Morning Mashup: Ball Almost Rolling

by Mislav Jantoljak on June 27, 2011 in Leafs News - 310 Comments

Max Talbot

If you count today, there are just four days left until July 1^st, a day when Brad Richards hits free agency and hopefully, Toronto. As nerve-wracking at it might be, there are no other options but to wait and hope for the best.

However, I won’t be talking about Brad Richards today. I know the team’s prime need comes in the form of a top flight, highly skilled No1 C, but are other interesting names to consider for the bottom six positions.

Max Talbot can play all three forward positions. He excels as a penalty killer and brings a high amount of leadership qualities to boot. One of his biggest strengths just might be his performance in clutch games and the postseason. Talbot was an integral part of the Penguins Stanley Cup run in the 2008-2009 season fighting Dan Carcillo and willing the team to very important Game 3, 6-3 victory over the Flyers in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals over the Flyers. In Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Detroit in Joe Louis Arena Talbot scored both goals in a 2-1 victory. During that run, he had 13 points, 8 goals and was +8 in the postseason.

It is my honest and objective opinion that not re-signing Max was a really bad decision by Ray Shero and the Penguins. Yes, he might be my favorite NHLer (along with Kuli) playing right now, but he’s also the glue that holds/held that team together. A really happy go lucky, character kind of guy who lights up a dressing room with humor and good, positive vibes. That is perhaps the biggest reason why I want him with the Leafs, but only if the price is right.

NHL LINKS:

Max Talbot to hit free agency, it’s a big deal for me, ok?

Cotsonika of Yahoo sports offers his take on having four NHL divisions

Did Rocco Grimaldi’s religious beliefs keep him out of the first round? Wyshynski has the story

New jerseys, ugly jerseys for both the Panthers and Nashville

With salary cap (and floor) rising, the NHL’s economic landscape changes again, THN with the story

Ken Campbell: NHL contracts, salary cap will lead to CBA issues in 2012

LEAF LINKS:

VLM: Kadri and Kulemin were absolutely part of the Richards trade attempt

Alex Tran’s great Draft Review, in case you missed it

First part of the HUGE draft analysis over at PPP

Tags: Leafs, max, talbot, ufa Print article