MAPLE LEAFS TUCKER, RAYCROFT & WELLWOOD AS GOOD AS GONE

by Mike Jack, Staff Writer

Earlier today (June 24, 2008), the Toronto Maple Leafs placed center, Kyle Wellwood and goaltender, Andrew Raycroft on waivers. TSN has also just reported that the Leafs have told winger, Darcy Tucker of their intentions to buy him out. These are just some of the many steps the Leafs have taken and will most likely continue to make as they’ve promised to rebuild the team that has, for the first time in team history, missed the play-offs for three consecutive seasons.

For Raycroft, this is likely the first step to buying out his contract. He is an obvious candidate for a buyout after recording only two wins in 19 games last season. He’s scheduled to make $2.2 million next season. There will now be a 24 hour period where any NHL team can claim Raycroft off waivers. If Raycroft is not claimed, the Leafs can either assign him to their farm team, The Toronto Marlies, put him on re-entry waivers where they’d be responsible for half of his salary if he’s claimed, or buy out his contract making them pay out 2/3 of his contract over two seasons. If the Leafs do decide to place Raycroft on the Marlies, his $2.2 million won’t count towards their salary cap.

Many Leafs fans may be surprised that Wellwood will mostly likely not be with the team next season. You may think a rebuilding team would be interested in keeping a 25 year-old who scored 42 points in 48 games in 2006-07 and was once touted to hold the position of the team’s second-line center. However, Wellwood has missed 56 games in the last two seasons mostly due to a sports hernia. Odds are the Leafs doubt the 5’10,” 180lbs forward will ever recover. The team may also be impatient with injury prone players since leading the league in “man-games-lost-to-injury” during the 2006-07 season. Wellwood is currently a restricted free agent, but if he’s not claimed on waivers and not presented a qualifying offer of 105% of last season’s salary, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.

Since Tucker has a no movement clause, the Leafs won’t be able to put him on waivers. His contract will be bought out and he’ll become an unrestricted free agent. Tucker was a hard-nosed fan favourite in Toronto much like Wendel Clark and Tie Domi. Tucker has had trouble with his knees causing him to see only 56 games in 2006-07 and his scoring pace slowed in 2007-08 to just 34 points in 74 games. The Leafs must pay Tucker $1 million for each of the next six seasons.

It still remains to be seen whether or not they’ll buy out the contract of Bryan McCabe. Many have anticipated the buying out of McCabe, but it appears that the Leafs are unwilling to take the large cap hit that would be required over the next six seasons.

The only official buy out so far has the Ottawa Senators buying out the contract of goaltender Ray Emery. The Los Angeles Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning have also placed goalies on waivers. The Kings have tried to buy out Dan Cloutier, but they may not be able to because Cloutier claims he is injured and therefore ineligible for a buy out. Lightning goalie, Marc Denis has been placed on waivers and is eligible for a buy out tomorrow if unclaimed.