Both teams missed last year's playoffs. Will this deal reverse either Florida or Toronto's recent fortunes?
General Manager Jacques Martin set out this summer to improve the Panthers' defense. Instead, he has remade it.Florida has certainly bolstered its defense, but lost its leading scorer Olli Jokinen in the process. No signifigant scorer was brought in to fill that gap. Therefore I don't see this deal propelling Florida to the playoffs in the 2008-09 season. As for Toronto, I don't have any opinion on their playoff chances this season.Martin completed the third significant off-season addition to his defense Tuesday, acquiring former All-Star and Olympian Bryan McCabe from Toronto for oft-injured defenseman Mike Van Ryn. The Panthers also received a fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft.
The deal was rumored for weeks, but McCabe - who has a no-trade clause - would not approve the trade until he received a $2 million bonus he was due from the Maple Leafs on Monday.
The other new defensemen for the Panthers are Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton, both acquired from Phoenix in the draft-day deal that sent Olli Jokinen to the Coyotes. All three newcomers are expected to play in a top-six rotation that also figures to include Jay Bouwmeester, Bryan Allen and Noah Welch or Karlis Skrastins.
Permalink | Send To A Friend | Linking Blogs | Digg this!
Filed under:
NHL, Toronto Maple Leafs
Comments (1)
I have an opinion on the Le... (Below threshold)1. Posted by hyperbolist | September 3, 2008 12:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I have an opinion on the Leafs: they're terrible and are three years away from contention at best, and likely won't see the playoffs for at least that long too.
1. Posted by hyperbolist | September 3, 2008 12:26 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 3, 2008 12:26