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The off season sucks.

Meet The Fosters.

Hi everyone! My name is Alex Foster, I was recently signed by JFJ to play for the Marlies, and maybe one day the Leafs, that would be swell!
While you may have never heard of me, let me re-assure you that I am a nice straight forward fellow, I don't smoke and I call my mother at least twice a week, she is such a nice lady!
While my ruffled plumage and dark swarthy looks draw lots of attention from the ladies, I don't have time at present for a female friend, as in addition to my hockey commitments, I spend all my free time reading to the deaf and bathing lepers, and lets not forget my marmoset rescue program.
I spent my last year of hockey split between the Baby Leafs and the Columbia Inferno, I felt uncomfortable with the name Inferno since it associates the team somewhat with the Devil and I am a good church going Christian.
Last year I managed to achieve 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) with 31 penalty minutes, which I assure you were all non-violent and absolutely necessary to prevent evil and save puppies from crack dealers with laser eyes.
I look forward to the next year and can't wait to meet you all and give you big warm hugs!

Yours Truly: Alex Foster

Opptimistic Predictions: Round One

Many would state it is too early to predict anything about next season, but I am bored, and through boredom comes useless posts.
What am I predicting you ask on the edge of your seat, cold sweat dripping from your brown, literally shaking with anticipation??
The lines for your 2007/2008 Toronto Maple Leafs.
It ain't much, but no one is paying me for this (I do accept checks though).

Here goes nothing.

Forwards
St. Blake - Sundin - Antro
Pony - Wellwood - Bell
Stajin - Steen - Tucker
Battaglia - Pohl - Kilger
Defense
Kaberle - Kubina
McCabe - Colaiacavo
White - Gill
Power Play One
Blake - Sundin - Tucker
Kaberle - McCabe
Power Play Two
Antro - Wellwood - Pony
Kubina - White

Other Line up predictions.
Tucker and Bell will be interchanged between the second and third lines for match up / Performance reasons.
St. Blake will go for a stint on the second line in exchange of Pony if he gets cold and needs motivation.
White will have a spot on the roster at the start of the year but will struggle to hold onto it as there is way to much competition.
Belak will be interjected into the line up as a workhorse to jump between forward and defense as needed, or when another heavy weight suits up ( I await Jansen's second beating)
Raycroft and The Tosk will dual it out until the trade deadline when the worse one will be shopped.
Stajin or Steen will become attractive trade bait, both will have much a improved season.
We will never see Suglobov In a Leaf Jersey again.
Stralman will crack the line up.
Sundin will crack 30 goals and 80 points.
Raycroft will have a better GAA, The Tosk will have the superior Save %
The penalty Kill will only have one constant, and that will be Gill.
Pohl will be in shoot-outs more often, Antro and Pony will not.
Injuries and or crazy JFJ brain cramps void guarantee on all predictions.

Open Water

Well here we float.
Drifting between the continents that are the NHL seasons, passed by are the good ships Draft day and Free agency deadline. This leaves us hockey fan-ites with nothing but open, salty, hockeyless water until October third. Only the possibility of an occasional trade-gul flying over head or ship in the night remaining free agency signing (Yashin/Sourey) to quench our hockey thirsts upon.
It is going to be a long swim.

Water water everywhere and none of it to skate on.

Priceless

Best picture ever? Its up there for sure, the only thing I think about when I see it is Billy yelling "I LIKE SOUP, NERRRAAAAHH"

Dear JFJ

Just when I thought you might start down a road of decent decisions (snagging St. Jason Blake for one) you go and do this.
I mean, its not like I don't like The Tosk, or think that he may not be worth 4 Mill a year next year, it's that you just gave it to him, straight up as if to say "here ya go The Tosk, a nice comfy contract, please play well for us the next two years, I'm such a nice smiley guy".
Would it have killed you to wait until, oh I don't know, December to, you know, evaluate his worth for the next two seasons? See if he thrives in Blue and White?
Maybe even dangle a nice fat contract in his face and say "The Tosk, if you play well, look what is behind door number one (a braaand neeew caaaaar!), but if you play poorly you get whats behind door number two (a one way trip to play back up in Columbus, all inclusive).
Not to say this won't pan out and The Tosk becomes the next Kipper, but it has just as much chance of going the other way and biting you in your assets.

One Frustrated (though Die Hard) Leaf Fan.

St. Awsome

The Leafs have just signed St. Jason Blake (as coined by blogsphere superstar Margee) to a Five year 20 Million Dollar contract, Faaaaaaantastic!

What the Leafs needed
-A Goaltender to either replace Raycroft as number one, or create a viable competition for him, and at the very least play decent backup so he doesn't have to play 70 plus games.
-A Solid Second-Third liner who could go in the corners, throw the body and put the puck in the net on a regular basis.
-A first line winger that can put the puck in the net, finally giving Sundin the winger he has needed for so long.

What the Leafs got
- Vesa 'The Tosk' Toskola, an uber talented goalie who can play any roll. Runs a serious risk of userping one Andrew Razorcroft.
- Mark Bell, big, strong, with some sniper instincts. Had a rough year on a good team last year, most likely due to personal reasons, but thrived on the Chicago Brutal-Hawks.
- St. Jason Blake. Speedy, sniper, always seems to be in the right place at the right time. The patron Saint of Albino's and goal scorers. Mats, your winger has arrived....finally.

Sorry for your loss Margee.

EDIT
4th line rabble rouser and all around likeable guy Master Bates Battaglia re-signs with the Leafs for 2 years at 650K a pop.