It's going to be a banfest in here today.

Im totally going to avoid the whole Dion arguement today, but I am hungover so just warn me before you ban me?
- systemtool

i had to say it lol... i might not be a fan of the dion signing but i knew it was going to happen... so meh.

phaneuf aside... its not a good sign it takes a shootout to beat the worst team in the league... especially with playoff aspirations.. but hey.. 2 points is 2 points so

so that gives us an Extra 7 million to play with next year . We'll be fine, especially if we can move/ buy out Liles (Extra 3 mil next year!)
- GardinerExpress

Sadly we also have to resign a bunch of RFAs (Franson, Gardiner, Reimer, Holland, D'amigo) and Bolland, Kulemin, Raymond and McClement all needing new contracts... I'm assuming that Fraser, Ranger, Bodie, Smithson and Smith do not get new contracts (though maybe Smith gets a two way)...

It's going to be a banfest in here today.

Im totally going to avoid the whole Dion arguement today, but I am hungover so just warn me before you ban me?
- systemtool

That's what happens when holiday cheer turns into holiday beer


PS: Slovakia just scored twice against the US

PPS: Erne with another dirty late hit

I would be devastated if the leafs move Gardiner for Del Zotto. The kid was everywhere again tonight, and obviously has become one of the more reliable guys for Carlyle (regularly seeing 24-25 mins a night!)
- GardinerExpress

He is a friggin turn over machine bro...

Sadly we also have to resign a bunch of RFAs (Franson, Gardiner, Reimer, Holland, D'amigo) and Bolland, Kulemin, Raymond and McClement all needing new contracts... I'm assuming that Fraser, Ranger, Bodie, Smithson and Smith do not get new contracts (though maybe Smith gets a two way)...
- lumlums

dont be shocked to see franson moved... he'll use arbitration to get more than he's worth. gardiner will get a raise but i doubt it will be huge, reimer may be another trade candidate as it will be tough to justify keeping both him and bernier long term, holland and d'amigo will get raises but nothing significant.

bolland will get a raise, but how much of one will depend on his effectiveness once he returns, kuli.. that one is tough.. he'll be looking for a raise but honestly, how much do you pay a 3rd line winger.. if bolland is resigned.. him and clarkson will already mean the 3rd line is highly overpaid.. kuli might be another trade candidate.

raymond they need to keep.. hopefully he doesnt ask for too much of a raise.. but i expect he'll jump to at least 3 million a year... as a UFA someone will offer it to him based on his production this year. mcclement will get a raise but not a huge one. he is good defensively and good on the PK but he doesnt have enough offense in him to earn a massive payday.

ranger i can see being signed as a vet to help lead the marlies.. or it will be the same contract he has now as the 6th - 7th guy, bodie and smith will get new contracts but they wont be anything special.. smithson... wouldnt be surprised to see him go.

there will be some prospects coming out of junior and whatnot who will need ELCs.. so some guys will have to go so the leafs can stay under the 50 contract limit.

i had to say it lol... i might not be a fan of the dion signing but i knew it was going to happen... so meh.

phaneuf aside... its not a good sign it takes a shootout to beat the worst team in the league... especially with playoff aspirations.. but hey.. 2 points is 2 points so
- Dozzer

No, it wasn't a good sign. They need to win convincingly, and in regulation for a decent streak to get the ball rolling again. They did get the win and that is a good sign. I mean, Buffalo has been beating teams lately. Lot of guys on that team fighting for jobs and arent going to make it easy. That said, they have to really give it to Carolina tomorrow.

That's what happens when holiday cheer turns into holiday beer


PS: Slovakia just scored twice against the US

PPS: Erne with another dirty late hit
- lumlums

Any Leaf prospects in that game? I missed the first Canada game, excited to watch Gauthier play today.

i had to say it lol... i might not be a fan of the dion signing but i knew it was going to happen... so meh.

phaneuf aside... its not a good sign it takes a shootout to beat the worst team in the league... especially with playoff aspirations.. but hey.. 2 points is 2 points so
- Dozzer

Atleast it's not 8/8 and they out played the sabres last night. Gunner first d to go in my opinion and it won't be this year.

He is a friggin turn over machine bro...
- Hockey_Reverend

so is del zotto

listen, i'm not a huge gardiner fan.. but he brings the same thing to the ice as del zotto for far less money.

DZ has 18 GvA and & 8 TkA

Gards has 34 GvA and 18 TkA

both average roughly the same amount of ice time and Gardiner has 5 more points than DZ. DZ isnt enough of an upgrade to make the deal straight up.

No, it wasn't a good sign. They need to win convincingly, and in regulation for a decent streak to get the ball rolling again. They did get the win and that is a good sign. I mean, Buffalo has been beating teams lately. Lot of guys on that team fighting for jobs and arent going to make it easy. That said, they have to really give it to Carolina tomorrow.
- systemtool

Gotta say our goalie played pretty bad last night which is unusual.

No, it wasn't a good sign. They need to win convincingly, and in regulation for a decent streak to get the ball rolling again. They did get the win and that is a good sign. I mean, Buffalo has been beating teams lately. Lot of guys on that team fighting for jobs and arent going to make it easy. That said, they have to really give it to Carolina tomorrow.
- systemtool

agreed... a full, solid 60min effort.. they really need a convincing win.

i am hoping they dont come out half asleep like they tend to do... carolina has the fire power to burn them badly if they do.

Any Leaf prospects in that game? I missed the first Canada game, excited to watch Gauthier play today.
- systemtool

Not that I'm aware of... I think we have Gauthier, Andreas Johnson and Fabrice Herzog in the tounament, but can't think of any others...

Atleast it's not 8/8 and they out played the sabres last night. Gunner first d to go in my opinion and it won't be this year.
- HipHopisDead

with DP signing.. Gunner wont be going anywhere til RC finds someone who can play consistently with Phaneuf

sad.. but true

dont be shocked to see franson moved... he'll use arbitration to get more than he's worth. gardiner will get a raise but i doubt it will be huge, reimer may be another trade candidate as it will be tough to justify keeping both him and bernier long term, holland and d'amigo will get raises but nothing significant.

bolland will get a raise, but how much of one will depend on his effectiveness once he returns, kuli.. that one is tough.. he'll be looking for a raise but honestly, how much do you pay a 3rd line winger.. if bolland is resigned.. him and clarkson will already mean the 3rd line is highly overpaid.. kuli might be another trade candidate.

raymond they need to keep.. hopefully he doesnt ask for too much of a raise.. but i expect he'll jump to at least 3 million a year... as a UFA someone will offer it to him based on his production this year. mcclement will get a raise but not a huge one. he is good defensively and good on the PK but he doesnt have enough offense in him to earn a massive payday.

ranger i can see being signed as a vet to help lead the marlies.. or it will be the same contract he has now as the 6th - 7th guy, bodie and smith will get new contracts but they wont be anything special.. smithson... wouldnt be surprised to see him go.

there will be some prospects coming out of junior and whatnot who will need ELCs.. so some guys will have to go so the leafs can stay under the 50 contract limit.
- Dozzer

A lot of thought eh doz? Id keep franson. Think Kuli wants more? Why?

Gotta say our goalie played pretty bad last night which is unusual.
- HipHopisDead

really? other than the one brutal goal where he misplayed the puck neither of the other two were really his fault

phaneuf scored on his own net on the one sabres goal.. and the goal at the end of the third bernier was buried under a pile of bodies.. kinda hard to play goalie with three guys on top of you.

but that one goal.. yeah that was bad.

Atleast it's not 8/8 and they out played the sabres last night. Gunner first d to go in my opinion and it won't be this year.
- HipHopisDead

Sadly I don't see anyone trading for Gunnar... he's been playing bad and has hip issues, I don't see anybody doing that without a salary dump...

with DP signing.. Gunner wont be going anywhere til RC finds someone who can play consistently with Phaneuf

sad.. but true
- Dozzer

Girardi

[/dream]

with DP signing.. Gunner wont be going anywhere til RC finds someone who can play consistently with Phaneuf

sad.. but true
- Dozzer

I think rielly or gardiner will be ready soon (1 or 2 years) for top role no? Granberg or Percy should be in da lineup next season. No?

A lot of thought eh doz? Id keep franson. Think Kuli wants more? Why?
- HipHopisDead

because he has an agent. lol

also.. he is UFA this time around. dont think for one second Shero isnt looking to bring him in to play on Malkin's wing the way those two played together during the lockout.

also, one of Malkin's wingers.. Jokinen, is UFA this offseason as well.

really? other than the one brutal goal where he misplayed the puck neither of the other two were really his fault

phaneuf scored on his own net on the one sabres goal.. and the goal at the end of the third bernier was buried under a pile of bodies.. kinda hard to play goalie with three guys on top of you.

but that one goal.. yeah that was bad.
- Dozzer

That was a pretty catchable puck on that third goal. He was pretty shaky all game I thought. Oh well he's good.

I think rielly or gardiner will be ready soon (1 or 2 years) for top role no? Granberg or Percy should be in da lineup next season. No?
- HipHopisDead

Gards has a long long ways to go before he is ready for a top pairing role. he just doesnt have the smarts to defend against the crosby's, ovie's, and staals of the league.

what i am hoping for with this phaneuf signing, is that DP does successfully mold himself into a solid two way guy.. and rielly in the next couple years (about when gunnar's contract is up) is ready to jump up and take that role. Rielly is def a top pairing guy once he gets a bit of experience under his belt.

Tsn.ca made me sad this morning.

That was a pretty catchable puck on that third goal. He was pretty shaky all game I thought. Oh well he's good.
- HipHopisDead

i just went back and rewatched it actually.. he was knocked on his ass with 4 guys crashing the net.. all of them pretty much in the blue paint (i am including the d-men here)

i doubt he even saw it.

this is what scares me tho.. if the leafs cant keep buffalo from crashing the net then they certainly wont be able to stop the better teams.

Tsn.ca made me sad this morning.
- weirdoh

Scott Ferguson's blog about that japanese ball player?

Scott Ferguson's blog about that japanese ball player?
- Dozzer

Shush it Mr!