01 Mar 2016 21:25:31
The shut down and eventual buyout for defenceman Jared Cowen is a puzzrling development for me. i'm guessing with guys like Percy, Harrington, Conor Carrick, Loov fighting for positions on the back end with Reilly, Gardiner, Hunwick, Marincin and Corrado, that Jared Cowen was the odd man out because of his heslth issues with his hip. Its a common enough injury within the NHL and its defencemen but scares GM's cause it affects the level of play of the player but can still be cleared to play by NHL doctors. Remember the doctors in the NHL are mainly used to save the insurance companies that cover NHL contracts, money by clearing these players to play even with nagging injuries. Most recently the leafs dealt with Carl Gunnarsson with the same aliment and had to retain salary for several years and receive a very low pick and Roman Polak, who in my mind was thenlesser player than Gunnarsson. It panned out well for the leafs ehen Polak was traded to San Jose though. I personally would like the leafs keep Cowen and give him the summer to recoup and get back his game, let him come back through training camp and then assess what he's worth to the league and to the leafs. Most people circle around this quirk in his contract that actually gives a cap credit instead of costing money in the event of a buyout but I think its a better route to retain him and try to get his game back like they did with PA, Matthais, Winnik etc.

1.) 02 Mar 2016
02 Mar 2016 01:40:04
When you see the list of defenseman as a whole you realize that they are young and most lack NHL experience. The leafs are going to have to step up and start evaluating which of these guys have the skill set to make it. Definitely going to have some growing pains.

2.) 02 Mar 2016
02 Mar 2016 09:16:27
Leafs will trade for or sign a high end defence an this summer I'm sure

3.) 02 Mar 2016
02 Mar 2016 15:13:10
Cowen has more value due to the cap rebate for buying him out. As for your comments about team doctors and insurance companies, you don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about. First, team doctors work for the team and are not going to risk someone in whom the team has invested significant money. Second, they have nothing to do with insurance companies - my best friend works for an insurance agency that insures NHL player contracts and, upon reading him your post, his first comment was "that guy is completely clueless".

4.) 09 Mar 2016
09 Mar 2016 06:46:30
Ok DBF u also have friends in parliment, the white house, and know who shot Kennedy?