Antropov

[bluemeanie]

Leafs to lose Antropov

Not only are the Leafs losing out on the free agent market, they may be losing out to Russia as well.
According to the Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1123019209496&call_pageid=1044442959412&col=1044442957278), forward Nik Antropov has received offers from Russian club teams doubling and even tripling the qualifying offer of $1 million the Leafs have offered the winger.
"I have to think about it with my agent (Don Meehan) very hard. I've been thinking about it for the last month and a half. We haven't make a decision yet," Antropov told the Star. "I hope to stay here in Toronto and play for the Maple Leafs."
"I've got a couple of offers in Russia for two to three times as much money. It's easier for me to go back there than to stick around the NHL. Same as for the Canadians who played in Russia. It's easier for them to come back here. We'll see what's going to happen but my mind is to stay here and play for the Leafs. Toronto is a great city. I like it a lot actually."

A guy in that price range... I guess I wouldn't blame him. Truth is, I really don't give a shi

[Rusty]

Take it And drop off....................

Hopefully another anchor dropped off.

[Madferret]

Antro's pulling a Volchenkov...do they share the same agent?

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Antropov had some success in Russia last season, so he probably enjoyed his time there. Unlike the A-Train, I think he's seriously considering staying over there. If so, I wish him the best luck :wave:

[Newfie John]

I hope he stays. I still think he has something to prove in the NHL.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

I hope he stays. I still think he has something to prove in the NHL.

I agree. This is still a guy who could put up 50-60 points/season in this league. Remember two seasons ago when NOBODY wanted to trade this guy for Kovalev. He looked very good that year, and hopefully he can re-establish himself as a legit top six forward.

[bluemeanie]

50-60 points? Even if he was ever to play a full season, I don't think he'll see those kind of numbers. And if he ever does reach those numbers, it would be because he's on a line with Sundin... even Renberg can put up those kind of numbers on a good line. Dead weight imo.

[scorpionn]

A bargaining ploy? I don't know..

Who in their right mind would pay him 3 Million a season? :laughing:

[Newfie John]

A bargaining ploy? I don't know..

Who in their right mind would pay him 3 Million a season? :laughing:

He just had a good year in Europe. All the more reason I want him to stay here.

50-60 points? Even if he was ever to play a full season, I don't think he'll see those kind of numbers. And if he ever does reach those numbers, it would be because he's on a line with Sundin... even Renberg can put up those kind of numbers on a good line. Dead weight imo.

Last year Antropov showed flashes, and I think he can come out of it yet. We have to stop giving up on youngsters so early.

Does Steve Sullivan, Freddy Modin, Danny Markov(to a lesser extent) ring a bell?

[bluemeanie]

Does Steve Sullivan, Freddy Modin, Danny Markov(to a lesser extent) ring a bell?

Yes, but all those guys played great in Toronto as well, and I don't think anyone was calling for Leaf mangement to trade them or not re-sign them.
I'm not suggesting that we replace Antropov with another ageing has-been. If he want's to play for more money, then let him go, if he wants to stay - fine. But, the Leafs shouldn't re-negotiate his offer...he's not worth over $2 million in this new NHL.

[The Insider]

If he wants to go to Russia, let him go, he's not worth bidding for. When's he's on his game, he's a tough center to contain, but he's undisciplined, he's constantly injured and he's not reached his potential to this date. I think our best bet is to take it as a chance to free up some 4th liner money to sign someone of value.

[bluemeanie]

I agree. This is still a guy who could put up 50-60 points/season in this league. Remember two seasons ago when NOBODY wanted to trade this guy for Kovalev. He looked very good that year, and hopefully he can re-establish himself as a legit top six forward.

Critical time for Antropov
By MIKE ZEISBERGER -- Toronto Sun

Too brittle. Too slow. Too lethargic.

Throughout his career, towering forward Nik Antropov has been showered with such criticism time and time again.

Well, if you among the legion of Nik bashers lining up to unleash your wrath on the big Kazakh, here's a tip.

He's not listening to you.

"I don't really care what the (critics) say,"Antropov said yesterday. "Whatever they want to say, go ahead. I don't hear it anyway."


For years now the most frustrating aspect about Antropov is that you keep expecting more. He can look brilliant one moment, lazy the next, all the while driving his coaches behind the bench and fans up in the stands bonkers.

Either way, the Maple Leafs will rely on him even more than in the past when they open up the 2005-06 season against the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 5. With forwards Owen Nolan, Joe Nieuwendyk,Gary Roberts and Alex Mogilny no longer in the mix, Antropov will be looked upon to improve on his career high goal total of 16 established in 2002-03.

"My goal is to reach 20 goals and get as many points as I can,"he said. "Obviously my main goal is to play all 82 games."

That would be a first. The injury-plagued forward has never participated in more than 72 games in a season, in part because of a pair of reconstructive knee surgeries early in his career that took as much a mental toll as physical on him.

"It was tough,"he said."You have an operation your first year, then another one a year and a half later.

"It was difficult to deal with the emotions. When I returned, it was in my head that I wanted to hit everyone out there, but something stopped me. I wasn't scared, it was just something in the back of my head."

Fortunately Antropov has enough of a support network to get through those tough times.

"I'm glad I asked people to help me," he said."They helped me work things out and get that stuff (out of my head).

"I'm just glad to get going again."

So are the Leafs, especially if Antropov meets his target of a 20-goal season.


It was just the voice in the back of his head this whole time? Well, maybe this year the voice will remind him that he's 6 foot 7 and he should use his size to help change light bulbs for old ladies.... or play hockey.