A re-cap of this week's Leaf's activity
As everyone knows, it's been a busy week so far in the NHL, but not so much with one of the most beloved teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As everyone knows, free agent signings so far include Tie Domi and Jason Allison.
It appears that all those given a qualifying offer intend to accept the terms of their contracts, even Nik Antropov. The rumour of his possible defection to the Russian league was exactly that - just a rumour. He was certainly in contact with them, but it remained a fallback position only, as his discussions with the Russian league occurred prior to his receipt of his qualifying offer. His intention has always been to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and will return this season.
For those wondering what free agents the team was chasing, I can confirm the following:
1.) Brian Leetch, Gary Roberts, and Joe Nieuwendyk were the first free agents contacted by the Leaf organization. Leetch was considered an easy signing with the Leafs, possibly at a discount because 1.) he's older, and 2.) returning to the Rangers was no longer an option. However, I spoke briefly with Leetch, and it was evident that his time in Toronto was over. He was unhappy with the media scrutiny of the city, did not enjoy living in Canada, and wanted to return to a traditional US hockey market. The Leafs offered him 3.5 million for a single season to return, which was rejected immediately.
2.) Against the wishes of Pat Quinn, Ferguson desired that Roberts and Nieuwendyk both return to the team, with an emphasis on Roberts. Although the play of Nieuwendyk was appreciated last season, Ferguson told me that it appeared a lot of replacement value existed on the free agent market. He was willing to sign both, but asked Roberts if he could intervene and ask Nieuwendyk to accept a lesser contract to remain with the club. Roberts was reportedly outraged, and thereafter he and Nieuwendyk were set on leaving the team. They accepted the highest offer they were given, with Florida. Ottawa offered the same money to Roberts, but had no interest in Nieuwendyk. Ditto for Nashville.
3.) Scott Niedermayer was the next free agent contacted by the Leaf organization. This past Monday, he was offered $4 million per season over a three-year contract to play for the Toronto. It hasn't been discussed publicly, but the rash of middle-range defensemen signed for very large contracts was a suprise to Leaf management. John Ferguson expected the $4 million per year contract to be a competitive offer, and was hopeful it would be sufficient to lure Niedermayer to join the Leafs.
4.) Much has been made of Niedermayer's desire to play with his brother. John Ferguson never considered offering Rob a contract to join the Leafs. Indeed, Scott eventually turned down the cap maximum to take less money to join Anaheim. The Leaf's offer was therefore never considered.
5.) Plan "C" for the defense was the attempted acquisition of Adam Foote. He was offered a two year contract worth 3 million per season. Foote was contacted Monday, immediately after it became Niedermayer was not coming to Toronto. And like Niedermayer, the Leafs were not a serious option for him.
6.) After the failure to land the above trio of defensemen, Ferguson decided to focus on forwards, preferring to upgrade the defense of the team through trades. After seeing the size of the contracts being awarded to the available defensemen, it was decided the going rate was simply too much money. Accordingly, none of Adrian Aucoin, Darian Hatcher, Sergei Gonchar or Brian Rafalski were contacted for offers.
7.) With a new focus on free-agent forwards, on Wednesday, Glen Murray was offered approximately 3 million per season, for two seasons, to join the Leafs. Murray was the number 1 free agent forward desired by the Leafs after the loss of Roberts and Nieuwendyk, having entered into discussions last year prior to the lockout. Like with Niedermayer, the money offered by the Leafs was never really considered, and truthfully, he was not comfortable leaving Boston, and was happy to accept their higher offer.
8.) The next target was Cory Stillman. Unlike it has been reported in the media, Stillman was offered the same contract that Jeff O'Neill signed a week earlier. He accepted a longer-term, higher-income contract from Carolina the same day.
9.) Still on Wednesday, Ferguson held a long meeting with Quinn to discuss options, as by now it was obvious the higher price free agents were not going to be viable options for the Leafs. It was during this meeting that it was decided to contact Jason Allison. Prior to the failure of signing Murray and Stillman, Allison was never going to be offered a contract. He was offered his contract on Wednesday, pending the results of a medical examination in Buffalo, NY.
10.) After talking through the media for 3 days, Ferguson met with Tie Domi on Thursday to discuss his contract offer. Ferguson explained the rough shape of the team as justification for Domi's originally low contract offer. He upped the offer to 1.25 million at the meeting, without the aid of Domi's agent, and he signed it on the spot. I spoke with Domi after the meeting, and he was extremely happy to remain with the team, and never had any interest in leaving, not even for Mario Lemieux. Only the Leafs, Penguins, and Ottawa Senators expressed interest in signing him.
11.) After passing his physical, Allison was introduced to the media. He will be the Leaf's second-line centre after Sundin.
As everyone knows, free agent signings so far include Tie Domi and Jason Allison.
It appears that all those given a qualifying offer intend to accept the terms of their contracts, even Nik Antropov. The rumour of his possible defection to the Russian league was exactly that - just a rumour. He was certainly in contact with them, but it remained a fallback position only, as his discussions with the Russian league occurred prior to his receipt of his qualifying offer. His intention has always been to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and will return this season.
For those wondering what free agents the team was chasing, I can confirm the following:
1.) Brian Leetch, Gary Roberts, and Joe Nieuwendyk were the first free agents contacted by the Leaf organization. Leetch was considered an easy signing with the Leafs, possibly at a discount because 1.) he's older, and 2.) returning to the Rangers was no longer an option. However, I spoke briefly with Leetch, and it was evident that his time in Toronto was over. He was unhappy with the media scrutiny of the city, did not enjoy living in Canada, and wanted to return to a traditional US hockey market. The Leafs offered him 3.5 million for a single season to return, which was rejected immediately.
2.) Against the wishes of Pat Quinn, Ferguson desired that Roberts and Nieuwendyk both return to the team, with an emphasis on Roberts. Although the play of Nieuwendyk was appreciated last season, Ferguson told me that it appeared a lot of replacement value existed on the free agent market. He was willing to sign both, but asked Roberts if he could intervene and ask Nieuwendyk to accept a lesser contract to remain with the club. Roberts was reportedly outraged, and thereafter he and Nieuwendyk were set on leaving the team. They accepted the highest offer they were given, with Florida. Ottawa offered the same money to Roberts, but had no interest in Nieuwendyk. Ditto for Nashville.
3.) Scott Niedermayer was the next free agent contacted by the Leaf organization. This past Monday, he was offered $4 million per season over a three-year contract to play for the Toronto. It hasn't been discussed publicly, but the rash of middle-range defensemen signed for very large contracts was a suprise to Leaf management. John Ferguson expected the $4 million per year contract to be a competitive offer, and was hopeful it would be sufficient to lure Niedermayer to join the Leafs.
4.) Much has been made of Niedermayer's desire to play with his brother. John Ferguson never considered offering Rob a contract to join the Leafs. Indeed, Scott eventually turned down the cap maximum to take less money to join Anaheim. The Leaf's offer was therefore never considered.
5.) Plan "C" for the defense was the attempted acquisition of Adam Foote. He was offered a two year contract worth 3 million per season. Foote was contacted Monday, immediately after it became Niedermayer was not coming to Toronto. And like Niedermayer, the Leafs were not a serious option for him.
6.) After the failure to land the above trio of defensemen, Ferguson decided to focus on forwards, preferring to upgrade the defense of the team through trades. After seeing the size of the contracts being awarded to the available defensemen, it was decided the going rate was simply too much money. Accordingly, none of Adrian Aucoin, Darian Hatcher, Sergei Gonchar or Brian Rafalski were contacted for offers.
7.) With a new focus on free-agent forwards, on Wednesday, Glen Murray was offered approximately 3 million per season, for two seasons, to join the Leafs. Murray was the number 1 free agent forward desired by the Leafs after the loss of Roberts and Nieuwendyk, having entered into discussions last year prior to the lockout. Like with Niedermayer, the money offered by the Leafs was never really considered, and truthfully, he was not comfortable leaving Boston, and was happy to accept their higher offer.
8.) The next target was Cory Stillman. Unlike it has been reported in the media, Stillman was offered the same contract that Jeff O'Neill signed a week earlier. He accepted a longer-term, higher-income contract from Carolina the same day.
9.) Still on Wednesday, Ferguson held a long meeting with Quinn to discuss options, as by now it was obvious the higher price free agents were not going to be viable options for the Leafs. It was during this meeting that it was decided to contact Jason Allison. Prior to the failure of signing Murray and Stillman, Allison was never going to be offered a contract. He was offered his contract on Wednesday, pending the results of a medical examination in Buffalo, NY.
10.) After talking through the media for 3 days, Ferguson met with Tie Domi on Thursday to discuss his contract offer. Ferguson explained the rough shape of the team as justification for Domi's originally low contract offer. He upped the offer to 1.25 million at the meeting, without the aid of Domi's agent, and he signed it on the spot. I spoke with Domi after the meeting, and he was extremely happy to remain with the team, and never had any interest in leaving, not even for Mario Lemieux. Only the Leafs, Penguins, and Ottawa Senators expressed interest in signing him.
11.) After passing his physical, Allison was introduced to the media. He will be the Leaf's second-line centre after Sundin.
posted by Wardo at 12:15 PM
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