Brian Burke had a very busy Canada Day as the 2009 NHL free agent market opened. The Leafs signed former Rangers’ aggressor Colton Orr and hard-nosed defenceman Mike Komisarek away from the Habs, filling the roster with the model of “belligerence and pugnacity’ that he proclaimed when he was hired in November.
The Leafs also dealt away Pavel Kubina and prospect Tim Stapleton to Atlanta in exchange for Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart.
Marian Hossa had the biggest payday on Wednesday, cashing in with a 12-year, $62 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. Marian Gaborik struck it rich, signing with the Rangers for 5 years at $7.5 million a season. The Canadiens were very busy, adding Michael Cammalleri, Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill and Brian Gionta, while in Vancouver, the Sedin twins decided to stay home, after all.
Visit the TMLfans.ca Free Agent Tracker for all the details.
Here are the hockey headlines in the news this morning:
Leafs News
- Leafs muscle up Toronto Sun
- Burke just getting started Toronto Sun
- Atlanta glad to have him Toronto Sun
- Like it or not, Burke’s got a plan for Leafs Toronto Star
- Burke flexes muscles Toronto Star
- Leafs meet again with Swedish goalie Toronto Star
- Leafs go big with Komisarek, Orr The Globe And Mail
- The newest overpaid goon MaxHockey.com
- ESPN names Maple Leafs worst organization in the NHL Down Goes Brown
- Leafs Get Tougher – Goal Scoring Will Drop HockeyAnalysis.com
- Leafs Trade Pavel Kubina Pension Plan Puppets
NHL News
- On the road, again Toronto Sun
- Free-for-all on the free-agent market Toronto Sun
- Hossa leads list of free agents cashing in Toronto Star
- Canucks keep Sedins off the open market Vancouver Province
- Canadian teams get in the game National Post
- Flames take big step closer to Stanley Cup The Globe And Mail
- Hockey Canada invites 46 to Olympic camp CTVOlympics.ca
