First,
Scott Niedermayer, told the Fan 590 yesterday he would not have trouble uprooting his family from New Jersey to play for the Leafs!!!
And there is speculation that the Hurricanes' future will not include right winger and King City native Jeff O'Neill. The Hurricanes are not expected to tender O'Neill a qualifying offer for $2.8 million (all figures U.S.) this summer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent.
There are also rumblings the Leafs would be very interested in acquiring O'Neill and that the 29-year-old would take a cut in pay for the chance to get his career back on track and play in a traditional hockey market. O'Neill scored just 14 goals last season and has had some off-ice travails, but a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery affected his productivity. He was just one season removed from three straight 30-goal campaigns. And even though the Leafs have some serious salary issues to deal with, there would still be enough in the budget to go after a premier player such as defenceman Scott Niedermayer or winger Markus Naslund — both unrestricted free agents soon — and Toronto is expected to look at both.
Here's how they can do it.
Assuming the Leafs buy Owen Nolan out of his contract, they'll have seven roster players under contract at a total of $21.4 million. That would leave the Leafs a total of $17.6 million to bring their payroll to $39 million, expected to be the on-ice total for payroll, not the total including benefits as was first believed.
Turning to their unrestricted free agents, the Leafs will have to capitalize on the desire of Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk and Tie Domi to stay in Toronto and could try to sign the three for a combined $3 million, taking the payroll to $24.4 million.
That would be a bit risky, however, in light of speculation that Ottawa will try to sign all three to play for the Senators as a line if they become unrestricted.
As for Toronto's restricted free agents, the Leafs have to offer Aki Berg a $1.1 million qualifying offer and $1 million to Nik Antropov. Alexei Ponikarovsky and Karel Pilar will likely be signed at the league minimum of $450,000 and Wade Belak will likely not be given a qualifying offer and could be re-signed as an unrestricted free agent for about $500,000. That takes the payroll to $27.9 million with 15 players signed.
Among those under contract who could work their way into the lineup are backup goalie Mikael Tellqvist at $450,000, defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo and centre Alexander Steen ($850,000), and left winger Clarke Wilm ($450,000), which elevates the payroll to $30.5 million for 19 players. Toronto might be able to sign O'Neill for $1.5 million, putting the Leafs at $32 million for 20 contracts.
That would leave $7 million to spend. If they went for Naslund at $5 million, they could get perhaps Mike Rathje for less than $2 million and have room under the cap to sign an eighth fringe defenceman. If they were able to get Niedermayer at $5 million, they would easily be able to find a forward with the money left.
Scott Niedermayer, told the Fan 590 yesterday he would not have trouble uprooting his family from New Jersey to play for the Leafs!!!
And there is speculation that the Hurricanes' future will not include right winger and King City native Jeff O'Neill. The Hurricanes are not expected to tender O'Neill a qualifying offer for $2.8 million (all figures U.S.) this summer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent.
There are also rumblings the Leafs would be very interested in acquiring O'Neill and that the 29-year-old would take a cut in pay for the chance to get his career back on track and play in a traditional hockey market. O'Neill scored just 14 goals last season and has had some off-ice travails, but a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery affected his productivity. He was just one season removed from three straight 30-goal campaigns. And even though the Leafs have some serious salary issues to deal with, there would still be enough in the budget to go after a premier player such as defenceman Scott Niedermayer or winger Markus Naslund — both unrestricted free agents soon — and Toronto is expected to look at both.
Here's how they can do it.
Assuming the Leafs buy Owen Nolan out of his contract, they'll have seven roster players under contract at a total of $21.4 million. That would leave the Leafs a total of $17.6 million to bring their payroll to $39 million, expected to be the on-ice total for payroll, not the total including benefits as was first believed.
Turning to their unrestricted free agents, the Leafs will have to capitalize on the desire of Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk and Tie Domi to stay in Toronto and could try to sign the three for a combined $3 million, taking the payroll to $24.4 million.
That would be a bit risky, however, in light of speculation that Ottawa will try to sign all three to play for the Senators as a line if they become unrestricted.
As for Toronto's restricted free agents, the Leafs have to offer Aki Berg a $1.1 million qualifying offer and $1 million to Nik Antropov. Alexei Ponikarovsky and Karel Pilar will likely be signed at the league minimum of $450,000 and Wade Belak will likely not be given a qualifying offer and could be re-signed as an unrestricted free agent for about $500,000. That takes the payroll to $27.9 million with 15 players signed.
Among those under contract who could work their way into the lineup are backup goalie Mikael Tellqvist at $450,000, defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo and centre Alexander Steen ($850,000), and left winger Clarke Wilm ($450,000), which elevates the payroll to $30.5 million for 19 players. Toronto might be able to sign O'Neill for $1.5 million, putting the Leafs at $32 million for 20 contracts.
That would leave $7 million to spend. If they went for Naslund at $5 million, they could get perhaps Mike Rathje for less than $2 million and have room under the cap to sign an eighth fringe defenceman. If they were able to get Niedermayer at $5 million, they would easily be able to find a forward with the money left.
