Maple Leafs Choose GM and Fletcher wants Bouwmeester.

I just want to put this out that the Maple Leafs may have found their man, and we didn't even notice. According to sources close to the team Joe Nieuwendyk will become the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager after this season.

It is believed by many that Cliff Fletcher will groom Joe into the role and Nieuwendyk will take over after this year. While I dislike the idea of another rookie GM, at least they have a timetable to train the person who they feel is best for the job. Joe Nieuwendyk comes to Toronto with an impressive resume which includes a Stanley Cup and a very good knowledge of the sport. While this is unconfirmed, many including the likes of Darren Dreger, Bob McKenzie, Nik Kypreos, and Howard Berger have all said they feel that Joe will take the role when Fletchers contract expires and that he will be something the Leafs have needed for a long time someone with hockey sense.

Moving on now I know this has been said 1,000,000 times but word on the street is the deal that was said to be happening is getting bigger! Now by no means does this mean it will happen but I truly feel that this could get Bouwmeester into Toronto if Fletcher wants him bad enough and word out tonight is that he does.

The rumored deal that is reportedly being thrown around is this:

To Toronto: D Jay Bouwmeester, F Richard Zednik

To Florida: D Bryan McCabe, D Ian White, F Alexei Ponikarovsky

I'M GOING TO PUT EMPHASIS ON THIS! "THIS IS A RUMOR NOT FACT"

So please take it as such.

(The Sources Take: Now me personally, I like the trade. It does at first seem a little steep but I think it's better than giving up a 1st, especially if the return is Bouwmeester. With the Nieuwendyk situation I like it better than bringing on Brian Burke who has a big mouth and really needs to settle that whole thing with Lowe down.)

WHATS NEW WITH OUR SISTER SITE???

Hey guys! I got this article from nhlrumour.blogspot.com, our sister site. It's about The Best Player Outside The NHL (who haven't played there either):

This is written by Riley M. I hope you enjoy!

The Elitserien League, or the Swedish Elite League has a lot of ex NHLers but a player that really sticks out it my mind, like..

Johan Akerman

Jonathan Akerman is a defenceman who last season played for HV71 Jonkoping and had remarkable numbers for a defenceman, and all though his 33 points were 15 less then last season he really flourished on a defensive minded HV71 team. He's signed with the Lokomotiv Jaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League and expect more coverage of this all-star Swede. Akerman was never drafted into the NHL.

The KHL has a whole bunch of Ex-NHL players I could of chose, but the player that really stood out in my mind was..

READ THE REST!!!!

The Latest on Andrej Meszaros

The Senators front has been quiet so far and with GM Bryan Murray teeling everyone to keep their mouths closed, it's hard to expect what will happen. Here is the latest on one of the best defenseman left on the market, Andrej Meszaros.

I think everyone is reporting now that Andrej has been given his final offer and even though the numbers aren't out it can't be possibly more than Antoine Vermette got and look for the range in what Antoine got. Meszy, according to Sens Chirp, is also weighing an offer from the newly-formed KHL, though I don't see a guy like Andrej, who isn't washed up like many players who have gone there, going home.

Another possibility could include seeing him being traded, and with many teams steeping up at plate ready to acquire a defenseman, trading could be Bryan Murray's last option. Teams interested could be teams that need to get to the floor, like LA (could we be going back to the three-way deal?), and Atlanta. Kevin Lee from HockeyBuzz says GM Murray wants lots in return, so Atlanta could be in the thick of it with lots of forwards (such as Slava Kozlov) and prospects to choose from.

One thing we know, this is Bryan Murray. The power is in his hands.

The Latest on Gaborik

Talking with Brad Ratgen, the Minnesota Wild Correspondant on Hockeybuzz about the latest with forward Marian Gaborik's supposed contract talks ith the organization. Contract negotitations should be commencing shortly (although it has been reported that they have started already). His agent, Ron Salcer is back from vacation, which will speed up the process because Salcer and the Wild "seem to be able to work together and get deals done", just like the last time Gaborik and the Wild were involved in talks.

Ratgen also says that he "wouldn't be surprised if he re-signed a HUGE deal and I wouldn't be surprised if he simply asks for too much as a way to save face without saying he wants to leave."

And on a quick note, Michael Russo from the StarTribune.com cites Salcer as saying that he denies any rumor of Gaborik ever thinking about playin in Russia. But as we have seen in the exile of many players to the new KHL and such, it is absolutley a possibility.

NEW CHATROOM!

THERE A NEW HOCKEYBUMS CHATROOM CHECK IT OUT!

THEHOCKEYBUMS MESSAGE BOARD!!!

HEY EVERYONE JUST A REMINDER MESSAGE BOARDS HAVE BEEN QUIET. JUST A REMINDER HERES THE LINK LETS KEEP TALKING HOCKEY.......CHATS ARENT THE ONLY WAY!

heres the link to message board or just click the picture on front page that says MESSAGE BOARD

http://hockeybums.proboards103.com/index.cgi

Scotty

Nylander On "A" Market But Not "The" Market

Capitals forward Michael Nylander is in the market.............FOR A NEW HOME. Rumors ran through the world wide web that he had put his Washington House up for sale but theres nothing more to it then wanting a new house in Washington. The Caps would like to have him back and he wants to be back and then you can add the fact that hes got a No-Trade Clause anyway.

DAY 50: THE SUNDIN WATCH

Hey everyone heres an UPDATE on everything that has happened in the Sundin Situation as we have hit DAY 50 of the SUNDIN, WATCH AND WAIT.

NHL DRAFT: Mats Sundin's negotiation rights given to the Montreal Canadiens. Deal was never worked out before Sundin hit the market.

EARLY JULY: Reports that Sundin had decided Toronto Or Retirement that also has turned out to be false at this point in time.

LATE JULY: Rumors that Sundin had told the habs so "GOOD NEWS".......to this date I WONDER? Also REPORTS THAT SUNDIN WOULD DECIDE WHERE HES GOING IF HE CAME BACK ON AUGUST 1st. Im wondering what happened to that decision?Also despite being over the salary cap rumors that Philadelphia Flyers made a pitch for him.

JULY 27th:HABS SIGN SUNDIN ACCORDING TO A LEAK ON THE HABS MOBILE PHONE WEBSITE...................False

JULY 30th: Habs GM Bob Gainey contacts J.P. Barry, Sundin's Agent and lets him know the habs are still VERY MUCH interested in Mats Services.

AUGUST 2nd: Wonder what happened to that decision on August 1st?

MIDDLE AUGUST: Rangers "hot" after Sundin looks like they could be "THE CHOSEN ONES", BUT THEN.......DENIAL FROM JP BARRY THAT THE RAGS ARE THE TEAM.

TODAY: Sundin apparently Has No Interest in Joining the Maple Leafs.

AND THATS WHERE WE STAND ON DAY 50 OF THE ALWAYS POPULAR, ALWAYS FAMOUS SUNDIN WATCH AND WAIT!

Scotty

SUNDIN HAS "NO INTEREST" IN LEAFS

According to an article in The Montreal Gazette today Mats Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry has said that Sundin has "NO INTEREST" in returning back to Toronto. Rumors still rampant that Sundin will join the Rangers but everyone can keep guessing cause I dont think even Mats knows what hes doing yet.