Originally posted by john992
Belfour will replace Joseph nicely...I think Belfour is up for the challenge and he really needed a change of senery. Having said that, I believe Toronto was the best place for him to go, he is genuinely happy to be a Maple Leaf .
As for Yushkevich i believe his replacement (Robert Svehla) was another good move even though he was retired he is still only 33 years old and has more offensive talent then Yushkevich. An offensive defenseman is somthing that has eluded Toronto since they had Al Iafrate.
Im not a big fan of Reichel or Hoglund either. Im with you on these two.
John
I don't think Belfour has it anymore. Sure he's happy to be a Leaf, which is good, but most players are when they arrive. It'll be a different story when he faces 40 shots a game and takes the brunt from the harsh T.O. media shooting him down because he's not Cujo. (Sound somewhat similar to the Clark-Sundin deal?)
Offensive defense is what has been T.O.'s major downfall for the past few years. Let's see...Ellett, Murphy, Kaberle. If they had REAL defense, they'd be fine and dandy, but they would rather have Kaberle teach McCabe how to score 20 goals instead of how to prevent them. I am very disagreeable on this point friend. Sorry.
Svehla would have been a great compliment to Yushky's skills, but no, they elect to keep Cory Cross and Kaberle. Pitiful. (And to think, they were one useless defenseman away from Lindros.)
I've truly had enough of this team. I only hope that Roberts and Tucker (and even to a small extent Sundin) finally realize what is going on, and demand to be traded or force the ownership to take "ownership" and ante up for a chance at the Cup.
Only then will I again, wear my overpriced, personalized Leaf jersey.