Home » Maple Leafs sign Vermont’s Viktor Stalberg

Maple Leafs sign Vermont’s Viktor Stalberg

by on April 14, 2009 in Uncategorized - 491 Comments

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According to TSN, the Maple Leafs continued their signing spree on Tuesday morning, inking University of Vermont foward Viktor Stalberg to a two-year entry level contract. The 23-year old powerforward could potentially join the Toronto Marlies as early as tomorrow night as they embark on their playoff quest.

“Viktor was one of the best players in the NCAA this season,” said Burke. “He’s been able to perform in pressure situations and has been very consistent at both ends of the ice. We look forward to adding his size and speed to our organization.” Stalberg was selected in the 6th round, 161st overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2006 draft. It was anticipated that he might’ve been a bit of a tough sign as he would’ve been able to head back to Vermont to play alongside his younger brother, but he’s decided to make the jump to the next level.

Standing at 6’3 210 lbs, Viktor’s game offers an intriguing blend of size and skill. But the quality that makes him stand out the most is his quick stride and fluid skating ability, thus earning him the nickname “Swedish Rocket”. He has shown steady improvement throughout his 3 year NCAA career before finally breaking out in a big way this season. He recorded 24 goals and 22 assists fro 46 points in 39 games, finishing 5th overall in scoring in the nation and shattering his previous bests of 10 goals and 23 points. His impressive campaign, leadership ability and high academic scores helped him finish among the finalists for the Hobey Baker Trophy awarded to the top college player in the NCAA.

He possesses NHL-ready size, speed and a great wristshot. Although he possesses an impressive frame and doesn’t back down from physical play along the boards and in front of the net,Viktor plays more of a skill game than an in-your-face style typically seen from players his size. He should step right in and earn top minutes with the Marlies during their playoff as an early audition for next fall. There’s a very good chance he cracks the Maple Leaf lineup out of training camp next season, and is expected to become a solid 2nd liner further down the road.

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Don’t forget to tune in to TSN tonight at 8pm EST for the NHL draft lottery. The Maple Leafs currently hold the 7th overall pick, and possess a 4.7% chance of winning the lottery to move up to 3rd overall. The New York Islanders currently have the best odds, holding a 25% chance to win the lottery outright, and a 48.1% chance of selecting 1st overall.

Burke sent the local media into a frenzy today by dropping the “bomb” that he would love to make a pitch for the consensus #1 overall pick, John Tavares. So seeing who grabs the top pick tonight should add some intrigue into that story. If you’re a believer of the “Bettman wants to save the struggling U.S. teams” conspiracy, look for the Atlanta Thrashers to capitalize on their 10.7% chance and snag the young phenom.

Always a pleasure,

Alex Tran

[email protected]

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  • Roger Boucher

    I find it funny, but I think TO has a great pick this year. Cowan could be another wall of a Dman, but I think they should draft Kulikov. Personally having forwards are great, but good Dmen are hard to find. Kulikov had great numbers in the assists this year and TO needs a QB on the pp and that’s my 2 cents.

    ps.

    Would it be funny if Isles picked Hedman and that’s who TB wanted a Dman and drafted Cowan. How would that mess up the draft line up?

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  • keon

    Schenn D (Could become best shut down d-man in league) – agree
    White D (I would not trade this guy) – soon to be an Islander
    Grabovski C (Imagine him with a sniper and a power forward, love him) – agree
    Kulemin F (I get the feeling he is going to break out next year) – agree, if he’s not traded
    Tlusty F (Coming of age, good size, good shot) – soon to be an Islander
    Didomenico C (Wow, 25 pts in 8 playoff games so far) – agree
    Stephanovich F (49 goals, 56 games in the Q at 18/19 years old) – agree
    Stajan C (decent player) – part of any package this summer, maybe an Islander
    Stralman D (Next year will tell us a lot) – soon to be an Islander
    J Mitchel C (Bottom six forward for now) – will always be a bottom 6 guy
    Pogge G (Lets hope he finds his game) – perennial AHL goalie
    Bozak F (He will get his chance, high ceiling) – agree
    Hayes F
    Stalberg F (It looks like he will get a chance) – agree
    Hanson F

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  • hockey_guru

    To the people that think you don’t build a team by giving up many draft choices to get the number one… well I think you might be wrong. Each team needs a blend of young players and veterans. The Leafs already have Schenn who is going to be a huge leader and cornerstone going forward. If they got Tavares, they have a stud forward and D man with elite talent. After you have those two guys, you sign FA’s and others that will fill in the other spots. I understand that is just a couple spots but if you can get about 3 or 4 sure fire young guns in there and then surround them with UFA’s you will have a contending team.

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  • MeloD

    It would cost The Leafs a pretty penny to trade for Tavares and I just don’t think it’s worth it. Trading up is one thing, but prying Tavares away from the Islanders is a completely different price tag.
    .
    I think Leafs fans would be much happier with our 7th and an additional 1st round pick then the #1 overall costing us a bunch of prospects.

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  • Roacho

    @betterfoursome
    I wish him all the best, but if we’re taking a present look at where these kids fit in the depth chart, for me hayes would be at the bottom. But I’m not writing him off, he’s still young and has good size. It may take him longer to develop. As for Didomenico and Dale Mitchell, I’m worried about their size and how they will transition to the NHL, if they do. Although Mitchell, is short but built like a pitbull. Dido, has some good grit and tenacity, I think these two have pottential, I would love to see the Spitfires dump the Knights. Maybe we should start looking at Taylor Hall for the 2010 draft.
    ~
    Instead of selling every single asset and future asset for Tavares, why not? Trade Kaberle for a mid 1st rd pick. Hope to get Ryan Ellis, if he’s not available than Zach Kassian. With the 7th overall hope to get B Schenn, if he’s not available take Jared Cowen. Let’s not forget before his injury many had Cowen pegged at third overall, he could be the steal of the draft. With Cowen and Schenn the defence is set for years to come. Then hope to bottom out next year and take Hall in the draft, especially with the Isles, Lightning and Thrashers that should be much improved. When free agency comes around in 2010, if available sign Nash or Kovalchuk to lucrative contracts, because those are franchise players. Any thoughts?

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  • Roger Boucher

    http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2009/04/15/9115206-sun.html

    (Burke acknowledged talks with the agent for Leafs rookie Mikhail Grabovski “have not been successful” and he wouldn’t be surprised if arbitration was required.

    “He’s a guy who has benefitted from ice time that he hasn’t earned,” Burke said of the Belarusian, who becomes a restricted free agent this summer. “But he’s also grabbed that ring and made himself a better player.”)

    I hope Grabs isn’t looking for alot of money, I think Burke may not want to go to arbitration.

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  • Roger Boucher

    http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2009/04/15/9115201-sun.html

    (The Islanders don’t know what they’re going to do with the top selection yet. GM Garth Snow told the New York Post he hasn’t ruled out trading down or decided who he’ll pick.)

    Very interesting?

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  • brokensilence

    instead of trying to trade for tavares this year, what if we used our assets (kaberle, kubina, ponikarovsky, stajan, etc) to try to get a few 1st rounders for NEXT year’s draft? i think it’d be best to try to get at least one more 1st-rounder this year, but the more picks we have next year, the better chance we’ll have of drafting taylor hall. i think next year’s draft isn’t quite as deep, so teams may be more willing to part with those picks (especially so far in advance — the closer you get to the draft, the more expensive picks become), plus if we somehow manage to come up with three 1st-rounders next year, then we could trade those 3 picks for 1st overall (or who knows, maybe one of those picks will be a lottery pick and we won’t even have to trade). i’d rather trade those picks next year than this year, because in this year’s deep draft, those picks may have a better chance of turning out than in next year’s draft.

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  • Mizuno

    Islanders get Tavares. End of Story. I rather we draft 7th, then trade our whole future for him.

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  • Goal Post

    From Snow’s comments NYI will be selecting JT. It will be the biggest stage on earth for JT, the Big Apple can make or break you. With the talent on that team there will be some lean years ahead for JT. I think we should set our sights on Hedman. Tampa will at least consider trading down. They have to improve or risk losing more of their fan base. If the Leaf offer would give them quality players and cap space I believe it can be done. It could be the Leafs 7th pick, Pavel Kubina who was a fan fav in Tampa, Hagman and Poni for Tampa’s second pick and Ryan Malone.

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  • http://admin Alex Tran

    @ Goal Post, Tampa’s probably already got enough forwards as it is. If they’re moving the #2 pick, I don’t think they want secondary pieces while taking on nearly $6M in salary.

    If they want a veteran, it’ll be Kaberle. And I’m sure they’d want a young player in the deal as well.

    Perhaps Kaberle + Tlusty + 7th overall + more for 2nd overall + Malone.

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  • LSC4theleafs

    I believe the NHL GMs are copying the NFL in protecting draft picks. We all think Kaberle and Kubina are worth high first round picks, but in the NFL this would not be the case. At the deadline we were disappointed with what BB extracted for our two trades. We saw GMs protect their prospects. We saw Franzen getting a very long contract to fit the upcoming economics. and we hear speculation that the superstars will struggle to get the top $. BB is willing to bankroll contracts for draft picks, but he will not overpay Moore and now Grabo. There may still be some irresponsibility out there, if the rumors about Gilroy are to be believed, but I am concerned that the tide has turned and Kaberle, Kubina will not yield what we view them to be worth. Comparison to previous years will ultimately reflect the changes occuring in how GMs are adapting to the current times. (Sports teams copy those that have been successful, and while the NHL is not the NFL, the NFL is highly successful in a cap world.)

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  • B Gordon

    Tampa will want White. They’ve already said they don’t want “a 30-year old” puck moving defenceman, meaning Kaberle.

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  • HBM

    @LSC4theleafs no these GMS are much stingier then the NFL ones ….I see a lot picks moved in the NFL……I think that the biggest problem at the trade deadline and draft picks is the lottery system the NHL follows……… They need to make it so that every team out of the playoff has a chance for the 1st pick…….. enough with rewarding the tankers. That would mean come trade deadline day the picks are all the same for the teams out of the playoffs. teams this year and previous like Tampa, NYI, and COL knew what their pick would be worth relatively and therefor would not budge. Take away the certainty and you’ll create competitive teams until the last game of the season. and more possible draft picks traded at deadline.

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  • http://leafshotstove lilzeke69

    an awesome siging by our leafs in vicktor stalberg as well as hanson bozak and slaney now brian burke has to add gilroy and gustavsson to the mix to complete the colledge free agents this summer ide love to see brian burke add cammallieri and bouwmeester to that

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  • Josh

    do we get an extra 4th from the antro deal because the rangers made the playoffs?

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  • brokensilence

    @ josh: not this year, we get their 2010 pick. and i don’t remember if it’s been confirmed exactly what the conditions are… every place i look, it’s different.

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  • http://admin Alex Tran

    Pretty sure it’s if the Rangers reach the Conference Finals.

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