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# Just Say "No" To Free Agents
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-just-say-no-to-free-agents/
- Published: 2012-06-28T10:00:36.000Z
- Updated: 2012-06-28T10:00:36.000Z
- Author: J.P. Nikota
- Tags: From The Branches, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 10:50

All the cool kids are doing it, even Brian Burke. As transcribed by Alec Brownscombe at [Maple Leafs](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/toronto-maple-leafs?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Hot Stove, Burke spoke yesterday in Prince Edward Island at the Special Olympics Festival, and had [a few interesting quips about this summer](http://mapleleafshotstove.com/2012/06/27/burke-doesnt-expect-to-be-active-in-free-agency/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com):

> "With the salary cap and the new collective bargaining agreement that’s coming up, I don’t know what our plans are for filling out our roster," Burke told the large gathering at Credit Union Place.
> 
> "Free agency starts on July 1, it’s a really thin group.
> 
> "Teams are locking all these quality players up now, so the group that is getting to the market is thin, it’s shallow. There are really two high-end players and that’s about it, (Nashville defenceman) [Ryan Suter](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54418/ryan-suter?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) and (New Jersey forward) [Zach Parise](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54960/zach-parise?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com).
> 
> "I don’t think we are going to be in on either one of them."

Here's hoping that he also doesn't spend more than a million dollars on some depth player whose services might be easily replaced by some AHL plug.

Follow me over the jump for more. Happy Thursday, everyone.

[Assessing Nikolai Kulemin; Part I - Shooting and Scoring](http://theleafsnation.com/2012/6/27/assessing-nikolai-kulemin-part-i-shooting-and-scoring?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Cam Charron looks at Kulemin's expected goal totals with normalized ice time, shots, and shooting percentage.

[Assessing Nikolai Kulemin; Part II - Defence](http://theleafsnation.com/2012/6/27/assessing-nikolai-kulemin-part-ii-defence?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Here, Charron examines the other half of the equation.

[Is VLM missing the mark?](http://vintageleafmemories.blogspot.ca/2012/06/is-vlm-missing-mark.html?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Go over and give Michael Langlois a tap on the shin pads.

[The 10 best moments from this year’s class of Hall of Fame inductees](http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2012/06/27/the-10-best-moments-from-this-years-hall-of-fame-inductees/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Video link from Justin Bourne at BHS.

[Where Does This Hall Of Fame Class Stack Up?](http://www.dirtydangle.com/2012/06/where-does-this-hall-of-fame-class.html?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Dirty Dangle has a look.

[Flames acquire defenceman Wideman from Capitals](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/flames-acquire-defenceman-wideman-from-capitals/article4374779/?cmpid=rss1&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
It's not that they gave up so much to sign him early, it's that they actually gave up anything to sign him early, and for a dumb contract at $5.25M per year for 5 years. Shockingly, as I write this, no NMC/NTC has been reported on Capgeek yet. Story from Alan Maki at the Globe & Mail.

[Talks on new NHL collective agreement to begin Friday](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/talks-on-new-nhl-collective-agreement-to-begin-friday/article4372926/?cmpid=rss1&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Ugh, please no lockout. Story from Chris Johnston of the CP at the Globe.

[Quick lunchtime rant on hockey rumours](http://theactivestick.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/quick-lunchtime-rant-on-hockey-rumours/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Laura (a.k.a. @theactivestick) is upset.

[On suffering, and waiting, and hanging on, and why](http://theactivestick.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/1769/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Another entry from Laura that she thought some of us around here at PPP could stand to read.