I left Hockeybuzz as a ref and a poster last week because I found the conversations so repetitive, the same fights over and over again, I needed to get away. I couldn’t join in the conversations as hard as I tried to get in them. I started to feel like an outsider at times. I took so much abuse in Personal Messages from people that were banned that it wasn’t worth it any more. I did however meet a lot of great people and I’m glad I can call them friends on that site. Some posters from HB came here from time to time to comment on the blogs, but I knew it was time to move on. I shared some good stories and I will miss those. So what does that have to do with this site?
Working from home, taking care of my daughter and being on HB had really limited my time that I could be on Leafs 4 Life. I started L4L for you guys, I have incurred all the expenses to host and maintain this site mainly because of my love for hockey and the Leafs. I will keep this site going but I need some help, not in the monetary sense but in the blogger and participation way. We need to grow this just a little more. So I need you guys to start writing some blogs or helping me attract some people who would like to contribute some content. I basically need you guys to help do some recruiting.
I will update all new additions to the Leafs organization, stats, etc… to this site and keep that part current. Please help me out with the rest, I would really appreciate it.
As some of you may know I have a new addition to my family who needs some extra attention right now, she is my main priority as my wife and I are trying to get her acclimated to her new life with us. It’s been two of the greatest weeks of my life with Kaitlyn mixed in with a bad week at HB. To all the regulars here, I thank you for sticking with the site, to all others who may be passing by, please let me know if you would like to blog or even to just join the site and leave a comment. In time we can build a solid community of great posters and bloggers. Thanks for reading.
-LeafMan-
@Shawn
Out going RFA/UFA Contract Count
These are Marlies only that might not sign or have to be re-signed or spots have to be replaced:
Boyce, Dupuis, Rosehill, Mitchell, Finger, Zigomanis, Crabb, Hamilton, Greenop, Gysbers, Rynnas, Scrivens, Mueller, Holzer, Lashoff, Mikus.
Coming in:
Mckegg, Crescenzi, Carrick*, Ross, Devane
So you have to replace ones left, so the count will still be hovering around 48 to 50.
*have to verify status.
I would venture that Dupuis, Mitchell, Mueller and Rosehill will not be tendered contracts.
The young guys you have listed are all eligible for the AHL next season (1992 birth year), as are Nicholls, Olden and Granberg (if he comes over).
This … “SJS’s Antero Nittymaki clears waivers” (TSN Tweetbox) … is a bit of a surprise. @ $2 million for the remainder of this season, then a UFA, I thought for sure some team needing goaltending (e.g., Columbus, Tampa Bay) would claim him.
Mueller gets re-signed, I’m pretty positive about that one.
You think? He’ll be 24 in July, and has little chance of playing for the Leafs next season. They have to make room in the system for possibly 8 young forwards, and need contract space to sign a few of them.
Besides, if he sees that his chances of playing in the NHL next season are next to nil, he can probably make more money playing in familiar surroundings (Germany) than with the Marlies … and spend lot less time on the bus!
Then again, I’m not high on undrafted Europeans … or undrafted NCAA-types, either, for that matter.
I believe he will, he has started to really use his size this year and has been very reliable, he is the type that can be called up for a couple of games and won’t hurt you, he has that size that is lacking in the organization, just my two cents.
i see him playing some fourth line minutes and stepping up to the third line when injuries arrive. Next year’s Joey Crabb
pretty Eklundy story from Bobby Mac
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=386166
what would you guys think of a trade of Aulie for Morrow, 1 for 1? I know the leafs would have to dump salary as well …
Doubt dallas goes for that.
I’d think it’s probably more like Mac + a decent prospect.
I would think they would want to shed salary and MacArthur hardly does that for them
Not enough in my opinion, hard to guess Morrow’s worth, his age has to be taken into account. I never get into trade proposals though haha.
They save almost a million and they get a guy that could replace him, and get a prospect. It accomplishes what they’d want.
IMO the price is probably going to be high with true contenders (DET, VAN, ect) probably willing to pony up. Plus he has a NTC so he’d likely be more inclined to go to one of those teams or stay with Dallas then go to a bubble team.
Yeah, I can’t see him lifting his NTC to go to a bubble team.
I am proud of my call
@Logancouture
Logan Couture
Draft in a couple hours. Where do you guys have me going..
3 hours ago
@mykokes
3 hours ago via web
Duda Kochman
@Logancouture wherever you want … in your brand new car
I don’t think the Leafs have much need for a 33-year old, often-injured LW, no matter how hard he plays. IMO if BB can’t get the #1 centre and/or significantly improve the goaltending, he should do nothing unless:
1. He fires the coaching staff.
2. He can “steal” a “superstar”. A guy like Parise might put up 80 or 90 points, but so might the 3 or 4 guys you trade to get him (combined). And if you put all of your eggs in one basket, and that basket gets broken, you’re SOL.
3. He can improve the truculence of the bottom 6 forwards, again without mortgaging the farm. Right now the Leafs are a pretty soft team … very reflective of their coach when he played as I recall, but not at all representative of the team BB says he wants to ice.
Maybe I was right … http://spectorshockey.net/wordpress/2012/01/26/nhl-under-unofficial-all-star-trade-freeze/.
Heaven forbid a GM makes a trade to take the spotlight away from such an intriguing spectacle that is the All-Star game. My morning dump was more interesting than the actual “game” will be.
What were you reading?
On another note, Adam French thinks the Coyotes should send LW Lucas Lessio (http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=128067) and their 1st round pick in 2012 to Toronto for Grabovski. I don’t think that’s enough of a return for a legit #2 centre. Quite frankly, I dont’ see anything on the Phoenix roster that interests me, except maybe Keith Yandle (who isn’t going anywhere).
Phaneuf: “They’re a little bit different in the sense that geographically they’re in a different part of the country.”
Where was the teleprompter when you need it, haha.
Good one! BTW – I just tried to reply to Keon’s comment, but my response was noted to be “awaiting moderation”, then disappeared when I refreshed. What’s up?
It’s back now … something weird is going on!
What is up with the God awful reply section of Alec’s site, just crappola!!
Replying to someone there is like trying to find your way out of a maze.
New update to the spam filter, I think it’s buggy, they will probably fix it soon.
Ah … thanks. I see that my reply has been posted.
I assume “Alec” is Brownscombe?
Yep, that Alec, I was one of the five original members and encouraged him to start that site. Time flies.
Don’t it though. I can vividly remember Punch Imlach dismantling good Leafs teams … twice!
You’re showing your age there hooli… hahaha
Hey Lou, shame to lose ya over at HB but believe you me, I understand.. sorry it took so long to get over here.. been a hectic week for me.
Hope things are going well with you and the family … time to read the two most recent blogs here now
Well you guys have my support. HB does get pretty silly