I agree with the Niklas Hagman signing - 12 million 4 year deal.
Seems fair to me as he is somewhat of an adequate offensive
player. Here are his stats last year with the Dallas Stars:
27 goals, 14 assists, 41 points.

I think the Curtis Joseph signing is a Status Quo signing.
I am willing to forgive Cujo for his comments he made
about the Toronto Maple Leafs when he left to go to
Detroit to chase a Stanley Cup. Why? He didn’t win
a Stanley cup and ended up for years in what I consider
the purgatory of Hockey; the Phoenix Coyottes. His
wins there was so pathetic that it almost ended his
career. I think he has paid penances for his crimes.
We saw that he is still a quality goalie with his time
last year with Calgary. So lets forgive Cujo, he is
a perfect goalie to back up Vesa Toskala this year,
plus it is a one year contract.

What about Jeff Finger? Is this for real? 4 year 14 million
contract? Is Cliff Fletcher going Senile? Or does he have
some sort of magical vision like a magician pulling a
rabbit out of a hat. I listened to the panel on TSN criticize
the Maple Leafs for the Jeff Finger signing, and on the
Sports Round Table I listened to the Jokes about Hagman
and Finger leading the Leafs to the promise land.
Seems the search engines are being flooded with "Finger"
jokes and folks we are in for 4 years of "Finger" jokes.

Don’t get me wrong I think Jeff Finger is a good defenceman
for here are his stats: age 29, GP 94, G 9, A 15, Points 24.
Selected by Colorado Avalanche round 8 #240 overall.
Previously he earned the league-minimum salary of $475,000
last season. So people why is he getting a raise from
$475,000 to $3.5 Million? I think he is a good defenceman
but definitely has of yet to earn that raise.

Besides I thought the Maple Leafs were in rebuilding mode
and now they are signing some older players Jamal Mayers,
Niklas Hagman and Jeff Finger. If it was upto me the Maple
Leafs would have done no signing and completely rebuild
through the draft, take their lumps for four years then have
a run at Lord Stanley in four years. I dont see the point in
signing older free agents. I would just totally build through
prospects in their farm system and draft pics.

Just my insites

Best Regards
Michael Grant
http://mapleleafs.ning.com

Tags: Leafs, Hagman, frenzy, sign, offensive, Finger, Niklas,

Cujo, agent, 12, million, older, salary, Maple, Curtis, signings,

player, Jeff, free, 14, contract, Toronto, Joseph, signing,

defenceman 

1. D—Luke Schenn

Team: Kelowna Rockets (Western Hockey League)
2007-08 Stats: 57 GP – 7 G – 21 A – 28 P
Shoots: Right - Height: 6’2” - Weight: 216 lbs
Birthdate: Nov. 2, 1989
Hometown: Saskatoon, Sask.
NHL CSS Ranking: Fifth (North American skaters)

“He’s the best defensive defenceman in the draft
and probably the best in over a decade, maybe two
decades,” said Grant McCagg, publisher of the
McKeen’s Hockey Draft Guide. “I can’t think of
the last guy that came out of the draft that’s
as good defensively right now as Luke Schenn is.”

“A big guy that plays a robust game,” a WHL coach
explained. “He makes every player on the ice
honest out there because he can stiffen you up
at any time. He’s solid defensively and I think
he’s gotten better as an offensive defenceman.
Really reliable, competes hard and brings it every
shift. Real character guy. You can see the other
players on his team look up to him.”

“The physical presence is top of the heap,” McCagg
said. “Great positionally, very good defensive
instincts, highly competitive and he’s not afraid
of anything out there. He’s going to be a shut
down defenceman for 15 years on your team.”

2. RW—Jimmy Hayes
Shoots: R—6’5”, 210 lbs Lincoln
(USHL) CSS: 63 (N.A.-S)

More info on Jimmy Hayes
At Hockeys Future

3. C Mikhail Stefanovich 6’ 2” 202 QMJHL Quebec
More info on Mikhail Stefanovich
At Eurohockey

4. D Greg Pateryn 6’ 2” 212 USHL
More info on Greg Pateryn
At Ohio Junior Blue Jackets

5. C Joel Champagne 6’ 4” 210 QMJHL Chicoutimi
More info on Joel Champagne
At LHJMQ Website

6. LW Jerome Flaake 6’ 2” 187 Germany KOLN
More info on Jerome Flaake
At Eurohockey

7. G Grant Rollheiser 6’ 4” 195 BCHL Trail
More info on Grant Rollheiser
At BCHL Website

8. D Andrew MacWilliam 6’ 2” 214 AJHL Camrose
More info on Andrew MacWilliam
At Hockeys Future

It will be really interesting how these draft
pics pan out. I don’t think they will all make
the Toronto Maple Leafs this year but I would
think their first pick Luke Schenn (5th overall)
should make the Leafs out of training camp.

Best Regards
Michael Grant
http://mapleleafs.ning.com

My opinion is there were other options to hire as
a coach. For one I felt Greg Gilbert (coach of Toronto
Marlies AHL) should have been given a shot at the
Leaf coaching job. Or give John Anderson (Coach
of Chicago Wolves AHL) a chance as the Leaf
coach. During the NHL playoffs Don Cherry on
‘Coaches Corner’ said the reason John Anderson
has not received any NHL coaching interviews
is because he was too busy winning championships
in AHL.

Any how I am not really impressed in Ron Wilson.
I mean he is a good coach but his winning percentage
is not as high as I would have liked in a Toronto
Maple Leaf Coach. Here is Ron Wilson’s general
career coaching stats:

Regular Season
GP W L T OL PTS PTS%
1091 518 426 101 46 1183 .542

Playoffs
G Plyf W Plyf L Plyf T Plyf W% Plyf
82 41 41 0 .500

Main thing with Ron Wilson is the stigma of the
teams he coached only two teams went beyond
the second round of the playoffs including this
year.

Here is his playoff stats History
1993-94 Anaheim Mighty Ducks - out of playoffs
1994-95 Anaheim Mighty Ducks - out of playoffs
1995-96 Anaheim Mighty Ducks - out of playoffs
1996-97 Anaheim Mighty Ducks - lost in round 2
1997-98 Washington Capitals - lost in finals
1998-99 Washington Capitals - out of playoffs
1999-00 Washington Capitals - lost in round 1
2000-01 Washington Capitals - lost in round 1
2001-02 Washington Capitals - out of playoffs
2003-04 San Jose Sharks - lost in round 3
2005-06 San Jose Sharks - lost in round 2
2006-07 San Jose Sharks - lost in round 2

So overall I am not impressed with Ron Wilson’s
playoff record. At this point I dont think there is
any pressure to win as the Leafs are in rebuilding
stage that will probably take 4 years to become
competitive again.

I am very interested to hear your thoughts

Best Regards
Michael Grant
http://mapleleafs.ning.com

Tags: Toronto, Maple, Leafs, sign, Ron, Wilson, Cliff, Fletcher, coach, GM, general, manager, Greg, Gilbert, Marlies, AHL, John, Anderson, Chicago, Wolves, NHL, playoffs, Don, Cherry, Coaches, Corner, winning, championship, championships, percentage, stats, Anaheim, Ducks, Washington, Capitals, San Jose, Sharks

Personally I do not agree with the firing

After all the way I interpret everything the Maple Leafs are going
to clear house of all the older guys, except maybe Sundin; and make
trades for draft picks, and in last option buyout these older players
contracts. In a nutshell they are going to start from scratch and
rebuild in a 5 year plan when all the draft pics develop

So why fire Maurice? Dont make sense to me

They should have let the new General Manager when he comes,
decide the fate of Maurice

Personally I like Maurice, will miss the trap system he implemented
at half season. On the other hand I do not like how he has treated
the backup goalies the last 2 years. For one the lack of playing
time is sole reason for the Mediocrity of both Aubin and Raycroft.

This mishandling of backup goalies had to stop.

I really dont think Maurice will be missed too much

other Maurice mistakes include over playing players
which resulted in injuries.Examples include groin
injuries to Sundin, Raycroft and Toskala.

also when the new GM is in place he must add more grit,
the lack of grit I feel is responsible for injuries aswell.
A number of the older Leaf defenceman have to go
I feel Leafs had 3 defence who were defensive liabilities
to Leafs such as McCabe, Kubina and the departed
Hal Gill.

Best Regards
Michael Grant
http://mapleleafs.ning.com

Tags: Toronto, Maple, Leafs, Paul, Maurice, fire, fired, firing, thoughts, older, guys, Sundin, trades, draft, picks, buyout, rebuild, five, year, plan, general, manager, coach, trap, system, backup, goalies, Raycroft, Aubin, mediocrity, over, playing, players, injuries, Toskala, grit, defenceman, defensive, liability, McCabe, Kubina, Hal, Gill