MacArthur signing, Hanson next?

When the Maple Leafs signed 25-year-old Clarke MacArthur it didn't exactly signal that their search for a top-six forward was finished. If anything, it seems like MacArthur was a back-up plan to not finding the player they wanted in a deal for Tomas Kaberle.

It's not a knock against MacArthur, it's just that a career-high 35-point forward doesn't scream 'answer' to a team desperate for a top-six left-winger.

Before they acquired MacArthur the Maple Leafs made a small deal which sent forwards Stefano Giliati and Alex Berry to Tampa Bay for defender Matt Lashoff. Lashoff is an interesting addition give the defensive dept the Maple Leafs have, but he'll be a positive addition to the Marlies (given that's where he ends up). The deal opened up a contract spot so the Maple Leafs could add MacArthur the following day.

To his credit, MacArthur has increased his point totals each season and has been a consistent goal scorer over the last two seasons with 17 and 16 goals respectively while playing third line minutes. It's not a stretch to see MacArthur hit 20-goals this year if he sees a top-six role and power-play time with the Maple Leafs.

On a one-year term, and for 1.1m it isn't a huge issue if MacArthur doesn't work out. If he does, well then the Maple Leafs have a choice to keep him around or move him at the deadline. Unfortunately for a player like Luca Caputi this likely means he'll likely start the year with the farm team which isn't a bad spot for a young power-forward to develop (even if he's already had two strong years in the AHL).

Hanson close to a deal?

James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail tweets:

Leafs GM Brian Burke says there has been some progress on a deal for Christian Hanson. He believes he will be signed before training camp.

Hanson seems like the ideal candidate to take a 4th line center spot this year. While he was a productive AHL forward, it doesn't seem as if Hanson has the natural ability to a be a top-six forward. With his size and skating ability he should be a good bottom-six banger. Although he may not be expected to score, he'll need to produce a bit more then he did last year scoring only 2 goals in 31 games.

D'Amigo signs three-year entry-level contract with Maple Leafs

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Wednesday that the club has agreed to terms on a three-year entry level contract with forward Jerry D’Amigo (pronounced dah-MEE-goh).

“We’ve been very pleased with Jerry’s progression over the past 12 months,” said Burke. “Seth Appert and the rest of the coaching staff at R.P.I. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) have done a really nice job of preparing Jerry for the next stage in his development. We look forward to having him at training camp.”

Link

This kid has been a standout, and one of the more recognizable prospects over the last hockey year.

While I'm not expecting him to make the Maple Leafs, heck I wasn't expecting him to leave RPI until next season, he should have a good chance of being a solid contributor with the Marlies. I don't think he'll light the league on fire, but there's no reason (with the added depth) that he can't be someone who scores in the 40pt range which to me would be very respectable from a 19-year-old in his first year playing vs. men.

He is eligible to play in the OHL, but given he's made it public that he has no intentions of playing for Kitchener, I think the Maple Leafs will leave him playing in either the AHL or NHL.

Can he make the NHL squad? I'm not sure, but there's a reason the Maple Leafs signed him this year and it's because they think he at least has some chance of making it. He's a player with a high hockey IQ, and now his skills seem to be catching up to his brains. He's added approximately 15lbs of muscle which should also aid in his transition to the NHL. I like to compare him to a Jamie Langenbrunner type of player - not flashy, but fast and a multi-purpose forward who's at his best when the games are on the line. Langenbrunner is a guy who in his prime was a 50-60 pt player for New Jersey, even last year he put up very good numbers at the ripe old age of 35.

If D'Amigo can have the career that Langenbrunner has had, I think the Maple Leafs are getting a player that will be vital to future success.

Maple Leafs Top 20, Fall 2010

The Maple Leafs Top 20 for Fall 2010 is now published over at Hockey's Future!

Nazem Kadri remains top prospect for Toronto Maple Leafs

In the fall edition of the Maple Leafs' top-20, Nazem Kadri remains the top prospect in a group that includes eight new faces. Jussi Rynnas and Ben Scrivens join Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer to form a solid group of goaltending prospects. The biggest change is perhaps at forward, where the Maple Leafs have continued to stockpile scoring wingers.


1. (1) Nazem Kadri – 8.0 C
2. (2) Jonas Gustavsson – 8.0 C
3. (3) Tyler Bozak – 7.0 B
4. (4) Carl Gunnarsson – 7.0 B
5. (NR) Jussi Rynnas – 7.5 C
6. (NR) Luca Caputi – 7.0 C
7. (NR) Brad Ross – 7.0 C
8. (11) Jerry D’Amigo – 7.0 C
9. (6) Keith Aulie – 7.0 C
10. (9) James Reimer – 7.0 C
11. (8) Jesse Blacker – 7.0 C
12. (NR) Greg McKegg – 7.0 C
13. (10) Christian Hanson – 6.5 B
14. (NR) Marcel Mueller – 6.5 C
15. (16) Juraj Mikus – 6.5 C
16. (17) Korbinian Holzer – 6.5 C
17. (NR) Ben Scrivens – 6.5 C
18. (15) Kenny Ryan – 6.5 C
19. (NR) Brayden Irwin – 6.5 C
20. (NR) Sondre Olden – 7.5 D

The rest of the article can be seen here