While the rest of us have to wait until May for some nice weather, the Leafs are likely busy making travel plans for some well deserved rest. As expected their season ends next weekend. Next Saturday's game against Montreal might be Mats Sundin's last NHL game. It will be the last game as a Maple Leaf for several of his teammates.This week's games against the Bruins were representative of the season as whole. Bad defense, weak penalty killing, no toughness, no intensity and no veteran leadership outside of Sundin. Last night in the 2nd period I counted 3 tournovers by Bryan McCabe alone. Jason Blake went for a nice skate but as always never much of a threat on the ice. Darcy Tucker who used to hate to lose - seems to be okay with it now.
Thanks to John Ferguson, the Maple Leaf lineup is pretty much set for next season which makes Cliff Fletcher's job that much challenging. The Marlies may have a lot of NHL experience next season. Here is the salary or status of the Leaf team (as well as the cap hit) for next season.
Sundin - UFA
Blake - $4.5 million (cap hit $4.0)
Tucker - $3.0 ($3.0)
Ponikarovsky - $2.24 ($2.105)
Antropov - $2. 15 ($1.973)
Bell - $2.5 ($1.796)
Steen $1.7 ($1.7)
Stajan - RFA
Wellwood - RFA
Tlusty - $0.85 ($0.7)
Devereaux - $0.6 ($0.575)
Moore - UFA
Pohl - UFA
Battaglia - $0.65 ($0.65)
McCabe - $6.15 ($5.75)
Kubina $5.0 ($5.0)
Kaberle - $4.25 ($4.25)
Colaiacovo - $1.4 ($1.283)
White - $0.85 ($0.85)
Stralman $0.615 ($0.615)
Wozniewski - UFA
Kronwall - $0.5 ($0.487)
Toskala - $4.0 ($4.0)
Raycroft - $2.2 ($2.0)
Clemmenson - UFA
Pogge - $0.55 ($0.55)
So the cap hit on the contract commitments for next season is $41.285 million without Sundin, Moore, Wellwood and Stajan. Might be an expensive Marlie lineup.
