Posts Tagged Brooks Laich
In case you wanted more Tomas Kaberle … Burke talks Kaberle … Other Leafs ideas
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 17th, 2010
Brian Burke on the Fan 590 (Audio): Burke talks Kaberle, and what it means for the Maple Leafs.
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Burke admits he could have traded Kaberle on Sunday for a top-6 forward, but he didn’t think he could live with it. He didn’t receive any offers that would have made the decision hard to make.
“We could have come up with a top six forward. There were some out there, believe me. We could have overpaid. There were some bad contracts out there. We could have made a bad deal. We didn’t want to do that.”
“We were never close to make any deal for him,” said Burke. “We didn’t really have to make any kind of decision because there was no decision to make. I don’t know why the offers weren’t what they needed to be. But we weren’t about to give this guy away.”
Once again Burke reiterated that he won’t ask Kaberle to waive his no-trade clause. If Kaberle submits a list of teams he’d go to, that’s different. Burke would match their 1 thru 8 defenseman against any team in the league. Jeff Finger’s name wasn’t mentioned in the 8, nor brought up, and likely will be sent to the minors.
Damien Cox of the Toronto Star: If the Maple Leafs let Kaberle walk next summer for nothing, they actually are gaining something, $4.25 million in cap space. Burke probably won’t sign Kaberle to a rich, multi-year contract. The pressure now may be switching away from Burke and on to Kaberle.
Jeff Domet of CBCSports: The Leafs may need to get creative and try to move Kaberle from defense to center. Kaberle is an excellent playmaker and is an underrated skater. The transition may take some time but is possible. The Leafs did it in the 60’s with Red Kelly. (Ian White didn’t look out of place playing on the wing at the beginning of last season either).
Noah Love of the National Post: Burke can go in three directions after the failed Kaberle trade: 1. Stand Pat: If Burke stays pat, there is a chance the Bruins will be picking in the top 5 in next year’s draft. Current UFA’s centers for next year at the moment are Joe Thornton, Brad Richards, Patrice Bergeron, David Backes and Brooks Laich. 2. Trade Kaberle: Everyone knows this isn’t over. Kaberle can waive his no-trade clause and the Leafs could get something back. 3. Trade Luke Schenn: Schenn is still a ‘blue chip prospect’ who’s offensive game improved towards the end of last year. His value could get them a top 6 forward and a prospect. If they let Kaberle go after next season, he could be replaced by a Christian Ehrhoff, Andre Markov, Kevin Bieksa, and Chris Phillips.
Around the Boards: Semin resigning for 1 year, Rangers need some size, Who will captain the Capitals and Leafs?
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on December 29th, 2009
- Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy: Though it’s not official yet, all signs are that the Capitals have signed Alex Semin to a 1 year, $6 million deal. After next season, Semin would become an unrestricted free agent. It has been mentioned that Semin could be bolting for the KHL in the next couple years. Chesnokov interviews Semin in this article.
- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The Rangers have been searching from some scoring, and now have Prospal out for 10-21 days, but Brooks thinks they have another issue. “It is imperative that GM Glen Sather acquire big bodies who will use them, even if it means sacrificing some of the skill level that coach John Tortorella covets in his athletes.”
- Botchford of the Vancouver Province: Both the Canucks and Mathieu Schneider deal a trade is the best interests of all sides. He signed with the club this past offseason as they both felt he could fit will on the power play, but the acquisition that brought in Christian Ehrhoff changed that.
- Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post: With the trade of Chris Clark yesterday by the Capitals, the team captaincy opened up. Most people will calling for Ovechkin to get the ‘C’, but Mike Knuble or Brooks Laich could be other options.
- Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star: Ian White has added his name to the list of candidates to be next Maple Leafs captain. White joins current alternate captains Francois Beauchemin, Mike Komisarek, Tomas Kaberle, and possibly Matt Stajan and Phil Kessel.
Around the Boards: Phil Kessel, Sam Gagne, Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Elias Updates, Wisniewski Suspended
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on November 3rd, 2009
- Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star: Phil Kessel is expected to receive clearance from doctors this morning to make his Toronto Maple Leafs debut tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kessel has been skating with Jason Blake and Matt Stajan. The problem I see with this line is that both Blake and Kessel like to shoot the puck a lot. It will be interesting to see how Stajan handles both shooters.
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Sam Gagne will be out of the Flyers lineup for 6-8 weeks after his hernia and abdominal surgery today. Though he definitely will be missed, it creates an opportunity for some of the Flyers younger kids to step up. Also, Daniel Briere hope to practice tomorrow, with the goal of playing on Friday.
- Corey Masisak of the Washington Times: Alexander Ovechkin is listed as wee-to-week with an upper body strain. Brooks Laich take Ovechkin’s spot on the line with Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison.
- Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald: Jonathan Toews is still not allowed to skate, no timetable on his return has been set. There’s a chance that Marian Hossa returns before November 25th.
- Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: Struggling Canadiens winger Andrei Kostitsyn has been demoted to 4th line. Kostitsyn has only 1 goal and 3 assists in 14 games, and received only 7:32 minutes of ice time on Saturday.
- Curtis Zupke of the OC Register: Anaheim Ducks defenceman James Wisniewski was suspended for 2 games for his elbow on Shane Doan.
- Rich Chere of The Star-Ledger: Patrick Elias for the first time this season with the Devils and is eying a weekend return the lineup. He’ll give the Devils a much needed offensive jolt.
- Brian Mullen of the Nashville Tennessean: Shea Weber will be out the Nashville Predators lineup for 1 to 2 weeks.
- Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: Matt Pettinger signed on for his second stint with the Vancouver Canucks after inking a 1 year, 2-way, $500k contract.
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