Doug Gilmour is coming home

[sluggo]

TSN (Canadas ESPN) just announced that Toronto and Gilmour have agreed to terms, Montreal just needs to sign off on the trade and we'll see Gilmour back in his white and blue 93 jersey. Very, very good news for Toronto Leaf fans.

[Shaxam!]

Goodluck Toronto...looks like we'll be seeing you in the finals this year ;)

[sluggo]

most of the "experts" are guessing that Toronto has a deal done with someone (probaly edmonton) for another def. man involving tucker. But before they did that deal they wanted to make sure they could replace Tucker. So most are saying if (and its pretty much a lock from what I heard) the Leafs get Gilmour, Tucker will probably be gone for a def. man.

[metzgarob]

i love me the dougie gilmore

[Shaxam!]

They are running out of time any other NHL news??

[sluggo]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/trade_deadline/

all the trades in the last 24 hours or so are listed there and posted as they happen. If you can get TSN watch it, they are running their "trade deadline show"

[Drashia]

Tucker has been a hinderence for the team the last few years. His antics usually don't impress oppenents or team-mates alike. It's about time he leaves, maybe now people might respect the Leafs... though I doubt that would happen over here.

[sluggo]

Drashia - just wondering, where is "here"?

[sluggo]

Its offical, Gilmour is a leaf again.

[Jervis_Tetch]

Yeah, ya gotta love Dougie; however, I don't think his return's gonna be enough to take the Leafs to the Cup this year.

[sluggo]

Gilmours not coming back to take over as lead scorer or anything. They picked up Nolan to help with the points and goals. Gilmour will probably be put on the 3rd line with Tucker and Domi. Hes there for leadership (hes the kinda guy can get a team on his shoulders and is always going 100% every shift, but he'll be very motivated when playing in Toronto again) and his playmaking. He may get on one of the Pently killing or powerplay teams. But he is a guy who really does "bleed blue and white" - what he brings to a team is what can help get it through a tough playoff series, like Roberts is. Him coming back really helps the leafs, even though it won't always be on the score board.

[Spiritual_Ex]

God, I admit I think the Leafs are alot stronger than they were a week ago, but I don't think picking up Dougie was all that great a move. Granted the old man had played fairly decent for Montreal, so one never knows.

Of the Canadian teams out there, Ottawa made the best moves, becoming a far more physical team. Vancouver, despite not making significant changes, remains a likewise wicked team.

Detroit, Dallas, Philly, Jersey, St.Loius all got better, so I think in the grand scheme of things the Canadian teams are still going to have a rough go of it. Although Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa still have decent chances of getting through several rounds of play, and maybe even making a run for the cup. Gotta put Toronto pretty low on my list of teams that could win it all this year though...might be because I'm a life-long leaf hater...but I think it's mostly because they don't seem to ever be able to get their stuff together at the right time and place.

I'm not even going to talk about the blunders Kevin Lowe made over here in Edmonton...purely economic despite what he has to say. No way should he have traded the teams leading scorer, and the their best defenceman. Edmonton will make the play-offs, but if they ever had a chance of getting past the first round, it's gone now.

Congrats to Calgary for getting back Dean, surely that'll help Iginla quite a bit (And good for them, holding onto their star player and not buckling to the media pressure suggesting they should move him).

[Thanosied]

I am glad Gilmour has returned to the Leafs. He should make an immediate impact in the lineup. He has true grit and shows lots of heart and Im tired of seeing the same old Leaf lineup fulled of cheapshots and non-hockey related skills being showcase. There whole style of play over the last few seasons has been, intimidate the other team by hitting low, or using the stick, or even the famous cheap shot. I want the older leafs where the games where nail bitters and they one with team play and Goal scoring.

Not by intimidation because they are afraid of another teams apparent hockey skills. When I get that leaf team back I will enjoy watching them again. For right now they remind me of the old Philadelphia teams with Bobby Clarke where there was hardly any hockey played. I have seen too many Leaf games this season where they have lost outright from taking one after another stupid penalty because they aren't abidding by the rules.

Maybe the owners should take another look at Pat Quinn's coaching job and they way its shinning through on naional television. But hopefully Dougie's arrival will chage all this.

[sluggo]

Ottawa won't get past the second round. They did pick up one or two tough guys, but besides those 2 they have a very soft team and, like last year, they won't be able to keep up with the phsyical teams like Toronto and the Flyers. The NHL play really becomes phsyical in the playoffs and I doubt that team, full of soft players, will last that long.

Vancouver could make a good run IF their top line (Naslund, Bertuzzi and Morrison) stay healthy (they have very littel depth) and their goalies really pick it up.

I think Torontos got a really, really good chance of winning the east. They have serveral good scores, very tough team, lots of leadership and now with Gilmour they have a guy will go 100% every minute of every shift and is able to pick up the rest of his team with him. The Leafs also have a lot of depth to their team, which can be a HUGE plus in the playoffs. If Renberg goes down, Gilmour and take his place, if Mogilny goes down Nolan can take his place etc...The Leafs don't have it locked in, its not a sure thing, but I would bet on them over anyone else in the east.