Bye Raycroft and Wellwood
 

The Toronto Maple Leafs took another step toward rebuilding on Tuesday, placing forward Kyle Wellwood and goaltender Andrew Raycroft on waivers.

Last season, Wellwood struggled through an injury-riddled campaign as he dealt with a nagging groin injury. Tabbed as a second-line player out of training camp, the playmaking centre finished with just 21 points in 59 games.

In 2006-07, Wellwood missed 33 games after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Raycroft was acquired from the Boston Bruins prior to the 2006-07 season for goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask and went on to set a franchise mark for wins with 37 that season.

But the Belleville native took a backseat to Vesa Toskala early last season and never regained the starting role. He finished the year with just two wins in 19 appearances.

Link to article http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241542&l...s=secStory_nhl

sweeet... maybe now wellwood (who lives in the same city as me) will stop goin downtown to drink every weekend instead of getting in shape...

LOL no shit. They both suck and I am glad they are gone.

Wasn't Raycroft supposed to be the Leafs latest savior? :1orglaugh

No big surprise there. Just waiting for the good bye Matts thread.

I really hope they don't get rid of Matts. He's by far the best player on the Leafs. Getting rid of Matts means Toronto becomes a 100% rebuilder vs rebuild and contend at the same time.

I don't understand. The leafs have been contending WITH Mats lately?

they have to get rid of mats too.. as much as I don't want them too it is key to the rebuild.

No, but he is the only reason they even had a chance to make the playoffs down the stretch.

In fact with his 78 points last year Sundin was responsible for a third of their goals last season.

Mats will be back - you heard it here first.

Matts is done Brad. Montreal or Detroit bound. He doesn't want to be on a rebuilding team.

Its a start ... the leafs need to get rid of mats too, hopefully for something. It would be a shame if he just walked or retired. Then they need to lose EVERY game this season and secure Tavares.

I'm glad too!

Then he should have left last year during the trading deadline. If he goes and signs for another team I have lost all respect for him. He did not want traded last year as he said he wanted to remain a leaf for the rest of his career, if he signs with another team now he can go fuck himself.

25% is not very "Secure" statistically speaking. So even if they lose every game it doesnt even mean they will have a 50/50 shot. I hope we get him but who knows what will happen.

I guess we will see soon.

Reasons I see Sundin back in Toronto

1) He stated earlier that he wants to finish up in Toronto
2) Toronto can't afford to field a c level team and keep the fans happy. Meaning the live crowd as well as the tv deals could be in jeopardy (less money coming in). And since the Leafs board cares most about making money (and Fletcher knows this) this is a huge factor.
3) the NHL relies on the Canadian teams to keep the league going. If Toronto (the biggest market) goes to shit for a few years it will be harder for the league to subsidize expansion teams in weak markets and the salary cap could actually go down.
4) The Raptors success is tied to the Leafs doing well and making money. (Also to a lesser extent, the Marlies and Toronto FC.)
5) MLS&E but most importantly the Teachers Pension Plan.

So they either make every possible move to keep Sundin or get something very marketable in return for him. Letting him become a free agent is very bad for the team. That's how I see it and why anyways. We'll see by early next week I suppose.