Maple Leafs Sign Mike Komisarek to 5-Year, $22.5 Million Contract posted by Jeff Ponder

Leafs GM Brian Burke was not done adding some grit to his lineup after signing New York's Colton Orr to a 4-year, $4 million contract.  He continued on a few hours later, picking defenseman Mike Komisarek up from free-agency.

The former Montreal Canadien is not known for his offensive ability, but rather his toughness and defensive abilities.  Komisarek, an All-Star in 2009, paved the way for the Montreal defense to start the 2008-09 campaign.  He was known league-wide as a feisty defenseman who will not back down from any challenge.  Komisarek finished last season with 121 penalty minutes, which led the Canadiens roster.

With an average of $4.5 million a year, Komisarek is expected to be a leader in the Leafs' lineup.  Signing a player of Mike's caliber to this kind of contract is frowned upon by many NHL general managers nowadays, (notably Red Wings GM Ken Holland, who says that defensive defensemen should not make more than $3 million a season), but this could be a smart signing for Burke.  Komisarek could help further the progress of young Luke Schenn, which could potentially benefit the team for years to come.Continue reading "Maple Leafs Sign Mike Komisarek to ..."

The Canadiens Move Up to Seventh in the Playoff Race posted by Julia Borgini

Saturday night's 6-2 convincing win over the Toronto Maple Leafs provided the Canadiens with a little breathing room in the race for the playoffs. They moved up to seventh in the Easter Conference standings, with 4 games to play.

THE GOOD: Montreal wins 6-2 against Toronto. Three goals scored on the power play. Balanced scoring as Kovalev, Latendresse, Tanguay, Higgins, Gorges, and Lapierre all score. Halak solid in net for a flu-ridden Price, who's also playing well of late.

THE BAD: Tanguay coughing up the puck to Toronto's Boyd Devereaux, who scored a short-handed goal in the third period.

THE UGLY: The blue line took a serious hit when both Schneider AND Markov left the game with 'upper-body injuries'.

THE RESULT: Montreal is in seventh, 3 points ahead of the eighth place Rangers and Panthers (who are now tied.) They still have one game in hand against both of those teams, and sit only 1 point behind the sixth place Penguins. The Canadiens finish off the season with 4 games in 6 nights, with two of those games against the Rangers and the Penguins.

Hold on to your hats everyone, it's going to be a wild finish.

Leafs keep Grabovski for 3 years, $8.7M (AP)

Mikhail Grabovski has signed an $8.7 million, three-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Belorussian forward who reached agreement on Thursday with Toronto had 20 goals and 48 points in 78 games last season, both ranked fourth on the Maple Leafs. In 105 career NHL games with Montreal and Toronto, he has 23 goals and 57 points. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Maple Leafs sign Komisarek from Canadiens

Mike Komisarek is about to see the other side of hockey's oldest rivalry.The free-agent defenseman signed a five-year, $22.5-million deal to join the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.Komisarek had spent his entire NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens and drew lots of interest around the NHL after becoming an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. Eventually, the 27-year-old Komisarek decided to join the Maple Leafs. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for NHL

Thrashers acquire D Kubina from Leafs (AP)

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From Yahoo! Sports

Leafs ink D Komisarek for 5 yrs., $22.5M (AP)

Mike Komisarek is about to see the other side of hockey's oldest rivalry. The free-agent defenseman signed a five-year, $22.5-million deal to join the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Komisarek had spent his entire NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens and drew lots of interest around the NHL after becoming an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Brashear joins Rangers to replace Orr (AP)

The Rangers are hitting back, signing top enforcer Donald Brashear right after losing tough guy Colton Orr to the Toronto Maple Leafs. A few hours into the NHL free-agent shopping season began Wednesday, Orr signed a four-year deal with the Maple Leafs. New York responded by plucking Brashear away from Washington. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports