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Title - HH
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Free agency and its affect on Leafsnation
By William Cornett
HometownHockey.ca

Free agency and its affect on Leafsnation
Dave Bolland is among the many UFAs of the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason. Although he was unavailable for the majority of the season, Bolland still provides the type of play that is integral to the success of the club.

Windsor - June 26, 2014 - The NHL has opened its free agency once again, and teams have been chomping at the bit to discuss contracts with their respective unrestricted free agents, as well as those of other teams. With it being only one day into this summer phenomenon, hockey analysts have been tossing around names of reputable players and possible locations of where they may land. Jason Spezza has been the crème of the crop in this year’s “where will they go?” campaign, but there are plenty of others too.

With the contract extension of Brian Elliot, star-studded goaltender Ryan Miller is available to any team looking to improve their depth in net. Benoit Pouliot proved his worth in this year’s NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, and will be highly sought after by teams looking to add an exceptional left-handed, two-way forward. Paul Stastny had 60 points in the 71 games he played during the regular season with Colorado, and if he does not receive a contract extension, he will make one team very, very happy.

But in any case, I turn my attention to the team I loathe to love. The Blue and White have a number of UFAs this year that I would much rather have stay in Toronto than have them be shipped off to another team. Dave Bolland, Mason Raymond, and Jay Mcclement are the three I am most interested in.

Dave Bolland proved in the 23 games he played wearing the Maple Leafs crest why he is integral to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. He skated around the ice hitting anyone not in blue and white, and scored the dirty garbage goals that always seem to help teams win games. Not every player plays pretty hockey, and if you look at the teams that have gone on to win the Cup, you’ll notice its teams with the grittiest players that end up on top. The Leafs need players like Bolland to shake up the offense when the first and second line are not producing. Looking back at the end of the Leafs 2013-14 season, the third and fourth lines contributed more points than the second line did. Why? Because players fought in the tough areas and kicked the puck out in front of the net for someone kick in or swat out of the air à la Kirk Gibson style. Give Bolland the years and money he deserves, and stop this nonsense of always letting stellar players get away.

Mason Raymond was a godsend this year for the Leafs. He finished fifth in scoring for the Leafs and contributed 19 goals and 26 assists. That is double the amount from his previous year when he laced up his skates for Vancouver. He provides speed and some of the prettiest dangles the Leafs have seen in a long time. I always liked Raymond’s play and I thought he would provide the Leafs with a spark on their scoring line. Last September when I found out he signed a contract with the Leafs, I felt that somehow my prayers were answered, and that maybe my wish for the Leafs to win the Cup would be answered too. But unfortunately the real world condemns Leafs fans to live lives of disappointment. If the Leafs were to team Raymond up with the other two players mentioned in this article, the results would be rewarding. It would be a third line built on speed, grit, and dedication, a winning formula if I ever saw one.

Jay Mcclement is a heart-and-souler. He is a gritty, hard-hitting, face-off winning player that kills penalties and moves well in the defensive end. Sure, he had 10 points the entire season, but out of the 82 games played by the Leafs this year, he missed only one. He wears the ‘A’ for a reason, and after recently hearing the Leafs are not interested in contract discussions with Mcclement, I must admit I am a little perturbed with the boys upstairs. If they are expecting to make a run at Brad Richards or David Legwand, all they are going to do is make Leafs fans miserable. The last thing the Leafs need is to hand out a boatload of money to a centreman well past his prime, and acquire another player that provides the Leafs with too little for too much. I call it the “Clarkson Syndrome”.

The Leafs have the right tools to be successful, they just need to realize what they have before it is gone. With the NHL Entry Draft tomorrow, I am hoping the Leafs brass takes the first step towards success for next season, and drafts prospects that will compliment the players currently in the organization. Building depth and improving character will leave the Leafs with a competitive team that will be worthy of the commitment and praise Leafs fans give to the Toronto organization.

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