Spectors Takes A Look At the Leafs. Naslund in TO? [Archive]

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Newfie John

7-20-05, 3:32 PM

Are the Toronto Maple Leafs on the verge of destruction? We've been buying our teams for the last decade and suddenly, under the new collective bargaining agreement we can no longer build our team by the dollar sign. John Ferguson appears to be shy of blowing up this club up and developing. So assuming this, what should Ferguson do?

We start with the most obvious. We buy out Owen Nolan. With the 24% rollback, Nolan's pricetag becomes, under a hard cap of 39, a ridiculous $5.6 million dollars. When you've locked up 27 million on 8 players, and one, who has underachieved in Blue and White is consuming a fifth of it you've got to sit and wonder.

From here, assuming we plan on "making a run" this season, Roberts and Niewendyk are absolutely essential signings. Both have clearly shown loyalty to the Leafs and plan on retiring in Toronto. Tie Domi has also clearly stated his need to stay in Blue and White and has assured whatever the Leafs can give him, he will take. From the sounds of that I do not believe it would be hard to lock up all three for $5.6 million or a bit less. This then retains three core players and keeps your payroll at $27 million. From there you qualify rfa's you need to fill in holes. One of Belak or Berg needs to be qualified, while Ponikarovsky should be inked to the 450K minimum. Depending on what Antropov's asking price he may fill in a third line spot as well.

Now if you hadn't already noticed, Alexander Mogilny has not been mentioned. His nagging hip injury may force him to retire, but if not, it may not be the best idea to keep him in Toronto. His age is becoming a major factor, and of course his constant injuries. I believe it needs to be opened up for a younger version of himself. Someone like.. Markus Naslund.

Now before you break your computer screen, hear this out. According to the Globe and Mail, Captain Mats Sundin has been cajoling Naslund to make a move to Toronto. If what I suggest above is done, there is plenty of room for a top Rwer to replace Mogilny. Also in the article, was his agent, Mike Gillis, quoting that Naslund will test the UFA market, and if nothing of interest pops up, he will go home to Sweden.

Offering a $5 million-$6 million dollar contract may not be that unaffordable. The only cash that will be added on top of the $27 million will be the qualification of rfa's (in this scenario). Say we take Aki Berg, whose price is at 1mil, Poni for 500K, and Antropov for another mil. We're now at 29.5 million. Adding Naslund's $5 million dollar contract reaches 34.5.

Then we've got our hole where Leetch was. Rumours have it that Mike Rathje, whose wife is from Toronto, is quite interested in joining the Blue and White, and the Leafs may not have any trouble signing him for more than 2 million. Also rumoured is Toronto native Adam Foote, who has always made it known he wouldn't mind being a Leaf. Also, Foote may not cost you more than 3 million if he will take less money to be a Leaf.

So....... Comments here should be interesting.

J.R.

7-20-05, 3:40 PM

What's this 'we' stuff? Does this writer play for the TML?

Anyways, throughout this whole lockout and the speculation regarding Markus, I've always thought that Naslund will either A) Play with his buddy Bertuzzi in Vancouver, or B) Get fed up with the NHL and bolt for the Swedish Elite League. I find it hard to believe that he'll be elsewhere for this upcoming season or seasons to come. It's nothing against Toronto, I just don't imagine him playing for anyone but the Canucks or Modo (or whatever SWE team he'd sign with).

Leafs_Fa_Life

7-20-05, 4:35 PM

What's this 'we' stuff? Does this writer play for the TML?

Well a week or two ago Spectors used a rumour that was started on tmlfans.ca. So maybe he's a Leaf fan :conspire:

Anyways, throughout this whole lockout and the speculation regarding Markus, I've always thought that Naslund will either A) Play with his buddy Bertuzzi in Vancouver, or B) Get fed up with the NHL and bolt for the Swedish Elite League. I find it hard to believe that he'll be elsewhere for this upcoming season or seasons to come. It's nothing against Toronto, I just don't imagine him playing for anyone but the Canucks or Modo (or whatever SWE team he'd sign with).

Yeah I agree. As much as I'd love to see a player like Naslund in Toronto, I can't imagine he'd sign anywhere other than Vancouver if he stays in North America.

Madferret

7-20-05, 6:52 PM

scorpionn

7-20-05, 7:13 PM

Roberts Visits Senators, Faces Questions (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050720/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_bush_28;_ylt=Ant_gPN27Qo2rr7VubYvEdRuCM0A;_ ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl)

Scared me for a second there :pimp:

Anyway, I'm not holding my breath about Naslund. Like J.R. said, I doubt he would consider anything other than Vancouver in the NHL (unless he wants to join Burke in Anaheim).

It sure would be nice to see Foote signed, hopefully the Avs don't have cap space for him :)

PDO

7-20-05, 8:02 PM

Fans saying "we" is one thing. Fans are a part of the team.

I guess the days of unbiased journalism are long gone however.

TimmyTabasco

7-20-05, 9:25 PM

Ah, what an article :coffee:

This is nothing new. Every year, every player..is on the Leafs fan/media list

This year, Naslund just happens to be available

Would he go to Toronto? I wouldn't think so. He'd go to a contender :laughing: :nod:

Leafs_Fa_Life

7-20-05, 9:35 PM

He'd go to a contender :laughing: :nod:

So I guess his time in Vancouver is done :wave:

The Insider

7-20-05, 10:03 PM

Forget Naslund, if the Leafs go after any big name players I'd prefer Adam Foote and/or Jeff O'Neill if either are available. To me Naslund is not what our team is missing, he's just another big name going to a team where he's not going to put them over the top(with all due respect to Markus) What the Leafs need is a strong defenceman to strengthen up the defence especially with these offensive minded changes upcoming, and a power forward who isn't going to be afraid to get dirty and make room for the skilled players.

We need to stop thinking about who we want and think about who we needm otherwise it'll just keep the merry go round of rumors and early playoff exits continuing.

J.R.

7-20-05, 10:36 PM

We need to stop thinking about who we want and think about who we needm otherwise it'll just keep the merry go round of rumors and early playoff exits continuing.+1.

I enjoy your realistic attitude. It's definitely refreshing.

:thumb:

The Insider

7-20-05, 10:53 PM

+1.

I enjoy your realistic attitude. It's definitely refreshing.

:thumb:

Mod Points!!! There's a blast from the past :thumb:

Anyways, the missed season has really opened my eyes on the Leafs, before I'll admit I wanted the "big name" whenever they were available, but sitting back now and thinking about it, you realize how stupid some of these possible scenarios would've worked out. For example;

Lindros to Toronto - Now this was after his concussions and when he demanded to be traded to Toronto. What could Lindros have possibly brought to this team? Seriously, I would like to hear what Lindros in his condition could have done as compared to Antropov.

Holik to Toronto for 9.5 million a year - I seriously would like to go back and show Holik's recent stats to all the sports media who were so critical of Toronto for not forking out the $$$ to sign him. Put Holik on the Leafs in any of the last 2 seasons... do they win the cup??? Do they even get passed the round they got beat in?

Gonchar to Toronto - For a team as weak defensively as we are why would we need an offensive minded defenceman? Remember Phil Housley??? He played 1 playoff game + 1 shift in another and made more mistakes then anyone else did. Now I'm sure Gonchar wouldn't have been that bad, but did we really expect him to shut down Philly's big forwards?

These are just a few off the top of my head, to win a cup you need to have all the right pieces to the puzzle, but just a whole bunch of big pieces that you try to wedge together, ask the Rangers how that works out. I do plan on posting a list of players that would be a good "fit" on the team before the UFA season opens up, but you can expect that it will be thought out and not, well Naslund available let's grab him, Kariya sure why not he'll bring in some points... give me about a week and let me build my team because if you can put a team together in a 10-15 minute session of posting, you are seriously not thinking about what's good for the team.

macca

7-21-05, 8:20 AM

Fans saying "we" is one thing. Fans are a part of the team.

I guess the days of unbiased journalism are long gone however.

Really? In Toronto? Say it ain't so! ;)

bluemeanie

7-21-05, 9:33 AM

Max Power

7-21-05, 10:25 AM

lol... bastid.
Meybe Garrioch didn't check MF link before writing the article =]
http://www.hockeystation.com/showthread.php?p=11364#post11364

Amoroq

7-21-05, 10:42 AM

Max Power

7-21-05, 12:31 PM

Found this

July 21, 2005
Klee, Kaberle to be bought out?
TheFourthPeriod.com

It's almost set in stone that the Maple Leafs are going to buy-out the contract of forward Owen Nolan, but the Toronto Sun suggests Leafs GM John Ferguson may not be done there.
With such big-ticket free agent defensemen as Scott Niedermayer and Adam Foote available on the open market, the Leafs may try to free up salary space by cutting ties with defensemen Ken Klee and/or Tomas Kaberle.

"Obviously you want to be somewhere where you are wanted," Klee told the Sun. "If a (buyout) is the way they want to go, then you are better off being somewhere else where they want your services.

"My first choice is to (in Toronto) here but it's out of my hands."
The prospect of a buyout has been swirling through the mind of Kaberle, who broke into the NHL with the Leafs in 1998.

"I've thought about it," he told the paper. "They'll do what's best for the team. We'll see.

"I want to stay here sure, but the NHL is a business. If something happens and I don't return, it's part of the game."

Taking the 24% rollback into account, Klee is set to earn $1.9 million next season, while Kaberle is slated to make $2.28 million.

Newfie John

7-21-05, 3:46 PM

TimmyTabasco

7-21-05, 4:08 PM

So I guess his time in Vancouver is done :wave:

Nah, its just beginning :nod: :wave:

Max Power

7-21-05, 4:08 PM

The Fourth Period is a big collective group of idiots. Buying out Klee would make no sense whatsoever if we plan on trying to be a contender next year. He was very consistant and played well for us last year.

All their sources are usually from local papers so I don?t see how this has anything to do with the 4th period? This one is supposable from the Toronto Sun

Iced Tea

7-21-05, 4:38 PM

Nolan going under the knife

A nagging injury from 2004 has never completely healed and will require the Leafs winger to undergo surgery.

Sportsnet.ca -- If it is the intent of John Ferguson and the Toronto Maple Leafs to buy out Owen Nolan, this process is about to get very complicated.

Sportsnet has learned the injury riddled forward is scheduled to undergo knee surgery at the Cleveland clinic on Tuesday.

Sources tell Sportsnet this procedure stems from an injury Nolan sustained in March of 2004 at which point he was diagnosed with a partial tear of the MCl and ACL in addition to deep bruising.

Surgery followed the injury early last summer, however swelling and consistant pain continued to plague the gritty forward despite his commitment to rehab.

Subsequently, in early November of 2004 Nolan was cleared by both the Maple Leafs medical staff and Dr. Tony Miniaci, the Chief of Sports Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. However, Dr. Miniaci noted an exception, citing abnormalities in the knee that may require further surgery to correct.

In the past five months Nolan had to aggressively rehabilitate the injury, but in the last six weeks the swelling and pain intensified to the point further medical attention was required.

An MRI was taken and these abnormalities appear to have reached the point where surgical intervention will be required.

A third physician, Dr. Allan Hirahara, an arthropedic specialist out of Sacramento was called in and he has detected a deteriorating condition in Nolan's right knee that is deemed directly related to the injury from 2004.
Can someone explain to me how Nolan's surgery will make his being bought out complicated? :confused:

Madferret

7-21-05, 6:14 PM

Something I found at this Spectors site....

O'NEILL HOPING TO BECOME A MAPLE LEAF...
Spector's Note: My thanks to Dave Caldwell, "Newfie John" and everyone else who sent this in. O'Neill might even be willing to sign for less than he made before the lockout to play in Toronto. He may have to as the Leafs won't have a lot of cap room to play with.

Amoroq

7-21-05, 6:29 PM

Can someone explain to me how Nolan's surgery will make his being bought out complicated? :confused:The only thing I can think of is a player's contract must be paid in full due to injury?? But even so, as far as I know, players under contract that are injured, their salaries don't count against the cap. What it could mean is Nolan could see all his money rather then 2/3's. But I'm just guessing :)

Newfie John

7-21-05, 7:14 PM

Something I found at this Spectors site....

Freakish Coincedence. :eek:

Madferret

7-21-05, 7:16 PM

Freakish Coincedence. :eek:

Really? That's not you John-boy?

Newfie John

7-21-05, 7:17 PM

Really? That's not you John-boy?

Nah it's me.. I'm going to be a regular contributor there now probably.

Leafs_Fa_Life

7-21-05, 7:55 PM

Can someone explain to me how Nolan's surgery will make his being bought out complicated? :confused:

I don't think you can buyout injured players.

TimmyTabasco

7-21-05, 7:57 PM

Something I found at this Spectors site....

:laughing: :nod:

Thats classic

Newfie John

7-21-05, 8:08 PM

I don't think you can buyout injured players.

This is true, but injury replacements do not count against the cap so the point is moot.

Leafs_Fa_Life

7-21-05, 9:09 PM

This is true, but injury replacements do not count against the cap so the point is moot.

Yep and since Nolan has a big contract they can sign an expensive replacement for him :nod:

Newfie John

7-22-05, 9:37 AM

Yep and since Nolan has a big contract they can sign an expensive replacement for him :nod:

Exactly, this could turn out to be a good thing. Sign a high priced player without it counting against the cap.. Yee Hee! :laughing:

The Insider

7-31-05, 8:01 PM

Ok, well after long deliberation I have built my team for the upcoming season, since we have players already on the team, I will make sure they are included but here is the Insider's list:

Centres:

Line 1 - Mats Sundin(exisiting)
Line 2 - Joe Nieuwendyk(re-signed UFA)
Line 3 - Matt Stajan(existing)
Line 4 - Nik Antropov(existing)

Wingers:

Line 1 - Alexander Mogilny(resigned UFA), Gary Roberts(re-signed UFA)
Line 2 - Darcy Tucker(existing), Jeff O'Neill(existing)
Line 3 - Alexei Ponikarovsky(existing), Anson Carter(UFA)
Line 4 - Chad Kilger(existing), Kyle Wellwood(existing)

Defenceman:

Pairing 1 - Adam Foote(UFA), Bryan McCabe(existing)
Pairing 2 - Tomas Kaberle(existing), Alexei Zhitnik(UFA)
Pairing 3 - Carlo Colaiacovo(existing), Ken Klee(existing)

Goalie:

Ed Belfour(existing)
Mikeal Telqvist(existing)

Reserves - Aki Berg, Karel Pilar

My thinking is that in order for us to make it under the cap, we need players to take cuts and unfortunately I do not see many UFA's who will take a cut like O'Neill did. That's why there is a lot of re-signed UFA's. As for Carter, Foote and Zhitnik, those are the 3 big UFA's who I think we could land and I think all 3 could be give big contributions to the team. As for the rooks like Wellwood and Colaiacovo, I think Colaiacovo's time is now cause if it isn't, he'll never crack the team and after Wellwood's brilliant AHL season last year he at least deserves a look, if we get lucky and we can sign players for less money, we try to get an experienced player like Cory Stillman to sign here in case Wellwood doesn't cut it. I think the defence holes all get filled with the signings of Foote and Zhitnik and unless he comes at the same price or less I think we are going to have to sign Mogilny over Murray simply because Murray probably will be getting a big raise and Mogilny will probably take a hefty cut to come back. And Roberts and Niewendyk are probably the two players we can get for cheap because let's remember, we are already at 25 million and with only 14 left to spend, there isn't much room left, so I say take what you can get :thumb:

Leafs_Fa_Life

7-31-05, 10:14 PM

Wellwood won't cut it on the 4th line. If he makes the team he'll play in the top six.

The Insider

7-31-05, 10:43 PM

Wellwood won't cut it on the 4th line. If he makes the team he'll play in the top six.

Ok, then switch him and Ponikarovsky, either way he'll get the same ice time, remember Quinny like to balance lines :thumb:

Leafs_Fa_Life

8-01-05, 2:32 AM

I think Wellwood will spend another year in the AHL. I think Roman Kukumberg will get a look as a fourth liner if he does well in training camp. I doubt the Leafs would've drafted an overaged European player unless they wanted him to come over immediately. He was one of the few Euros invited to this summer's rookie camp (along with Steen and Kronwall), so I think there's a strong chance he'll get signed to a contract. Steen has a shot at the big club too, although he could start the season in the AHL with Kronwall.