Hawks and Habs Pre-Game

The Blackhawks and Canadiens will battle it out tonight in a matchup that features some former teammates. Carey Price, who skated alongside Johnathan Toews in the World Juniors, will get the nod in net for the Habs, while the former Red, Blue and White, Cristobal Huet, will get the start for the Blackhawks.

Montreal needs the win tonight to stay ahead of the Sabres and Panthers who are creeping up on them for the 8th seed. Any point tonight for the Habs will also knock off the Maple Leafs officially from post-season contention - a feat the Leafs pulled on the Habs just 2 seasons ago. Montreal is just 1 point ahead of the 9th placed Panthers, but they do have a game on hand; a game they need to put to good use tonight against the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks, on the other hand, are currently tied in points (91) with the 5th placed Vancouver Canucks, with a game on hand as well. They, too, will look to put it to good use tonight and maintain a position of home-ice advantage in the playoffs. Their recent game against the Canucks was a physical and emotional game that saw a lot of frustration from both sides and a few fights.

If the playoffs were to start today, the Hawks would face Vancouver in the first round, while Montreal would meet Boston - their first round original six rivals from last year's post-season, but instead of the Habs on top, it would be the Bruins.

It's starting to shape up for some great first round series'. I, for one, am counting the days.

You can follow the liveblog with me, tonight, on The Score. Tune in for some great hockey discussion, a great game, and a whole lot of awesome.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Calgary, We Have a Problem...

Actually, the Calgary Flames have several problems at the moment. Add that to the fact that they only have eight, count 'em, eight games left to stave off the Vancouver Canucks for the Northwest division crown and somehow get their game rounded into playoff form. If they fail at those tasks and manage to be "one and done" in the playoffs (again), you can bet that irate Flames fans will make sure The Red Mile literally lives up to it's name. The road ahead will be bumpy and will need the Flames to get several things in order to become a serious playoff threat again.

Special Teams

The most disappointing aspect of the Flames' game in recent weeks. Just two months ago, Calgary had a top seven powerplay. Now it is ranked 18th and is the lowest amongst division leaders. It's as if the Flames are taking the opportunity to rest and are not working hard to get the puck in the net. David Moss has been highly effective on the PP for the Flames while in front of the net, but he has seen his time cut for whatever reason. The Flames went 0-for-12 on the PP in their last two games, including time with four minute powerplays and on the 5-on-3. There have also been rumours that the Flames almost never practice the PP, and that is no way to win in the playoffs.

The penalty kill is ranked 5th in the NHL, but the horrifying stat here is that the Flames have given up a league high 13 shorthanded goals. The communication between players on the PK is obviously a problem for the Flames. Looking at these stats, it's plain to see the Flames are missing Rene Bourque pretty badly.

Defense

When you have one of the best defensive corps in the NHL on paper, why is it that the Flames are losing games with as many as 8 goals against? For most of the season, Calgary's defense was feared throughout the league as tough, fast and smart. However, the system employed earlier has all but completely fallen apart. They are losing position on their assigned players, not skating, failing at getting pucks to the net and are giving up far too many odd man rushes. Assistant coach Jim Playfair has to reel his guys in and get them to play smart hockey again. It's really as simple as that. Until then, they're the Swiss Cheese Brigade, porous as the American-Mexican border.

Goaltending

The Flames are lucky to have one of the best goaltenders of this decade between the pipes in Miikka Kiprusoff, and he's almost always between the pipes. Chances are the Finn will play in 77 of the 82 Flames games this season. Now, I'm not saying this is a problem because Kipper is subject to being over worked or becoming tired, he's not. The coaching staff and Miikka have a terrific system in place that lets Kipper get all the rest he needs and for him to stay in game-ready shape at almost all times. While Kipper hasn't been playing his best hockey lately, he is hardly losing hockey games single-handedly. Although he's also not giving the Flames the best chance to win every night consistently. The man has won 42 games this season, and will probably tie or fall just short of Martin Brodeur's single season wins record of 48.

The real problem is in the back-up position and Curtis McElhinney or, as many affectionately (or maybe not) refer to him, Curtis McAHLinney. The kid is now 0-6-1 this season and has never won an NHL game. He is not a suitable NHL back-up and the team just can't seem to play in front of him. At the beginning of the season, Curtis wouldn't accept anything less than a one way deal, and the Flames gave it to him for a one year term. As it became clear later in the season that the position was a problem, there were cries for Darryl Sutter to try and bring in a capable back-up before the NHL trading deadline. He didn't do that and now the Flames must approach the playoffs with McElhinney the only option if Kiprusoff can't play. In that case, the Flames are surely doomed.

The only good news here is that Curtis becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and Sutter is not going to re-sign him, perhaps in favor of tracking down another UFA goaltender such as Ty Conklin, Scott Clemmensen, Craig Anderson or Wade Dubielewicz.

Coaching

Mike Keenan is an interesting subject. When his big name players are struggling, he doesn't punish them with reduced ice time, he demands they work harder, and will do almost anything to get that point across. Although Dion Phaneuf isn't playing his best hockey, Keenan still has number 3 on the ice for a team high 26:33 a game. Keenan also likes to juggle his line combinations. Usually, the players accept this as a simple fact of life under Iron Mike, but lately, it may be a harmful practice. With new additions due to trade and due to injury, the players haven't been able to establish a solid rhythm with their line mates and really begin to develop some chemistry.

He has also tightened his grip on Kiprusoff's leash as of late, pulling him five times in the month of March. Kipper was left well enough alone during of the regular season, but now Keenan seems adamant on sending a message to Kiprusoff. The problem is, he is often pulled early or when he doesn't deserve it. Even for a cool character like Kiprusoff, that has to get under your skin and rattle your confidence a bit. It also gives McElhinney the chance to let in a soft goal or two or three or four, as is often the case. At that point, you aren't inspiring the players to play better, you're telling them that defeat is around the corner.

There have also been a couple of cases of just flat out poor decision making. I point to the Toronto game when Calgary lost to the Buds 8-6. Keenan pulled the goalie for the extra attacker with over two minutes left, and the Flames managed to make the game 7-6. It was clear Calgary had all the momentum and seemed destined to tie the game. However, Keenan pulls the goalie with over 1:30 left and a bad hop over a stick results in a Maple Leafs empty net goal when you really didn't need the extra attacker. Unless you hadn't tied it with about 30 seconds to go, the goalie shouldn't have been yanked.

Leadership and Star Players

Jarome Iginla and Robyn Regehr are the leaders of the Calgary Flames both on the ice and in the dressing room. Lately, the players seem to have become disjointed, and the identity of the team muddled. It is clear that both Jarome has had his role on the team adjusted with the new additions to the team and the emergence of role players like Curtis Glencross, Dustin Boyd, David Moss and Rene Bourque. The new guys have added a desperately needed secondary scoring punch, but for the first time in recent history, Iginla doesn't have to be the most important Flame on the ice all of the time. How this affects Iginla may be showing up in his play and his statistics. He is a minus player more often than not lately and has now not scored a point in 28 of the 74 games played so far. You used to be able to count on Iginla to get that big goal, but he is slowly shrinking from that duty.

With the additions of Olli Jokinen and Michael Cammalleri, along with Iginla, the Flames now have three star players who love to shoot the puck, and it's beginning to hurt the statistics of all three players. Cammalleri is leading the team with 36 goals, but has been very streaky in his last few games. Iginla is usually paired with Jokinen, and has seen his shot count go down, but his missed shot total go up. Jokinen scored 8 goals in his first 6 games with his new club, but has failed to produce since then. Dion Phaneuf is having an off year, he is a minus 13 and has struggled producing goals with only 11. Your best players have to be your best players, and right now, the Flames aren't getting that.

The Little Things

Watching the Flames lately can be like watching a circus. They have strayed so far from structured hockey at times that you wish somebody would get out the ruler and start slapping wrists. Short, ineffective passes that end up in the recipient's skates, lead feet that has them being beaten to almost every loose puck, the dreaded blue line turnover, weak play on the boards resulting in loss of possession, players being too aggressive and losing position in order to try and make the big hit, high numbers of missed shots that result in the puck clearing the offensive zone or a turnover, horrible face-off percentages. The list goes on and on, and the little things become big things when you're stumbling this badly.

The Bottom Line

The Flames are good. Scary good. They have an offense capable of burying chance after chance, a defense that can physically dominate the opposition and effectively quarterback the offensive zone and a goaltender that is capable of throwing up the brick wall and making the big save when it's called for. They have also been decimated by injury, effectively having their entire second line wiped out at the same time. Daymond Langkow is back from a hand injury, but is playing at around 40%. The man can't even shoot the puck. Bertuzzi has drawn back into the line-up after having arthoscopic knee surgery just three weeks ago and is probably operating at about 75%. Rene Bourque is back skating and should be back for the playoffs, but his high ankle sprain has a reputation of being one of the most stubborn injuries in sports.

If the Flames can finally get healthy and revert back to the team they once were, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the post-season. The goal now is just to make it there, and the Flames are limping toward the light at the end of the tunnel. Winning the division would be nice, but post-season results will speak for themselves, and the focus of the Calgary Flames should be to gain some momentum before game one of the chase for the Stanley Cup. Everyone needs to buckle down and hold themselves accountable if they wish to be sipping from Lord Stanley's chalice in June.

BONUS:

The Good News

The Flames take on the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome. The Flames have had the number of the Wild all season, winning all four meetings between the division rivals.

The last time the Flames were shut out in back-to-back games was in November 2003, losing 3-0 to both the Red Wings and the Wild. We all know what the Flames did in the playoffs that year. OK, now I'm really reaching for positives...

mitch.hart@gmail.com

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Pre-game: Bruins vs. Leafs

It appears Curtis Joseph, who let in four goals on nine shots last night, is not the second-coming of Christ. Justin Pogge, who replaced Joseph mid-way through the second period, made 14 saves, allowing one goal in the 23 minutes and 30 seconds he played.

You what that means? It's Pogge time against the Boston Bruins tonight! If Pogge can hold the fort, he'll likely get the nod against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday – which will mark the final game of Martin Gerber's three-game suspension.

Even if Pogge backstops the Leafs to two consecutive victories it's unlikely he'll stick around with the club, and that's the way it should be. The AHL playoffs are nearly underway, and Pogge could gain some valuable experience by playing as the starting netminder for the Toronto Marlies. Some NHL experience is always valuable, but it's not as if the Leafs will smooth his transition to the NHL anyway. Play the two games, go back to the Marlies, and show the Leafs what you got in the ol' skill bag (it's an expression!) in September.

Back to the game tonight. The Bruins, who have clinched the Northeast Division title, enter tonight's contest with a mammoth five-day layoff. They've won 3 out of their last 5 games, the last of which was a convincing 4-1 win over the surging New Jersey Devils. However, the Bruins have not fared well on the road of late, losing five consecutive games. This should ensure some intensity on the Bruins' side, but what about the Leafs?

The Leafs, who have won 4 out of their last 6 games, are playing their second game in as many nights. The Leafs have a 3-3 record when playing on the second night of back-to-back games. Grabovski is riding a three game point-streak, (2G,5A in 7GP) so look for him to contribute on the score sheet tonight.

The season series is 4-1 Bruins. They've won four consecutive games against the Leafs.

Injuries

Boston: Phil Kessel, Marco Sturm.

Toronto: Jonas Frogren, Niklas Hagman, Tomas Kaberle, Vesa Toskala, Mike Van Ryn

Special Teams

Boston PP: Ranked 4^th in the league with 22.4 PP%; 4 goals in last 17 opportunities.

Toronto PP: Ranked 12^th in the league with 19.7 PP%; 5 goals in last 17 opportunities.

Boston PK: Ranked 10^th in the league with 82.4 PK%; 3 goals against in last 25 times shorthanded

Toronto PK: Ranked 29^th in the league with 75.8 PK%; 2 goals against in last 9 times shorthanded

Predictions

The Leafs know they've been beat four straight times against the Bruins, so look for them to have some extra motivation. That, and the fact they lost a heartbreaking game against the Buffalo Sabres after nearly coming back from four goals down. The Bruins are in a battle for 1^st place in the Eastern Conference, so they won't rest any of their top guns.

I can see this game coming down to the wire, as the Leafs are also fighting to stay mathematically in the playoffs (oh, I didn't mention that? Probably because it means nothing in the long run). The Bruins will come out of the gate a little rusty, so it's up to the Leafs to capitalize on their opportunities early.

I predict 4-2 Leafs.

First star: Justin Pogge will backstop the Leafs to a victory tonight behind a solid Leafs defense. After a mediocre performance from Joseph and the defense last night, the Leafs will be wary of not making any mistakes in their own end.

Also, who will Luke Schenn uppercut for the one-hit KO tonight? Bwhahaha.

ronguillet@gmail.com

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Can Buffalo Knock Off the Habs?

For the past week, all talk about the 8th and final playoff spot in the East has focused on the battle between Montreal and Florida. Which team will be the least-worst. Can Florida lose less games than Carey Price in Montreal? Can Jay Bouwmeester NOT score again tonight?

It has definitely been a battle of attrition.

Blowing leads. Missing nets. Barely having puck possession on powerplays. Not scoring when it counts. Taking bad penalties at key times. Not scoring when it counts.

Oh, did I already mention that one?


I would like to be able to say today that there is a new team in the fold. I would like to say that Buffalo has got Ryan Miller back and that they are going to come take the 8 spot in the east. I would like to say that both Florida and Montreal have blown their chance at the post-season.

Unfortunately, I can’t.

It may too little too late for the Sabres. Despite a big win last night versus Toronto and a key 4 point game coming up against Montreal, the hill for the Sabres to climb may be a little too steep.

With a victory against the Habs tonight, the Sabres would still be 3 points back with only 7 games left. While that doesn’t sound all that impossible, the problem for Buffalo is who some of those 7 games are against.

Washington, New Jersey, Carolina, Boston and Detroit.

Not exactly an appealing list of teams to make a run against.

What also is working against them is that Montreal won a pseudo Stanley Cup the other night in a game against the Tampa Bay Lighting, the second worst team in the league. Captain Koivu banged in a garbage goal and the team went on to celebrate like they just won a gold medal at the Special Olympics.

I guess you have to grab on to whatever you can these days if you are wearing a Habs jersey.

Either way, it feels somewhat nice now that there is at least SOME team near the bottom of the East that will put a push on to Montreal and Florida. Maybe that is what they have been missing.

The great news for Montreal is that a win tonight and they will basically finish off Buffalo and put a huge gap between them and Florida. Montreal's best case scenario is to meet Boston, their arch rival, in the first round. Coming in as the 8th seed and playing the underdog role could be exactly what this team needs.

Should be and interesting/non-exciting push to the finish. We'll see which team at the bottom of the East screws things up the least over the next few weeks.


Ryan D. MacIntyre
thejackass@hockeyjackass.com

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Can the Leafs Make the Playoffs... Next Year?

You’ve read about the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, you’ve read about the Leafs’ current predicament, and you’ve read about Howard Berger getting “pwned” by Ron Wilson. Let’s take a gander into the Leafs’ crystal ball and see what awaits the club next season, shall we?


Let’s make this clear; the Leafs will not make the playoffs this season. You can subtract, divide, multiply, or do whatever complicated math equation you want, they will not make the post-season. We could argue about whether they should tank or not, but let’s discuss something a little more positive– and will also allow us to focus our hate on Habs and Sens fans (those bastards)… instead of each other.

In what appears to be a yearly routine, the Leafs are on a late-season surge, proving to be a heap of trouble for contending teams. While Tank Nation is cringing at the thought of moving down in draft positioning, these games are serving as great experience for the Leafs’ many youngsters. Here’s an interesting stat: Toronto leads the league with 323 games played by rookies. Mikhail Grabovski, Luke Schenn, Nikolai Kulemin, John Mitchell and Jonas Frogren are all players who are playing their first complete seasons in the NHL.

It wasn’t long ago when the Leafs were criticized for building their team around veterans– halting any development for their young players. Fast forward a few years later and the Leafs lead the league (the league!) in games played by rookies. As Bob Dylan once said, “The times they are a-changing.”

But the ultimate question is whether or not this change in philosophy will result in a 14th Stanley Cup. Let’s be honest, the Leafs’ prospect cupboard is not superb by any means, but it has instilled a solid foundation that will allow them to build a strong team for the future. And that, ladies and gentleman, is a start. I am not suggesting that reaching 8th place in the Conference will suffice for the Leafs’ last 40 years of mediocrity (although it may seem that way when it happens), but if they manage to reach that level next season, with the young team they currently have, it is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.

So, pertaining to the topic, can the Leafs make the playoffs next year? It is a question that is asked every year, and while Leafs fans are privy to their team’s inconsistent efforts, next year could very well be THE year. Not THE year in terms of a Stanley Cup, but for the playoffs. That may seem like a nonsensical goal, but it is a crucial first step for the Leafs and their quest to reclaim the Cup. For the first time in years, reaching 8th place will actually prove beneficial for the club, rather than some useless goal that will only prolong the Leafs’ mediocrity.

But the Leafs aren’t out of the woods yet. Building a foundation of promising young players is a step in the right direction, but the Leafs must not only continue to strengthen their prospect pool, but also begin to build around their future core.

Going into the off-season, Brian Burke has plenty of options to bolster his club for next season. Not only will the Entry Draft allow him to import more young players into the Leafs’ prospect pool, but it will grant him a chance to trade defensemen Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina. It is unlikely that he will trade both defensemen, but unloading one of them is certainly a possibility. Kaberle’s value could potentially get the Leafs a 1st round draft choice, and a prospect. Kubina’s value may be a little lower, but his 14 goals will also make him a hot commodity on June 26. I’m also a believer in replacing Tomas Kaberle with Anton Stralman. The Leafs, as proven, can survive without #15 on the blue-line. While Anton Stralman hasn’t been spectacular, he’s providing some decent offensive skills on the back-end. His development as a defenseman in the NHL is evident, and allowing him to flourish as one of the Leafs’ go-to guys – atleast on the powerplay – could generate some encouraging results next season.

Another date that will be circled on Burke’s calendar is July 1. He has expressed interest in signing collegiate hockey players, so you can expect the Leafs to be in the Matt Gilroy sweepstakes. Then there are the NHL free agents. While there are a number of players available this summer, I can’t help but do a one-handed fist pump at the thought of Mike Cammarelli in a Leafs uniform. He may lack size, but he’s the kind of scoring forward the Leafs could build around.

The Leafs will basically have the same team next season, as Grabovski is the only core player who is a Restricted Free Agent this summer – he will likely be resigned. So, with the Leafs currently sitting 7 points out of 8th place in the Eastern Conference, is attaining the post-season really an unrealistic goal for next season?

Not only have the Leafs’ players gained valuable experience this season, but what if Burke does unload Kaberle and/or Kubina this summer? And what about the free-agency period? The Leafs, with their current roster intact, could make the playoffs next season. Add in some outside help from a free agent or two (*coughCammelleri*cough), as well as the assets from trading one of our top defenseman, and the Leafs could end up competing post-April.

What will ultimately make the difference next season, in my opinion, is the coaching of Ron Wilson. I mean no disrespect to Pat Quinn and Paul Maurice, but Wilson’s “play hard or go home” attitude will go a long way with this young club. No matter what the predicament, Wilson does not accept anything less than trying your absolute best. The Leafs have been inconsistent this season, but as mentioned, they have played a vast amount of rookies. As the experience mounts, the consistency will come…and when that happens, the Leafs will officially be a team to be reckoned with.

I believe 2009/10 will be a pivotal season for the Leafs. Their young players will begin to establish their roles in the NHL, and the puzzle that is the Toronto Maple Leafs will start to slowly come together.

And since this blog is lengthy already, I’d like to note that Luke Schenn will be our future captain. He will raise Lord Stanley one day… mark my words.

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Lazy Leafs – Reckless Beginnings

It comes as no surprise anymore that the Maple Leafs are capable of these late season success stories; the one’s where they basically go on a ridiculous wins to loss ratio and play damn well near 0.700 hockey. And while this can make for exciting hockey, it leaves many shaking their heads at their televisions, laughing at the sheer dominance the club proved over an elite team.

Some people will say “you can’t get upset at the way they are playing, they are a professional team. They are always playing for a win and will not try to lose.” That’s understandable, but we absolutely have the right to be upset. Not necessarily at how they are playing now, but how they faired in the months of October, November and December.

Let’s take a quick look at the numbers:

October: 4-3-3
November: 4-6-3
December: 7-7-0
January: 4-7-2
February: 6-3-4
March: 6-4-1

8 of their last 12 wins have all come against teams who sit comfortably in a post-season position. The Leafs are currently 8 points out of a playoff position with 8 games to go and 3 teams ahead of them vying for that final seed. The Leafs are 1 loss away from mathematically being eliminated from the playoffs. The average “point bracket” for successfully reaching the post-season is 91 for the 8th seed in both the Eastern and Western Conference. With 8 games remaining, the Leafs would have to win every game from here on out.

While I sit back and now say “well, I have no control over where they finish anymore, but they really have to keep losing” it made me think back to specific comments in the early months of the season. Comments like “you wins some, you lose some”; “we just had a bad night”; “these are problems we have to fix”, and then I look at where they currently are. These late season runs have become a sham as to how the team truly is – lazy.

We can all remember games at the start of the year when the Leafs would piss away a 2, 3, even 4 goal lead and fail to register a point in a game of which they were in full command. Those games they gave up late goals to go to overtime only to lose. Those “we just had a bad night” games, where Ron Wilson would come out and publicly discuss the team’s situation while everyone would be free to say they aren’t a good team, so why expect a win.

It brings us to today, watching the Leafs continue to play pressure-free hockey and register points in games they have no business winning, but still they show up, chug away and slowly, but surely, cut down the opposition until they’re sending home big goals at the right times. Those early season antics are showing, more than every, that the Leafs gave up their post-season chances, for the fourth consecutive year, in October and November and not in February and March.

You turn some of those overtime losses into a win, you give the team a wakeup call and holding those 2, 3 and 4 goal leads, and all of a sudden the surging Leafs are looking more legitimate point-wise than they are talent-wise. This team is much stronger than they let on, but once again, their lazy plays in the start of the seasons are what causes the most damage at the end. Like the butterfly who flaps his wings and causes a hurricane.

The Leafs are, and always have been, their own worst enemy in these situations. It’s why these late season runs are of the most frustrating times to watch this team. On February 12th, I wrote an article here called Leafs/Lightning and Lucky Number. In it, I explained the Leafs would have to win 21 of their remaining 27 games. The lucky number was 7, or 14 points. If the Leafs lost 14 points in that time frame, they would be knocked out of the playoffs.

Since then, the Leafs have given up 13 points. Since February 12th, the Leafs have posted a record of 11-5-3. If the Leafs lose one more game in regulation, my theory will stand correctly, and as noted above, the Leafs must win all of their remaining games to make the post-season.

I did not bring this back up to reinforce how correct I was near the beginning of February, I brought this back up to really shed some light on this season for the Leafs. If they continue to play as good as they have been lately, they’ll finish the remaining 8 games with around a 5-3-1 record. Putting themselves just 7 points out of a playoff position. It will also keep them around 9th overall for a draft pick.

It puts those losses in the early parts of the year into perspective. While some may say “those games don’t really affect the year”, they are sadly mistaken. It is those games that mean the most to the Leafs on a yearly basis, and once again, their poor efforts at the start have cost them in the end; in making the playoffs and in drafting lower.

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Best Team in the East?

Just in case you were wondering, the Bruins are still the best team in the Eastern Conference.

Wasn’t sure if you remembered.

There are a lot of people around who have been talking about how the New Jersey Devils are actually the team to beat in the East. Even the Devils themselves must have been thinking that they were destined to take over the number one spot.

That was until they faced the Bruins last Sunday.



Boston handed Marty Brodeur only his 2nd loss since his return to action on February 26, outscoring the Devils 4 to 1 and exposing holes in the Jersey defense.

For Boston it was a big morale boosting victory. For New Jersey, it was a segue to another key loss the following day to Philadelphia.

Boston has now stretched its lead over New Jersey to 5 points with only 9 games remaining. More importantly, the team finally has something to feel confident about. If you had taken a quick glance at the standings prior to last Sunday’s tilt, you would have noticed that over the prior ten game period, Boston was tied for having the worst record in the Conference.

Not exactly a confidence booster for the number one seed going into the playoffs.

Now the Bruins have close to a week to enjoy their big victory. They don’t play until the weekend when they’ll be taking on the Leafs on Saturday, and then the suddenly surging Flyers on Sunday. Yours truly will be play-by-play liveblogging that one at theScore.com; feel free to join me.

The break for Boston may be a blessing in disguise. Many of the team’s young guns, including Krejci, Wheeler and Lucic, have been slowed as of late as they continue to adjust to the hectic 82 game NHL schedule. The break also doesn’t hurt the team’s starting goaltender Tim Thomas, who has been known for showing signs of mental fatigue during the team's previous stretch runs.

Either way, Boston sent a message on Sunday and let everyone know that they won’t be just giving away the Conference lead.

If you want that number one seed, you’re going to have to come and get it.

Ryan D. MacIntyre
thejackass@hockeyjackass.com

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Wings and Oilers Pre-Game

Tonight, I'll be liveblogging the Wings and Oilers game at The Score. The Oilers sit somewhat uncomfortably in the 7th seed in the West. A win tonight would bump them to 81 points, 1 point back of the 6th seeded Blue Jackets, and give them a 5 point breathing room from rival clubs looking to crack the post-season. They certainly have a chance at doing so tonight against the Red Wings.

Detroit has come off a loss last night to the Calgary Flames and the back to back challenges of facing difficult teams, especially a team that is fighting to stay in a playoff position, could be a stronger game than most people would think.

Edmonton is also coming off a loss and has played poorly over their last 10 games, becoming streaky at best. They need to snap out of their 4-2-4 record and start leveraging the stats in the wins department. Detroit has fallen out of first in the West, 1 point back of the Sharks, and they have played 1 more game than the Sharks have. A win tonight will leap frog them back into first in the league, but regardless as to what position they finish in, it's hard to believe any of the top 3 will have a challenge in the first round.

Edmonton hopes to be that challenge, and a win tonight is a big statement to the league and to themselves.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Question Period - Leafs Edition

The Habs' buns are burning red, Mikhail Grabovski is scorching hot, the Ottawa Senators have passed the Leafs in the standings, and Anton Stralman is filling the void left by teammate Tomas Kaberle. It's question time, folks.

1) The Ottawa Senators have finally passed the Leafs in the standings. The Leafs are now in possession of a 7th overall pick at the NHL Entry Draft in Montreal this summer. The Los Angeles Kings are 3 points back with a game in hand. Will the Leafs remain in 7th? Lower? Higher?

2) Leafs prospect Mikhail Stefanovich, from the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts, finished the season with 49 goals and 76 points in 56 games. Do you think he'll end up joining the Leafs at some point next season?

3) Grabovski scored 4 points Saturday night against his former team, the Montreal Canadiens. He has now tallied 18 goals and 40 points this season. Will he hit 20 goals? And what kind of future does he have with the Leafs?

4) Anton Stralman has 4 points in his last 6 games. Do you want him to finish the season with the Leafs, or would you rather Kaberle return to the line-up? What type of future does Stralman have with the Leafs? Is he our powerplay quarterback of the future?

5) What are your thoughts on Phil Oreskovic's play so far? Does he have a future with the Leafs (or the NHL)?

6) Alexei Ponikarovsky has 21 goals and 53 points this season. Trade him in the off-season - yay or nay?

7) Considering Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina are rumored to be traded this summer, how much draft picks will the Leafs end up with (in total) by the time Draft Day comes a knockin'?

8) Will Justin Pogge serve as Vesa Toskala's back-up next season?

9) Toskala will be 100% healthy next season. Will he be the Toskala of 2007/08 or 2008/09?

10) What year will the Leafs win the Cup?

Bonus Question

1) Will the Montreal Canadiens make the playoffs? If the Leafs deliver a dramatic slow-mo finisher punch to the Habs' playoff hopes next Saturday, will you:

a) Go streaking?

b) Burn a Habs jersey and yell obscenities in the streets?

c) Burn police cruisers?

or...

d) All of the above

ronguillet@gmail.com

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Worst General Managers in NHL History

Part 1: “Mad” Mike Milbury

Mike Milbury, New York Islanders (279-360, .437, 11 seasons)

He’s known as “Mad Mike” and with good reason. He did everything he could to cut down on the payroll as the owners requested when he assumed position and once the ownership changed and Charles Wang came in, someone forgot to inform him to stop trading away future money demanders for the nothing he’s been receiving in return. Then again, when a man is on a mission, who is going to stop him? We’re talking about the same guy who once beat a spectator with their own shoe.



But it doesn’t end there. When he first showed up, the Islanders abandoned their traditional jerseys to go with the new one, the fisherman one. I’m talking about this bad boy:


Even the players wearing it feel retarded.

They only used the jerseys from 1995 to 1997, and Mathieu Schneider, seen sulking above, was dealt from the team shortly before the end of the 1996 season. Something tells me, based on the above picture, he may have requested the trade so he wouldn’t ever have to wear that jersey again. Fans began nicknaming the Islanders “Fishsticks” for that spectacular jersey. I’m just surprised no one pointed out how horrible it was before they began to market it. Then again, that same ineptness would explain how people still purchase Buckley’s cough syrup.



Buckley’s: Tastes like Shit, but YOU Still Buy It!

But that’s beside the point. I’m supposed to be talking about how pathetic, or amazing depending on what way you look at it, Mad Mike really was while managing this team.

Let’s see here… ah, alright. On March 13th, 1996, he dealt Wendel Clark, Mathieu Schneider and D.J. Smith to the Leafs for Darby Hendrickson, Sean Haggerty, Kenny Jonsson and a 1st round pick that turned out to be Roberto Luongo. Not too shabby, considering he got Luongo. Oh, never mind, he decided to deal him too. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

On June 19th, 1999, he dealt Zigmund Palffy, Bryan Smolinski, Marcel Cousineau and a 4th round pick (Daniel Johansson) to the LA Kings for Olli Jokinen, Josh Green, Mathieu Biron and a 1st round pick (Taylor Pyatt). Not too shabby, he did get Jokinen. Oh, yeah, he dealt him too.

So far, none of his moves are necessarily insane, but consider that by 2000, Charles Wang became the new owner. So that whole money issue that the management sent in a memo in 1996, doesn’t exist anymore.

Enter the summer of 2000. For those conspiracy theorists who thought the world would end on Y2K, they weren’t really incorrect, per se. The Islanders came very close to not having a thing called “talent” left in the franchise.

On June 24th, 2000, he dealt Olli Jokinen and Roberto Luongo to the Panthers for, and I kid you not, Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha. I’ll give you a minute to let that one soak in.

I could just imagine it went down a little like this:

Milbury: “I’m bored.”

Panthers: “Hey, want to trade?”

Milbury: “Sure. I’ll trade Jokinen and Luongo.”

Panthers: “Oh, well, we only want to move Parrish and Kvasha.”

Milbury: “Screw it, done deal. If anyone argues with me, I’ll beat them with a shoe.”

2 Hours later, the phone rang…

Kevin Lowe: “Hey Mike, how’s it going?”

Milbury: “(Burp) Good shit man, good shit going on.”

Kevin Lowe: “You been drinking?”

Milbury: “No more than the next guy." (Points to an empty chair).

Kevin Lowe: “Well, have I got a deal for you!”

Milbury: “Cool, forge my signature for me, will ya, I got a date with Miss Captain Morgan.”

Kevin Lowe: “You don’t want to see it?”

Milbury: “Nah, I trust you.”

Kevin Lowe: “Fair enough. If Brian Burke asks, this phone call never happened. That guy’s been getting on my nerves.”

Milbury: “No problem, K-Love”.

Kevin Lowe: “Lowe.”

Milbury: “Whatever”. (Click)

Two days later, Milbury woke up to the following article:

Islanders trade Eric Brewer, Josh Green, and a 2nd round pick (Brad Winchester) to the Oilers for Roman Hamrlik.

A knock comes on the door. Charles Wang has come to pay him a visit.


Yes, this is Charles Wang.

Wang: “Hey Milbury!”

Milbury: “Inside voice, Wang-Dawg.”

Wang: “What are you doing?”

Milbury: “Drinking Nypto.”

Wang: “Nypto?”

Milbury: “It’s a combination of NyQuil and Pepto”.

Wang: “That’s not what I was asking. I saw your trades. Why did you do that?”

Milbury: “Hey man, don’t tell me how to do my job.” (Reaches for nearest shoe).

Wang: “You dealt Eric Brewer and others for Rome and Ham lick.”

Milbury: (Looks back at paper).

(Long Pause)

Milbury: “Hey, Wang-Dawg, when did you get here?”

Wang: “Argh…” (Leaves angrily).

1 Year Later.

Milbury: (Calls Charles Wang).

Wang: “Hello?”

Milbury: “Wang-Dawg, quit talkin’ Japaneezo, you’re in Americano, comprendé, Amigos?”

Wang: “I’m not Mexi-”

Milbury: “Tomato, potato. I got a deal. That Yashin guy, he’s going for cheap. I talked the Senators down but they want a draft pick, that cool for school for you-ool?”

Wang: “Uh, sure, just don’t move the 1st.”

Milbury: “Can’t hear you, I’ll take that as a yes, Amigos. Enjoy the burritos.” (Click)

HEADLINE: Islanders acquire Alexei Yashin from the Senators for Zdeno Chara, Bill Muckalt, and a 1st round pick, 2nd overall, (Jason Spezza).

Next Day:

Wang’s Answering Machine: “Yo, Wang-Dawg. I got another deal lined up. It will make you Wang-Chung, so I pulled the trigger. Oh, almost forgot, I sent over a crate of tortillas, enjoy Amigos-Wangitos.”

HEADLINE: Islanders acquire Mike Peca from the Sabres for Tim Connolly and Taylor Pyatt.

It wasn’t long after that the Islanders realized everything this guy touched didn’t, in fact, turn to gold – much the opposite. So in 2006, it was Wang’s decision to replace – I shouldn’t say replace. After all, he wasn’t fired. No, he was asked to step down and assume a position of Senior Vice President of Wang’s sports enterprise.

What’s more terrifying than Milbury’s decisions is the fact that he was never fired. He was PROMOTED for these decisions. So even though he will go down as one of the worst general managers in the history of the NHL, so too will Charles Wang as one of the worst owners in the history of sports.

But perhaps the legend of “Mad Mike” doesn’t end here. In 2007, he resigned from his Senior VP position and announced he wants to get back into a decision making position in hockey.

Good luck with that, Mike.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Minute with Murray - Total Badass

This is the first episode of "Minute with Murray", presented by Rigadori Filmworks. This episode features the recent record breaking performance by John Tavares.

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Stempniak A Part Of The Future?

Maybe it’s too early to determine, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt… for now (dun, dun, duunnn).

Lee Stempniak, who was acquired via trade from the St.Louis Blues for Alexander Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo , has a total of 13 goals and 39 points in 65 games this season – scoring 10 goals and 26 points in 51 of those games with the Leafs.

Many critics have questioned if Stempniak can sustain a future role as a top-six forward for the Leafs. He has, unfortunately, garnered a reputation of inconsistency. So if he wants to stay on Brian Burke's club for the foreseeable future, he better start pulling his pants up.

Looking at Stempniak’s production in the NHL thus far, it's evident that consistency is not his strong suit.

2005-06 – 57GP, 14 G, 27 PTS

2006-07 – 82 GP, 27 G, 52 PTS

2007-08 – 80GP, 13 G, 38 PTS

2008-09 – 65 GP, 13 G, 39 PTS (on pace: 15 G, 45 PTS)

Stempniak, who was a star with the NCAA’s Dartmouth College (produced 63 G, 151 PTS in 135 GP), seems to be a player who is establishing himself in the 40-50 point range. While there’s nothing wrong with those numbers, he should (and will) be producing at a higher level.

Stempniak, who is currently riding a hot streak with 10 points in his last 13 games, is best utilized in the offensive zone. He has solid hockey sense and vision, and owns speed that allows him to get around defenders with more ease. Stempniak is not afraid to throw his body around either, – owns a menacing 5'11, 200 pound frame – as he is ranked 4th on the team, and 1st among Leafs forwards, with 99 hits. Considering his small stature, his physical play will help him maintain a lengthy career.

An area of Stempniak’s game that requires polishing is his defensive play (-22 rating in his NHL career). Many times he can be found out of position in his own end. Another area that needs improvement, as I stated above, is his consistency. Many nights I’ve wondered if he was either scratched without my understanding, or if he had stolen Frodo Baggins’ cloak.

When discussing Stempniak’s future with the Leafs, his potential must be the focal point. I believe he has the offensive tools to become a 20-25 goal, 60-65 point player in this league.

Stempniak earns a fair $1.882 million dollar cap-hit. He becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent after next season, and could be re-signed at a reasonable price.

Considering the Leafs’ current situation, they have nothing to lose in giving the 26 year-old a try-out for a top-six position. If he doesn’t pan out, no harm done. If he turns out to be a reliable, 50-60 point player on the second line, then clearly it was a risk – a minimal one, at that – worth taking.

But I'm interested in reading what you, good-looking and super successful, CFB followers think. Is Stempniak – is it just me, or does Stempniak resemble a chipmunk? It's quite possible I'm going insane, but I'm just wondering – a part of the future? Will he be asking for spare change at the corner of Yonge in the summer of 2010? Would you rather have Steen and Colaiacovo back? What's your say?

ronguillet@gmail.com

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Grabovski - Should He Stay or Should He Go?

He should stay. Period.

Mikhail Grabovski is a pending Restricted Free Agent this summer. Brian Burke will have exclusive rights to discuss an extension with the Belorussian, but it remains to be seen if he wants to retain him. Decisions, decisions…


Many have tagged Grabovski as a head-case whose attitude is a detriment inside the locker room (well, that’s what Montreal Canadiens fans say anyway). To prove this, one may point to the two altercations that transpired between Grabovski and teammate Jason Blake this season. The most recent incident took place after Grabovski hit Blake from behind during a scrimmage. But hold on, Grabovski’s hair is not flaming red, and he’s not trying to send his teammates to eternal damnation (again, as Montreal Canadiens fans would say).

”I played just a little bit hard,” Grabovski said.”(Blake) is the best player on the team. The next time I will go a little bit slower. It’s OK. I’m young.” – Toronto Sun

After he said this, Grabovski was involved in a touching Hallmark Moment when he came up behind his teammate, gave him a hug and said, “See. Everything’s fine.”

So there you have it, Grabovski is not Sean Avery’s inbred son (hey, you never know what the media will cook up these days), and he does have a beating heart.

Pertaining to the blog, Grabovski should stay with the Leafs for one simple reason: Potential. Simply put, Grabovski’s got moves. His dangles have often made defenders look silly, and his speed through the neutral zone often helps him generate odd-man rushes. His 16 goals and 35 points is also encouraging, as he should finish somewhere between 40-45 points. Let’s be real, how much points were we actually expecting from Grabovski? Ron Wilson said it himself when the season debuted in October that Grabovski should score somewhere between 40-50 points.

In terms of the negatives, Grabovski lacks in the physical department. While he’s decent in his own end, you’ll rarely see him initiate an effective body check (ranked 13th on the team with 44 hits). He also tends to hold on to the puck too long at times, but that’ll come with experience. Let’s not forget that, while he’s 25, this is his first full season in the NHL. He needs time to adjust to the speed of the NHL, and learn how to make split-second decisions at both ends of the rink.

What made Grabovski such an offensive weapon in the RSL and the AHL was his ability to dangle his way through the opposition, using his vision and lightning-quick speed to set-up and finish plays. In the NHL, he’s not experienced enough (yet) to be hanging the opposition’s jock straps from the rafters, as defenders often shut him down.

Grabovski may be frustrating to watch now, but wait until he starts to truly adapt to the NHL game. His vision, speed, creativity, dangling and playmaking abilities will make him a solid second-liner for years to come.

Grabovski is a project that requires patience.

Potential to be: 20 goal, 60 point player (or more)

ronguillet@gmail.com

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552

The Excerpt
This month, Martin Brodeur will break the record for most regular season wins by a goaltender. People seem to think this makes Brodeur one of the best NHL goaltenders of all time. I think the numbers show something a little different.

The Games
Throughout his career as a starter, Brodeur has made a point of ensuring he keeps his back-ups on the bench – often requesting he play pretty much every game possible, regardless of how it may affect his team in the playoffs - as Brodeur has recently gained a reputation of being completely burned out come playoff time, allowing “non-Brodeur goals”, such as this one:



Unlike Patrick Roy, or pretty much any other goaltender in NHL history, Brodeur basically demands 70+ games a year, reaching a career-maximum of 78 games played in 2006-07. The most Roy ever played in a season was 65. So with an average of 10 more games a year on Roy, regardless of skill, it was pretty much just a matter of time before this record came about.

The Ties
Also of interest is the whole shootout issue, which has been beaten to death in other blogs and so forth, so I will basically leave that alone. We all know Marty is getting more “wins” because of the removal of ties.

The Numbers
But there is one major thing I would like to emphasize here. Martin Brodeur spent more than half his career behind Scott Stevens and Scott Neidermayer, on a team that focussed specifically on defensive hockey. Basically, any goaltender playing with the Devils during this era would inevitably rack up the same numbers as Brodeur – and as we discussed, Brodeur certainly had his fair share of games. Case in point – as of this writing (Sun, Mar. 15, 2009), Marty has a save percentage*( of .922 (NHL.com). Devil’s “back-up” Kevin Weekes is currently standing at .924, with Clemmensen not far behind the legendary Brodeur with .917. In other words, when it comes to saving the puck, Weekes is successful 92.4% of the time, and Marty is sitting at 92.2%. Brodeur – Hall of Fame a few days after retirement; Weekes – basically back-up goalie for life, since he has played for garbage teams most of his career. Brodeur’s numbers were also slaughtered by John Vanbiesbrouck in 2001-02 and 2002-03, Corey Schwab in 2002-03, and by Schwab and Clemmensen in 2003-04 . Moral: had any one of these 3 guys played the games that Brodeur played with New Jersey, they, too, would be breaking NHL records. The Hall of Famer during this era is the Devil’s fricken Defence core, not the goalie behind them.

The Conclusion
Martin Brodeur made a Hall of Fame career for himself by being in the right place at the right time.



* I use save percentage because it has no bias – it takes only the number of saves per shots into consideration, and not the team’s performance as much as GAA would.

Justin Traviss

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Post Deadline, Part 1: Paying Dividends

It’s been 9 days since the deadline and already certain teams are rising and others are falling based on their performance on the “mayday” trade day. Here’s a closer look at how a few teams and players are fairing since the event transpired:

Top 3:#3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Acquiring Vermette for a 2nd round pick.

In what was possibly the most intelligent move by the history of the Blue Jackets’ management, they dealt an injured goaltender who will not play a single game this season to the Senators for Antoine Vermette. They also dealt a 2nd round pick, along with the injured Pascal Leclaire, to Ottawa as compensation for his injury. Essentially, for the rest of this year (including the playoff run), the Jackets dealt a 2nd round pick for a player with an unbelievable amount of untapped potential in Vermette. He can fly, he can shoot, and he has the ability to jump very, very high.


Also worth noting is the guy in the Sabres jersey who is clearly bored by this play.

Vermette joined the Jackets after they went 2-4 in their last 6 games, and immediately sparked the team to a huge victory over the Red Wings (8-2), followed by a 2-0 shutout over league leading Boston Bruins, and a 4-3 win over the hottest team in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins. That’s right, arguably the 3 best teams in the league right now all fell to the hands of the Blue Jackets. Did I mention he’s been one of the 3 stars of 2 of his 3 games in a Jackets uniform? Over those 3 games, he has a goal and 3 assists, and is a +2. In 62 games for the Senators, who basically had him rotating between 2nd and 3rd line, he 9 goals and 28 points. To put this into perspective, if Vermette continues his strong play as a Blue Jacket for the rest of the year, he could post an additional 18 points in the remaining 14 games, giving him 22 points as a Jacket. Essentially, in 17 games, Vermette could nearly match his point total on the season as a Senator. Talk about a guy who just needed a change of scenery. Not the mention, the Jackets now own the 6th seed in the West and are just 1 point behind the Vancouver Canucks, who they could very well leapfrog at any minute. For those who thought the Jackets didn’t do much to guarantee themselves a playoff position, you better take a closer look before casting a judgment. This team is much stronger than they are at first glance.

In a Few Words: Nash, the untapped potential of Vermette, and the heroic antics of Steve Mason = Cinderella Story.

#2. Calgary Flames: Acquiring Jordan Leopold and Olli Jokinen.

Both players have joined the team for 5 games thus far and are immediately paying dividends. Jokinen has 5 goals in as many games but is a -2 in that duration with 6 PIM. Leopold has 1 assist for his efforts and has equaled Jokinen’s -2 with 2 PIM. They both average between 18 to 20 minutes of ice time per game and are effective in their role. The -2 statistic does not reflect their game whatsoever. Considering both are offensive machines, it’s no surprise they would not be fantastic defensive players but that is not why Sutter acquired them. If he wanted a shut down defenseman he would have traded for Andy Wozniewski. All kidding aside, Jokinen has added that secondary punch this team has craved for years. He has been rumored to be dealt to Calgary before he even signed his lengthy contract with Florida and it’s no wonder – he is absolutely the perfect fit for this club. Calgary is known for playing a physical and somewhat boring game as they rely on their defensive and goaltending skills to bail them out from time to time but not they have a legitimate offensive threat in the new “big 3”; Iginla, Jokinen and Cammalleri.


You must be confident to look this awesome when you stop.

Then throw in some zesty Bertuzzi and Langkow and you have yourself a hell of a strong core up front. This team is scary good. How scary? They can bounce back whenever they feel like digging in their heels and regain control of a game. Just ask the Detroit Red Wings who watched their 4-2 lead after 40 hold off the Flames from scoring until there was just under 4 minutes to play and they netted 3 goals in 2:02. That’s right, with under 4 minutes left, the Flames forced the Red Wings to tie the game up with under a minute left. Then they routed Conklin with 2 out of 3 shots in the shootout to win the game. They made it look easy, and that is downright scary when you’re playing the Red Wings. Did I mention they were outshot 45 to 33? No worries though, they outshot the Red Wings 17-2 in the final frame. Let me repeat that, 17 to TWO. So much for the offensive dynamo that is Detroit.

In a Few Words: Fear the Flames.

#1. Pittsburgh Penguins: Acquiring Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz

There was no big change, there was no trade of Jordan Staal for a veteran shooter or leadership, there was no defensive explosion, and they fixed everything without tearing much of anything down. Ray Shero dealt Ryan Whitney for a great prospect in Tangradi and Chris Kunitz and dealt a conditional pick for Bill Guerin. Oh, and they also fired Michel Therrien – this guy:


"They can't fire me. Look how awesome I look!"

They replaced Therrien with Dan Bylsma and he’s put the “sma” in “smackdown” that the Penguins have been dishing out lately. The team is 8-1-1 in their last 10, and are far and away the hottest team in the league right now. Chris Kunitz, who has averaged just over 16 minutes of ice time per game in Pittsburgh, has 3 goals and 8 points with a +5 in 7 games. Yeah, he’s over a point a game after being considered a 40 to 50 point guy his entire career. Did I mention his shooting percentage in Penguin-land is 20%? I didn’t? Better jot that down next time you play proline. Bill Guerin, the old guy who they got for a weird conditional pick, has been playing like his 25 again. As a Penguin, he’s appeared in 4 games and has posted 1 goal, 4 assists, and a +2. He plays just over 17 minutes a game and he was practically free. In their last 7 games, the Penguins have averaged 4 goals a game. To put that in a much simpler term: If you tune into a Penguin game and watch 15 minutes and they don’t score, you’re not watching a Penguins game.

In a Few Words: If the Playoffs began today, I would feel bad for Washington.

Stay tuned for Part 2: The House of the Falling Sun.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Matt Gilroy Update

An update on Matt Gilroy, the Leafs’ next savior!


Joking of course, but the 24 year-old offensive defenseman, who is undrafted by the NHL, is lighting up the NCAA with 8 goals and 29 points in 36 games played.

Brian Burke has expressed interest the North Bellmore native before.

“The way we’ve drafted, we’ve got to try and sign as many college free agents as we can,” Burke said. “The idea is, sign five and hope two make it.” – The Toronto Star

Gilroy, who stands at 6’2 and weighs in at 202 pounds, is said to be a great skater who can play both ends of the rink. Considering his production in the NCAA thus far, I don’t see the harm in making him a primary target once July 1st comes swinging. While there will probably be a bidding war for his services, Burke shouldn’t be criticized if he does decide to overpay - like Fabian Brunnstrom, incentives could be offered to sweeten the pot. Not only do the Leafs have over 8 million in cap space, but young, mobile defensemen don’t exactly grow on trees, so if Burke has to fork over a little more cash, so friggin’ be it!

And let’s assume Burke does trade Tomas Kaberle and/or Pavel Kubina this summer. The Leafs will have a vacant position on the back-end, one that will allow Gilroy to flourish at the NHL level with plenty of ice-time and powerplay minutes – if he indeed has what it takes.

What does concern me, however, is that Gilroy is a 24 year-old playing with younger players. Most NCAA players are not fully developed, both physically and mentally. Gilroy, at 24, is fully grown, so it can be argued that he has the upper hand, atleast physically, over most of his opposition. It remains to be seen, though, as Gilroy could be successful at the NHL level if he continues to hone his abilities as a two-way defenseman.

Burke is going to be one of the busiest GM’s this summer as he attempts to import an influx of young talent to the Leafs. While NHL FA’s will be hot commodities, Burke may strike gold if he decides to sign some college players in addition to signing Mike Cammarelli (Yes people, it happened…my imagination told me so, because in imagination land, anything is real!)

ronguillet@gmail.com

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CuJo Should See More Action

Curtis Joseph gets the nod against the Ottawa Senators tonight. And his two wins have got me confident!

Let’s lay it on the table right away, the Leafs owe Martin Gerber nothing, and judging from his play this season (and the fact that he was acquired through re-entry waivers), he has done nothing to earn the role as a starting goaltender. Under the circumstances, Gerber should be content with playing half of the remaining games.


While many have pointed out the Gerber would perform well in Toronto due to having no pressure, the Leafs shouldn’t feel any need to appoint him as Toskala’s replacement. Instead, it would be more logical for the Leafs, considering their current position in the standings, to split the rest of the games with Joseph and Gerber 50/50. After all, Gerber definitely won’t be a Leaf next season, so the only thing he’s playing for is himself. The Leafs, who sit 11 points from 8th place, will not make the playoffs. Period. Their season is officially over, so what’s the harm in playing Joseph in more games? The Leafs have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Gerber may have the edge over Joseph in terms of value to the team (well, depending which way you look at it), but as I said, the Leafs have nothing to play for… except a top 5 pick. While it is still crucial for the Leafs to play their best goaltender, in respect to the team (telling them “Hey team! We’re tanking because you’re all incompetent! And Joseph, you can’t stop a beach ball, so get out there and start playing,” might not sit well with the team, or Free Agents who may be interested in coming here this summer), the Leafs have to start playing Joseph more compared to when he was backing-up Vesa Toskala.

The Leafs currently sit five points from a top 5 pick, and if they lose against the Senators tonight you can make that three points.

The Leafs can try winning the rest of their games, but I think I speak for the majority of Leafs/Tank Nation when I say, we’re NOT behind you every step of the way!

ronguillet@gmail.com

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In Sutter We Trust

The NHL trade deadline has come and gone for another year and it’s quite apparent that Darryl Sutter didn’t forget his BlackBerry in his other jacket this time around. Sutter was very busy at the deadline acquiring what his team needs most, a top line centre and a puck moving defenceman. The best part? The price wasn’t as high as one might have thought. With these new additions, the Flames roster for the upcoming playoffs is set and expectations are higher than ever.


During his time in Calgary, it’s safe to say that General Manager Darryl Sutter has made some interesting moves. These generally fit into Sutter’s iron clad three and five year plans for his players and his franchise. While they can be hard to understand on the surface, it’s made harder by the fact that Sutter holds things pretty close to the chest. Recently, he was asked repeatedly what he would be looking to add to the team as the trade deadline approached. Time and time again, Sutter gave the answer that he was confident in the team he had assembled and didn’t really feel the need to give up assets to secure a “rental” player or to make a move for the sake of making a move. He openly denied rumors he was presented with and we all believed he would be relatively quiet.

On Wednesday morning as I rolled out of bed, I got word that Sutter had re-acquired defenseman Jordan Leopold from the Colorado Avalanche. I was immediately excited because I didn’t expect this and was a huge Leopold fan. Then I braced myself for the price. Recent waiver pick up Lawrence Nycholat, prospect Ryan Wilson and a second round pick. Not bad. Not exactly a blockbuster, but a good pick up that would surely help the Flames after losing Mark Giordano to injury.

Later that morning, the hockey world was lit up by the news that the Flames had traded for Olli Jokinen, easily the biggest trade of the day. Sutter also got a third round pick in the deal for long time Flame Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust and a conditional first round pick. At that moment, Calgary had one of, if not the most dangerous offensive line in the NHL with Jokinen centering Jarome Iginla and Michael Cammalleri.

In the Flames’ first two contests with the new additions, they beat up on the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 with Jokinen scoring twice and Leopold also adding a marker. Then they lost 6-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes, a stark contrast from the previous night. Of course, they had played the night before and Curtis McElhinney got the start in net in Raleigh. The rookie has yet to win a game and the Flames just can’t put together a decent effort in front of him. You could say the jury is still out on the moves for now.

Looking at the Flames now, they seem stacked for a deep playoff run and Sutter has clearly sent the message that he believes the team has the chance to win it all and is doing everything he can to give them that opportunity. He realizes what some other GMs don’t seem to, namely in places like Washington, that the window for success in the salary cap era is very small and you have to everything possible to jump through it.

With the acquisition of Olli Jokinen, the likelihood of Michael Cammalleri re-signing with the team at the end of the season has become very slim. Clearly, this is the year the Flames have to make a push for the Stanley Cup. They easily boast one of the best offensive and defensive cores in the game when they are healthy, as they are finally expected to be when the first round rolls around and have one of the best goalies available in Miikka Kiprusoff. The only real weakness is in the back up goaltender position. Sutter didn’t address this problem because frankly, if Kiprusoff goes down, the Flames have almost no chance at success anyway.

There is no question that the Flames are built for success, and the rest of the league has taken notice. San Jose and Detroit have reason to be worried in the post season for the first real time this season. The teams below the Flames are shaking in their boots. The Devils and Bruins can’t be feeling good after the emergence of another super power from the seemingly superior Western Conference. Whether or not the Flames are playing in June remains to be seen, but for the first time since 1989, you can finally say the Calgary Flames are a prominent Stanley Cup threat. Flames fans have every reason to begin planning the start of the 2009 Red Mile festivities. It all comes down to Darryl Sutter and the team he has assembled. Can Calgary become Canada’s Team again?

mitch.hart@gmail.com

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Question Period - Leafs Edition

Ten questions as you ponder the Leafs’ future with Martin Gerber between the pipes.


1. Are you content with Brian Burke’s decisions at the Trade Deadline?

2. Do you think Gerber will aid Tank Nation, or further the Leafs from a top 5 pick?

3. Nik Antropov and Dominic Moore are no longer Maple Leafs, do you see either of them re-signing with the Leafs during the off-season?

4. Pavel Kubina (4 G, 8 PTS in his last 6 GP) and Tomas Kaberle will have their no-trade clauses lifted between the NHL Entry Draft and August 15th, do you see Burke unloading any of them? Both of them? One of them?

5. Vesa Toskala is out for the season. Will he be the Leafs’ starting goaltender next season, or will he be traded during the summer?

6. If the Leafs continue to separate themselves from a top 5 pick, should Burke trade down?

7. Burke will have plenty of options to start the rebuilding in Toronto this summer – free agency, draft day, trading, and college signings. If you were Burke, what transactions would you do to turn this team around?

8. Anton Stralman and Jiri Tlusty have been lighting up the AHL (Tlusty named AHL player of the month in February). Do you see either of them playing an important role in the Leafs’ future?

9. Justin Pogge has struggled in the NHL thus far. Do you still see him as the goaltender of the future?

10. Is it possible Mats Sundin returns to the Leafs next season?
Super Duper Bonus Question!

1. If you were a chick, who’s the one guy you would sleep with?

ronguillet@gmail.com

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Nothing Flashy, but Off-Season is Where It's At

Sorry Leafs Nation, Brian Burke didn’t splurge on a deal to give Leafs Nation the false hope of a playoff spot. What a shame…

Instead, Burke traded Nik Antropov, Dominic Moore and the Toronto Marlies’ Richard Petiot for two 2nd-round picks (BUF and NYR), a 4th-round pick (TBL), a conditional pick (NYR), Olaf Kolzig (our next savior), Jamie Heward and Andy Rogers. Also, he picked up Martin Gerber (who was sensational tonight in Washington) and Erik Reitz from waivers.


Nothing flashy, but Burke kept to his word, and the Leafs are now in a stronger position going into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal on June 26-27. For those who hoped for better returns and/or more players moved from the Leafs, don’t fret, the off-season will mark the official turnaround of a franchise in dire need of one.

The fact the Trade Deadline is so pumped up by the media is the main contributor to the madness that unfolds each season (although General Manager’s were considerably more conservative this time around). GM’s feel the added pressure to fix the woes of their respective clubs, which leads to the trading of prospects, roster players and draft picks – and not surprisingly, the sellers usually come out on top.

While the Leafs were obviously sellers going into March 4th, Burke had some delicate situations with blueliners Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina, who each have a no-trade clause in their contracts. Because of John Ferguson Jr.’s spectacular business decisions, Burke had to be wary of the value of his defensemen. The scrutiny of the Deadline (cap restrictions + attempting to bolster line-up during the season) minimizes the amount of potential suitors, so Burke’s options were limited. While he may not be in a position to demand a 1st round pick, a prospect and roster player, he will have a larger amount of teams interested in his blueliners, so that means a wider array of prospects and draft picks to consider.

It would have been nice if the Leafs were free from the oppression of the NTC, especially considering the asking price for Kaberle, but there’s no rush to unload the Leafs’ core just yet. After all, Burke joined the Leafs just recently, so analyzing his club for the rest of the season may be a crucial step in deciding who is worthy of being apart of the rebuilding plan in Toronto.

The Leafs’ youth can’t do it on their own, so is keeping atleast one blueliner in Kaberle and Kubina important? And which one? Kubina is on a tear of late, and would be an excellent mentor for the Leafs’ blueline. Kaberle is an important factor the Leafs’ PP, and although he lacks the defensive game to be a two-way contributor, he’d serve as a mentor for up-and-comer Anton Stralman – who has been progressing nicely.

Kaberle and Kubina aside, the Leafs are free of NTC’s this off-season. Not only that, but their core players, who are all signed on for the 2009-10 season, all have movable contracts. So if Burke wants to give this team a make-over, he’ll be more than capable of doing it – and the fact that Antropov and Moore are subtracted from the line-up is already a shake-up.

For once, the Leafs will have the luxury of cap space with 8.75M at their disposal going into the off-season. While the Leafs’ pivotal moment will be the Entry Draft this summer, July 1st can play a big role to the Leafs’ rebuilding plan.

Take a look at some of the UFA’s available this year:

D Francois Beauchemin (29)

RW Maxim Afinogenov (29)

C Mike Cammaleri (27)

D Jordan Leopold (28)

LW David Moss (27)

LW Martin Havlat (28)

G Andrew Raycroft (29)– I kid, I kid.

C Johan Franzen (29)

D Jay Bouwmeester (25)

D Kurtis Foster (27)

LW Marian Gaborik (27)

D Mike Komisarek (27) — long shot, will likely re-sign with Habs.

LW Alex Tanguay (29)

D Ville Koistinen (27)

LW Taylor Pyatt (27)

If the Leafs can collect more draft picks and/or prospects this off-season, coupled with some key UFA signings (with fair contracts, mind you) the Leafs can finally take the first step in finding the remedy to this 41-year Cup drought.

In Burke we trust.

ronguillet@gmail.com

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The Day After Yesterday

“The Day after Yesterday” (the prequel to “Day after Tomorrow”). These two things have a lot in common. Millions of people watched it all unfold, hoping the guy in the lead role could do the impossible and save the day (it didn’t happen, the world still froze over and the Leafs still don’t have a second 1st round pick). There was a serious injury that needed medical aid (Toskala’s hip/groin, and Laura Chapman’s blood poisoning). And everyone was running around frantically once they found out about the strange phenomenon (Guy 1: “Hey look, a giant tsunami!” Guy 2: “Who cares, Andy Wozniewski was traded!” Guy 1: “That guy is still playing hockey?”)

Which leads us to today, the sequel. The trade deadline has passed, everyone was rescued, and father and son reunite (Quaid/Gyllenhaal, and Leafs fans’ fathers and sons stating “well then, that was disappointing”). Oh, I forgot, there’s also the relation of movie goers also stating “well then, that was disappointing”.

“The Day after Yesterday” kicks off with fans still discussing the yester-festivities. People are curiously seeking answers on the “conditional pick”, which Alec stated was a 4th if they make the playoffs and a 3rd if the Rangers somehow reach the Eastern Conference Finals (another rare phenomenon. “The Day after Never Gonna Happen”. Buy the trilogy on DVD!) Others are wondering if Martin Gerber is going to get the start tonight. Well, (SPOILER ALERT!) he will. They also wonder if Erik Reitz will play his first game tonight as a Maple Leaf (SPOILER ALERT!) he will (Jonas Frogren and Tim Stapleton have been demoted).

But it wasn’t necessarily these moves that surprised people the most. Toronto now has a goaltender who is capable of carrying the club the rest of the way, and another stay at home defenseman who isn’t afraid to mix it up (even if he does somewhat fight using the Belak-rabbit punches). Burke felt the team needed one more offensive forward to fill the void so he signed 31 year old free agent forward, Jeff Hamilton, who has 53 points in 50 games for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves this season. Will he start tonight? TSN says “more than likely”.

It may not be a total shake down, but the Leafs will ice a much different team for tonight’s matchup with the Washington Capitals. Although he was unable to deal off a guy like Kaberle or Kubina, Brian Burke still managed to make a splash at the deadline. He acquired 3 picks, and bought a 4th rounder for 500K. He shut down Toskala for the year, brought in a more physical depth and replaced Dominic Moore with a cheaper forward to finish off the season.

In his press conference, he stated “I don’t believe it’s right to ask a guy to waive his NTC”. I agree Burke, that’s why it will be better to trade them come draft day when you don’t have to ask. Kubina and Kaberle’s NTC’s have a contractual “freebie” clause that will automatically lift them from Draft Day to August 15th. In that time, Burke can do whatever he chooses to do without asking either of them to waive.

The Leafs have replaced most of the picks they dealt and still have the ammunition necessary to make a splash on draft day to jump up a bit or acquire secondary first-rounders. If anything, Burke has the Leafs exactly where we all hoped they would be, despite our clouded dreams. No need to be upset at the Leafs not getting a first round pick – only Jokinen was believed to be worth one this season, and Antropov is no Olli Jokinen.

Now the Leafs travel to Washington to battle the Capitals with a weaker team in terms of scoring power, but a stronger team in terms of grit. Gerber looks to prove he is still capable of being a number 1 goaltender, so don’t expect a blow out. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gerber posted great numbers for the rest of the season. It’s a fresh start for him and there’s no pressure. At this point, what goaltender wouldn’t want to play for the Leafs right now? (Besides Justin Pogge).

It’s the day after tomorrow, and we’re in America’s Capital, and the only way the Leafs will win a cup is if the world somehow freezes over. Everything is normal, once again.

Micheal A. Aldred

michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Quick Hits: News Updates

- Wild sign Backstrom to 4 year contract extension worth 6M per season.
- Pittsburgh Places Miroslav Satan on waivers. Is someone coming in?
- Rangers claim Sean Avery off waivers – surprise, surprise.
- Atlanta Trades Havelid to Devils for Samela (prospect).
- Antropov to be dealt to Nashville?
- Moore negotiations ongoing.

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Steve Kouleas; Rumors and Insight

We’re under 48 hours away from the trade deadline, so here’s some quick insight around the league, thanks to Steve Kouleas of The Score, of rumors concerning YOUR team.

From Steve Kouleas

Concerning Pronger to Leafs:

“There is no interest in Pronger from the Leafs. Toronto is three years away from getting a “Pronger-type” player on their roster. If Pronger is moved, Boston, San Jose, St. Louis and Philadelphia want him the most. The Sharks and Bruins have the most assets to trade. “

Concerning the Red Wings:

“I Just spoke to Ken Holland, and he told me ‘I expect to be on the sidelines Wednesday. We don’t have cap space for rentals, and I’m not planning on changing my goaltending situation’”.

Antropov to Columbus/Kaberle to Boston:

“Brian Burke is holding out for a first round pick for Antropov. The team closest to matching that offer is Columbus. It Antropov is being dealt to Columbus, the centre piece of the deal is a first round pick. Anything less, and there’s no deal. I do believe Boston is a possibility for Kaberle, especially if they don’t land Pronger. I give a 75% chance of Kaberle being traded by Wednesday.”

Sabres Selling Saga:

“The Sabres need help in the crease, but are known as being a cheap franchise. The Sabres could use another body up front and on the blueline…but….they’re known for being a cheap franchise. The only major move I see them making is moving Connolly because they feel they can’t sign him in the offseason. The selling of the Sabres continues.”

Montreal Mulling Offers:

“I’m hearing the Habs are working the phones. And the name Olli Jokinen is being thrown around. The Islanders appear to have backed off a Guerin trade to Washington. Rumblings are its because Garth Snow has a better offer somehwere else. That may be Montreal.”

Neil Out of Ottawa:

“There’s too much interest in Chris Neil by Cup contending teams, so he will be moved.”

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Predicting the East

For those that were paying attention over the weekend, there were some important clues that came out on Sunday as to who are the real contenders in the East.

Goaltender season is fast approaching and the Eastern Conference landscape has had some dramatic changes over the past week. The most obvious one is the return of future hall of famer Marty Brodeur to the Devils lineup. If you thought they were a threat before, well they have just upped the anty in a big way. Brodeur is 3 for 3 since his return, and two of those games were shut-outs.

You could say that he was pretty excited to get back to play.

The other big change on the Eastern front is the injury to Ryan Miller in Buffalo. They have gone 0-2-1 over their past 3 games and this couldn’t have come at a better time for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They had been sitting on the bubble waiting for an opportunity to grab one of those final playoff spots and within a week of Miller’s injury, they have done just that.

As for what happened on Sunday

People are in general agreement that there are four powerhouses in the East and as per the current standings:
1. Boston
2. New Jersey
3. Washington
4. Philadelphia

The biggest question marks for two of these teams however, is goaltending. If you are trying to figure out which two teams, look no further than to Sunday’s results. Martin Biron lost 3 - 0 to Martin Brodeur and the Devils and Jose Theodore got pulled after letting in 4 first period goals against the Florida Panthers. To drive the knife in a little further, those loses were to Eastern Conference rivals who currently are holding playoff spots.

Not a good sign.

Although their numbers haven’t been too bad, Philadelphia and Washington are hoping that their goalies can hold up when the pressure is on.

Jose Theodore: 2.90 .899
Marty Biron: 2.86 .910
Marty Brodeur: 1.81 .928
Tim Thomas: 2.06 .933

The Eastern Conference is down to 10 teams and has been for a while (sorry folks, Ottawa isn’t making it). Of the six other teams not mentioned under the ‘Powerhouse’ list above, their challenge isn’t just finishing in the top eight, but they’ll be hoping to get into that 5 or 6 spot to see if they can put Theodore or Biron to the test.

We’ll see how confident the Washington and Philidelphia brass are in stickign with their goaltenders come trading deadline.

Given the lack of supply out there, they may have no choice.

Ryan MacIntyre
thejackass@hockeyjackass.com
March 2/09

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Leafs Set to Trade?

Rumor states Bob McKenzie visited the Fan 590, and mentioned that a trade is ready to go down between the Leafs and Canucks that would send Ponikarovsky to Vancouver for a 2nd in 2009 and a 4th in 2010. He went on to state that it could very well be finalized by Tuesday morning. McKenzie then finished by stating Brian Burke is starting to take offers on prospects Jiri Tlusty, Anton Stralman, and current Leaf players Nik Antropov and Jason Blake. Alec Brownscombe of Maple Leafs Hot Stove deems it “Bogus!”

Not sure if McKenzie was even on the Fan 590 today to report this so consider it a a rumor for now. It does tie a few things together conveniently, and the deal is pretty much what I’d expect the Leafs to get in return for Ponikarovsky, but it would surprise me a bit to see Poni and Antropov seperated. That said, a line of Demitra, Sundin and Ponikarovsky doesn’t sound too shabby for the Nucks. My sources have not heard any of this, so consider it “for what it’s worth”.

Your thoughts?

Micheal A. Aldred

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Surprise: Shack Attack

It was a charity event for the torch run that supports the Special Olympics, hosted just outside Sudbury, Ontario, that featured the NHL Alumni vs. the local police department. In a game that featured former greats such as Rick Vaive and Wilf Paiement, it was just as special to be greeted at the entrance by, the one and only, Eddie Shack.

As I walked inside, the place was absolutely packed. Kids were at the canteen trying to get their popcorn and fries, there was a silent auction set up with autographed pictures and jerseys, and the whole place had that true hockey smell; the same smell that instantly brings back so many memories of being a kid and dreaming of becoming the next “Great One” or “Bobby Orr”. A simple smell brings back the young dreamer in all of us. Right in the middle of all of this wonderful activity was Eddie Shack, in his cowboy hat, welcoming everyone to the arena and demanding for your attention. And how could you not give it to him? It’s Eddie Shack! Complete with Stanley Cup Ring worn on the pinky finger of his left hand.

He was accurately nicknamed “The Entertainer” as he became the pre-game show for everyone, young and old, who just wanting the opportunity to say a few words to the former Leaf and shake his hand – which by the way were gigantic. I remember thinking to myself “he used to fight people with these mitts?”

After buying a few pictures (all autographed personally, and most were hilarious) I returned when things settled down a bit to try and get a few words in with him. It was then he responded with “I was the best! Better than Gretzky and better than Hull!” He said it loudly, making sure everyone heard while wearing a big smile as no one contested him.

This man, 72 years old, who didn’t look a day over 50, still had the classy smile and lived up to his nickname even off the ice. His cocky comments were said with a bit of a laugh while signing autographs and having a blast. Then he showed just how human he really was, in a moment I will remember for the rest of my life. A young woman in a wheelchair came over to meet the great and, after kissing her on the top of the head, had a picture taken with her. It was then, after she tried to carry on so others could get their chance that he pulled her back, took off his ring and told her she could try it on. They then talked for a little while as she stared at the ring at every possible angle, imagining what it had been like to win it and the history that came with it. After she returned it, he hugged her once more and she was on her way. Eddie then went back to his usual self, making jokes and greeting more and more people as they showed up for the event. And every new person who walked through the door had the same reaction – Oh my God, it’s Eddie Shack!

Eddie was more than just The Entertainer, tonight. Eddie was more than just a player. Eddie was and is pure heart. That’s the Eddie I was able to meet tonight; that’s the Eddie I will always remember.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Aurevoir Kaberle... For Now

Tomas Kaberle will be traded on March 4th. I guarantee it.

Kaberle, who’s dawned the Leafs uniform for a decade, would be wise to waive his no-trade clause at the NHL Trade Deadline. This would allow him to control his fate, rather than have Burke decide it for him when his contract nullifies his NTC in the off-season due to the Leafs’ failure to make the post-season this year.


While the Trade Deadline will limit Burke’s options for potential suitors for Kaberle, his 4.25M cap-hit will make #15 a hot commodity for GM’s looking for a puck-moving defenseman. While Burke has made it perfectly clear that it would take a significant offer for him to ask Kaberle to waive his NTC - a 1st round-pick, a roster player and a prospect to be exact - the desperation of GM’s looking to bolster their line-up makes that asking price realistic - and by god, is it good to be a seller!

Reports have been circulating that Kaberle has given Burke a list of 10 teams he’d be willing to play for, but Burke shot down the reports, stating that Kaberle “has not given me a list of 10 teams he’d like to be trade to.” While this is somewhat concerning for those hoping Kaberle is no longer a Leaf by March 4th, I don’t think this will prove to be too much of a problem if GM’s come a knockin’ on Burke’s door. Kaberle’s intentions may be to stay in Toronto, but if a team, most likely a contender, decides to give in to Burke’s demands, you can bet Kaberle will be aware of the benefactors for not only himself, but the team he’s been serving so long.

I found this quote particularly interesting: “I want this clear, Tomas Kaberle made it clear to me, right to my face, ‘I don’t want to go anywhere else, I want to be a Toronto Maple Leaf’,” Burke said. “He believes we’ll get it turned around. He loves the city, wants to be part of the turnaround.” (TheFourthPeriod)

While I admire Kaberle’s passion for the Blue and White, this seems like the Mats Sundin dilemma all over again. Considering Burke’s asking price, Kaberle must be aware of the talent and youth he’d import to the Leafs’ youth cupboard by departing the team. Kaberle’s contract prolongs to the 2010-11 season, so he’d be seperated from the Leafs for one season before becoming a UFA. Kaberle made it clear that he “wants to be part of the turnaround,” but realistically, the Leafs won’t start to rise in the Eastern Conference standings until atleast the 2011-12 season, when the youth they hopefully acquire begin to establish their roles for the Leafs’ future. With that said, if Kaberle feels as strongly for the Leafs as he seems to suggest, then he should realize how much his departure would benefit the line-up, ensuring him a stronger club if he decides to return in the summer of 2011.

So basically, Kaberle, you have to choose. The red pill, which ensures you to play out the 2008-09 season, or the blue pill, which sends you to another team, bringing in loads of the talent to the Leafs’ roster, and giving you the opportunity to come back a year later. The choice is yours… (THE BLUE PILL! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!)

ronguillet@gmail.com

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