Landing Lindros

(Editor's note: The Hockey page will blog again Monday morning. In the meantime, get caught up on the week's action below - or leave your comments here.)

Eric Lindros finally got to wear his blue and white pyjamas last night, while Leaf fans either had visions of MVP Lindros dancing in their heads or had their sleep ruined by imposing images of Scott Stevens' shoulder.

Welcome home, Mr. Lindros. We hope you're happy, healthy and prove to be much worth much more than your $1.55 million paycheque.

"I've been really working on stickhandling with my head up," he said yesterday.

Well, that's a good start.

What do you think of the Lindros signing? Click the comments link below and let us know.

Meanwhile, Florida continues to talk with Alexander Mogilny, says GM Mike Keenan, while the Panthers aren't getting along with goaltender Roberto Luongo at the moment.

Such is the new NHL it seems, where it can be argued that loyalty is the first casualty of the salary cap. Just don't tell that to Tie Domi. The pressure's on the general managers to get the job done within all these new parameters.

As for another casualty of the new NHL, as in television rights, as in real dollars for the league and its players, dollars that now count towards that salary cap number: ESPN says it won't let the league vanish from its radar.

And now that the Boston Bruins have locked up Joe Thornton (reg. req'd), eyes will be on the big centre to deliver the goods (reg.req'd).

Comments

[Glen Hoskins]

Well with Roberts, Leetch, and Niewendyck gone, we'll need the experience and the grit to make it to the playoffs....beyond that...there's always next year, and the year after, and the year after...

[Chad]

Philly guy here who bleeds orange and black for the Flyers. Just thought I'd get that out of the way. I would just like to say that I'm very happy for Eric Lindros...he got a bad rap here in Philly (for good reason and for lousy reason) but he has always been a stand up, classy guy. He did a ton of stuff for the community and I can't say enough about his stature. Eric, I wish you the best of luck in Toronto and hope you have a great season...you deserve it.
Chad from Philly

[charade]

On a personal level I think a lot of hockey fans my age(28) have held a bit of dislike for Lindros due to the issue with Quebec, the impression of 'meddling' parents and such. However, over the past few years I have grown to respect him and his determination to work past his health issues in an attempt to stay in the game. An athlete not being able to reach his full potential due to nagging injuries is a bit of a soft spot in my sporting heart and I something Leafs fans are certianly familar with.

In terms of the deal, I consider it to be a great move. Call me crazy, but I think we just might see Lindros give us four or five good years and retire proudly as a Leaf. When he is healthy Lindros is a sure bet for over twenty goals and he produces at an almost point per game average. Seems me like a bit of a better use for 1.5 million than the Domi deal but that's a seperate issue.

It's a bit shocking for me to say this but I think after appearing to have been left in the dust during the free agent frenzy Fergusion has quietly built a pretty solid team. A Stanley Cup winning team? No. But a team good enough to fool most fans into thiniking this may be the year. Again.

[TS]

I think the Big E signing is great. It is dirt cheap and i think he will be good for 30 goals or so. That being said i think the leafs have really missed out on signing any significant players, and even with Lindros its still gonna be a long season.....

[Ron Sedore]

lindros and allison to replace roberts and nieuwendyk the Make me laughs dont make the playoffs let alone contend for the Cup.But the masses will flock to the ACC like they have for 40 years and still fill MLE pockets with cash and moan and groan about everything from officiating to the schedule

[Darcy Penner]

I am not sure how you can fault John Ferguson for anything he has done post-CBA. His problem is that he is in Toronto, not Colorado.

If Roberts and Nieuwendyk had been re-signed he would be criticized for having an old team.

When you consider what many free agents have been signing for with other teams it raises doubt that the signings of Roberts and Nieuwendyk would have attracted other "notable" free agents to come to Toronto.

If Ferguson had bought out Belfour or Sundin who would they have replaced them with and at what price?

On paper, it is hard to dispute that Philadelphia has to be considered the favorite in the East. In the West it seems more wide open but I would say Vancouver and Calgary are 1 and 1A right now.

A lot can happen between now and next April. What coaches will be able to most successfully adapt to the new rules? What goalies will be exposed? What happens when a team hovering near the cap limit suffers an injury to a key player?

Only one team can win the Cup

[John]

How many teams can boast Eric Linros as their number three center? Call it wishful thinking, but I believe #88 will prove alot of people wrong and contribute to a team that is slowly taking shape.

Keep up the great work JFJ.

[Taylor]

All you need to know is 39 games and 32 points in his last season. Year and a half worth of rest. Those numbers are by far better than Mats Sundin.

[Philip]

For a guy who tried so hard and so long to be in blue and white, I give him my biggest respect and welcome! Eric Lindros, I salute ya.

[Alan]

I think Lindros is a bargain consider what other teams are paying for their free agents and the years they are signed for. He will be great with the leafs and prove a lot of people wrong!

[Gary]

Well, I think Ferguson is doing all he can. Sure Allison and Lindros are high risk/high reward, but don't forget Forsberg has missed a ton of time too and Roberts and Niewendyk also missed huge chunks of games last year and are now 40.
So net net would you trade a healthy Roberts , Niewendyk and Mogilny for a healthy Allison, Lindros and O'Neill? I would. Sure like having Lindros at 3rd line centre vs. Robert Reichel.

[John Bokhout]

The Leafs have a team that could be amazing, or could be really bad... I guess it all depends if Lindros and Allison can first of all play at the level they say they want ot play at and if they stay healthy. Leafs defence.. another wild-card, with this Kahonuv or whatever, if he's as good as some people say("St.Louis GM", but then again if he was that good, why did he let him go"??) then the leafs are a pretty good team, play-offs yes, stanley cup ???? we will have to see. I don't know how much cap room the leafs have but with the current deals that JFJ is doing, maybe Anson Carter for like 1.4or5 million??? Why not trade for Brenden Witt too his salary is only 1million.(I don't know about anyone else but i would trade kaberle for witt anyday) questions that will only be answered when the season starts GOLEAFSGO

[Carmen Bellissimo]

WOW!!!
Think of it. Should Allison and Lindros stay healthy, the Leafs will have Sundin, Allison and Lindros as the top three centres and several excellent young players - Stajan, Steen, Wellwood, Antropov - providing some insurance.
In the '01-'02 season Allison had 74 points in 73 games, Sundin 80 points in 82 games and Lindros 73 points in 72 games. Had they played on the same team that season, it would have been quite the team.
The Leafs were able to land Lindros and Allison because of a) a strong desire on the part of both players to come to Toronto; and b) serious health concerns.
In today's salary-capped NHL, it's difficult for one team to afford three elite, experienced centres all under age 35.
John Ferguson has been handed an opportunity to start the season with such incredible depth down the middle. How could he have turned that opportunity down?
Had Allison and Lindros signed elsewhere and stayed healthy long enough to make important contributions, Ferguson would forever have been haunted by having let a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away.

[JR]

Wake up Toronto fans! The season hasn't even started yet and the nay-sayers are already in full force. I have to say that it is nice to see players come to Toronto who actually WANT to play in Toronto. As for whether or not Lindros and Allison can stay healthy, I think it's worth the risk.
They have something to prove to everyone and I think that will make for some very interesting hockey. Especially Allison. There are some serious incentives for him to up his game this year and I can't wait.
I want to laugh when I hear all these supposed fans say that Toronto will be lucky to make the playoffs this year. Instead of criticizing Toronto players, maybe, just maybe, we should try to (dare I say it) have a little faith. Go Toronto!

[Bal]

I think acquiring Lindros is a great move on the Leafs' part. He's had almost 2 yrs to rest and get healthy again. For those doubters who say "IF he stays healthy he'll make an impact...", doesn't the same apply to the likes of Sundin, Belfour, McCabe? Obviously, Any player has to be healthy to have an impact. Now if only we can get Anson Carter the team will start looking like a real contender!

[Matt C]

I agree fully with what some leaf fan are saying on this page. John Ferguson has been under the microscope and filed through with a fine tooth comb since the CBA was ratified. I will agree I was scratching my head when the Top NHLers were being swept up during the past weeks craze with no activity from John Furguson Jr. But Looking at it after the dust cleared I commend him. If you analize the situation most High Value team are in it is a difficult process to vut salaries to meet a CAP and have a good team. And sure I feel that some leaf players are being paid a little more than they are worth but I feel we have a good team. We just about have 3 of the best centres in the league and our physical size has increased 10 fold. Let's not forget that Wade Belak is back and will actually play this year. That means we have Sundin, Allison, Belak, Lindros Antropov, Domi and jeff o'neil to name a few. More than 1/2 of our team is over 6'2.
The idea of getting Anson Carter would only bolster out gritty teamto suceed more. Leafs will needs some time to get adjusted to each new player but come Oct. 5th we will be ready for a great season.

Welcome back NHL!
&
GO LEAFS GO !!!!!!

[Matthew]

Frist, JFJ has gotta be commended for signing additional tallent (even if there is a risk) and keeping the core of the team in place. It's nice to have 2 first line centres (Lindros & Sundin) and 2 second line centres (Antropov & Allison) to fill out the four lines.

It'll be interesting to see how these new rules affect the players and the mentalities of playing that they have had drilled into them by coaches for years.

Even though Mogilny was injured most of the last year I would still like the Leafs to keep him...he's one heck of a winger with one sweet wrist shot and can skate with the best of them when healthy. I wonder if he'd sign for Lindros type money...highly doubt it.

GO LEAFS GO!

[Richard Coutts]

Once again Coxan and those other ink wretches of like ilk are finding the negative angle to bash Ferguson. Look, he basically inherited the situation and is doing what he can to remedy it. Guys, Niedemeyer, Forsberg, et al were not going to play here even for the additional money the Leafs could have offered by buying out Belfour. Keep in mind, you wanted to buy out McCabe, a guy with as many or more points and a better plus minus than defensemen getting 500,000 (Rafalski) to 1.75 million (Gonchar) more per season. That would have been brilliant! Again, its a case of loving the players not here and criticizing the aquisition of players who come here. Oh, and lets spend 5 million on two almost 40 players for two years.

[Ryan Dales]

I can't quite believe it but I find myself quietly becoming a fan of JFJ. I think this Leaf team has the potential to do big things. I have always been a big Lindros fan despite the situation in Sault Ste Marie and Quebec. Listening to him speak, he seems like a good person and when he's not injured I think he's still one of the best in the game. There's no reason to doubt Jason Allison will have a strong year too. The team seems to be very weak on the left side, maybe jr. will work some magic and bring in a solid winger...Carter maybe. Am I the only one who thinks Antropov is becoming more and more useless every year? He should be shown the door soon...two bad knees and a bad shoulder....trade him now while you can still get something other than a bag of pucks for him. Can't wait 'til the season starts! Go Leafs!

[Gloria]

At the beginning of the free agent market frenzy, I was disgusted with the Maple Leafs and even talked of taking a break from being a fan, particularly after the exodus of Niedermyer, Roberts and most of all, Leetch.

And while obviously it would have been nice to sign such gaudy names as Forsberg, etc. I must say that I think I'm liking how the Leafs are shaping up.

In 7 months, JFJ is either going to look like a genius or a complete idiot...but given the financial situation of the Leafs, I think he made the most reasonable moves possible. Yes, Lindros and Allison are injury-prone but realistically, aren't all NHL players, in a sense, injury-prone?

My only wish is that the Leafs could find a way to sign Mogilny. He, second to Leetch was my favorite Leaf to watch, and even with his health problems, is an incredible asset.

Do I think they'll win the Cup? No...but they'll be a fun team to watch I think and I'm already excited for the prospect of a Leafs-Philly playoff matchup...

[mm]

This is a win win situation. Like most people here I think the big E will contribute greatly. What makes me more happy though is all the leaf haters who think they are so original in calling the team the Make Me Laughs etc. Unless you are a Red Wing, Devils or Avs fan you really don't have much of a team to back up your sad puns! Two words - LEAF NATION - can your team find loyalty like that? We may not have won the cup in 30 odd years but at least we know how to back a team through thick and thin.

[Bob D.]

No news could be better than landing the BIG-E in air canada center. Along with Sundin, O'Neil and Allison, he will have a wonderful season. Lindros has had had injuries, but let me tell me this guy has a big HEART: one that will be useful on a team that does not have the services of Roberts and Newy.
Those who compare anyone on the team to Sundin have actually no respect for the fellow swede who works hard every night. Show him some respect please.

Go Sundin and Eric!!!
Go Leafs Go!

[Matthew Young]

I don't really like Eric ( he's like poison ) but the deal had to be made , like him or hate him the upside is way to good not to take a chance with ...it will be fun ...won't make em a winner but it'll be fun

[Peter Kohut]

Another Flyers fan here. Quite frankly, you guys can have the baby! He cried about Sault Ste. Marie...he cried about Quebec...clearly he didn't like Philly. I NEVER knocked his skill. When healthy, this guy was a force to be reckoned with on the ice. It was his off ice tantrums that got me, and we don't put up with crap like that here in Philadelphia. Leafs fans just better pray he keeps his head up.

[Aaron Farr]

Having sat back at a distance, i.e. currently living in New Zealand I was able to ponder the absolute ridiculous notion of North American Professional sports salaries. I enjoyed watching the strike drag on, I cheered louder for the owners victory than any other time Sundin had scored a goal! Now that things are back in check and by this I mean someone who has a slightly above average hockey career, Lindros, will finally be paid a fair salary. I along with all other Leaf fans hope Allison and Lindros stay healthy and lead us to the promised land. But what of our defence, Leetch the supposed powerplay specialist is gone. If we look at the defencemen available most have been swallowed up by teams that have room under the cap. Why is someone with the shot and offensive ability of Andy Delmore who has lit it up for Philly and Nashville not being given a contract by the Leafs for the league minimum we have no depth at defence!! Lets take a look at some of the under 30 players on the market and gamble the last 2 million Fergie has to spend.