By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (July 1) — Having signed a trio of players on the first day of free agency — goalie Curtis Joseph, defenseman Jeff Finger and left-winger Niklas Hagman — Maple Leafs’ GM Cliff Fletcher tells me he is not finished bolstering his roster. “We’ll be signing a defenseman from Europe that hasn’t yet played in the NHL, and I’m still looking to hit a home run,” Fletcher said in a brief phone chat Tuesday night. “We obviously need a centre, and that’s the area I’ll be concentrating on, either in free agency or with a trade. I haven’t yet given up on Mats Sundin coming back. But, we’ve offered him $7 million [per year] and Vancouver has offered $10 million. So, we’ll wait it out like everyone else.”
Though no one can be entirely sure what Sundin is thinking, it’s obvious he is not jumping at the Canucks’ mammoth overture. To this point, no other club has offered the long-time Maple Leafs’ captain the same wad of cash. “If Mats were to make a decision solely on the basis of money, he’d go with Vancouver’s offer, but he has never done that before,” said Sundin’s agent, J.P. Barry. “He still hasn’t confirmed to anyone that he’ll play again next season, but if he does, his choice of team will go beyond just the financial aspect. It will have to be a place where he really wants to live and work.” Though it’s incomprehensible that Sundin would leave $3 million on the table to sign elsewhere, Barry issued a flat “No” when asked if he felt his client’s association with the Leafs has ended.
Fletcher still needs a No. 1 centre, and he seems determined to find one… if Sundin doesn’t return. “It’s not something that has to be done tomorrow or the next day, but it’s a requirement before next season,” said the GM.
As for his work in Day 1 of the open market, Fletcher claimed he was happy to sign a “shutdown” defenseman, and a “versatile winger” that can also score. “A lot of people in Toronto are asking me, ‘Who the hell is Jeff Finger?’ simply because they haven’t seen him play,” Fletcher scoffed. “But, [former Colorado coach] Joel Quennville told me he was one of the five best defensemen in the Western Conference last year. He played against the best players on every other team. [Leafs’ coach] Ron Wilson told me he was always on the ice in San Jose games against Joe Thornton. Same thing with Jarome Iginla in Calgary, or the Sedin twins [Henrik and Daniel] in Vancouver. Quennville said [Finger] was his best defenseman in the last half of the year.”
As for Hagman, Fletcher said, “he brings speed to our line-up; he’s a good penalty killer, and he scored 27 goals for Dallas. There was a fair amount of competition [to sign] Niklas, and there was about 15 teams after Finger. So, we think we did alright.”
Doug Armstrong, assistant GM of the St. Louis Blues, traded for Hagman when he managed the Dallas Stars. On Dec. 12, 2005, he acquired the Finnish-born winger from Florida for a seventh-round pick in 2007. And, though Armstrong warns not to expect 27 goals a year from Hagman, he feels the Leafs have landed a good player .”Niklas is a great skater and a tenacious worker,” Armstrong said. “One of his best qualities is durability — he doesn’t get injured and has played just about every game in his NHL career. He gives a consistent effort each night and you know what to expect from him as a coach. He’s just a solid utility player that can help in multiple ways.”
Indeed, Hagman has been injury-free thus far. In six full seasons, he has missed only 11 games. He played all 82 games for Dallas last season and the one before. And, he actually got into 84 games the year he was traded — 30 with Florida and 54 with the Stars. He scored a thwack of important goals for Dallas in 2007-08. Of his 27 markers, four were on the powerplay, four were shorthanded, and eight were game-winners. He averaged 15:35 of ice time, and finished the season a plus-4.
The Leafs’ decision to bring back goalie Curtis Joseph was finalized last weekend, as I wrote in this space. Of course, Fletcher could not negotiate with Cujo until Tuesday at noon, and it took a bit longer than expected to finalize the dollar amount [700,000] in his contract. This arrangement is likely to extend beyond the one-season Joseph has signed to serve as back-up to Vesa Toskala. It could well evolve into a long-term relationship, in which Cujo works with the young goalies in the Leafs’ system, and acts as an advisor to the general manager. But, that’s obviously pending the approval of the full-time GM that succeeds Fletcher (could it be ol’ what’s his name in Anaheim?). In the meantime, Wilson is hoping that Curtis can give him at least 15 quality starts next season.
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Finger is a career minor leaguer before last season who will be 29 this season. Not a good combo. Blake was a career minor leaguer until he was about 30.
Finger catches lightning in a bottle and Leafs once again overpay for a player. Look at what the Wings are paying to re-signing comparable d-man.
- HeatonpI am confused about Finger. According to his stats he played 5 playoff games and averaged 22 minutes(highest avg on team) per game played.
- mike glattWhy didn’t he play the remaining games?
How much you want to bet that Toskala gets off to a bad start and Joseph ends up playing the majority of the Leafs games this year?
- NormanAlthough he has no idea yet, this will turn out to be the Silver Fox’s best acquisition.
Will Burke still want to take over in 2009 and inheret all of Trader Cliff’s other long term mistakes?
Howard,
- Harry HuffWould you please be so kind as to tell me what the Leafs have done with the following free agents: John Mitchell, Jay Harrison, Alex Foster, Jamie Sifers, Chris Harrington, and Dominic Moore.
Harry
More importantly than these signings, will we see the like of Robbie Earl, Anton Stralman, Stefan Kronwall, and ol’ saint Nikolei Kulemein up with the big club for long periods of time? And if they get the time, will they make the most of it?
- ChrisMike Glatt,
- Ric MoreI had read elsewhere that Finger was a healthy scratch for the remaining games, not sure if that’s when they were rolled by the Wings.
Harry, who cares???
- MartyI am tired of hearing about older players bla bla the Red Wings had the most oldest players and the oldest average age on their team with three guys over forty. (They won the Cup)
Goalies who stay in shape and play for a solid defensive team and re-invent themselves tend to do well. Cujo can play 30 games if need be he still has enough in the tank –I watched him train last year after his surgery.
At this stage expect a solid defensive inded team who will be pushed by wilson. Lower GA, better PK, better PP even with the crew they have. I would really like to see Harrison brought back and White traded, Strallman traded beause we need tough d men not figure skaters.
Dan T
- Dan Trottahello you continue to do masterfull work keeping us informed.I have been a leaf fan unfortunaltly all my life 36 years.Any ways one question with the sundin negotionating right were in montreals hands and we got nothing for those right when ie. pitt got i think a 4th in they did not sign and more if they did.Thanks great work
- paulWill everybody please chill out and wait until the full roster is filled out. This is not the season to expect anything big from the Leafs. They are just filling out the roster.
- rogerthey suck this year they have to spend to the cap so live with it to much whining goig on im leahf fan but im realistic there was now one to take ths year.ps mccabe nees to see the wrighting on the wall leave……………….
- kevinMike Glatt, the answer to your question is that he made mistakes that cost goals, was benched, and a healthy scratch for the remainder of the playoffs.
- Norman StahlbrandNot a good sign.
Howard
- Granti still feel that if matts does decide to play this year it will be with the leafs.
i truly feel he will follow his heart and not his wallet.
no matter what his decision leaf fans should not be upset with him. he is a great leader and a class act. i will always have the upmost respect for him.
I really hope Sundin leaves. I really hope the Leafs can trade Toskala and Play Pogge and Cujo all year so they can both suck. I really hope the Leafs save their money and don’t get anymore free agents. We should just use what we have!! WE NEED THE 2009 FIRST ROUNDER!!AND y’all will surely say “What are you nut’s” and I’ll say “Yes!”
- VinceForget Sundin and the terrible signing that is Finger and lets focus on Cliff.
He has fallen into the ego-trap that a man of his age and wisdom should have steered far away from. He is clearly trying to compete next year at a level that won’t allow the Leafs to make the playoffs, nor acquire the franchise draft pick that nearly 95% of the league rely on to win the Cup. He is compounding his mistakes with bad planning and worse contracts.
- Derek from Cloud9 SportsRoger it’s ok that they are filling out the roster but why do it by giving “fillers” 3 and 4 year deals when they will have a new gm in a year or so. Doesn’t make much sense to me.
- DilsonHi Howard
I hate it when people criticize goalies (Raycroft). Raycroft plays a positional style of play. Which is a style that needs a very defensive team which the leafs don’t have. So i don’t think Raycroft was judged fairly because of the bad defence he had around him. Just wondering what you would say in response to my statement. Thanks
- Jason