[The Darkest Canuck]

I don't mind Kelly, his commentary isn't always the best, but overall he's alright.

[emperor penguin]

Kelly Hrudey anyone?

I think Kelly Hrudey is pretty insightful.. and he doesn't act like a know it all. Behind the mask is always a pretty interesting segment as well.

[thedarkcanuck]

hrudey is infinitely better than greg millen

[tth_fan]

New rule changes according to NHL.com. I applaud them. They make sense, and they contribute to the game.

The Board endorsed rules changes that had been recommended by the NHL General Managers and approved by the Competition Committee:

A change to Rule 76.2 (“Face-Offs”) will place the first face-off of a power play in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul.

A change to Rule 81.1 (“Icing”) states that “Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player.”

A change to Rule 85.5 (“Face-Off Location”) provides that if a puck is shot off the goal frame, goal post or crossbar, the subsequent face-off will remain in the end zone where the puck went out of play.

Further, the Board endorsed immediate and long-term recommendations forwarded by the Goaltender Equipment Working Group and approved by the Competition Committee. Using the guiding principles that: (1) Goaltender equipment should not be any larger than it needs to be to provide adequate protection and (2) should be proportionate to the size of the goaltender, the Working Group will work aggressively with the goalies and manufacturers toward developing standards for the maximum size of all equipment that each individual can wear.

The Board also voted to increase significantly its funding of USA Hockey programs, in particular the National Team Development Program, and voted to create a committee to oversee that expenditure.

[The Darkest Canuck]

76.2 sounds ok on paper, but it's going to be frustrating as hell on bad penalties...it's bad enough to have a bs call go against you, but then having the face-off in the defenders' zone only makes it that much more maddening...not sure that really i agree with that one.

[cochise]

Okay, some draft rumors coming in..........

Take it with a grain of salt, but...........apparently McCabe has agreed to waive his NTC and Fletcher is currently working on a deal to send him and the 7th overall pick to NYI for their 5th pick and a another roster player (in other words one of their salary dumps in return)...........

Apparently Antropov is also being shopped for another 1st round pick.........

[cferneyh]

apparently McCabe has agreed to waive his NTC and Fletcher is currently working on a deal to send him and the 7th overall pick to NYI for their 5th pick and a another roster player (in other words one of their salary dumps in return)...........

As much as McCabe is loathed by the majority of Leaf fans, the fact of the matter is that on any team not based in Detroit, he'd be a top four d-man, and he'd be top two on a lot of teams. In other words, I can't see them unloading him to pick up two measly spots in the draft.

[skippy the wonder dog]

McCabe certainly has the scoring touch.

[cochise]

apparently McCabe has agreed to waive his NTC and Fletcher is currently working on a deal to send him and the 7th overall pick to NYI for their 5th pick and a another roster player (in other words one of their salary dumps in return)...........

As much as McCabe is loathed by the majority of Leaf fans, the fact of the matter is that on any team not based in Detroit, he'd be a top four d-man, and he'd be top two on a lot of teams. In other words, I can't see them unloading him to pick up two measly spots in the draft.

Someone else on the NYI side is supposed to be coming Toronto's way as well, but no idea who.

But I do agree, I don't really understand the hate on for McCabe in T.O.? I know his contract seemed astronomical when he signed it, but I bet by the end of the UFA season in a couple weeks his contract will seem like a pretty good bargain...............

[cferneyh]

apparently McCabe has agreed to waive his NTC and Fletcher is currently working on a deal to send him and the 7th overall pick to NYI for their 5th pick and a another roster player (in other words one of their salary dumps in return)...........

As much as McCabe is loathed by the majority of Leaf fans, the fact of the matter is that on any team not based in Detroit, he'd be a top four d-man, and he'd be top two on a lot of teams. In other words, I can't see them unloading him to pick up two measly spots in the draft.

Someone else on the NYI side is supposed to be coming Toronto's way as well, but no idea who.

But I do agree, I don't really understand the hate on for McCabe in T.O.? I know his contract seemed astronomical when he signed it, but I bet by the end of the UFA season in a couple weeks his contract will seem like a pretty good bargain...............

Well, the way that I see it is that when he does f*ck up - which is too often - it is a major league gaffe (i.e. putting the puck in his own net in OT, not covering a guy in front of the net, etc) that is easy to notice. But when he does the little things right - like the first pass out of the zone, or positioning himself in the defensive zone so that someone without the puck has been rendered useless, it isn't as obvious. Combine that with a salary that makes 99% of Leaf fans envious, and an attitude that comes across as arrogant, and you've got a recipe for disaster in a market like Toronto.

[grimes]

As much as McCabe is loathed by the majority of Leaf fans, the fact of the matter is that on any team not based in Detroit, he'd be a top four d-man, and he'd be top two on a lot of teams. In other words, I can't see them unloading him to pick up two measly spots in the draft.

Someone else on the NYI side is supposed to be coming Toronto's way as well, but no idea who.

But I do agree, I don't really understand the hate on for McCabe in T.O.? I know his contract seemed astronomical when he signed it, but I bet by the end of the UFA season in a couple weeks his contract will seem like a pretty good bargain...............

Well, the way that I see it is that when he does f*ck up - which is too often - it is a major league gaffe (i.e. putting the puck in his own net in OT, not covering a guy in front of the net, etc) that is easy to notice. But when he does the little things right - like the first pass out of the zone, or positioning himself in the defensive zone so that someone without the puck has been rendered useless, it isn't as obvious. Combine that with a salary that makes 99% of Leaf fans envious, and an attitude that comes across as arrogant, and you've got a recipe for disaster in a market like Toronto.

The problem though is that he doesn't even get the little things right often enough. Those first passes out of the zone are brutal giveaways on a much too regular basis to justify his current salary. He's got a hell of a shot, but he's just not very good in his own zone. At best he'd be the third defenceman on a true contending team.

The way things are going his contract may be market value for a third defenceman by the end of the term, but it was ridiculous at the time it was signed, especially when you factor in the no trade clause. I'd have no problem with them dropping him to move up to #5 - it would ensure a shot at either one of the big 4 defenceman prospects or Filatov. It would also clear up some cap space nicely. Fletcher's main goal should be to loose as many of the underachieving veterans as possible and stock up on young players and prospects so that when Burke (or whoever) takes over a year from now he has a clean slate to work with (and a shot at top 5 pick again next year wouldn't hurt either).

[The Darkest Canuck]

I would get rid of McCabe, for pretty much all of the reasons mentioned above, but also, to help the team find a new identity, because their past/current one isn't all that great...

they should try to trade Raycroft too if at all possible, and bring Pogo up as back-up and get him started on his way to becoming their #1...

ideally i would try to sign Sundin to a 2 year contract (WITHOUT an NTC this time), so that the younger players can continue to learn from him and who knows, maybe they even sneak into the playoffs if Sundin comes back, and things go well for them, if not, you have the option of trading him around the deadline if the offer is good enough, or in the offseason, or again the year after at the deadline...1 yeaar would still be ok too...

[cferneyh]

they should try to trade Raycroft too if at all possible

:lol:

Nobody but nobody would trade for Raycroft. Nobody. I'll be shocked if he's in the NHL next season. Shocked.

ideally i would try to sign Sundin to a 2 year contract (WITHOUT an NTC this time)

There is no way in hell that Sundin would agree to a contract without a NTC. In fact, pretty much every single UFA signed since the lockout has had some sort of NTC. It is simply a cost of doing business these days.

[grimes]

they should try to trade Raycroft too if at all possible

:lol:

Nobody but nobody would trade for Raycroft. Nobody. I'll be shocked if he's in the NHL next season. Shocked.

They'd have to get creative to make anything happen. Like package Raycroft, 10 composite sticks, some water bottles, and a couple bags of pucks, and then they might be able to get someone to take him off their hands.

[grimes]

Hot off the press...the Leafs pick up Jamal Mayers from St Louis for a third round pick. Nothing franchise changing but I think he's a decent depth player. He played pretty well for Canada at the last two World Championships if I recall correctly.

In other news, Dave Nonis is apparently joining the Ducks as an advisor to Brian Burke...so I guess he's not coming to the Leafs, at least not until Burke does :jump