Madferret
6-29-05, 11:11 PM
Leafs brace for new challenges
Canadian Press
TORONTO (CP) - With only eight players under contract for next season, Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Ferguson has his work cut out for him.
The Leafs are one of several big-market teams that will have some major adjustments to make this summer. With the upper limit on a salary cap expected to be between $35 million and $40 million, the days of teams such as the Leafs spending their way out of trouble are over.
The NHL is expected to soon be back in business and an announcement on a new collective bargaining agreement could be made in the next week or two. When the Leafs return to the ice, there will be a number of new players suiting up in blue and white.
"You don't go from the payroll we were at to payrolls that we most likely expect them to be without change," Ferguson said Wednesday. "There's going to be change but we expect no less out of ourselves. "We'll continue to entertain, succeed and strive for a Stanley Cup in Toronto."
The Leafs have four forwards (captain Mats Sundin, Owen Nolan, Matt Stajan, Darcy Tucker), three defencemen (Tomas Kaberle, Ken Klee and Bryan McCabe) and goaltender Ed Belfour signed to contracts. Those players are set to make $26.634 million dollars US next season, and that's taking into account the 24 per cent rollback that will be part of the new CBA.
That doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room.
"We've got some core pieces in place," Ferguson said. "Those players have been very productive at their respective positions and for us.
"How we build around those players remains to be seen - you know, what we can spend, how we can allocate those resources and really trying to predict the future as well. Does the unrestricted free agency age come down a year out, two years out? Talking a look at (the contract) term as well as dollars is going to be more important than ever."
So, will aging veterans Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk and Tie Domi be back for another run with the Leafs? If they return, it likely won't be for anywhere near the money they're used to making. Ferguson's hands are tied until the economic parameters within the new agreement are unveiled.
"They all contributed to our best regular season in history on a points total (103)," Ferguson said. "I'm not going to comment publicly on any particular contract situation. "We have to find out where we're going to be, what we can spend, and who we can retain."
Buyouts and contract renegotiations are also an option. It's also possible that free agents will want to sign with the Leafs for a fraction of what they used to make simply to play for a traditional contender and in a hockey hotbed.
"We do think that's an advantage," Ferguson said. "It's a tremendous city, just take a look at the attention. "There's no better place to win, no better place to play."
Ferguson and coach Pat Quinn met with the media at Air Canada Centre a day after it was announced that Quinn had agreed to a contract extension.
Quinn said that, like Ferguson and the team's scouting staff, he's trying to prepare for the season as best he can. "We're going into a whole new time in this game," Quinn said. "Things will tighten up a little bit and people have to make changes, including coaches, as we look at our rosters and some of those decisions aren't nice ones.
"I guess that's part of the fallout from having to restructure our business."
The Leafs will likely have to lean more on developing their own talent by drafting well and nurturing players from within. They also might want to give prospects more of a chance to play in the NHL because they won't be as much of a payroll hit. Players such as goaltender Mikael Tellqvist and defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo, who have had a sniff with the big club, might hang around longer next season.
"There are some names that we expect to contribute here," Ferguson said. "If it's not right out of the gate here, over the next year or two."
Quinn will also be thinking about the Canadian Olympic team. There's still no official word on whether NHLers will take part in the 2006 Turin Games although it's believed they will. If they do, Quinn will return as head coach of the defending champions.
"We're very hopeful that part of the CBA will include the NHLers going over," Quinn said. "I mean, we should be there, no question about it in my opinion."
For now, the waiting game continues until the CBA is signed, sealed and delivered. Ferguson is glad he's taken care of one key piece of business, which was re-signing Quinn.
"His success as a coach in this league, he's well over 600 wins, we don't expect anything different to continue," Ferguson said. "Pat's got the Olympic gold, he's got the World Cup.
"We're looking for a Stanley Cup."
Pretty cut & dry there eh Leaf fans? What's the consensus with some of you guys, (Newf, Mike, Blue, etc..), you think the Leafs will be a bottom team this year? It would land you a high pick with your 1st Rounder in 2006. John, what's the next draft pool forecasted to be like? Strong? Weak?
Canadian Press
TORONTO (CP) - With only eight players under contract for next season, Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Ferguson has his work cut out for him.
The Leafs are one of several big-market teams that will have some major adjustments to make this summer. With the upper limit on a salary cap expected to be between $35 million and $40 million, the days of teams such as the Leafs spending their way out of trouble are over.
The NHL is expected to soon be back in business and an announcement on a new collective bargaining agreement could be made in the next week or two. When the Leafs return to the ice, there will be a number of new players suiting up in blue and white.
"You don't go from the payroll we were at to payrolls that we most likely expect them to be without change," Ferguson said Wednesday. "There's going to be change but we expect no less out of ourselves. "We'll continue to entertain, succeed and strive for a Stanley Cup in Toronto."
The Leafs have four forwards (captain Mats Sundin, Owen Nolan, Matt Stajan, Darcy Tucker), three defencemen (Tomas Kaberle, Ken Klee and Bryan McCabe) and goaltender Ed Belfour signed to contracts. Those players are set to make $26.634 million dollars US next season, and that's taking into account the 24 per cent rollback that will be part of the new CBA.
That doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room.
"We've got some core pieces in place," Ferguson said. "Those players have been very productive at their respective positions and for us.
"How we build around those players remains to be seen - you know, what we can spend, how we can allocate those resources and really trying to predict the future as well. Does the unrestricted free agency age come down a year out, two years out? Talking a look at (the contract) term as well as dollars is going to be more important than ever."
So, will aging veterans Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk and Tie Domi be back for another run with the Leafs? If they return, it likely won't be for anywhere near the money they're used to making. Ferguson's hands are tied until the economic parameters within the new agreement are unveiled.
"They all contributed to our best regular season in history on a points total (103)," Ferguson said. "I'm not going to comment publicly on any particular contract situation. "We have to find out where we're going to be, what we can spend, and who we can retain."
Buyouts and contract renegotiations are also an option. It's also possible that free agents will want to sign with the Leafs for a fraction of what they used to make simply to play for a traditional contender and in a hockey hotbed.
"We do think that's an advantage," Ferguson said. "It's a tremendous city, just take a look at the attention. "There's no better place to win, no better place to play."
Ferguson and coach Pat Quinn met with the media at Air Canada Centre a day after it was announced that Quinn had agreed to a contract extension.
Quinn said that, like Ferguson and the team's scouting staff, he's trying to prepare for the season as best he can. "We're going into a whole new time in this game," Quinn said. "Things will tighten up a little bit and people have to make changes, including coaches, as we look at our rosters and some of those decisions aren't nice ones.
"I guess that's part of the fallout from having to restructure our business."
The Leafs will likely have to lean more on developing their own talent by drafting well and nurturing players from within. They also might want to give prospects more of a chance to play in the NHL because they won't be as much of a payroll hit. Players such as goaltender Mikael Tellqvist and defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo, who have had a sniff with the big club, might hang around longer next season.
"There are some names that we expect to contribute here," Ferguson said. "If it's not right out of the gate here, over the next year or two."
Quinn will also be thinking about the Canadian Olympic team. There's still no official word on whether NHLers will take part in the 2006 Turin Games although it's believed they will. If they do, Quinn will return as head coach of the defending champions.
"We're very hopeful that part of the CBA will include the NHLers going over," Quinn said. "I mean, we should be there, no question about it in my opinion."
For now, the waiting game continues until the CBA is signed, sealed and delivered. Ferguson is glad he's taken care of one key piece of business, which was re-signing Quinn.
"His success as a coach in this league, he's well over 600 wins, we don't expect anything different to continue," Ferguson said. "Pat's got the Olympic gold, he's got the World Cup.
"We're looking for a Stanley Cup."
Pretty cut & dry there eh Leaf fans? What's the consensus with some of you guys, (Newf, Mike, Blue, etc..), you think the Leafs will be a bottom team this year? It would land you a high pick with your 1st Rounder in 2006. John, what's the next draft pool forecasted to be like? Strong? Weak?