Leafs, agents get talkin'

[Madferret]

Leafs, agents get talkin'
By MIKE ZEISBERGER -- Toronto Sun

The reshaping of the Maple Leafs began in earnest yesterday.

Less than 24 hours after the National Hockey League's board of governors ratified the new collective bargaining agreement, Leafs' general manager John Ferguson held conversations with the representatives for Owen Nolan, Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts.

Nolan's agent, J.P. Barry, met with Ferguson yesterday afternoon in an attempt to work out the status of the injured forward, who is scheduled to undergo knee surgery on Tuesday.

The Leafs would like to buy out Nolan in order to clear space under the $39- million US salary cap. Barry, however, questions the medical treatment his client received from the Leafs and the legitimacy of the buyout.

While the NHL players association is closely monitoring the dispute, league vice president Bill Daly feels, on the surface, that the Leafs should be able to proceed with their plans, although this is far from being a black-and-white issue.

"Nolan was deemed by the Maple Leafs as 'fit to play' during the lockout," Daly said via e-mail. "As such, he can be bought out. As a general matter, you can't buy out an injured player. This is all on background."

Nieuwendyk and Roberts would like to return to Toronto, but likely will have to accept pay cuts in order for that to happen. "I had the opportunity to talk to John," Rick Curran, the agent for Roberts and Nieuwendyk, said yesterday, refusing to elaborate on the talks.

Other Leafs who are possibilities to have their contracts bought out include veteran defencemen Tomas Kaberle, Ken Klee and Bryan McCabe, the team's player rep.

"Personally, I don't think Bryan is a candidate," said Jeff Solomon, McCabe's agent. "Having said that, they have to buy out somebody."

[Newfie John]

It's safe to say Newy and Roberts will be back.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

It's safe to say Newy and Roberts will be back.

39 and counting....

[Newfie John]

39 and counting....

What do you mean?

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

What do you mean?

We're just gonna sh*t away another season if these guys come back :curse:

[Newfie John]

We're just gonna sh*t away another season if these guys come back :curse:

Roberts and Nieuwendyk? You wouldn't want them back? Why not? They may be up in years but they are still VERY effective. Newy was our best player in the playoffs last year and Roberts is just a warrior. I couldn't imagine the leafs without Roberts. Newy just deserves to be back.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Roberts and Nieuwendyk? You wouldn't want them back? Why not? They may be up in years but they are still VERY effective. Newy was our best player in the playoffs last year and Roberts is just a warrior. I couldn't imagine the leafs without Roberts. Newy just deserves to be back.

I just feel with hundreds of potential free agents out there that the Leafs need to look to getting some fresh faces into the lineup. We tried the Roberts and Nieuwendyk thing, it failed. Time to move on, and I wish Gary the best of luck in Ottawa.

[Madferret]

I just feel with hundreds of potential free agents out there that the Leafs need to look to getting some fresh faces into the lineup. We tried the Roberts and Nieuwendyk thing, it failed. Time to move on, and I wish Gary the best of luck in Ottawa.

As a Sens fan the longer the JFJ piddles around with Roberts & Niewy the less of the other UFA's will be available....but on the other hand, come to Ottawa 'Robo' we'd love to see you on our side for once!

[Madferret]

What about Hatcher Leafers?
Wasn't JFJ attempting to land him prior to his (Hatcher) signing in Detroit?

[Amoroq]

As a Sens fan the longer the JFJ piddles around with Roberts & Niewy the less of the other UFA's will be available....but on the other hand, come to Ottawa 'Robo' we'd love to see you on our side for once!He can piddle all he wants untill there are actually UFA's available ;) Since Saturday teams have been able to make deals with their own UFA's and RFA's and buyout players, but its now Monday evening and only 4 teams, 5 if you include Mucklers status quo statement, Flyers, Wings, Habs, and now LA re-signing Luc Robitaille. WTF are these GMs waiting for, they only have 6 freeking days? :mad:

[Newfie John]

I just feel with hundreds of potential free agents out there that the Leafs need to look to getting some fresh faces into the lineup. We tried the Roberts and Nieuwendyk thing, it failed. Time to move on, and I wish Gary the best of luck in Ottawa.

Thank God you aren't the Leafs GM. If Roberts went to Ottawa we'd be screwed. Plain and simple. Ottawa would win the cup, IMO. Meanwhile the leafs would miss the playoffs. Both Newy and Roberts want to return to Toronto, if we were smart we'd keep them. You are right, the roberts/newy thing failed last year, but if we surround them with better guys next year(quite possible) we may be able to bring it home. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for rebuilding, but if we're going to go for it, we MUST keep these 2. They are just warriors and would be severely missed.

Roberts is just a warrior. He's ferocious on the forecheck. Has a great shot and scores a lot of goals. He has amazing grit and will stay in front of the net even if Zdeno Chara is hacking at his back.

Newy is a premiere face-off guy. He was our best player in the playoffs last year excluding Belfour. He had a good year last year and he still skates like he's 19. He's an awesome 2nd line center and an incredible asset.

[Madferret]

He can piddle all he wants untill there are actually UFA's available ;) Since Saturday teams have been able to make deals with their own UFA's and RFA's and buyout players, but its now Monday evening and only 4 teams, 5 if you include Mucklers status quo statement, Flyers, Wings, Habs, and now LA re-signing Luc Robitaille. WTF are these GMs waiting for, they only have 6 freeking days? :mad:

Other GM's to show their poker hand (?)
Some teams (Boston, Isles, Caps, Nucks) are all sitting at between 5-9 players signed, so those are the teams that really need to get their @ss in gear. I guess every of the other teams will follow suit or beat them to the bunch.

As I asked earlier, what do you Leafers think about Hatcher in the Blue & White this year?

[Newfie John]

Other GM's to show their poker hand (?)
Some teams (Boston, Isles, Caps, Nucks) are all sitting at between 5-9 players signed, so those are the teams that really need to get their @ss in gear. I guess every of the other teams will follow suit or beat them to the bunch.

As I asked earlier, what do you Leafers think about Hatcher in the Blue & White this year?

2 mil or less I don't mind him.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Thank God you aren't the Leafs GM. If Roberts went to Ottawa we'd be screwed. Plain and simple. Ottawa would win the cup, IMO. Meanwhile the leafs would miss the playoffs. Both Newy and Roberts want to return to Toronto, if we were smart we'd keep them. You are right, the roberts/newy thing failed last year, but if we surround them with better guys next year(quite possible) we may be able to bring it home. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for rebuilding, but if we're going to go for it, we MUST keep these 2. They are just warriors and would be severely missed.

You're jumping to ridiculous conclusions here, NJ. Roberts is a nice player, but he won't be the difference. Ottawa's cup hopes all rest with Hasek IMO. He stays healthy and plays like he can they'll go far, if he doesn't it'll be an early playoff exit. As for Toronto missing the playoffs, do you even know what moves they'd make if we lost Roberts and Nieuwendyk? No you don't, and I don't either, but with all the UFAs available don't you think it's possible they could upgrade?

Roberts is just a warrior. He's ferocious on the forecheck. Has a great shot and scores a lot of goals. He has amazing grit and will stay in front of the net even if Zdeno Chara is hacking at his back.

Roberts is a warrior...we get it ;) However, I'd rather the Leafs sign the younger Jeff O'Neill if he isn't qualified by Carolina. Glen Murray is another winger the Leafs might have interest in. He's a big boy, can score 30-40 goals a season, and I certainly wouldn't mind him instead of Roberts.

Newy is a premiere face-off guy. He was our best player in the playoffs last year excluding Belfour. He had a good year last year and he still skates like he's 19. He's an awesome 2nd line center and an incredible asset.

Personally I think Leetch was better. He logged an enormous amount of ice time, lots of times him and McCabe would stay out for the entire two minutes of a power play, and if Joe didn't have that big game 7 would you really think he was our best player last playoff? Sundin had 9 points in 9 games played. Joe only had 6. He frequently injures his back aswell. Belfour and his bad back almost played as many games as Joe last year. Eddie's had surgery to try and fix his back too. Joe's back spasms will probably act up every few weeks. You're telling me there won't be any second line centers available :confused:

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

What about Hatcher Leafers?
Wasn't JFJ attempting to land him prior to his (Hatcher) signing in Detroit?

I like Hatcher, but he'd probably cost too much. I think Adam Foote will be cheaper and more likely to land in Toronto.

[Newfie John]

You're jumping to ridiculous conclusions here, NJ. Roberts is a nice player, but he won't be the difference. Ottawa's cup hopes all rest with Hasek IMO. He stays healthy and plays like he can they'll go far, if he doesn't it'll be an early playoff exit. As for Toronto missing the playoffs, do you even know what moves they'd make if we lost Roberts and Nieuwendyk? No you don't, and I don't either, but with all the UFAs available don't you think it's possible they could upgrade?



Roberts is a warrior...we get it ;) However, I'd rather the Leafs sign the younger Jeff O'Neill if he isn't qualified by Carolina. Glen Murray is another winger the Leafs might have interest in. He's a big boy, can score 30-40 goals a season, and I certainly wouldn't mind him instead of Roberts.



Personally I think Leetch was better. He logged an enormous amount of ice time, lots of times him and McCabe would stay out for the entire two minutes of a power play, and if Joe didn't have that big game 7 would you really think he was our best player last playoff? Sundin had 9 points in 9 games played. Joe only had 6. He frequently injures his back aswell. Belfour and his bad back almost played as many games as Joe last year. Eddie's had surgery to try and fix his back too. Joe's back spasms will probably act up every few weeks. You're telling me there won't be any second line centers available :confused:

Nearly everyone is replaceable right now, but not for as low a price Roberts and Newy could come. We'd probably have to spend 4 million to get a guy like Murray. We could have Roberts for as low as 2 mil. Same thing for the Nieuwendyk situations. With our limited cap space, we really have to be economical. We just can't free spend like we used to. If we were in the old CBA, I may agree with you.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Well if we're gonna go for guys who'll sign dirt cheap, I'd rather sign Allison and let Niewy walk.