The mere thought of the first time Cammalleri slipped through Leaf fingers makes the Richmond Hill native – who grew up a Leaf fan – chuckle.
"Aki Berg," Cammalleri said over the phone from Chicago where the Habs played Friday night.
The Leafs traded a second-round pick in 2001 to the Los Angeles Kings for Berg, a middling defenceman at best. With the pick, the Kings chose Cammalleri, a 5-foot-9 centre who emerged as a point-a-game player.
"It said on the draft board, `L.A. from Toronto,'" Cammalleri recalled. "It was just the draft, so it's not like I was ever (Toronto) property, but obviously there was a lot that appealed to me about playing in Toronto."
Traded to Calgary last season when he had 39 goals and 43 assists in 81 games, he became an unrestricted free agent over the summer. It was believed by many – including Cammalleri – he was just the kind of top-six forward the Leafs needed this season.
"I was at the ACC on July 1 and met with Dave Nonis," Cammalleri said. "We talked."
The Leafs spent the day pursuing Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin. Cammalleri, just 27, ended up with Montreal on a five-year, $30 million (all figures U.S.) contract.
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Re: Habs sniper Cammalleri could have been a Leaf (Score: 1) by leafmeister(ottawasenators@willneverwinthecup.com) on Sunday, November 01 @ 08:20:46 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
For 6 mil? No thank you.
Also I am officially not worried about Kessel not having a set up man. It doesnt matter who plays centre with him, because every power play he will be playing with the league leader in assists. Who needs Savard when youve got Kaberle?
Re: Habs sniper Cammalleri could have been a Leaf (Score: 1) by mojo19 on Sunday, November 01 @ 10:46:51 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
All last season, looking ahead to July 1st Mike Cammalleri was the #1 guy I was hoping the Leafs would sign. I can't believe when they said yesterday he actually was at the ACC on July 1. I wish we had him
And ya Montreal's offer of $6 million probably blew away the other offers so you can't really blame a guy for going where the money is, but so far he's playing like he's worth those dollars, he's the only real threat on Montreal from the 3 or 4 games I've seen the habs play. He's dangerous and he generates a lot of offense.
Re: Habs sniper Cammalleri could have been a Leaf (Score: 1) by mojo19 on Sunday, November 01 @ 10:51:45 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
I would trade Mike Komisarek in an inter-league trade with Finland to bring back Aki Berg right now.
Re: Habs sniper Cammalleri could have been a Leaf (Score: 1) by leafshockey(18000000@gmail.com) on Sunday, November 01 @ 11:41:05 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
Burkie has got to be shopping Finger. Finger has been a 3.5 million dollar scratch, and even when he does play, he's not worth it. So do you guys think Finger will be traded sooner or later, or simply waived?
Re: Habs sniper Cammalleri could have been a Leaf (Score: 1) by cam7777 on Sunday, November 01 @ 11:57:30 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
I feel like the Leafs need to make a trade this week for a player to accompany Kessel, and really give them a shot in the arm. It would take the pressure off of Kessel to be the savior, and hopefully also provide some added spark at 5 on 5.
I don't know who Burke would go after though, or even who's expendable anymore. As soon as you think guys are starting to establish themselves as trade bait (grabovski), and others are becoming potential resigns (stajan), everything turns around and the guys that sucked are awesome and the guys that were awesome are sucking.
I do think that Tlusty should go back down to the minors if Wilson isn't going to play him. It's doing nothing for his confidence to play 10 minutes a game next to Matt Stajan. What this team could really use is some natural injury call-ups for Tlusty, Bozak, Stalberg, or Hanson. I think they'd fare better being called up to actually replace offense, and being handed responsibility, rather than being expected to just compliment the likes of stajan.
Re: Habs sniper Cammalleri could have been a Leaf (Score: 1) by leafy on Sunday, November 01 @ 12:49:01 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
Some comments about Aki Berg:
After joining the Leafs in 2001, Berg was actually pretty good. He helped solidify the Leafs defence that spring....Yuskevic, Markov, Kaberle, McCabe, and Berg (I hated Cory Cross).
That year, the Leafs rolled to a 4 game sweep over Ottawa and almost knocked off powerhouse New Jersey.
But then after, I don't know why, Berg's play slowly slipped. He is now the poster boy of underachieving Leafs.
Re: Habs sniper Cammalleri could have been a Leaf (Score: 1) by Kramer on Sunday, November 01 @ 16:53:18 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
I like Montreal's new jail uniforms.
Re: Habs sniper Cammalleri could have been a Leaf (Score: 1) by HABSSTAR(loserleafs@hotmail.com) on Monday, November 02 @ 10:57:39 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
Toronto should have signed him. They would have been able to keep their picks. He would have probably come at a discount for them too.
