Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Ed Belfour...Comments

[Meestermike]

JUST ANNOUNCED.

 

[Meestermike]

Leafs replace Cujo with Belfour
(Jul 2) tsn.ca - The Toronto Maple Leafs have moved quickly to replace departed goaltender Curtis Joseph. TSN has learned that the Leafs have signed his Olympic teammate Ed Belfour, who was also an unrestricted free agent.

TSN has learned that it's a two-yer deal, with incentives that could add a third year.

The signing will be made official at a 2pm et news conference in Toronto.

The 37-year-old Belfour played the last five seasons in Dallas, and won the Stanley Cup with the Stars in 1999.

Belfour has a 364-242-100 record in his NHL career, which started in 1988-89 with the Chicago Blackhawks. He was traded to the San Jose Sharks at the end of the 1996-97 season and then signed as a free agent with the Stars.

Belfour had a reputation as a poor playoff goalie until he reversed that trend in Dallas. His overall record in the playoffs is 79-57 and his 2.13 goals against average in the postseason is significantly lower than his career regular season mark of 2.47. His save percentage in the playoffs (.920) is also better than in the regular season (.905).

Belfour has won many accolades over the years. After a stand-out NCAA career, he won the IHL and NHL rookie of the year awards in consecutive seasons. He is a two-time winner of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL?s top goalie and has posted the league?s top goals against average three times.

He is not, however, without warts. Belfour had a tough time last season with a poor team in front of him in Dallas. He was 21-27-11 and his .895 save percentage was his worst effort in 10 seasons.

Known as ?Crazy Eddie? for obvious reasons, he had at least a couple of run-ins with former Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock, and was suspended after a very public outburst led to his arrest in January 2001.

According to police reports, Belfour spit and kicked at officers, who used pepper spray to subdue him. While being taken to jail, the goaltender offered $100,000 for officers to let him go, then upped it to $1 billion.

He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest and was placed on two years' probation, fined $3,000 and ordered to visit two area high schools to warn about alcohol abuse. He also was enrolled in the NHL's substance-abuse program.

The Maple Leafs were in need of a starting goaltender after Joseph opted to sign a free agent contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.

 

[pwine]

I love that the Leafs saved a lot of money by signing Belfour and may have some left over to get a goal scorer or a defenceman.

I really liked Joseph but he really must hate Quinn to have left as he seemed very choked up at his news confrence and looked like he hated to leave.

The leafs played very well in front of Schwab for 2 months last year and I think a change will do them good. I heard Domi got an offer of 3 Million from Boston so he is gone (He is not worth half that) so it looks like a new Leaf team next year and hopefully will get them past the Semis.

 

[cooz3]

i understand the economics of the situation...but the leafs are going from an upper echelon goaltender when healthy to a goalie who is extremely tempermental....and unstable...and in my opinion may very well be DONE...i wouldnt be surprised in the least if Schwaab beats him outright for the position or at some point during the season when the leafs are fed up with this guys antics ..schwaab gets the starting job..cooz

 

[Terryray]

Yeah, with Eddie fighting for a starter spot on Canadian team, he may put up decent numbers for a year or two. That maybe all they are hoping for.

check out his website. It's hilarious!......www.belfour.com

 

[Terryray]

tried to get image of Eddie with his Mopar, but haint figured it out yet....

got it!

 

[Frogy]

FUNNY STUFF TERRYRAY
AND I LOVE THE..................
I will proudly be wearing the maple leaf for at least the next 2 years............................

but once they stop paying me i wont give a shit about them.
good luck toronto

 

[kickserv]

Yes I have a comment:

Fu**


that pretty well sums it all up!