that was because of a fight in the locker room letsnot distort facts, Iginla was the leader, Phaneuf was out the second that happened
- MindFr3eak

Distort the facts? He played horrible in Calgary before they traded him. And he did in fact play on a defensive team with an amazing goalie behind him.

Does no one remember Burke saying that he doesn't have Sundin in his future plans for this team? Burke wouldn't sign him, Sundin wanted to play and he decided he could still play so he did, and Van gave him a ridiculous contract. I would have done it too.

Sundin was class and I'm glad he wasn't traded. I was mad Burke wouldn't resign him. But for everything Sundin has done for this team I certainly hold no disrespect or disdain toward him. It's pretty sad people hate him just because we didn't end up with a peddling late 1st round pick and a decent 2nd liner.

You guys act like he was the lone reason JFJ ran this team into the ground. You do realize JFJ would have been the guy trading him right? Everyone seems to think we would have ended up with Tavares and Peitrangelo or something if we traded him.

Re: Mike's Blog

Did anyone actually expect Doan to sign here?

Does no one remember Burke saying that he doesn't have Sundin in his future plans for this team? Burke wouldn't sign him, Sundin wanted to play and he decided he could still play so he did, and Van gave him a ridiculous contract. I would have done it too.
- Boosinicka

I do not remember that.

Distort the facts? He played horrible in Calgary before they traded him. And he did in fact play on a defensive team with an amazing goalie behind him.
- Two_For_Truth

behind him =goalie............beside him =(frank) all.....infront=same as leafs mediocre as (frank)......

Kipper was amazing nothing else was, he has played alrightin a (frank)ing terrible leafs team, put a good team together and he becomes a different player not in the spotlight.

Re: Mike's Blog

Did anyone actually expect Doan to sign here?
- OBGYN Kenobi

no but better than rehashing luongo and nash, much fresher IMO.

The worst part was when he said he didn't want to join a team half way through the season and then did exactly that in Vancouver. Even if the Leafs got one half decent prospect, it's better than nothing.
- Two_For_Truth

Yeah exaclty, if he stuck to it and retired, who can blame him. But he didn't. He literally had his pick of cup contending teams, any team wouldve wanted him and with his NMC, he couldve picked and the Leafs wouldve got at least a 1st and a player.

Yeah exaclty, if he stuck to it and retired, who can blame him. But he didn't. He literally had his pick of cup contending teams, any team wouldve wanted him and with his NMC, he couldve picked and the Leafs wouldve got at least a 1st and a player.
- 13sundin13

feeling depressed now..............goes for razor......i blame everyone but me as slicing east to west

His time in Calgary never happened.

Weber without Suter is a broken man.
- Two_For_Truth

PHaneuf in Calgary is irrelevant


Phaneuf never had Suter or a goalie like Rinne.

He had Kipper. He won the vezina in 06. Notice how when Calgary had good goaltending, Phaneuf was a stud? The last 2 years before Phaneuf got traded, the team wasn't very good. He didnt have a good partner, and Kipper wasnt that Vezina caliber goaltending.

Even though 6 years later, you think your boyfriend should still win the Vezina.

Keep getting owned UG

Distort the facts? He played horrible in Calgary before they traded him. And he did in fact play on a defensive team with an amazing goalie behind him.
- Two_For_Truth

So because he played bad before he was traded, means his entire career in Calgary completely sucked.

Got it! Good job UG!

I do not remember that.
- Two_For_Truth

http://www.thehockeynews....urn-with-Maple-Leafs.html

there ya go buttercup.

http://www.torontosun.com...7/10/leafs-not-nashs-list

If it’s true that Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson wants two players, two prospects and a first-round pick for Nash, he could be waiting a while this summer to get something done.

Sweet fancy Moses...

That's asking alot for a 30-goal guy with 4 playoff games to his name. He's big, has above average hits (104) for top 6 forwards so I'll give him that, but that's alot to ask for a guy who's averaging 60pts a year in his career and is well into his prime.

Sure makes the Kessel deal seem ok in hindsight. Speaking of Kessel, he has by far the lowest hit total for forwards in the game at 12

Funny how the haters have Steckel on the trade block or the bench, easily top 5 faceoff guy in the league, but yet he was 8th in TOI and had 170 hits, the most of all of our forwards.

Interesting is team hits, which had:

LA: 2274
TO: 2218 (<-- will see that drop huge when Schenn's gone unless McClement and/or Holzer/Komisarek play enough to bring that back up)
PIT: 2058
PHI: 2058
BOS: 1778 (<-- surprised at how low that is)
MIN: 1771 (<-- even with Clutterbuck, wow, surprised there)

When we were regularly making the playoffs that didn't happen then either, it's something else, we have always aquired our talent thru trade ala sundin, gilmour, roberts etc..... We in all honesty have not really lured a big name FA to the leafs in our generation of watching the game...... not one in his prime anyways

mogilny and andreychucki s all i can think of and in prime just mogilny
- MindFr3eak

This is really important statement. Fans fail to realize that the Leafs have never been able to sign a top UFA ever. As you mentioned, Mogilny is probably the top skater and at the time he signed he said he was coming to Toronto because New Jersey would not give him a new contract. Eddie Balfour came after Dallas walked away, remember he had the hostage incident in the hotel. I think Cujo was a very good signing but he left for Detroit. Lots so guys should have signed with us (Lindros), they made lots of noises about it but never did sign. I think Burke just accepts the reality that the Leafs are not on the list of highly ranked UFAs.

This is really important statement. Fans fail to realize that the Leafs have never been able to sign a top UFA ever. As you mentioned, Mogilny is probably the top skater and at the time he signed he said he was coming to Toronto because New Jersey would not give him a new contract. Eddie Balfour came after Dallas walked away, remember he had the hostage incident in the hotel. I think Cujo was a very good signing but he left for Detroit. Lots so guys should have signed with us (Lindros), they made lots of noises about it but never did sign. I think Burke just accepts the reality that the Leafs are not on the list of highly ranked UFAs.
- spatso

The thing is, every year (and decreasingly so), there's only a couple of "top" FAs still in their prime. Well guess what? For the last 20 or 30 years, there's a 1 in ~30 chance that one of those prime UFAs are going to sign with any given team on any given year. Considering that teams don't always have room for big UFA signings -- financially or cap-wise -- nor do they have a need, it's not that hard to imagine why we're not signing UFAs and why alot of teams don't either.

People who complain about the leafs not making big moves or signings are probably the same people who complained about the kessel deal, if i were burke id be confused as (frank) by the fan reactions.
- matt26

I strongly disagree. I believe the silent majority of Leaf fans think that Burke made a terrible strategic error in the Kessel deal that probably set the franchise back two or three years in their rebuild. Among that group of fans there are lots of us that hopes that Burke just finishes off his term, moves on and does not break anything else.

The thing is, every year (and decreasingly so), there's only a couple of "top" FAs still in their prime. Well guess what? For the last 20 or 30 years, there's a 1 in ~30 chance that one of those prime UFAs are going to sign with any given team on any given year. Considering that teams don't always have room for big UFA signings -- financially or cap-wise -- nor do they have a need, it's not that hard to imagine why we're not signing UFAs and why alot of teams don't either.
- gravyface

Do you actually believe Ranger or Flyer fans would buy your prescription for acceptance.

Do you actually believe Ranger or Flyer fans would buy your prescription for acceptance.
- spatso

There's nothing to buy: on any given year, 1, maybe 2 teams are going to land a big name UFA in his prime.

All things being equal, yes, I believe TOR is not a number one destination for a lot of guys, but us being up against the cap or pretty darn close year in, year out since the lockout doesn't help either.

But those who expect us (or any team) to land big name FAs every year are foolish.

That's why I have no respect for Sundin. If he would have waived, the rest would have followed. Sure, it's his right to not waive, but if he loved this franchise, as much as he said that he did, he would have read the writing on the wall and would have been seen as the player that helped the Leafs get back to respectability. Instead, he'll be remembered as the player that sunk this franchise for a decade. The Leafs paid him 100 million dollars over the years that he played in this city. He could have gave back something to the fans that made him rich. He'll never be forgiven! His acolytes, I feel the same, but at a lower level.
- JohnnyReb

I strongly disagree. Sundin should have retired a Leaf. There is no excuse to justify how that entire situation was so hopelessly botched. If the entire affair could be replayed you know that Burke would,have played it entirely different.

You cannot help but compare what happened with Sundin and the way that Alfredsen is finishing off his career in Ottawa. Sundin deserved equal treatment.

The "think they are twitter insiders" are saying Lou is going to officially be asked to waive for The Leafs when he gets back from Vegas.

There's nothing to buy: on any given year, 1, maybe 2 teams are going to land a big name UFA in his prime.

All things being equal, yes, I believe TOR is not a number one destination for a lot of guys, but us being up against the cap or pretty darn close year in, year out since the lockout doesn't help either.

But those who expect us (or any team) to land big name FAs every year are foolish.
- gravyface

And, the Rangers and Flyers do it because..................?

The "think they are twitter insiders" are saying Lou is going to officially be asked to waive for The Leafs when he gets back from Vegas.
- burn

I think Luongo is a very good trade for the Leafs if they can get the deal done and as long as it does not involve picks or prospects.

I believe Doan is a top target for Vancouver and the urgency to move Luongo has probably been upgraded.

I strongly disagree. Sundin should have retired a Leaf. There is no excuse to justify how that entire situation was so hopelessly botched. If the entire affair could be replayed you know that Burke would,have played it entirely different.

You cannot help but compare what happened with Sundin and the way that Alfredsen is finishing off his career in Ottawa. Sundin deserved equal treatment.
- spatso

Why do people think that he was treated fairly?? My god!! He was paid handsomely for years and was adored by the fans. At the end he didn't make up his mind and the Leafs couldn't wait forever for him, so they moved on. Sundin chose his fate. If he wanted to retire a Leaf he shouldn't have played half a year for the Nucks. It's that simple. He was treated fairly and I have ZERO problem with what happened and the light he's looked at now.

Does no one remember Burke saying that he doesn't have Sundin in his future plans for this team? Burke wouldn't sign him, Sundin wanted to play and he decided he could still play so he did, and Van gave him a ridiculous contract. I would have done it too.

Sundin was class and I'm glad he wasn't traded. I was mad Burke wouldn't resign him. But for everything Sundin has done for this team I certainly hold no disrespect or disdain toward him. It's pretty sad people hate him just because we didn't end up with a peddling late 1st round pick and a decent 2nd liner.

You guys act like he was the lone reason JFJ ran this team into the ground. You do realize JFJ would have been the guy trading him right? Everyone seems to think we would have ended up with Tavares and Peitrangelo or something if we traded him.
- Boosinicka

Why is burke getting criticism for not Signing Sundin?? Burke Hired Nov 29 2008, Sundin Signed Dec 18 2008 in Van. Burke can hardly be blamed for not signing him, 2 weeks on the job.

Sundin waffling caused his own undoing. Sundin was treated fairly for a long time here, and I don't have a problem with how he's portrayed now.

I strongly disagree. I believe the silent majority of Leaf fans think that Burke made a terrible strategic error in the Kessel deal that probably set the franchise back two or three years in their rebuild. Among that group of fans there are lots of us that hopes that Burke just finishes off his term, moves on and does not break anything else.
- spatso

Let's say we had Seguin instead of Kessel right now. Who's to say he would've developed properly? Who's to say we wouldn't have "Schenn'ed" him, putting an enormous amount of pressure on him to succeed, with no insulation and team success to to surround him with like Boston? Kessel at least had a couple of good years under his belt to develop into the perennial 30-goal guy he is.

Then there's Hamilton and Knight. Good prospects, verdicts still out.

Would I rather have Seguin at this point? Seguin, the kid who's developing properly (even if as a winger), yeah, probably, but we'd still need a center or if not, a scoring winger so we'd be right where we are now:

Lupul JVR/Seguin JVR/Seguin
MacArthur Grabs Kulemin
...
Phaneuf Gunnarsson
...
Hamilton Gardiner

Does that team really look that much better? Would we really be so much further ahead in the rebuild?

Why do people think that he was treated fairly?? My god!! He was paid handsomely for years and was adored by the fans. At the end he didn't make up his mind and the Leafs couldn't wait forever for him, so they moved on. Sundin chose his fate. If he wanted to retire a Leaf he shouldn't have played half a year for the Nucks. It's that simple. He was treated fairly and I have ZERO problem with what happened and the light he's looked at now.
- burn

And, you wonder why top UFAs avoid the Leafs?