Hockey Trade Rumors

Leaf fans are getting used to making the playoffs, but never winning the stanely cup, now the Leafs might wake up and realize that a change is needed.

Eric Lindros looked like he was a lock for the hall of famer before leaving the Flyers, now, while his numbers still support it, not alot of people do.

Ed Belfour is doing it. He’s showing “playoff Eddie” and while he hasn’t been spectacular, he’s been playing great, and really playing much better then earlier in the season.

Its the day after the NHL trade deadline and many members of Leafs Nation (corny term for Leaf fans, hate it) may be ready to serve up John Ferguson Jr.’s head up on a silver platter, but lets look at it from another perspective. In listening to JFJ speak after the deadline passed yesterday I got the feeling that he did want to pull the trigger on a couple of deals, but was unable to do so. Is it possible that Ottawa outbid Toronto for Arnason? Yes. Is it possible that the JFJ laid the ground work for a deal involving Ryan Malone in the off-season? Yes. But most fans are upset at JFJ for either not buying or not selling; when in fact this was possibly the best move the Leafs could make pretty much standing pat, pardon the pun.

Its the day after the NHL trade deadline and many members of Leafs Nation (corny term for Leaf fans, hate it) may be ready to serve up John Ferguson Jr.’s head up on a silver platter, but lets look at it from another perspective. In listening to JFJ speak after the deadline passed yesterday I got the feeling that he did want to pull the trigger on a couple of deals, but was unable to do so. Is it possible that Ottawa outbid Toronto for Arnason? Yes. Is it possible that the JFJ laid the ground work for a deal involving Ryan Malone in the off-season? Yes. But most fans are upset at JFJ for either not buying or not selling; when in fact this was possibly the best move the Leafs could make pretty much standing pat, pardon the pun.

I don’t know exactly where people get the idea that the Leafs have 20-25 million to throw around on free agents. I have taken a look at their situation, made a few reasonable guesses, and assessed their salary and what they likely have to spend. IN some cases, I am not positive about salaries or whether the player is under contract (Kronwall, Tellqvist?). My estimates on re-signings may be a bit high or low, but OVERALL, this should give a pretty accurate picture:

What the hell happened there? John Ferguson didn’t get younger, he didn’t load up to make a playoff push/run, he didn’t cut ties with bad players, and kinda semi-rebuild. He did nothing.

JFJ Has a Plan

Mar 9, 2006.

Beating the Habs Wednesday night must have inflated JFJ’s renewed optimism leading him to believe that his struggling Leafs can make the playoffs. A noble attempt. Here we see the organization behind the decisions at Deadline 2006. Restructure – as opposed to rebuild – or make a bid for the playoffs. Fans cried for the former. MLSE called for profits … oops, I meant, playoffs.

Enter Luke Richardson. Bye Ken Klee.

This must have been part of the ‘plan’ JFJ spoke about prior to the season’s onset. This was where the Leafs were to have a plan in place to be competitive. Not only this year, oh no, but into the future as well. He expressed, said sentiment, of long term moves in recent interviews at Deadline 2006. Then, turned around and picked up a veteran.

Huh?

I hear a lot of people hopping on the “get rid of Quinn” bandwagon. Well it’s about time. I have been saying this for at least 3 years now. The Leafs have had some marked success in the last few years, but it has had nothing to do with Pat Quinn. Only in Toronto will one of the greatest players in the game get the same ice time as the average Joe on most teams. And only in Toronto will he be lined up with the worst and most average players on the team. Mats Sundin is a potential 90-point getter, even more, but he doesn’t get the ice time, and he doesn’t get the linemates, and he hasn’t for almost 4 years now.

Bryan McCabe did OFFICIALLY reject a contract:

4 years at $16.5 million.

Watters and Kypreos claim that no new offer sheet was ever sent to him, but that part is speculation.

Okay, take this for exactly what it is, a rumour.

Phoenix has been knocking on Toronto’s door recently, and now seems to be stepping up into the Ed Belfour talk. It appears as though Phoenix is seriously trying to get Ed Belfour from Toronto, and has a package of players that they would be willing to move, in exchange for the right pieces from the Maple Leafs. Reports out of Phoenix are indicating that the Coyotes would ship Mike Comrie, Curtis Joseph, and one of either Paul Mara or Derek Morris to Toronto, but their list of demands is high. In return, the ‘Yotes want Belfour, along with two young bright spots in Toronto’s depth charts, Kyle Wellwood and Andy Wozniewski.

There are two scenarios that the Leafs could be in by the NHL trade deadline on March 9th. If they beat Montreal on Tuesday, they will be 5 points out of the final playoffs spot. They will be buyers, if they lose to Montreal on Tuesday they will be 9 points out of the last playoff spot, then they will be sellers.

from NHL.com:

TORONTO (AP) – Maple Leafs forward Eric Lindros will undergo surgery after tearing a ligament in his right wrist Saturday against the Ottawa Senators.