Way Too Quiet On Leafs Front

[The Insider]

Ok now I know I'm stating the obvious here, but we've done next to nothing since open season was declared on the UFAs, other than really lose players. So if you ask me there are 4 different scenarios that we are working with now.

Scenario 1: Clearing Cap Space For Next Season/Enter The Kessel Sweepstakes

This scenario has the Leafs avoiding all players this season looking for multi year deals. The players who the Leafs are after are those who will take one year deals with the team to sorta be fillers for this season, and they will mix those players with a lot of rookies from the farm. The goal of this scenario is to have tons of space freed up in the offseason to make huge splashes at UFA time like the Oilers have done this season via the trade, or like all the other small market teams have done by signing big names. It also shows the team has given up hope on this year and are looking to position themselves in well in the draft for next year.

Scenario 2: Playing The Waiting Game

This scenaro has the Leafs following suit like they've done for the last few season by waiting for all the big names to go and develop a market and than build the team by picking up the next best players not yet signed for a less cost. It also includes making trades to clear cap room so that they can afford these players. The goal of this is to make sure you don't get into a bidding battle for players who you don't want to take risks of signing to long contracts for too much money, and to make sure that you are getting exactly what the market has decided you're paying for. This scenario is a very big role of the dice.

Scenario 3: Standing Pat

This scenario has the Leafs risking their chances by deciding free agents are not going to fix the team and by standing pat they leave a lot of possibiliteis for player movement via the trade. This scenario requires the team to look for teams wanting to dump salary or to strengthen their team by trading away prospects/picks for players currently on the roster. The goal of this scenario is to have complete control of who's staying and who's leaving as well as who's coming, it also allows for the GM to leave his options open if he sees fit for an upgrade or a prospect.

Scenario 4: The One We All Pray Is Not The Case

This scenario has no goal, this scenario is the notion that we have the wrong guy at the helm. It basically mean Ferguson is out to lunch and has no clue what to do next which will eventually lead to making moves that would make Rob Babcock cringe. It is not something you want to think of, but it is a thought which has been raised by a lot of people and it could very well be true. Basically it kills us for another 10 years.


So take your pick, which scenario do you think we are in?

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Scenario Two. They'll fill out their roster when the A-List guys have signed and the bidding wars go away. Or sign guys to one year contracts since the cap doens't allow us to add the higher priced guys.

I'm sure some will pick Scenario Four, but JFJ has committed a lot of time and money to scouting in the past year, so he does have a plan for the long term.

[scorpionn]

I do think that he did have a plan.

But I don't think he would have dreamed that players would be getting 4.5 million dollar contracts per season. So, there still are a few good free agents left.. we don't have much to spend, so only he knows what is going to happen.. Although I do think that in the end this will be a rebuilding season for us (or retooling).

There is still a lot of time until training camp, when the starting roster is set we'll have a better idea of whether we will miss the playoffs or not.

[bluemeanie]

I'd say that his original intention is Scenario 1. However, in the Toronto market, there's too much pressure for immediate production/activity, hence I think JFJ is being gently influenced into a scenario 2. Which scares me a little. We'll see what he does over the next little while, but if he can manage to fill this year?s roster with a competitive team without committing to any multi-year contracts, I think we have a winner in JFJ. Things appear right now that scenario 3 might be a reality, but I have confidence in this Management team, they've promised us a 'contender', at the very least, I'd expect them to give us competitor. Scenario 4 is not even an issue. You forgot to mention scenario 5, in which JFJ and staff have been wrapped up in watching free-porn in the staff room, and will get down to business once the cable company catches on to their faulty feed...

[grim]

I'd say that his original intention is Scenario 1. However, in the Toronto market, there's too much pressure for immediate production/activity, hence I think JFJ is being gently influenced into a scenario 2. Which scares me a little. We'll see what he does over the next little while, but if he can manage to fill this year?s roster with a competitive team without committing to any multi-year contracts, I think we have a winner in JFJ. Things appear right now that scenario 3 might be a reality, but I have confidence in this Management team, they've promised us a 'contender', at the very least, I'd expect them to give us competitor. Scenario 4 is not even an issue.

I'm sure there will be a ton of panicky unsigned veterans sitting by the phone by August 31st who would love to play for Mayor Quinnby... for peanuts. Might be a sound strategy. And better to play for the Leafs for $400,000 than play for Burger King for $8,200. Right? I thought teams like the Leafs and Flyers and Detroit would feel the pain the most in this new salary cap world. I haven't really bothered to reason out why another huge payroll team like Philly is able to sign a bunch of Forsbergian talent while Toronto has no room to do likewise. I'll guess it is because of the brilliance of Bob C ... while you have all your freakin money tied up in Belfours and Sundins and McCabes. Myself... I would have moved Sundin and dumped Belfour. Honestly, I'm feeling sorry for you guys. There there.

You forgot to mention scenario 5, in which JFJ and staff have been wrapped up in watching free-porn in the staff room, and will get down to business once the cable company catches on to their faulty feed...

Don't be silly. You guys aren't the San Francisco 69ers.

[bluemeanie]

Fergy defends Leafs' plan of attack
By LANCE HORNBY -- Toronto Sun

The Maple Leafs' clock has been turned back to the summer of 2002, with free agents escaping their grasp, 11th-hour talks to keep Tie Domi and the general manager getting a public flogging for perceived loafing and cheapness.

But John Ferguson defended himself last night after a third day of striking out on the free agent front, hindered by so little room with his salary cap.

"We're making decisions in the best interests of this year, going forward to next," he said when asked about criticism. "We were active on a number of fronts, but some term and compensation issues (prevented signings). There are issues related to the cap that need to be respected."

He has little more than $10 million US to play with and seven players still to add.

"Our goals have not changed," he said.

"We have a top line centre, a goaltender and (experienced) defencemen. We'll be expecting more of of our players under contract (here and the Marlies farm team)."

The Leafs might finally make a move today, if only to end the speculation regarding Domi.

The winger is down to a handful of teams, but as was the case in '02, don't rule out a dramatic last second deal.

He was almost on a plane to Dallas when agreement was reached -- thanks in part to pressure from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd.'s hierarchy, which was getting an earful from the media about GM Pat Quinn's reluctance to deal.

Quinn made some moves later that summer and ended up winning 44 games and making the playoffs.

Ferguson refused comment on stories he is going to offer centre Jason Allison a contract pending a medical related to neck problems that sidelined him 21/2 years ago.

It no doubt has pained Ferguson to see division and conference rivals such as the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers stock up so quickly this week, with some of the players the Leafs had coveted.

"Some of the things we're doing are taking some people's breath away I would imagine," Flyers' coach Ken Hitchcock told the Canadian Press.

But some big names remain out there and Ferguson might be poised to collect them at bargain prices.


Defends his inaction, but that says nothing of his direction. If he's holding out for a bargain, or even for next year opportunities he's taking a big risk. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt... for another 3 hours or so. =]

[grim]

Defends his inaction, but that says nothing of his direction. If he's holding out for a bargain, or even for next year opportunities he's taking a big risk. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt... for another 3 hours or so. =]

Not trying to rub salt in your wounds blue but...

...never underestimate what players will do if they want badly enough to be Leafs. Richard Peddie, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., spoke of the club's intangible "star power" on The Fan 590 radio earlier this week.

"Maybe someone would want to play (strongly enough) for Toronto for a little bit less money," Peddie said.


http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2005/07/28/1150879-sun.html

Hard to feel sorry for MLSE with egomaniacal comments like that coming out. :[

[bluemeanie]

Hard to feel sorry for MLSE with egomaniacal comments like that coming out. :[

Yeah, I read that the other day. Trust me, it pisses me off to when I read comments like that. It's embarrassing. I think it's engrained in some of these guys? minds that they always need to remind the public that we're "#1" even when we just plain suck... Number one indeed. The truth is, the 'Leaf Nostalgia Card', is only good for a few bruised-brained players.