He's told Panthers management he'll only waive his no-trade clause to go to Toronto?
If this is true (and the source was Kypreos so take that for what it's worth).........why on earth would somebody deny themselves a chance to be a Red Wing, or a Bruin, or a Flyer, or (insert potential 2011 Stanley Cup winner here).
I think Toronto is moving in the right direction, and I still stand by playoff prediction of October.......but making the playoffs is not the same as being a cup contender.
Meerkat...........no argument there, when it comes to hockey, Toronto has it ALL over Sunrise/Miami, and probably any other city aside from Montreal. Yes, Weiss is from Toronto, his parents are here and what not.............but if you are indeed on the trading block, as it seems everybody in Florida is today.......why not lift your NTC for a place like Detroit...great team, and it's Hockeytown.........of Philadelphia..............or Boston..............or Vancouver.........heck, Weiss would be a great fit in Calgary and give them what they need to get over that hump. It just puzzles me why somebody would limit their options to a team that is playing for the future and not the now.
2011-02-28T11:23:03Z
Meerkat - every team makes calls............how much of an effort varies though. My point is that telling management that you'll only go to 1 of the other 29 teams when there are 23 better teams out there is quite limiting.
2011-02-28T12:36:05Z
I love Panger and I love TSN.................so I have to say no to that deal! And the last two Leaf games were games they should have won (and I really hope they traded Lebda to the KHL) and were quite entertaining.
tomjc432011-02-28T20:15:06Z
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I know that Stephen is from Toronto, I played hockey against his father when he was a pretty fair industrial league player. Stevie Sr, was a pretty shifty stick handler and a great skater.
As far as the trade to Toronto is concerned, Stevie can wait. He is what Burke wants and those draft picks (3 in the top 40) might be worth more in St. Paul in June. Also going to Toronto might be a good financial move. Big Fish - Big Pond scenario. He'd be lost in a place like Detroit and would have to fit in behind Zetterberg and Datsyuk. In Toronto he'd centre Kessel and Lupul on the first line. Besides Stevie has always worn number 9 and Toronto is one of the few NHL cities that hasn't retired that number yet.
I honestly have no idea why he would say that but here's a thought...maybe lol
Since he has played his whole career in Florida, maybe he is one of those players that is just really dedicated to playing for one team. He is the longest active player for the panthers, so maybe he feels he should show some loyalty and leadership for the team. Iginla, and Nash are two guys that are like that...(as of right now). Shane Doan is as well, and I'm not positive but Isn't both hockey markets in Florida and Phoenix pretty terrible? I don't know. Maybe he feels if this team does ever when a Stanley Cup, he can say he was loyal with them through the best and worst of times.
As for the Toronto part, that does puzzle me. But maybe he feels like Toronto would be the only team that he wouldn't have to be in the shadows of the Great Players on the teams you have listed. He may feel his talent would be over-looked, and the other players for those other teams would get more "spotlight" I guess. I personally wouldn't think his skill would be over-shadowed, but maybe he does. He might just have either a very strong ego, that believes he would be the best on Toronto, or, he lacks confidence in himself, and thinks he wouldn't match up well in the other teams players. Toronto is still in a re-building process, and maybe he thinks that's the only team he would be able to show his talent and skills, and also not be behind the shadows of other players.
Leafsfan29-Embrace the drought!2011-02-28T12:12:08Z
Totally bizarro...I mean, it's great to hear a guy want to come here and is actually from here (meaning that in theory he knows what he's getting into with regard to the MSM), but that's just crazy. Vancouver or Detroit give you a chance to win a Stanley Cup, which doesn't happen that much.
I'm banking on your prediction. The last two games were gut-punches (they won't make the playoffs blowing 3rd period leads).
Having said all that...if the Leafs don't do anything today of note (JFM for a 2012 7th round pick doesn't count) I won't be mad. The three trades the Leafs made prior were all good deals.
If he thinks he would be the guy who turns around Toronto's sinking ship around, then yes, he's crazy. Granted, I'd rather play for an original 6 team (albeit a bad one) over Florida, I think he's insane for limiting movement only to Toronto, even if he's got family there, there are lots of teams who are just a short flight away that are contenders (Bruins, Philly, Detroit, etc). I'm with you all the way on this one.