Rumour Mill

Cujo coming to back up Toskala?
Tucker to Calgary?
Boyle on the trading block?
Sundin to test the open market?

Stay tuned folks, this is shaping up to be one of the most interesting off seasons in a while.

Cut the Sh*t Bryan McCabe

What is your bloody problem?

If you're reading this, maybe a fans perspective will get through that obviously thickening-by-the-second head of yours?

I'm sure I speak for so many when I ask why on God's earth won't you waive your no-trade clause with the Leafs to move on and take zero pay cut and play the game you love in another NHL city of YOUR CHOICE? My God, you will be making what most people reading this blog will never make in their lifetime, in each of the next three seasons, no matter where you play.

What possible good can come of you holding out?

What could possibly be your motivation?

You were signed to a lucrative deal and you've done nothing but fail in your part of the bargain. You have played terribly, the team has failed miserably and three straight years with no playoffs can be partially laid on your shoulders, a supposed leader being paid leader-type money who simply and utterly didn't deliver.

Now you have the nerve to cross your arms and demand a buyout so you can make millions more from a team you never really helped and go on buying shiny cars and sending generations of McCabe's down easy street, instead of just being a multi-millionaire playing on a team not called the Toronto Maple Leafs?

“Knowing when to leave may be the smartest thing anyone can learn.”
-Burt Bacharach

Seriously Bryan, give us a fucking break.

Who will wear the C next season?

Take the poll here.

What about Mayers? He will after all be the elder statesman on the team at 33 if Sundin and McCabe are gone. He's tough, skates hard and protects his teammates. A leader for sure but will he be on the ice enough?

Devereaux or Moore also exemplify the determination and team-first attitude that I think a captain should have.

Why do we always make the best player the captain?

Ugh

But he's still popular with Leaf fans, and even after a few painful shots, stopped to sign a hat proffered by one teenaged boy who asked him to write, "The Sens suck" on the peak.

"No, I can't, I might be playing for them next season," Tucker joked as he signed and handed the cap back.

The Star

UFA's of interest.

I doubt Toronto will be making a big splash in the UFA market, but out of sheer craving to talk hockey today I've compiled a list of players that Fletcher and co. may be looking at.


Daymond langkow: He's 31, durable, and plays a great two way game with very good playmaking ability. In my eyes, the perfect player to throw in with a bunch of kids.

David Vyborny: This guy's stock has dropped after a terrible season, but his skating and playmaking is outstanding. He could be had for around $2M a year, making him a good risk to take.

Mike Ribeiro: Coming off a career year, he'll probably want a big pay raise from $2.8M. Still, if Toronto lose Sundin they may consider this guy. A two year deal at $5M is all I would want to pay, but he'll likely get more.

Ladislav Nagy: He's got a mean streak and sets up a lot of goals. Like Langkow, the perfect fit for a young forward corps.

Sean Avery: With Tucker gone, who will other hockey fans love to hate? Frankly, I just hate having to watch my team play against him, so bring him aboard.

Jason Smith: The biggest mistake Quinn ever made was letting this guy go. I say sign him for two years and take our time with Schenn. No need to rush the kid, and Toronto need some bite on the blue line in the meantime.

Ryan Malone: His playoff performance will earn him a steep pay raise, too rich for the Leafs, but who wouldn't want this guy?

Forgive me if anybody has already signed with their respective clubs... the list I pulled from may be a little old.

56.7

Well, with the cap going this high, maybe we can squeeze in Campbell afterall. Or it might just mean he's going to end up getting 7.5 or more.

If you hear any complaining about 'why the lockout' if the cap goes so high, just tell the person that Toronto, the Rangers, Montreal likely, and perhaps Detroit and the Flyers would be over $100 million this upcoming season if there were no cap. My post last summer on this issue.

Crazy

That's my reaction to this story:

However, this time, whether intended or not, Toronto turned up the heat and according to sources, hinted McCabe may be asked to stay home, rather than join his teammates for training camp if he wasn't willing to change his mind.

Can't see how they could effectively suspend him for sucking. I'm guessing all they could really do is to bench him during training camp and practices and then to make him a healthy scratch for the games. Distraction? Nah.

PS: One of my favourite Google searches.

The purges continue

Grats is gone.

Update: Sweet memories....

The Toronto Maple Leafs select John Tavares....

With this tentative Leaf forward lineup it's a lock, no?

Ponikarovsky-Stajan-Antropov
Tlusty-Steen-Blake
Pohl-Moore-Mayers
Devereaux-Bell-Williams

And add a few UFAs to join him (the Sedins, Zetterberg, and Gaborik are some of the bigger names) the team might look a little more appealing, no?

Fisher won't have Tucker to push around anymore

Who are we supposed to hate now?

Sundin gone. Tucker gone.
All that remains from the last Leaf team that beat us in the playoffs is Kaberle, Stajan, Antropov, and Ponikarovsky. That's pretty weak in the hate department.

They better sign Yashin, give offer sheets to Vermette and Meszaros, or sign Emery to give us something. Can Leafs fans please post a preliminary lineup so I know who's on your team still.

Razed

Raycroft waived.

Did we jinx them both?

And if I was GM...

And could get Campbell for 6.5, I'd sign and trade Vermette (for a prospect and pick) and my lineup would look like this...

If you wanted to bring back the same roster....

Schenn and Karlsson

Does Schenn turn into a smaller Hal Gill, maybe into a meaner Chris Phillips, or does he actually have some offensive potential there?

The Sens go with Erik Karlsson, a 4' 3" 134lb defencemen. The new NHL.

Kelly

Best news from yesterday for Ottawa has to be the signing of Chris Kelly. I think just over 2 million per year should allow the Sens to keep the budget in line still and his absence if they didn't get a deal done would have opened up a pretty big hole.

Waived.

His name is Ray. TSN

One more sleep....

...until draft day.

A move that sets up Grats' departure?

Murray's still trying to get Kelly and Meszaros signed.

Don't forget the blogger's meetup on Saturday night.

And I listened this morning to Alfie talk about his support for the Ottawa Mental Health's youknowwhoiam.com campaign.

Without Further Ado...

The winner of the 2nd annual playoff prediction contest is... steved!!!

Congratulations steved. You get the exclusive rights to use this picture on your desktop, avatars, and mail signatures for an entire year. I've formally removed it from mine after a wonderful year.

Final standings:

1	steved	29.75
2	jaredoflondon	31
3	The Muppet	32.25
4	Yoda	34.5
5	Doogie2K	37
6	Anshu	37
7	Chemmy	39
8	Mr. Plank	39.25
9	PPP	40.5
10	Don	43.25
11	Wavetank	44
12	DC in YOW	48.5
13	Duff	50.25
14	GeeIWonder	56.25
15	Jay Jardine	59.75

Note: Some of those who would have been lower than Jay didn't participate in the final round. For shame.

Sloppy Seconds

The Sens have a new coach.

UNWELLWOOD

After a hideous injury plagued 2007/2008 season, Wellwood is at it again.

He becomes a restricted free agent July 1st. If you're Cliff Fletcher, what do you do with this guy?

Wilson answers Anshu.

Last night BoO regular Anshu made a very good point about the Leafs that I think any Leaf fan being honest with themselves would agree with:

"I personally think there's a certain sense of entitlement among Leaf players, and a bit of a rot that's set into the team culture. Many sportswriters have spoken and written about this, and I think they're on to something."

This recap of all Ron Wilson said yesterday in his introduction as the new coach answers the above comments and so much more. If nothing else, things are about to change drastically in the Leafs dressing room. Oh, and no playoff guarantee anywhere to be found. Honesty. How refreshing.

Leafs usher in the Wilson era.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will announce the "official" hiring sometime today or tomorrow, although the local papers haven't bothered to wait for a signature. I counted three stories in The Toronto Star alone, including the front page.

When I look down the list of available coaches I think the Leafs got the best man. That's all we can ask. That, and for Ron Wilson to do what he did in Washington, Anaheim and San Jose - turn a really terrible team, into a really good one.

No pressure though. No pressure.

How many 4th liners can one franchise own?

Leafs today signed 5'8" centerman Tim Stapleton from the Finnish Elite league (there's an elite league in Finland?). This move will add to the drama come training camp, where there will now be 234 players vying for the 3rd and 4th line roster spots.

The newly minted Maple Leaf was coached last season by Doug Shedden, a former St. John's Maple Leafs coach and NHL player for those under 30 years old. Clearly he's trying to get in good with MLSE these days, letting them in on the big secret that Stapleton scored 62 points in 55 games last year, a fact not widely known to scouts still on dial-up internet.

Way to go team!

BoO Gets Reignited?

Assuming Howard Berger is predictably full of it does this announcement mean that we could be looking at a return of true Battles of Ontario?

Aside from the heavy foundation/blush Hartley is best known in Toronto for coaching a goon-ish Thrashers squad.

Here's to him falling flat on his face in ottawa!

Mark your calendars - June 21

Ben from SensArmy is hosting a bloggers get-together after the Draft at 8pm on at Maclaren's.

The universe keeps things in check.

Congratulations to SonicSurfers for winning the NHL.COM Battle of Ontario Playoff Pool. You have a year of bragging rights that I'm sure you'll take full advantage of.

Of course, for every positive, there must be a negative. That's how it works folks. Which is why it comes as no surprise that the day of the Surfer's big win, news that the Hockey Night in Canada theme song has been killed hit the news wire.

Our condolences to Dolores Claman who will no longer collect $500 from the CBC every time they use her song. When you consider all the promos, double-header games and playoffs, CBC Radio, ringtones, and everything else, one has to think that the Dolores, who wrote the song in 1968, is really gonna miss those cheques.

The CBC has decided to go in a new direction, which means they will probably get some Canadian artist to come up with something new. I hope it's this guy.

Martin obsessed with the Leafs?

Roberts, Niewendyk, Kilger, Belak and now Maurice?

Rumour has it The Florida Panthers are seriously looking at Paul Maurice as their next head coach.

If you can't beat 'em, try and get all their people, I say.

In other news, Damien Cox seems to be coming around in thinking Ron Wilson might not be a half bad move for the Leafs.

I'm starting to agree.

GAME FIVE - SO WHO ARE YOU PITTSBURGH?

Are you the 05/06 Edmonton Oilers, who forced seven games and one of the wildest cup finals in recent years? Are you the 03/04 Calgary Flames, digging and clawing until the bitter end? Are you the Ducks of 02/03, making the Pat Burns coached Devils earn every inch of ice? Are you the Devils of 01/02, taking it to the 2nd period of game seven before finally laying down with nothing left to give?

Or, are you going to go out with a whimper in five games just like you know who?