daT mourns the passing of Pat Burns

R.I.P. coach...

Toronto Sun Read More...

UFA signings

NHL free agent updates can be had here at TSN.

UPDATE:
Sundin has reportedly been offered US $20mil on a two-year pact, by the Vancouver Cancucks. As many as three other teams are after the apparent ex-Leaf Captain...

He has since gone on to say, essentially, thanks but no thanks to any and all offers. He remains undecided.

Curtis Joseph has signed a one-year deal with the Leafs for 700 grand.
Good for Cujo, and good on the Leafs...

...and Colorado has signed Darcy Tucker to a 2 year deal worth $4.5-million (which should go along nicely with his 'package' from the Leafs)...

Oh alright... Colorado also signed Andrew Raycroft at $800,000 for one year. Read More...

Tucker, Wellwood and Raycroft

Darcy Tucker has been bought out by the Leafs.

Tucker had three years remaining on his contract and Toronto will payout two-thirds over six years. Having signed a new 4 year deal just last year, this has got to hurt the team.

Still, it is another piece of the 'Muskoka Five' (the other's being Mats Sundin, Bryan McCabe, Pavel Kubina and Tomas Kaberle... see classic Leaf slam at right, thanks to Dolighan @ the Sun) that needed to go. The hard nosed Tucker had been a Leaf for eight years now, some of that time controversial. We won't speak of the time when his cousin Shayne Corson was along for the ride. Overall though Tucker has 'brought it' to the game and I wish him and his family well, wherever they settle.

Cliff Fletcher (interim/non-interim GM of the team) called it a 'difficult decision'.


Can the same be said about Kyle Wellwood and Andrew Racycroft though. The team recently having placed forward Wellwood (just claimed by Vancouver) and goaltender Raycroft on waivers, rids the team of distraction. Raycroft has simply lost his confidence and his play suffered terribly. Despite his team tying 37 win season in '06-'07, the team sought out (and found) a number one goalie in Vesa Toskla. That sealed Raycroft's fait as a Leaf. Wellwood though is another matter. The team has a history of discarding small, flashy pivots (think Steve Sullivan) who go on to play well in the NHL. Wellwood is a little quirky though. He walks to his own beat (and you gotta respect a guy for that), but, he neglects his conditioning and his commitment to the team is questionable. His loss could come back to bite us.

With Mats Sundin off to enjoy poutine, you have what could be called a radically different looking team for the '08-'09 season. Will Kubina (who finished the season strong, and who's no-trade clause has been temporarily voided because of the team not making the play-offs... again... for the 3rd straight season) return? If he continues his strong play (and lets not forget he had been challenged really for the first time in his career with injury, pretty much since his arrival in Toronto), sure... why not.

The McCabe to the Islanders story just won't die.

Kaberle has to stay, period.

Hockey stories in the summer?

This is Canada...
Read More...

The Leafs... Part 1

The Toronto Maple Leafs (and everything that goes with being a Leafs fan), will be a continual source of 'material' for me. And right now I have to say that I am flipped out over Mats Sundin's negotiating rights having been sold/loaned/transferred to the hated Habs.

(the Sundin hyperlink leads to his Leaf page. I wonder how long the link will work)

Any Leaf fan will tell you that the Habs are the one team you absolutely cannot play for after being 'honoured' by Leafdom. Doing so would instantly ban you to the pits of hell with no chance of parole.

We have a history of both honouring and dishonouring those who have worn the 'C'. Dave Keon (above right - CP file photo), Sittler, Clark, Gilmour. All have been welcomed upon their return (particularly Keon, at last years 40th anniversary 'celebration' of the *cough* last Leafs team to win a cup).

sigh

But this...

Sundin to Les Habs? Returning to the ACC wearing les bleu, blanc et rouge? Sorry, this I have a serious problem with. Having been to his home I can say that yes, he is a 'nice man'. Many say this about the man. We are accepting (albeit not quietly) about his spending summers back home instead of staying with 'us' (perhaps at one of the Muskoka Five's cottages - snicker), providing Leaf Nation with a year round fix of Leaf hysteria.

And questions about his 'passion' for the game (more importantly I guess, to the Team) continue to dog Sundin even as his career as a Leaf has come to an end. And come to an end it has, for there is no scenario that I can see that involves Sundin ever again putting on a Leaf jersey.

I can also see Leafdom getting all worked up in a froth over Sundin's return as a Hab. The hanger will be rocking for weeks over the mere possibility of 'giving it' to Mats should he deign to grace us with his presence. Yes the venom will be out in full bore and all of it (whether warranted or not) will be directed at our formerly beloved Captain. Salming can go to the Wings, and Sittler to the Flyers, but playing for the Habs is simply unforgiveable in the eyes of Leafs fans.

And yet again, another controversial end to a Leaf career. Read More...