The great thing about being a Leafs fan is that there is alway a juicy rumour to talk about. I mean every player in the league at one point or another has been traded for Nik Andropov or a player to be named later. Or if it is a really good player like, say... Rick Nash,
After the Leafs blow out loss to the Sens on Saturday I suggested that Belfour should be moved and also that the Leafs should go after Bertuzzi to play on the wing with Sundin:
"...two of the next three goals were clearly Belfour's fault. Time to start shopping for a goaltender - Biron is available. What will it take to get him?
.....it doesn't seem like any of the wingers that Quinn gives [Sundin] are able to score. Bertuzzi is supposedly available. JFJ should move heaven and earth to get him to play with Sundin,
Now it appears my rantings have turned into rumour:
both Toronto and Montreal may be interested in the power forward. One rumour has Belfour going to Vancouver in exchange for Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi is a UFA after this season, while Belfour has a club option for next year, which the Leafs are almost sure to decline. The salaries are similar, and Vancouver needs the goaltending help. At this point, if the Leafs can trade the veteran goalie, they should.
The problem in trading Belfour for Bertuzzi is who do you put in goal?
ReplyDeleteGranted, Tellqvist has been solid when called upon this season, but do any Leaf fans have confidence he can be a starter, let alone good enough in that role for the team to make the playoffs? Are you forgetting all the times he's struggled in the past?
So that would mean you'd have to make another deal to get a goalie. And there aren't exactly a whole lot of upgrades over Belfour out there besides Biron, who the Sabres seem content on keeping around now.
Besides, is scoring goals really what ails the Leafs? I'd think they'd want to shore up their D before anything else.
And are you sure Bertuzzi is a UFA at the end of the season? I could swear his contract has at least one more year beyond this one.
I dont know about his ufa status. That comment is the quote I lifted from Hockey Leaks.
ReplyDeleteAdding Bertuzzi would mean a surplus winger to trade for a goalie along with the surplus of centers that the Leafs have. Allison is also trade bait (for some reason).
Lalime is available...
ReplyDeleteNot a chance in the world that Bertuzzi is going to T.O.
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint, Leaf fans. It ain't going to happen.