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Post by drkcloud on Aug 17, 2005 0:07:33 GMT -5
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Post by franko on Aug 17, 2005 7:06:46 GMT -5
Another sign the Apocalypse is nigh: Lou Lamoriello pulled out his chequebook and joined the ranks of the overpaying.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Aug 17, 2005 7:11:34 GMT -5
I was talking to a Leaf fan earlier yesterday and Ferguson Jr. is having a lot of problems getting some of the players he wants to accept his offers. The problem in TO is that they had very little money left after the cap was implemented.
Jr. is getting reamed a new 'woohoo" by the TO fans. And it's not just because he can't sign the players he wants, but also because it was reported earlier yesterday that Ferguson was negotiating with Steve "Stumpy" Thomas. That's right ... the same guy who hasn't played for a few years and who is now coaching his son's midget hockey team.
I'd be a tad miffed if I were a buds fan too.
Cheers.
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Post by jkr on Aug 17, 2005 16:44:39 GMT -5
I was talking to a Leaf fan earlier yesterday and Ferguson Jr. is having a lot of problems getting some of the players he wants to accept his offers. The problem in TO is that they had very little money left after the cap was implemented. Jr. is getting reamed a new 'woohoo" by the TO fans. And it's not just because he can't sign the players he wants, but also because it was reported earlier yesterday that Ferguson was negotiating with Steve "Stumpy" Thomas. That's right ... the same guy who hasn't played for a few years and who is now coaching his son's midget hockey team. I'd be a tad miffed if I were a buds fan too. Cheers. Some in the TO media are trying to portray him as a deep thinker that is saving his money until next year. Meanwhile the free agents he had hoped to sign are now re-signing with their present teams. He's no genius, all he is doing is dealing with a bad cap situation, some of which is his own doing. Even if he didn't sign any marquee names, leaf fans expected him to do something - anything! Some good players have been passed over by Toronto that could have been had on the cheap. Brent Sopel comes to mind. I don't blame Toronto fans for thinking that Ferguson seems asleep at the switch. |
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Post by Forum Ghost on Aug 17, 2005 17:30:57 GMT -5
Some in the TO media are trying to portray him as a deep thinker that is saving his money until next year. Meanwhile the free agents he had hoped to sign are now re-signing with their present teams. The plan of "saving money for next year" was looking good until Iginla, Thornton and Lecavalier re-signed with their current teams. The Leafs are probably going to have to improve their club via trades, but they don't have very many assets that would look good to other teams. This year is looking bleak for the Leafs and I would say that the year after doesn't look that much better. Now a lot can change between now and next summer, but with a hard cap the Leafs lost the only advantage that they used to have on the rest of the league - financial power. Now, instead of having a large bank account seperating them from 2/3 of the league, they are being forced to compete with 29 other teams for players and they are repeatedly losing out. He hasn't done anything innovative as GM of the Leafs. All the moves that he has made were moves that were speculated by media and fans ahead of time. The Lindros and Allison signings were no surprise, neither was the O'Neill trade. As of yet, JFJ has not shown the ability to think outside the box. |
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Post by MC Habber on Aug 17, 2005 17:52:32 GMT -5
This year is looking bleak for the Leafs and I would say that the year after doesn't look that much better. Actually, I see the year after looking worse for them. Almost all of the players they have that are any good are either old, injury prone, or both. Like you say, it's hard to see how they can improve very much, but I see a lot of ways they can get worse. |
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Post by franko on Aug 17, 2005 19:26:18 GMT -5
But does anyone in Toronto really care? 37 years and counting without a Cup . . . 37 years of whining and counting . . . but the ACC will still be sold out, and scalpers will still make their money because . . . well, PT Barnum was right.
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Post by seventeen on Aug 17, 2005 22:47:49 GMT -5
And all those draft choices lost in a futile oldie effort, which was stupid to start with. Quinn shares some of the blame, not just Ferguson. I've always thought Quinn was an average GM at best who kept getting bailed out by coach Quinn.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Aug 18, 2005 15:24:03 GMT -5
Toronto is an Indian word that means no cups for Harold Ballard or anyone who buys his leafs.
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