The Toronto Maple Leafs were busy yesterday, signing Pavel Kubina to a four-year $20 million deal and Hal Gill to a three-year deal at $2.075 million per season.
I like the Kubina signing. He didn't come cheap, but he'll be a great addition to the big three who can shut down the opposition's best player and take care of his own end of the rink. He's only 29 and already has a good history of success playing with fellow countryman Tomas Kaberle. I'm less positive about the Gill signing because he's a bit slow for the new NHL but he's still a huge upgrade from Aki Berg. The kids can fill the fifth and sixth defensive positions and they showed a great deal of promise last season. Staffan Kronwall, Carlo Colaiacovo, Jay Harrison, Brendan Bell, Ian White and Andy Wozniewski provide some decent young depth.
We didn't score a Wade Redden, Ed Jovonovski or Zdeno Chara, but we did shore up a pathetic blue line. Now we need to add a few forwards with speed and a finishing touch. With little money remaining to spend, this won't be easy and we can fuggetabout a proven stud like Patrik Elias.
