Big summer ahead for Leafs: McDavid, Reimer, and Young D

       As the NHL regular

season winds down, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a big summer ahead. After a season that began with the expected hype and playoff expectations, it soon came crashing down, solidified by a horrendous January. But there are bright spots, and this summer is where Leafs management can turn the tables.

       Since the trade deadline, where the Leafs sent the likes of Cody Franson, Mike Santorelli, David Clarkson and Daniel Winnik away for prospects, draft picks, and cap space, it was a good start. Most significant of returns was the 2015 1st round pick from Nashville for Franson. The 2015 is going to be a deep one, with many cornerstone players up for grabs. Headlining them is of course Connor McDavid. With the new arrangements in the lottery draft, though slim, the Leafs have a chance of winning the McDavid sweepstakes.

       On to the present players on the Leafs roster/organization. Character has been seen as an issue with the Leafs sudden descent, but the core players can be built around. Though hard to see as the season winds down, there are many bright spots in the locker room. Prior to the trade deadline, Joffrey Lupul told reporters, "I want to stay here." Even Phil Kessel, who has struggled down the stretch stated, "we're giving full effort." Players still want to win in Toronto.

       James Reimer, is the longest serving Leaf being drafted back in 2006, has been a bright spot in the Leafs roster. It's not his season numbers that have highlight his season, but the character he showed in the dressing room. Being the "backup" to Jonathan Bernier, he showed real leadership when he called out his team's lack of effort in front of him. He's battled day in and day out, and Leafs management has wanted that change in locker room culture. Reimer is a character player that the Leafs can build around.

       Contrary to popular beliefs, I don't think the Leafs need to bring back Jonathan Bernier. He has had two season to prove that he is an elite #1 goalie with the Leafs, but hasn't shown the numbers. It isn't entirely his fault playing behind the Leafs defensive system. But the Leafs can afford to let Bernier go, after getting Matt Frattin back last summer, and the 2nd round pick going to LA being used in this year's draft. The Leafs also have either Antoine Bibeau or Christopher Gibson to possibly backup Reimer. If the Leafs can sign Bernier to a affordable contract, by all means, do it. But with the expectation that Bernier is expecting a raise this summer, it seems unlikely.

       On defence, speculations seem to lead to Phaneuf heading out of Toronto this summer. Yes, it will be a loss, but under his captaincy, it doesn't seem like he's the right guy now.  Jake Gardiner and Morgan Reilly are locked on defence for sure. I also like the addition of Eric Brewer. Though he's at the end of his career and has only had a small amount of games with the Leafs, he's been decent, offensively and defensively. Yes, people will look for the bad play here or there, but he's been good more than bad since his arrival.

       This summer is big for the Leafs if they hope to turn things around. With the additional cap space freed up from the Clarkson deal, the possibility of Phaneuf being traded, and Bernier as a RFA, big signings are possible. Nazem Kadri leads the priority list, also being a RFA, and if its anything like last time, it might be drawn out for a while. Richard Panik, Trevor Smith, and Brandon Kozun are also set to become RFAs. Young defensemen set to become UFA/RFA are Petter Granberg, T.J Brennan, Tim Erixon, and Andrew MacWilliams. Young players need to be signed, and possible free agents to add to the team will be key to the Leafs success down the road. 

2014 Free Agent Signings: All About Comfort, Chemistry

       As the July 1st has come and gone, some teams have improved, and some have not. Out of the major signings, the players and GMs were seeking more than just money/players. They were looking for comfort, for chemistry, for something that they were used to.
Starting with David Bolland, who made it public that he wished to stay in Toronto long term. They couldn't find a mutual agreement with numbers, and Bolland took to the waters of free agency. Where would he end up? Where else but to the GM who drafted him, Dale Tallon and his new team the Florida Panthers.
Tallon, who is slowly attracting former players of the Blackhawks to the Panther, is creating quite a team in Florida. Much like the Blackhawks, Dale Tallon is building from the draft, solidifying the centre position and, just recently in the draft, their defencemen (drafting Aaron Ekblad 1st overall).
Though Bolland has not mentioned the relationship much, there has to be a belief that he feels comfortable playing for Tallon, and vice versa.
       The next big signing is Ryan Miller with the Vancouver Canucks. Again, this goes down to the GM and player. Jim Benning, then director of amateur scouting,  was part of the Buffalo Sabres team who drafted Miller back in 1999. Of course, since then, Miller has made a name for himself, and with the Canucks looking for a veteran goalie, this move made sense. Everyone knows what Miller can do when he's at the top of his game on a good team, but Benning may know just a little more, having the confidence to pick Miller 139th overall.

       Another veteran goalie that made a splash July 1 would be Jonas Hiller. And where does comfort spring from? Brian Burke. Though Burke isn't the GM in Calgary, he still has some influence on GM Brad Treliving. Burke, now the President of Hockey Operations with the Flames, signed Hiller during his time in Anaheim. He had so much confidence in Hiller, that he put, then backup goalie, Ilya Bryzgalov on waivers and promoting Hiller to J.S Giguere's backup/successor. Hiller was good then, and is arguable better now. There is not doubt that Burke wanted to bring in a familiar face into his new team.
       Until now, it has been relationships between GMs and players. But players look for a fit on their new teams too, and it helps if the player knows a few old teammates.

       Soon after Jason Spezza was sent to the Dallas Stars, which free agent joined him? No one other than his, though only for a short time, linemate Ales Hemsky. Since his trade to the Senators back at the trade deadline, Hemsky found a fit on Spezza's wing, tallying 17 points (4 G, 13 A) in 20 games. The Stars, who already have Seguin and Benn as their first-line 1-2 punch, now have a 3-4 threat. The Stars look dangerous and could make a run at the Western conference powerhouses.
       The coveted leader in Brian Gionta made a surprise choice when joining the Sabres for the next three years. Gionta joins a (put it nicely) young group of players in Buffalo, joining another former leader of the Montreal Canadiens across the border. Gionta and Gorges led the Canadiens young group to the conference finals last season before being ousted by the Rangers. Buffalo could someday be similar, but no one can figure out why these two players would pick the Sabres as the next destination for their career.
       Islanders felt comfortable signing two former Leafs, Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin, for 4 years per. Kulemin and Grabovski, along with now Senator Clarke MacArthur were once the Leafs top line. Both had career years in 2010-2011, with Kulemin collecting 57 points (30 G, 27 A), as his centremen Grabovski wracked up 58 points (29 G 29 A). Since then, they have failed to adapt to the Leafs new style of play under Carlyle, with Grabovski being bought out last summer and Kulemin allowed to walk, after being the longest serving Leaf. Islanders hope this chemistry can get them some support up front behind Tavares.

       Even with the less sought out players relationships and comfort played more of a factor than in recent years. Brian Boyle chose Tampa Bay over Toronto for family reasons, but its rumored that former Rangers captain, now with the Lightning, had a influence in bringing Boyle in, along with fellow former Ranger Anton Stralman. Just recently, Tim Gleason has returned to the Carolina Hurricanes, months after being traded to the Leafs. Though Jim Rutherford is no longer there, Gleason knows the system and is back for another try.
       All in all, relationships can make a difference in attracting free agents. Players want comfort, and GMs look for comfort in players. More than ever, relationships have and will continue to play a huge role in the signings to come.

The LA Kings against "The King"

The Los Angeles Kings, coming off their dethroning of the reigning Cup champions, turn their attention away from the powerhouse Blackhawks to the defensively minded Alain Vigneault and the New York Rangers.
One can say that the Kings are the more experienced team, battling through 3 game sevens to get to the Finals, and winning the Cup in 2012. The Rangers, on the other hand, are appearing in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1994. To put that in perspective, Martin St. Louis had not been drafted yet, Dominic Moore and Brad Richards were 14, and the the remaining players on the current roster, were all under the age of 10.
But like the Kings, the Rangers are boasting a very defense minded game, supported by the strong play of the King, Henrik Lundqvist. Though it is his first appearance in a Stanley Cup final, Lundqvist is bringing a track record of stellar performances when it matters most. In the 2006 Olympics in Turino, Lundqvist backstopped Sweden to a gold medal finish. At this years Olympics, Lundqvist carried a offensively challenged Swedish team to the gold medal game, where he stopped 33 of the total 36 shots in a 3-0 loss to Canada.
Make no mistake, this series for the Cup will be a duel between the goaltenders. Both Jonathan Quick and Henrik Lundqvist have almost identical career playoff stats. Lundqvist posts 42-44 record, with 9 shutouts, a GAA of 2.23 and a SV% of .922. Quick, in his 5 seasons in the NHL, posts a 41-30 record, with 8 shutouts, GAA of 2.27 and a SV% of .922. Both goalies' have a unique style, using their athleticism combined with the butterfly to get in front of the puck.
The Kings, who have at times lacked the scoring ability during the regular season, seem to have found a way to get the puck to the back of the net throughout the playoffs. Niemi, Hiller/Andersen/Gibson, and Crawford, are some elite goalies, but none of them have earned a status anywhere near King Lundqvist. The LA Kings will have to have all their guns going to be able to beat Lundqvist, who may be the only Ranger who can stop the Kings, searching for their second Cup in 3 years. If the Rangers can ride Lundqvist to win 4 games, Lundqvist will be standing on top of the hockey world, with his crown and his Cup.