The Leafs ... 2
- Thread starter Ironhead
- Start date
This would make a good trivia question.
Question: Which team allowed 3 shorthanded goals on the same penalty? Hint: No, it wasn't the Leafs.
In Brian we trust
The Leafs are going to be fine. Brian Burke has only had this team 1.5 seasons, so I consider this his first official season. Vancouver has BB's finger prints all over it (can you say the Sedin twins, who he almost brought to Toronto) and of course he won a cup in Anaheim. He's completely rebuilt the team and has a solid foundation in net and defense. This year was about getting rid of the chaff and he's accomplished that. We just have to see how the young forwards pan out and what free agents he will get. I think free agents are going to want to sign here because players respect BB and know he will create a winning atmosphere.
ETA: my fearless prediction is Kovalchuk will become a Leaf this summer.
The Leafs are going to be fine. Brian Burke has only had this team 1.5 seasons, so I consider this his first official season. Vancouver has BB's finger prints all over it (can you say the Sedin twins, who he almost brought to Toronto) and of course he won a cup in Anaheim. He's completely rebuilt the team and has a solid foundation in net and defense. This year was about getting rid of the chaff and he's accomplished that. We just have to see how the young forwards pan out and what free agents he will get. I think free agents are going to want to sign here because players respect BB and know he will create a winning atmosphere.
ETA: my fearless prediction is Kovalchuk will become a Leaf this summer.
I think the Leafs need a "kick ass" forward like a young Brendan Shanahan more than a Kovalchuk.
Somehow I have the hunch that Burke will be seriously pursuing Kovalchuk as well.
With little to draw on from the Marlies and no high picks in the next couple of drafts, Burke would have to count on free agencies to improve the team, which as is, is a long way from being a contender. Leafs fans and media can fantasize all they want about the young prospects developing into stars - as they have for the past 40+ years at this time of the year when the Leafs are no longer on ice - the truth of the matter is: some may grow into NHLers but none would be a bona fide 1st liner in the next few years from what I can see.
Kovalchuk is the kind of players Burke loves: big, strong, feisty and mighty skillful. He should ably fill the void that Sundin had left since his retirement. With Kessel and the defense Burke has assembled, and decent goaltending, hopefully, between Gig and the Monster, the Leafs should be a force to be reckoned with, after 5 years of playoff drought.
The problem is: Kovalchuk is going to be extremely expensive (around $10 mil a year) for a very long time (around 10+ years). I don’t even know if the Leafs has the cap space to sign him – today and down the road. A more challenging question is: if you were in Burke’s position, would you sign him, or would you save the eggs for the “Next One” to come along?
I am talking salary cap and the cap hit is always an average per year of the contract.
I think Kovalchuk lost a bit by his playoff performance or lack there of.
I do not think he will get the $10 mil per in the NHL.
That may have been what you meant, but it is not what you wrote.
You said the contract was for $1.35 million per season. That sir, is untrue.
The contract is for $1.3 million in 2010-11 and $1.4 million in 2011-12 respectively.
Try to be clearer about what you mean in the future.
How is your crush on Daniel Alfredsson working out for you ?
You know you love him, he's one of your favourite people to talk about.
Well in the NHL cap world that is the way fans talk. Cap hit per season is my only concern.
Signing a player for $7 mil / season is nuts unless he can really do something for your team(i.e. Sidney Crosby), but signing him to a $7mil/ season over three years with a fourth year at $1mil makes him a $5.5mil hit per. That is an extra 1.5 mil to go to someone else.
If the Leafs do take a run at Kovalchuk and he asks for $9mil per and at least five years, then he has to give the Leafs two more at $1.
That makes him a $6.7 per. Worth it ? I would rather see it a little closer to $6, but I could live with $6.7 for Kovy. Maybe the Leafs could trade him for Ryan Getzlaf.
I do not want to speak for Brian Burke, but I think we have seen the last of Wallin, Van Ryn and Exelby in a Leaf uniform.
Lundmark may come back if his contract request is reasonable.
Wayne Primeau I doubt will return, though I would not mind seeing him return.
Kaberle will be traded.
That leaves seven or eight forwards and six defensemen signed for next season. Leafs are set in goal.
The Leafs, assuming they do move Kaberle, would have just over $41mil tied up in salary.
They need to add six forwards and one D.
Lundmark may come back if his contract request is reasonable.
Wayne Primeau I doubt will return, though I would not mind seeing him return.
Kaberle will be traded.
That leaves seven or eight forwards and six defensemen signed for next season. Leafs are set in goal.
The Leafs, assuming they do move Kaberle, would have just over $41mil tied up in salary.
They need to add six forwards and one D.
The Teachers Pension group should be feeling the heat for 6 years of no playoffs. I think they're going to push Burke to make a big splash and sign Kovalchuk to make sure we make the playoffs next year. Kovalchuk wants to play in a hockey market; he actually singled out Toronto a few years ago.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=TOR
There does seem to be some room for them to make additions at first glance.
Finger at 3.5 mil is a bad one though.
He's the cheechoo of the leafs.
To be a serious contender for the Cup, the Leafs need at least one superstar at the Crosby, Oveckin, young Neidermayer stature. I don't see that man (or woman) on the horizon.
B.B. says he's not afraid to bury contracts with the Marlies. We'll see if he's serious.
