4th Line Center
- Thread starter cw
- Start date
maplesyrup
New member
mirtle James Mirtle
Leafs are still in talks with Darryl Boyce about a new contract. Could be real battle for bottom six forward role in camp.
29 minutes ago
Leafs are still in talks with Darryl Boyce about a new contract. Could be real battle for bottom six forward role in camp.
29 minutes ago
Sarge said:
Wouldn't mind him as a Marlie and for depth. There's probably a case to be made that he's better than the unsigned UFAs.
But I'd prefer at least one more NHL center option that appears to be better than Boyce. I don't think Lombardi will be around any time soon if ever. Connolly is an injury risk. If he goes down with Bozak or Grabbo, the team could go into a lull and once again, be in a hole too deep to crawl out of for playoff contention. Maybe trade is the only answer.
maplesyrup
New member
cw said:
Fernando Pisani? He managed 60 games on a quality Chicago team last year. He's just a fairly familiar name and I bring him name up having no idea how he's been as a player over the last couple years.
Corn Flake
New member
Zigomanis.
Fills the role in every way other than size. Faceoffs, speed, checking, PK. AND DON CHERRY EFFING LOVES HIM.
Now if he would just drop the Cheetah power surge endorsement.
Fills the role in every way other than size. Faceoffs, speed, checking, PK. AND DON CHERRY EFFING LOVES HIM.
Now if he would just drop the Cheetah power surge endorsement.
oldrugbyguy
New member
Do not worry about 4th line centre as long as he paid under 1 mil and can mix it up a bit
Mike Zigomanis
Maple Leafs forward with Gord Stellick
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Fresh off signing a 1-year contract to stay with the Maple Leafs, the Toronto-native joins the Gord Stellick Show to discuss the upcoming year and what he learned last season.
http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media.jsp?content=20110712_133234_7464
Maple Leafs forward with Gord Stellick
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Fresh off signing a 1-year contract to stay with the Maple Leafs, the Toronto-native joins the Gord Stellick Show to discuss the upcoming year and what he learned last season.
http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media.jsp?content=20110712_133234_7464
Kin
New member
Tigger said:
I'd like it a lot. I was a big advocate of signing him before he went to Minnesota. As you say he brings those things plus some veteran leadership that I think the team could really use. From Toronto as well(although that may hold less pull in this case for him as he had it rough growing up).
I think when it got brought up earlier someone said it seemed as though he was in a Minnesota or bust mindset.
maplesyrup
New member
Tigger said:
Blah.
Saint Nik said:
I'd like it too but I get the feeling that two things could be in the way, one you mentioned, that he might be in a Minny way of mind and that Toronto seems bound and determined to keep with the youth movement but I think he'd be a great fit on a one year deal.
Boyce wants to stick with Leafs
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/sports/article/1423178
He said he's confident he'll know where he stands for the 2011-12 NHL season by Friday.
"We're still looking at offers right now," said Boyce in a phone interview from his home in Prince Edward Island yesterday. "Obviously I'd like to be back in Toronto, but we want to make sure it's the best fit."
The Leafs have been active in free agency so far, adding six forwards in the past 10 days, which could put a roster spot for Boyce in jeopardy.
But he's hopeful the two sides will reach an agreement.
"It's important for me, I've made a home there," said Boyce, who played four seasons of junior hockey for the OHL's St. Mike's Majors in Toronto. "They're a great organization with a lot of great people."
...
To prepare for training camp, he's been working out every morning at 9 a.m. alongside hulking Leafs defenceman Dion Phaneuf, whose family vacations on the Island every summer.
"We are pushing each other really hard," said Boyce, 27. "I couldn't be happier about it. For three hours, it's biking and sprints...a really a good mix of stuff."
In 46 games with Toronto's NHL squad last season, Boyce, who grew up on P.E.I., had 13 points (five goals, eight assists) and carried a plus-8 rating.
He said his extended stay with the big club earned him the trust of head coach Ron Wilson, who would put him on the ice in crucial moments.
"My opportunity came because of a fluke," he said. "A guy was in and his wife had a baby, so they needed a player and I was that guy. The right spot at the right time. Eventually, Wilson entrusted me with valuable minutes at critical times in games."
He's hoping that trust will translate into a roster spot come training camp, but acknowledged that playing the waiting game has worn on his nerves.
While all the big-name free agents usually sign within the first week or two, the "little guys," as he puts it, often have to wait until the bitter end to know their fate.
"It's weird to have you life sort of hanging in the balance," he said. "(As a player) you only have so many summers where you don't have a contract going into next season. It's different, and working out, not being sure where you'll play next year was sort of a distraction, but now we're getting a handle on everything and have a better outlook about how things will shape up."
Looks like we'll know his disposition by the end of the week.
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/sports/article/1423178
He said he's confident he'll know where he stands for the 2011-12 NHL season by Friday.
"We're still looking at offers right now," said Boyce in a phone interview from his home in Prince Edward Island yesterday. "Obviously I'd like to be back in Toronto, but we want to make sure it's the best fit."
The Leafs have been active in free agency so far, adding six forwards in the past 10 days, which could put a roster spot for Boyce in jeopardy.
But he's hopeful the two sides will reach an agreement.
"It's important for me, I've made a home there," said Boyce, who played four seasons of junior hockey for the OHL's St. Mike's Majors in Toronto. "They're a great organization with a lot of great people."
...
To prepare for training camp, he's been working out every morning at 9 a.m. alongside hulking Leafs defenceman Dion Phaneuf, whose family vacations on the Island every summer.
"We are pushing each other really hard," said Boyce, 27. "I couldn't be happier about it. For three hours, it's biking and sprints...a really a good mix of stuff."
In 46 games with Toronto's NHL squad last season, Boyce, who grew up on P.E.I., had 13 points (five goals, eight assists) and carried a plus-8 rating.
He said his extended stay with the big club earned him the trust of head coach Ron Wilson, who would put him on the ice in crucial moments.
"My opportunity came because of a fluke," he said. "A guy was in and his wife had a baby, so they needed a player and I was that guy. The right spot at the right time. Eventually, Wilson entrusted me with valuable minutes at critical times in games."
He's hoping that trust will translate into a roster spot come training camp, but acknowledged that playing the waiting game has worn on his nerves.
While all the big-name free agents usually sign within the first week or two, the "little guys," as he puts it, often have to wait until the bitter end to know their fate.
"It's weird to have you life sort of hanging in the balance," he said. "(As a player) you only have so many summers where you don't have a contract going into next season. It's different, and working out, not being sure where you'll play next year was sort of a distraction, but now we're getting a handle on everything and have a better outlook about how things will shape up."
Looks like we'll know his disposition by the end of the week.
BlueWhiteBlood
New member
cw said:
I like Boyce and hope they decide to keep him. He works hard and deserves at least a two-way contract. Even if he eventually has to go back to the Marlies, I think he is a good call up guy that keeps himself on the right side of the plus minus stat.
Leafs give Zigomanis another shot
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/12/leafs-give-zigomanis-another-shot
Mike Zigomanis doesn?t want to hear anything close to a suggestion that he will be competing for a spot as the Maple Leafs? fourth-line centre when training camp opens in September.
?Everybody will be fighting for a spot,? Zigomanis said on Tuesday, ?and you never want to say it will be on the fourth line or as the extra forward.?
The Leafs re-signed Zigomanis, a 30-year-old Toronto native, to a one-year, two-way pact. Zigomanis will be paid $650,000 US when he is in a Leafs sweater and $300,000 US if he is with the Toronto Marlies. Either way, Zigomanis gets a bump in salary after leading the Marlies last season with 47 points (14 goals and 33 assists) in 64 games. In 2010-11, Zigomanis earned $500,000 when he was with the Leafs and $250,000 as a member of the Marlies.
Zigomanis cracked the Leafs roster in training camp last fall and played in eight games, registering one assist, before he was sent to the Marlies. Despite his talents as one of the top faceoff men in the organization, and a solid penalty killer to boot, Zigomanis didn?t play for the Leafs after Oct. 28.
?It was great for me to make it out of camp, because no one had pencilled me in,? Zigomanis said. ?Faceoffs are such a big part of the game now and I?ve done a lot of penalty killing, so hopefully I can bring those two things to the table (in camp).?
The uphill climb for Zigomanis will have challenges. One guy standing in his way is Philippe Dupuis, who was signed by the Leafs to a two-way deal worth $650,000 after recording 17 points in 74 games for the Colorado Avalanche in 2010-11. Joe Colborne also will be trying to get a hold on a roster spot.
Meanwhile, all appears to be quiet on the Luke Schenn front, as general manager Brian Burke and his right-hand man, David Nonis, are on vacation this week. Burke has said he is not in a rush to re-sign Schenn, a restricted free agent.
So Boyce might not finalized until next week if he's signing with the Leafs ...
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/12/leafs-give-zigomanis-another-shot
Mike Zigomanis doesn?t want to hear anything close to a suggestion that he will be competing for a spot as the Maple Leafs? fourth-line centre when training camp opens in September.
?Everybody will be fighting for a spot,? Zigomanis said on Tuesday, ?and you never want to say it will be on the fourth line or as the extra forward.?
The Leafs re-signed Zigomanis, a 30-year-old Toronto native, to a one-year, two-way pact. Zigomanis will be paid $650,000 US when he is in a Leafs sweater and $300,000 US if he is with the Toronto Marlies. Either way, Zigomanis gets a bump in salary after leading the Marlies last season with 47 points (14 goals and 33 assists) in 64 games. In 2010-11, Zigomanis earned $500,000 when he was with the Leafs and $250,000 as a member of the Marlies.
Zigomanis cracked the Leafs roster in training camp last fall and played in eight games, registering one assist, before he was sent to the Marlies. Despite his talents as one of the top faceoff men in the organization, and a solid penalty killer to boot, Zigomanis didn?t play for the Leafs after Oct. 28.
?It was great for me to make it out of camp, because no one had pencilled me in,? Zigomanis said. ?Faceoffs are such a big part of the game now and I?ve done a lot of penalty killing, so hopefully I can bring those two things to the table (in camp).?
The uphill climb for Zigomanis will have challenges. One guy standing in his way is Philippe Dupuis, who was signed by the Leafs to a two-way deal worth $650,000 after recording 17 points in 74 games for the Colorado Avalanche in 2010-11. Joe Colborne also will be trying to get a hold on a roster spot.
Meanwhile, all appears to be quiet on the Luke Schenn front, as general manager Brian Burke and his right-hand man, David Nonis, are on vacation this week. Burke has said he is not in a rush to re-sign Schenn, a restricted free agent.
So Boyce might not finalized until next week if he's signing with the Leafs ...
BlueWhiteBlood
New member
cw said:
I think they have. Like you, I've been checking both the NHL and AHL, trying to find options and there isn't really that many, especially ones that are better than Zigomanis and Boyce for that matter. The pickins' are slim. I was hoping that Burke will opt for a trade of a defenseman to try and pluck a better "everyday" 4th liner from another team desperate to land some help on the back end of things. Sometimes teams are in a predicament that forces them to give up a good player to land a better situation for a place of weakness. Even that might be tough. I was really hoping we could land Talbot this summer and was pretty disappointed when he signed with Philly.
BlueWhiteBlood said:
I kicked AHL and Europe tires for centers last season. Haven't had time this year. But when Hanson has a shot to crack the Caps and is a "quality option" (my words) for them, I have a feeling I haven't missed much in the AHL available center talent pool. That's not intended as a shot at Hanson - I wish him the best and hope he makes it. And it's not a case where Leonsis is getting cheap - he's spending plenty to give them a chance. Cap constraints do factor into it. I just think the NHL has been short on good center talent for a few years and this is another sign of it.
Like you, and as I've posted before, I think they'll trade to get a good sized 4th line center who can win faceoffs.
If they do and sign Boyce, Zigomanis, Colborne, Boyce & Dupuis give them pretty good depth with the Marlies (or as 13th-14th forwards on their NHL roster) and would help the Marlies be competitive.