So who saw any of these deals coming? Lets start off by saying Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with their dancing partners the Calgary Flames and Anehiem Ducks, pulled off some Disney Magic today. It was fun waking up first thing in the morning and seeing the reporters at TSN say that there is going to be a major shake up in Leaf Land. Everyone was assuming the coach was going to be fired, when that didn't happen the rumours started flooding.
Now, as great as these deals are, all the teams involved are winners. Only time will tell who is the true winner out of it all. What I mean is this; in a Salary Cap world, you either spend your money wisely or you see yourself in loads of trouble and its really hard to shovel yourself out. Deal One of the day, is the deal that sends Stajan, Hagman, White, and Mayers to Colorado for Phaneuf, Aulie and Sjostrom. Now for the not so regular NHL followers out there reading this, your thinking well that Phaneuf guy is the only one I know, and thats because he's going out with that chick that was in a Porno (she wasn't in a Porno, she played a porn actress who wanted to get out...don't they all). Now lets look at this deal, strictly from a hockey perspective. The Leafs give up their number 1 centreman (he's at best the number 2 centreman on a playoff team, on a very good team he's a number three, ala my previous posts before), a prolific sniper, a number four centreman who could barely find ice time on the Leafs (but in his last two games in Blue and White, he did get 3 points), and a defenseman who has single handily been their most consistent defender this season. In the deal, the Leafs get a vital two way player in Frederick Sjostrom. Every one's been ragging on this player, asking who he is and what he does, he's actually a very vital piece to the puzzle, and I will tell you why. Sjostrom can score, but not like Swedes of the past, he can defend quite well. Now noone in their right mind is going to say this kid is the next Henrick Zetterberg, but lets be honest if he gives us 12 minutes of Ice Time a game, consider that a blessing. He's also a reliable PK guy who can skate fast (something the Leafs never had). Keith Aulie is one of those wild cards in this trade. This 20 year old comes in at 6'6" and close to 220lbs. He's a rock solid defenseman, whose won a World Junior Hockey Championship, and currently plays for the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL. Burke's said he's staying there, which is a smart move considering you've got 6 defenseman in the big club already. Finaly, big Dion Phaneuf. In the words of Pierre McGuire during the 2005 world Juniors, this guy is a MONSTER!!! He's got a cannon of a shot, and will always pull out a huge hit. The only way I can describe that style of play, Al McInnis's slap shot, and Scott Stevens shoulder. If it was Phaneuf playing Chicken against a car, I'd bet on Dion any day!
Now Lets, look at this deal strictly from an economic point of view. Stajan and Mayers are Unrestricted Free Agents, that means that unless they are inked to an extension. they will be free to sign with whomever they want starting July 1st. Ian White is a restricted Free Agent, and if he doesn't sign an extension before July 1st, he will be open to sign an offer sheet with anyone in the league, however the Calgary Flames (or who ever holds his rights) will be able to match it. Hagman remains the only player on the team with a contract obligation, 2 years and 3 million per year owed to him (a total of 6 million). This is what the Flames have taken on (assuming they don't resign Mayers and Stajan). The Leafs, on the other hand, have taken on a couple of salaries for the Flames. Sjostrom earns $750,000.00 next season (and in the summer of 2011, he becomes a UFA). Dion Phaneuf becomes a cap hit till 2014, and is owed 6,5 Milliuon per year. The Leafs have aways said we'll eat up the big salaries, but this is surprising especially since Phaneuf is only 24. So in 2010 season, the Leafs add 7.25 million dollars to their cap number, and the Flames assuming Stajan and Mayers aren't signed (and not knowing White's number) add 3 million to their number.
Now, deals are won or lost in the future, as its always easier to say woulda shoulda coulda (or in a lot of cases wouldn't have, shouldn't have, couldn't have). But anytime your not giving up much for a Stud Defenseman (along with a young strong defenseman) the deal has to be a win. Right now, when Mike Komisarek returns from his injury, the leafs will have a top six defensemen looking like this. Kaberle, and Phaneuf, Komisarek and Beauchimen, Gunnarson and Schenn. I don't know what Wilson will do, but I like that top pairing, however I think Komi, and Beauche, should be split up and put with the Kids. Now how do the forwards look, well the one need is still a number one centreman, and time will tell on that.
The second deal of the day, took a little bit of time, however once it was done, it was no surprise. J.S. Gigure of the Ducks, became a Leaf. When I first heard the rumoured deal, I was told that it was Vesa Toskala for J.S. Gigure and a 1st Round Draft choice. I was thinking great, the Leafs bought them selves a first round pick, this is what they should have been doing all the time (Gigure has 1 year left on his term and is owed 7 million dollars, although his cap hit is 6 million). However, when the deal was announced it was in fact, J.S. Giggy, and going to the Ducks was Vesa and JASON BLAKE. Now I don't know about you, but Brian Burke deserves an award for this deal, he just shipped off one of the worst contracts in NHL history. Blake had 2 years left on his current deal and 8 million owed to him over the two years. Now I would have rather had a first rounder coming back in the deal, but wow that salary off the Leafs books is amazing!!! Hopefully now Jason Blake will get a decent tan in that southern California weather.
My first reaction to these deals was excitement, as having a Stud Defenseman coming to Toronto is a real gem here. Phaneuf is 24, he's young, talented, strong, and has a shot like a mother fucker (that girlfriend of his knows...yeah I went there). This is the movie I was talking bout she's pretty hot..
And now that Phaneuf is on the East coast...can we expect him to clock Mr. Sean Avery for this comment????
There is one thing that should be said about these deals. With about 30 games left in the season, and the leafs requiring at most 25 wins out of the 30 games left, to just make the playoffs...can they do it. Another question that has to be asked, did Burke make these moves to make the team better for the future, or was this a move to make the team better now to ensure that Boston might not get a top 10 pick? Either way, we'll find out soon enough as to the fate of the Toronto Maple Leafs...for sportcentre I'm...lol sorry had to.
Hope this was enjoyable, it was an entertaining period of time, I had my Blackberry Buzzing all day feeling like a NHL GM and letting people know of the trades. Lets look forward to the Olympics and the NHL Trade Deadline in March, it should be a dandy this year!
Is the NHL Destiny commercial going to show Phaneuf more now????
Remember Sloppy Seconds aren't for everyone, some thrive in a situation, where as others just shrink down and can't do anything right...
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Cheers everyone!!!
When you see Kobe, LeBron, Melo, and Dirk on the road, they step up their game to villain status. They know if you're beating their team, you gotta go through them. It's kinda cool right now in seeing that evolution with Durant and the Sonics (I don't care, they should be in Seattle and not in New Jack City!!!). As a Raps fan, that's all I want see from these guys. They have a good enough squad to make a good push and have proved they can play with the rest of the league. They just gotta stop relying on that "we didn't have our legs" excuse on the road every time they lose. It's as tiring to hear as seeing Jamario Moon trying to take 3 pointers. Hopefully that time comes soon, where the Raps can go into places like Boston, Cleveland, and LA and beat these guys at their own game. In the 2008 finals between Boston and LA, prior to game 4, it was a home series. What changed? When Boston found their road push and were able to overcome LA's lead to win that game. After that game, everyone knew Boston was winning their ring and there was nothing LA could do about that. It's when you win games like those, ball head recognize and respect your game. 
