Hockey Trade Rumors

First of all… Hal Gill was a very good signing by JFJ @ 2 mil. Take Jay McKee on Buffalo for example, he was one of the best defensive D-men in the league last season (although he did lead the league in blocked shots) here are his numbers while playing on the top seeded Sabres last season.

This article is an attempt to defend JFJ and his moves as G.M.

Ill start with the players that remain from the starting roster that he inherited: Sundin, Stajan, Kaberle, Kilger, Ponikarovsky, McCabe, Pilar, Antropov, Tucker.

Free Agency began on July 1st and right when i saw the leafs had signed Pavel Kubina and Hal Gill i was thrilled. I thought that JFJ was actually working hard to improve the leafs. I kept checking hockey sites because i figured he would sign some offence, but i was wrong. All he has done is re signed low impact players for too much money.

According to startribune.com, the Toronto Maple Leafs have signed the AHL scoring leader last season (who was an UFA with the Minnesota Wild organization last season), Erik Westrum to a one-way contract.

Maybe he can regain his form and crack the line up, that would be nice to see. We all seem to forget about him, and his once 20 goal-player status.

Now that the Leafs have almost set their line-up for the 2006-07 season, who won’t make the team and what would the lines look like? I’m going to set a line combination with possible signings (ex. Roberts, Lindros, Peca). I’m interested to hear all of your feedback and your own ideas.

The Leafs are very close to the salary cap limit thanks mostly to their top 4 defensemen. Did they over pay for Mccabe, Kubina and Gill? Yes, they did but the Leafs are building from net out. I prefer this year’s roster with Kubina, Gill and Raycroff over last year’s roster with Berg, Khamonov and Belfour.

Restricted free agent forward Nik Antropov has agreed to a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Terms have not been released.

Howard Berger of the Fan 590 reported today that over the last 24 hours he has heard that the Leafs have been pursuing UFA Mike Peca.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president Richard Peddie said yesterday that there could be a future for Tie Domi in the organization if he chooses not to continue playing next season.

According to TSN there has been no developement on Roberts request to go to Toronto.

I recently noticed some odd payroll numbers with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The NHLPA site and TSN both report Mats Sundin’s salary for 06/07 as $7.6 million and Bryan McCabe’ as $7.15 million.

TSN.ca is reporting that the Toronto Maple Leafs have signed goalie, Andrew Raycroft, to a three-year/six million dollar contract!