If you have ever been to a game at the Air Canada Center you will look up and see the banners and luxury boxes. There have been a number of times I’ve looked up into the ‘Ivory Tower’ to see where the Leafs General Manager and his staff sit to watch the games, you may have seen them pan there with the camera on television from time to time. I’ve had dreams since being a small kid of watching a game up top with all of the Leafs brass, chiming in with comments about who I like and giving high fives after a Maple Leafs goal. One can dream, and one can hope a player like Steven Stamkos signs in Toronto as a free agent, costing the team nothing but salary cap dollars.

Now that’s dreamy.

With only two sleeps left and a nail biting morning on Friday, the free agency period will commence after the clock strikes noon. It will be Canada Day, and quite possibly the day the Leafs catch the biggest fish in the free agency pool. Stamkos could be a major player in changing the franchise in Toronto, a very competitive and quality leader, one who takes fitness and winning very seriously.

I feel Toronto’s game plan moving forward completely hinges on the decision of Stamkos coming home, or deciding to sign elsewhere. It goes without saying that the game plan would change drastically with a player of Steven’s ilk added to the roster. There are going to be a number of teams after number 91, and I still feel Toronto is near the top of Stamkos’ list. Every team interested has fans that are worried about the dollar amount that he’s signed for, which is understandable in a salary cap NHL. Personally, I think the Leafs can afford to sign Stamkos for big money; they have a large sum of money opening up next season (18.3 million guaranteed).

Now picture having a discussion with the Leafs management team, you sit down at the round table and you look across to see some familiar faces in Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello and Mike Babcock. Not too big of a deal to an all-star like Stamkos, but to us average hockey fans, that there is some special company, likely quite intimidating.

What can the Leafs offer to Stamkos that other teams can’t? I’ve thought about it, and there really isn’t anything any team can offer to really get an edge over another team. Sure having a competitive team that Stamkos could join and have a chance at a cup run could help persuade him. But what about playing at home in Toronto, where a number of his friends and family are? What about the vast amounts of endorsement deals that Stamkos would be a part of? That has to hold some merit in this scenario you would think.

When I think to myself, why did Babcock come to Toronto? Well, perhaps that’s going to play some part in why Steven comes to Toronto. The challenge is real, maybe the biggest challenge in any sport. Bringing the Stanley Cup back to Toronto, that there is the ultimate goal, and as we all know, not an easy task.

Stamkos would not only sign with the Leafs, he would sign up as a Leafs Nation potential hero. The city of Toronto would and will erupt if and when Stamkos signs a seven year deal with our beloved Maple Leafs. I know I would ride the bull, with vigor.

The uproar would be heard throughout Ontario, it would be like the Leafs just won a playoff game, maybe even a series. Do you remember when Mike Babcock said “they will come when it’s safe?” Well, could this be the time? Toronto just drafted the best player in the draft in Matthews and signed them a quality number one goalie in Andersen. It’s quite obvious things are looking up in Leafs Nation, and we’ve certainly been on a roll of positive results over the last while.

Could this be the next major step in the Shanaplan? I think so, even Leafs General Manager Lou Lamoriello mentioned “Brendan put a plan in place, we call it the Shanny Plan”. So take note everyone: It’s ‘Shanny Plan’, and now you know it’s the real deal.

If Toronto wins Stamkos’ heart and he ends up signing, expect him to have the C stitched on his chest before the season starts. If not Toronto will likely have no Captain until someone proves their worth in a leadership role. With such a young team, injecting number 91 into the lineup would certainly help with moulding the young players in the right direction with such a great leader. The coaching and management staff are as good as they will get, this could play a big role for Stamkos, as it’s pretty much a guarantee he wouldn’t have signed with the Leafs teams of the past.

With bated breath all we can do is wait and hope for the homecoming of Steven Stamkos.

Kerby Rychel:

I’m a firm believer this trade is going to help the Maple Leafs now and for the future. Columbus really did a bad job at developing Rychel and giving him a fair shot with some quality playing time. Kerby is a player the Maple Leafs could use more of, and his grit will be much appreciated on the Leafs roster. Coming in at 6’1”, Rychel has a solid frame around 215 pounds and knows how to use his size and skill. He’s a natural left winger and was drafted 19th overall in 2013.

Kerby has 37 NHL games under his belt, but only two goals and ten assists. Again, Columbus simply didn’t give Rychel enough time to move forward with his NHL career. Toronto, being as young as they are will certainly give him the shot he needs and a good confidence boost to go with it. Rychel is going to add some boom to the Maple Leafs roster, not only that, but some offensive touch to go along with his hard-nosed game. As long as Kerby can stay out of the penalty box he will be effective for the Leafs. It will be up to him to win a spot out of camp, there is a chance he starts on the Marlies, but I feel strongly he will start the season on the third line with the Maple Leafs.

Rychel’s old man Warren played for the Leafs back in 94-95 and certainly acquired quite a few penalty minutes throughout his career; 1422 in just 406 games. So you know Kerby has some of that feistiness in his game. Kerby may have been born in the California, but that was only because his father Warren was playing for the Kings at the time. Rychel was born and raised in Southern Ontario and plays for Team Canada, I assure you he is very happy to be signing in Toronto and can’t wait to put on the blue and white like his pops. You can bet Kerby Rychel is going to give it all he has to become a Maple Leaf for some time.

This was an excellent addition from Maple Leafs management as they paid next to nothing for the young forward. Harrington was set to be an RFA and the Leafs only had so many players they could move forward; so they kept the young players they drafted and sent Harrington on his way. Toronto looks to have a decent amount of depth coming up the pipeline on the defensive end; they just need to hope one or two of those players are able to gobble up top four minutes in the future.

If you were to look at the Kessel trade now, you would see the Leafs have Andersen, Rychel and Kapanen.

Thanks for reading, have a great day.

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