Toronto Maple Leafs 15 Best/Worst Salary Cap Era Contracts

*UPDATED: JUNE 2018*

What are the 15 best and the 15 worst non-entry level contracts signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Salary Cap era? There is a strong argument that the latest Phil Kessel contract belongs on the Leafs worst contracts list, except that it's a great contract for the Penguins, already producing 2 Stanley Cups, 54 playoff PTS with the Leafs still paying a chunk of his annual salary. They paid him to win championships in another city. No player on a Leafs contract has had more success.

BEST

1- Phil Kessel, Oct 1 2013, 8 years $64M: Signed by Dave Nonis. This deal has won more Stanley Cups than any Leaf contract signed under the salary cap, and still has years left to pad that total. Sure, he won those Cups in a different city, but it was signed in Toronto.

2- Nazem Kadri, Apr 13 2016, 6 years $27M: Signed by Lou Lamoriello. Kadri emerged as an elite two-way player after locking in for 6 years at a very team friendly price. He could win a Selke trophy under this contract.

3- Fredrick Anderson, June 20 2016, 5 years $25M: Signed by Lou Lamoriello. Anderson has developed into an elite NHL goaltender who has been in the Vezina discussion early in this contract. We’ve seen a few talented young goaltenders come to Toronto and fall apart, but Anderson bucked that trend and delivered.

4- Tomas Kaberle, Feb 11 2006, 5 years $21.2M: Signed by John Ferguson jr. Tommy boy averaged almost 50 PTS per season under this contract and won a Stanley Cup with Boston in year five.

5- Phil Kessel, Sep 18 2009, 5 years $27M: Signed by Brian Burke. This contract produced over 150 goals and 1300 shots in 5 years. That’s good.

6- Tyler Bozak, July 6 2011, 2 years $3M: Signed by Brian Burke. 119 GP, 75 PTS and a guy who killed penalties, played the power play, and won 1190 face offs (52.6 W%). That kind of production tends to cost much more than $1.5M AAV.

7- Jake Gardiner, July 29 2014, 5 years $20.2M: Signed by Dave Nonis. His point totals over the first 4 seasons have been 24, 31, 43, and 52. He just keeps getting better. He was overpaid early but has been a bargain over the last half.

8- Matt Stajan, July 7 2008, 2 years $3.5M: Signed by John Ferguson jr. 158 GP and 112 PTS for $3.5M is a bargain. These little short-term bridge deals for RFAs can produce great value seasons. The two years of this contract produced by far the two best seasons of Stajan’s career at age 24 and 25. Stajan doubled his salary on his next contract and his production began to decline.

9- Morgan Rielly, Apr 13 2016, 6 years $30M: Signed by Lou Lamoriello. Although he had a decline in production in the first year of his new contract, he bounced back with over 50 PTS in 2018. Those are elite numbers at a fair price with plenty of time remaining.

10- Alex Steen, Feb 23 2008, 2 years $3.4M: Signed by Cliff Fletcher. He only had 4 PTS in 20 GP when they shipped him out of town for Lee Stempniak, but scored 71 PTS in 129 GP for the remainder of the contract in St. Louis (which was better than Stempniak did in Toronto). Oops.

11- Zach Hyman, July 5 2017, 4 years $9M: Signed by Lou Lamoriello. In year one he often played on the top line, scoring 40 PTS with a +22 rating at age 25. They’ve got him at a good price for what should be the prime years of his production.

12- Nik Antropov, Jun 6, 2007, 2 years $4.1M: Signed by John Ferguson Jr. The Leafs got 153 GP, 54 G, 115 PTS for $4M, which is a bargain even after accounting for cap inflation. Antropov did double his salary on his next contract.

13- Nikolay Kulemin, July 3 2010, 2 years $4.7M: Signed by Brian Burke. 152 GP and 85 PTS. This contract produced what has been the best season of his career with 57 PTS at age 24. He hasn’t even come close to that number since.

14- Nazem Kadri, Sep 10 2013, 2 years $5.8M: Signed by Dave Nonis. That’s a good price for a 2^nd line center with 89 PTS in 151 GP. He came into the NHL as a scorer, but developed a strong defensive game, making him a valuable asset.

15- Clarke MacArthur, Aug 28 2010, 1 year $1.1M: Signed by Brian Burke. That’s a great price to pay for 60 PTS. He earned himself a nice pay raise on his next contract.

WORST

1- David Clarkson, July 5^th 2013, 7 years $36.7M: Signed by Dave Nonis, traded to Columbus by Dave Nonis for another bad contract. He missed last season due to injury, but it was still a terrible contract prior to the injury. He was crushed by monstrous expectations. It was unfair to expect him to replicate his career year.

2- Mike Komisarek, July 1^st 2009, 5 years $22.5M: Signed by Brian Burke, bought out July 2, 2013 by Dave Nonis. There should be a cap on what big, slow defensemen get paid. Granted if you needed to make a splash on defense in the summer of 2009, the options were limited.

3- Jeff Finger, July 1^st 2008, 4 years $14M: Signed by Cliff Fletcher, buried in the minors by Brian Burke. There is a conspiracy theory that the team intended to sign a different player and made a mistake. That’s how bad this one was, it has its own thriving underlying conspiracy theory.

4- Tim Connolly, July 2 2011, 2 years $9.5M: Signed by Brian Burke. Year one saw a small decrease in his production from his last season in Buffalo. Year two he scored 12 PTS in 28 GP in the AHL.

5- Vesa Toskala, July 4 2007, 2 years $8M: Signed by John Ferguson jr, traded away by Brian Burke with another bad contract for another bad contract (JS Giguere). Toskala was awful after signing this contract. In his last season in Toronto before being traded he had a 3.66 GAA and .874 Sv% in 26 GP.

6- Mikhail Grabovski, Mar 6 2012, 5 years $27.5M: Signed by Brian Burke, bought out July 4 2013 by Dave Nonis. He had a very uninspiring 48 GP and 16 PTS in the lockout shortened season and Nonis used a compliance buyout.

7- Andrew Raycroft, July 4 2006, 3 years $6M: Signed by John Ferguson jr. They traded away Tuuka Rask to get this guy and then signed him to an extension. It did not work out as planned. His last season in Boston saw him put up a 3.71 GAA and .879 SV%, so Toronto had to know it wasn’t getting a great goalie. By year two of this contract, he had a 3.92 GAA and .876 SV%, so he actually got worse.

8- Joffrey Lupul, Jan 20 2013, 5 years $26.2M: Signed by Dave Nonis. In the early days of this contract it returned good value until Joff started to break down. The last 3 years have produced 101 NHL games played and just 35 PTS. Not what you paid for.

9- Matt Martin, July 1 2016, 4 years $10M: Signed by Lou Lamoriello. In year two of this contract, Martin spent much of the season watching from the press box as a healthy scratch. If any other teams were interested in acquiring this contract, he would already be gone.

10- Dion Phaneuf, Dec 31 2013, 7 years $49M: Signed by Brian Burke, traded away by Lou Lamoriello. I originally waivered on whether Phaneuf belonged on this list, but if you look at the 5 worst offensive seasons by defensemen making at least $7M AAV, there are only 2 names that repeat themselves, Brian Campbell and Dion Phaneuf. 

11- Stephane Robidas, July 1^st 2014, 3 years $9M: Signed by Dave Nonis. They signed a defenseman who had just broken his leg twice in the same season. He only played 52 games with Toronto before retiring due to leg issues. Who could have predicted that?

12- Jonathon Bernier, Aug 2 2015, 2 years $8.3M: Signed by Dave Nonis. In year one he had 12 Wins, 21 Losses, with a .908 SV% and 2.88 GAA. He has some difficulty stopping shots from center ice and let in many highlight reel bad goals. He was shipped out of Toronto by year two.

13- Bryan McCabe, June 29 2006, 5 years $28.8M: Signed by John Ferguson jr. I want to say that McCabe scored more goals on his own net than the other net, but that would be hyperbole. He was really good in year one, but the wheels came off in year two and he started getting the “Larry Murphy treatment” from Leaf fans. He was traded that year, but unlike Larry Murphy, did not go on to win a Stanley Cup with his new team.

14- John Liles, Jan 25 2012, 4 years $15.5M: Signed by Brian Burke. He was almost decent in year one, but by year three he was playing in the AHL and was shipped out of town for another bad contract.

15- Colby Armstrong, July 1^st 2010, 3 years $9M: Signed by Brian Burke. Bought out Jun 30 2012 by Brian Burke. I want to give Colby a free pass for injury reasons, but that was a big price tag for 79 GP and 14 PTS. I think even he'd admit that. He's awesome on Hockey Central at noon. If Sportsnet gave him a 3-year deal for $9M I'd say he's worth it...

How Much Should Nazem Kadri Get Paid?

What is a fair contract for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri, who remains unsigned heading into training camp? This morning on the Mike Richards show, the high end comparables were Logan Couture (bridge contract) and John Tavares (long term deal), and debating between these two options. First of all, you can't fairly compare Kadri to Tavares, who is a tier (maybe two) above. Tavares is one of the 10 best players in the NHL right now and had scored 200 PTS by the time his 2nd contract was due. Kadri is pretty good, but does not have a comparable resume to JT.

From the population of players drafted into the NHL from 2005 - 2010 who had comparable production to Nazem Kadri by the 4th season after being drafted, and what they got for their 2nd contracts:

Bobby Ryan, 5 years at $5.1M
Chris Stewart, 2 years at $2.9M
Derick Brassard, 4 years at $3.2M
Max Pacioretty, 2 years at $1.6M
Devin Setoguchi, 1 year at $1.8M
Logan Couture, 2 years at $2.9M
Cody Hodgson, still negotiating

Kadri is probably looking for a 5x5 kind of deal like Bobby Ryan, but when measured against his recent comparables, he's got to be due more in the 2 years at $2.5M range. If Kadri continues to develop at his current pace, he could be a $5M - $6M player after 2 years; in which case it would save the team some money to sign him to a 4 year deal at $4M.

I might have praised Marc Bergevin for the tremendous bargain he signed PK Subban for, but it would have saved the team money in the long term to sign him to a 5x5 or a 4x5. Now that PK won the Norris trophy, his next contract is going to be very rich. That next contract is going to be signed this summer (or sooner), instead of 2017. Bergevin will pay a premium for not trusting how good his player could be.

2013 Toronto Maple Leafs Season Review

It's fair to say that the Toronto Maple Leafs exceeded the expectations of many professional pundits and fans alike this season. Not only did they manage to comfortably make the playoffs (which few thought they would), but they pushed the mighty Boston Bruins to 7 games after falling behind 3-1 in the series. Leaf Nation was on cloud 9. Tens of thousands of people were dancing in the streets, celebrating each goal like they won the Stanley Cup, taking a 4-1 lead into the final 10 minutes of game 7, victory all but certain. Then what happened? They choked in magnificent fashion, blowing the game and sending their fans home in complete shock. The biggest choke in the history of NHL game 7s. The biggest lead anyone has ever choked away in that situation. Oh well, better luck next year...

Nazem Kadri exploded onto the scene out of training camp on his way to scoring 44 PTS in 48 GP, much to the delight of Don Cherry, one of his most vocal supporters. He was a top player right from the first week, and helped the team win some important hockey games early while some of their other scorers (like Phil Kessel) struggled to get on track. Credit to Matt Frattin, who was one of their best players early in the season before getting injured (I had him as the team MVP by week 3). Joffrey Lupul was on fire when he was healthy enough to get on the ice, but injuries continue to be a concern going forward. Trading Luke Schenn for James Van Reimsdyk is looking like a great trade, with JVR being one "American college guy" Burkie was smart to acquire.

Many people said James Reimer was not reliable enough to be a legitimate starting goaltender after a disastrous 2011/12 campaign, which fuelled Roberto Luongo trade rumours right up until the late season trade deadline. Mike Gillis lost the game of chicken, leaving the Leafs with just Reimer. He played some spectacular games down the stretch, but also played some bad games. He just may be one of those "roller-coaster" goaltenders who will make fans run the gauntlet of emotions. Enjoy the highs, survive the lows.

Preseason Rank: 23
Midseason Rank: 5
Final Rank: 6
GM Grade: B-

1st Star: Phil Kessel
2nd Star: James Reimer
3rd Star: Nazem Kadri

UFAs: Clarke MacArthur, Tyler Bozak, Colton Orr, Ryan Hamilton, Ryan O'Byrne, Tim Connolly, Mike Kostka
RFAs: Mark Fraser, Carl Gunnarsson, Cody Franson, Nazem Kadri, Leo Komarov, Joe Colborne, Frazer McLaren

Best Contract: James Van Riemsdyk 5 more years at $4.25M
Worst Contract: Mikhail Grabovski 4 more years at $5.5M

What I said about them in preseason:  With Brian Burke getting fired, who knows what's going to happen. Dave Nonis has moved to drop Lombardi and Connolly, so it's not like he's taking a run at this season. If they are taking a shot a a rebuild, then they wouldn't want Luongo.

Hindsight: Perhaps my assertion that burying Connolly in the minors was a sign they wanted to tank the season, was a little off. He has NHL level talent, but perhaps it was addition by subtraction.

------------------------------------------------

It has to be considered a good year for both Dave Nonis (and by osmosis Brian Burke), as this roster is definitely on the up swing. There are brighter days ahead for Leaf Nation, who got a taste of playoff hockey this year for the first time in a long time. They have quality prospects in the system, a core of quality young hockey players who should ensure this roster is competitive for a long time. Despite snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in the most epic manner imaginable, there are many reasons for Leaf fans to be optimistic about the future (certainly more so than Canucks fans).

Maple Leafs Should Trade Phaneuf And Kessel

When Brian Burke was fired as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it signalled that the team he built has failed to accomplish their objectives in their expected timeline. The experiment is over, despite Dave Nonis taking over the GM duties, Burke's assistant who helped build this decidedly mediocre team. Both Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel have one year remaining on their contracts, and were principal pieces acquired by the now unemployed Burkie. There is no guarantee that either player will return to Toronto when their contracts expire, though Phaneuf being team captain does increase the probability he'll return. The question is, should the team want either player for the long term? They have been the cornerstones of this team for the last two seasons, both years the Leafs missed the playoffs.

Phaneuf has started the 2013 season with 1 point and a -6 through 10 games as he leads the team in ice time (he ranks 350th on my week 2 player rankings). He is the team's captain, he logs 27 minutes per game, and he gets paid $6.5M per season. This ranks him among the top defensemen in the league, an elite salary for a player who might not even be very effective. He was previously voted by his peers as the most overrated player in the NHL. He's certainly no Chris Pronger or Scott Neidermayer, defensemen acquired by Burke in Anaheim en route to a Stanley Cup. Sure, some people might say it is ridiculous to even compare Phaneuf to Pronger, and certainly from a value standpoint, they are not in the same class. However, both were acquired early in the tenure of a Brian Burke team, and Dion is certainly paid like an elite player, even if he's only slightly above average.

The difference between Phaneuf and Pronger helps to illustrate the difference between Burke's Anaheim and Toronto experiences, one producing a Stanley Cup, the other an untimely dismissal. One can't help but forget that Calgary was all too happy to unload him back in 2009, which did raise a few eyebrows. Why would any team want to unload one of the most promising young blueliners in the game? He is a very physical player who has seen a steady decline in offensive production. His worst year in Calgary was better than his best year in Toronto. Perhaps this is not a building block that you want to construct your team around, certainly if your goal is to win a championship. He could be a valuable contributor to a champion one day, but not as the top defenseman logging close to 30 minutes of ice time every game for $6.5M. That's not a recipe for success.

The same can probably be said for Phil Kessel, who's name is getting plenty of frequent flyer miles on the NHL rumour mill. Kessel is arguably the least defensively responsible player in the league, and is entirely one dimensional. He shoots and scores. That's about it, and this year he's been struggling early with no goals in the first 10 games. His name surfaces in trade rumours far more frequently than captain Dion, but both should be equally considered. There has to be a decent trade market for both of these players. Their contracts expire soon, and they have attractive skill sets. Do the Toronto Maple Leafs believe that they can contend for a championship next season? Considering that the team is now owned by two media companies with 24 hour sports networks, the smart money says ownership will want to win, whether it is a likely scenario is not. Bell and Rogers could veto a true rebuild.

Should the Leafs fall short of a playoff spot this season and/or next season, and lose both Phaneuf and Kessel to free agency, that will be considered a major loss for the future of the franchise. Getting something in return for these assets while their value is still relatively high just makes sense. Will either player accept less money to stay in this media-circus of Toronto? They currently make a combined $12M per season. That's a lot of coin for two guys who have played a combined 428 (and counting) consecutive games without a playoff appearance. It reamins to be seen if a deal gets done, but at the very least Dave Nonis has to be entertaining trade offers, perhaps even leak an "e5" rumour to Eklund to help build demand.

The "Dave Nonis Face"

Wednesday the Toronto Maple Leafs rocked the hockey world by terminating General Manager Brian Burke from one of the top managerial jobs in the sport. Shortly after the release, there was a press conference to introduce Dave Nonis as the new boss. Most hockey executives would be thrilled to get this promotion, but Nonis looked visibly upset, at times he appeared to be fighting back tears. As Greg Wyshynski put it, "has anyone found Nonis's lost puppy".

Yes, Nonis and Burke are friends and Dave was partially in shock. Instead of appearing confident, enthusiastic, and optimistic; he looked as though he was delivering the eulogy at a funeral.

Saturday morning Brian Burke finally addressed the media, and he was mostly conciliatory, expressing his support for Nonis and the team. He did so with the typical Burkie swagger, though he had a few days to absorb the shock, unlike Nonis thrown immediately into the spotlight hours after he found out. Brian Burke and Dave Nonis both claimed to be shocked at the firing, with Burke comparing it to getting hit across the head with a 2x4. The fact that so many people (inside and outside the organization) were shocked at the dismissal (at least the timing of it) does show this was completely unexpected. Even the guy replacing him didn't know until that day. It suggests something suspicious, and I would suspect that we have not been told what really happened.

All of this culminated in Dave Nonis's facial expression, which gave the appearance of several emotions all squeezed into one. Shock, sadness, fear, doubt, just to name a few. Does Nonis expect his own job to be in jeopardy? I mean, if this execution was performance based, Nonis's fingerprints are all over the crime scene. Hec, many pundits have been saying that Burke has been more of a figure head, while Nonis has been the guy actually running the team. If that's the case, did MLSE fire the right guy? Is Dave Nonis afraid that he won't last very long in his new job? Judging by the look on his face, I'd say that's a very real possibility.

Why Did The Toronto Maple Leafs Fire Brian Burke?

The hockey world was shocked today by the news that Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke had been fired, on the same day the owners ratified the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, 10 days before the shortened season is set to start. The fact that he was let go was less shocking than the timing, as there were rumblings at the end of last season that his job was in jeopardy after missing the playoffs for all 4 years of his tenure. The team came under new ownership in August, being purchased by the tandem of Rogers Communication and Bell Media (the companies that own Sportsnet and TSN).

So why did Brian Burke get fired? There has been all sorts of speculation today about what exactly happened, one popular conspiracy theory being that Burke was unwilling to acquire goaltender Roberto Luongo, though this theory is entirely speculative with no basis in fact. It is entirely plausible and possible that ownership wants Lou, who won a gold medal for Canada in the 2010 Olympics; and if Burke had decided and declared that he did not want to pull the trigger on that trade, it very well could have cost him his job.

Burkie made some mistakes since taking over the Leafs GM job. The most often talked about is the trade of 2 first round draft picks for Phil Kessel, a deal compounded by the fact that the picks turned out to be Tyler Seguin and Doug Hamilton, two future superstars. Kessel has scored 99 goals in 3 seasons in blue and white, but is also one of the NHL's worst defensive players. Burke also signed defenseman Mike Komisarek to a 5 year contract for $22M, a move that has proved to be an albatross. But while he's made some bad moves, he has also made some great moves (like acquiring Phaneuf and trading Beauchemin for Lupul and Gardiner).

Besides, if it was poor decision making that got Burke fired, why would they promote Dave Nonis to replace him? Considering that Dave Nonis was his right hand man when all those moves were made, his fingerprints are all over this roster which has repeatedly failed to make the playoffs. Nonis deserves considerable blame for the team's poor performance, so if it was that performance that led to Burke's termination, you'd think his best friend Nonis would be out the door behind him, not taking over the steering wheel.

Personally I don't think that it was bad trades, bad signings, or a Luongo conspiracy theory that cost Burke his job, I think it was his personality. This is a man whose relationship with the media can be described as cantankerous at the best of times. Burkie has what my dad would call "rabbit ears", in that he seems to read or hear everything that is written or spoken about him or his team and he has a wickedly short fuse. He is quick to get pissed off at media members, and once you've crossed Burkie, he is unlikely to forgive or forget. There's probably half a dozen guys in the Rogers Sportsnet family who are on Burkie's shit list. It's not a good thing to be rough with the media when two of the largest media conglomerates in Canada just bought your team.

Many of us believed that Brian Burke would have one more year to prove himself, to make the playoffs and ultimately achieve some level of success before getting axed. Toronto has a decent crop of prospects coming into the league, chips to move, and a chance of being good. If Burke were fired for purely performance of the product on the ice, it would likely come at the end of the season when General Managers are most often cut loose; rather than days before a compressed season. As one gentleman put it today on television (sorry I didn't recognize his face or catch his name), they might have wanted to fire him before he had a chance to save himself. If the Leafs made the playoffs or even won a playoff round this spring, it would have been more difficult to justify terminating the boss.

The most likely reason that Burke lost his job is that he frequently feuds with the hockey media and now his team is owned by the same companies who employ a substantial chunk of that media. If they fired him because they don't like his personality, now was the best time to do it. Had it been solely a matter of product performance, he would have likely received one last chance and his right hand man would not have his job right now. Nobody believes that firing Burke will make the team better this season, unless of course he had decided against the Luongo deal and TSN/Sportsnet wanted Lou at the center of the hockey universe. The Luongo conspiracy theory becomes more likely if Nonis trades for him in the next few weeks. 

It really looks like Burke got fired because he's a dick. At the press conference Dave Nonis appeared to be partially in shock, like at several moments he was fighting back tears. At times he looked pissed off. Clearly he had no idea until this morning that this move was coming.

Leafs Trade Luke Schenn For James Van Riemsdyk

This weekend the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Luke Schenn to the Philadelphia Flyers for James Van Riemsdyk, in a trade that has been rumoured for most of the season (derailed after a JVR concussion and ankle injury). This is a trade that works for both teams because it addresses their individual needs, the Flyers needing a defenseman and the Leafs needing a power forward. Schenn projects to be a Chris Phillips, Scott Hannan, Braydon Coburn type of defenseman with low offensive upside; where Van Riemsdyk fits in the Andrew Ladd, Ryan Kesler, Colby Armstrong mould. Frankly the two players traded have very comparable value, with the ideal player being dependent on team needs. With both teams addressing holes in their roster, this can be categorized as a win-win, at least for the time being. If JVR can reach the 70-80 point range, then Toronto would be the clear winner.

2011/12 Toronto Maple Leafs R.I.P

Twas a season of great disappointment for Leaf Nation, as the team missed the playoffs yet again with their post-season drought slowly closing in on a decade. It was a season that saw fans sarcastically cheering easy saves by their goaltenders, at times chanting "fire Wilson"; then a few weeks after he was fired chanting "re-hire Wilson". The season started out great, with many (myself included) predicting a playoff spot. The team however, had a weakness larger than Allan Bester's five hole, and that was their goaltending. Did the goaltending collapse because the team in front of them collapsed, or did the team collapse because the goaltending collapsed? Leaf fans could drive themselves crazy trying to solve this chicken and egg puzzle.

Phil Kessel is an exciting offensive player, but he might very well be the biggest defensive liability in the game at the forward position. Dion Phaneuf might be entirely over-rated. That Grabovski extension, 5 more years at $5.5M is certainly no bargain, arguably a substantial overpayment for a team already jammed against the cap with $55M in contracts signed for next season and a new CBA coming this fall. Mike Komisarek looks like dead money at $4.5M, Connolly ain't cheap at $4.75, Lombardi and Armstrong also make more money than they are worth. Rest assured that Brian Burke will push for a one time buyout in the next CBA, like teams had at the start of the last CBA.

While Leaf fans spread speculation that they will add a Parise, Nash, or Getzlaf this summer; the inconvenient truth of the matter is that Brian Burke's #1 priority will be acquiring a #1 goaltender. That's the bottom line. It could be Roberto Luongo, it could be Tim Thomas, maybe even Kiprusoff if Calgary decides to move him. There are some more long shot options like Lindback, Josh Harding, Bernier, Greiss, Theodore, or perhaps Tomas Vokoun. The better the player, the more he's going to cost. Make no mistake, if the Leafs miss the playoffs next season, Burke's job will be in serious jeopardy. Jake Gardiner and Joffrey Lupul were the big positive stories of the season for this team, as Burke has assembled a decent collection of prospects. He has pieces of value to move in the trade market, but he must shed salary to take on salary. Resigning Kulemin is another problem.

Roberto Luongo To The Toronto Maple Leafs?

After a disappointing first round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs in which Cory Schneider took over the number one goaltender duties, Roberto Luongo has announced that he is willing to waive his no trade clause and leave Vancouver. The probability Lou is traded this offseason has to be at least 85%, and thus far the teams being mentioned the most are the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. The biggest determining factor in where he ends up is whether he's willing to go anywhere, or if he gives Gillis a restricted list of teams he'll play for. Having the no trade clause does give him a veto (whether or not he chooses to use it), and many in the Vancouver media have speculated that Roberto would want nothing to do with Toronto (where angry fans closed out the season heckling their goaltenders). Roberto needs people to pump his tires. Everyone knows that.

Brian Burke is certainly desperate enough for a #1 goaltender that he will almost certainly make an offer for Luongo. That much you can take to the bank, unless of course he's able to find another goaltender before Lou is moved. Whether or not Roberto goes to the Leafs depends on if he's willing to play in the center of the Universe in front of a frustrated, often hostile fan base. I don't think he is. If I were a gambling man, I'd wager a large sum of money that he ends up in the state of Florida. As a matter of personal preference, Luongo in Toronto would be far more entertaining. Leaf Nation is in a volatile state right now, and if the team doesn't start winning next season, things will deteriorate from ugly to uglier. Lou is more likely to get his tires slashed by Leaf fans than he is to get them pumped. Leaf nation would fall in love with him if he succeeds, and eat him alive if he fails. For that reason, don't expect Toronto to be on his short list.

Should The Toronto Maple Leafs Tank Their Season?

Interesting that the Toronto Maple Leafs are just 5 PTS out of a playoff spot, but already there have been widespread calls in Leaf Nation to tank the 15 remaining games in order to secure the highest possible draft pick. These are now the questions being asked of the team by the media as the season comes to an end. First, you'll never get a coach or player say out loud that they'd like to lose hockey games. You can't blame the media for asking based on fan pressure, but you know what the answer is going to be. While the Leaf post-season chances are diminishing with each loss, they still have a shot at the playoffs. Neither Washington or Winnipeg is setting the world on fire, and Tampa just lost their only half decent goalie for the stretch drive. Buffalo is the hottest team, but even they are flawed and may not be able to sustain their current hot streak.

Toronto can still make the playoffs. It may be unlikely, but certainly not impossible. Perhaps the Lupul injury is the nail in the coffin (notice my double entendre with Nail Yakupov being the anticipated #1 pick), but they have a new coach who is going to want to make a solid first impression heading into next season. Like the commercial says, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. His biggest challenge is to get Phil Kessel to be defensively responsible. Teams who have top players that are defensive minded tend to have more success, like the Detroit Red Wings. When Steve Yzerman was an offensive dynamo shooting the lights out, the team never won in the playoffs. Once he began to focus on defense, he won 3 Stanley Cups. Datsyuk has 3 Selke trophies. Toews was a Selke nominee. Kesler won the award last year and his team went to the finals. Etc, etc, etc...

Grabovski Signs Pricey Extension With Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed forward Mikhail Grabovski to a 5 year, $27 million contract extension, taking him off the July 1st unrestricted list. That price and that term is a hefty cost to pay, certainly there is no "home town discount" (but I guess he's not Ontario born). For the next two seasons he'll be making more money than Phil Kessel, who is the team's best forward and leading scorer. Kessel is 5th in NHL scoring, but will be collecting a smaller paycheque than Grabo for the rest of his contract. Not sure what Phil thinks of that, if he cares at all.

The Grabovski extension came not very long after a radio interview were Burkie hung up on a radio host who ask him about his job security. He's taking a lot of heat over his spats with the media, not the least of which is Don Cherry. Burke and his interactions with the media remind me of a player that I played minor hockey with that my father said had "rabbit ears"; he heard everything that everyone said, and it sometimes drove him bat shit crazy. Did Burke get paranoid about the interview and then agree to Grabo's ransom? Tough to say...but I'm sure that by writing this, Brian Burke will soon be lashing out at me...

Burke Cherry Feud

Brian Burke is continuing his long history of picking fights with media members, and his latest opponent is none other than Don Cherry, a pundit with very sharp elbows. The Don has a strong following, but he can say crazy things, so people will often take his opinions with a grain of salt. Don being Don. That being said, it does not benefit Burkie to pick a fight with Cherry, because it exposes a pattern of excessive confrontation with the media, and a segment (however large or small) of Leaf Nation will end up with a more negative opinion of Burke than they had before. Don Cherry is held in higher regard by far more people than David Pratt or Steve Simmons. A lot of people also think Cherry is nuts, a stereotypical grumpy old man. Opinions cut both ways.

Guaranteed that there are important people at the CBC who don't like Don Cherry. He's so close to retirement, and his career may be over sooner rather than later. Will he get kicked out the door or leave on his own? They don't have anybody waiting in the wings who can stir the pot like he does. If anyone takes over Coach's Corner, it has to be a coach. Milburry? Crawford? Melrose? Keenan? It sure as shit ain't Kelly Hrudey. Don's initial feud with Burke was regarding the ineffectiveness of Wilson and Burke stood up for his man. Not long thereafter the team collapsed and Burkie fired his man. Cherry was right to be ripping Wilson. The recent comments about lacking Ontario born players, that's a different matter, and I'm not sure how that plays out.

 As for Burke, he's got two years left on his deal. What happens if the Leafs miss the playoffs this year and next? There is frustration simmering in Leaf Nation right now, with many even becoming angry. He needs the team to start winning. He cannot replace the core he has built. The core that's there has to be the core that brings them into legitimate contention. His fate and his future will now be judged by the team on the ice. The team had better be good next season, and that might not happen with James Reimer in net. Burke has to hedge his bets and bring in another guy who can be a #1, and that's not Jonas Gustavsson (people should stop calling him "Monster" unless you start meaning it in a negative way).

Is Leaf Nation Starting To Turn On Brian Burke?

The writing is already on the wall for Ron Wilson, unless he magically turns things around and gets the team into the playoffs (which doesn't look very likely with 18 games to go). Once fans start chanting to fire the coach, historically that means his days are numbered. While the fans haven't started chanting "Fire Burkie", many are starting to question "the rebuild", which is taking far longer than expected. It wasn't supposed to be this way. The acquisition of Phaneuf and Kessel was supposed to speed things up, instead of waiting for draft picks to develop. This team has not made the playoffs since before the lockout, and the fan base is becoming rabid. They want a playoff series, and they want it now.

At the trade deadline Burke chose not to address the team's most glaring need and acquire a goaltender. His only deal was trading a 22 year old 6'6 defenseman with 57 career NHL GP for a 20 year old forward with zero NHL GP. That deal might make the team better 2 years from now, but not right now. Burke traded Versteeg for a 1st and a 3rd last year, but that move won't pay dividends for 2-4 years and Versteeg is having a dynamite season for a lot less money than Tim Connolly. The time is now for Toronto to return to playoff status. Your fans need it, as they have hit a critical boiling point and could collectively explode.

The Leafs are sitting in 11th place in the East, 5 PTS out of a playoff spot. But if you look down instead up, they are also 5 PTS from a lottery pick that could be #1 overall. The question is; in which direction do you want to go? My guess is more Leaf fans would rather make the playoffs than maximize ping pong balls in the draft lottery. You tell me.

Do The Toronto Maple Leafs Have A Goaltending Controversy?

It is February, the Toronto Maple Leafs are sitting in a playoff spot, and they should be able to keep Florida, Tampa, and Winnipeg in their rear view mirror. There is a segment of Leaf Nation convinced that the team is in the midst of a goalie controversy, and those would be the people who set their expectations for James Reimer at the highest peak. In January Gustavsson was 7-3-1 with a 2.08 GAA and a .926 save percentage, ergo he has been the starting goaltender. Reimer has struggled since the concussion, with a few scattered good games and a number of bad games. However Gustavsson's quality play has made it difficult for him to get back in the net and get into a rhythm. It's not like Toronto is experiencing anything like the madness in St.Louis with two red hot keepers in Halak and Elliot.

If you happened to think that Reimer would challenge for the Vezina this season, then you would be more likely to think there is a goalie controversy in TO right now. But there is no controversy, just a team with two young goalies playing the hot hand. That's how it should be if you are fighting for a playoff spot. Go with whoever is getting you wins, and if that's neither than alternate starts until somebody gets hot. It is a standard formula used successfully for decades, across generations. Goalies tend to take longer to develop, often with greater variance in their performance than position players. You need to be patient with young goalies and know how to use them properly. You could even argue that the best course would be to send Reimer to the minors to get starts, if the nature of his contract allows him to be sent down without clearing waivers.

Last night Gustavsson blew a large 3rd period lead and Toronto lost. Tonight Reimer is starting against the same team, and has a shutout after two periods. So what happens if Reimer starts playing well and Gustavsson starts sitting on the bench for a few weeks because of 1 bad game? Alternating starts is the best way to keep both guys fresh so long as both are winning hockey games.

Ryan Getzlaf To Be Traded To Toronto Maple Leafs?

Yesterday the Anaheim Mighty Ducks announced that everyone on their roster (except Selanne and Koivu) are for sale. This season has been a catastrophe for the team that has been a power house since the lockout, and they are suddenly shopping key assets like MVP Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and even Bobby Ryan. We are talking about elite young players on a reasonable salary who have helped this team achieve incredible success in their young careers. However it appears the franchise has been significantly harmed by the loss of Chris Pronger and Scott Neidermayer, and suddenly they are desperate.

So I get an e-mail from my Leaf fan friend yesterday that Getzlaf and Hiller are going to Toronto for Kadri, Gunnerson, Gustavsson, Franson and a 1st round pick. The only problem with that is that the Leafs are right up against the cap. The Leafs have enough assets to acquire Getzlaf or Perry, but they need to shed salary before they can add salary. Are the Ducks interested in adding someone like Komisarek? Probably not. They are closer to the cap than the floor and would more likely prefer shedding salary if they are undertaking a rebuilding process.

If the Leafs want to send a young asset package to Anaheim for one of Getzlaf, Perry, or Ryan, they will probably need to eat a few salaries in the AHL. Wade Redden is having a mediocre season for Connecticut in the AHL, and somebody like Komisarek would have to be demoted to make room for one of the Anaheim stars. Komisarek has a no movement clause, so he won't be playing for the Marlies anytime soon. They need Colby Armstrong to stay hurt, or maybe demote Lombardi or Kulemin.

Hiller is not even an option for the Maple Leafs, but maybe for the Marlies. I'm sure the Ducks would be excited if any team were willing to eat that salary, and might help make a Getzlaf deal possible. However the Leafs would have to make room for Getzlaf and send Hiller immediately to the minors to play with Jeff Finger. That would also make it difficult for Hiller to ever be re-called, because there is a strong probability that he'd be claimed on re-entry waivers for half his current salary. Hiller has 2.5 years left on his contract.

NOTE: The Leafs have about $10M in relevant contracts expiring at the end of the season. They can fit Getzlaf in next season, but for the rest of this season, they need to make room and/or wait until closer to the deadline when his cap hit for this season is significantly reduced.

Is Wayne Gretzky Going To Buy The Toronto Maple Leafs?

Rumours have now attached the name of Wayne Gretzky to the sale of the Toronto Maple Leafs, which made some news headlines in Canada. A group looking to buy the Maple Leafs reportedly contacted Gretzky about joining their consortium, Wayne reportedly said no. It was then leaked to the media that Wayne Gretzky was involved in talks to buy the Toronto Maple Leafs. Technically it's true, but the headline is very easy for a Leaf fan to see and misconstrue. Is Wayne Gretzky going to buy the Toronto Maple Leafs? By golly I hope so, and I'm no Leafs fan. Marty McSorley could be brought in as head coach, and why not make his agent director of scouting? Oh the places you'll go!

It's highly unlikely that Wayne has the personal wealth to purchase a major share of the most valuable franchise in the NHL, so his involvement would be mostly ceremonial. He's also coming off a very negative ownership experience in Phoenix, so it's unlikely that he is eager to get back into the owner's box anytime soon. I'm sure that hasn't stopped some Leaf fans for dreaming dreams of the Great One blessing the blue and white...

Tyler Seguin Lights Up The Toronto Maple Leafs

It was great to see Boston Bruin forward Tyler Seguin torch the Toronto Maple Leafs for 3 goals over the weekend, against the team who would have been drafting him if not for trading the pick for Phil Kessel. With Kessel's hot start to the season Leaf fans can sleep easy, but rest assured the Boston Bruins are very very happy they made that trade. Burke got what he wanted, but he paid a steep price to do it. In the meantime, since the trade, Boston won a Stanley Cup and the Leafs still have not made the playoffs. However, I do expect the Leafs to make the postseason in 2011/12 thanks in part to the chemistry between Lupul and Kessel.

You could argue that the trade was good for both teams. The kid Boston drafted with the second pick is what could tip the balance in the long term analysis. Also, we need to see how the Leafs do with Kessel in the playoffs before we can judge the strength of that aquisition.

As of the moment I'm writing this: Seguin has 14 PTS in 12 GP and Kessel has 21 PTS in 14 GP.

Kadri To Be Traded For Spezza?

Today on Twitter Barry MaGuire from TSN tweeted "Bozak, Gunnarson, and Kadri for Spezza". No doubt Leaf Nation lit up after seeing that rumour pop up on their computer screens. Ottawa originally wanted to draft Kadri until the Leafs selected him shortly before their pick, so in that sense it makes sense that Ottawa wants to acquire him. That being said, I have trouble believing that the Senators would trade such a dynamic offensive player to their most hated rival. There is no question that Ottawa has been desperately trying to find a buyer for Spezza's expensive contract, which is one of the worst contracts in hockey. The majority of teams aren't interested in spending $7M per year for a player who had 57 PTS last season in 62 GP.

So while this contract is an albatross that the Sens are trying to sell, they will make Toronto overpay for the player if any trade is made. Spezza's high end upside is in the 90 point range, and that organization and fan base do not want to get burned be the Leafs. Spezza's high end production days may be behind him, but I still don't see him wearing a Leafs jersey.

Tim Connolly Starts Season On Injured Reserve

Allow me to express my shock and awe that the Toronto Maple Leafs new #1 center and free agent saviour Tim Connolly will start the season on injured reserve. Connolly is no stranger to injury, but what makes this one so strange is that he wiped out in practice! That is just too funny, and a great way to start the Connolly era in Leaf Nation. Perhaps we should all start calling him TIMMY like the handicapped kid in South Park? He is a talented player and nobody questions his skill with the hockey puck; but what can be questioned is his ability to stay healthy.

Do you really want a hypochondriac as your #1 center? Steve Simmons asked on Twitter, over/under 68 games. It would probably be smart to take the under.

Zach Parise To Be Acquired By The Toronto Maple Leafs?

Zach Parise will become an unrestricted free agent in 2012 after signing a one year deal for $6 million with the Devils. If they are unable to lock him up to a long term extension, you can bet that Leaf GM Brian Burke will do everything he can to acquire this player. If New Jersey has a poor first half and Parise goes onto the trading block, expect Burke to make a significant offer. However, if the Devils decide to sell Parise, the price will be expensive as he's 27 years old and hitting his prime years. Many teams will be competing for his services, hence why I don't think he'll sign long term in Jersey. Martin Brodeur's career can't continue forever, and this team's dynasty years are certainly in the rear view mirror. The question at this point for other teams is whether or not you offer a big package for Parise, or wait until July 2012 and not have to sell a load of prospects.

ESPN's Hockey Today speculated that Minnesota is going to offer Zach a monster contract and no mention was made about the Leafs, but my friend the Leaf fan insists otherwise. Why would Parise play in his home state of Minnesota when he could be a Toronto Maple Leaf? Every player wants to be a Toronto Maple Leaf, that's why all hockey players are born, to service the hopes and dreams of ambitious Leaf fans....