Leafs Get Kubina

[mack 44]

What kind of cash is Brandon Witt looking for?

Depending on the team, I can see Brendan Witt going for 4-5 million.

[hockeymom 2]

As a Sabres fan, I am very happy that toronto signed Gill, awesome waste of cap space.

He's not as bad as you'd think. As said before, at the VERY least, it's an improvment from Aki Berg.

at least Aki Berg was cheap, only 1 million $ per year....I bet if he played in Detroit he would be a lot better. If you notice in the Olympics he played on the first line for defence and won a silver medal.

As much as I would love to see Aki end up in Detroit...I think it is more likely he'll return to Finland.

And you're correct that we've never seen Aki play so well as he did in the Olympics...arguably both of the games...the bronze and the silver.

But he never performed as a Leaf, and was responsible for far too many errors...so I'm happy he's gone. And hope Gill will be a huge improvement.

[Chadd 916]

4yrs/20M

Edit - the Score claimed this but have know changed it to a "report"

but there reports almosts always become finalized

Way too much for Kubina. I think this is going to be a signing that they regret before the contract is over.

[kosydar 0]

In regards to Berg, I'm almost positive he signed with a Finnish team.

[Eazy_b97 1]

He has. He's always had the talent, he was a top 10 pick (3rd overall I believe). Problem's been he isn't a thinker. It's not just luck or timing that he played his best in international hockey for a team which plays a strict trap.

[Chadd 916]

He has. He's always had the talent, he was a top 10 pick (3rd overall I believe). Problem's been he isn't a thinker. It's not just luck or timing that he played his best in international hockey for a team which plays a strict trap.

I think you really hit the mail on the head. Quinn's lack of a system really made it hard for him. A lot of players need to know their role to really succeed.

[kosydar 0]

I agree with you Eazy, but at the same time I think a lot of it relies on him just being stupid. I can remember one specific game this year where we were on the PK and he was out there (ouch), puck is in the near-side corner. Aki skates into the corner to put pressure on, leaving two uncovered people in front of the net. That type of shit-for-brains play happened almost every single game I saw.

[fastmiele 59]

4yrs/20M

Edit - the Score claimed this but have know changed it to a "report"

but there reports almosts always become finalized

Way too much for Kubina. I think this is going to be a signing that they regret before the contract is over.

I agree with you, but I don't think there is much you can really do in the Leafs position. There is a limited supply of good players available and the Leafs need more good and stable defencemen now. Their farm players are not ready to step in and there is not enough depth in the organization to trade for proven players.

Kubina's agent said there were 7-8 other teams pursuing him. The only way is to ante up and pay more than what the competitors are willing to pay.

You can argue that most of the free agent signings were overpaid. Like come on, Rob Blake is 36 years old and still gets 6 million.

[fastmiele 59]

As a Sabres fan, I am very happy that toronto signed Gill, awesome waste of cap space.

He's not as bad as you'd think. As said before, at the VERY least, it's an improvment from Aki Berg.

at least Aki Berg was cheap, only 1 million $ per year....I bet if he played in Detroit he would be a lot better. If you notice in the Olympics he played on the first line for defence and won a silver medal.

As much as I would love to see Aki end up in Detroit...I think it is more likely he'll return to Finland.

And you're correct that we've never seen Aki play so well as he did in the Olympics...arguably both of the games...the bronze and the silver.

But he never performed as a Leaf, and was responsible for far too many errors...so I'm happy he's gone. And hope Gill will be a huge improvement.

You can also argue that Aki Berg never really had a stable defence partner that he could work work with. Look at all the partners he had in the past . Wade Belak, Alexander Khahanov, Cory Cross, Jyrki Lumme, Calle Johansson, Bryan Marchment, Drake Berehowsky and so on.

Come on the guy needs some support and confidence. I thought he did a lot better when he started playing with Luke Richardson. Richardson roughed up the oppenents which enabled Aki Berg to quickly scoop in and get the puck and move it up.

[hockeymom 2]

As a Sabres fan, I am very happy that toronto signed Gill, awesome waste of cap space.

He's not as bad as you'd think. As said before, at the VERY least, it's an improvment from Aki Berg.

at least Aki Berg was cheap, only 1 million $ per year....I bet if he played in Detroit he would be a lot better. If you notice in the Olympics he played on the first line for defence and won a silver medal.

As much as I would love to see Aki end up in Detroit...I think it is more likely he'll return to Finland.

And you're correct that we've never seen Aki play so well as he did in the Olympics...arguably both of the games...the bronze and the silver.

But he never performed as a Leaf, and was responsible for far too many errors...so I'm happy he's gone. And hope Gill will be a huge improvement.

You can also argue that Aki Berg never really had a stable defence partner that he could work work with. Look at all the partners he had in the past . Wade Belak, Alexander Khahanov, Cory Cross, Jyrki Lumme, Calle Johansson, Bryan Marchment, Drake Berehowsky and so on.

Come on the guy needs some support and confidence. I thought he did a lot better when he started playing with Luke Richardson. Richardson roughed up the oppenents which enabled Aki Berg to quickly scoop in and get the puck and move it up.

Well, if it the rumour has indeed been confirmed, that Aki is returning to Finland... I'm honestly happy for him. It must have been rough to be Aki Berg in a hockey town like Toronto.

In Finland, it'll be the return of the conquering hero; he'll finally find the confidence and support... And I will enjoy cursing at the tv set a little less!

[trucks 0]

why were elias and arnott ever mentioned in this thread blows my mind? what nhler wants to play for toronto except washed up dudes who get overpaid by the leafs near the end of free agency to make the fans happy. happened last year with alison and lindros, two guys they signed because all the other ufas signed elsewhere. arnott and elias would never consider toronto because those guys want to win and they can tell by looking at the core of this toronto team that theres no chance in hell theyll win. hence why guys like hal gill get signed, no one else wants to come. you all must remember that its not always about the money with these guys, and yes elias wanted the maximum but he also wanted it on a franchise with a winning attitude, something the leafs unfortunately dont have. i dont see any big names coming to toronto now, just an average aging nhler (gary roberts) who will keep the franchise afloat enough to sell tickets while whats in the toronto farm system develops for a few more years.

[kosydar 0]

Kubina is coming off his best season ever. Washed up? No. I'm sorry, but like Theo has said, the Devils are going to be in huge trouble financially next year. Elias knows it. I don't think when it came down to it many, if any other teams, would have given Elias that kind of deal. So don't say it isn't about money when it really is. Also, thanks for telling all of us how Elias and Arnott, and the rest of the NHL really feel. I had no idea.

[trucks 0]

kubina isnt washed up ill give you that, but lindros, alison, hal gill, jeff o'neill and a few others from years previous. and yes the devils may be in financial trouble next year but dont be surprised if they finish ahead of the leafs. elias also wanted a long term deal and he got it and with the direction the nhl is headed im sure the cap will grow again in that time and his 7.5 mill a year wont be such a huge hit. lou lamarello (sp?) is a genius gm and im sure he has it all planned out. and you can keep telling yourself its only about the money, but as a player myself if i was offered a million less when im already a millionaire id go to the team with the best chance of making my boyhood dream come true, winning the cup, and im sure a lot of players think like that.

[kosydar 0]

First off, O'Neill isn't washed up. He is still pretty damn young and good. Lindros and Allison haven't been playing enough to be considered washed up. Gill, well I've heard he was never good so no argument there.

Elias went where the money was the best. It isn't like he had dreams of winning the Cup for the first time or anything. To him, NJ was where he has played for his entire career, and he was able to use that into getting the highest paying, longest term deal. The cap won't grow that much, if at all. Even if it does go to 50 million, which I really doubt it will in the near future, his salary is 15% of the total budget. Planning your roster around assumptions that the cap will go up is absolutely retarded. Who is to say that he doesn't get hurt or his game goes to shit? When it comes down to it, even in the NHL, money outweighs every other decision. Elias on the Leafs was something I really wanted, but I'd much rather not have him than have him at that price/contract. I don't know if you're a Devils fan, or just a cynic, but good luck I guess. I hope Mogilny does well for your AHL team this year.

PS In two years, I will be surprised if the Devils finish ahead of the Leafs. This year? You might have me.

[trucks 0]

Enough with the arguing, doesnt really matter whos right. My original point was this and maybe I wasnt very clear about it. People always throw around the big names, in this case Elias and Arnott, and say the Leafs have money and cap space and they would be prefect for the Leafs. However these players dont want to come to an aging Leafs team which hasn't had a proven winner in almost 40 years now. Yes money has a lot to do with their decisions however they dont always go where the moneys the most is what Im trying to say. And no Im not a Devils fan, Im a Leafs fan and have always supported them however they are doing nothing to prove they are a winning franchise to me. The problem is they always finish 5-9 in their division, lose in the second round and get a crappy draft pick. Id take the Leafs not making the playoffs for a few years, get a top three pick in a good draft year and build a team around that player. Im just fed up with the Leafs just doing good enough each year to not get the fans on their asses real hard and stop showing up to games. And who cares if they do better then the Devils in two years, I want to see them do better then the entire league for once in my lifetime.

[kosydar 0]

Winning the Cup isn't a requirement to be a winning team. With the exception of this past season, the Leafs were consistantly one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. As of right now, the Leafs team is anything but aging. JFJ is trying to rebuild, while putting a respectable team on the ice. That is a very difficult process. The fact of the matter is that Toronto is a place where a lot of NHLers want to play, especially those born in Ontario. Toronto is a big market team with a huge fan base and support. There are many reasons why a UFA would want to go there. Of course there is a lot of bias in the media and in the fans. The TO media always prints every major UFA has interest in TO, and us fans believe it. You make it seem like its this really bad thing to think that big name UFAs would want to sign with big name teams. Look at guys who are Rangers fans, Detroit fans, or Philly fans. They are all guilty of the same thing.

[trucks 0]

Good point but I want a cup winning team, not a team with a good record. you cant get drunk and party in the streets of toronto if the leafs dont win the cup. right now im counting on the jays for that and theyre much more impressive in a much more difficult situation.

[Chadd 916]

Good point but I want a cup winning team, not a team with a good record. you cant get drunk and party in the streets of toronto if the leafs dont win the cup. right now im counting on the jays for that and theyre much more impressive in a much more difficult situation.

You have to have a good record to have a shot at winning the cup. Once you get in the playoffs it's all about luck and timing.

[Adam91 0]

If I was a Leaf fan I'd be pleased that Kubina wanted to come to the Leafs and that he beleives he has a chance to win there. He turned down 5yrs/27.5M from the Blues, turns out some people actually care about winning over what is just a few extra bucks for them.

[kosydar 0]

This is the reason why us Leafs fans think we'll get every top UFA.

Gary Roberts' return to Toronto may not happen. But Anson Carter coming to play in his hometown just might....especially if the Leafs decide to sign Anson Carter. Carter's agent Pat Brisson told the Sun that there is 'mutual interest' between both parties.

http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/hockey_hear...rter_instead_o/

[Eazy_b97 1]

Chadd touched on a good point with the playoff point. Who would have expected Carolina and Tampa to be the last 2 cup winners? They are going in a much better direction now than they have in the past. As nice as Elias would have been, he was a pipe dream. Arnott had a chance, but do you want your 2nd line center making 4.5, when you're wings are bare?

[trucks 0]

A hot goaltender and a team willing to dye to win is not luck, its heart and determination. Luck is in a game 7 getting a few bounces to go your way and winning them game, but to get there it takes much more then luck. Edmonton only finished in the 8th seed because theyre lack of a starting goalie and some cold spells over the course of the year, but pulled an amazing playoff run together which shows that there is truth to the point that its a whole new season in the playoffs and seeds dont matter, except for home ice advantage which really hurt Edmonton in game 7 in my opinion.

[Eazy_b97 1]

A hot goaltender and a team willing to dye to win is not luck, its heart and determination. Luck is in a game 7 getting a few bounces to go your way and winning them game, but to get there it takes much more then luck. Edmonton only finished in the 8th seed because theyre lack of a starting goalie and some cold spells over the course of the year, but pulled an amazing playoff run together which shows that there is truth to the point that its a whole new season in the playoffs and seeds dont matter, except for home ice advantage which really hurt Edmonton in game 7 in my opinion.

They're lack of a starting goalie also held his own in the last few games of the Cup Finals. Everyteam has cold spells during the year, it's a long season.

Usually a team who isn't willing to play their hearts out will lose in the first round.

[fastmiele 59]

Anson Carter ? They weren't interested in him last year at 1 million, but now they are interested ? What's changed ?

[Eazy_b97 1]

A 30 goal season and turning the Sedins career around? Other than that nothing.