Leafs sign Mike Santorelli

[GhostofPotvin29]

No Legwand then.

‏@DarrenDreger 

Leafs have agreed to a 1 year deal with Mike Santorelli, $1.5 mil.

‏@DarrenDreger 

Santorelli can play wing or centre, so this ends the negotiation with veteran centre David Legwand. Leafs still have $4-5 mil cap space.

Had 28 points in 49 games with the Canucks last season.

 

[louisstamos]

I actually like this signing.  Santorelli was very good for the Canucks last year, and I was worried he'd get an inflated contract.  1 year at 1.5 is just fine by me.

 

[Kin]

Well, it certainly seems like Nonis and co. learned their lessons about big deals to free agents. Let's hope it keeps up.

 

[drummond]

New Raymond, just a placeholder for a Marlie to graduate in the A?s

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Good value signing. Also nice to see the Leafs basically add 3 potential centres in Santorelli, Kontiola, and Komarov. We'll never have to re-live the Jerred Smithson days.

Not only does this take the the Leafs out of the Legwand sweepstakes, but I think it pretty much means their top-12 forwards are set:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Kontiola
Komarov-Santorelli-Clarkson
Ashton-Holland-Frattin

Lots of moving parts too. Basically anybody not bolded can move around and play in a different spot.

 

[bustaheims]

Well, it certainly seems like Nonis and co. learned their lessons about big deals to free agents. Let's hope it keeps up.

And about having depth in terms of guys that can play centre. Good value signing.

 

[Peter D.]

New Raymond, just a placeholder for a Marlie to graduate in the A?s

Can't go wrong with these types of signings.  Sign them on the cheap, get some quality production out of them, and move along.  No strings attached.

28 points in 49 games?  Much more than I had even thought of. 

 

[Mr. Leaf]

I wonder if he's got another 20 goal season in him?  8)

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Definitely good value signing.  He was one of the feel good stories last season before his shoulder injury.  Good by the possession numbers too.  Kind of surprised he came in that low actually.

 

[ZBBM]

It seems to me that by signing two centers today the team is issuing a vote of no confidence in Holland.  Or at least that he's not a lock to make the squad.

 

[Peter D.]

Hopefully the signings of Santorelli and Kontiola, along with Komarov and the return of Frattin, spell the end of Orr and McLaren ever seeing ice time again. 

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

It seems to me that by signing two centers today the team is issuing a vote of no confidence in Holland.  Or at least that he's not a lock to make the squad.

Nonis mentioned Tuesday that he expects Holland and a few others to compete for the remaining slots.

 

[bustaheims]

It seems to me that by signing two centers today the team is issuing a vote of no confidence in Holland.  Or at least that he's not a lock to make the squad.

Both the guys they signed today can also play on the wing. To me, it's more that they learned an important lesson from last season - depth down the middle is important. I expect all three to have spots in the lineup next season.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Should also reserve enough $$ for Gardiner, hopefully long term.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Both the guys they signed today can also play on the wing. To me, it's more that they learned an important lesson from last season - depth down the middle is important. I expect all three to have spots in the lineup next season.

A team should generally always have a minimum of 5 centres in their line-up.

 

[bustaheims]

What I like about the moves the Leafs have made this off-season is that that they've mostly focused on guys that skate well. Definitely seems like they've at least acknowledged how important it is for everyone in the lineup to have good mobility, and that poor skaters need to be excised (hence buying out Gleason, offering up Franson's rights for Gorges, etc).

 

[ZBBM]

It seems to me that by signing two centers today the team is issuing a vote of no confidence in Holland.  Or at least that he's not a lock to make the squad.

Both the guys they signed today can also play on the wing. To me, it's more that they learned an important lesson from last season - depth down the middle is important. I expect all three to have spots in the lineup next season.

I don't know about Santorelli, but from what little I've been able to glean Kontiola should be playing C.  Anyway, your point well taken.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Should also reserve enough $$ for Gardiner, hopefully long term.

This might be the best thing to come out of going cheap on that position instead of signing Legwand. There's no reason the Leafs should be looking at a 1 or 2 year deal with Gardiner now. They have the room to pay him the $3-4mil he'll demand on a long-term deal.

 

[ZBBM]

What I like about the moves the Leafs have made this off-season is that that they've mostly focused on guys that skate well. Definitely seems like they've at least acknowledged how important it is for everyone in the lineup to have good mobility, and that poor skaters need to be excised (hence buying out Gleason, offering up Franson's rights for Gorges, etc).

Another good point.  I prefer to watch that kind of play rather than bruiserhockey.  Although one could argue that LAK leaned more toward the latter than the former.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

What I like about the moves the Leafs have made this off-season is that that they've mostly focused on guys that skate well. Definitely seems like they've at least acknowledged how important it is for everyone in the lineup to have good mobility, and that poor skaters need to be excised (hence buying out Gleason, offering up Franson's rights for Gorges, etc).

Another good point.  I prefer to watch that kind of play rather than bruiserhockey.  Although one could argue that LAK leaned more toward the latter than the former.

I think that's a misconception, or maybe misrepresentation, because that team could skate with anyone IMO.