The Toronto Maple Leafs signed two of their four restricted free agents today, inking Clarke MacArthur to a two-year, $6.5 million deal and Tyler Bozak to a two year deal (terms have not been released yet). The two remaining RFA’s are defensemen Matt Lashoff, who is eligible for salary arbitration, and Luke Schenn, who is not eligible for salary arbitration. Lashoff looks to be the odd man out on the Maple Leafs blueline. If (and it’s a big “if”) Lashoff is resigned by Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, look for it to be a two-way contract in the $750,000 range. According to capgeek.com, the Maple Leafs have a total of 20 players locked up for the 2011-12 season at a cost of $55,665,000, leaving Burke with $8,635,000 with which to fill out his roster. These numbers do not

Just hours away from having to go to salary arbitration for the second straight summer, Clarke MacArthur signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. MacArthur’s signing solidifies the Maple Leafs second unit which includes Mikhail Grabovski, Nikolai Kulemin and the aforementioned MacArthur. MacArthur had a career high 62 points (21 goals) last season, as did Grabovski and Kulemin who had 58 points (29 goals) and 57 points (30 goals), respectively. The trio of misfits were one of the NHL’s most effective second units, combining for a total of 80 goals, 177 points and a plus/minus rating of plus-18. Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke said all along that he would not overpay for a player he deemed had only put together one good season. That said, with time ticking away and few options available via

Rumors. They can start up at the flick of a few keys on the keyboard and, in most cases; there is absolutely nothing to them. Reports have surfaced that Jeff Carter was unhappy at being blindsided by the Philadelphia Flyers when he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. While Carter has not said he is disappointed in his destination, there are some whispers out there that Carter would consider a move if Columbus offered. Carter’s agent Rick Curran met with the Flyers prior to the trade and was assured there was no truth to the rumors that Carter was on the move. Curran negotiated an 11-year, $58 million deal with the Flyers that was to see Carter remain a Flyer for life. Needless to say, when you consider Carter negotiated his deal in good faith and then was later

In between making appearances in Afghanistan and the Pride Parade Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke has been busy attempting to improve the Blue and White. Thus far, Burke has added centre Tim Connolly, forward Matthew Lombardi and defenseman Cody Franson via free agency and veteran defenseman John-Michael Liles via trade. While none of Burke’s acquisitions add up to a Brad Richards signing, there is reason to believe the Maple Leafs have been upgraded, at least on paper. Don’t get me wrong, with Lombardi and Connolly’s health concerns both players could end up on the shelf for parts of the season, that said, if these two guys manage to play the better part of the 82-game season the Leafs should show considerable improvement up front. As a member of the Buffalo Sabres, Connolly earned a 45.9% success rate in

All the hoopla over Brian Burke visiting troops in Afghanistan doesn’t seem to be hurting the Toronto Maple Leafs’ chances of landing a couple of pieces to their 2011-12 roster. Saturday, Brian Burke and the Maple Leafs signed free agent centre Tim Connolly to a two-year, $9.5 million deal, Today, Burke and Company acquired centre Matthew Lombardi and defenseman Cody Franson from the Nashville Predators in return for defenseman Brett Lebda and forward/prospect Robert Slaney. The deal also calls for the Maple Leafs to give up a fourth round draft choice contingent upon Lombardi playing 60 or more games over the next two seasons. The Predators will give the Maple Leafs a fourth rounder should Lombardi fail to play 60 or more games. Signed as a free agent by the Nashville Predators last summer, Lombardi suffered an early season concussion,

Having lost out to the New York Rangers in the Brad Richards sweepstakes the Toronto Maple Leafs signed free agent centre Tim Connolly to a two-year, $9.5 million contract. While Maple Leaf prospects Nazem Kadri and Joe Colborne appear to represent the Maple Leafs future down the middle, Brian Burke and Company are hoping Connolly can fill the gap until the two youngsters are ready to assume the first line centre duties—that is if Burke fails to land another centre via the trade route. Connolly, who is known as a set-up man, notched 13 goals and 42 points through 68 games with the rival Buffalo Sabres. Injuries, including back, hip, groin and nasal issues, have taken their toll on Connolly, limiting his games played and overall numbers. In ten NHL seasons Connolly has had few seasons in which he played