Tuesday news: Leafs get even bulkier with addition of Wayne Primeau

Brian Burke continued his trend of adding more size to the Maple Leafs lineup, acquiring Wayne Primeau from Calgary yesterday in a trade that sent defenceman Anton Stralman to the Flames. Also going to Calgary was Colin Stuart, who had been brought to the Leafs in the Pavel Kubina deal. A pair of draft choices were also exchanged (second round, 2011 to Toronto, seventh round 2012 to Calgary).

Another bid emerges to buy the Phoenix Coyotes – one which would see the team play five games a year in either Saskatoon or Halifax.

Here are the hockey headlines in the news this morning:

Leafs News

• Brian Burke adds some Primeau beef to Leafs Toronto Star
• Leafs deal Stralman and Stuart to bring Primeau ‘home’ Toronto Sun
• Leafs get Primeau from Flames The Globe And Mail
• Leafs to give former wunderkind Pogge fresh start elsewhere Toronto Star
• Leafs rookie tournament schedule set Toronto Sun
• Close Encounters Along The Way FAN 590
• Shuffling The Decks HockeyAnalysis.com

NHL News

• New bidders would bring Coyotes to Canada Toronto Star
• Reinsdorf bid would shut out Gretzky Toronto Star
• One Coyotes bid involves Halifax, Saskatoon games Toronto Sun
• Desert dogs or prairie dogs, Coyotes still a mess The Globe And Mail
• Al Stewart, 73: Hockey broadcaster Toronto Star
• Will shakeup hurt the Habs? Montreal Gazette
• Where it’s all hockey, all the time National Post
• Etiquette tips for the Jason Spezza wedding Down Goes Brown

Leafs acquire Wayne Primeau from Calgary

Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke,, announced Monday that the hockey club has acquired from the Calgary Flames forward Wayne Primeau and Calgary’s second round draft pick in 2011.

In exchange, the Flames receive defenceman Anton Stralman, forward Colin Stuart and Toronto’s seventh round draft pick in 2012.

Primeau, a 33-year-old native of Scarborough, Ontario played in 24 games for Calgary in 2008-09, collecting four assists with 14 penalty minutes. An alumnus of the OHL Oshawa Generals, Primeau has played in 715 career NHL games with Calgary, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Boston, recordeing 186 points andassists with 754 minutes in penalties along the way.

Stralman had one goal and 12 assists along with 20 penalty minutes in 38 games with the Leafs last year. With the AHL Marlies he posted seven goals and nine assists in 36 games.

Link: TMLfans.ca message board

Friday news: Kaberle, should he stay or should he go?

Brian Burke spoke to reporters on Thursday morning saying that he’d have to be “blown away” by an offer for defenceman Tomas Kaberle, and would be shocked if the Czech blueliner wasn’t a Leaf on opening night.

However, FAN 590 Howard Berger offers his opinion as to why the Leafs should deal Kaberle before the window of opportunity to trade him expires on August 15.

Dave Poulin was name to the Leafs front office yesterday, taking the post of VP of Hockey Operations.

Here are the hockey headlines in the news this morning:

Leafs News

• Leafs’ Kaberle no longer on trade hot seat Toronto Star
• Burke Must [And Will] Trade Kaberle FAN 590
• Long-time Burke pal Poulin signs on Toronto Star
• Poulin Another Burke Type Guy FAN 590
• Poulin joins Leafs’ front office CP
• Poulin joins MLSE team The Globe and Mail
• Scrawler: Kadri hoping to make the game Toronto Sun
• Schenn likes tough additions Toronto Sun
• Leafs have high hopes for Schenn Toronto Sun
• Brian Burke Does Right By Justin Pogge – Kaberle Has To Go? Toronto Sports Media
• Checking In With The Marlies Maple Leafs Hot Stove

NHL News

• Surgery awaits Hawks’ Hossa Toronto Sun
• Senators dangle Kovalev as incentive for Heatley Sun Media/CP
• Crosby to bring Stanley Cup home to Nova Scotia for his birthday National Post

Dave Poulin joins Leafs front office

Leafs president and GM Brian Burke announced Thursday that the team has hired Dave Poulin as Vice-President of Hockey Operations. Poulin, 50, fills the position previously held by Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk.

“Dave and I have known each other for a very long time, ” said Burke. “He’s a hard-working person that takes pride in everything he does.” Poulin scouted for the Anaheim Ducks in 2006-07, and also at the start of the 2008-09 season, when Burke was general manager of the west coast team.

In other news, Burke iterated that he would be surprised if defenceman Tomas Kaberle is not a Leaf on opening night. Burke used a trade speculation analogy comparing his situation to that of Blue Jays’ GM J.P. Riccardi, who is listening to offers for pitching ace Roy Halladay. Burke said he’d have to be “blown away” by an offer for Kaberle in order to deal the veteran defenceman.

Link: TMLfans.ca message board

Darryl Boyce and Alex Foster re-signed

The Maple Leafs announced Wednesday the re-signings of forwards Darryl Boyce and Alex Foster.

Boyce, 25, was inked to a two-year contract. The Summerside, PEI native collected 12 goals and 30 points in 73 games played with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL in 2008-09.

Foster, 24, signed a one-year deal. A native of Canton, Michigan – Foster registered 12 goals and 35 points for the Marlies last season, while leading the club along with Bates Battaglia with five points in 6 Calder Cup playoff games.

The signings come one day after the Leafs re-signed forward Andre Deveaux.

Link: TMLfans.ca message boards

Leafs re-sign Andre Deveaux

The Maple Leafs have agreed to terms with forward Andre Deveaux on a one-year contract, president and GM Brian Burke announced on Tuesday.

Deveaux, 25, collected one assist and 75 penalty minutes with the Leafs in 2008-09. In 38 games with the AHL Marlies, Deveaux compiled 14 goals and 25 points, plus 114 penalty minutes.

A native of Freeport, Bahamas, Deveaux was on the roster of the 2008 Calder Cup-winning Chicago Wolves, who ousted the Marlies in the semi-finals that year.

Link: Andre Deveaux’s stats at NHL.com

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