European free agents

[GhostofPotvin29]

Not that I think the Leafs will be in on any of the potential free agents from Europe, but who knows?  Here's a couple names out there right now.

@IgorEronko 

23 yo Artemi Panarin is 2nd in scoring in the #KHL with 62 (26+36) pts in 53 gms. Per report at least 10 #NHL teams are interested

Jori Lehtera or Roman Cervenka?

That?s the question to ask about Viktor Tikhonov?s and Artemi Panarin?s respective futures. According to a report from TASS, converted to English via Google Translate, the SKA Saint Petersburg teammates want to play in the NHL next season. Their KHL contracts expire after the league playoffs this spring. April 30, to be exact.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/khl-exodus-viktor-tikhonov-artemi-panarin-to-play-in-nhl-next-season/

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj-QmiX0ls8[/youtube]

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I wouldn't mind if the Leafs tried this every now and then. It obviously didn't work with Kontiola, but Sekac and (especially) Lehtera have both played pretty well. I remember before he went back to Russia I thought Tikhonov might have been a guy worth checking out.

 

[Highlander]

And with the gas dollars tanking worse than the Leafs it has been reported that payroll in the KHL is sometimes not being met. I guess the guy would perfer playing for greenbacks than Rubles

 

[Joe S.]

I'm not saying that this can't work in the future, but haven't the Leafs had zero success with this over the last 15 years or so.

I'm just going by memory, but I can't think of any European free agent they've signed  that turned out to be an impact player.

 

[Highlander]

How did they get Berezin?

 

[bustaheims]

How did they get Berezin?

10th round of the 94 draft.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I'm not saying that this can't work in the future, but haven't the Leafs had zero success with this over the last 15 years or so.

I'm just going by memory, but I can't think of any European free agent they've signed  that turned out to be an impact player.

We're going back a ways here, but to the exact wording of your question, Borje Salming.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

To be clear, I don't expect any potential European free agents to be a significant difference maker.  But it's possible and the team should be exploring all avenues for talent.  As long as expectations are kept reasonable there's no real downside to it.

 

[bustaheims]

To be clear, I don't expect any potential European free agents to be a significant difference maker.  But it's possible and the team should be exploring all avenues for talent.  As long as expectations are kept reasonable there's no real downside to it.

Exactly. And, just because it hasn't worked out so well for the Leafs so far doesn't mean it never will. Other teams have found quality pieces at free agents in Europe. They are out there. The Leafs just need to do a better job of identifying them.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

To be clear, I don't expect any potential European free agents to be a significant difference maker.  But it's possible and the team should be exploring all avenues for talent.  As long as expectations are kept reasonable there's no real downside to it.

Exactly. And, just because it hasn't worked out so well for the Leafs so far doesn't mean it never will. Other teams have found quality pieces at free agents in Europe. They are out there. The Leafs just need to do a better job of identifying them.

And if some don't quite work out, it's not like the Marlies don't need a few quality additions.

 

[bustaheims]

And if some don't quite work out, it's not like the Marlies don't need a few quality additions.

Or, they end up like Kontiola, and head back to Europe mid-season - which, for guys that aren't working out, is not a big deal.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

And if some don't quite work out, it's not like the Marlies don't need a few quality additions.

Or, they end up like Kontiola, and head back to Europe mid-season - which, for guys that aren't working out, is not a big deal.

I know  :-\  And to what you said, I really hope Shanahan has people in place now that are better at identifying talent. 

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Panarin is quite intriguing though.  On the same team as Kovalchuk and outproducing him, 62 pts in 54 games, at age 23.  Only Radulov has more points in the league. 

His issue will be size.

 

[Frank E]

I'm not saying that this can't work in the future, but haven't the Leafs had zero success with this over the last 15 years or so.

I'm just going by memory, but I can't think of any European free agent they've signed  that turned out to be an impact player.

We're going back a ways here, but to the exact wording of your question, Borje Salming.

Well, to the exact wording, Joe said 15 years...so you're over the term.

Pay attention.

 

[bustaheims]

Panarin is quite intriguing though.  On the same team as Kovalchuk and outproducing him, 62 pts in 54 games, at age 23.  Only Radulov has more points in the league. 

His issue will be size.

Considering how stripped down the Leafs could be next season, there's definitely no harm in giving him a shot. Better than throwing an 18-20 year old kid into the lineup before they're ready.

 

[Joe S.]

I'm not saying that this can't work in the future, but haven't the Leafs had zero success with this over the last 15 years or so.

I'm just going by memory, but I can't think of any European free agent they've signed  that turned out to be an impact player.

We're going back a ways here, but to the exact wording of your question, Borje Salming.

I did say last 15 years or so... besides, I made you a babcock-jesus picture and you said nothing. Good day to you sir.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I'm not saying that this can't work in the future, but haven't the Leafs had zero success with this over the last 15 years or so.

I'm just going by memory, but I can't think of any European free agent they've signed  that turned out to be an impact player.

We're going back a ways here, but to the exact wording of your question, Borje Salming.

I did say last 15 years or so... besides, I made you a babcock-jesus picture and you said nothing. Good day to you sir.

You said "any European free agent".  If you wanted to use the 15 year stipulation of the prior one-sentence paragraph, then maybe you should have made that a two-sentence paragraph.  Writing technique, son.

I laughed heartily at Babcock-Jesus and should have told you so.  My apologies.

 

[Rebel_1812]

To be clear, I don't expect any potential European free agents to be a significant difference maker.  But it's possible and the team should be exploring all avenues for talent.  As long as expectations are kept reasonable there's no real downside to it.

Exactly. And, just because it hasn't worked out so well for the Leafs so far doesn't mean it never will. Other teams have found quality pieces at free agents in Europe. They are out there. The Leafs just need to do a better job of identifying them.

you mean like that guy they called the next daniel alfersson.  I forget the guys name because he didn't do much in the league.

 

[Joe S.]

I'm not saying that this can't work in the future, but haven't the Leafs had zero success with this over the last 15 years or so.

I'm just going by memory, but I can't think of any European free agent they've signed  that turned out to be an impact player.

We're going back a ways here, but to the exact wording of your question, Borje Salming.

I did say last 15 years or so... besides, I made you a babcock-jesus picture and you said nothing. Good day to you sir.

You said "any European free agent".  If you wanted to use the 15 year stipulation of the prior one-sentence paragraph, then maybe you should have made that a two-sentence paragraph.  Writing technique, son.

I laughed heartily at Babcock-Jesus and should have told you so.  My apologies.

That's all <sniff> I needed.... to ... hear.