Free Agency Set to Explode

This time last year, Brian Burke was secretly flying to Sweden in hopes of signing the Sedin twins.

Vancouver GM Mike Gillis beat him to the punch, but Burke was unfazed and quickly signed defencemen Francois Beauchemin and Mike Komisarek as well as enforcer Colton Orr, and also used the trip to do a little extra work on what turned out to be the successful courtship of goalie Jonas Gustavsson.

This year, Burke is staying put in North America - Boston, actually -  but he could be just as active. Or more active.

Obviously, he's got the trading of defenceman Tomas Kaberle still to get done, and the market will likely intensify after teams find out what they can get from free agency over the next few days. There are still whispers of discussions with the Boston Bruins over the services of centre Marc Savard as well.

But who the Leafs will go after hard on Thursday when the market opens is still unclear.

With Kaberle set to be dealt, a defenceman is a priority and Dan Hamhuis is at the top of the list, although many are confused as to what Hamhuis is looking for after his rights were dealt to Philadelphia and then Pittsburgh in recent days, and he chose to sign with neither team.

A surprising name out there will be blueliner Paul Martin, who most expected to see re-sign with the New Jersey Devils after playing only 22 games last season because of a fractured arm. Martin is a multi-talented, underrated player who would have crossed Burke's radar because of his involvement with the U.S. Olympic program. If Hamhuis goes elsewhere, the Leafs might have interest in Martin, although his price tag might be high after he made $4.5 million with the Devils last season.

The Leafs missed out on Mike Cammalleri last summer and ended up trading for Phil Kessel instead. They hope to get a forward out of trading Kaberle, but they may be interested in some of the mid-range free agent wingers, particularly those with a bit of bite to their game. Raffi Torres and Colby Armstrong are two sandpaper-like players out there, and Armstrong might fit the Leafs' need. Ethan Moreau was a possibility until his rights were traded to Columbus, and there might be some interest in Calgary winger Eric Nystrom, who scored 11 goals and made $775,000 with the Flames last year.

Comments

[Joey]

I don't understand why, with all that money tied up in defenceman the Leafs would go after Martin or Hamhuis for $5 million. Makes ZERO sense to me when there are glaring talent deficiencies at forward. I want to hear some reasoning behind it.

[Steve B.]

Damian, I really don't get why you keep insisting the Leafs will go after Hamhuis. I can't see any need for a top 4 defenceman like Hamhuis, even if they trade Kaberle. Right now they have Phaneuf, Schenn, Komisarek, Beauchemin and Gunnarsson, all of whom can play top 4 minutes. Plus of course there is Finger whose salary will hopefully be buried in the minors. He may prove useful as an injury backup, though he's a 5th defenceman at best.
All the Leafs need on defence is a 6th defenceman, and those sorts of players are usually readily available for a cap hit of less than $1 million. Even if Gunnarsson has a sophomore slump, you just cut back his minutes to 13 a night and make him the 5th defenceman.
Unless the Leafs plan on trading another top 5 defenceman in addition to Kaberle, the Leafs don't need Hamhuis or Martin.

[Fred Thomas]

Get off the course Burke and get somethings badly needed done!

[Jeremy]

I still don't know why you would go after a defencemen that is similar to Tomas Kaberle. Why not just keep Kaberle who might be cheaper then Hamhuis. Unless you are afraid that that NTC will bite you in the rear and you will lose Kaberle next year to UFA....
I still think Gunner can step into that position and a young AHL d-man can fill the hole. It just makes no sense to me...

[David Leslie]

We do not need Hamhuis or any other defenceman. We need first and second line proven NHL-calibre centers. That's it.

[Ron in CXR]

I posted this in the wrong column so i will post again with addition

Word is Hamhuis is leaning Vancouver but knowing Burke and his Vancouver rivalry I wouldn't be surprised if he overpays for him for the reasons you pointed out and to stick one into Canucks GM Gillis. Hamhuis is younger and tougher...fits more into the Burke style of team. If he does manage to do that it sure puts in him in a good position to trade for Savard, Ryan or whoever else might be on the radar. You can guarantee Kabs is gone along with probably another DMan.

[rex]

I don't think Burke is stupid enough to wast more money on defense we have aulie also and we need that money to possibly spend on forwards that can score. you can't win with a defense only you need goals also, so I don't believe Burke will sign either martin or hammuis.

[Rich]

Why would they sign Hamhuis? Well let's see, he's available and a top flight player. So why wouldn't they? Yes, they have other defencemen, who they could then trade. You folks don't seem to understand, free agency is an oppurtunity to add assets without giving up any. So if you can add Hamhuis, do it and worry about filling your needs (forwards) via trade. At the end of the day, there are no forwards of Hamhuis calibre available.

[Nelson]

We just got Versteeg! Forget Marc Savard!

We didn't give up Kaberle and we just got a top six.

If Hamhuis will to receive 4-5mil per season front loaded on a 4 year deal, This leaves the offensive defensemen pool really thin, what happens when you take options away from your competition, they become hard pressed to make a deal. Addition by subtraction, great approach Burkie, you must have read the book the "Art of War".

Go Leafs Go!

[Jeff]

It hurts to lose Stalberg as I have this sick feeling he will become a super star one day. Great size and speed...all the tools. He was on fire until he took the big hit early. If you add his marlie and Leaf points together for 2009 they are about the same as the guy they got from Chicago...yikes

[jeff]

Did you guys ever think burke is going after hamuis,to drive his price up, thus making kaberle more valuable at his 4.5million contract.Hamuis would be a nice fit but way to much cash tied up in d-men.

[A-Mar]

The only reason he would sign Hamhuis is that it makes Kaberle totally expendable and makes it more palatable to move Luke Schenn for a real offensive piece. Think about it... right now they move Kaberle and Schenn, we're going to wonder what's going on with the defense that now features only Komisarek, Beauchemin, Phaneuf, Finger, and Gunnarson as (relatively) proven commodities. Add Hamhuis, an able puckmover and established defensive player, to that group and you've got at least 4, maybe 5 if Gunnarsson is able to continue development, defensemen capable of playing ample roles.

[Ghostrider1174]

If he gets Hamuis he can package a defenceman to include in a bigger deal.Thats the reasoning.