I don't know if this deserves it's own thread yet, but I've really been thinking about how the Leafs are going to improve themselves this summer and it appears as though it's going to have to come from outside the UFA market.
List of potential July 1st UFA's
That is one UGLY crop. There are exactly 2 impact UFA's. Ryan Suter and Zach Parise and while I do believe Burke will make a pitch, I would be absolutely shocked if we signed either one. Realistically, we aren't getting them.
There are a few decent-to-good 3rd/4th liners who might fit us like: Daniel Winnik, David Jones, Paul Gaustad, Tarvis Moen and Jay Mclement (please no Jarret Stoll!). At the end of the day though, these types are usually readily available every summer so I sincerely hope the 3,264 guys we have in the front office don't overextend for any of them.
Our "prospects" might be better, but what can we realistically expect from a Frattin? Or a Kadri? Or a Colborne? If any of them reach 40 points I think we would all be ecstatic.
We don't really have many trade options either. Schenn quite possibly... and perhaps one of MacArthur and/or Kulemin. Again though, what would these guys bring back? At best we get 1 more top 6 forward.
I'm just left wondering, how do we improve for next year?
List of potential July 1st UFA's
That is one UGLY crop. There are exactly 2 impact UFA's. Ryan Suter and Zach Parise and while I do believe Burke will make a pitch, I would be absolutely shocked if we signed either one. Realistically, we aren't getting them.
There are a few decent-to-good 3rd/4th liners who might fit us like: Daniel Winnik, David Jones, Paul Gaustad, Tarvis Moen and Jay Mclement (please no Jarret Stoll!). At the end of the day though, these types are usually readily available every summer so I sincerely hope the 3,264 guys we have in the front office don't overextend for any of them.
Our "prospects" might be better, but what can we realistically expect from a Frattin? Or a Kadri? Or a Colborne? If any of them reach 40 points I think we would all be ecstatic.
We don't really have many trade options either. Schenn quite possibly... and perhaps one of MacArthur and/or Kulemin. Again though, what would these guys bring back? At best we get 1 more top 6 forward.
I'm just left wondering, how do we improve for next year?