Toronto Maple Leafs sign German forward

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they have signed 22 year old German forward Marcel Mueller to a 2 year entry level contract. Mueller has played the last three seasons in the German Elite League and was a member of the German National team at this Winter's Olympics and World Championships. Leafs GM Brian Burke continues to attempt to restock the Leafs youth, lets see what he has up his sleeve next.

What if Burke decided to trade Luke Schenn

This is a question that many news reporters and Leafs fans are wondering when it comes to the Tomas Kaberle saga, is it possible for Leafs general manager Brian Burke to switch gears and move the younger Luke Schenn for a top forward instead of the veteran blueliner. The one thing that most NHL teams covet is a puck moving offensive defensemen and Tomas Kaberle more then fits the bill, Kaberle's pinpoint passes have sent many Maple Leaf players one on one with the opposition goaltender over his career in Toronto and is the type of defensemen that the club will need as it moves towards respectability.

Brian Burke could send Kaberle packing out of town but in a few years may require a player just like Kabby to bolster his roster, how is that for irony. Kaberle loves Toronto and would like nothing more then to retire as a Toronto Maple Leaf, there is no denying that the 32 year old Kaberle is a top 10 offensive defensemen in the NHL and is a bargain at $4.25 million for the season. Could then the Leafs general manager re-sign the veteran blueliner for a longer stay and set his sights on shipping the younger Luke Schenn out of town?

Maple Leafs sign Brett Lebda to two year deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed unrestricted free agent defensemen Brett Lebda to a two year contract worth 1.45 million a season. The 28 year old blueliner has played his whole career with the Detroit Red Wings and last season dressed for 63 games picking up 8 points. Lebda is a stay at home defensemen and the club will be looking for him to fill in the #5 or #6 spot on the team. This move adds more depth to the Leafs backend as Brian Burke continues to listen to offers for veteran Tomas Kaberle.

Kaberle trade will have domino effect on Maple Leafs

Brian Burke seems to feel that he is holding all the cards when it comes to moving long time Leaf Tomas Kaberle, as bonafide offensive defensemen have dried up in the UFA market, the Leafs GM is holding his trump card close to his chest and feeling out what the market is willing to offer or more like what is the most some team is willing to pay for the Leafs most gifted blue liner. 

The Leafs should be able to maximize their biggest asset if Kaberle were willing to negotiate with the team he was heading to and sign an extension with the club this would almost guarantee the club a first rounder or even better yet a top six forward. What Burke is hoping for is that some team will get desperate and offer the Leafs a deal that the general manager will have a hard time saying no to, this could at best be a pipe dream but one that does exist out there. 

Maple Leafs re-sign Nikolai Kulemin and John Mitchell

The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed two components from last seasons squad by inking Nikolai Kulemin and John Mitchell this past day. Kulemin was signed to a 2 year contract worth 4.7 million over 2 years. Kulemin was one of the better Leafs in the second half last season and chipped in 16 goals in 78 games. Mitchell was signed to a 1 year contract worth $725,000. Mitchell's second season in the NHL saw the youngster suffer an injury which derailed his on ice performance as he scored only 6 goals which was half of what he scored his rookie year.

Maple Leafs sign Colby Armstrong to three years

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made their first signing of the off season as the UFA market kicked off at 12pm today and that is former Penguin and now for Thrasher Colby Armstrong. The 27 year old hard nosed winger was signed to a three year contract worth $3 million a season. Armstrong will bring grit to the club and has easily become the Leafs most hated player, as opponents know that the Buds have just become that much more tougher to play against. Armstrong has scored 78 goals in his NHL career, amassed over 360 games played.

Maple Leafs acquire Kris Versteeg from Hawks

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired two time 20 goal scoring winger Kris Versteeg from the Stanley Cup Champs along with college prospect Bill Sweatt and have shipped off Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis. The Leafs have added some scoring to the club in the 24 year old Versteeg who comes with a cap hit of $3,083,333 and is signed for the next two seasons. Brian Burke has added some help up front and a possible top six forward but I feel he may have given up a tad too much in this deal. Stalberg is a speedster and the most likely of the new arrivals to crack the teams opening day roster in Chicago, while DiDomenico is a talented forward who just happens to be on the small side for Burke's liking. The hoping here is that the deal helps both sides, as it seems Burke wants to make the playoffs now in hockey mad Toronto while the Hawks are more then happy to stock the cupboard with prospects as they look to get under the Cap. This deal seems to have Scotty Bowman's fingerprints all over it as it seems Brian Burke was unable to wrestle away another Hawk by the name of Patrick Sharp who would have been a much better acquisition by the Leafs general manager. The club now prepares for the opening of the UFAs today and we hope that Burke has something else up his sleeve as I am not too impressed with his first move this Canada Day.