we got Lindros daniel, we got LINDROS!!

You should be more excited about Allisson and Jeff O'Neil. Lindros is filler compared to those guys.

true, and who know's when his next headache will be..

Also signed Jean-Sebastien Aubin today, presumably as backup for Belfour. Bad news for Tellqvist, unless this signals a trade.

The Leafs are hurtin'. If O'Neill, Lindros and Allison don't return to form they will NOT make the playoffs.

Lindros looked a little puffy to me. I think he needs to get in game shape in the next 48 days.

I like the Aubin signing. He is like looking down at 10 9s in your big blind. Not great, but has some potential. You can play him if you have to.

There are a lot of naysayers when it comes to leaf talk, they will be respectable that's for sure, and this will not be the final product either. There will most definitely be moves made, what they are, know one knows. These signings were all good moves, one year deals at bargain basement prices is fine, if they meet the expectations they will provide us with some major excitement coming down the home stretch. Ferguson is smart, he might not get a lot of credit right now, but he will. With what he had to work with he is doing a good job. The Big E will be back, he will be so pumped to don the jersey, he'll step up. All this injury talk is crazy, i mean anyone can take a scott stevens hit and be knocked out not just the big E. That's why you play the games, it could happen to anyone. Look at Paul Kariya, he hasn't been anywhere near the same hockey player since the gary suter cross check, and know one seems to mention that at all. He did nothing in colorado last year, and look what he signed for in nashville.

Anyways here's to the leafs and leaf fans across the nation.

First, Leafs have no money to make any moves. Second, Lindros is concussion prone, doesn't matter if hit Stevens or Martin St.Louis hitting him, if they connect he's down again. Just look at his bro, had to retire because of concussion problems. The family just has soft heads. 20-1 says he gets another concussion this year. Third, Colorado was so stacked last year that Kariya was getting half the time he was used to and was less productive because of it. Just look at Kovulchuck and Nash. these guys were on the ice every second shift and scored 41 goals. With more playing time Karyia will have a much better season.

The leafs have no money to make moves, that's why you make trades with other teams for the same salaries, we are in a position where we have guys down on the farm to trade or for that matter guys off the roster. I wasn't talkin about free agent pick ups i'm talkin trades. And you can make those happen within the salary cap. And you are really going to compare kariya's game now with the likes of Kovalchuk and Nash. Kariya was a beast a couple of years ago, but these two players are game breakers, kariya is not that player anymore. And we'll have to wait on Lindros, sure its a risk but for what they paid for him and what he could potentially deliver is a chance i'd take in a heartbeat, and i think its safe to say most leaf fans think on the same lines. This sounds like a fan of the ottawa senators talkin.

What kind of trade could the leafs make? They can't trade a bunch of prospects for an established player because it will push them over the cap. The only trades that make sence is dumping salary for draft picks or prospects. Virtually no trade the leafs could make this year will help them in the short term. Also, learn to read, I didn't compare Kariya to Kovulchuk or Nash. I used them as examples on how ice time can make a difference on a players productivity. Kariya had one bad year, which was still better then most people in the league. He is comfortably over a point per game in his career.

I'm a Canucks fan.

Right now, a lot of teams are looking at trades that affect their depth chart, but not their cap situation. There has apparently been lots of talk among teams that are running out of cap maneuvering room. Whether it leads to anything, who knows?

who can the leafs afford to trade away?

mccabe?
tucker?
klee?
kaberle?
telequis? (sp)

And what are they going to get for those players? Nothing that helps them in the short run. Thanks for trying though.

I want to respond to the stuff about Kariya. We have no real idea if he's a game breaker anymore or not. He looked terrible in Colorado, but it was a big transition year. This season's going to tell the tale on Kariya. I remember in the first lock out year, everyone said Steve Yzerman wasn't a game breaker anymore because he had one terrible season. He went on to become arguably the best two way player in hockey, and had what some believe were his best seasons in the mid nineties.

Kariya's still reasonably young, and I wouldn't doubt him returning to form. He might not, but the point is, we can't judge him on last season.

As for the Leafs, I think the biggest concern has to be Belfour. They probably should have taken Lindros' money and put it toward acquiring Chris Osgood, or even Sean Burke. Neither of them are really a sure thing, but combined with Belfour, at least one might be able to play. Belfour might still be capable of a good season, but realistically, he's 40 years old and prone to injury.

Jeff O'Neil can play. Carolina isn't an ideal playing situation for anyone, but Toronto is. Don't doubt that O'Neil might become the best player on the team. He plays like a young Gary Roberts, and if he sticks around, I can see him following Sundin as captain.

Jason Allisson is the real X-Factor. If he's healthy, he's capable of being a top ten scorer. But that's a big "if". People often overlook him, but he's a premiere set up man, and he's going to have more than a couple guys capable of scoring goals to play with. I think he and O'Neil will have excellent chemistry.

Kaberle has a lot of trade value. I think a lot of teams would jump at the opportunity to pick up a mid-twenties defenseman with his offensive upside.

Kariya has been hearing footsteps since the big hit. If the year off helped him get his head together, then he'll return to form. If not, increased ice time should still up his point totals, just not to superstar levels.



Same tune every year, I guess eventually it has to be true. He's averaged around 61 regular season games since '97-'98, and in the allegedly injury-prone '03-'04 season he played 59. Absent a doctor's report saying he's about to break in half, I'm pretty sure we can pencil him in for at least 50 this season, and I'm sure he'll keep the Leafs in a few they don't really deserve to win, just like always.

The major trouble spot I see for the Leafs is the defence - no real big stud defenceman. But that's been a weak spot for a few years, so not a new worry.

Kaberle and Tucker are two of the three young players every team asks for when talking trade with the Leafs (the third is Colaiacovo). I personally think Ferguson would have to be completely insane to trade any of them for anything other than a set of players that will bring a Stanley Cup. Which is not to say he won't do it - lots of Leafs GMs have gone inexplicably insane with their young talent - just that it'd be disappointing. For a depth-type trade, the guys the Leafs can afford to move are players like Berg, Pilar (once he's signed), Belak, Perrott, Antropov, Ponikarovsky, maybe Klee. What they'd want back from that kind of deal is some combination of help on the left wing, a solid defensive defenceman, or draft picks, but clearly those aren't the guys you're going to trade for top quality help (well, unless Mike Milbury has yet another bad day).

I agree. Most of my posts about the Leafs are just to defend them, because I don't see why everyone's hit the panic button. I just don't see how they're a significantly worse team than last year. The three new guys could be HUGE if all goes well. If all doesn't go well, I still think O'Neil will be huge.

I think Lindros is a good gamble at a good price. Just like limping into a hand with a pair of pocket 2's....if you hit that trip....woo-hooo. I think Lindros has a lot to prove and the time off from the lockout would have helped him recover from his head injuries. For $1.5-million, he was a steal. If he scores 30 goals this year, he'll be the best bargain in the NHL. Too bad the Leafs weren't more active in the buying frenzy...they lost out on some incredible talent this year. Go, Leafs, Go.

i like to call the leafs the queefs


back to beer.......

The leafs lost Mogilny, Roberts, and Niewendyke. Don't get me wrong, I love all 3 guys, and the latter two are excellent dressing room guys on top of what they provide on the ice. However, since the topic of discusiion (at least regarding Lindros and Allison) seems to be injuries, these three are as injury prone (at this stage) as anyone else.

Lindros is a wildcard, to be sure, however, he has still averaged a point per game over the past 3 seasons when he has been playing. If O'neal can hit his stride, which is a strong possibility, and if Allison can keep his head on straight, then I don't think there is any reason the leafs can't be better than they were in 03/04. I realize that this is a lot of ifs, but no moreso than the 'ifs' surrounding the health of roberts, mogilny and niewendyke.


I have nothing but confidence for the upcoming season.

face it Leafs are gonna be another disappointment this year. Ooooh Lindros!!! The guy is a moron and can't play worth shiat! I'd rather have Dutch Boyd on ice and body check! LOL!

I honestly don't get why people think this roster is so drastically worse than last year's. The Leafs likely IMPROVED at forward, and I don't even think getting Lindros is a big deal. But the Leaf's got younger up front. The big question mark is Belfour, but even at 40, he's probably going to be an average goalie.

I believe Lindros is a waisted pick-up. It is just a matter of time before he gets another concussion. Before his last concussion with the Rangers, he was not a productive player because he was playing scared.

You are really underestimating the importance of Mogilny and Roberts if you think it is so obvious they have improved at forward.

lol, yeah it does. Martin St. Louis wouldn't even dent the Big E.

Lindros = 80 points this year. You may not have heard it here first, but you did hear it here.

Roberts and Mogilny were good. I'm not underestimating them. But Allison and O'Neil are better. And younger.

I'm a Mogilny fan and sorry to see him go, but I don't think anybody even vaguely familiar with the '03-'04 Leafs would argue he was an important player last season - he missed more than half the season and was almost invisible in the Ottawa series. Roberts was a much more important point producer for the Leafs, but Lindros has similar stats in recent seasons playing for a much worse team. I don't know if the Leafs have improved significantly at forward, but they are younger, faster, and bigger, which should lead to good things if the obstruction crackdown does go through. Given the traditional knock on the Leafs as being too old, slow, and small to compete in the trap-heavy Northeast, it's kinda funny to see the current about-face by Leafs critics. "No, those 40 year old guys were what you needed, replacing them with younger players is a HUUGGGEEE mistake! You're DOOOMMMEEED!"

The price was definitely right for Alison, Lindros and O'Neil. For the price only one of them needs to have a solid year for the leafs signings to be wise.

Definitely agree with this, getting these three names for a combined $4 million per season is a steal.

I think Fergie Jr is out of his league, we have no wingers LOLL ..outside of O'Neil. I like Lindros and Allison but reality tells me they're not going to be enough to bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto.

Our crack scouting staff is awful too, Oreskovich 3rd overall can barely skate, go watch him play for the Battalion, I piss myself watching him play, this pick was all about size and ZERO ability. What were they smoking!!!!!!?????????

In any case I love my Leafs

Go Leafs Go!!!!!

Lindros will most likely play the wing. Antropov too if he earns more icetime. The Leafs are definitely weak on the wings, but over all, I think they've improved more than a little up front.

People have either vastly over-rated the Leafs chances this year, or vastly under-rated the Leafs this year.

As far as their team this year looks...

Their fowards will be decent....they are a little weak on the wings, as most of their player defections came at that position, although the strength they have down the middle now with Sundin Allison and Lindros will help make up for that.

People who criticize the Leafs for their signings need to realize something....the signings of Lindros and Allison are risk free...they are one year deals that pay them pennies in the grand scheme of things, and if they can return to their previous form, or close to it, it was a great investment by the Leafs and can resign them next year if they seem fit. They will need Stajan to play well again and improve, and have Thomas Steen or another youngster able to step in and contribute.

Their defence.....their defence isn't good enough to win it all, but as opposed to most out there I feel it is actually under-rated. McCabe had a very good season, and with the new rules Tomas Kaberle should be an allstar again. Now, Pat Quinn says he plans on using Belak on the blueline again, so this may change everything, as he is perhaps the worst player in the NHL.

Goaltending....if..and they are big ifs...but if Belfour's back holds up, and his age hasn't caught up with him, they will again be strong in net. Belfour was likely a top 5 goalie in the NHL when the league last played, we'll just have to wait and see how he holds up. I advocated the Leafs signing Weekes before the lockout as is he both young and cheap, but apparently I don't have much pull with Fergy.

Overall the Leafs won't be great, but they won't be horrid like some people say...I'd predict a 4th-7th finish in the conference, with the caveat that Belfour has to stay healthy for this to happen.

Looks like were adding Steve Thomas Leaf fans, @ 42 years old , I don't know how much gas he has left in the tank :?

Way to turn on your comments Jack...This post could of been written by me...

holy crap watch what you say on the internet, someone will always find it years later. Alot of these guys aren't around anymore, and wheres's yoda I remember he beat me in Daniels survivor pool it was between us 2.

Life imitates internet.....

Serge has to go back in time to find positive things about the Leafs..

I'm not so sure the signings of Allison, Lindros and O'Neill qualify as "positives".

I find it interesting to revisit post a couple of years later...Some posts will look like a genius(mine) than some will look weird(gruven)

some wise quotes from serge that will make him look like a "genius"
POSTED SEPT 14TH
Dude the Leafs are a major contender in the Eastern Conference....There is only a couple of teams that can give them problems..
POSTED SEPT 14TH
I honestly believe the Leafs will win their division and will fight it out with the Rangers for first..
POSTED SEPT 15TH
KYLE WELLWOOD. look for 20 goals 55 assists from Wellwood
DARCY TUCKER Prediction 28 goals and 35 assists....
Mark Bell Look for 23 goals from Bell in a shortened season.
Bryan Mccabe Look for Mccabe to put up 17 goals and 65 pts.

TRUE GENIUS serge, and thats just the first 5 post i read
RHH