Free Agency. For the players, it is often like hitting the lottery, for NHL general managers, it often spells the difference between making the playoffs and finding yourself in the unemployment line.
While most free-agent signings work out for both parties, there are plenty of examples of big money signings gone wrong.
For Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, the summer of 2011 might just be the most important of his career as he must identify organizational needs and decide which ones he intends on filling from within, while filling the holes with a potential free agent signing.
Most fans will agree that the Maple Leafs are still at least three or four players from becoming a legitimate playoff team.
Some of the holes on the current roster include question marks between the pipes, a lack of power-play scoring, a legitimate need for a front line centre, the need for another puck-moving defenseman and a glaring need for a penalty kill specialist.
While it is impossible to believe that Burke will be able to address all of his via free agency, there is the sense that given his considerable cap space this summer (b ...
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Article written by Mark Ritter
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Top 6 UFA’s Brian Burke May Target This Summer
March 19th, 2011 by Mark Ritter Leave a reply »
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