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Bruce Bennett

The number of potential routes in free agency for the Toronto Maple Leafs is as numerous as the possibilities the Leafs investigated at the NHL entry draft last weekend.

At the top of the Leafs' wish list are Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Leafs general manager Brian Burke engineered a nifty manoeuvre when he was at the helm of the Vancouver Canucks to obtain both of them at the 1999 NHL draft and he would like nothing more than to lasso the Swedes for two-thirds of his top line to accelerate his renovation in Toronto.

But, like the rest of the hockey world, the Leafs were waiting to find out whether the Sedins were going to reject or accept the Canucks' last-ditch offer.

After the Sedins' scenario plays out, Burke will turn his attention to toughness. The Leafs GM and his scouting staff spent the second day of the NHL entry draft fortifying the organization with strength, size and toughness. But these kids will not be ready for the big leagues for two or three years.

"It shows our commitment to toughness," Burke said. "I can say with certain confidence that we're going to take similar strides on July 1."

Among the players the Leafs will target when the free-agent period opens its doors at noon ET today are unrestricted free agents Travis Moen, Chris Neil and Colton Orr. Orr would give the Leafs a heavyweight fighter that Burke desires. A 27-year-old native of Winnipeg, Orr fought 18 times with the New York Rangers last season.

Neil, 30, is a tough customer who has 1,298 penalty minutes in 511 games with the Ottawa Senators. But the native of Flesherton, Ont., had 16- and 12-goal seasons in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

Knee and leg injuries, however, hampered him the past two seasons, and he checked in with only 12 goals in 128 games. Neil, who scored just three times this past season, has turned down a $1.7-million (U.S.) a season offer with the Senators.

Moen, of Stewart Valley, Sask., was part of the stingy checking line that helped Burke's Anaheim Ducks win the 2006-07 Stanley Cup. He was dealt to the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline last March, and went pointless in San Jose's six playoff games.

There also was word around the NHL yesterday that Burke had interest in defenceman Mattias Ohlund, a circumstance that would likely be elevated if the Toronto GM receives an offer that would "blow his doors off" enough to trade veteran blueliner Tomas Kaberle.

If the Sedins aren't available and the Ohlund possibility doesn't materialize, a fallback plan for Burke would be to sign local product Mike Cammalleri. The former University of Michigan standout is coming off his best season with 39 goals.

Meanwhile, the Leafs, Sharks, Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche were informed by Swedish free-agent goalie Jonas Gustavsson that he will take a few more days to decide which club on his shortlist will win his services for next season. The 24-year-old netminder prefers to see what talent these teams add to their respective lineups in the early stages of unrestricted free agency before deciding.

If Gustavsson turns down the Leafs, Toronto would likely re-sign Martin Gerber or look at the cost of acquiring Anaheim Ducks goalie Jean-Sébastien Giguère in the summer.

Meanwhile, the Leafs made qualifying offers to Mikhail Grabovski and minor leaguers Darryl Boyce, Alex Foster, Ryan Hamilton, Justin Pogge and Tim Stapleton to keep the group of six restricted free agents. This means Toronto Marlies' Andre Deveaux, Jay Harrison, Ryan Hollweg, Erik Reitz, Andy Rogers, Jaime Sifers and Jeremy Williams are free to sign with another team this summer or re-sign with the Leafs organization.

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