Happy Free Agency Day!

[mr grieves]

An excerpt from Cam Charron that gives me pause:

"But the worst thing about it is just how predictable Dave Nonis has been throughout all this. Despite James Reimer dragging the Maple Leafs into the playoffs by the scruff of their necks last season, Nonis saw nothing that made him reconsider bringing in a more inexperienced goaltender with more potential to become the team's highest-paid goalie.

Everybody wanted Nonis to get a goaltender, and everybody thought that Nonis would draft Frederick Gauthier. Everything seemed to link David Clarkson to the Maple Leafs. It's just so bloody predictable, and Nonis has made no moves that makes me think this team is not being run by the Toronto Sun's editorial board."

I think this is why, at some visceral level, I can't feel very good about much that Nonis has done lately.

And it's more than a little weird to see a community that spends so much time ripping the media falling in behind Berger, Simmons, Cox, and the rest.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

It looks to me like they had targeted three particular players. I don't really like that approach unless you're going after someone really special.

Actually the Leafs appeared to target 4 players and they signed 3 of them, while just losing out on the 4th one, who went to a team he was familiar with.

The thing I think you're missing is, that the Leafs are now in a position to target specific players, rather than sign off the scrap heap. They want to challenge for the cup, so they can add players in free agency to sculpt the team that the coach needs to win.

I thought Nonis has done a good job thus far, since he hasn't really used important assets to acquire the players he has at this point.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

McArthur, Gordon, Scuderi/Ference... players that actually address team needs and come as better price performers than the big-ticket bauble and Stajan v.2.0 we went after today.

They tried to get Scuderi and he didn't come, win some lose some. Gordon got a high cap hit IMO and MacArthur was not liked by Carlyle and we've seen how much pull he has with management.

Ouch. That is quite a bit of money...

From what we've heard, TOR was in on three guys: Bozak, Clarkson, Scuderi. I'm sure that I'll be told I can't possibly know that because the reporters I've read weren't at MLSE headquarters. Well, whatever.

It looks to me like they had targeted three particular players. I don't really like that approach unless you're going after someone really special. In general, I'd have preferred the team identify roster spots -- not particular players -- and find the best deals available.

The names I threw out were "a cheap 20-goal scorer that can move up and down the line-up," "a depth forward that can take draws," and "a minute-eating top-4 defenseman." Maybe there were options available other the names I threw out; I'm no pro scout.

But what happened today was this: Clarkson's an upgrade on MacArthur, but so much more expensive that we can't afford to replace/ upgrade Frattin (who gets promoted that can play up and down the top-9 wings?), can't bring in another depth forward, can't upgrade defense. And that leaves aside whatever that contract becomes in three years. But for the present moment, it looks like we can sign the RFAs or move one of them with (I'd guess) Kuli to bring in some of that, maybe the Dman, and that's about it.

There are things I think teams have done well with on the UFA market. In  the UFA marketplace, signing top-six or top-pairing talent isn't often done as well as signing the sort of depth players I'd like to have seen brought in.

But Frattin had a SH% of 16.7.

He was due to have a much more average season this year so it's better we moved him. I'm sure his production can be replaced.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Yeah and Clarkson has better hands and fights almost anyone.

What exactly does "better hands" mean? Surely not that 97 goals in 426 games is more than 94 in 367.

LOL!  Are you serious? 

 

[Deebo]

Cooke to Minnesota for 3 years

 

[maplesyrup]

Brunner? Brunner?

 

[mr grieves]

Yeah and Clarkson has better hands and fights almost anyone.

What exactly does "better hands" mean? Surely not that 97 goals in 426 games is more than 94 in 367.

LOL!  Are you serious?

So just fighting?

 

[mr grieves]

McArthur, Gordon, Scuderi/Ference... players that actually address team needs and come as better price performers than the big-ticket bauble and Stajan v.2.0 we went after today.

They tried to get Scuderi and he didn't come, win some lose some. Gordon got a high cap hit IMO and MacArthur was not liked by Carlyle and we've seen how much pull he has with management.

Ouch. That is quite a bit of money...

From what we've heard, TOR was in on three guys: Bozak, Clarkson, Scuderi. I'm sure that I'll be told I can't possibly know that because the reporters I've read weren't at MLSE headquarters. Well, whatever.

It looks to me like they had targeted three particular players. I don't really like that approach unless you're going after someone really special. In general, I'd have preferred the team identify roster spots -- not particular players -- and find the best deals available.

The names I threw out were "a cheap 20-goal scorer that can move up and down the line-up," "a depth forward that can take draws," and "a minute-eating top-4 defenseman." Maybe there were options available other the names I threw out; I'm no pro scout.

But what happened today was this: Clarkson's an upgrade on MacArthur, but so much more expensive that we can't afford to replace/ upgrade Frattin (who gets promoted that can play up and down the top-9 wings?), can't bring in another depth forward, can't upgrade defense. And that leaves aside whatever that contract becomes in three years. But for the present moment, it looks like we can sign the RFAs or move one of them with (I'd guess) Kuli to bring in some of that, maybe the Dman, and that's about it.

There are things I think teams have done well with on the UFA market. In  the UFA marketplace, signing top-six or top-pairing talent isn't often done as well as signing the sort of depth players I'd like to have seen brought in.

But Frattin had a SH% of 16.7.

He was due to have a much more average season this year so it's better we moved him. I'm sure his production can be replaced.

What of him?

Frattin was cheap, signed, pretty good, and played a style that sometimes attracts interest around the league. An asset moved for an asset -- I like that. Just wish it had been to address a more pressing need.

 

[Deebo]

Pierre Lebrun's take on Nonis' work

Clarkson caps strong 24 hours for Leafs

For those criticizing the Toronto Maple Leafs for the money and term handed out to David Clarkson, know this: the UFA power forward left money on the table with another club.

And I suspect that team was Edmonton, where Clarkson visited Thursday. Word is the Oilers were convinced heading into Friday they had the former New Jersey Devils winger.

But despite offering what I believe was a stronger financial package, the Oilers lost out, Clarkson pulling on the heart strings and signing with his hometown Maple Leafs.

No surprise at all. Clarkson-to-Toronto was the rumor for a full year. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello never had a chance to keep him.

Will the Leafs regret giving Clarkson seven years in length? I?d bet on the yes side. But it was the price of business on this day to get one of the top-ranked UFAs on the market.

Power forwards have never been more sought after in the game, the blend of offensive skill and physical strength and ability to play with top-six players a needed ingredient to win. Just ask Boston (Milan Lucic) and Chicago (Bryan Bickell).

Overall, a mighty good 24 hours for Leafs GM Dave Nonis. He didn?t blink when Tyler Bozak wanted around $5 million a year, waited for the UFA center to try the market and circle back. Nonis got him for $4.2 million a year, a job well done. The Leafs GM left himself hanging a bit for 24 hours with the buyout of Mikhail Grabovski, leaving himself without two of last year?s centers in Grabovski and Bozak with no assurance they would be able to strike on Friday in free agency.

Nonis? read of the situation was bang-on. Clarkson wanted to come home. Bozak circled back where he knows where his bread is butter playing alongside Phil Kessel. And when you add the previous offseason additions of goalie Jonathan Bernier -- whom I believe will be a star No. 1 goalie -- and center Dave Bolland, a better defensive fit (albeit with less offensive skill) than Grabovski, I like where the Leafs are headed.

 

[Stronger Than All]

I like Bobby Ryan.  Damn Sens!

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Bruins sign Iginla and still have to sign Rask......Are they going to have to deal someone of significance?

 

[mc]

Bruins sign Iginla and still have to sign Rask......Are they going to have to deal someone of significance?

Are they close to the cap? I thought the Seguin deal gave them ample room.

 

[seahawk]

Per damien cox....

Leafs looking to sign D T.J. Brennan, played with BUFF and FLA last year. 24 years old with some offence in his game.

Who?

Played 29 games last season with Buffalo and Florida. Suspect he'll probably spend most of the season with the Marlies or as a #6/7 with the Leafs. Means I can now wear my St. John's Fog Devils jersey to a Leafs/Marlies game now.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8474113 (ignore the Saint John Sea Dogs reference in the stats)

 

[Stronger Than All]

Anyone picture Alfredsson being booed at the heritage classic yet?

 

[mc]

Anyone picture Alfredsson being booed at the heritage classic yet?

Joe Louis Arena will be the same as The Canadian Tire Centre - full of Leaf fans when the Leafs play there. Plenty of boos all around! Cant wait!

 

[ZBBM]

Pierre Lebrun's take on Nonis' work

Clarkson caps strong 24 hours for Leafs

I like Lebrun, but the next paragraph (not quoted above) talks about how DET will challenge BOS for the division title next year ... not us.  So he may like what Nonis has done today, but apparently not so much as to make us division contenders.

 

[Kin]

Pierre Lebrun's take on Nonis' work

Clarkson caps strong 24 hours for Leafs

I like Lebrun, but the next paragraph (not quoted above) talks about how DET will challenge BOS for the division title next year ... not us.  So he may like what Nonis has done today, but apparently not so much as to make us division contenders.

That probably wasn't going down no matter what Nonis did today though.

 

[Palmateer29]

Bruins sign Iginla and still have to sign Rask......Are they going to have to deal someone of significance?

Are they close to the cap? I thought the Seguin deal gave them ample room.

I think the 6 MILLION they gave to Iginla ate all of the freed up cap space from that deal....6 MILLION for Iginla just WOW After being forced to watch Flamer games for the last few years and watched him get slower and slower....about 3 million more than he is worth

 

[mr grieves]

Mirtle's take:

What Clarkson and Bozak?s contracts really cost the Leafs, however, is upgrades elsewhere, as after their remaining restricted free agents are signed, they?ll essentially be capped out.

That pain could be felt the most on the blueline, where Carlyle now has to hope youngsters like Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly can step in and give them some useful minutes.

[...]

[Nonis:] ?I think our back end is good. I don?t think it?s necessarily where we need it to be one through seven, but you look around the league, I think it stands up fairly well.?

It will likely have to. Toronto?s success during the lockout-shortened half season was largely built on four things: Reimer?s goaltending, strong special teams, an opportunistic offence and some luck, which stemmed from a sky high (and league leading) shooting percentage.

[...]

In the end, Nonis?s choice was having a couple more players who play The Carlyle Way? over other, more tangible improvements, and the Leafs will succeed or fail based on that shift away from Grabovskis and toward Clarksons.

And the new adds will need to make a considerable impact ? beyond the intangibles ? in order for Toronto to keep pace in what should be a tight new eight-team division next season with the likes of the Detroit Red Wings.

The whole thing: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-put-their-money-on-toughness-and-intangibles/article13049162/

 

[bustaheims]

Bruins sign Iginla and still have to sign Rask......Are they going to have to deal someone of significance?

Are they close to the cap? I thought the Seguin deal gave them ample room.

The Seguin trade freed up $4.75M, which is now more than spent (sort of - a good chunk of Iginla's salary is in bonuses, but very easily achievable bonuses). They sort of have some bonus cushion room right now (since Iginla will likely hit a good chunk of his, it's sort of phantom space unless the Bruins are willing to carry it over to next season), but not enough to fit in what Rask's extension is rumoured to be. They have to move about $2M to fit Rask in if they are willing to carry a bonus overage next season, and close to $7M if they aren't.