Free to Dream

MEL EVANS/AP

Scott Gomez has experience scoring goals against the Ottawa Senators, something the Maple Leafs are sure to be interested in.

Paul Holmgren, it's fair to say, beat a lot of his colleagues to the punch, just as he did a few times during his NHL playing career.

Now the GM of the sad sack Flyers, Holmgren added former Predator stalwarts Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timmonen to the Philly lineup for more than $10 million per season in salary cap costs, but before other NHL teams could even get a bid in. Holmgren moved a first rounder - actually, returned a first rounder - to the Preds to get exclusive rights to negotiate with Hartnell and Timmonen before the unrestricted free agent season opens July 1st, and got the names of both on contracts.

Add Timmonen and Hartnell to a new-look Flyer core group that includes Braydon Coburn, Ryan Parent, Martin Biron, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, and its fair to say fortunes are looking up in the Flyer kingdom.

This takes a couple of bodies out of the July 1st mix, but doesn't change things terribly, particularly up front where the Maple Leafs, among other clubs, will be hunting for bargains.

Sports poll
Which of the top five free agent forwards should the Maple Leafs chase? Ryan Smyth Scott Gomez Daniel Briere Chris Drury Jason Blake Results | Past Polls Speak Out

The top five free agent forwards remain Ryan Smyth, Scott Gomez, Daniel Briere, Chris Drury and Jason Blake, with the next level including Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk, Todd Bertuzzi, Ladislav Nagy, Alexei Yashin, Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie and Ruslan Fedotenko. Nobody's quite sure yet what's going on with Peter Forsberg, Gary Roberts or Brendan Shanahan.

So if you were the Leafs, who have $8-10 million to spend, and could have the pick of the crop, which free agent shooter would you gun for?

It's not easy, is it? Smyth would bring guts and all kinds of intangibles, but enough skill for $5-6 million? Is Gomez better than a 13-goal scorer? Can Briere deliver in the post-season enough to put a team over the top? Will Drury put up the same numbers elsewhere that he's put up with the flashy Sabres? Even though Blake potted 40 last season, is he just too old to spend big money on at age 33, 34 in September?

I change my mind on this question every day, but the guy who seems the best fit for the Leafs would be Gomez, a legitimate No. 2 centre behind Mats Sundin and the Swede's successor down the line.

But then again, Smyth has all that character, and Briere can sure skate, and . . .

Comments

[OddyOh]

Gomez already said he doesn't want to play for a Canadian team. But maybe he just meant Edmonton?

[Julian]

This almost pains me to write...Damien, I agree with you. The Leafs need a number 2 centre in order to create a secondary scoring line after the Pony-Sundin-Antro line.

[anslem]

Hey Damien,

I read your other article where the leafs are looking at Craig Patrick. I think it would be a really good move over John Muckler. What do you think? Heck why not replace JFJ with Craig Patrick. I think they need a guy who can build through youth and make good trades. Look at Philly they seem to have found their GM in Paul Holmgren.

[John Henderson]

Beaten to the punch again. Hartnell was coveted by the Leafs, but JFJ was outmanovered by a relative rookie GM, by Philly's Paul Holmgren, and had the jewel taken out from under his nose. Is it any wonder, that most in Leafs Nation want this guy removed?

[Newton]

If the team is looking to make the Playoffs next year a guy like Briere is the best bet for steady regular season production.

If the Leafs already had a solid playoff club I'd go with Drury and/or Smyth.

An interesting option could be for the Leafs, or any other club really, to sign Forsberg to a market value deal (maybe 5 or 6 million a year) with the mutual understanding that Forsberg take the first half to two thirds of the season off to recover from nagging injuries and thereby avoid much more than a 2 million dollar cap hit for one of hockey's best players while healthy.

The Leafs are well positioned to make such an offer as they could afford to pay a guy like Forsberg 4 million to sit on the sidelines for a few months and Forsberg might enjoy playing in Toronto with Mats and Steen in Salmings old stitchin' ground.

[Ken]

Don't think Gomez is worth $5-6million, and Smyth is not worth it either, sure, he had grit and heart, but he is not a pure goalscorer and has never put up any sort of big numbers (I don't think he ever even got 80points yet). I think Leafs should get some finnesse players like Drury or Briere, if not them, then someone like Kariya.

[El Gordo]

Mr Cox:
The day will never come when Gomez could shoulder the leadership of an NHL team. What Toronto needs is Smyth, Bertuzzi and Nash (in Trade) and Hannan. Putting Smyth and Bertuzzi, (two in your face players) with Sundin might get some value out of Sundin...

[alex]

What about Drury? He's won everywhere he's gone - little league world series included.

[Braden]

I just can't help but think that we're in a buyer's market and most of these free agents (especially the top 5) are going to get a few million per year more than what they're worth. I think Toronto's best bet would be with Kariya if they can land him at the right price. He could probably be signed in the ballpark of 3-4 million/year, and brings some offensive prowess to a line that is currently a one trick pony with Sundin. (My apologies to lone the Antropov fan out there).
Smyth would also be great, but he isn't worth the 6 million he will sign for, even though he would bring some much needed grit and the ability to STAND IN FRONT OF THE NET on the Powerplay.

Love your column Damien.

[Matt]

I think adding Kariya would be great for the Leafs, and if Forsberg is listening to Canadian teams (did he not say at one point he'd like to play in Canada before he retires?) he'd be a phenomenal pick -up as long as his contract was incentive-laden).

If I could have anyone though, it would be Drury. He can score clutch goals, be a leader, take faceoffs, and be a solid rock. One of him or Briere will stay in Buffalo so might as well go after the more reliable of the two.

[kenny]

About signing an under-30 centre like Briere or Gomez...

Do you think Wellwood can break out as a legitimate #2 centre this coming season? I do.

Can you see Sundin being around for another two productive seasons? I can.

Given that, can't you picture Sundin and Wellwood as the 1A & 1B, point-a-game centres around which the first two lines can be built for the next couple of years?

I don't see how a third (and expensive) offence-minded centre can fit into that scheme, especially with a 2-3 year contract. Sure, you can throw Wellwood on the wing until Sundin retires, but he belongs at centre, especially come playoff time. I would hate to see the development of a home-grown player be put on the backburner once again in favour of a pricey free agent signing.

[Dolph Loeb]

they should go after Smith and Muckler. A #1 center and a GM that CAN get it done....

[Sultan]

Muckler is the BEST GM out there than is able to get what the leafs needs. Winners....

[mark]

I vote for .... 'none of the above'. Why is it that Leafs fans and the media (read 'Damien') are obsessed with high flying (high salary) forwards. The team ranked 6th in NHL scoring last year, yet didn't qualify for post season play. Is it not abundantly clear that it's goaltending and blue line that need the 8-10 million infusion, not the forwards? As long as you are featuring the likes of Kubina and Gill as your 2 of top 6 defense and Andrew Raycroft as a number 1 goaltender, you will fail. Meanwhile, you have some depth upfront with guys that will actually get better as they play more (Pohl, Wellwood, Steen to name 3). Forget the forwards, look after the goals against.

[Cam a Roon]

You can bet dollars to donuts that the leafs will go with some dinosaur like Blake. Its the path they have walked for the past five years in their free agent dealing.

[Carlos Rivas]

Gomez would rather play for the East L.A Ice Vatos rather than come to the leafs.

[Justin]

Gomez as Sundin's replacement? Surely not.

[Greg Luchuk]

Hey Damien!
Gomez would be a great fit plus add Smyth after trading McCabe to the Ducks for a bag of pucks after Niedermayer retires.
Greg
Kingston, ON

[Buster Hieman]

You can forget Smyth. He wants at least a 5 yr. and he isn't worth that. If you want someone to get you to the playoffs then disappear Briere, or Drury are your men. They provide a lot of flash during the regular season, then you can leave it to the muckers once you're in the playoffs.

[Ttime]

The last thing (except defence) the leafs need right now is more centremen. I like the Sundin, Wellwood, Stajan, and Pohl lineup as it is. The leafs need wingers. Ryan Smyth might be a good choice but he is asking for WAY more than he's worth. I would look to get Dainus Zubrus, he likes to bang and crash and knows how to put the puck in the net. He could be a good fit with fellow soviet immigrants, Nikky and Poni. Paul Kariya could be a guy who would fit perfectly on a line with Sundin.

[Andrew Barrie]

Not a single one of those players will make an impact on the leafs. what can any of them do that Jason Allison, Eric Lindross, or Micheal Peca couldn't do?

A better bet would be to try to get any 2 of those players, particularly Smyth and Comrie. WIth those two, and Sundin playing at his best, and Tucker repeating his career defining season, the Leafs will be in good shape... as long as they can score more than the seive Raycroft lets in.

[Steve V]

What goalies are available? That should be the number one concern. How about Raycroft for Gerber? Cujo for a year, until Pogge could be ready?

[Mike Strong]

The Leafs already have a pass-first, small-ish second line center in Wellwood; I don't think Gomez is what they need. If the kid can play at the same pace as this year, but without injury, the Leafs look pretty good at that spot. Whether you think he can or not, I think he has played well enough to earn that opportunity.

Also: Examining his numbers, Gomez's 13 goal 60 point season this year looks like less of the anomaly than his 33 goal 84 point season a year ago.

I also don't think it's particularly wise to sign guys like Drury and Blake to big money contracts after career contract years. Smyth will be overpaid, but he's the best fit: natural winger, natural goalscorer, and intangibles.

[Kevin S]

It's about time the Leafs got a legitimate winger for Sundin. They should sign Ryan Smyth, or heck, if they can pry Paul Kariya off the Predators, anything, would be better than letting Sundin go another 2 years without a decent winger. Then they should spend the rest of the money on a goalie, or make a few deals for the blueline. Clearly the Leafs' defense is lacking something.

[Adam C]

If it were me, I'd be shopping McCabe pretty hard for Fernandez, Nabokov or Turco. If that could be pulled off, I'd grab a lesser defenceman like Brent Sopel and target some talent up front, like Daniel Briere. Too many centres doesn't worry me; they can always shift to the wing. Briere at C and Sundin at LW would make for a good line. I'd like Drury or Smyth too, but I expect they'll cost too much, and Blake will be way overvalued. It might be interesting to see how much Gomez could score on a different team.

I'd even give Yashin a shot, if the price was right (say $2M). It's not that he didn't produce on the Island last year - just not $7M dollars worth.