A LONG ISLANDER IN TORONTO?
Leafs said to be making push for Matt Gilroy
If you believe the buzz around the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to make the biggest push for Long Islander and Boston University defenseman Matt Gilroy.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the Leafs will sign the North Bellmore product, but they may be the most determined. Toronto President and general manager Brian Burke has inherited a shallow depth chart he needs to replenish. Gilroy, 25 when he will report to some NHL team’s training camp in September, is an unrestricted free agent unbound by the league entry level salary cap. He can make as much as the highest bidder wants to offer.
One league source told Point Blank that Gilroy could command a 4-year contract for more than $1 million a year - maybe a lot more. As the source said, “At that number for a 25-year old defenseman out of college and without a day in the pros, your scouts better be right about him.”
The Islanders have kept their interest close to the vest over the last few months, but it is not a leap to include them among the more than ten teams interested in Gilroy. Team scouts have spent a lot of time this season monitoring the development of Corey Trivino, a 2008 second round pick who is a freshman center at BU. There’s no question they’ve kept an eye on the 6-2, 200-pound Gilroy in his senior season.
But it is Toronto that many league observers believe will blow Gilroy away with an offer. Trivino, Gilroy and the Terriers play their first round matchup in the NCAA Tournament against Ohio State today. The game is on ESPN2 at 5:30 pm.
After seeing two big tourney upsets Friday, BU will not take any teams lightly. Air Force defeated Michigan at the Arena at Harbor Yard, home of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Denver lost to Miami (Ohio), which is especially notable because Denver forward Tyler Bozak - a college free agent possibly in even more demand then Gilroy - is now free to sign with an NHL team.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that Bozak, who returned to game action Friday after missing three months with a knee injury, could be signed in the next few days. With Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen and possibly John Tavares or Matt Duchene as kids down the middle, do not count on the Islanders as major players for Bozak.
Comments.
47 Responses to “A LONG ISLANDER IN TORONTO?
Leafs said to be making push for Matt Gilroy”
Please Wait
At that price and the development of Gervais and Hillen coming along nicely I would pass on him.
By all accounts Bozak will be signing with a team out west.
Funny thing about this whole situation is that while i was at school I called my dad up to talk a bit of hockey and just to see how things were. First thing he mentioned to me was the potential to get three first round draft picks this year. Took me a while to get it but he was talking about this kid the story he told me was that when he was elidgable to be drafted Matt’s father took out and waited a few extra years for him to get bigger. Smart move by his father now this kid has a big time chance at being a big impact player. If the isles can pick him up consider him a good if not equal substitute for hedman.
Be great to sign either one, Princeton was less than a second a way from making four dogs out of four in today’s tournament action. Would have been great. Let’s hope that Gilroy get enough of an offer that makes him want to come home.
Another insightful article, C.B. Not sure where I stand with Gilroy.
(2) I am a fan of Gilroy but Hedman is on a different level and is 18…Hedman played in maybe the 2nd best pro league to the NHL at the age of 16. His talent and potential exceeds Gilroys bigtime.
If Hedman is Lidstrom “lite”…. I’ll take Tavares and I wouldn’t look back.
Taking a defensemen 1st overall scares the bejeezus out of me.
DOC
I’d like both signed and anyone else with the talent.
CB, what is the scouting report on Bozak’s ability to play wing vs. center?
The Islanders would be foolhardy to pass on Gilroy without making a very serious offer… but we all know the Leafs are good at offering up bad contracts.
But then again…
If Gilroy signs with the Leafs, it will be another example of a young native Long Islander leaving because we don’t have the Lighthouse.
Actually it will be an example of a young native Long Islander leaving because someone else offered him more money.
I’d rather pass on him and put the money towards another Long Islander - a proven cornerstone back there on D: Mike Komiserak
The Islanders need to be like the Mets when they signed Pedro and Beltran. They need to spend some $$$ and sign Gilroy and than go after Komiserak, even if they’re overpaying. If they show the league they’re serious, maybe some other players would sign with them
If they just watch which from the sidelines which they probably will do even with Taveras, they will have another lousy year in 2010.
One other thing a four year deal for
$1 Million is nothing considering what the other free agents will be asking. If I was Snow and I’m glad I’m not because I think he’s a buffoon (ie see the Guerin trade fiasco), if Toronto offered $1 Million I give him 1.2 Million a year…
I sure hope that Ken Morrow and Mario Saracino havehad a chance to look Gilroy over real good.
If he projects as a #2-#3 defenseman in the NHL and all it will take is a money offer reasonably big enough to land him, then donn’t let the Laffs steal him.
If we are successful in getting him, it opens up our options to draft BPA by position in the draft. We will then have our defenseman in the fold already.
The Leafs love spending money and chasing players! Howcan you pay a guy wellover a million $$$ and have zero NHL experience???
Gilroy or Komisarek but not both. If they were from anywhere else but Long Island would we be as *high* on them? I was really into the idea of having Komisarek but throwing ridiculous money his way isn’t necessary anymore now that we have seen the competenance of the Snow and Gordon program. At this stage of things I just don’t see why the Isles have to get into a bidding war for anybody. Just like draft picks, every year produces a few players that everyone lust over…none of them a total guarantee.
The Islanders scouts have to determine if Gilroy can step in right away plus he might be just a 4th-5th defenseman at the NHL level. The Islanders seem happy with Jack Hillen and who knows if Gilroy is as good as Hillen.
Are people seriously recommending we don’t sign someone because we have Hillen and Gervais? This kid has tons of potential, do what it takes to sign him and let the best man win. Same with Bozak. Is this team that stacked that we can’t add 2 more players. Last I checked Pock was still playing. Compile assets as many as you can. Let the snowman figure out which to keep and which to trade for better assets.
I think Gilroy will end up back home on Long Island when it is all said and done.
I say make a push for him. Home grown kid (PR appeal) with potential. The Isles have plenty of cap space though I don’t know how much actual $ Wang wants to tie up in contracts until the uncertainty surrounding the whole lighthouse thing settles down a bit. It sure doesn’t seem that Gilroy could demand a huge contract commitment. What’s to lose except a roster spot for Thomas “I can’t belive I’m actually on an NHL roster” Pock.
Gervais is a keeper… no matter what. He’s proved that he can be a steady player now that he’s had health and confidence.
The so-called Guerin “fiasco” has been re-hashed a million times. Garth acted prudently and with great acumen in that one. There was no “fiasco” except from some of the print media and some fans.
DOC
It would be great to get a local kid on the team especially one with talent. Is Gordon’s system fit in with Gilroy’s talents. I will leave that for the scouts. So next year as of now you have Bruno, Witt, Radex, Hillen (if resigned), Streit, Sutton, and Meyer. It also would depend on if we finish in the draft. If we pick second it is Hedman so that would be another dman to add to that group. Just keep on drafting and pick up a few talented free agents (college or reasonable nhl). Stay the course.
If the kid can play, then try for him. You can never have enough assets.
We have lots of money to spend to get to the cap floor.
Try for a stud LW, on the free agent market.
I think if the Isles sign a solid defensemen, whether it’s Gilroy or Komisarek or someone more under the radar, a solid forward and the top draft pick that they will have a very successful offseason.
Wish List (probably wont happen)
Komisarek and Gaborik.
It will never happen but the Isles are one of the only teams that could pull off Gaborik or both.
Signing a guy that is under the radar can turn out to be just as good. See Streit.
The Isles are seriously under the cap for next year so overpaying as they did for streit AT THE TIME makes sense, especially if the scouts are dead on in agreement as they were with Streit
I’m not entirely sold on Gilroy. He’s basically an overage player, that seems to work against someone like DiBenedetto, but not Gilroy. The other thing is he’s only been playing defense for four years, so I don’t see how he steps in as a #4 or #5 defenseman next year. As a couple other people have said, if he wasn’t from LI, I doubt anyone would want the Islanders to sign him. I don’t remember anyone clamoring for them to sign Hillen last year.
As I have never seen Gilroy play, Im pretty interested in watching the game today. All I’ve heard is that he’s pretty talented. I’ve been saying all year the Isles should try to sign Komi as a UFA this offseason but he’s had a horrible season. If Gilroy is as good as some people are saying, I’d rather go after him. It’s going to cost a hell of a lot less to sign him then it will be to sign Komi. My wish list:
Draft Tavares
Go after Big Time scorer ( Gaborik or Franzen )
Sign Gilroy or Komi
Then let this team play and grow up together.
Sounds good Pat… sign me up for that.
My wish list would be the same.
hey chris. how do you become a college free agent that is not able to be drafted??
to 29
thats a very good question. I wonder that to
Sean - I believe the answer to that is that his current age age makes him ineligible for the NHL Draft. Please correct me if I’m wrong, CB.
He went through the draft once before and was not drafted. So once you do not get drafted you can sign with anyone you want when you decide to turn pro. He has just improved a ton since he went through the draft
Although Gaborik or Franzen are good options, I think I’d much rather go with a proven Marian Hossa if we were trying to sign a guy to a high contract and long term. Hossa just has a special sense about him, and we know he can perform on lower level teams (see: Atlanta). I would love to have that top line winger who can score 40 goals a season, and he would look great on the right side of Tavares if we were to land him. Only wishes, obviously. Secondly, if we really want to chase a big time defenseman, go after Bouwmeester, not Komisarek. Komi is a great player, but Bouwmeester is the complete package, and his speed and intelligence would be essential. Put Bouwmeester next to Witt and Gervais next to Streit and we have a pretty solid top 4 next year. Rounding that out would be maybe Meyer and Hillen? Unsure about that still, but we will see…
Pardon me, I forgot Andy Sutton. Sutton and Hillen would be a nice pairing!
Every last one of those dollars would be coming out of the owner’s pocket. Since the Isles don’t turn a profit now, no sense getting into a bidding war with one of the most lucrative franchises (TO).
I believe Gilroy just went undrafted when he was eligible and became a free agent once he reached a certain age. Remember teams have been clamouring for him for a few years after he was draft eligible but were turned down so he could play with his brother at BU. That and of course finish school. But the real question is if we get Gilroy and Tavares, who gets to wear 91?
When Mark Streit was drafted by the Habs, that was his final year of being draft eligible. If the Habs had not drafted him then, Mark would have theoretically been in the poisiton to sign with any team that wanted him.
geezette,
I don’t agree. Offer him a very nice contract IF we think he is a worth prospect and deserves it.
If the Laffs want to outbid us fine,force them to overpay. There is the cap and then there is the cash budget. Sure they can pay the cash if it doesn’t ompact the cap too badly, but hurt them any way you can. Eff ‘em, I still hate them from the Lanny McDonald goal in 1978, let alone the 2002 goonarama series.
Question I have is if the Isles acquire another defenceman, who goes? They already have many under contract for next season. I believe Pock and Meyer are gone. Also, if the Isles can sign Komi, I would not be surprised if they try and find a taker for Sutton. He is in the final year of his $3.5 million contract.
This defence could look very good next year with a few changes.
The potential drafting of Tavares or Duchene should have no impact on the Islanders decision to pursue Bozak. He is a fast, intelligent hockey player who wins faceoffs and creates offense. However, Bozak may decide to look elsewhere if he thinks the Isles will get Tavares/Duchene. Don’t forget - the Isles can give him a few games at the end of this season, which would translate to a nice little chunk of change for Bozak. (This is what they did for Hillen last year.) Playoff teams probably aren’t offering Bozak a spot on their rosters until next season.
I’m sure the leafs will offer a lot for Gilroy, but can they give him the playing time? Kubina, Kaberel, Schenn, Finger, etc. may eat up his ice time. I hope the Isles are in the mix for the Long Island boy.
If the Leafs sign Gilroy, I believe Kubina or Kaberle will be traded to Tampa Bay. Burke took on some money at the deadline to help them out. I think Burke has a deal already in place with TB at the draft. TB needs defence. Don’t be surprised to see the teams swap picks with a defenceman going to TB.
Have kept this to myself, but with this report I’m finally going to say that I will be thrilled if the Isles DON’T pick up Gilroy. I’m the same age as Matt, and I played on a few travel teams with him in our teen years. He’s a complete *kept out for content* and it would kill me to have him on my beloved Islanders. I would never be able to cheer for him.
thanks will77, lets not get better because you have a personal gripe for years ago. let it go buddy
but in all seriousness, if we do make a play for him-it has to be under the premise that he is ready to step in and play now.
thats great he dominates college-he should, hes a man among boys. he isnt a “kid” but has to be nhl ready.
and i think as long as we are close to toronto we can be competitive, we dont have to outbid him
Lol CB, I don’t know why but this somehow reminds me of when you told us not to expect to see Bailey anytime soon and then I think it was the very next day he was in!
A) Bozak is not signing with us and while talented he has hardly played this year.
B) I think certain posters need to get a grip on what Gilroy is going to be. Anyone with past knowledge here remember the great Mike Van Ryn chase all those years ago.
4 years at possibly 1 million or more per?? Any NHL team that does that is MAD and is doing the league a disservice. If Toronto is that stupid, they can have him. I hope Garth isn’t desperate enough to do something so foolish.
So looks like Bozak signed with the Leafs and Leaf NaTION IS VERY EXCITED.
Bozak has high performance bonuses, which is most likely what Gilroy will be offered.
PLus!! - players are more inclined to sign with the Leafs because they will get quality minutes and more opportunity to play.
The Leafs have very little depth and will use everything they have.
Sorry islander Fans…But I have a feeling Gilroy will sign witht he Leafs for those reasons.
Don’t complain either!!! You know you’re getting Tavares…and he will turn your team right around. He is phenominal.