Free agency Signings!

[geschrocks33]

I don't know if Darcy will go out and pick up more offense, quite frankly I really hate where our team is at right now.

[gardzy99]

I hope the Gonchar deal blows up in Murrays face. No more Malkin or Crosby to pass too for the freebie points. Murray has never done any good managing in Ottawa. He stole the original good team from John Muckler and has done nothing but wreck what John did since taking over. Karlsson was blooming and now will be in the shadow of Gonchar sink or swim........I say Murray is fired by mid season, especially if Spezza opens up a can of complaints during training camp or early in the year.

[Brodeur_fan666]

I don't know if Darcy will go out and pick up more offense, quite frankly I really hate where our team is at right now.

Kariya is still available. Afinogenov too , even if Buff. Fans hate this player

[geschrocks33]

Afinogenov sucks in Buffalo, he just doesn't fit in here, and 90% of Buffalo hates him.

Darcy would've looked real good and brilliant if he brought back Biron

[geschrocks33]

Matthew Lombardi to Nashville

3yrs, $10.5 million

[mr ozzie]

Sounds like you and I are pretty much on the same page. Kaberle has an excellent contract and without his skills, we would lose some qualities that nobody else on our defence has. Plus he has tremendous work ethic and wants to stay as a Leaf. Maybe like Gonchar, he would be willing to take a little less to stay in order to stay in Toronto. However, like you said, his stock just went up today.

Colby Armstrong and Matt Cooke were a couple of players I wanted Burke to make an effort in getting. Cooke got re-signed a few days ago and so that went out the door. $3m per season is a little high for Armstrong (I was hoping around $2m-$2.5m), but I can live with it as long as he doesn't have a bad season.

Versteeg - I'm still giddy and can't wait for the new season to see him.

Next, I hope Kulemin re-signs, and with Van Ryn being out, we need another D-man (especially if Kaberle does end up getting traded. I also wouldn't mind seeing at least one more top 6 forward (preferably a LW).

I do hope Kulemin goes. I think he's overrated. Burke is right in assessing that he doesn't qualify for first-line money. As for another dman, we could use some cheap depth unless Burke thinks Finger will stay and be the 7th dman. I really like the back-end. We got Phaneuf, Kaberle, Schenn, Komisarek, Beauchemin, Gunnarsson. Finger fills in for anyone getting injured. I say leave the defense alone and focus on getting that top line winger. I say a young power forward who can grind and create space for Kessel. Someone like Bobby Ryan.

[Brodeur_fan666]

Kulemin signed 2 years with the Leafs 1 or 2 hours ago !

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=326386

[BeeZeR]

I do hope Kulemin goes. I think he's overrated. Burke is right in assessing that he doesn't qualify for first-line money. As for another dman, we could use some cheap depth unless Burke thinks Finger will stay and be the 7th dman. I really like the back-end. We got Phaneuf, Kaberle, Schenn, Komisarek, Beauchemin, Gunnarsson. Finger fills in for anyone getting injured. I say leave the defense alone and focus on getting that top line winger. I say a young power forward who can grind and create space for Kessel. Someone like Bobby Ryan.

Kulemin was re-signed today, 2 years at 2.35 per. And I would have to think the Leafs would need to give up Kaberle or Schenn (maybe even both) + Prospects in order to scoop Bobby Ryan out of Anaheim. Honestly I'd do whatever it takes to make a trade for Ryan.

[gretzky99]

i could see Schenn + something for Ryan. Toronto has at least one d-man they could move and are looking for top-6 forwards. i don't think ANA gives up Ryan for Kaberle unless he signs long-term. but Kaberle wants to stay in Toronto (reportedly) so he probably won't agree to sign anywhere.
if Burke is willing to make that deal i think it would make sense for both teams. and then ANA could go get Kovalchuk (this could get ugly as a Kings fan).

[Crosby 87]

Paul Martin is one of the most over-rated D in the league.....ask any Devils fans on this site and they will probably tell you that Martin at 5 Millions / year would never be in a red jersey

from http://www.blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/

"Devils needed to upgrade their puck-moving skill on the blue line and Volchenkov is not a puck-mover. Tallinder is, but he’s a downgrade in that area from Paul Martin. (Tallinder does have more size, though). I think a lot of people underestimate how good a player Paul Martin is and they’re going to see that in Pittsburgh."

From: www.inlouwetrust.com/
"I know on the surface he doesn't seem special, but he truly was the most effective defenseman on the market this summer based on the last two seasons. When Martin stepped on the ice for New Jersey, the Devils were better in numerous categories - especially shots against"

from the the pensblog and there's couple radio interview on there you can listen to there. http://www.thepensblog.com/pensblog/....html#comments