Big 'E' a Leaf??
Heard on the radio yesterday that Eric Lindross is now a Leaf, signing on for I think $1.55m for one year.
Anybody else think this is a mistake? Personally, I consider him damaged goods. One real good hit, and he's gone...maybe for good. Guess the Leafs had him take another MRI before signing him, and that he cleared it. Still, with his history, not sure if that was a good move by Ferguson. Yea, he's a hell of a player and all, even with the problems he's had.
BUT....
Thoughts??
Anybody else think this is a mistake? Personally, I consider him damaged goods. One real good hit, and he's gone...maybe for good. Guess the Leafs had him take another MRI before signing him, and that he cleared it. Still, with his history, not sure if that was a good move by Ferguson. Yea, he's a hell of a player and all, even with the problems he's had.
BUT....
Thoughts??
Comments
1.55mil is peanuts... heck, he's making just about the same as Tie Domi. It's a very small investment to make for what could be a huge reward. I don't think he will be as dominating a player as he was before, not so much because of the injuries, but more because he's not a young kid anymore, but I think he can settle in as a 2nd line centre for the Leafs and will still emit an aura of intimidation out there.
Ferguson scored on this one.
I'm still not sure what Ferguson's plan is...if there is one. But, for 1.5 mil, why not, in yesterday's NHL, that would be like getting him for free. In today's NHL, its still the basement price for a serviceable player. If he accomplishes anything, I think its a bonus.
As Big E (the forums Big E...) pointed out at lunch yesterday...with the Leafs luck, Allison and Lindros will collide in practice and be lost for the season......
If they can still pull out Anson Carter (another "serviceable" player) then ok...but, who knows what the league is going to be like with the rule changes etc. At least they didn't give Lindros 5 years or something stupid like that.
Me too. Â No wonder poker took off in Canada. Â Hadn't really considered the link before. Â Maybe the WPT and the NHL should consider a cross promotion. Â
Didn't Lindros just look totally out of shape in the press conference? Â And don't the players complain that the boards in the ACC are too hard and unforgiving? Â Is this the all injury team or what? Â Didn't the Leafs learn their lesson with Owen Nolan? Â No answers, just questions.
Lindros on his own would have been poor, however, Lindros AND Allison is perfect.
Figure this...one of the HAS to perform better than the other, and when that happens he will become the 2nd line centre on a regualr basis.
Further, if one gets injured (fingers crossed) you have a great 3rd liner you can move-up and not have to worry about the 2nd line loosing too much.
And how about our power play...c'mon if you don't like Lindros for $1.5m, leaving us with plenty of cap room, then who out there is a better fit?
Oh yeah, and as a life-long Lemieux/Penguinos fan I'm loving what's going on over there as well...Leafs v Pens East Final would be a dream.
Players such as Czerkawski, Bondra, John LeClair, Selanne, Carter & Stumpel are all still available. If they could sign two of these players they would have a good mix of forwards. Other options are having a kid like Wellwood play good enough in camp to crack the team. He has great hands and had a pretty good season in the minors last year.
Here's to you JFJ for finally landing the BigE in Toronto.
Mark my words...it's gonna happen!!!! Wolff is gonna buy me a pint when it does!
Being a Boston fan I have always liked Allison, I just think his head is still mush, one good hit and he's lost....if I am wrong then the Leaf's have made a killer signing but I think he's still damaged goods.....Lindros tho.....I have hated him since he screwed the Nordiques...and his head is most definitely mush. I just don't believe he can play a punishing style of hockey always worrying about the next concussion, I think the Leaf's have made a mistake there.
A little bit off topic but does it bother anyone else that Mario made such a killing while playing that the owner of the team couldn't afford to pay out his contract so he got the Penguins. Then he turns around and complains that players salarys are too high and that it has to change. Finally once the lockout is over he goes out and buys a bunch of the most expensive players on the market.
Mario wasn't overpaid (no moreso than any other NHL'r). The fact that he had to take over the team to "attempt" to get his money out I think shows his loyalty to Pittsburg. Sure, a lot of it is financial, but, if i was owed 15 million or more, i'd f'ing try to figure out how I would get my money too.
So what he bought some players, there's a salary cap...he is finally doing what other Pittsburg owners couldn't, meaning bringing in some talent. He's working within the rules (can't stay at 11 million payroll) etc.
My leafs are sitting on their collective butts while teams are making moves...i say, go Pittsburg, go Flames/Oilers etc...use the new rules to your benefit and hopefully it makes for a better NHL.
Back 2 Back champs, and who was there 5 years later? one guy, Le Magnifique. They lost EVERYONE remember?
Maybe the draft was a fix...i don't mind...without Crosby and the new CBA, the Penguinos would probably be entering their final year in Pittsburgh, so if that's all the good that's come from this mess, then I'm a happy man.
No more cellar dwelling...the pieces are finally starting to fall into place...Penguins make the playoffs this year and
So hat's off once again to the Penguins organization for not only finding the $$$ but actually making the most of it. A new arena within a couple of years, and they'll be groovin'.
Boston, Montreal, New Jersey, Ottawa, Philly, Tampa Bay, Florida, Toronto, NY Islanders. Of course one of these teams will not make the playoffs. Pittsburgh will score more goals but they have no defense. They have to play Philly, Jersey, NYI & the Rangers 8 times each. They will probably finish 4th or 5th in that division.
I think that the leafs will be on the bubble for making the playoffs. It is going to be a frustrating season. If Lindros and Alllison get injured I think that they will finish last in their division.
Sure, the end result was great for Quebec/Colorado but the way he handled his entrance to the NHL was pathetic, and should not have been allowed.....Phillies.....I don't believe he ever played baseball tho? I'm sure the Flyer's regret signing him.
If you're referring to Lindros, it's because if he isn't the player he used to be he's not worth a bag of pucks!
There is no way the Flyers regret signing him. They play in one of the best new arenas in the league and he built that.
They made a cup final and a couple of Eastern finals with him. He made them Way more money than he ever cost in draft picks and cash.
Now I'm sure some will say well Forsberg could have done all that too, and maybe he could have.
But maybe just maybe the fact that Forsberg had all the success in Colorado had more to do with the skill around him.(sakic, Roy, Bourque, Blake)
He is one of the games best players, and I'm glad he's on the Flyers now, but I'm not sure he could have put the Flyers over the top at the time.
They had question marks in goal and on Defence whereas the Avs had that taken care of.
In any case the Loafs...errrr....Leafs can't go wrong. For 1.55 mil. the only way they lose out is if he plays but doesn't produce. If he gets hurt it wouldn't count against the cap and they could go get someone else.
Eric always produces when he plays. It's just that he doesn't seem to play a lot these days.
Coach, GM and CEO of BCC's Butchers
As has been posted before, one hit and he's out. I'm a Leafs fan and prior to this last (non) season I always looked forward to the Leafs in the playoffs (cause that's where it really counts) but this year, I don't have confidence that they'll make it to the first round. I sure hope I'm wrong but I can't see where the drive/energy is going to come from.
How many years do their big names have left? Not many.
go leafs go .... (normally I'd do that in uppercase) *sigh*
Eric Lindros
TOR
C 3 3 0 0 0 0 -1 8 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 games
+/-Â -1
8 pim
No points
Not even a single shot on net.
Thanks for coming out.