Are Leafs hands Tie-d?

That's it, folks. The blog is closed for the weekend. Go ahead and browse the responses here to a crazy week of NHL transactions. We'll be back on Monday.

Could you really picture Tie Domi in another uniform? Toronto's favourite tough guy is back, but the Leafs might be forced to remain passive, not players, in this free agent dance.

But it appears the Leafs aren't alone. The New York Rangers, one of the few teams willing to outspend even Toronto for talent in the past, are also feeling the pinch of the new NHL system, preaching youth over spending.

Are you happy to see Domi back? Too expensive at $2.5 million for two years? What about the possibility of giving the kids more ice time this year? Let us know.

So have we got all this straight? The NHL's here-a-player, there-a-player frenzy continued yesterday and of course we can't wait to see what happens today. If your head is spinning, study up on the done deals, and buckle up for some more.

On to the buzz:

Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon, happy with a couple of mid-level signings, immediately set his sites on free agent goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. Over in Tampa Bay, the Bolts want their Stanley Cup winning goalie back, but may have to sacrifice Martin St. Louis to get a deal done. Update: And the winner is ... Chicago. The Blackhawks just got better in goal, signing the Bulin Wall to a four-year deal today. No offence to Jocelyn Thibeault, who will probably be traded. As for Tampa, they'll have some money to pay St. Louis, and they'll need the extra offence without their Stanley Cup winning goalie.

Staying between the pipes, the Pittsburgh Penguins are looking, with interest in former Leafs favourite Curtis Joseph. But according to the Arizona Republic, Sean Burke is the man.

The Washington Capitals have signed ... well ... nobody. General manager George McPhee is talking about that youth thing we mentioned above, and seems content to watch the market.

"We think the market is very overpriced," McPhee tells the Washington Post. "It's akin to jumping into the stock market when it's at its height."

Maybe in the end of all this, the smart clubs will be the ones like Toronto, New York and Washington who are waiting in the wings. What if they swoop in and pick up the Anson Carters and Paul Kariyas at bargain prices once the teams with cap room have spent all their money? Your thoughts?

Back to the buzz.

The Dallas Stars are patting themselves on the back, already looking ahead to the playoffs after signing their two most marketable free agents -- two players who should benefit from rule changes designed to increase scoring.

Defenceman Patrice Brisebois signed with the Avs and says he's relieved to be out of that pressure cooker in Montreal:

"When (Montreal general manager) Bob Gainey called me to tell me they were not picking up my option, to tell you the truth, I was happy. I think my time in Montreal was over. I needed a new challenge, new teammates."

Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock was vacationing in Western Canada when GM Bobby Clarke called to say that Philly had signed Peter Forsberg:

"He giggled for 5 minutes," Clarke said. "I hung up."

Now, Hitchcock has the ultra-fun job of setting up his new, high-powered lineup.

Finally, what were we saying yesterday about Jeremy Roenick being a perfect fit for Los Angeles? New teammate Luc Robitaille agrees:

"This guy is Showtime, this guy is Magic Johnson. Man, this year is going to be so much fun."

Comments

[gaolerlad]

It didnt take a lot of skill to sign Domi...He wanted to stay here, he said it...from all the rumours he had offers from other teams but didnt bite. He simply wanted to end his career here. I could have negotiated that contract.
I think the only reason they signed him now is to get some ink, to look like they're doing something...lets fact it, Domi would have been around weeks from now.

[Dean Noakes]

I don't see the Detroit Red Wings doing anything more than saying good bye and signing their cast of golden oldies!

[Ken]

Don't get me wrong, I really like Tie Domi's game and his committment to the team(unlike some who shall remain Joseph, Berard and Corson), but in the grand scheme of things, do the Leafs get any better with Domi in the line-up ? He brings grit, determination and jump to his game (all good things), but so do Tucker, Perrot and Belak- all players who play a similar style of hockey.

To improve and contend, what the Leafs need is a #1 or #2 defenceman, a winger or two for Sundin, and a decent #2 centre who has some wheels and playmaking ability.
Evidently, the Leafs didn't have the cap room to compete for any of the #1 or #2 defensemen on the market this year, but what about wingers like Paul Kariya, Anson Carter, or even Teemu Selanne and Peter Bondra ?
Centres ? I know the Leafs are talking about possibly signing Jason Allison or Eric Lindros (talk about risk !), but what about guys like Andrew Cassels and Jozef Stumpel ?

These players might not come as cheap as the Leafs would like, but they would fill gaps that Tie Domi sure doesn't.

[Robert Milsom]

i can now see my team finishing around 23rd or 24th come next april if not worse.i think if they are going to stink why not go with a younger team.me i'll write this year off and hope for next year,hoping they fire Quinn and replace him with Maurice.maybe my dream will come true before the end of the season.i think they could have gotten rid of a few more players who would'nt be 4th liners on most clubs.anyway it is only my opinion.so by for now.

[Joe Scott]

The Leafs should have bought out more guys. I like the fact that they've been patient. Do we really think that the guys that are getting the big contract would really help us overall. If the Leafs are committed to building instead of buying, how can we blame them for staying out of the market. Maybe the best deals are to come, when most teams have spent their money.

[JP]

Well, they overpaid for Tie again, but what else is new.?..he got his sweetheart deal last time by talking to the media and playing the woe-is-me game.....This franchise had better start pulling the trigger before free agents start avoiding TO like the plague.

[Jordon Beenen]

I think Tie Domi has more heart and love for the game than most people making twice as much. However, I think that this was a poor signing on Toronto's part and hardly the signing that gets Fergy off the hook. As has been previously stated, Domi wanted to stay and so he did, this doesn't shore up a team for us, this doesn't explain the lack of action in signing anyone, not just the massively talented free agents, but anyone at all. Ferguson has run this team into the ground by committing so much money to undeserving players before the lockout.
I would like to see some action, Toronto Maple Leaf blood runs through this body and I could never turn my back on my team, but please, DO SOMETHING!

[aarrgg]

after years of over spending,and not developing their farm sysytem,the leafs and rangers are going to pay the price.

[Milkyway]

If you look around at whats left, I think that Lindros poses the best bang for their buck. Sure he's injury prone, but if you can put him on a third line where he has less of a chance of being injured I think he would work out great. He'll also come cheap, which means you get a good player (as long as he is healthy) and you can spend the money saved on him to others.

The Leafs have to focus on defence if they want to do anything. They have Klee, Kaberle and McCabe, but they need atleast 2 more decent d-men. Going to try Marchment again?

Personally I think that Leafs still have a chance for Allison, Lindros and Palffy, just depends how they can set up their spending.

[Keri]

Nope - Not happy to see Domi back. Edmonton gets Pronger, Philadelphia signs Forsberg. And, the Leafs have signed Aki Berg and Tie Domi while losing Roberts and Nieuwendyk. I think it will be another cup-less year for us Leaf fans.

[Gabor Molnar]

I would like see the Leafs out of the playouffs for a few years and start building a real contender, with young players. If you are not a legitimate cup contender then don't waste your money on big ticket free agents. I want the Leafs to rebuild from the ground up.
The Leafs tried the last few seasons and failed to win the cup. Now it's time to acknoledge that and start building a young cup contender from the ground up.

[Teddy Bear]

It is funny all the moaning and groaning here... Come Oct 5, ACC will be full, even if "the beloved ones" will decide to save the 7 mills. for... the teachers...
And the roaster will be filled with the Leebs, Wilms and the other dudes that made a glorious play-off round on AHL...

This is pure business... if you have enough morons to be happy that the cheapest ticket is "only" $35 (not $37) while the salary buget went from +$60 mills to $30 mills... Why bother spending?
Keep up the good work ML fans. Maybe Teachers Fund will decide that they can file the same team in both divisions... heck, now that is a save since you have both teams here...

[Brampton Fan]

Having a year to spend doing things other than watch hockey, I have come to demand less than before the strike.

Sure the Leafs haven't done much, but I have a funny suspicion they'll convince some "damaged goods" or "retired" goods to come and play for Toronto, which will make some kind of headlines.

I'm just glad I get to watch some hockey this year and even get to drop down to a MARLIES game.

The Leafs in the past have been so stacked that their young talent has had to wait in line for any kind of serious NHL ice time.

Now maybe the young blood will step up and surprise us.
Whether they will win anything is certainly not clear, but NOTHING IS EVER clear with the Leafs.

Perhaps with lower expectations comes less media pressure, which might be just what the young buds need.

Perhaps Stajan will finally get his chance to shine.

Many people forget how many games the Leafs lost in geriatric injury time the last season they played.

[Jamie]

John F. Jr. needs to get his damn phone working. I am soon going to trade teams and I have been a leaf die hard all my life!!!