Posts tagged stanley cup
Ilya Kovalchuk Isn’t That Impossible
Jun 18th
With the Leafs having a forward core that’s been described as absolutely brutal, and one of the most pathetic that has ever graced the NHL from a team that wasn’t within its first 2-3 years of existence, there is a lot of hype over what Brian Burke will do with this roster that has promise for the future, but no zing for the now. People are undecided if the big move is going to happen via trade, or via free agency. Personally, I think we’re going to see a little bit of both. Do I have any idea whatsoever the results are going to be? No clue. But do I have any wants?
Absolutely. In fact, I have the biggest want, with my eyes entirely on the big prize. Specifically, I want the man who just might be the best free agent in NHL history, all factors considered (more on that later). Of course, I’m talking about #17 of the New Jersey Devils (you know him better as the only relavent thing the Atlanta Thrashers have had in years) Ilya Kovalchuk.
Now, I know what you’re thinking “Jeff, first off, best UFA ever? You’re crazy. Secondly, he’s going to want too much money, thirdly, he’s going to the KHL, fourth, Burke doesn’t want him, and five, why would he want to come here?”
All fair arguments. But I’m still going to try to squash them.
Leafs Off-Season Rumors Volume VI
Jun 14th
Rumors
-Pierre LeBrun from ESPN reports he spoke with Brian Burke today and Burke told him, “we won’t be taking part in that race” in regards to the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes
-Tim Sassone of the Chicago Daily Herald reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs (and Columbus Blue Jackets for that matter) are very interested in acquiring versatile forward Patrick Sharp
My Analysis
In regards to the first rumor LeBrun is as legitimate as they come so I’ll take him for his word. Looks like yesterday’s rumor was true: the Toronto Maple Leafs have no interest in Ilya Kovalchuk. Case closed.
As for the Leafs wanting to acquire Patrick Sharp…who doesn’t? Sharp is a leader and a skilled pressure-player who can play any position up front who also comes with a nice little contract. Unfortunately, as I said in a past article, the Leafs are unlikely to acquire Sharp given his value to the Blackhawks. I do however wonder if the the Columbus Blue Jackets have the assets to acquire Sharp, because since it was earlier reported that the Blue Jackets have interest in Tomas Kaberle one has to wonder if maybe a three-way deal could be in the works. That last bit is pure speculation on my part, but it makes sense doesn’t it?
You can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/raskofalltrades
Who Cares
Jun 10th
With Patrick Kane scoring the goal that nobody saw without the aid of video replay, 93.34% of the NHL media wrote their reports celebrating the victory of the Chicago Blackhawks as the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions. As for the other 6.66%, half of it were the Flyers media, obviously mopey over their cinderella team’s loss in one of the most confusing plays in hockey history. The other half? Yep, none other than Toronto. The article that most of our writers have been waiting years to write has finally arrived, that being that the Toronto Maple Leafs now have the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history.
Personally, I’ve never cared much for championship droughts, period, in any league. It’s a stretch grasp to pick on teams and their fanbases, to me. But considering we won’t hear the end of this until the Leafs win a cup (2246 is the latest projection), it might as well be addressed now. So here’s what I’m going to go through with this article.
I’m going to go through who exactly are the people doing the mocking. I’m going to go through how this drought looks in comparison to other teams. I’m going to go through a theory that states we might not actually be the team with the longest drought in the NHL, why people should embrace it rather than counter argue it, and more importantly, why we typically shouldn’t care. Lets get started.
Nikolai Kulemin Leaving: (Maybe) Not the Worst Thing
Jun 8th
Let me start off by saying that, as Jeff pointed out just yesterday, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to Nikolai Kulemin. All this hype about contract disputes and the KHL being a factor and everything like that is pretty much covered in the article he wrote yesterday (check it out, awesome read), and all the hype is probably for nothing. All that the lack of a new contract and money/term disputes means is that we’re probably gonna see the negotiations grind out in the summer, but one way or another it still looks like Kulemin wants to stay, Burke wants to keep him and one way or another he should still be dawning the blue and white next October.
But that’s not what I’m here to talk about. I’m here to talk about the hypothetical, the “okay, so what if Kulemin doesn’t resign?” factor of the whole ordeal. Well, I’ve been thinking about it more and more, and the way I see it it doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. More >
Unrestricted Free Agency: Bottom-Six Bound
Jun 7th
As most of you know, this upcoming off-season will be full of speculation (and hopefully the acquisition) of some scoring help, notably a top-six winger (and as Brian Burke has said it, “preferably with some size”) or a first-line center (Spezza?). The defense and goaltending is in tact and other than a potential Tomas Kaberle trade it seems like there will be no real changes on that front. But one thing I seem to be lobbying for more than other people is not structure in the top-six forward core, but the bottom-six forward core.
When Brian Burke’s team of Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007, their “third line”, or checking line, played roughly eighteen minutes per night shutting down other opponent’s top lines and doing a damn good job of it. The toughness, grit, hard-hitting leadership and all-around sound defensive play was clutch in helping capture California’s first ever Stanley Cup.
Furthermore, Brian Burke has stated long ago that the top-six bottom-six blueprint that won him a Cup in Anaheim will be the same blueprint applied to the Maple Leafs, and as it should be. Brian has also said in recent interviews that he hopes to add secondary toughness to the Maple Leafs this season. See what I’m getting at here? The Leafs have yet to establish a legitimate checking line, or even a respectable line of scrubs and plugs on the fourth line. This summer’s free agent pool may be pretty shallow when it comes to high-end scoring talent, but when it comes to cheap grit it’s as rich as can be. More >
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