Posts tagged matt
Sam Carrick 101
Jun 28th
In an attempt to beef up the Videos page on this site, I’m gonna start posting videos whenever I run into an interesting one. Here’s the first installment:
Getting to Know Sam Carrick
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Leafs Off-Season Rumors #16/Making a Case for Marc Savard
Jun 27th
Rumor
Bob McKenzie and Nick Kypreos of TSN and Sportsnet respectively have reported that Leafs GM Brian Burke and Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli will begin talks on the possibility of sending Marc Savard to Toronto. Both report that any deal including Savard would not include Kaberle, as it is believed the Bruins may be willing to take so-called “spare parts” in order to unload Savard’s contract.
My Analysis
Marc Savard to the Toronto Maple Leafs is very much a possibility at this point in time. It seems that the Bruins are hoping to move forward with their three young centers (Tyler Seguin, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci) and it also seems the Bruins are worried about Savard’s health issues mixed with his lengthy contract. Acquiring Savard is a risk given his age and current health status as well as contract, but should he return to form then it would be a huge reward and steal for the Leafs.
A similar situation would be Jason Blake, who signed with the Leafs in 2007 at the age of 34. Blake’s first two seasons matched his previous numbers, though this past season, in the third year, his production began to severely decline. Should Marc Savard come to the Leafs he would be 33 once the season starts, and theoretically be able to continue prime production for another three seasons. Also, given the fact that the final three years of Savard’s seven-year deal pay him a combined 2.5M, Savard’s contract would suddenly become very easy to ship to a low-budget team, bury in the minors, be bought out, and there’s always the possibility that Savard could retire before then. Marc Savard is only a four-year commitment, and it’s safe to assume he can continue his elite production for at least another three years. Just my two cents on why the Leafs should pull the trigger on any deal sending Savard our way for spare parts.
Acquiring a first-line center without giving away our greatest trade chip is another positive, and opens others avenues for Tomas Kaberle (such as dealing him for a winger with size as previously speculated).
This could get real interesting real quick, stay tuned.
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Leafs 2010-2011 Schedule Breakdown
Jun 22nd
Lost in the news of pretty much anything else imaginable today (Nathan Horton to the Bruins, Scott Niedermayer’s retirement, an increase in the salary cap, Pat Quinn’s lack of a head coaching job and an awful Hall of Fame class) was the announcement of the entire 2010-2011 NHL schedule for all 30 franchises.
The Toronto Maple Leafs kick off the season in a style similar to last season, hosting the Habs on October the 7th. It’s definitely a schedule different than last season’s as the Leafs don’t make anything that remotely resembles a home-stand until they host the Canucks, Predators and Devils from Saturday November the 13th until Thursday November 18th. And again, that’s barely a home-stand considering that’s only three games.
As for a road trip, there isn’t one that lasts more than two games until a Western-Canadian road-swing that sees the Leafs play the Oilers, Flames and Canucks from December 14th-December 18th.
The Leafs make a bit of a longer road-trip in mid-January when they play the Thrashers, Sharks, Kings and Coyotes over the course of six days.
The Buds next so-called “home-stand” takes place all the way in March, when from the 10th to the 14th the Leafs will host the Lightning, the Sabres and defending Eastern Conference Champs, the Philadelphia Flyers.
The blue and white will close out the regular season against their most hated of rivals, facing off against all other four teams in their division once apiece in their last six games of the season.
The longest break from action will be five full days without hockey as the Leafs play the Atlanta Thrashers at the ACC on December the 20th and don’t pick up again until boxing day in New Jersey.
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