NHL Free agent Season - Week 2

[Oreo]

I can't wait to see the Flyers play the Penguins. Shoul dmake for an entertaining All-Star type of game!

The Avs signed Andrew Brunette who scored the game winning goal against them in game 7 of the 2003-2003 playoffs. He's a great player but is painfully slow which I think may not play with all the rule changes.


Here are the signings from this weekend.
Saturday, August 6

Carolina Hurricanes - Signed unrestricted free agent forward Ray Whitney.

Colorado Avalanche - Re-signed restricted free agent forward Milan Hejduk and unrestricted free agent forward Andrew Brunette.

Nashville Predators - Signed unrestricted free agent forward Scott Nichol.

Pittsburgh Penguins - Signed unrestricted free agent forward Ziggy Palffy.

[Ravenseye]

1. Apparently the Palffy deal is yet to be done

Word came out on Sunday on a Pittsburgh sports show that the deal was actually not finalized. The agent was quoted as saying "I don't know where anyone is getting 13.5 million for 3 years, we haven't signed anything"

Or some such.

What worries people is that it has yet to be announced by the Penguins at all http://www.pittsburghpenguins.com/

People are saying, and the paper is reporting, that the deal will be done today and announced, and that it was just a matter of papers not being signed, and fax machines messing up, or something...

but it makes me nervous. Why was this announced as done on all the websites (including the NHL.com site and the AP Wire) and then we find out, wait a minute, it's not a done deal.

[Baclava]

4. He'll sign...don't worry

Ziggy Stardust on the way...

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05219/550020.stm

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/penguinslive/s_361355.html

I think the more open play and ending the clutch/grab play is really going to help scorers like Palfy. Thank god we can watch the talent being displayed versus that dump and chase crap.

[Ravenseye]

6. I got the email

just announced this morning.

I wasn't really worried till Pittsburgh Sports Tonight said that the deal wasn't done, and that they talked to the agent and he didn't know about the deal or some such.

Freaked me out.

Ziggy is an awesome signing.

Lemieux gets the puck from Gonchar on the left. Circles. Dumps it in behind the net, picked up by Crosby. Out to Gonchar. Tarnstrom. Gonchar. Gonchar, slapshot! Rebound picked up by Lemieux, out to Crosby. Crosby over to Palffy. He shoots. HE SCORES! ZIGGY WIGGY HE'S A PIGGY AND THE PENGUINS MAKE IT TWO TO NOTHING!

I.Can't.Wait.

[Baclava]

8. Ziggy's a very nice addition.

This team's going to be fun to watch. They may not get the cup but they should be something for Pens fans to really cheer for.

Now if we can just sign Burke....

[Telly Savalas]

2. Columbus hangs onto Rick Nash for a 5 year contract

http://www.bluejackets.com/news/press/arts/2512.0.html

[Ravenseye]

3. Someone explain this one to me

Why sign him to such a large long term contract? I get that they dont' want to lose him or anything, but wasn't he still an RFA, or even worse, didn't he have a current contract? Is it part of the franchise just saying how much it values him, so that when the five years are up, he'll more likely resign with them because they showed him such fairness up front?

STill though. I think he's overpaid. Two years in the league. Sure he shared the Rocket Richard trophy, but look how many goals it took? Shittiest year ever. I'm not saying he's a good player, but I think that Columbus is banking on alot.

[getmeouttahere]

5. Perhaps you should think of it like the NFL's...

franchise player tag. Nash will be very good for a long time. Plus, it's not like Columbus is tearing it up in the FA market, even with the signing of Foote.

[Ravenseye]

7. Yeah good point

I mean don't get me wrong, he's a good player, but I think of all the players who burst out of teh gates and just stalled after a few years.

Also his number of assists makes me think that he needs lots of help to keep his numbers up, they should pick up a playmaker.

[Oreo]

9. Canucks signed Richard Park

So the two teams that were beat by the Wild in Game 7's of the 2003-2003 playoffs signed the player that scored the series winning goal against them.

Avs get Brunette
Nucks get Park

I'm ready for the puck to drop. Looks like Outdoor Life Network might get the NHL with 2 weekly games. ESPN has the right to match though

[getmeouttahere]

15. Cool....Canucks signed away Park...

You seem oddly indifferent about losing both of those players.

Frankly, the puck couldn't drop soon enough this time.

[Ravenseye]

10. Is Eklund nuts?

over on Eklunds hockey rumors site he says that people are going to start poaching RFA's.

Would anyone do this? I mean think about it...

What if a team came up to Thornton in boston and said, we'll pay you 5 million a year for five years, Boston could match it, or lose him. Are there any players you'd poach for four first round choices?

Lets say Crosby is the real deal. Puts up over 100 points this year, even more the next. Finishes his initial 3 year deal say (I don't knwo what deal he has or will have). Pittsburgh amkes a qualifying offer with more money.

Montreal comes in and says, we'll pay you the league maximum of 7.8 million a year for 10 years. Pittsburgh either has to match that or loses Crosby. Now, if that were the case Pittsburgh would probably match it, but if they couldn't, then would any team be willing to trade any player for four first round choices?

Would you be willing to trade your teams next four first round picks for any player?

[Oreo]

11. It's been done before

Carolina did it to Detroit for Fedorov. The Wings got jobbed in a big way but they didn't have a choice. You have to wonder if GMs would do something similar to Philly for instance. Especially if they're Eastern conference teams. They make a high offer, Philly accepts but has to drop somebody else to keep the player.

I'm looking for others... I know it's happened before

[Telly Savalas]

12. I'd put more faith in Nostradamus than Eklund.

From my limited reading of the guy and from what I've heard others say about him, he's not a great source of info. Often the rumours he posts are things that are already well known among the rest of the hockey community. In the cases the rumours are more obscure, there's either not a lot of specificity and he backpedals when his rumours don't come to fruition.

Case in point: check out all he has to say about Lindros and the Leafs. No matter what happens to Lindros, Eklund can point to something on his site that predicted it because he's offered such a jumble of contradictory rumours.

As far as RFA poaching goes, I'm skeptical. How many big spenders are still out there? I know that a lot of teams still have a lot of cap room, but many of them have their own RFA's to sign still. (e.g. how much room under the cap will the Habs have after they're done signing Theodore, Koivu, Ryder, and the gang.)

[Cush]

24. ahhh, the almighty Eklund

the guy said that the lockout was going be over last November, then Decemmber....then February

[Baclava]

13. Pens sign Sean Burke?

Woo-hoo! This better be true...

Pens get a goalie

Sportsnet.ca -- The Pittsburgh Penguins ongoing construction around Sidney Crosby continues.

Sportsnet has learned the Penguins have hired the experience of Sean Burke to take some of the burden off Marc Andre Fleury.

Sources tell Sportsnet Burke has agreed to a 2-year, $3-million deal and is expected to handle the majority of Pittsburgh netminding duties this season.



2 years, $3 million - and they are STILL in the market for another defenseman and center.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20050809_141625_5100

[Baclava]

14. Sporstnet shit the bed on this one - Burke signed by Lightning

Shitheads...make up your fucking minds!

Lightning sign goaltender Sean Burke


TSN.ca Staff


8/9/2005 9:02:11 PM

Veteran goaltender Sean Burke has been plucked from the free agent list, signing a two year $1.6 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

[getmeouttahere]

16. Hey, I'll take Sportsnet over anything in the U.S.

at least hockey comes first with them.

[Ravenseye]

17. Irrelevant

There are other places to get hockey information from Canada other than Sportsnet. If I want rumors, which I sometimes do, I'll go to a rumor site. If I want to see fact I'll go to a sports site.

They screwed the pooch on this one, and honestly I won't be going there much anymore. You don't report my team has signed a number one goalie and then just sort of dissapear the story 12 hours later when he signs with someone else...

It's irrelevant though that it's better than anythign in the U.S. because does that really mean anything when there are plenty of other decent sites originating from Canada? Nobody was saying 'Hey the American sites are better than the Canadian ones'. Sportsnet is shite. That's what I'm saying. I won't believe anythign they ever say again until I see it on a team website.

They've degraded themselves to worse than a rumor site in my book by reporting such as fact. At least rumor sites say they're reporting rumors.

[getmeouttahere]

18. That would be assuming that the other networks....

never do this, which is complete crap. I think I find this particularly interesting because the rumors involved the favorite team of several posters here. I submit that we wouldn't hear zip about this if the rumors involved San Jose and Calgary.

[Ravenseye]

20. Yeah so :)

Hey don't mess with my emotions about the Pens man, I'm fragile!

That said, I won't believe this T-Bo talk until I see it on the penguins site itself.

I'm sure other networks do it, but this is the first time I've actually mentioned a story to someone and then gotten burned on it.

[getmeouttahere]

22. See, this is how I know you are a liberal....

you didn't deny that maybe, just maybe, this has more to do with the fact that it was your team they were reporting on in this case. A freeper would have denied it to the end. I applaud your humbleness.

TSN is the best!

[Baclava]

21. Never trust Sportsnet for any "breaking" hockey news

I knew that. If you listened to everything they said, then the Leafs would have had Palffy, Kovalev, Kariya and Gonchar on the team right now.

Hockey news begins and ends with www.tsn.ca.

[Telly Savalas]

19. Pens get Thibault from Chicago for a 4th round pick.

So where does Cujo go now?

[getmeouttahere]

23. I guess wherever Cujo goes....

it isn't going to be as a starter.

[Telly Savalas]

25. Good grief, it's nearly 1PM EST and there've been no activity today

What gives?

[Ravenseye]

26. The Wheat has been separated from the Chaff

Now comes a slower period of RFA signings, and people figuring out which parts they need for their 3rd and 4th lines or 2nd or 3rd defensive pairings.

Sure you have some big names that might sign soon...Lindros and Anson Carter with Toronto to form the famed (in the future) line of Lindros, Carter, and Allison which will be remembered for each member of it being out for the season before the quarter season mark.

Anyway, there are some big names left, but the holes people have plugged are lessened now. Cujo was the talk of the town, but then Chicago gets Khabibulin, Phoenix gets Boucher, Tampa Bay gets Burke, and Pittsburgh grabs Thibault. All of a sudden three of the teams that had been talked about as far as talking with Cujo are gone.

We'll see signings continually, mostly smaller names I think. Maybe a couple of big ones here and there, but the healthy and good free agents are gone.

Also I bet alot of GM's are thinking about keeping their current crop of players, and thinking about what next years UFA's will be like (Younger and probably cheaper) to be interested in signing a 35 year old with a history of injuries to a 4 year deal when next year he can get a 29 year old for a 5 year deal cheaper.

[Baclava]

27. Yeah - the big moves are about gone...

T-Bo is good enough for me, besides...who knows how the goalie-play will turn out with less room amd smaller pads?

Right now we've got three solid young ones, too. I'd love to see them develop properly. That's the test now.

Fleury, Caron and Chiodo aren't too shabby of a threesome when all is said and done. This is very much like when the Teufels used to manufacture goalies like jockstraps. They always had one after another, after another...and so on.

[Telly Savalas]

28. Anson Carter isn't injury-prone.

I hope the Leafs get him. He's a solid player and would likely be a fan favourite cause he's a hometown guy. He was one of my favourites in Edmonton when he was on a line with Smyth and Comrie, even though I'm not much of an Oilers fan. Allison is a bit of a gamble, but if he pans out he'll be a bargain at $1.5 mil. Likewise Lindros is a gamble that could pay off if they can get him cheap. He may have problems keeping his head up, but the keenest hockey minds in Canada saw fit to give him a spot on the Olympic team which won the gold back in 2002.

I'm not really expecting a flurry of activity involving big names, but you'd think GM's would be showing a bit more haste in filling the holes. There's still quite a few teams out there that still have fewer than 15 guys on the roster and training camps begin in just a few weeks.

[Ravenseye]

30. Maybe i'm wrong

I could swear he's had at least one concussion, as well as numerous wrist and rib injuries. Sure that's common for forwards, but he's also only surpassed 70 games once in his career. A number of seasons under 60 games.

Don't get me wrong. I like him. I just think it'll be a stretch to get 60 games out of him.

[getmeouttahere]

31. No concussions, he had....

abdominal surgery not too long ago, that's about it. Let's not be trying to stretch the story to make an "injury line" or whatever. He'll play more than 60 games this year.

[Telly Savalas]

33. His numbers.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/player_bio.asp?player_id=810&hubName=

It's a bit tricky to read cause the guy's been traded so much, but:

2003-2004 77 games total
2002-2003 79 games total
2001-2002 82 games total

back a few years these numbers drop a bit:

2000-2001 61 games
1999-2000 59 games

Before this he bounced between the minors and the NHL a bunch so those numbers don't mean too much except during the 97-98 season where he played 78 games for the Bruins.

The injury tracker on that page does mention some wrist and rib injuries, but these didn't take him out of commission for any length of time. Unfortunately it doesn't go back far enough to explain what kept him out between 99 and 01. It could very well have been a concussion.

Given 3 consecutive seasons without any major incident, plus a year off to help his body heal whatever ails him, I'm confident that he's just as likely as anyone else to play 75+ games this year.

By the way, my original whining about the lack of activity seems to be unfounded. There've been a lot of signings today. Guess they just happen in the late afternoon.

[getmeouttahere]

36. Thank you, Telly...

I really enjoyed watching Carter in Edmonton. Thanks for putting up some numbers. These Penguins fans are really getting puffed up from all their signings, and it seems to be making it difficult for them to be objective about what other teams are doing. You brought some clarity to the discussion.

[Telly Savalas]

29. Just heard on FAN590 that Lindros signed with the Leafs for $1.5 mil

These guys are in cahoots with Sportsnet, so we'll have to wait a few hours to see if he's really gonna be a Leaf or if he'll join Sean Burke down in Tampa Bay.

If the reports are true, it's a 1 year deal. Given the low price and the lack of cap room, this seems like a reasonable move for Toronto.

[getmeouttahere]

32. 1.5 mil would be ok for Lindros....

and if they get 50-60 games out of him, at this point in his career it would probably be worth it, because when they guy plays he still produces. It's a safe roll of the dice.

[Ravenseye]

34. Did you know...

That Eric Lindros lost a bar fight to figure-skater Elvis Stojko once?

He was a great player once. I think there are way too many questions about him though to pay him that much. If he could play like he did with the Flyers then yeah. Definately. No Question.

Year GP G A P PIM
2000-01 Did Not Play
2001-02 72 37 36 73 138
2002-03 81 19 34 53 141
2003-04 39 10 22 32 60

He's just not the same player as he was, and one good hit and he's done. I'd be surprised if he surpasses his numbers for his last year with the Rangers.

Honestly signing Allison and Lindros smacks as desperation to me from the Leafs. A couple of players nobody else will take that are past their prime. Sure it's POSSIBLE that they could both stay healthy and play at the top of their game, and if so watch out!

It just ain't gonna happen. If I were a Leaf's fan I wouldn't be happy with this.

[getmeouttahere]

35. You simply can't be objective about this....

I'll agree Lindros is a bit of a gamble, but for the Leafs 1.5 mil isn't gonna hurt 'em.

As for Allison, he's not past his prime. Sure he's had his injury problems but he's still a fairly young guy, and often a hockey player's prime is their late 20's, early 30's. That's when many players really start coming into their own. Also, for guys like Lindros and Allison a year off due to the lockout can really help them heal.

[Ravenseye]

37. I can be objective

I'm not like...a republican or anything...

No maybe 1.5 won't hurt them even if he goes down in training camp. I just don't like gambling on hockey players. I don't like 1.5 million for Lindros and I don't like 5 million for Lemieux or whatever he's going to pay himself.

Allison's prime is debatable (like everything). I would argue that his prime was when he was with the Bruins in the late 90's. His peak production year was 2000-01 with the Bruins. Since then with the kings he didn't reach 20 goals with over 70 games, and then the injury's the following year with only 26 games. His pace though would have been under 20 goals.

Who knows in the new NHL, and with a year of rest, what both will be like. I don't know.

I just don't like so many questions for both players. It's my personal preference. I like healthy players coming into their prime, not players with a history of serious injury who haven't been in their prime for over 4-5 years. You can spin the gamble however you like. I just don't like gambles in sports. They fail far more often than they pay off.

Sure maybe 3 million total for 1 year for Allison and Lindros seems like a decent gamble to some. I just wouldn't do it and don't like it when teams do it.

Anyway I don't see how i'm not being objective. I doubt i'm the only person in the world who thinks signing these guys is questionable.

[Telly Savalas]

39. Healthy UFA's coming into their prime cost more than $1.5 million

You gotta remember that there are 29 teams in the league that didn't have Sidney Crosby handed to them on a platter. Some of these teams are trying a strategy of buying a couple of marquee players and padding the rest of their roster with 4th liners and big slow D-men. Other teams, like the Leafs, are trying to attain a more balanced roster. Under the new economic order, this can entail taking risks with bargain priced players who are potentially vulnerable to injury.

If you don't like players with a history of serious injury who haven't been in their prime for years, then I'm assuming you're not interested in a 40 year old cancer survivor who hasn't played more than 70 games in each of the last 8 years. I'd love to have Mario on my team, but that's just me.

[getmeouttahere]

43. Bullseye, Telly!

I wish I'd thought of that. They'll be extremely fortunate to get 50-60 games out of Mario - but I would take that in a heartbeat!!!

[getmeouttahere]

41. Referring more to the unfounded comments on Anson Carter...

as much as anything, but I think you have a bias against the Leafs, for whatever reason, and I think that if this were just about any other team there wouldn't be as much questioning of the moves. The history of free agency in hockey is riddled with gambles not paying off and teams signing a bunch of stars that just don't jell. Who knows, maybe this will be another way to go in free agency - signing reclamation projects with some good upside, not unlike the Oakland Raiders in the 70's. Another factor is that a guy like Lindros has ALWAYS wanted to play in T.O., so he could have a monster year because he's got some motivation, not that the drive for a Cup shouldn't be enough motivation.

You know, given the lack of success of the Rangers with free agents as an example, you could say that the Pens could be falling into the same trap - signing a trio of top-flight stars while not signing any of those role-players that got a team like Calgary, with only one bonified star, to the Cup final.

[Ravenseye]

44. No bias against the leafs

Honestly. Don't have any problem with them at all. I just think that

1) Signing players with a history of multiple concussions or recurring injuries. Yes, that refers to Mario as well. If you can get 60 games out of him then he's worth it. I think he can do it, maybe once more. He's not worth 5 million a year though if he only goes 10 games.

2) I'm not all giddy with the players the Penguins have signed. They got Gonchar instead of a good +/- give em the hurt player. It's a different situation though. The Penguins were far under the cap, The Leafs were struggling to stay under. They already have their role-players. You're just not familiar with them because the team didn't come together till the last quarter of the previous season.

3)The Leafs have a TON of good talent there already. It's not like they're running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I love O'Neill though I know there are some that aren't fans of his. Sundin is an amazing player. Tucker, Kaberle, etc. Re-signing Tie Domi was a very good thing to do.

4) The chances of Lindros getting yet another concussion are HUGE. Huge folks. He's had how many? five? six? I'm amazed that any doctors will actually sign off on him playing. A Concussion isn't a back injury which might prevent you from playing contact sports. He might get hit and wake up a vegtable.

But hey, for only 1.5 million? Sure why not.

[Telly Savalas]

48. Actually I think it's 8 concussions.

[Ravenseye]

53. I'm surprised...

...that he even knows his name.

8 concussions....sheesh. That's some serious bane dambage.

[getmeouttahere]

49. Good to know you're not giddy....

maybe that was our friend baclava...

I think the Pens will score a lot of goals, and give up a lot. I just don't see much defense there, whether defensemen or forwards. I do think they will make the playoffs, if only because Eddie O will get just enough out of what he has.

[Ravenseye]

54. Even when they were good...

...in the last quarter of the season...They were third best team in the league, but still had the worst defense. They had just finally found their scoring touch, gotten a good team balance.

Even then their GAA was 3.00. They just managed to win by making their GFA 3.60

I think we'll see something this year. It's so hard to say though. Who knows what the 'new' NHL will be like. From Goalie Pads, to Rule Changes to new players on new teams...It's too hard to call accurately I think.

[getmeouttahere]

55. I kinda like this uncertainty....

but if there is one thing we can all agree on, it's probably this...the "trap" teams will have to adjust to keep up.

[Telly Savalas]

38. So who then do you sign with the limited cap room?

[Ravenseye]

40. I don't know that I do

Leafs had I think 33 million under contract before these signings, and are now up to 36 with a few of their RFA's still to sign, though that won't be a problem.

There are a number of other UFA's out there, but obviously alot of the creme is gone. I just don't see that Toronto needs any more. Look I love super teams, but Toronto still has Sundin, Tucker, Nolan (is there a contract dispute with him) Kaberle, Belfour....It's not like they dont' have any talent on the team.

This is the new NHL and so maybe getting two more stars in for 3 million on a gamble isn't the worst thing to do. Maybe it'll pay off for them. I just wouldn't do it if I were a GM. I'd rather get one 3million a year player who doesn't have a history of concussions or major injuries than both those two together.

Still I'd also probably leave some space under the cap every year in case I need to trade in for some more talent before the playoffs, in case of injuries. These are guaranteed contracts. You get too close to the cap and you might not be able to bring in any help.

[getmeouttahere]

42. Now there's a really good point...

making a trade before the playoffs because of injury. Well, the Leafs could afford to go over the cap and pay the fine. Still a good point.

[Telly Savalas]

45. I'm with you to a point...

Under the old CBA, I'd be pretty pissed if Allison and Lindros were the guys they went after. I'm pretty far from a Lindros fanboy. I'm still trying to make the adjustment from laughing at him to laughing with him. :)

Under the new CBA, I think it's a pretty tenable strategy, though. It's somewhat of a gamble, but so is placing all your eggs in one basket with a huge signing like Iginla. If Iginla gets hurt, Calgary is screwed, whereas if Allison is injured, it's not that big a setback for the Leafs.

[Ravenseye]

46. Granted

at 1.5 million each it's not exactly the biggest gamble in the history of hockey. I just don't know if i'm ready to say i'd rather have Allison at 1.5 million than Iginla at 7. There are lots of other factors at play, from locker room presence, leadership, toughness, whther they mesh with the team...

I'm sure my concepts of how to pay players will change over the next few years. We'll find out who really understood the new CBA the best maybe in 5 years when we look at how the teams have done. It's still too early.

If they're all healthy Toronto is the team to beat in the East, espcially if they sign Carter.

Sundin, O'Neill, Lindros, Allison, Carter, Tucker, Kaberle..etc...They'll be scoring so many goals you won't be able to see the net, just pucks...

If.

Big If.

That's all i'm really saying. It's a big if, and I'm not into taking those kinds of risks with concussion victims.

[getmeouttahere]

47. Ah, the "Ifs"

Now despite all this back and forth on the Leafs, I don't think they have enough of the "role-filler" types to be the "beast of the east" and that is one area that I think we will be able to evalute sooner rather than later. I think that will be apparent by mid-season.

[Telly Savalas]

50. They only have 10 forwards signed, so obviously they're still looking.

With McCabe, Kaberle, Khavanov, Klee, and Berg, they'll have a solid d-corps if they sign RFA Karel Pilar or bring up youngster Coliacovo from the minors. The first 2 guys are pretty damn good when they're on their game. The rest may not be the 2nd coming of Bobby Orr, but for the most part they're the kind of competenet "role-fillers" to which you refer.

Since there are only 10 forwards under contract (not counting Nolan, whose contract is in dispute and won't play for the team again), it's clear the Leafs are going to sign some more. The big hope here is that they'll pick up Anson Carter for under $2 mil. Then if you add signing RFA Nik Antropov, you've filled out the 4 lines. Both of these are far from certain, since there are rumours that other teams are interested in Carter and Antropov might very well stay in Russia. Even with picking up these guys, they'll still need to fill the press box, especially given the possibility of injury. These additional signings will certainly have to be cheap role players.

A lot of the non-star players on the Leafs like Stajan, Ponikarovsky, and Domi, have shown they can do some good things, so it's not the case that the Leafs don't have good role players. Furthermore, all of the new signings are guys who are really excited about playing in Toronto. This isn't a lockerroom of superstar prima donnas.

Right now they're a touch lacking in depth, but they're also lacking a 21 man roster. Given the signings of about 3 more inexpensive, yet quality forwards, and some luck on the injury front, and the Leafs have a really strong team.

[getmeouttahere]

51. I agree that these guys are excited about playing in T.O.

despite my love for the Habs, I have no bias against the Leafs. After all, I didn't grow up in Canada so I reserve the right to root for both teams, unless of course they are playing each other LOL.

I was glad to see that they kept Domi, he can still contribute. I hope they can keep Antropov, he's a good one. Ponikarovsky and Stajan are probably still a little unproven, but maybe upon further examination the Leafs do have some "role-fillers" after all.

[getmeouttahere]

52. And the first "Hockey Night in Canada" of the season is...

Toronto-Montreal. Woo hoo!!!! Can't wait!!!