When in doubt, go for clout.

Unable to revive his old connections with the Sedin Twins or defenseman Mattias Ohlund—despite a personal mission to Sweden—Toronto general manager Brian Burke used the first day of NHL free agency to make the Leafs tougher.

He signed defenseman Mike Komisarek from the rival Montreal Canadiens, enforcer forward Colton Orr from the New York Rangers and traded skill defenseman Pavel Kubina along with minor league forward Tim Stapleton to the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Garnet Exelby and minor-leaguer Colin Stuart.

Komisarek, Orr and Exelby represent more than 400 penalty minutes last season alone. Komisarek is the key, with 58 points last year as well as a commanding presence on the blueline to go with rookie Luke...

The Columbus Blue Jackets and star winger Rick Nash have agreed on an eight-year, $62.4 million contract...

Now's the time when we juxtapose!July 2Sens fan Don: So Burke's strategy for scoring goals the next five seasons is what?Leafs fan Five-O: Nash 40Sens fan Don: Nash will get a big offer from Columbus - he's their franchise.July 3Rick Nash will be staying in Columbus for the long haul. Reality's a bitch Leaf fans. Kovalchuk or bust!

"Bouwmeester ... ... Jay Bouwmeester" (cue music) Handing out grades for the annual Free Agent Frenzy is...

from Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province,

For a couple of days now, Internet message boards have been humming with amateur sleuths who have been trying to determine if the Toronto Maple Leafs should be investigated for tampering with the Sedin twins.

Even if most media have ignored this story, they are not alone.

Privately, team execs have been wondering the same thing. Did Leafs coach Ron Wilson breach NHL bylaws on a Toronto radio show when he suggested his team was targeting the Sedin twins a day before the start of free agency?

“I heard what he said and it seems to be a clear-cut case of tampering. He basically tells those two free agents: ‘Hey, we’re coming for you, wait for us,’” one NHL executive said. “There’s not a question in my mind. It could have left the Canucks high and dry. Look at what he said, then look at what (Leafs GM) Brian Burke did. He flew to Sweden.”

continued

from Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette,

A few suggested that Habs heavyweight Georges Laraque should be instructed - ordered, even - to pummel Komisarek, that despicable traitor, during the new Leaf’s first shift against his old team.

A few deleted comments indelicately questioned the marital status of Komisarek’s parents upon his birth, or suggested that he engage in an activity that is anatomically impossible.

Loyalty to a hockey club is a nearly extinct species in this world of free-agency, with players often short- or medium-term mercenaries who lace up for the team writing the biggest cheque.

Many Montreal fans seem to believe it’s almost acceptable - almost - to leave the Canadiens and sign with most any other team when their status gives them occasion to freely test the market. Just don’t make that new team Toronto or, perhaps, Boston.

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Its not about market size / franchise value / how much a corporate suit will pony up for sushi and not even watch the game. It's about which franchises give the most back to their fans. "Which teams are most deserving of your hard-earned dollar."Out of 122 NHL/NBA/MFL/MLB franchises, here's where the Canadian NHL teams sit:RankTeam53Ottawa60Calgary79Vancouver100Montreal102Edmonton120Toronto

(I'm not going to count Heatley.)It's a little saddening to have no invites to the Team Canada camp from the Sens and it's no solace that the Leafs and Habs are in the same situation. Last time around we had Heatley, Redden, and Phillips at the training camp and Spezza was under consideration. Some wonder if Spezza not being invited is a mistake. Savard likewise. Both are in the same

For those of you who may think that the Montreal Canadiens are the best looking team in hockey, you may be mislead. Remember, they were the 8th seed last year, and they were there mainly because of several players who won't be returning. While the Gomez-Higgins trade was an even swap for the Habs, they also signed Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Jaroslav Spacek, and Hal Gill. People may be thinking "wow, with all of these guys, the Habs will easily knock off the Bruins for the division". Not so fast; although I do agree that Montreal has improved this offseason so far, almost all of their core players from the 2008 and 2009 seasons are free agents and probably will not return. These names include Alexei Kovalev, Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay, and Robert Lang. Most, if not all, will not be resigning to the most historic franchise in the NHL. It will be an exciting yet tough to predict season for "Club de Hockey".

In his recent make-over of the Leafs, Burke picked up three players who combined for 434 penalty minutes last season.To put that total in perspective, the entire Carolina Hurricanes roster put up just 786 PiMs and the Red Wings just 810.The Orr, Exelby, Komisarek trifecta had exactly half of the PiMs taken by the third least penalized club in the NHL the Minnesota Wild.If the Leafs and their new

From Sportsnet.ca:

The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed restricted free agent forward Mikhail Grabovski to a three-year, $8.7 million deal, sources tell Sportsnet.

As everyone knows by now, Oilers president Kevin Lowe rushed to Kelowna last night to meet with Senators winger Dany Heatley in an attempt to convince him to waive his no-trade clause and accept a deal to Edmonton.

Neither side is commenting about what went on at the meeting. But as long-time readers may have suspected, DGB spies were able to breach the security at the Heatley compound and record the discussion.

What follows is the top secret transcript of the conversation.

Lowe: Dany, I want to thank you for meeting with me. I know this entire situation has been difficult for you, but I really believe that after we get a chance to chat, you're going to want to be a part of the Oilers.

Heatley: Hey, I'm willing to hear you out.

Lowe: Now, just so I'm clear on your side of things, you're demanding a trade because...

Heatley: ... because I can't spend another day in Ottawa. I'm miserable beyond any measure of human understanding. Every day I spend in Ottawa is the worst of my life, and the only joy I find is in the knowledge that every day wasted in that god forsaken town brings me one day closer to the icy relief of death.

Lowe: I see. And you're not waiving your no-trade clause because...

Heatley: ... all that still sounds better than spending the winter in Edmonton.

Lowe: Got it.

Heatley: No offence.

Lowe: No, none taken. Now, I understand you've had some problems with the Ottawa media. But I just want to assure you that the reporters who cover the Oilers are some of the very best in the business.

Heatley: Actually, a friend of mine used to play for the Oilers and he told me that the media there is very talented.

Lowe: Oh really? And who said that?

Heatley: Chris Pronger.

Lowe: Right.

Heatley: Veeerrry talented.

Lowe: Yeah, I got it. (Cell phone rings.) I'm sorry Dany, one moment please. (Answers phone.) Hi Bryan. Yes, I'm talking to him right now. It's going well. What's that? Sure, I suppose you could say hello. Let me put you on speakerphone.

Bryan Murray: HEATLEY IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT THIS TRADE SO HELP ME I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND I WILL KILL YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS AND THEN I'M GOING TO SQUAT OVER YOUR CORPSE AND TAKE A NICE LONG... (click).

Lowe: Oops, he must have got disconnected.

Heatley: Your cell has a speakerphone on it?

Lowe: Never mind that.

Heatley: Look Kevin, I just want you know that the regular season is nice. But that's not my focus. For a guy like me, the real hockey doesn't start until April and May.

Lowe: Yes, absolutely, it's all about the Stanley Cup.

Heatley: The what? No, I meant the world hockey championships.

Lowe: Oh.

Heatley: Man, I totally kick ass in that tournament.

Lowe: I've heard.

Heatley: I totally lit it up against Latvia this year. Their goalie had no glove.

Lowe: Yeah, I hear they have some weaknesses.

Heatley: No, I mean literally. He had no glove. He was using a baseball cap. I scored six goals.

Lowe: Wonderful.

Heatley: I tell you, as long as the game is completely meaningless, I am unstoppable.

Lowe: I'll keep that in mind. Now, I've heard that you've had some problems with Cory Clouston.

Heatley: Yeah, he's always singling me out. "Dany, you were out of position. Dany, you have to actually work hard. Dany, you have to come back into your own zone once or twice a game." It's like he thinks he's in charge or something.

Lowe: Right. But I think you'd get along great with our new coach, Pat Quinn. I was hoping you'd get a chance to meet him tonight, but I wasn't able to get a hold of him.

Heatley: Actually, he's outside.

Lowe: He's what?

Heatley: Right there.

(Heatley points to a shadowy figure looming outside his window. The figure takes a puff from a lit cigar.)

Lowe: Um... How long has he been there?

Heatley: Going on three days now.

Lowe: I see.

(The shadowy figure points at its eyes with two fingers, then points at Heatley.)

Heatley: He keeps doing that.

Lowe: Hm.

Heatley: Hey, wasn't Steve Tambellini going to be here?

Lowe: He's in the car. We don't let him get involved with actual decisions.

Heatley: Ah.

Lowe: So Dany, in closing I just want to say that everyone in Edmonton is very excited about the possibility of having you aboard.

Heatley: Everyone.

Lowe: Absolutely everyone.

(Heatley looks over to the shadowy figure in the window, who points at him and then makes a throat-slash gesture.)

Lowe: Almost without exception.

Heatley: Well, you've done a great job selling me on Edmonton. As soon as you leave, I'm going to call my agent and tell him to waive my no-trade. I'm going to be an Oiler!

Lowe: Wow! Really?

Heatley: Hey, I'm Dany Heatley. You have my word.

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.

TORONTO (July 2) -- The Leafs made their best move of the summer so far by re-signing Mikhail Grabovski to a three year, $8.7-million contract today. With Michael Komisarek having joined the club yesterday in free agency, do you think the three Leafs-Habs games at the Bell Centre will be a little interesting next season? Grabo has to take a step forward in 2009-10 by avoiding month-long disappe

from Damien Cox of the Toronto Star,

Well, let’s just say right now only the thick and misguided would have much doubt about what the plan is for the Leafs with Brian Burke at the controls.

Get tough. Get more North American. Then get tougher.

Last weekend, Burke drafted seven players, including among them one of the better fighters in the Ontario Hockey league and two big lads, one 6-foot-5 and the other 6-foot-6.

If they ever make it, it won’t be because they’re good stickhandlers.

Yesterday, after making a fruitless trip across the ocean to make a face-to-face pitch to Henrik and Daniel Sedin, only to find they’d signed back with Vancouver before anyone else could make them an offer, Burke didn’t whine or complain.

He got busy.

read on

Some thoughts and notes on Day 2 of the Free Agent Frenzy. Remember to check out our Puck Daddy Chatter Box for...

When the New York Rangers lost tough guy Colton Orr to the Toronto Maple Leafs, there was opening for someone...

It’s no secret Burke likes tough guys, and likes physical team philosophies. So it come as no surprise that he went out and signed the toughest guy, pound for pound, in the NHL today. Colton Orr inked a 4 year $4mm deal yesterday. At 6′ 3″ and 220lbs, Orr will bring a presence to the [...]

Think this is possible?

Sometimes an article written from outside the sports circles looks at things differently - this one from Feschuk of Maclean's looks at it from the PR side. Plus, he's a funny guy:To be fair, a small number of Ottawa residents are still keen to give him the key to the city, though only if he agrees to accept it rectally.

From commenter at Lowetide:Melnyk is worth about 700 million. If I were him, I would put goalie pads on Heatley and tell him that he is playing net through the preseason.Now, that's not going to happen as much as we'd like it, but what does this really mean for the Sens and Heatley?1. Pretty much no way getting back that 4 million. Cash can't be traded and it looks like most of the teams that

After the carnage steam rises through snow
You have been consigned to the Abyss of Woe
My eldritch war-suit is pasted with brains
This empty feeling - all that remains

RED WITH RAGE
I abide in the pit of woe
Crucified in the Abyss of Woe
And for my crime, this is my time
My unholy...crime

The cycle of torment the pleasure of sin
Licking the lap where my load must begin
I rode a tide of vengeance that could never be denied
Hail the crimson blur - violence has arrived!
RED WITH RAGE
I abide in the pit of woe
Crucified in the Abyss of Woe
And for my crime, this is my time
My unholy crime

The trail of our campaign attracted great scorn
But we ventured onward through the Tundra of Tor
Soon I had attracted a posse of trolls
Who'd grown fat and sloppy from the roasting of souls...

But we were surrounded at the Valley of Krin
And it was a battle we never could win
But still I hacked madly with my back to a wall
Heeding the horn of my funeral call
The mutilated millions I was born to appall
Heads leap from shoulders as they flock the mall
The Butcher of Bertok, Infernal Throne
Laid waste to usurpers 'till I stood all alone

Ripped out guts
Gouged out eyes
If you kill them
They will die
RED WITH RAGE

TORONTO (July 2) – If you want to blame Brian Burke for anything in his initial foray into free agency on behalf of the Maple Leafs, perhaps suggest that he change travel agents. It turns out his flight of desperation to Sweden arrived too late to head off the Sedin twins. By the time he arrived in Stockholm, Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin had re-upped with the Vancouver Canucks, leaving Burke to

Just when the slowing global economy figured to put a crimp in spending for NHL free agents, Marian Hossa hit the open market again. And instead of taking a discount on a one-year deal to take a shot at a Stanley Cup title, Hossa cashed in a megadeal with the up-and-coming Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

Lovin' the new look in Toronto. "Maple Leafs"

As a "Maple Leafs" fan I must say, after understanding the fact that we aren't going to make it to the playoffs. I love the new look and work that Burke has done. Acquiring Mike Komisarek must be one of his best moves, next to drafting. Stealing Komisarek from Montreal leads to many "ups", renewing the (Habs Vs Leafs) rivalary. Also adding the American toughness that they (the Leafs) needed. Burke also acquired, Colton Orr(the enforcer), Garnet Exelby(a cheap defensive minded player) and Colin Stuart on free agent day. Trading away Pavel Kubina(5M Cap) to free up space. I love the toughness that Burke has acquired because I'm personally tired and annoyed of seeing our franchise player, (Luke Schenn) come in defense of everyone else on the roster and fighting all the fights. Luke is only 18 turning 19, although it is he playing style of hitting and fighting I don't believe he should be the only person on the entire roster doing it. I believe Burke too is tired of seeing Luke step up for the team. As much as we love to see what the great Luke Schenn has got in him, we need players that are going to be coming for Lukes back. Now having the toughness that we needed, the Leafs are going to be a better team to watch next season and going on.

My thumbs up to Burke, for added the toughness our team needed and making it better for the future.