys just dont get it, do you.. I am so so tired of hearing all you talking heads left and right complaining about how its an injustice to leaf nation if Mats isnt moved by the deadline. I mean you guys are so ridiculously blind, its getting to the point where its borderline embaressing.. And thats no joke..

Attention Cliff (or whoever is calling the shots……..petty Peddie) and fans of the TML……………when and if Captain Mats is traded to a contender with actual hockey players on their roster don’t hold your breath for his return in the off season. Do you really believe that if Sundin gets a chance to be flanked by guys who know how to put the biscuit in the basket he would want to come back to T-Dot to be reunited with Jonas Hoglund or whoever the next pilon is that MLS&E try to tell you is a front line, top caliber winger who deserves to play with Lucky Number 13.

After a embrassing defeat against Florida the Leafs would not let Montreal or Detroit throw them around like rag dolls.The reason why the Leafs lost to Florida is because they let Florida get their chances and let Florida push them around.In the game against Montreal the Leafs re a whole different team.They played one of their best games in awhile.Today I thought the Leafs played pretty solid game against the Leagues best team.

Everybody knows that Mats Sundin can’t be traded without waiving his no trade clause 1st therefore he won’t just go anywhere, he’ll only go to a team that have a ligitament chance of winning the stanley cup. Last year the demand was really high for young prospects and draft picks that trend will continue again this year and there is nobody better at this years deadline then Mats Sundin, if the leafs do trade Sundin they must get at least a prospect and a 1st round draft pick. Here are some trades that will benefit both teams including Sundin and some other leafs

Ok, here we go. I almost consider my self an expert on the Leaves, so I’m gonna give you my take on the moves that will be made in the following weeks.

You can forget about moving McCabe Kubina and Kaberle( Why would you wanna move kabby anyways?). So here are players that have good chances of being moved.

[Note: I do not believe that any of this will happen, but some of it might. The point is, it is now much more fun to speculate about the future of the Leafs - especially now with the potential of having names like Stamkos, Doughty, Brunnstrom, etc. in a Leaf uniform.]

For Leaf fans who have demanded change for a long time, one must keep their heads on straight (after all Peddie is still around and nothing substantial has happened). But it is also a fun time to be a Leaf fans JUST FOR THE VERY POTENTIAL of change swirling in the air. Below is a typical leaf plan that we often see posted here on HTR. However, the format is NOT so much a plan as a potential scenario, and there are some assumptions that have been made …