Garrett Bauman
Looks like the numbers have changed a bit from last year.
Some quick rumour updates entering the final stretch before the free agent spending spree begins.
Five trades that almost happened. Count 'em, five separate deals.  So close, yet so far away.
A very good source has it that Brian Burke saw five separate draft day deals fall apart in the last minute of each.  He worked his tail off on each, only to see the other teams back out in the end for a myriad of reasons. Yet despite these disappointments, Burke was still able to land a very good player in Nazim Kadri at #7, so the draft wasn't a total loss by any means.
With only one day remaining before the draft, the NHL rumour mill is of course running rampant.
Here is an update on the latest "non-source" chatter I've been hearing regarding draft moves, trade possibilities, and free agent speculation as it may or may not pertain to our boys in blue.
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This time of year pretty much everyone is doing a mock draft of some sort. So, with one week to go until the Entry Draft, I figure it's time I chip in with my two cents on what may or may not unfold with the top 10 picks come June 26.
Note that the draft projections listed here are made based on current draft positions, and are not reflective of any possible trades involving the top 10 picks.
Judge Redfield T. Baum has ruled that Jim Balisillie cannot use bankruptcy law to force his purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes.  The judge has also ruled that the NHL's relocation requirements do not violate anti-trust legislation.
In just over two weeks, the NHL Entry Draft will be upon us. Naturally, speculation as to the future destination of the top prospects is heating up.  With July 1st rapidly approaching, trade rumours (some related to the draft, some not) and free agent speculation are abounding with fury. And, of course, possible internal team moves are getting their fair share of play as well.
Here are a few scenarios based on the latest buzz surrounding the Maple Leafs. The question is: which of these scenarios would you consider, and why?
I'm going to take a moment to depart from hockey talk, and encourage readers and fellow bloggers to join our friends at Toronto Sports Media in their open challenge to raise unprecedented Barilkosphere support for The Ride To Conquer Cancer.
From June 13-14, registered cyclists (including AM 640's Greg Brady) will ride 200km in two days from Toronto to Niagara Falls. Donations will support research, teaching, and compassionate care at the Princess Margaret Hospital, one of the top cancer research hospitals in the world. [more…]
Maple Leafs' GM Brian Burke, per the Toronto Star:
"We intend to be pushing the cap every year. We want to spend the money intelligently. We're Big Blue, we're going to spend to the cap."
Now, your initial reaction to that is probably one of surprise, given Burke's previous statements about a potential cap decline.   Does that mean his statement today runs counter to the theory of a rebuilding effort?    Not at all.
I've been trading a few emails of late with some "non-sources" (I want to be very clear about that) employed by various media outlets in the Toronto area, to get their take on the rapidly-churning Maple Leafs' rumour mill.
Although these folks are obviously not directly tied to anyone you would call a "source" affiliated with a team, their insight is often valuable as they are privy to more of the backroom chatter with those who are connected to the so-called "sources".
