Leafs Ink Final Pre-Camp Piece

If Christian Hanson begins this season the way he ended last season, the Leafs could have a very helpful player on their hands.

That Hanson will be at camp, meanwhile, will be nailed down today as he is expected to sign a one-year deal with the club after being unable to come to terms as a restricted free agent all summer long. 

The 24-year-old scored two goals in 31 games with the Leafs last season, and both those goals came on the final weekend when the Leafs beat Montreal 4-3 in overtime. Last fall, Hanson spent some time on an all-NCAA line with Tyler Bozak and Viktor Stalberg, but now Stalberg has been traded, Bozak is looking like he may be the club's No. 1 centre alongside Phil Kessel and Hanson probably projects to be the clubs fourth line centre, possibly skating with newcomer Mike Brown and enforcer Colton Orr as GM Brian Burke continues to try and make the club tougher to play against.

With Fredrik Sjostrom likely to miss much of camp after off-season shoulder surgery, Hanson may also get a shot at earning time as a penalty killer.

The new contract is expected to be a two-way deal that would pay Hanson less to play with the Marlies, although he'd been looking for a one-way contract.

The Leafs now have no unsigned players, with rookie camp set to commence Sept. 10th.

Comments

[bill d]

Hanson just takes up space on the ice. He has spent enough time with the big club to show that he doesn't have the goods to be even a fourth liner in the NHL, even a 29th placed team. The Leafs would have done better to leave him unsigned.

[sb1978]

Hanson's a solid young player and could develop into a very good third line centre. He could be very useful on a line with Armstong and Macarthur.

[Greg]

Hanson is not as good as Tim Brent. But under the Burkie rule its his size that keeps him there.

[Dave]

Bil,
Hanson has played 31 games. It is way too early to give up on him just yet.

[Valentino Assenza]

There will be a four tier ice rink dedicated to women's hockey, in pickering we have the St.Mike's Majors, at the Ricoh Coliseum, we have the Toronto Marlies. There is plenty of hockey to watch in Toronto besides the Leafs. I know what you're thinking all of the options I listed seem boring, but before you decide to roll your eyes and walk away from those options, keep in mind that at the professional level when it comes to our Leafs about the most exciting it gets for us nowadays is headlines like "Leafs Set To Bring Back Christian Hanson..."

[Lenny]

Re: Christian Hanson. UGGHH!! The Leafs are going nowhere, and quickly!

[James Jack]

I am not trying to compare Christian Hanson to Darryl Sittler but many of these same comments could have been made about him after his first year in Toronto. Hanson is a big kid with some raw talent including decent (not great hands). Where Hanson ends up in the NHL is completely up to him because he has the tools, does he have the desire? Given his pedigree, my guess is that he will one day become a bona fide force in the NHL.

[Slodrive]

Who cares!! The Leafs are really starting to bug me with press-releasing all these third-line signings. Two goals in 31 games is not newsworthy. This guy is a big body who plays like he's 160 pounds. I haven't seen much out of this guy that warrants any newsprint whatsoever.

Can we end this NCAA love-in? I'm a Bozak fan, but generally, frat boys playing 40 games a season hardly prepares a player for the rough 'n tumble game that Burke like to talk about.

[Nam Spam]

If it weren't for his last game against the Habs, he would have ended the season without a goal in 38 games.
Ya like, where do we find more guys like him to sign? What's wrong with Stempniak?

[mark]

Bill D.... are you for real? Since when is a 31 game stint enough to decide an NHLer's potential? Hanson didn't look out of place last year and earned at least a second look. And, on a two way deal with only a 1 year commitment, that second look comes pretty cheap. Thank God you aren't the Leafs GM; you'd make Ferguson look like a genius.

[bill d]

I guess he's only 24. Another year or two with the Marlies might make it possible for him to be an NHL regular but I doubt it. How old and ineffective does a forward have to be before Toronto parts way with the player?

[snacker]

Get a grip people...they signed this guy to a two way contract...they didn't have to give up a thing to get him and he's only played 21 games...cut the kid some slack. Leaf fans are really starting to bug me...start talking when you figure out a thing or two about hockey. You can't teach 6'5 and this kid can skate fairly well for a big man...he's worth a shot...it's not like they have a stable of guys 6'5 and under 25...relax and wait to see what he's actually got.

[Chris]

Give the guy a break; he played half a season, didn't play on special teams and was learning how to be a winger. This isn't a key signing nor is it meant to be. The key aspect of this signing is the two way deal because Hanson's handful of games last year and the year before took him to the end of his entry level deal. If the Leafs were to sign Hanson to a one way deal he would have to be waived to be sent down. We'd all agree that this kid needs more time IF he's going to be a regular NHLer and now that he doesn't have to clear waivers to be sent down to the AHL for further development it helps the organization and the team. This is a smart move by Burke if Hanson signs the two way deal. Think about it: Would you rather have a 24 year old prospect developing in the minors or sit him in the press box/give him a job he didn't earn simply because they fear losing him on waivers?

[Dave]

Slodrive,
"Press releasing all these third line signings"? That bothers you? The press is following every move the Leafs make because Leaf fans want to know. It is close to the beginning of another season and I certainly want to know what the Leafs are doing. If you don't want to know then why read?

[Conn Smythe]

'Who cares!! The Leafs are really starting to bug me with press-releasing all these third-line signings. Two goals in 31 games is not newsworthy. This guy is a big body who plays like he's 160 pounds. I haven't seen much out of this guy that warrants any newsprint whatsoever.

Can we end this NCAA love-in? I'm a Bozak fan, but generally, frat boys playing 40 games a season hardly prepares a player for the rough 'n tumble game that Burke like to talk about.'

Well you must care, slodrive, or else why else would you post? And the Leafs are like every team in the NHL in that they announce a signing. You have seen enough of a 24 year who has only played 31 games? Too early to give up on a player after only playing 31 games. 'NCAA love in? Frat boys?' I don't know of too many teams who would not like some NCAA players like Vanek, Heatley, Parise, Drury, Komisarek. I'm glad we have a professional GM in charge who looks for talent from all leagues and not some armchair critic such as yourself.

[John Tomashow]

Nice. Extrapolate his production over a full season and add a couple of lucky bounces and we're lookin' at what? Five, maybe six goals. YES!

[James Jack]

Okay, everybody relax. he signed a two way contract that indicates both he and his hockey savvy father know he has to improve. I do predict that this kid will improve because he can skate and has reasonable hands. At 6'5' he isn't going to be a pushover in any position he plays. Hal Gill was one of the worst skaters I ever saw, yet with his reach alone he was effective as a defender on the power play. I see this signing as a very important one in that this current Leaf management is making SENSIBLE moves, signing players they think might help, signing them appropriately (in this case a two way contract)and for good value. Brian Burke is showing once again that he has a plan and is sticking to it and I think anyone who argues against what he is doing just does not know how to build a franchise. A key indicator was not to GIVE Kaberle away despite it leaving a little egg on Burkies face.We now have a real GM in place right now, surrounded by real hockey men who know their business. This will translate into a powerhouse franchise for years to come.