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

Leaf Rumours

Ugh... I hope not. He's a very good player that any team would likely love to have, but he's not a $4mil player. I can't see who would give him that much. He doesn't bring enough offense to make $4mil.
 
Geez, the activity on this thread is unreal. I just went through like...20 pages of this thread to catch up from last night.

Anyways, a summary of points:

John Mitchell:

As much as I'd like to celebrate him being gone, I don't think we're in the clear yet. There's a few good reasons why the Leafs didn't tender him a qualifying offer, but might still want to bring him back. Firstly, is that I'm sure Burke is having a lot of trade discussions right now, and is comtemplating a lot of UFA's that could potentially make Mitchell redundant. However, if things don't work out, they could still look at him as a fall-back option.

Zeke's point about not being to offer him a two-way contract if the qualified him is also very true---as well as the observation that he'd be eligible for salary arbitration if he was qualified. The other thing is that Burke and co. are probably also fairly confident that if they want to bring Mitchell back, they'll have no problem getting him for the NHL minimum of $500k that he was making this year. So, why give him that 10% raise if they don't have to? Every little bit counts where the salary cap is concerned.

Anyways, as good I'm sure as he is at giving Wilson head, I sincerely hope that Burke finds a better option for our 3rd/4th lines this coming season that John Mitchell, and that we've seen him play his last game for the Leafs.

Marc Savard:

I found it amusing that some of our resident Sens fans read that Burke quote about Savard, and concluded that he wasn't interested in Savard. Look, we've got a pretty clear example with Kovalchuk---when Burke's not interested in a particular player, he makes it pretty crystal clear that he's not interested.

But in that Fan590 interview, Burke seemed to take special care to avoid saying that he wasn't interested. All he did was just point out that they've talked about a lot of trades involving other players, and that they have not yet discussed Marc Savard. He also re-iterated his top-6, bottom-6 model, and how he's looking for skill in his top-6. Which basically repudiates anyone who argues that Savard's size will be a non-starter.

And the facts haven't really changed, regarding's Savard's situation. The Bruins do apparantly want to deal him, and Savard is apparantly only willing to waive his NTC for Toronto or Ottawa. So, Burke, who also happens to be looking for a top-6 forward, will inevitably talk to Chiarelli about Savard at some point this week.

Mike Ribeiro:

I'll be short and sweet with this one---I don't want that diving, irritating little pansy anywhere near my team. I don't care how good of an offensive player he's been for Dallas---no thanks.

Raffi Torres:

Seems like an interesting idea. I mean, I'm sort of in the dark with him, because I haven't really seen this guy play for any significant number of games since the Oilers' run to the Cup, and that was quite some time ago. But if he can bring some physicality and 15-20 goals to our bottom-6, and if he's desperate enough to don the Blue and White that he'll sign a contract in the neighbourhood of $1.5M, then it seems like a pretty good deal to me.
 
the only team that has a the ability to free-wheel on the cap is Toronto and Burke isn't about to spend $4M on a guy like Armstrong when he can find another guy who'd be willing to provide those same services for much cheaper.
 
I found it amusing that some of our resident Sens fans read that Burke quote about Savard, and concluded that he wasn't interested in Savard. Look, we've got a pretty clear example with Kovalchuk---when Burke's not interested in a particular player, he makes it pretty crystal clear that he's not interested.

This is a great point - we've seen him say "I can't tell you what players I'm interested in, but I can tell you what player I'm not interested in and I'm not interested in Kovalchuk" but you're exactly right. He was very careful in his wording here.
 
Firstly, is that I'm sure Burke is having a lot of trade discussions right now, and is comtemplating a lot of UFA's that could potentially make Mitchell redundant. However, if things don't work out, they could still look at him as a fall-back option.

Also agree with this - I think Burke a couple options in mind to bring in for his bottom 6. He really zeroed in on Mike Brown and made it clear that this is a player he's wanted for a while now. I like hearing that he has a plan and is not just rolling with things. He seems to have a clear vision of the guys he is targeting.
 
Leaf GM: As much as I'd like to celebrate him being gone, I don't think we're in the clear yet


LOL. That really made me laugh. Too bad we couldn't keep him around for the shootout, the piece of crap could somehow get the job done there. Strange that. Its probably what made Wilson think he can become a player.


I can tell you guys one thing. Burke is a funny modern version of Conn Smythe. He wants a team that is going to really scare opposing teams into coughing up the puck. Thug hockey.


Look for signings of bottom 6 guys who will rip and tear. Torres AND Armstrong. I hope not, but don't be surprised if we do NOT get a Savard and end up with two or three expensive, abrasive plumbers.
 
A poster on another board says that Pierre Dorion, Sens' Director of Player Personnel, went on the Team 1200 radio station to say that the Sens are not going after Savard because they could not make it fit under the cap. I'll check Team 1200's website for the audio just to confirm though because these things have a way of being misinterpreted.
 
Meant to mention earlier, heard Dreger on 640 at around 5:30 saying the Leafs would have interest in Chris Higgins if he makes it to free agency...
 
Higgins would be a good pick up at around $1mil. If used properly on the 3rd line and PK he could be quite useful. I'd take him back in Montreal at that price.
 
How is Tampa with the CAP? How come no one is mentioning Lecavellier? He seemed to be coming around again last year. He is big, not a pussy, but not exactly a NEELY either. But he is damn good? Would there be any interest by Toronto or Burke here?
 
Back
Top