One More Try

LONDON

Brian Burke will make one more attempt to capture The Monster.

The Maple Leafs GM, fresh of signing Colton Orr and Mike Komisarek as free agents yesterday and making a deal with Atlanta to send Pavel Kubina to the Thrashers in exchange for Garnet Exelby, is meeting with Swedish free agent goalie Jonas (The Monster) Gustavsson today in Stockholm.

With offers in from Dallas, San Jose and Colorado, as well as the Leafs, Gustavsson has been struggling to make a decision as to which of the four will be his first NHL club. He has to sign a one-year entry level salary at the same money with any of the clubs, but he's really looking at a three- to four-year commitment given that he wouldn't be unrestricted again next summer.

Burke has pursued the 24-year-old netminder hard, travelling once to the world championships in Switzerland to meet with him, and then again in a previous trip to Sweden. 

The Leaf GM is in Sweden after taking a trip late Tuesday in hopes of making a face-to-face offer with the Sedin twins or Matthias Ohlund, all of whom had signed with other clubs by the time he landed.

Other free agents on the Leaf radar screen today, with Chris Neil having turned them down to re-sign in Ottawa, are Columbus centre Manny Malhotra and Anaheim blueliner Francois Beauchemin. It's also possible talks have been revived between the Leafs and Bruins over a possible Tomas Kaberle-for-Phil Kessel trade.

Comments

[Falcon Eddie]

Maybe another of Burke's smokescreens?? The trip to Sweden is perhaps more of an attempt to land Gustavsson than it was for the Sedins or Ohlund. Why wouldn't he have left earlier if he really wanted to meet face-to-face? Perhaps its just an excuse for the Monster's camp to say he was after the Sedins while now being able to say, "Hey, while I'm here Monster, lets meet......." just a hunch! He may very well come back with Gustavsson in his back pocket..........

[bill]

Was anyone anywhere even slightly interested in Neil?

[Greg]

He could've left earlier, however, the Sedins were not technically free agents when they re-signed. Burke would not have been able to talk to the Sedins until after 12pm est, and they had signed before that. He may have been able to meet with Ohlund, as he signed after 12pm - perhaps he is secretly meeting with Sundin instead?! Hopefully he is able to persuade the Monster on this trip!
As for Neil, this guy would not fit in Toronto - personally I was not at all interested. Recall how cowardly he was when Domi often tried to scrap with him? He is a light middle weight at best. Glad he is back in Ottawa.

[Dave]

To Falcon Eddie, I think he did did not leave earlier because he was not allowed to talk to the Sedins until After Midnight July 1st. Having said that I still think your smokescreen scenario is possible. Why do the Leafs want to trade for Kessel. Can't they offer him a contract? He is a restriceted Free agent and Boston would have to match it. Since Boston apparently does not really want him they might not bother to match. Of course Offering contracts to RFA can get you into hot water with other GMs.

[Johnny Bravo]

Please, please, please pull off the Kaberle for Kessel deal and get this guy signed for 5 years! Throw in someone else if you have to...take the salary of Scheafer back too. Get it done Burkie. Trading Kabby only makes this team even tougher than the additions of yesterday. After Kessel, sign Grabovski for a year or 2 and pick up another top 6 forward...who I don't know. It looks like the team will be more focused on D this year with the moves made so far and that is a good thing!

[Bold Bravado]

Need to be careful with at this point with Kaberle. Any successful team has had a couple skilled D capable of putting up some points and Leafs are a little lacking at this point. Gained in the much needed toughness dept. Then again, Damiens new NHL has no fighting, hitting, swearing, spitting and is played with rubber sticks. In any event it's something, even more to the fact it shows that Burke has complete control, wow, what a change from the last scenario. Some skilled UFA’s still out there, lots of cap space, we are in a much different boat this year!! Burke, I give you a thumbs up, nice going!!!

[scott]

Burke is treating this guy like Jesus. I bet he'll be pretty pissed if he signs elsewhere.

[Earl Nelville]

Is it just me missing something here or are the mighty leafs, center of the hockey universe in their own minds, unable to sign any respectable free agent. So now that we have a defence that will assure us copious penalty minutes what about some fire power able to score shorthanded goals. Better see who's left that is good at that because we're going to need it. Oh ya and a goalie. Seems like we can't get anyone between the pipes either. Truth comes out when you have to build with a cap, ya can't just throw money at the problem anymore.

[Calvin]

I like what Burke is doing right now, he's got a plan and he's not deviating from it. Let's build from the net and d-line out. He's going after the best FA goalie available with the most upside, and getting tough d-men that know how to play in their own zone.

Build your foundation on how to play defense first with character and grit. Not too many teams are going to like facing this year's version of the Leafs, especially at home. We can developed the young skilled forwards in the minors and patch with FA acquisitions down the road.

[Conn Smythe]

'Is it just me missing something here or are the mighty leafs, center of the hockey universe in their own minds, unable to sign any respectable free agent...Truth comes out when you have to build with a cap, ya can't just throw money at the problem anymore.'

Great work contradicting yourself, Earl. You open your post saying the Leafs can't get anyone 'respectable' to sign with them, and then in your last sentence say that you 'can't just throw money at the problem anymore'. So are you saying the Leafs should build through the draft or make some trades?

[Adam]

Dave, they won't sign Kessel to an offer sheet because they'd have to give up draft picks as compensation, depending on how much money Kessel got. If the Leafs signed Kessel to an offer sheet, given how much money he'd likely make, they'd easily be giving up multiple draft picks, including one or more first rounders. That's just not worth it for a team that is still rebuilding.

[m d'ailleurs]

Respone to Earl: There has been no UFA that has left me salivating so I don't care. I like the moves Burke made and believe it's the right direction. We need guys like Getzlaf and Perry , who came to the Ducks in 2003 thru the draft.The Leafs scored quite readily last year, unfortunately , they were better at allowing goals. Blame that on the D. Hopefully , a surgically repaired Toskala can silence the doubters( myself included). Patience is a virtue.Oh and Earl- are you a fan of the Leafs?, because in my mind, condescending framing of your thoughts implies to me that you're not,so, why do you care enough to post?

[Ryan]

thankfully the Leafs make a TON of money. Notice how the other teams don't have the money or resources to FLY across the world to meet with free agents. Only a handful have the money to do that. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Detroit, New York Rangers. I bet the business expense bill will be HUGE

[Daniel Costa]

at least the leafs are getting tougher and lett me tell you the ducks won the stanly cup because they were a tough team to play in the playoffs. Why u ask well becasue they hitt the body and wore down the other team. If the leafs get tough and eventualy add some skill watch out. It might take a few years but it will be worth it.

[Rob]

To the poster 12.43pm; Yes, you are missing something here. With Burke in control, good coaches, scouts, trainers now in place, building starts at the bottom and works it's way up. It appears the Leafs are serious about a total rebuilding proccess that will look totally differant from the team we suffered with last season. It won't be long before the elite players around the league will see Toronto as a destination of choice. As for Toronto being the centre of the hockey universe, glad you are catching on to what multitudes of Leaf fans around the world already know.

[Ryan]

Finally some fans who agree on the way this team is going. Remember folks, last year we had no toughness or skill, but still scored more than we should have. I believe teams should be built from the back-end out.

[Steve C.]

As much as you (and only you) would like to see the Sedins in the Blue and White, it's doubtful that Burke went to Sweden for that purpose. You are the only one pushing that short-sighted dream. He was there for Gustavsson and only for Gustavsson - it's the smart proactive thing to do in this case, and the Leafs will probably land him because of it.

I actually feel sorry for Canuck fans. It is such and empty feeling to have such soft, uninterested players leading your team. Leaf fans have had it for too many years now and the thought of the Sedins coming here was sickening - thanks for trying to put that in our heads Damien. Go watch the Canucks now.

[Jay]

I'd be happy to see the Leafs turn into the toughest team in the NHL. The shot blocking, checking and hopefully the ability to play the trap should bode well for any netminder we have, be it Toskala, or anyone else that steps up. I hope we get Beauchemin to finish our 'tweaking of the D, and send Kaberle packing. The Leafs are far from becoming a real contender but they'll be fun to watch smacking around opponents for a season. Tlusty could be given a better shot, now that he's more mature and experienced. We have some young talent that could blossom. I'm hoping for a few good players like. Alex Tanguay, Erik Cole... for depth. And even another defensive player like Kurtis Foster. At least our D will be STAUNCH!

[Gary]

It's believed the talks between the Leafs and the Bruins may have revived.

That is a very hot scoop. Thanks.

[Rob]

I agree, don't think for one second that Burke went to Sweden for the twins. If he was after brothers he would focus more on a couple of Stahls. That would be a good fit for Toronto

[Rob Janssens]

Isn't the Monster a Swede?? I thought Burkey only went for North americans.

[carl]

Could it be more than Gustavsson in Sweden?

[Jack Daniels]

I hope Burke and his persistence in getting the Monster to sign in Toronto doesn't scare the kid off. With all the personal issues he's dealing with and professional issues he needs to deal with, perhaps time and space would be more beneficial to the Leafs rather than dogging him.

[Dave]

to Rob Janssens, Where have you been? Burke was the one who drafted the Sedins while he was in Vancouver.

[Johnnyk]

The Monster hasn't stopped a shot in the NHL yet. Lots of ifs, maybes, coulds and sholds in this scenario. Big, tough, slow team that can't keep the puck out of the net means its gonna be 43 years.