RealGM

As should be expected in Toronto, with the most frenzied group of hockey reporters and the most attention grabbing GM in the league, pretty much every prized unrestricted free-agent has been somehow linked the the Maple Leafs. As such, I figured we might as well start a thread regarding the "rumours" and our personal preferences for who the team should pursue.

Up until Calgary's acquisition of his negotiation rights, it was believed Toronto was going to be in pursuit of Jay Bouwmeester. While the Calgary move might not change that (if it was ever the case), it has certainly slowed reporters from talking about it.

A popular thought was that Burke would go after the Sedin's out of Vancouver. There are huge risks associated with such a move since the twins are a package deal and will likely draw about 7 million each. So basically, the team would be locked into $15 million of salary for what can only be expected to be almost a decade. Apparently Mike Gillis is in Sweden right now, trying to ink a deal to keep them in Vancouver but, who knows how hard it'll be to get these guys off of the alleged 9 year, $63 million deals they're looking for.

One name that I haven't heard linked to Toronto but, I think would be a perfect fit for what Burke seems to look for in players, is Mike Komisarek in Montreal. I think that when healthy (a problem for him so far), he's as rugged a defenseman as there is in the NHL. He has limited offensive prowess but he plays pretty well at the defensive end and he's extremely physical. He's also still in his mid 20's and has shown good leadership so far (even being an assistant coach while injured). I think at 1/2 to 2/3 of what Bouwmeester is likely to make, he'd be great value. I imagine that the reason his name hasn't been thrown out there is that there aren't any reports suggesting he doesn't want to be in Montreal but, a guy can still dream.

The Sedins won't draw more than $6 as a tandem, probably closer to $5M. I love Komisarek, but it's gonna take a big contract, and he won't be making half of Jay Bo (that'd be about $3M, I expect Komi around $5M) you can guarantee yourself that. Francois Beauchemin would be a solid signing, but there are lots of young guys Burke is gonna be pursuing. Look out for Pahlsson, Moen, Colton Orr, grinder types that can fill out the 3rd and 4th lines. I know we have a lot of them, but I think we need more quality at those positions.

I'd love to see the Sedins come to Toronto.

What are some reasonable options for trading Kaberle though?

I hope we get 'The Monster'....at what price tage would we get him though?

what i want to know is if he is possibly Toskala's replacement down the road.

toronto_raptors50 wrote:I hope we get 'The Monster'....at what price tage would we get him though?

what i want to know is if he is possibly Toskala's replacement down the road.

I think there's a maximum amount to which The Monster can be signed ($875K, I think?) as an undrafted free agent. Not sure if there's a maximum contract length, though - one would expect if the dollars are restricted like that he'd only sign short-term and hope to earn a bigger, long-term deal after that.

As for replacing Toskala, they probably can't count on that insofar as not being likely to sign him to a long-term deal right away, but the media was reporting that one of the enticements the Leafs offered Gustavsson was that the #1 job here would immediately be his to lose. Whether that's true or just done to try to push Toskala, who knows...

Komisarek is going to be overpaid and his skillset is very similar to that of Schenn's. I'd rather spend less money and target Francouis Beauchemin. I wouldnt totally be against the Sedins signing (yes it would lock us into a big contract) but right there you aquire 2/3'rds of your future first line. I wasnt ever a big Sedins fan but they showed me something this season that before I hadnt seen.

Three players I'd like to sign

Chad Larose
Francouis Beauchemin
Colton Orr

I'm not so convinced I'd like the Leafs to spend big money in free agency this year. The cap is going to come down significantly next year, and there are some big catches that will be available. If they save cap space, finish at the bottom of the standings again (getting more young talent through the draft), they might be in an enviable position next off-season. Let's face it, there will be teams desperate to dump salary. We may be able to pry good young talent that is due to get paid for next to nothing. At the least we'll have the opportunity to pick up unwanted contracts of teams that are at the top of the cap and we may even get some prospects as sweetener. Plus, there's Rick Nash available next year.

All that said, I'm still a fan, so I'm sure I'll catch Leaf fever if they go out and sign the Sedin's or Gaborik over the next couple of days. I just hope they don't overpay for a decent player like Cammileri coming off a career season, like they ended up doing with Blake.

PJTucker wrote:I'm not so convinced I'd like the Leafs to spend big money in free agency this year. The cap is going to come down significantly next year, and there are some big catches that will be available. If they save cap space, finish at the bottom of the standings again (getting more young talent through the draft), they might be in an enviable position next off-season. Let's face it, there will be teams desperate to dump salary. We may be able to pry good young talent that is due to get paid for next to nothing. At the least we'll have the opportunity to pick up unwanted contracts of teams that are at the top of the cap and we may even get some prospects as sweetener. Plus, there's Rick Nash available next year.

All that said, I'm still a fan, so I'm sure I'll catch Leaf fever if they go out and sign the Sedin's or Gaborik over the next couple of days. I just hope they don't overpay for a decent player like Cammileri coming off a career season, like they ended up doing with Blake.

well i dont mind them giving 5 million anually to mike camilari i mean hes like 27 blake was 32 wen they signed him

Cammalleri is a solid offensive player, but Mike Milbury made one good comment all of last year, and I think it's the one I agree with the most. Mike Cammalleri is the Jason Blake of the Western Conference, he constantly shoots and passes up the opportunities to find a teammate for a goal, and is quite a hog with the puck. I don't want this guy one bit to be honest, and I hope if we do sign him, it's a deal no longer than 2 years.

bryant08 wrote:Cammalleri is a solid offensive player, but Mike Milbury made one good comment all of last year, and I think it's the one I agree with the most. Mike Cammalleri is the Jason Blake of the Western Conference, he constantly shoots and passes up the opportunities to find a teammate for a goal, and is quite a hog with the puck. I don't want this guy one bit to be honest, and I hope if we do sign him, it's a deal no longer than 2 years.

Cammalerri is a better player, better playmaker and all around just more complete of a player then Blake is. If you look at most of the 30-35 goal scorers, most of them take alot of bad shots, its just part of them being gunners, they shoot alot and often from bad angles.

Hes also like 6 years younger then when we signed Blake. I wouldnt mind him if we can sign him for around 4 - 4.5 million a season.

I'm hearing a lot of talk about chris neil, I personally wouldn't mind this signing.

Griff83 wrote:

bryant08 wrote:Cammalleri is a solid offensive player, but Mike Milbury made one good comment all of last year, and I think it's the one I agree with the most. Mike Cammalleri is the Jason Blake of the Western Conference, he constantly shoots and passes up the opportunities to find a teammate for a goal, and is quite a hog with the puck. I don't want this guy one bit to be honest, and I hope if we do sign him, it's a deal no longer than 2 years.

Cammalerri is a better player, better playmaker and all around just more complete of a player then Blake is. If you look at most of the 30-35 goal scorers, most of them take alot of bad shots, its just part of them being gunners, they shoot alot and often from bad angles.

Hes also like 6 years younger then when we signed Blake. I wouldnt mind him if we can sign him for around 4 - 4.5 million a season.

Looks like he's gone to MTL for 30 million anyways. I don't disagree that he's better, and even younger than Blake, but I don't think he's a 6 million a year kind of player. At that kind of money you should be getting a guy at least close to a franchise player, and he's just not that calibre.

I like what Burke's done so far. He may have overpaid a little for Komisarik, but that's what happens in free agency. We still need at least 3 top end forwards to be legit contenders, but I don't mind if we wait until next year to try and pick up a guy like Nash or Kovalchuk.

There's no doubt he's better than Blake, he's clearly younger and a better playmaker, think Blake at the end of last year. But I'm not paying a guy more than $5M for that, and $6M is just ridiculously extreme. I'll eat my words on the Sedins, getting $6.1M each a season, but I believe it was definitely because of the shorter term.

Mike Hunt wrote:One name that I haven't heard linked to Toronto but, I think would be a perfect fit for what Burke seems to look for in players, is Mike Komisarek in Montreal. I think that when healthy (a problem for him so far), he's as rugged a defenseman as there is in the NHL. He has limited offensive prowess but he plays pretty well at the defensive end and he's extremely physical. He's also still in his mid 20's and has shown good leadership so far (even being an assistant coach while injured). I think at 1/2 to 2/3 of what Bouwmeester is likely to make, he'd be great value. I imagine that the reason his name hasn't been thrown out there is that there aren't any reports suggesting he doesn't want to be in Montreal but, a guy can still dream.

Well, my wish came true.