When in doubt, go for clout.

Unable to revive his old connections with the Sedin Twins or defenseman Mattias Ohlund—despite a personal mission to Sweden—Toronto general manager Brian Burke used the first day of NHL free agency to make the Leafs tougher.

He signed defenseman Mike Komisarek from the rival Montreal Canadiens, enforcer forward Colton Orr from the New York Rangers and traded skill defenseman Pavel Kubina along with minor league forward Tim Stapleton to the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Garnet Exelby and minor-leaguer Colin Stuart.

Komisarek, Orr and Exelby represent more than 400 penalty minutes last season alone. Komisarek is the key, with 58 points last year as well as a commanding presence on the blueline to go with rookie Luke...]]> Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:21:46 PDT nhl urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,sportsxchange:20080101:nhl,article,teamreports-2009-nhl-tor:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nhl/SIG=13jpnrme8/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Jackets-Nash-end-intense-negotiation-with-block?urn=nhl,174680 The Columbus Blue Jackets and star winger Rick Nash have agreed on an eight-year, $62.4 million contract... Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:51:49 PDT nhl urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,yhoo:20050301:nhl,article,yhoo-ept_sports_nhl_experts-174680:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nhl/SIG=13jb9jb2t/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Daddy-s-2009-Free-Agent-Frenzy-Report-Card?urn=nhl,174674 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:11:06 PDT nhl urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,yhoo:20050301:nhl,article,yhoo-ept_sports_nhl_experts-174674:1 Mikhail Grabovski has signed an $8.7 million, three-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Belorussian forward who reached agreement on Thursday with Toronto had 20 goals and 48 points in 78 games last season, both ranked fourth on the Maple Leafs. In 105 career NHL games with Montreal and Toronto, he has 23 goals and 57 points. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:41:51 PDT nhl urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:nhl,article,ap-mapleleafs-grabovski:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nhl/SIG=13j85d1m0/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Antropov-joins-Kovy-in-Atlanta-defensemen-myste?urn=nhl,174406 Some thoughts and notes on Day 2 of the Free Agent Frenzy. Remember to check out our Puck Daddy Chatter Box for... Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:43:22 PDT nhl urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,yhoo:20050301:nhl,article,yhoo-ept_sports_nhl_experts-174406:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nhl/SIG=13kbje3o3/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Accepting-Brashear-something-Rangers-fans-not-re?urn=nhl,174390 When the New York Rangers lost tough guy Colton Orr to the Toronto Maple Leafs, there was opening for someone... Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:31:16 PDT nhl urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,yhoo:20050301:nhl,article,yhoo-ept_sports_nhl_experts-174390:1 Just when the slowing global economy figured to put a crimp in spending for NHL free agents, Marian Hossa hit the open market again. And instead of taking a discount on a one-year deal to take a shot at a Stanley Cup title, Hossa cashed in a megadeal with the up-and-coming Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:05:04 PDT nhl urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:nhl,article,ap-freeagent-rdp:1 AP

The Atlanta Thrashers found help for their porous defense, acquiring defenseman Pavel Kubina from Toronto in a four-player trade Wednesday night. The Thrashers traded defenseman Garnet Exelby and forward Colin Stuart to the Maple Leafs for Kubina, a former All-Star, and forward Tim Stapleton. The Thrashers gave up 280 goals last season, the second-highest figure in the NHL, behind Toronto's...