Malone to Toronto rumour shot down

by James Mirtle on May 12, 2009 12:31 PM CDT Comment 16 comments

More photos » by Rich Schultz - AP

The Maple Leafs general manager shot down a rumour that he would send the Leafs’ seventh overall pick in the NHL entry draft in June to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second pick overall and right winger Ryan Malone. The catch is Malone is under contract through the 2014-15 season at a salary cap hit of $4.5-million US a season for each of the next six years.

“I have no comment,” Burke said. “It certainly has not been discussed at our end.”

A source in Tampa also scuttled the speculation.

— Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun

I've now heard this rumour more than once, with Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman bringing it really out in the open today during a radio appearance locally.

The Lightning ownership group is really struggling with its debtload right now and I expect they will drop significant salary, but throwing the No. 2 pick overboard is likely to be incredibly unpopular with the team's already dwindling fanbase. The fact they would have to do it to cover up Malone's horrible contract will not sit well with fans in Florida.

From the Leafs' perspective, however, this would make a lot of sense, as Malone's salary would be easy enough to hide in the minors or buyout down the line. Having the No. 2 overall pick also puts Brian Burke much closer to potentially being able to draft John Tavares.

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Just trying to move copies in Toronto. This one is a double whammy: Leafs get what they want, and the Toronto media gets to slag on a southern team’s financial troubles in the process. It’s a real beauty!

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on May 12, 2009 12:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s Toronto Hack Heaven!

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on May 12, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s now time for a Montreal counter-rumor to up the ante… the Habs get both Lecavalier and St. Louis, plus the 2nd pick, for their 16th/17th and Ryan O’Byrne!

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on May 12, 2009 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes! O’Byrne back in Florida, where he had his moments of greatest glory!

by Habs on May 12, 2009 8:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Elliotte Friedman’s trying to sell copies? Of what?

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on May 12, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Copies, ratings… same you know, different pile.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on May 12, 2009 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is he writing some book I’m unaware of?

A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Leafs Nation, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.

by furcifer on May 12, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that was fast

by Karina on May 12, 2009 12:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, our question of the day was “could this happen?” and there’s not a single person who thinks it could have.

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2009/5/12/873100/is-toronto-getting-the-2nd-overall

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on May 12, 2009 12:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I voted no

but if anyone can do it it’s the Burkian one.

A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Leafs Nation, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.

by furcifer on May 12, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A guy who makes $4.5 M for 6 years and puts up 45 points a year? Sounds like someone Sather would trade 1st rounder for!

Glen Sather is a Hockey Genius.

http://glensathersucks.com/
http://twitter.com/ThGeneralissimo

by poploser on May 12, 2009 12:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Does Lightning need a defenseman? Or a six million dollar/year boat anchor? Rangers could use Malone’s size.

by engineer on May 12, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A guy who makes $4.5 M for 6 years and puts up 45 points a year? Sounds like someone Sather would trade 1st rounder for!

In Malone’s defense, he did score 26 goals (one off his career high) on that horrible Tampa team.

Plus his contract was heavily frontloaded, I believe Malone will make $15-16 million of the total on his $31.5 million contract this season and next, and then in the final couple of years his actual salary drops off mightly.

So for a small-market team looking to add some “dead space” Malone would be attractive since his paycheck is going to be smaller than the number on the books pretty soon.

by Hooks Orpik on May 12, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jeff Finger thinks Malone’s contract is very reasonable.

That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.

by JoshCVT on May 12, 2009 1:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

People are ragging on Malone’s contract like it’s one of the worst in the NHL. And yeah, it’s an overpay, but consider: Malone put up more even strength goals/60 than Lecavalier or St. Louis, more points/60 than Lecavalier, and more goals+first assists/60 than St. Louis. He and St. Louis were the only forwards on the ice for more even strength GF than GA (9 each), and Malone did it in less ice time and while getting many, many fewer head starts (off. zone faceoffs) than St. Louis or Lacavalie. He also led his team in Corsi. His power play points were embarassing given his ice time, but that’s entirely because of second assists. His goals+first assists per 60 was third on his team, and right in the same ballpark as Lecavalier and Prospal. His goals/60 was second behind Stamkos.

He’s not going to drive your team’s results, but all the evidence seems to show that the guys who do drive your team’s results—the guys like Crosby and Lecavalier—do better with him on their line. He has some value on the power play and can fill in as a spare part on the penalty kill.

by RyanV on May 12, 2009 2:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs