Buds Looking for AAA Rating

Less than 24 hours to go. Brian Burke has left the building leaving his Assisstant GM's to carry out the plans that were formulated once the dust had settled after the entry draft.His assistants Dave Nonis,Dave Poulin, Cliff Fletcher, Rick Dudley and Claude Loiselle have a stiff challenge facing them and the Leaf Nation is waiting with baited breath.

At the very least the Buds need to shore up the top six with two players. A center for the donut line of Phil Kessel and Lupul and a solid winger with grit and scoring ability. Two forwards for the 3rd and 4th lines with size,grit and defensive ability.

In my humble opinion if the buds are able to sign five UFA in the areas I've mentioned I'll give them a AAA Rating.If they sign 4 UFA I'll give them a AA rating, signing 3 gets an A Rating. Signing 2 or less UFA means they're just spinning their wheels and wasting our time.

Here are the Players I feel they should consider in the first group including offers:

1.BRAD RICHARDS (7yrs @ 8.52 M per year) – Total $60.06 M 2.TIM CONNOLLY (6yrs @ 5.50 M per year) – Total $33 M 3.MICHAEL RYDER (4yrs @ 4.25 M per year) – Total $17 M 4.VILLE LEINO (4yrs @ 2.8 M per year) – Total $11.2 M 5.RADIM VRBATA (4yrs @ 4.25 M per year) – Total $17 M 6.SCOTTIE UPSHAW (4yrs @ 4.25 M per year) – Total $17 M

1.MAXIME TALBOT (4yrs @ 2.50 M per year) – Total $10 M 2.ZENON KONOPKA (4yrs @ 2 M per year) -Total $8 M 3.MICHAEL RUPP ( 3 yrs @ 1.75 M per year) – Total $ 5.25 M 4.SEAN BERGENHEIM (3 yrs @ 1.75 M per year) – Total $5.25 M 5.RAFFI TORRES ( 4 yrs @ 2.0 M per year) – Total $8.00 M

Here are the UFA Defencemen that the Buds Should target.

1.JAMES WISNIEWSKI (5 yrs @ 4.5 M per year) – Total $22.5 M 2.C. EHRHOFF (5 yrs @ 4.75 M per year) – Total $22.75 M 3.SCOTT HANNAN (4 yrs @ 4.1 M per year) Total $16.4 M 4.ANTON BABCHUK ( 4 yrs @ 2.5 M per year) – Total $10 M 5.STEVE MONTADOR (3 yrs @ 2.5 M per year) – Total $7.5