Toronto Maple Leafs

So Many Things…So Little Time.

This will be quick but it needs to be said.  I have had enough with all the Mats Sundin talk!!!!!!

Just do us a favor Mats….either stay quiet in Sweden and play there or try and sign with someone already.  Now why do I say this?  It is simple….if there was a way on not how to handle this….Sundin would get a perfect 10 from this judge.

Sundin’s agent, JP Barrie is like the equivalent of The Music Man.  Does anyone really believe all these teams are interested and for that matter, can afford Mats Sundin’s services?  I sure as hell don’t think so!  If that was indeed the case, he would have signed with someone by now or he would be closer to a decision that he has apparently made but will not divulge.  Does that seem weird to you?  It sure does to me!!

So to make this quick and simple….I do have a message for Mats….if you do have that decision all ready like some sources in Sweden claim you do….then do the world a favor……let us know!  Because if you had half the class of a man like Joe Sakic, you would have kept a little more quiet.

That’s my take!

Manic Monday….

The budget apparently didn’t allow for a picture this afternoon sadly or maybe that was the hangover. I can not confirm that for 100% certainty. However, it would not hurt to recycle a video….so here goes…….

This is basically a thanks to my co-host Rick who did a fantastic job!

For those who didn’t get to listen on in last night….you can either check out the player on the right side of the blog or go right to Blog Talk Radio. Last night we talked a considerable amount on overspending on free agents, Sundin and Sakic, and of course the brewing mess that is the Radulov saga. We also touched on the lighter side of being a hockey fan, ranted about the Brodeur-Nabokov debate and Rick even managed to set Tampa Bay on fire…well not literally.

In the end, we closed up with comments from our chatters, emails, and some phone calls. The show closed with a simple goodbye and a look ahead to next week’s two hour show. That and the ant marching band sent us off. Stupendous job by everyone that was involved and next time don’t be so shy.

Now are there are going to be any more arbitration hearings? For thse of you who didn’t hear just yet. Jay Bouwmeester got a 1 year deal from Florida today…so scratch his name off the list. Yes many thought, including me, that his case would go to arbitration for sure but of course when you assume….yes you know what happens. So the trade speculation maybe can start in January instead of right after the hearing. Isn’t that nice?

Next up is Vermette…that is IF it goes that far. I am wondering if he gets a deal from Ottawa now at the eleventh hour. At this point, it would not surprise me in the least. I am officially putting out this question for Danada so he can comment on it here….what will it ultimately take for Vermette to sign and why?

After these arbitration hearings, if there are any more…I haven’t heard the latest from Filppula and Koistinen but they may be signed soon enough too for all I know….I am sure everyone will turn their eyes back to the Sundin and Sakic sagas….and the Radulov issue again. Hockey, like many sports, is cyclical in nature and often the longer something lingers….the more it gets exposed and disected to the point where you just want to hack up the next reporter that brings it up. Scary? But that is how it can get at times.

With the dog days in full force, it is seemingly hard to find a story or something to write on but really in all honestly, it isn’t. Just dig a little deeper than the next person and you will be surprised what you find. Stay cool out there and enjoy the rest of your Monday!!

Paul Maurice Is Out As Leafs Coach

Paul Maurice was fired as coach of the Maple Leafs on Wednesday after the Maple Leafs failed to make the playoffs. The dismissal was the first big move for the Maple Leafs in what was expected to be an active offseason for the Leafs.

“This is a start of a new era for the Maple Leafs,” interim general manager Cliff Fletcher said in a news confrence at Air Canada center. “This is all part and parcel of that.” The Leafs are now looking for a full time GM after firing John Ferguson in January. One question that remains to be told is… when will the Leafs be back in the playoffs again and how long will they be without a GM? The Leafs have to start looking toward next season to start bringing back a team that I call “back from the dead”. The  Leafs are a mess and after they get a decent GM to take over the club, then they should start looking toward the future and to look forward to the NHL Draft.

 

Decision Day Part One

Yes it is only Thursday but tonight’s action will go a long way of determining who gets in and who stays home come April 7th. There are still so many scenarios but I believe tonight should start to bring this whole thing into focus just a bit more. First up, the poor teams that are battling for their playoff lives. You can hear the paddles going off in the back of the ambulance right now.

First up is Buffalo who plays at Montreal tonight. Montreal has the #2 seed clinched but they are playing for tops in the East right now….so every game counts. A win for the Habs tonight outright eliminates Buffalo and keeps the Habs tied with Pittsburgh. Even worse for the Sabres…last night’s questionable point (the Zubrus goal that was in but Toronto somehow could not see it) by Boston puts Buffalo’s postseason hopes in the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning of all teams. Yes, the same Lightning that got blown out in Carolina 6-2 last night travel to Washington tonight to face the Washington Capitals. Basically if the Caps win…Buffalo’s hopes are almost over and done because Washington will have 92 points and the at the time be tied for 6th (if Ottawa loses in regulation). All those shootout and OT losses (12 total) will indeed have come back to haunt the Sabres. Needless to say, Ryan Miller will not be sending Martin Brodeur a gift basket at the end of the year.  I said almost for this reason.*

There is even a possibility that the West could be all sewn up except for seeding by tonight. Chicago Blackhawk fans will be doing extensive scoreboard watching in Vancouver and Nashville. The Canucks host the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville hosts the St. Louis Blues. With Hannu Toivonen (Legace out with hip flexor injury) getting the start for St. Louis….Nashville fans are probably drooling already (Hannu gave up 4 goals on 18 shots the last time out against the Preds). A Nashville win and Vancouver loss in regulation eliminates both Vancouver and Chicago all in one shot. A Nashville loss or even a loss in extra time leaves the door open for both Vancouver and Chicago. There are so many permutations that you may need a scientific calculator and a professor from M.I.T. for this one.

Now for the other teams that could clinch. Simply…the Rangers and Senators can win and they are in. The Rangers have two cracks against the Isles (tonight and tomorrow night). The Sens play at Toronto and Toronto is without Mats Sundin (groin tear). The Rangers could even lose both in extra time and be in with 95 points total. Minnesota simply needs a point and they win the Northwest and the 3 seed. Calgary just needs a point to make the playoffs. Detroit just needs a point at home against Columbus tonight to win not only the West but the overall #1 seed in the league or a Sharks loss (whether it be in OT, SO or regulation don’t matter).

Tonight will go in a big way to tell the playoff fates of more teams…now seeding is a different matter entirely. I did want to thank ESPN for their concise tiebreaking procedures on their page. Now of course they are all chasing one thing and that is the only thing that ultimately matters. There is that nice, shiny, silver thing called the Stanley Cup.

Thank You Wikipedia for the pic.

So with ten big games tonight….may the DVR’s work some OT and so may your eyes as the regular season comes firing all guns a blazing to the end. The end is definitely very near…and for some more near than they hope.

* Editor’s Note:  Thanks to my friend Andrew from The NHL Arena.  If Washington wins tonight, that doesn’t eliminate the Sabres. Buffalo can jump Philly into 9th, and then jump Boston for 8th based on the THIRD tiebreak. They would be tied in wins, tied in head to head record (4-2-2), but Buffalo would actually win the tiebreak based on goal differential.

There will be blood…..

Throw the records straight out the window…the stakes are just too high.  The crescendo that is the NHL season is building toward the playoffs.  In less than three weeks, we will know the seedings….where will your team be?  That is the question evey fan asks me.  I can tell you emphatically that it really is too early to tell.  This has been a season full of parity…a year where two teams were thought to be untouchable and it turns out the teams gunning for them may have a better shot at that silver cup.  Now to add some chum into the tank and throw some more blood into the mix.  Here we go……

How demented would it be if the Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs?   Now imagine the look of Brian Burke if the Ducks faced the Oilers in the first round.  Horrified yet?  Oh no, that’s nothing.  That first round pick that Burke was drooling over is rapidly turning into a mid round pick that won’t nearly be as good as he was hoping for.  So gaining Penner via the restricted route maybe wasn’t as big a gamble for Lowe as people thought.  Praise also goes out to Craig MacTavish…who has to be quietly considered for the Jack Adams (Coach Of The Year).  Not many thought after all the injuries and already depleted talent pool…that Edmonton would be anywhere near where they are now.  Sure enough, they are…and he is the reason.  Though I feel sorry for him for all the grey hairs he received this season…..the coach has managed to get Cogliano and all these young guys along with a resurgence from Dwayne Rolosson within an earshot of the playoffs.  Many will say Sutter, Julien, and maybe even Wilson are more deserving but MacTavish is getting my vote if the season ended today.

Another team left for dead by many is the Florida Panthers.   The past few years this team starts out slower than a 1928 Roadster and comes in screaming like a 2008 Porsche but it is entertaining how they do it.  This year was no exception…hovering right near or below .500 for most of the season before finding the groove and reeling off seven straight wins.  Tomas Vokoun (a star of the week with 3 wins and a jawdropping GAA) is finally playing like he did in Nashville and Olli Jokinen is back to giving teams nightmares.  Maybe it did take them awhile after all to get over the Richard Zednik incident…but here they are…just two points out of a playoff spot.  The kicker is even though they only have 8 games left….they are just five points out of the division lead.  Further proof that indeed with the parity in the NHL, anything is possible….even for a coach like Jacques Martin to get lucky…..who knew?

Time to throw in a knuclepuck so to speak.  Tonight’s Leafs-Islanders matchup will also mean something not in the standings so much….but these are two teams that detest each other.   More importantly for Isles fans…Kyle Okposo will make his debut.  At 195 pounds, his size doesn’t seem that impressive.  But alot like Zach Parise…his tenacity around the corners is his calling card.  He is not afraid to play tough and his 24 points in 29 games at Bridgeport (AHL) is impressive.  He is only 19 and this is more or less a nine game audition with the big club but he will make an impact tonight…at the very least in the stands.  The University of Minnesota standout may just surprise some people, including the Maple Leafs as he can definitely hit.  So expect a physical game on Long Island tonight with maybe a twist.

Pittsburgh travels to MSG to play the Rangers tonight in what is a must win for the Rangers.  Their brain fart in Florida may have cost them a top seed in the Eastern Conference.  The loss to Tampa was probably worse than the one to Florida as well they got shutout by a Tampa team that couldn’t stop Winnie The Pooh from honey in sub-zero cold.  So it is time for Henrik Lundqvist to step up again and hope he gets some goal support from what has to be the most enigmatic offense in the NHL.  The Pens come in at 89 points…right behind New Jersey with Marc-Andre Fleury in net who the Rangers have had some success against.  No Sidney Crosby again tonight as he is still nursing a swollen ankle…he may be back by the weekend or sooner but no one seems to really know.  One thing is for sure…I am surprised this game is not on Versus…that would be their normal motus operandi wouldn’t it?  At any rate…I like the makeup of this game for some reason…I will definitely watch it.  Expect a surprisingly physical contest from these two.

Tomorrow is the real cap to the deal as the Rangers play the Devils for the 6th time this season.  Yes the Rangers have taken the first five but you have to feel the Devils gear up for this time of year and this type of schedule.  Like someone sevrely scorned, this will be INTENSE!  There will be much coverage on The NHL Arena, Battle of New York, 2 Man Advantage, and all the usual suspects.  Brodeur Vs. Lundqvist….Pandolfo Vs. Jagr….Gomez, Avery, and a cast of characters all will be at The Rock tomorrow night…don’t miss it!

Coming soon will be Hockey Around The Horn’s 6th episode…the banter of four people entering and only one emerging victorious.  It should be up and ready in the coming days at The NHL Arena.  So the blood will be shed this week and heading throughout the playoffs.  Now the intensity ramps up and it is for keeps!!  Good fight…..good night!!

48 Hours Since The Deadline….

Honestly we haven’t learned much from the deadline yet and really we won’t for weeks but it is fun to take a look back and see what happened and didn’t happen.  The strangest things may be what didn’t happen may have resulted in a more interesting deadline…although it was so quiet most of Tuesday morning.

The NTC players in Toronto made a hell of a stand against Ottawa on Tuesday night.  Sundin and Tucker scored and even Kaberle and Kubina played outstanding in a 5-0 whitewashing.  Toronto won again last night so it makes you wonder.  Even though most of the hockey media has lambasted Cliff Fletcher for how he has handled things…they are now winning.  Toronto is at .500 and only 6 points out of a playoff berth.  I suppose anything is possible.

Things in Montreal took a stranger turn as they expected to get Hossa and all they really got was a 2009 2nd round pick for trading Cristobal Huet.  Coach Carbonneau and GM Gainey have clashed all season on whether Carey Price was ready..well now he is going to have to be.  It turned out Pittsburgh got Hossa in a last minute deal and a player like Michael Ryder wasn’t dealt.  Ryder helped lead the Habs past Atlanta the other night in an impressive 5-1 victory.  Maybe not getting Hossa won’t hurt Montreal as much as people think.

The New Jersey Devils were surprisingly cautious and did not trade players like Gionta and Elias like some had expected.  Instead, they traded Cam Janssen to St. Louis for Bryce Salvador.  Sure that gives the Devils yet another defenseman, but they needed someone to clear players out of the crease besides Colin White and Salvador fits the bill.  The Devils could have used Salvador and his solid play Tuesday night as they fell 2-1 to Carolina in overtime on a play that never should have been a goal.  Andy Greene tried to play the puck and forgot the person.  Sergei Samsonov slipped by just enough to shovel his own rebound in.  Greene will be benched tomorrow for Salvador….consider it lesson learned.

Teams like Calgary and Vancouver were more or less content on staying put…though Vancouver did move Matt Cooke for Matt Pettinger.  Both teams have well established goalies and appear to be willing to ride out what they have in their quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup.  So why does a team like Boston get such a hard time in media circles?  Because they had the deal in their grasp and lost it…over 1 contract year…that has to bite.  Then to do nothing to help your team because of it…I call that a double whammy.  I really do think Boston may be in danger of missing the playoffs entirely due to the lack of activity.

Lastly, I wrote a little while back on the fact that I wasn’t that impressed with Detroit…well what do you know…the injury bug hit the vets.  Chelios, Rafalski, Hasek…etc…have all gone down with various ailments.  Age can creep up on you but luckily they have enough time to get healthy but the age and goaltending remains an issue.  I wonder if Holland goes after a #1 netminder in the offeseason.  Well, all in all, it was a very interesting trade deadline maybe more for what didn’t happen than what did.

Trade Deadline Fun!!!

The deed has been done…they day is now over…here is what happened.

TRADES AND SIGNINGS THAT HAPPENED TODAY!!

– Mike Comrie resigned 1 year…4 million with the Isles.
– Actual Trade: Bryce Salvador to New Jersey and Cam Janssen goes to St. Louis.
– Wade Belak goes to Florida for a 5th round 08 draft pick.
– Defenseman Brian Campbell to San Jose for Steve Bernier and a 2008 first round pick.
– Brad Richards goes to Dallas…also going with him will be goalie Johan Holmqvist…Tampa gets goalie Mike Smith, center Jeff Halpern and winger Jussi Jokinen and a 4th round pick.
– Goalie Cristobal Huet has been traded to Washington for a second round pick in the 09 draft.
– Andrew Ladd has been traded from the Canes to the Blackhawks for Tuomo Ruutu.
– The Colorado Avalanche have acquired Ruslan Salei from the Panthers for Karlis Skrastins and a third round pick.
– Chicago has moved Martin Lapointe to Ottawa….Chicago return a 6th round 2008 pick.
– Colorado acquires Adam Foote from Columbus…for a first round conditional pick and more.
– Sergei Fedorov has been traded to Washington…..for defenseman Ted Ruth.
– Rob Davison has been traded to the Isles from the Sharks for a 7th round pick in 08.
– Washington traded Matt Pettinger for Vancouver’s Matt Cooke.
– Toronto trades Hall Gill to the Pens….. for a 2nd rounder and 5th rounder in 09.
– Backman to the New York Rangers….Blues get a 4th rounder in return.
– WOW! The big one. Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Pens….for Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito, and a first round 2008 pick.
– Chris Simon to the Minnesota Wild for a 6th round pick.
– Brad Stuart has been traded to the Detroit Red Wings…Kings get back a 2nd and 4th rounder.
– Chad Kilger has been traded to Florida for a third round draft pick.
– Sjostrom, Leneveau and Josh Gratton going to the New York Rangers for Al Montoya and Marcel Hossa.
– Marc-Andre Bergeron has been traded to the Ducks for a 3rd round pick.
– JS Aubin has been traded for a 7th round draft pick to the Anaheim Ducks.
– Joe Motzko has been traded from the Thrashers to the Caps for Alexandre Giroux.
– Jan Hlavac was moved to Nashville for a 7th round pick.
– Brandon Bochenski traded to Nashville for future considerations.

ANALYSIS OF TRADES:

– Devils bolster their defensive depth with stay at home defenseman Salvador while Janssen goes home to St. Louis to add some grit to the Blues lineup.
– Florida finally gets a fighter that they need to add some physicality to the mix.
– Campbell does indeed get dealt and the San Jose blue line gets that much stronger with a QB on the Power Play. Buffalo gets a good forward with upside and a much coveted first rounder in this year’s draft.
– Dallas gets the center of attention they feel they need and a decent backup in Holmqvist…they do give up on Smith and Jokinen though. But you have to give to get something in the trade deadline.
– This is a precursor for bigger things in Montreal but you have to give major points for Washington in securing a #1 netminder with very good upside. And they only gave up a second rounder to boot.
– Carolina wanted more grit well they got it and Ladd provides Chicago with a little punch.
– The Avs get bigger on defense but they do get a little slower while the Panthers make a pretty smart trade in getting a vet like Skrastins.
– Ottawa gets a little stingier with Lapointe and for next to nothing…not bad.
– Colorado gets the old boys together as Foote helps them out on the defensive end….but pays for it with a conditional first rounder. An 08 if Avs make playoffs and an 09 if they don’t…plus Columbus gets another pick if Foote resigns with Avs…not as good of a move as it first looked to be.
– Fedorov provides a bit of veteran leadership to Washington as they try to win the Southeast…and trade not much for him.
– Isles needed defenseman help….and get a bit here. Just some depth to help the injuries mounting on the D side.
– Cooke provides the Caps with a little grit…it makes me wonder why the Canucks would do such a deal.
– The Pens get a big physical d-man but for a couple picks…a curious price to say the least but he will help in his own end.
– Rangers get a pretty good one with some upside….and the Blues get a decent pick.
– The Pens make 2 trades..the second one being an even bigger risk than the first one will be interesting one way or the other for Shero. Hossa will provide them with undeniable offensive punch…but trading away some of these character guys may hurt the Pens in the long run. A very curious move and if you are Montreal, why trade Huet now? But that is second guessing.
– Why Minnesota why? That is all I will say. I do not get it at all.
– Stuart gives the Wings some much needed defensive depth given all the injuries the Wings have sustained.
– A bit of a curious move for a third rounder but Florida does get a pretty good vet.
– Maloney had to give up a bit to get Montoya…hopefully he thinks it is worth it because I think Sjostrom could be pretty darn good.
– Isles did not like Bergeron of late but maybe the Ducks can turn him around…Bergeron will help some on the Power Play.
– I don’t get this one at all Burke….I just don’t.
– Another trade that seemed just a trade for trade’s sake.
– Hlavac will help the Preds just a little bit but the Preds seemed content to stay out of the fray on this trade deadline.
– I guess Bochenski was just interchangeable parts for Burke.

Friday Rumor Mills And More

With the trade deadline now about 100 hours away, it is time to see what is cooking in the NHL as the GM’s head for a weekend that could make or break some of their trade possibilities and maybe open up some new doors as well.  This is the latest after digging around various sites, Canadian Radio Stations, television, and more.

According to TSN, interim GM Cliff Fletcher did ask Leafs forward Mats Sundin for a list of teams he would like to play for.  Now he did stop short of asking him to waive his no trade clause.   Sundin, no doubt, has all the control here.  The question is how much does he exert. Will he stay with the Leafs or will he go to a team of his choosing which will also hamper Fletcher’s ability to get a good return?  Those seem to be the only two options right now.  The third is Fletcher actually getting Sundin to go where he wants him to on the first try.  Now you know that is not going to happen.   So stay tuned, this story will only get juicier come Monday.

The rumors in Tampa are not going away anytime soon.  Yes, Vaclav Prospal is almost certain to be traded at this point.  It is just a question of who and right now it seems the Devils are at the front of the list but even the Pens are making a late push along with several other teams.  I am honestly leaning to one of the several other teams at this time as the GM’s of Pittsburgh and New Jersey do not appear to be wanting to make a big move just yet.  Also, the latest of Dan Boyle and Brad Richards…is that there is much more to report on the Richards front as Boyle is still talking with Tampa management about a new contract.  Two Columbus scouts were indeed seen at a recent Tampa game.  The sources that spotted them were independent and one was a good friend of mine who works for the St. Pete Times.  So could Richards go to Columbus???  Don’t be shocked.

Well not quite done with Tampa yet…Tampa could be in full sell mode at this point especially if they do sign Dan Boyle.  That will not only accelerate the Richards process but also some other players may be making their way out.  Chris Gratton, Filip Kuba, and Jan Hlavac could also be on the move.  I could see Gratton being the most likely to be moved out of the three at he is a good veteran centerman who is still pretty decent at faceoffs.  He would make a nice role player for a contending team at the deadline.

Last but not least, it definitely now appears the Kings are not done selling.  More than one report I have seen has Tom Preissing heading out of Los Angeles….maybe even back to San Jose as soon as Monday.  Several other players are rumored to be on the block but Preissing is the only one to be prominently mentioned on Puck Podcast and other shows as a possibility.  He is a great defensive defenseman who could really help a contender.

Well this deadline is starting to heat up and with a weekend full of hockey games and more shifting in the standings….it is only going to get hotter.   By Monday, who knows what will happen.  One thing is for sure…I will be here at my own little “media central” ready for any and all carnage that takes place.  Have a good weekend! 

My Favorite NHL Tough Guy Goal Scorers

Special Thanks to my buddy Pedro for the blog idea, but in my mind there is nothing more quintessential hockey then a guy who can bang in the corners and put the puck in the net.  There was no need to waste a bench space on a goon for these guys.   I’ve tried to put a couple older guys that I obviously never saw play to prove a point, but everyone from the 80’s on are my personal favorites so send along guys you’d put on the list…I’ll also send a signed 8 x 10 glossy of myself to anyone that can give me a European that belongs here…

Gordie Howe

Mr. Hockey and the creator of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight)  compiled 1,685 PIM to go along with his 1,850 points in 1,767 games. 

Dino Ciccarrelli

He even looked the part of total badass. 1,200 points and 1,429 PIM in 1,200+ games proves it.

 Cam Neely

Man if you have never seen this guy fight check out nhlfights.com but in his shortened career he racked up 694 pts and 1,241 PIM in 726 games.  My personal favorite!

Terry O’Reilly

He’s here on reputation as he’s before my time, but 2,095 PIM and 606 pts in 891 games backs it up.

Brendan Shanahan

Forget the numbers (1,294 pts 2,425 PIM in 1,418 games), if you saw him pick the fight with Donald Brashear leading the Rangers to a much needed win last season, then you understand.

Eddie Shore

Very old school, but my grandfather’s favorite player who knew I thing or two about hockey. 284 pts, 1037 PIM in 553 games as a defenseman, solid.

Gary Roberts

Not sure how he’s still doing it at 41, but Sid and company sure are learning a thing or two about the NHL from this guy. 887 pts ,2493 PIM in 1166 games.

 Tie Domi

Okay he’s a goon fighter, but guess who scored 104 career goals and 141 assists in the NHL while racking up 3,515 PIM in 1,024 career games? The most feared fighter of all time.  That’s a lot of pucks in the net if you ask me.

Honorable Mentions: Dale Hunter, Bobby Clarke, Wendel Clark, Adam Graves, Clark Gilles, Scott Stevens