All quiet on the Leaf front. But why?

[lamajama]

Well guy's here my theory. Burke is just waiting to see if there is actually going hockey this season before making the deal you guys were all expecting. After Bettman's comments today, maybe Burke had the right idea. Who knows what the CBA is going to look like after a strike or last minute signing.

Why the "last minute of the CBA" deals for Biggs and Reilly et al if there's
a chance that the new entry level deals may go to 5 years? What's the advantage to the Leafs?

 

[Brian Glennie]

Because its all quiet on the Leafs front here are my all-time top five American-born Maple Leafs:
1. Phil Kessel. 99 goals 102 assist 201 points in 234 games as a Leaf.
2. Brian Leetch. 15 points in 15 games in 2003-2004. 8 assists in 13 playoff games that year.
3. Jason Blake. 50 goals 91 assists 141 points in 261 games.
4. I don't know maybe Lee Stempniak (can't be bothered to look it up)
5. Robbie Earl.

 

[Kin]

Because its all quiet on the Leafs front here are my all-time top five American-born Maple Leafs:
1. Phil Kessel. 99 goals 102 assist 201 points in 234 games as a Leaf.
2. Brian Leetch. 15 points in 15 games in 2003-2004. 8 assists in 13 playoff games that year.
3. Jason Blake. 50 goals 91 assists 141 points in 261 games.
4. I don't know maybe Lee Stempniak (can't be bothered to look it up)
5. Robbie Earl.

With all due respect, not close.

1. Dave Ellett
2. Eddie Olczyk
3. Al Iafrate
4. Phil Kessel
5. Mathieu Schnieder

 

[Brian Glennie]

Top five all-time worst American-born Leafs:
1. Phil Housley. Remember?
2. Mike Komisarek.
3. Jeff Finger
4. Robbie Earl.
5. Bates Battaglia.

 

[maplesyrup]

How quickly we forget Andy Wozniewski.

 

[maplesyrup]

How 'bout Jeff Farkas or Matt Martin?

 

 

[moon111]

Top five all-time worst American-born Leafs:
1. Phil Housley. Remember?

• A defenseman who only had 117 points less then Sundin did in his career.  
• Ended up costing the Leafs - Chris Porter and Karel Hromas.
• At the end of his career who only played four games on a team that had: -Wade Belak,
  -Richard Jackman, -Carlo Colaiacovo, and Anders Eriksson combine for 12 points in 103
  games.

Housley was an insignificant long-shot that didn't work out and didn't cost anything.

 

[jonlleafs]

Top five all-time worst American-born Leafs:
1. Phil Housley. Remember?

• A defenseman who only had 117 points less then Sundin did in his career.  
• Ended up costing the Leafs - Chris Porter and Karel Hromas.
• At the end of his career who only played four games on a team that had: -Wade Belak,
  -Richard Jackman, -Carlo Colaiacovo, and Anders Eriksson combine for 12 points in 103
  games.
  
  

Housley was an insignificant long-shot that didn't work out and didn't cost anything.

He was also coming off an injury so he wasn't in top shape when he finally joined the line up.

 

[Brian Glennie]

Top five all-time worst American-born Leafs:
1. Phil Housley. Remember?

• A defenseman who only had 117 points less then Sundin did in his career.  
• Ended up costing the Leafs - Chris Porter and Karel Hromas.
• At the end of his career who only played four games on a team that had: -Wade Belak,
  -Richard Jackman, -Carlo Colaiacovo, and Anders Eriksson combine for 12 points in 103
  games.
  
  

Housley was an insignificant long-shot that didn't work out and didn't cost anything.

He was also coming off an injury so he wasn't in top shape when he finally joined the line up.

He was 39, had a broken foot and had been out 6 weeks when the Leafs traded for him. It's on a par with that last time the Leafs trotted out Gilmour, except they brought Housley in for the playoffs. He was a giveaway machine against the Flyers in a series that could have gone either way. Then, because he had absolutely no business being on the ice in an NHL game, he retired. I regret even having raised his name.

 

[Scrif]

As the OP Im elated to see so much discussion around the lack of moves by the Leafs, AND other topics that posts as negative as these usually spawn. But again, based on the 'business as usual' moves that we have seen thus far I can see that 'biz as usual' is status quo. I am 50/50 that a major move will be done before camp.

 

[#1PilarFan]

I am 50/50 that a major move will be done before camp.

Not exactly going out on a limb there.

 

[Scrif]

I am 50/50 that a major move will be done before camp.

Not exactly going out on a limb there.

Ummm, hence the 50/50

 

[ZBBM]

No way Jeff Finger is on that list.  His contract is irrelevant to the point at hand.  What matters is his on-ice performance, which was mediocre, but hardly so horrible that he belongs on a bottom 5 list.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

No way Jeff Finger is on that list.  His contract is irrelevant to the point at hand.  What matters is his on-ice performance, which was mediocre, but hardly so horrible that he belongs on a bottom 5 list.

Yeah, I mean I'd even have a hard time putting Battaglia up there. He was a decent enough 4th liner.

That list should have Woz 1 through 4 with Lebda taking up the 5th spot.

 

[ZBBM]

No way Jeff Finger is on that list.  His contract is irrelevant to the point at hand.  What matters is his on-ice performance, which was mediocre, but hardly so horrible that he belongs on a bottom 5 list.

Yeah, I mean I'd even have a hard time putting Battaglia up there. He was a decent enough 4th liner.

That list should have Woz 1 through 4 with Lebda taking up the 5th spot.

Bull's-eye.  And yes, Battaglia was just fine as a 4th liner.

 

[Brian Glennie]

No way Jeff Finger is on that list.  His contract is irrelevant to the point at hand.  What matters is his on-ice performance, which was mediocre, but hardly so horrible that he belongs on a bottom 5 list.

Yeah, I mean I'd even have a hard time putting Battaglia up there. He was a decent enough 4th liner.

That list should have Woz 1 through 4 with Lebda taking up the 5th spot.

Bull's-eye.  And yes, Battaglia was just fine as a 4th liner.

Oh, for the first he year he was great. (82 12 19 31). Then his career goes off the rails (again) because, I don't know, I guess he had a lot of other things going on in his life. So there I was thinking he was going to keep on playing well for the Leafs but he had no points in 13 games the next year. Here's what you could look forward to if you were still cheering for Bates Battaglia, as I was, the year after that:
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2008/8/28/602588/reading-the-tea-leafs-bate

 

[Kin]

So these lists aren't definitive?

 

[Champ Kind]

So how exactly did Bates Bataglia become known to all by his nickname?  I mean, his name is Jonathan, apparently, but one would never know that unless they went to Wikipedia.  Try as I might, I want people to call me 'Viper' but I always end up with some iteration of my given name.

Though, I guess, it worked for William Hayward Wilson and Coveli Loyce Crisp just fine.

 

[jonlleafs]

So how exactly did Bates Bataglia become known to all by his nickname?  I mean, his name is Jonathan, apparently, but one would never know that unless they went to Wikipedia.  Try as I might, I want people to call me 'Viper' but I always end up with some iteration of my given name.

Though, I guess, it worked for William Hayward Wilson and Coveli Loyce Crisp just fine.

You'll always be Champ to us. 

 

[Fletch]

I've long said this board needs more limericks.

the Maple Leafs are quite like a ship
with Mr. Burke it's ruddy faced-skip
But to helm our good vessel
he put faith in Phil Kessel
And our fortunes are taking a dip

Or:

Brian Burke, hockey's angry American
Came to work at the NHL's Vatican
in an attempt to repair it
he signed Mike Komisarek

How about:
There was a GM in Toronto
Who said "I'll fix this team pronto"
Fans waited a fortnight
Lord Stanley still not in sight
Now the fans want the GM gonzo