Maple Leafs Assistant GM Dave Poulin did not express any heightened level of concern regarding the contractual status of restricted free agents Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson.
“It’s August 1st.” Poulin said to Sportsnet Fan 590’s Brady and Lang show Thursday morning. “We’re five weeks away from the rookies getting going in London(Ontario) with rookie camp and I firmly believe that these things will get done.”
The Leafs second in command, who is headed to Bratislava, Slovakia for the upcoming Ivan Hlinka Tournament, stated that there is not a set deadline or timetable to get Kadri(the club’s second leading scorer in 2013) and Franson(who led the club in defensive scoring last season) signed, and that the impetus for an agreement may not come until just before training camp in mid-September.
“I don’t think it works like that…conversations continue(with the player’s representatives)….you do have to take some point to breathe during the summer.”
In spite of the perception that Toronto will have difficulty fitting Kadri and Franson’s new deals under the $64.3 Million salary cap, Poulin believes that the re-signing of Tyler Bozak, the trades for Dave Bolland and Jonathan Bernier and the signing of free agent David Clarkson has made for a very successful summer.
“We’ve improved as a hockey team this summer…..we feel….and we’ve done it with a 9% decrease in salaries.” Poulin said “(Leafs Assistant GM) Claude Loiselle has done a magnificent job at managing the cap throughout.”
The re-signing of defenseman Mark Fraser further adds to the stockpile on the blueline, which has led to speculation that the Leafs may look to trade defenseman John-Michael Liles or take advantage of the 48 hour buyout window beginning on Friday to clear cap space.
“I think it will all play out…..John-Michael Liles is a professional. He is great on and off the ice and he had a little bit of a down year, but you could relate that to a concussion that he had and never maybe quite being the same after that.”
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News and Notes
New Maple Leafs center Dave Bolland is having a parade in his hometown of Mimico, ON with the Stanley Cup Thursday afternoon. The 27-year-old has selected jersey #63(the reverse of his jersey number in Chicago), which has never been worn by a Toronto player before.
Forward Spencer Abbott has signed a one year, two-way deal with the Maple Leafs for $650,000.
The 25-year-old native of Hamilton, Ontario scored 13 goals and 20 assists in 55 games with the Toronto Marlies last season, as well as two goals and three assists in the AHL Playoffs.
The former U. of Maine Black Bear and Hobey Baker finalist is one of the few experienced forwards returning to the Marlies, as Greg Scott, Will Acton, Ryan Hamilton, Mike Zigomanis and Tim Connolly have all departed for Europe or other NHL organizations.
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