NHL 2008 Off Season Thread
 

LEAFS!

Obviously there needs to (and will) be some major re-construction over the summer. Rumour is Ron Wilson will be our next coach, but I tell ya, I'd like to see Tortorella get the job. Even if we lose every game, he'll be entertaining enough.

Kubina's gonna be gone. Sundin maybe (swear to God, if he signs with another team after refusing to be traded, I will hate him). Tucker, I wouldn't be surprised. McCabe, I hope so. Prolly a couple of the younger guys at least, I'd bet Stajan and Wellwood.

My God, it'd better be a whole new team come fall :-\

Tony Granato will be hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup next year

Pens win it next year. And the Leafs will still suck.

Agreed!

Funny how Ron Wilson hasn't taken the job yet.

The league asked the Leafs not to announce the hriing of wilson until the playoffs were done. I like Kubina and I hope he comes back. He got too much grief ala Hal Gill who I thought never should have been dealt. Stajan is going to be toronto's next captain so he'llbe back. Wellwood is gone, McCabe is gone, Sundin SHOULD be gone, Tucker will probably be gone, and I wouldn't be surprised if blake is dealt. Raycroft obviously won't be back so hopefully the leafs promote Pogge.
As for the draft, Filiatov might fall to the leafs because of the trouble nhl teams have getting players from russia. If not him, I'd like the Leafs to take Beech.

Don't the leafs have like 15 no trade clauses?

The leafs are going to buy them out.

Kubina's no trade clause is off for like the first week or 2 of July I think, so I'm sure he'll be dealt.

I hope they don't bring up Pogge. Let him mature a couple more years. Toskala is a good starter, and Raycroft is ok as a backup.

Dunno. Pens have a shit ton of free agents this year, and atleast half the list was a huge part of the run this year. If they do try to resign Hossa, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a 1 year deal.

All teams free agent list: http://hockeyworld.wordpress.com/2008-nhl-free-agents/

The Habs are poised to run rampant upon the east and soon the west as well.

Just need that big power forward.

This line(from the link below), "Among the least likely to return are Malone and Orpik," makes me furious :rant:

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid...e&service=page

Maybe the Avs won't have such a good time

lookwhat montreal did with price, what pittsburgh did with fleury, we need to bring him up. Raycroft was AWFUL. Kubina in my opinion was our best second half d man. i want him back.

Yeah. Price worked out. Fleury's good now, but the first time he was brought up was another story. Don't wanna shellshock Pogge.

habs would be dumb to trade considering he's an upcoming FA.

And to reply to a privious post, Tampa is going to be in shanbles. Horrible ownership, no secondary scoring, no defence, Ramo is another year awayand Lecavlier ain't gonna stick around.

Leafs officially announce Ron Wilson as head coach.

:D

So Kapanen and Hasek have retired, wonder who else is gonna. Hope Gary Roberts doesn't retire.

Brilliant, it works. Thank you
 

OK!!!!! It Does work, thank you for your kindless.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Angelina Jolie Lose Weight Diabetes

Tucker isn't going anywhere unless he changes his mind on waiving his NTC. It would make no sense to buy him out. To all you Leaf fans that think there is going to be this big massive player change you are wrong. You will trade and get rid of 3 or 4 guys at the most. Sundin will most likely be back, Tucker ain't going no where, Blake will be dealt, one or both of McCabe and Kubina will be back.

Er, sign him, my bad.

LodownM, nearly shit myself when I read that today, I was like no...no...:'(

No I dont have even a goaltender to root for, all my favs are gone mostly, only one left is playing superstar on NJD

I think next year, I will root for the Flames, Cujo and Kripursoph(sp?) FTW

Pfft, it's easy to decide which goalie to root for, Marc-Andre Fleury.

<iframe width="480" height="289" frameborder="0" src="http://www.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?hlg=20072008,3,315&event=PIT586"></iframe>

While Zetterberg is an amazing player, Fleury should have gotten the Conn Smythe. Awesome all playoffs and gave the Pens a chance all Final long.

The leafs are probably gonna buy out a good amount of players. From Wilson's interview he didn't seem too keen on tucker coming back. I think Blake will be gone, McCabe will be gone, Wellwood will be gone and Tucker will be gone. I'd hate to see them get rid of Kubina, although he has a two week window where his NTC isn't in effect so there's a chance he'll be dealt.

You will read a lot about teams contemplating buyouts over the next two weeks as the NHL's first buyout period opens June 15th.


In Toronto, Darcy Tucker is considered a target - which doesn't make sense.


To buy Tucker out, the Maple Leafs would have to pay out two-thirds of his remaining contract value: $9 million … that amounts to a six million dollar buyout and cap hit for 6 years.


Is the threat of a buyout supposed to scare the 33-year-old Tucker, who scored 18 goals last year, into waving his no-trade? His agent, Carlos Sosa says there is no chance of that happening.


The ongoing speculation Tucker will be bought out would severely undercut any leverage the Leafs have, assuming that is, Tucker had a change of heart and would be willing to move.


With 6 million of Toronto's dollars stashed in his pocket, Tucker would have the financial freedom to consider multiple offers he would be sure to receive from managers eager to bring in his grit and experience at a lower cap hit of say, 1.5 to 2 million dollars.


The San Jose Sharks were among the teams who made a strong play for the Tucker at the deadline, so the arrival of Ron Wilson as the Maple Leafs new head coach could change Tucker's stature in the organization.


Wilson acknowledged at his welcome to Toronto press conference that the Maple Leafs may have to take a step back to go ahead.

Darcy Tucker would be way ahead … financially, if rumor turned to reality.

- TSN

Why would anyone want to get rid of Darcy Tucker??

Cuz he sucks


Trevor Linden Retires today. 20 years to the day after he was drafted.

That is laughable.

Tucker doesn't backcheck AT ALL. He's a shadow of his former tough self and the Leafs would be wise to deal him now while they can get something for him.

Yeah well he played injured.

I see him rebounding.

Everyone rebounds once they leave the Leafs. We deal Raycroft, I bet he wins the Vezina next year.

Tucker is an awesome player and he will get A LOT of action if he gets bought out. I would love to see him in a B's uniform.

he's ALWAYS injured. He played poorly when he wasn't.

Looks like Columbus has got the rights to negotiate with Ryan Malone

Fucking awful news :rant:

I found the Leafs first round pick

http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v222/...702981_724.jpg

Massive upside.

Canucks sign Ryan Walter as assistant coach. No coaching experience but he's a very smart man with a Stanley Cup ring and 15 years playing experience. He was consulting for the Canadiens powerplay last season and they had the best PP.

He was an excellent penalty killer in his day.

Leafs get Jamal Mayers from St.Louis for a 3rd rounder. Toronto had two 3rd rounder so this makes sense since we are lacking grit. I really like this deal.

Maple Leafs give the Canadiens permission to talk to Sundin!!

Mike Cammalleri to Calgary in a 3 way trade between Los Angeles, Calgary, and Anaheim.

Olli Jokinen to Phoenix for Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton and the 49th pick.

The Flames are also on the verge of sending forward Alex Tanguay to the Montreal Canadiens for 25th overall pick. The deal has yet to be finalized however as the trade call must still go through :D

It was just officially announced, Habs traded 25th overall pick this year and 2nd round pick in 2009 for Tanguay and 5th round pick this year. Good move to finally get a 'top' forward!

Leafs have made a trade with the Islanders, swapping picks 5 and 7.

Isles trade pick 5 to Toronto for pick 7, and either pick 60 this year and Toronto's 3rd rounder in 09 or pick 68 in this draft and Toronto's 2nd round pick in 09. Phew.

And Toronto takes Luke Schenn.

Columbus sends picks 19 and 67 to philly for RJ Umberger and Pick 118.

The Bruins have the duty to make some big changes and get Lord Stanley's Cup next season. The city will accept nothing less

They've been accepting less for... I don't even know how many years since they last won the cup, definitely over 20 tho.

Yea, but now they're the only team not delivering. Their ownership and management sucks tho. Why they've done some of the shit they have is beyond me

JOE THORNTON

fuk Selanne and Neids havn't made a decision yet, this better not be like last season :mad:

Some INSANE trades today. Fuck I love hockey.

damn, i was hoping the leafs were gonna take filliatov

The Russian Super League is rumoured to be about to offer Malkin a 5 year 12.5 mil (per season) deal.

****


For years, Russia has balked at entering a transfer agreement with the NHL. Now, it apparently is attempting to lure away one of the league’s biggest stars.

According to a report by the Toronto Star on Friday, several teams in Russia’s new Continental Hockey League are preparing to offer Hart Trophy finalist Evgeni Malkin of the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins a multi-year contract worth at least $12.5 million per season.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_yl...v=st&type=lgns

Other news has Hossa trying to get a deal with the Pens, but he's also open to talking with the Red Wings.

Listen to this:
Murray said he attempted to trade Emery this week, but couldn’t find anyone interested. “And I wasn’t looking for much,” Murray said.

[...]

If this happens I will go to Russia and stab everyone.

got Stefanovich in the 4th round. great pick by the leafs.

Hopefully Marian Hossa is in a Bruins uniform next season. :drool:

Keep dreaming.

It is not that big of a long shot LoDownM.

Barry Melrose is coaching the Lightning.

And NHL bookie Rick Tocchet is going with him.

Canucks did absolutly nothing. Other GM's don't want to deal with Gillis because they dislike the guy. Great, just great.

Tucker is now gone. Hello unrestricted free agency.

You can come play for the Habs, Darcy.

Please come to the Bruins Tucker...

trust me. you're not getting the tough tucker of 02-03. you're getting the pussified version who doesn't backcheck at all.

Leafs put Wellwood and Raycroft on Waivers. Wellwood has already been claim by the Canucks.

I'm sad to see Wellwood go. He's got a ton of potential.

he's fat and he's lazy

Cliff Fletcher is looking like a HUGE mistake right now.

So far you guys are down Sundin, Tucker, Wellwood and up Mayers... EYL

lol huge mistake? Everyone knew it was gonna be a fire sale. Can't rebuild without tearing down. Tucker and Sundin free up a bunch of money for us to go after free agents.

Every team needs a fucking stellar goaltender. Toskala is fine.

Leafs should sign Emery imo.

You aren't going to get a powerful young first line (well unless young you mean nearing 30) via free agency and the Leafs don't have that many assets to get them via trades.

Pens built their core through 5 years of drafting, signed some solid role players and made a huge trade at the deadline to get what they had. Toronto isn't going to do that in one off season.

Leafs have no First line centre once Sundin leaves, Sundib is also btw the only truly reliable 1rst line centre who is going to be a UFA on July 1rst (There's Forsberg but that guy is an injury on skates). They'll also have trouble getting one via a trade or a RFA unless they are looking at giving up 1rst round draft picks (and I do means picks as in plural) to go along with say Kubina or Kaberle (in terms of a trade). Giving up draft picks btw in the Leafs situation would be beyond fucking dumb. Leafs don't really have a solid second line centre either and while there are a few of them but there if you want to be like the Pens none of them are going to make your second line a powerhouse.

The Leafs are in total fire sale/rebuilding mode. Only chance they get is if a bunch of their kids really really step up or they sign a bunch of guys who all have career years.

I wouldn't mind us picking up Emery.

We should bring up Pogge and give him 25-30 games backing up Toskala instead of wasting cash on a back-up.

We didn't win with those guys. Time for the leafs to let go of the past.

It makes NO sense to get rid of those 3. There should be a change in Toronto but a young guy like Wellwood should be included. Also every Leaf fan I have ever talked to doesn't want Mats gone. Tucker was your heart and soul. Get rid of plugs like McCabe, Kubina, Raycroft...

Kubina was our best d man in the 2nd half. Other LEaf fans don' want sundin gone because they have this delusional thought that we can contend for the cup still.

Tucker has lost it man. He's my 2nd fav player behind Wade Belak(don't ask), and even I had to admit it that he isn't the same player that he used to be.

Wellwood is lazy as shit, doesn't backcheck, can't take faceoffs gets lost out there sometimes.

Woo Neids is back! :D

lol I never realized how young Scotty still is. I can't believe he'd consider retiring at such a young age, although he's accomplished everything he pretty much can as a player.

nieds is mintttt

and Gertner Tucker has had one bad season ... that is all. Gretzky would have a bad season with that team and the injuries. He is great role player especially for a guy like Ron Wilson. We will see what pans out though. I can see getting rid of some of these guys if you are getting something back but fuck, might as well tank the year and get Tavares.

Tucker hasn't had this same "fire" in years. He started scoring a decent amount and figured that now since he's a "goal scorer" he doesn't need to play tough.

And you don't pay role players 3 million a season(stupid Fergie).

I know, he can easily play another 3-5 seasons.

I disagree.

Losing those guys, even Sundin, wont hurt the team at all, it will help them. With those guys in the lineup we were a terrible team.

With them out we free up cap room, and we allow young guys to get a chance to actually play. For years the Leafs have been full of vets and young guys who crack the lineup get very little chance to play.

Now, we havent drafted well, so its not like we had tons of great prospects waiting in the wings to take spots, but it was never really an option then. Now it is.

And the fact of the matter is, this team was never going to win ANYTHING. At best you could hope for squeeking into the playoffs and then losing to an upper end team in the 1st rd.

For the team to get to the point where they can contend for the Cup, they need to be bad for a year or two, and I mean really bad. If losing Tucker, Sundin, Wellwood and whoever else makes us the worst team in the league this year. I say great, we get a better chance at Tavares next summer.

The way the team was headed they were getting very few top end prospects and they were filled with aging vets. Fletch has started to change the makeup of the team, and yes it might mean they take a step back, but it also means they put themselves in a better position for 2-3 years down the road than they were under the previous regime.