Lou Lamoriello took on his first task as Toronto Maple Leafs GM on Friday, attending the arbitration hearing for goaltender Jonathan Bernier with assistant GM Kyle Dubas.
The Leafs and the restricted free agent’s representatives were unable to come to an agreement during the nearly five-hour meeting and a decision will be rendered Sunday afternoon if the two sides do not come to a meeting of the minds before then.
A resolution on Bernier will strike the final note of Toronto's offseason business, unless the club decides to make another foray into free agency or extend an invitation to an unsigned veteran prior to training camp.
In a summer where the need for culture change, character and work ethic was repeatedly uttered by Brendan Shanahan, Mike Babcock and Lamoriello, the core group of the Brian Burke/Dave Nonis era which displayed little of those qualities remains mostly intact, other than the trade of Phil Kessel to Pittsburgh last month.
Lamoriello signaled that his arrival would not result in a flurry of transition, as the veteran GM talked of patience and getting to know the makeup of his new team. That has to be taken as a hint that Bernier, Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk, Dion Phaneuf, Joffrey Lupul, Nazem Kadri and Jake Gardiner will get some time under Babcock before any decisions are made on their future.
The hope is that the players who disappeared during the second half of last season will enjoy a resurgence to the point that they can be part of the future plan or improve their value enough to get an adequate return before the trade deadline next March.
Kadri and Bernier(assuming the goalie’s contractual impasse is resolved by the arbitrator) pose dilemmas for Toronto, as the club has a short time to determine whether they want to commit years and millions of dollars on long-term extensions before they become free agents again next summer.
Van Riemsdyk and Gardiner are locked up for multiple years at reasonable dollar amounts and are young enough to be contributors when the new wave of Toronto prospects start to have an impact, but could still be moved if the return is too good to pass up.
Phaneuf, Bozak and Lupul are held mostly responsible for the failures of the Burke/Nonis era, but pose the greatest hurdle for Lamoriello because they are under big money deals that many think is too great for their value as players.
The Leafs team captain drew some interest on the trade market over the summer, but dealing his $7 Million contract with six years remaining would have likely resulted in the club retaining salary as they did in the Kessel deal.
Toronto hopes that Phaneuf can play more consistent and bring the hard hitting aspect of his game back under Babcock’s guidance, which could make moving the 30-year-old defenseman a less difficult proposition.
Bozak also attracted feelers over the summer, but the return for a center capable of playing both special teams, a second or third line role and win faceoffs was not sufficient. With a manageable $4.2 Million salary, the Leafs may be able to get more in a deal during the season from a team in need of reinforcements up the middle.
It may take some cap-related contortions to move Lupul and his $5.25 Million salary(signed through 2017-18). The 31-year-old missed 27 games last season with two lengthy stints on injured reserve and went one-quarter of the year without a goal.
A buyout may be an option for the veteran after next season, as it would result in a $1.5 Million cap hit for four years, but if the talented winger can stay relatively healthy and put up good numbers, the Leafs could find a suitor desperate for scoring.
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It was very sad to hear of the passing of wrestler/actor “Rowdy… Roddy Piper on Friday at the age of 61. Piper made watching the WWF in the 1980’s a joyous experience with his clever banter and hosting of Piper’s Pit. As the bad guy, he was more entertaining than most of the good guys.
You will be missed, "Hot Rod"
Here is the famous attack on Jimmy “Superfly… Snuka:
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