3 Top 2011 NHL Free Agents that can help Leafs win the Stanley Cup within two years

Maple Leafs may look at Richards, Leino, Upshall ... and Bryzgalov

Brad Richards - He'll be 31 on May 2nd yet Richards remains at the top of his game, one of the world's premier centres. Burke wants to win now and Richards has two to three more years as a number one centre and a few more after that as 2nd line centre and a role payer, so a four or five year deal for 30 or 35 mil is not out of the question.


Ville Leino - Playoff hero for Philly last Spring when he scored 21 points in 19 playoff games, his 49 points so far this year come with some impressive kickers, such as Plus 14 (47th in league), and 15.5% shooting percentage (56th in league), with his 32 assists putting him 61st in the NHL. The Flyers will likely go 8 or 9 mil for three years if they can afford it, so the Leafs or another bidder may have to go 10 mil for 3 years of 15 mil for 4. This would put him in the range of Kulemin, Grabovski and MacArthur, and just under Kessel, so he could be a good signing.


Scottie Upshall - His 20 goals rank him 75th in the NHL right now, and as a physical 27 year old, fits the Leafs style. Could be crucial to get someone like Scottie if MacArthur decides to bolt, though it seems likely he will stay.



Brian Burke can afford to sign all three, which would make the 2011-2012 training camp the most exciting in a decade.



Goaltending - The Leafs need to sign Giguere or another proven NHL goalie to be a backup / challenger to Reimer, then trade Gustavsson to a team that will give him a fair, fresh chance, possibly getting a goalie who has worn out his welcome in another town in return. With Reimer being a young number one and there being no clear number two, we need to go into camp with at least three proven NHL goaltenders, unless Burke manages to also sign free agent goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.

Bryzgalov and Reimer...