• Moderators, please send me a PM if you are unable to access mod permissions. Thanks, Habsy.

Leaf Rumours

The man of the hour in Toronto is red-hot winger Niklas Hagman, who leads the Maple Leafs with 13 goals. The Olympic-bound Finn is also a popular guy with other NHL teams. I'm told four teams have inquired about him and two made official trade offers. Among those four teams was Anaheim. But Toronto GM Brian Burke doesn't want to move him. Hagman is earning $3 million this season and $3 million in each of the next two seasons, and that's worth every dime with the way he's played this season.
-LeBrun
 
As always, it depends what the offer is. If someone's going to overpay, then sure.

But Burke also knows that Hagman is one of the few skilled scorers on this team, and trading him for a couple of decent draft picks and cleared cap space would be a good move...except for Boston having our picks.
 
You can't hurt the team in the long run because Boston has the Leafs picks.

And I really don't think trading Hagman is giving up on the season. In a few games he'll disappear again for a few weeks anyway.
 
I hope Burke is calling the Ducks about Ryan. At least until a contract extension is signed. The Ducks really need a dman. They've lost Pronger and Beauchemin and Niedermayer doesn't have much time left.

If I was Burke I'd call around the League to see what I could get for a package of Schenn and Hagman.
 
The Ducks have two first round picks this year, so it's quite possible they are dangling the Philly pick for Hagman.
 
I'd trade Kaberle, if we can get this guy to replace him:


Sergei Gonchar is probably leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins after this season, because it appears a hometown discount isn't on the table.

The Ottawa Sun writes that contract talks between Gonchar and the Pens are on hold because the two sides don't agree on his value. The Penguins don't have enough money to give Gonchar the $5 million per season contract that he has right now, but the Sun writes that he could command $6 million on the open market. It doesn't appear he'll take that kind of paycut.

Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was more optimistic: "Gonchar is in a situation that obviously has worked well for both parties, so he might have to choose between remaining in it or going elsewhere for more money."
 
Gonchar is starting to break down though....he's no good to us sitting in the press box recovering from surgery.
 
Kabs >> Gonchar

It really isn't a question of which guy is better.

If the Leafs can trade Kaberle for a #1 centre, then sign Gonchar as a 2-3 year replacement on the blueline, they're better off.

Because other than potentially Savard/Kovalchuk (who will probably be locked up prior to July 1st), I dont see many elite 1st liners that will be available in free agency.
 
So just read over on HFboards that PHX has been authorized to spend 6-7 million to bring in some scoring help. This is a team that has a plethora of prospects as well as multiple picks in the first 2 rounds for the next two seasons.

Looks like a good time to try and sell them on Hagman, or Poni (although i would prefer to keep Poni)
 
it would be an interesting time to try to buy low on the likes of mueller and boedker.
 
If they are trading good prospects like that I would imagine they will be looking at adding a bit higher caliber players than Hagman and Poni.
 
Back
Top