Leafs go on the defensive

[Leafs_Pam]

slam.canoe.ca/Slam030521/nhl_tor-sun.html

By MIKE ZEISBERGER -- Toronto Sun


Waving around a fat cheque book still may not be enough to woo big-name free agent defencemen to Toronto, despite the wishes of long-suffering Maple Leafs fans.


"There's not a lot out there so maybe we have to look at some of our younger guys to step up,"general manager/coach Pat Quinn said of his blue line corps, which lost Robert Svehla to retirement earlier this month.


Are you listening, Carlo Colaiacovo, Karel Pilar and Ric Jackman?


"We thought Pilar would move in last season but there were (medical concerns)," Quinn said.


"And Colaiacovo showed signs he belongs here.


"We'll see what happens on the Group 3 free-agent market come July 1. It's hard to say, what with (player and budget) evaluations going on. We were thinking of adding some young guys anyway.


"We knew when we acquired Svehla that he might (leave after the season). I'm not sure he wanted to even play last year."


Both Colaiacovo and Pilar are coming off season-ending injuries.


Colaiacovo underwent surgery on his right shoulder back on March 27 while Pilar is attempting to revive his career after being struck down by a virus that posed a threat to his heart.


Derian Hatcher and Brian Leetch are considered the gems of the pending unrestricted free agent class of defencemen, but the potential of a bidding war could soar their salaries far above the going rate.


Leetch is expected to re-sign with the New York Rangers, and if Hatcher does not do the same with the Dallas Stars, word around the league suggests the Detroit Red Wings will take a run at him.


Greg DeVries of the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks bad boy Bryan Marchment could intrigue the Leafs, who need more of a physical presence at the back end.


Eric Desjardins and Dmitry Yushkevich of the Philadelphia Flyers also are slated to go on the market.


Expect the Leafs to take a significant run at re-signing Glen Wesley, another defenceman who will become available in six weeks.


Quinn hinted the Leafs shopping list might include more than just defensive help.


"Maybe it won't be defence, maybe we'll go somewhere else," Quinn said.


While on the topic of possibly going somewhere else, agent Don Meehan still has not heard from client Mikael Renberg, who recently suggested he might pack up and move back to his native Sweden next season.


"Until we hear otherwise, we're expecting Mikael to play for us (in 2003-04)," Leafs executive Bill Watters said.

[thinkblue]

Good to hear they (mgmt) is still alive !!! ;D

The "getting younger" part pleases me; I think if Quinn does give the opportunity to some of his younger players, its a step in the right direction. Other than that, he was beating around the bush and hinted that he might persue some help up front too...hmm...wait and see I suppose

[Leafs_Pam]

I like the idea of using some of our youth, it's long overdue, but I don't like the idea of them going a direction other than Defense for UFA's. Defense has been a weak spot for the Leafs for the last 3 or 4 years under Quinn. If the Leafs really want to make a serious run for the Cup, they MUST get some good defensemen. I would rather they went for De Vries and Marchment (sorry TG) rather than Desjardins (it has to do with him being two-faced with team mates), Leech or Hatcher. Bryan would be good on the backend. I think he would help the Leafs alot. I don't really like him as a player, but if he doesn't pull dirt he can be a big help.

[TOMGUNNER]

Hey Pam...I'd also take knee-on-knee Marchment over Leetch/Desjardin.

Leet/Desjardin is NOT what we need!

Hatcher would be too expensive, but although I don't like him, I wouldn't hate the idea of him on our team. There are better choices out there though...

If it's Hatcher, Yushky, DeVries or/and Marchment, I'm ok with it. I may not like some of those guys, but if it means that Lumme will be out of a job, then GO FOR IT!

I've said several times, that there are very few players in this league that disgust me to the point, where I would not be ok with them being in Blue & White...as long as they help the team!

Here are a few, just for the fun of it! Place them in any oder, just leave the 1st on the list, on the top of the list ;D

-Alfredson
-Arvedson M.
-Barnaby
-Yashin
-Brashear
-Niedermeyer Scott

The rest are fair game..although there are many I would never like......but I'd tolarate them!

[Gerard]

Quinn's ignorance to the def. is mind-boggling. How is it that he is allowed to keep thinking...and remain?? I'm not gonna repeat stuff that has been hashed over many times but it is disheartening to say the least. His thinking that there are few to help us can be seen as a sign that he's sticking with the same old guard and his further support for Lumme for this fall definitely seems to add more proof of it. I'm afraid we'll be saddles with the same old (make that older) group. Not good.

[Rusty]

The problem with this article? I am fairly confident that it was submitted last year, the year before, and the year before that. I am starting to get a bit disheartened listening to the Mighty Quinn wind up and spew the same $#!+ year after year. I swear that they just drag out the same old interviews and respin them.

As for our defence, I truly believe in my heart of hearts that the main problem with our D is our supposed defensive coaching staff, dumping Mr Ley would free up a lot of basic problems with this team. So yes I feel confident if we scuttle our favourite whipping boy on defence when we are overseas this coming pre-season, think about it Finland is just a stones throw away and booting Jerky off the good ship lolipop will make a huge difference, but imho sending Mr Ley overseas as a "pro" scout in the tiny town of Belluna Italy would be the best fix.

Rusty

[TOMGUNNER]

Earnhardt - what did "Belluna Italy" ever do to you?

Why would you wish such a terrible thing to them...their hockey development would go back 50 years....and I doubt they have ANY ice over there! ;D

[Rusty]

Well I guess that would be bring their system into the 20th century!

And I know for a fact that they do have ice there, lol, it is a small community in the Alps that has like a 3rd tier mens hockey team that we played against when I was over there in Italy in 99/00.

[Leafs_Pam]

Earnhardt said:

The problem with this article? I am fairly confident that it was submitted last year, the year before, and the year before that. I am starting to get a bit disheartened listening to the Mighty Quinn wind up and spew the same $#!+ year after year. I swear that they just drag out the same old interviews and respin them.

Rusty

That's why it sounded so familiar! It really does get old, doesn't it.

Earnhardt said:

As for our defence, I truly believe in my heart of hearts that the main problem with our D is our supposed defensive coaching staff, dumping Mr Ley would free up a lot of basic problems with this team. So yes I feel confident if we scuttle our favourite whipping boy on defence when we are overseas this coming pre-season, think about it Finland is just a stones throw away and booting Jerky off the good ship lolipop will make a huge difference, but imho sending Mr Ley overseas as a "pro" scout in the tiny town of Belluna Italy would be the best fix.

Rusty

I think the Leafs defense would improve 90% if the Leafs would fire Rick Ley. It's his job to work with the Defense. If this is the result of him trying to improve defense it makes me wonder how he has ever lasted in the NHL. He still makes me cringe too.

TOMGUNNER said:

Earnhardt - what did "Belluna Italy" ever do to you?

LMAO!!! ;D ;D ;D

[freshwind]

Anything you red in the press has to be taken with a grain of salt. Yes, I believe we need mangaement changes. Am I surprised by this article? No.
Did you expect any gm, other than Clarke, to come into an interview and say "we are desparate for dmen, we don't have any. I don't care what it costs"?
I still think it's 50/50 with Svehla. I believe it is 60/40 for Wesley. Add DeVries to the mix and possibly a healthy Pilar, and maybe a surprising Hedin and we are not all that bad off. While the chances of ALL of this happening may be slim, it does give Q a little ammunition to negotiate around. Guys looking for a shot at a Cup will not dismiss Toronto outright. We still have a pretty good team. Before the playoffs started everyone said the TO/Philly matchup wasn't right because one "very" good team would be out round 1.
As much as we can be frustrated with a number of players on this team, A series with a healthy Antropov, Nolan, Mogilny, Roberts and Sundin just may have covered the weaknesses.
We cannot forget our FIVE best forwards were not at 100% in that series, how much pressure would have been taken off the defence if they were healthy? Puck possession for us would have increased, scoring opportunities too. With Roman in the net, it would have assured more goals, probably a win.
While it is the "dark" days with no Leaf hockey, until these guys are gone for sure, I consider them still part of the Leafs. Remember, Svehla has not filed retirement papers with the league yet, just a note on a fax to TO.