The Leafs and Free Agency

LONDON--That some would blast Brian Burke as "selfish" for visiting troops in Kandahar on July 1st instead of getting down on bended knee to woo Brad Richards in person, well, some notions are just so pathetically weasel-like they just aren't worth addressing.

So let's move on.

Should Leaf fans be upset their favourite team didn't add significant players on Canada Day? Absolutely. Being demanding is part of being a fan.

Only problem is, no other team added significant players either because none were out there to be had.

Still, those who lament the money spent on Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin as unrestricted free agents two years ago are now upset that the Leafs weren't a big player on Friday when the UFA market opened.

To which you'd have to ask, why? Because they didn't get who? Because they didn't give Tomas Fleischmann $18 million, or try and land 39-year-old Jaromir Jagr, or got outbid on Ville Leino and Max Talbot?

Really?

Look there's was one difference maker out there, potential difference maker anyway, and Brad Richards still hasn't signed, although hopes are high it will happen today if only to end this soap opera.

The Leafs could surely use Richards, although it's worth noting at this point in time that it wasn't so long ago that Richards was viewed as vastly overpaid based on a deal he signed in Tampa Bay and took with him to Dallas. Also, he did suffer a severe concussion last season. So acquiring Richards isn't quite like acquiring a sure thing.

But he's a good hockey player, far better than most of those who moved on Friday. It was exciting, naturally, to see so many players move, to see new teams like Florida, Buffalo and Columbus get involved, and it made for good television, especially if you didn't have the time or inclination to sit down and watch hours of brilliant men's tennis from Wimbledon.

Actually, it was even better in some ways than trade deadline day, if only because it was like watching the NHL on crack, the way the dollars flew around.

All that aside, the Florida Panthers added eight players, and is there even one that you, as a Leaf fan, would have loved to see the Leafs acquire because that player would substantially enhance Ron Wilson's lineup? Maybe Sean Bergenheim based on his playoff efforts of nine goals, but given he scored just 14 during the regular season, one off a career high, and is 27 years old, Bergenheim's a player of uncertain calibre right now.

Maybe Scottie Upshall. Lots of energy, 22 goals between two teams last year. But that was the best of the lot on a day the Panthers spent about $80 million, not counting the acquisition of Kris Versteeg ($3.083 million cap hit) and Brian Campbell ($7.142 million cap hit). That GM Dale Tallon will rest this entire enterprise on the goaltending of Jose Theodore is more than a little curious, and one wonders what Stephen Weiss will make of having Fleischmann and Upshall paid higher salaries than he next season.

As of this morning, the Leafs are 22nd in payroll committments for next season, and the Rangers 26th. Little weird, that, given the histories of those two teams, but in both cases, keeping the powder dry and waiting for better bargains and smarter purchases may turn out to be rather sensible.

Buffalo has been very aggressive in landing Robyn Regehr, Christian Ehrhoff and Leino, but the Sabre season next year will still depend on Ryan Miller in goal and the return to form of Derek Roy as the club's No. 1 centre.

The two best teams in hockey last season, Boston and Vancouver, did very little on Friday, and those are well-managed teams that do have needs to fill. Perhaps they believed it was a day to watch, as well. 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Martin Bolger]

Hi As usual you are bang on!!
Not much out there July 1st
I read your colume every day, you are not off the wall and make sense.
Thanks keep up the GOOD work
Martin

[Go Leafs Go]

Why does everyone sound so surprised? Overpaying is the name of the game in free agency. The trick is to overpay for the right players and not be stuck with a 6th defenceman earning 4.5 mil a year. Besides, if the Burke doesn't use cash to fill holes, he will have to sacrifice picks, prospects and/or roster players to fill those holes, and will most likely receive an overpaid player in return (which is often the reason why the other team is shopping him).

[David Butler]

It takes a very special player who wants to play for the Leafs.Because of the
close attention paid to every game and player.It takes a lot of guts to play
in Toronto.Not many are up to the challenge.Much easier to play for the likes
of the Rangers where there is no pressure and lots of money.Only the best players would want to go to the Leafs.Lets hope there's at least one gem
in the draft.
DB

[John A]

Steve Simmons made some idiotic comments about how big of a mistake it was for Brian Burke to be in Afghanistan to support our troops, instead of being here for the start of free agency. The comments were so narrow-minded to be ridiculous. Good on you, Mr. Burke, for being a good citizen and showing our troops that we appreciate their sacrifices and efforts.

[Chris]

i cant believe cox wrote something i agree with. Burke in Afghanistan is no big deal. Steve Simmons has it completely wrong and just wants to stir up things. name me one good player that would make a difference on the leafs that was signed yesterday???/.....quiet.......yeah that's what i thought

[PJ88]

I disagree, Damien, re: Burke. He should have been here. It's his job, period. Not that visiting soldiers isn't noble and all that - of course it is - but you have to be here on July 1, even if it's a July 1 with little to offer.

[Paul]

Agree Damian.... However... Is it just me or is everyone getting a little tired of Burke's bullish behavior? Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that he couldn't stop boosting about how busy he would be come July 1? I think he was ranting about it at the draft as well. Confusing to say the least.

[The Fonze]

My Favorite part of the day so far is that Cox just called Simmons a weasel. LOL. And I never say LOL.....Leafs look like the big winner here as far as Im concerned. The only + to landing Richards was the assurance that it wouldnt cost us someone who I think will be better within 2 years - Nazem Kadri. If the Leafs are smart, they will grab Connoly - whom its not ridiculous could outperform the concussion ridden Richards - and let Kads and Colbourne develop into their top two centres. If anyone has watched a lot of Buffalo games the last few years, they know the only think preventing T. C from becomming an elite player is that his exoskeleton is made of glass. Still, he cheaper and hes due to turn it around. He has Jose Bautista mid-late career explosion potential and in 82 games riding shotgun to the leagues second best sniper he will pot about 82 assists.

[The Fonze]

While Burke did say he would be busy on July 1, just because he didnt actually get anyone does not mean the Leafs were not busy. Same as the draft. Give me a break folks, he says hes going to be busy because he has been and will be. He never said, I am going to take the GNP of a small country and purchase Steve fn Burgenheim. Give me a break. Leafs came out on top last night .

[gary lad]

my point is if burke is here or not so what.leafs have enough front office people to take care of busness..... good luck richards in new york he was never coming here anyway......... toronto is going to be in thee bottom half of teams anyway next year..anyway..... top pick yeah hawwwwwwwww and no great player to pick go figure..

[Akman]

Damian, next time you need to cover Wimbledon, go to Afghanistan and watch the games on TV, yes they do have TV there, and report what you see as well as calling your colleagues at Wimbledon. Let's see how happy your boss would be at doing that?

[John Mitchell]

@Chris. Erik Cole could have helped the Leafs. He has size, speed and a willingness to drive hard to the net - qualities lacking in the current forward group. Agree with you that Burke being in Afghanistan is a non-issue.

[Donkeypunch]

Absolute Bs Burke couldn't do his job to visit troops, he just wanted to stay out of the heat he should of caught for flapping his mouth about making big moves than doing absolutely nothing. Erik Cole and Talbot would of been good additions to the Leafs and their both American seems to be Burke's theme nowadays.

[Donkeypunch]

Also the Leafs really needed a No.1 centre not only to be a more competitive team but to also entice more incoming talent for future trades/drafts. They really dropped the ball unless they plan on doing something big soon.

[Frank]

So at the time on July 1st how many of these players did the leafs try to get -Brad Richards, Christian Ehrhoff, Simon Gagne, James Wisniewski, Tomas Fleischmann, Ed Jovanovski, Ville Leino, Michael Ryder. And would they help - Hell Yes! But the Leafs got zip! And as for your last comment - what does it say about the two teams that made the finals with the players they have and a team that didn't even make the playoffs with the players they have. Do all 3 teams have the same game plan on July first. I guess it means that all 3 are happy with the team they have now and feel that they are good enough to go all the way with the current roster I guess when Buffalo repeatedly kicks our ass next season, at the very least we can say “thank God we didn’t waste any money on free agents”.