|
|
Post by freshwind on Jul 7, 2003 10:00:35 GMT -5
www.canoe.ca/Slam030707/nhl_tor-sun.htmlThere are strong rumours that talks are intense with both Calgary and Buffalo. Maybe we should all relax a little bit and wait to see what pans out. It may be well. Tucker seems to be the guy both Calgary and Buffalo are interested in. May make it a little easier to pry a pick as well. Last I heard it was Tucker / Berg plus a prospect? for Zhitnik. Depending on the prospect it looks doable in my view. Tucker plus something else for Boughner is the other rumour. Could turn out to be a dandy week if we could pull off a couple of those types of deals.
|
|
|
|
Post by Leafs_Pam on Jul 7, 2003 10:16:38 GMT -5
I just have one question, FW. Why would Buffalo want to trade with Toronto for the Leafs to get better? I would think the Sabres wouldn't want the Leafs to get better since they are in the same division. Since you are much closer to Toronto than I am, maybe you can understand that one better than I can.  |
|
|
|
Post by Gerard on Jul 7, 2003 11:20:58 GMT -5
Pam, I don't think the Sabres are really interested in the rivalry issue b/c they're so far behind the pack in general. I'm thinking they just wanna better themselves to get back/track. IMO.
As for the deVries issue I heard the same thing today on tv. Said it would be determined this week either way. If you add him and trade the oft-mentioned Tucker and Berg ;D plus 'whatever' i'd love to see Boughner in town. Last year he pissed me off all night during Dougie's return game and made things miserable on our d. Exactly the kind of guy we need. As you say the rumour mill will be working overtime this week but we all know how little it takes to de-rail the Leaf-train don't we??
|
|
|
|
Post by Leafs_Pam on Jul 7, 2003 11:49:36 GMT -5
Believe it or not, I'm more interested in the Leafs signing de Vries. slam.canoe.ca/Slam030707/nhl_tor-sun.htmlLeafs facing de Vries decision By MIKE ZEISBERGER -- Toronto Sun While the Maple Leafs are in the hunt for Greg de Vries, the clock is ticking on their pursuit of the free-agent defenceman. "Toronto has expressed interest from the beginning and there have been ongoing discussions," Pat Morris, de Vries' agent, said last night. "There have been numerous teams (inquiring) about Greg. The way the calls have been going, it's likely he will sign this week." But will it be with the Leafs? In order for that to happen, the Leafs likely would have to get off the fence concerning Robert Svehla and move forward. After picking up Svehla's $4-million US option, the Leafs want him to commit to the upcoming season or sign his retirement papers. Svehla does not seem to like either option. RELUCTANT The Leafs are reluctant to fork out cash on the open market in case Svehla eventually does return, a scenario the organization insists would leave them over budget. "He was one of our best defencemen," Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. president Richard Peddie said, explaining why the team picked up Svehla's option. "If we didn't do it, we would have given up on a valuable asset. "He has done this (stalling tactic) before." Indeed, Svehla pulled a similar power play last summer while his rights still belonged to the Florida Panthers. De Vries, Scott Stevens, Brian Rafalski and Wade Redden are the only defencemen to have a plus/minus rating of plus-15 or better the past four seasons. De Vries, a 30-year-old native of Sundridge, Ont., notched 31 even-strength points last season, second among blue liners behind Washington's Sergei Gonchar. Meanwhile, the Leafs also are looking to bolster their defence through trades, with the likes of Alexei Zhitnik and Bob Boughner among the possibilities. |
|
|
|
Post by thinkblue on Jul 7, 2003 13:43:51 GMT -5
All of the above names would be decent acquistions for the blueline. I don't understand why a Wesley and de Vries and/or a Yuskie couldnt do the same thing that a Zhitnik/Boughner combo would do. I really do not want to see Tucker go and would be very upset if he did. Most fans of other teams probably wouldn't appreciate him, either, from all the negative press.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gerard on Jul 7, 2003 14:03:48 GMT -5
TB, i'm with you. I'd take deV/Wesley and be quite content. That would give us McCabe/Kaberle/Wesley/deVries for the top 4 and Berg/Pilar/Jackman and a host of rookies to fill in for 5-6. Certainly NOT the def. team to make other forwards shudder in fear but a solid top 4 and enough to give Belfour some help. It seems all we've been aksing for for ages is a dependable defence. And it's not that hard to get. That's why i'm so frustrated these days.
|
|
