TAMPA BAY
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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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".
Over the past 24 hours or so, there has been a ton of speculation regarding the rumoured Toronto-Tampa Bay trade talks. Before these rumours start spinning too far out of control, perhaps a bit of clarification on how this all got started may be in order. As such, I've been doing some digging this evening to try to straighten out the story.
Here's the update on the recent rumours flying around Leafland, from what I've been able to gather.
I've read a lot of comments and feedback on everyone's take for this pick but this is what has been making the rounds in the rumor mill - yes, rumors are still circulating through the playoffs. Keep in mind that this is pure speculation and isn't exactly a mainstream rumor, but it is interesting and perhaps logical.
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With Files from Gil Brown
The current point system is most equitable for playoff races in January and individual franchise marketing, beginning as early as midseason.
Part of the logic behind Detroit Red Wing's GM Ken Holland's proposal, shot down in GM meetings in Naples, Florida in March, to change the season ending tie-breaking measures from Wins, to Regulation Wins is incentive for teams to get the job done in 60-minutes.
It's about motivation, from puck drop in October through to April. But the current point system has greater connotations for marketing games, ticket sales and shaping the playoff race, the biggest issues for owners.
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The Maple Leafs have forfeited a fourth round draft pick and $500 000 for paying Swedish defenseman Jonas Frogren a $750 000 signing bonus this past summer, part of which he used to buy out his former contract at Swedish club Farjestad.
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A message to those disappointed in yesterday's anti-climactic outcome:
Stop expecting the big deals (except Kaberle, see below). Watch the small things in the context of the big picture. Yesterday may not have been ideal, but it symbolically stamped the new regime in Toronto as legit. No more stop gap solutions.
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Couple of quick notes:
The conditional pick received in the Nik Antropov trade is determinant upon the Rangers' playoff success. While I'm awaiting confirmation from a team official, the pick seems to be conditioned upon the the following: If the Rangers advance beyond the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the Leafs will receive the Rangers' 4th round pick in 2010. I'll be the first to call the likelihood of that "very slim." Go Rangers!
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There are a ton of rumors flying around on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Some a downright ridiculous and some may very well have merit. This is a close outlook on a few of those rumors and speculation. We’re under 2 months away from Hockey Christmas, where all the wonderful surprises of wanted and undesired gifts are passed around. A shopping list is what we all hope the Leafs are after, but sometimes there’s other plans that could be in place which may not seem so attractive at first. Consider that the following is merely speculation and rumors.
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On the eve of the biggest game in their major junior careers, team Canada prepares for a rematch with Team Sweden in the Gold Medal game. The event will faceoff John Tavares and Victor Hedman for "round 2" in a two round event - Tavares took round 1. They have 2 things at stake: both are competing for top prospect and both are competing for the gold.
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Trade talks are heating up, in the NHL rumour mills, and online forums. To that end, I've compiled a list of notable free-agents to be, both UFA and RFA, across the league, who may be subject to trade.
