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Wednesday, July 30, 2003

Healy signs with the Rangers

Too bad...I kinda liked the guy.

Posted 11:03 PM by Chris |

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

Belak back with Leafs

Belak signs for two more years and McCabe's discussions are proceeding.

This article is a good round up of the Group II free agents and who's left to sign (Pilar).



Posted 12:31 AM by Chris |

Friday, July 11, 2003

Toronto Maple Leafs sign free-agent defenceman Bryan Marchment

Okay...that helps. Kind of cements our reputation as a dirty team, but oh well...

UPDATE... Okay, my real feelings about Marchment. As Rich...! points out in my comments, the Leafs really do need someone who can stand on the blueline and knock guys down, and Marchment can do that. But I have never liked HOW he does that. I think he's a cheap and dirty player, and he takes aim at guys' knees. I worry a little that he might pull the kind of stunts that Domi used to pull, costing us games and not helping with the need to tighten up the individual discipline. I also worry that he's going to kill someone one day.

I'm not alone in thinking this about Marchment, obviously. Guy Carbonneau said:

"We've talked to owners time and again about players going after someone's knees, and we haven't been able to do anything about it. Going after a player's knee is the worst thing in hockey. It's worse than hitting from behind. Then again, I thought [Weight] would be suspended for going after Marchment the way he did - and he wasn't," Carbonneau said.

"I don't have a problem with that, though. You talk to Marchment and he's always telling you: 'That's the way I play. ... that's the way I play,' but that's not the way to play. When you go after a guy's knee, the way Marchment does, it's not only an injury ... it's a career."


I have never had trouble with guys who play close to the edge, and when Roberts and Tucker were out there, I always said that I hated them, but would love to see them play for the Leafs. Claude Lemieux and Chris Chelios, among others were like that too. But I have very little patience for Marchment.

Having said that, there is no doubt that his experience and prowess will be an asset and the games with the Oilers should get interesting.



Posted 11:15 AM by Chris |

Thursday, July 10, 2003

Leafs draft picks reviewed

Looking to the future a little...

The Toronto Maple Leafs went into the 2003 Entry Draft looking to add size, skating ability and talent to the organization. Armed with only five selections, and without their first round pick, which was traded to San Jose in the Owen Nolan deal, Barry Trapp, the Leafs Director of Amateur Scouting, faced a difficult challenge in his first run at the draft table with the team. Trapp was determined to make each selection count, promising to only take players that the club’s scouts had a good read on.


The Maple Leafs have slowly been rebuilding their farm system since Pat Quinn took over the managerial reins, but the club is still short of quality prospects up front who have the potential to take over the scoring responsibilities when the likes of Mats Sundin and Alex Mogilny retire. As a result, Trapp surprised many by selecting University of New Hampshire recruit John Doherty rather then a young forward with their first pick in the second round. If there is one definitive area of strength within the organization, the team is loaded with young defense prospects, with the likes of Carlo Colaiacovo, Brendan Bell and Max Kondratiev, amongst others, on the horizon.




Posted 1:34 PM by Chris |

Tuesday, July 08, 2003

Some Leafs fit to be tied


"For [Gary Roberts], it's a difficult situation because of Joe [Nieuwendyk]," Domi said. "I saw Joe at Doug Gilmour's birthday party and he was really excited at the chance to come here."

Unless something changes quickly, the Leafs may not sign Nieuwendyk, Marchment or anyone else. And that prospect is not making for many happy Leafs players these days.


Sob!

Posted 10:05 PM by Chris |

Hurricanes blow away Leafs in Wesley talks

I don't get this. Wesley was the kind of guy to build the D-corp around. With Svehla in limbo, Hatcher and Marchment gone, no progress on DeVries or Tverdovsky and Housley and Lumme not returning, the Leafs seem to have Kaberle, McCabe, Colaiacovo, Belak, Berg and Jackman. Unless we squeeze a defensive game out of the forwards, we're gobsmacked on the blueline.

Help!

Attention Leafs "management": please, please just this once try and land someone who can help us on defense. Please. Really. Please? Let's at least make an effort to retain the good ones.

Posted 10:02 PM by Chris |

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