Maple Leafs fans said good morning today and then wondered if they were going to say good bye to forward Nik Antropov, pondering a move back to Russia.
Damien Cox looks at some possible replacements for Antropov, thinking Jason Allison and/or Eric Lindros would be a nice, big fit behind Mats Sundin up the middle.
Brian Leetch, a popular addition to the Leafs blue line, is drawing interest from the Boston Bruins.
Meanwhile, the free agent market has been hot, hot, hot. Here's what's happened so far.
Maple Leaf arch rivals, the Ottawa Senators, have been fairly quiet on the busy free agent market. After losing out on beloved (now former) Leafs Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts, among others, are taking a look at Martin Lapointe.
The Dallas Stars have been talking with Mike Modano and are reportedly close to signing their captain. All the while, the Boston Bruins are watching closely and wouldn't mind seeing Modano in their colours.
The L.A. Kings have plenty of dollars to spend, and with Pavol Demitra already on board have apparently turned their attention to speedy winger Paul Kariya.
Scott Niedermayer, the speedy, skilled, Norris Tropny winning, Stanley Cup hoisting defenceman will choose his new home today.
One of the top goalies on the free agent market, Nikolai Khabibulin, is reportedly drawing interest from Detroit, Chicago and Tampa Bay.
Could Joe Thornton's days in Boston be coming to an end? According to the Boston Herald, the Bruins are interested in trading the big centre, fearful that Thornton will leave next season as an unrestricted free agent.
The Maple Leafs lost two popular veterans when Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk signed with the Florida Panthers.
Damien Cox has the scoop on what it all means for the Leafs and their shrinking payroll.
The Leafs acquired scoring winger Jeff O'Neill on draft day from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2006. Toronto signed the former 41-goal scorer to a two-year $3 million (U.S.) deal.
Zigmund Palffy, an unrestricted free agent, has apparently put Toronto on his short list of teams he could play for come September.
"The avalanche with contract signing ... will start on Aug. 1," Palffy told Slovak daily SME. "My former club, Los Angeles Kings, is showing greatest interest, but I don't exclude that in the end I will end up in Toronto, Detroit or in Florida."
Palffy had 16 goals and 41 points in just 35 games in 2003-04, the 33-year-old winger has topped 30 goals six times in his career.
Another former King, Jason Allison says he'd make a good Maple Leaf:
"To me, it makes a lot of sense," Allison said. "I grew up here and I've been dreaming since I was 2 to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs."
Recent Comments