After a disappointing Saturday night loss to the Vancouver Canucks, somethign had to be done. Well something was done: Jamal Mayers, Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, and Ian White go to Calgary for Fredrik Sjostrom, Keith Aullie, and Dion Phaneuf!
Sjostrom brings to the Leafs some quality penalty killing, which, let's face it, the Leafs DON'T have. He has 94 points in 404 games.
Keith Aullie is a prospect of the Flames, so again this is Brian Burke giving the Leafs some young talent. Aullie will play a stint with the Marlies and who knows, maybe he will be called up by the Leafs.
The big name: Dion Phaneuf! A lot of people speculate that this trade will be remembered for Dion Phaneuf going one way and Ian White going the other. Phaneuf will give the Leafs some much needed point drives from the back end. Not only that, but lately, because Kessel's the only superstar on this Leafs squad, everyone is going after Kessel; you cover Phil, the team's screwed. Now they have two players to worry about. That's definately a start.
The Leafs now have 3 top 10 draft picks in their lineup: Kessel, Phaneuf, and Schenn. However, Burkie did not stop there, Burke then proceeded to trade Vesa Toskala, and Jason Blake to Anaheim for J.S. Giguere!
The fact that a team not only took Toskala off of our hands, but took on Blake's contract is astounding, the fact we got a Stanley Cup winning goaltender is a bonus!
J.S. Giguere has been struggling in Anaheim, however, Burke and Wilson believe that reuniting Giguere and goaltending coach Francois Allaire will bring Giguere's game back to where it was when the Ducks won the cup.
It's obvious that the Leafs won't make the playoffs this year, but this team is beginning to look like a Burke team. Next year the Leafs definately have potential, if they can sign then-free agent Ilya Kovalchuk, they will be a legitimate playoff-bound club.
My next post will be an updated "to trade" list, as some of my suggestions were taken by Burkie (I assume he read this blog and thought I was right). Until then, sleep well Leafs nation, sleep well.
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