BlogsChicago Blackhawks' RFAs could become UFAs?
Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Aaron Johnson and Troy Brouwer could all become UFAs pending an investigation into the qualifying offer process.
Which one should Burke swoop to sign in a best-case scenario?
about 9 hours ago
PPP
30 comments
0 recs
Rick Nash Re-Signs in Columbus - The Dream is Dead
Finally, we can start being irrational about someone else!
No, they didn't get the Sedins, and Mike Cammalleri is a Hab. But Brian Burke is well on his way to putting together his collection of goons, brawlers and about three or four skill players that worked so well in Anaheim -- while completely pissing off his division rivals along the way. Gotta love it.
But when is the team going to upgrade at forward? And when we find out the fates for Curtis Joseph, Olaf Kolzig and Martin Gerber!?
GRADE: C+
Drinking buddy of the blog Greg Wyshynski gives out the early Free Agency Grades.
about 11 hours ago
PPP
34 comments
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2009 Free Agency: Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Mike Komisarek
by PPP
on Jul 3, 2009 2:45 PM EDT
in News
114 comments
The Toronto Maple Leafs' big signing July 1st was stealing Mike Komisarek from the Montreal Canadiens. Knowing that Canadiens fans will have to bend themselves into pretzels to hate and demean a defenceman that they have lauded as being the lynchpin of their defence while having to find ways to like a former object of derision, Hal Gill, makes me laugh. On the other hand, when I heard that the Leafs had signed Komisarek it was very hard to explain to the other churchgoers why I yelling "NOOOOOOOO!!!!" during communion. They insisted on scheduling an exorcism but they can't get this Leaf fandom out of me! Here's what I hilariously wrote before July 1st when I still held out the hope that Komisarek would not sign with the Leafs:
There has only really been one player on the Leafs that made me physically ill to have to watch play, Bryan Marchment, and this summer the Leafs have been linked with TWO of them: Chris Neil and Mike Komisarek.
Komisarek is overrated as a defensive defenceman, he almost matches Neil for cowardice, and hits late every.single.time. Plus he still has the stink of the Habs on him and any aura that he might have had has been completely dashed by repeated decimations at the hands of Milan Lucic. The cheap crosscheck that should have resulted in at least a 10 game suspension just showed how yellow he is.
Oh for cripe's sake. Thank God it wasn't Neil or I'd still be stabbing my gap-toothed voodoo doll. Honestly, it's going to take me a lot of time to get over this signing because not only do I not care what he wears I also don't think that he's cute. But I do cheer for laundry so my gut reaction will be to cheer the jerk when he scores (out of sheer novelty probably) or if he hits or fights someone but only because I care that it helps the other Leafs. In an ideal world he'd get his ass kicked for things like this:
Gutless. Leafs-Bruins games will be interesting next year at least which is a definite upgrade over the debilitating borefests that they have been in the past. So there we go. That's how I feel about Komisarek and I know I am not the only one around these parts to hold those feelings. After the jump I am going to try to talk myself down from the ledge.
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Komisarek's a Leaf, Montreal: Deal With It
by Chemmy
on Jul 3, 2009 10:52 AM EDT
in Negative Nancy Notebook
85 comments
This is the first sentence, unedited, of the Montreal Gazette's article on NHL free agency and how no one has any loyalty anymore:
The comments on Habs Inside/Out began Wednesday morning when word was published on our website that the Toronto Maple Leafs were in the running to sign Canadiens unrestricted free-agent defenceman Mike Komisarek.
I hope the Montreal Gazette is one of those free newspapers that you get at the bus stop because otherwise I take pity on all of its paying customers just like I take pity on Montreal Canadiens fans for being oxygen starved in the womb. Poor fellas never had a chance.
Among the thoughts that avoided our delete key, posted before and after Komisarek signed a five-year, $22.5-million contract with the Maple Leafs:
- "I really don't want to hate Komisarek's guts, but I can see that's where this is going."
Well at least this guy has some sort of editing process. Hopefully after making a "hate list" about Mike Komisarek he came up with some good jabs that we can all have a good laugh about some time.
- "Mike, I wish you all the success the Leafs have enjoyed for the last 40-plus years!"
No. Guess not. Sorry to get everyone's hopes up. If I wanted a 1967 joke I'd put on a tennis skirt, fly to England and ask Damien Cox. He's better at this than the Gazette because he does it every day.
- "Good riddance, Komi. Welcome to hell."
Mystery solved. The place where sinners go to be punished for all eternity has been discovered and it's Toronto. I've enjoyed Toronto every time I've been. Not a lot of motivation to go to church on Sunday anymore really. Maybe the writer got lost and ended up in Ottawa?
A few suggested that Habs heavyweight Georges Laraque should be instructed - ordered, even - to pummel Komisarek, that despicable traitor, during the new Leaf's first shift against his old team.
85 comments
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Toronto Maple Leafs Lock Up Mikhail Grabovski On Day Two of Free Agency
by blurr1974
on Jul 3, 2009 5:00 AM EDT
in From The Branches
48 comments
This is the part where I, with the assistance of my co-host, summarize the new addition signings of the past day.
That's right. A big goose egg in the action department. You know that means? Minimum action in the Barilkosphere (pro tip to Brian Burke, we are like cattle and react well to prodding.) Here's to the hardcores who gave me something to work with!
- Our own bitter Leaf, mf37 asks "Do you know the street value of this truculence!?!?"
- Another secret conversation, another Down Goes Brown breaking exclusive! Today's installment: the real reason why Heatley didn't waive his NTC to go to Edmonton.
- Over the past few days Burke has made some moves. Pal Hal Pall is giving us the long view (well, long a view as 24 hours or so can give us)
- Karina ruined my big reveal by fan shotting this last night, but here it is anyways. TSM has heard rumblings of a potential three way trade between the Leafs, Sharks and Hawks. Details are scarce and names involved non-existent. Speculate away!
- Get to know the man I call Joe (and you call KOMIKAZI!!!!1) a little better. His recent league conference call sheds some light on the man, the mirth. the living being.
UPDATE
- eyebleaf finds video proof that Habs fans obsession with fire actually does extend beyond Police cars. Good for them, diversifying like that.
48 comments
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That’s how Burke ought to be judged this summer: depth on defence and in goal, something that gives his team a chance to steal a few games while it gets a better read on the likes of Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson. Don’t pay attention to what Burke says. Pay attention to what he does.
While I disagree with Blair's assessment of the Sedin Twins I do agree with his closing sentiment. Not signing big named forwards allows the Leafs assess what they have in the kids. They already have filler to cover the gap between now and that future period when the Leafs will contend.
glovetap Toronto Sports Media
1 day ago
PPP
13 comments
0 recs
2009 Free Agency: Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Colton Orr
by PPP
on Jul 3, 2009 12:00 AM EDT
in News
20 comments
The Toronto Maple Leafs' first free agent signing of the day was Colton Orr who received a four year contract worth $4 million. Colton Orr signing with the Leafs signalled, just as much as Burke's draft day haul, that he was dead serious about making the opposition's trainer earn his paycheque. Burke started the day off by having his main target, the Sedin twins, signed minutes before he was able to give them his best sales pitch.
The Leafs responded by bringing in a player that had 18 fights in the NHL last season and had 36 in a regular season one year in the AHL. Burke can't beat players up on his own so he needs a proxy and Orr's not bad. The Detroit Red Wings were actually in the running for Orr as well so take that for what it's worth. I don't know that he's a great enforcer league-wide but he is a massive upgrade in the role of enforcer for the Leafs. He's certainly not providing the offence with just eleven career points.
If you're a visual person you can see the full Colton Orr collection on YouTube or you can visit Down Goes Brown who has forced himself to watch the fights in order to compile four of the best. It's a testament to his dedication that he would watch these fights.
20 comments
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