Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star caught up with Leafs’ GM Brian Burke at the annual draft combine in Toronto. Burke also divulged that the Leafs will open up the vault this summer.
“We intend to be pushing the cap every year,” said Burke. “We want to spend the money intelligently. “We’re Big Blue, we’re going to spend to the cap.”
Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun reports that the possibility of Burke landing highly-coveted prospect John Tavares is very remote, at best.
In Mississauga, hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their final respects to Peter Zezel, who was laid to rest. David Alter of the FAN 590 filed an excellent audio report in which many of Zezel’s former teammates and friends shared their reflections.
The Stanley Cup Final begins this evening at Joe Louis Arenas as Detroit and Pittsburgh battle for hockey’s Holy Grail for the second straight year. (8pm ET, CBC). The Wings expect to have Nicklas Lidstrom and Kris Draper back from injury, while Pavel Datsyuk will be a game-time decision.
Here are the hockey headlines in the news this morning:
Leafs News
- So close, yet so far Toronto Sun
- Leafs’ Burke vows ‘to spend to the cap’ Toronto Star
- Will Leafs be the Schenn brothers’ keeper? The Globe And Mail
- A Day To Gather More Information MapleLeafs.com
- Burke Still Aiming To Move Up At Draft MapleLeafs.com
- Zezel laid to rest Toronto Sun
- Zezel was `a loving, generous person’ Toronto Star
- Remembering Peter Zezel FAN 590
Stanley Cup Final
- Wings get ‘em back Ottawa Sun
- Hossa only sees Red Ottawa Sun
- Red Wings’ Hossa hopes he made the right choice AP
- Non-stop Crosby show irks Babcock Ottawa Sun
- Penguins feel better prepared for Wings Toronto Star
- Stanley Cup forecast Toronto Star
- Red Wings in line for Cup repeat Faceoff.com
- Pittsburgh fish shops unite National Post
- Crosby has learned to change his game Windsor Star
- Renewed hostilities Windsor Star
- Coach Bylsma’s improbable rise to the Cup finals The Globe And Mail
- Hockey Musings From MoTown FAN 590
NHL and Hockey News
- Balsillie unveils dramatic plans for Copps Toronto Sun
- Swanky Copps looks eerily familiar Toronto Star
- Balsillie plans $150M Copps renovation National Post
- Refurbishments to Copps an easy sell for Hamiltonians The Globe And Mail
- Bettman’s sunbelt strategy hits a rut The Globe And Mail
- New team could jeopardize Sabres’ ticket base The Globe And Mail
- NHL’s future superstars stay positive Toronto Star
- Hedman could be “once in a lifetime player” National Post
- Ex-NHLer Danton nears release from prison Ottawa Citizen
