tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Nonis Gets It Right

Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Dave Nonis refused to mortgage his team's future by going after Roberto Luongo and was not able to get a deal done with Miikka Kiprusoff but he added some much needed depth on the blue line by acquiring Ryan O'Byrne from the Colorado Avalanche for a fourth round pick in 2014. O'Byrne is a tough stay at home defense man who will be a perfect pairing with either John-Michael Liles, Jake Gardiner and Mike Kostka. O'Byrne is also a very good penalty killer and should really help an already vastly improved PK unit. He also has playoff experience which should help the likes of Kostka and Gardiner.

By adding O'Byrne, Coach Randy Carlyle can really spot when he wants to use his two young defense man. This was the type of move that I had hoped Nonis would make: adding depth to the defense corps. O'Byrne is not a Norris Trophy candidate but he is the type of defense man who will fill fit nicely in Randy Carlyle's system. With respect to Kiprusoff, based upon what Nonis said at his press conference, the Calgary goalie had personal considerations which prevented a deal from getting done. It was clear that Kiprusoff would have come to Toronto as a mentor and he was excited about that role. But in the end, he did not want to make a commitment that he couldn't keep and for that Kiprusoff is to be respected.

As far as Luongo goes, the Canucks goaltender is clearly frustrated as he realizes that his ridiculous contract term is what has held up any trade. As a result, until Vancouver General Manager Mike Gillis comes down on his ridiculous demands, the Canucks will have nearly $10 million tied up in goalies. Better them than the Leafs.

Nonis made it clear in his press conference that the Leafs would not mortgage the future nor put themselves in cap hell. The Leaf GM gets it and with that philosophy Leaf Nation may have something good going for the next several years.