Leafs Nation Live

Game Day One Timers From Around The City

Posted by leafsnationlive on November 10, 2009

Jonas Gustavsson appears to have taken the reigns as the Leafs number one goalie

Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun has an article up on the promotion of John Mitchell. Derek’s Details: Mitchell had a strong rookie year, and started slow this season before this demotion to play with Phil Kessel has seemingly awaken him. Mitchell is a good, level headed guy who makes some good points in this interview.

Hornby returns here with another article, this time looking at the possibility of a second team in Toronto, and what it means to the Leafs. Derek’s Details: Haven’t we all heard enough of this? Either get a second team in here, or don’t. But quit talking about it one way or another. I don’t personally ever recall the Leafs saying they had a veto on a move like this. I think Buffalo would be the most hurt if an NHL team were to move to, say, Hamilton.

With the Minnesota Wild in town tonight, Lance Hornby (what a busy guy) takes a look at the relationship between the Leafs Cliff Fletcher, and his son, current Wild GM, Chuck. Derek’s Details: Widely regarded as one of the smarter young men in the front offices, Chuck Fletcher’s first year as GM hasn’t gone according to plan early on. There is some good information in this article about the relationship between the two of them, an interesting read.

Paul Hunter has a look at the recent demotion of Matt Stajan. Derek’s Details: As usual, Stajan is taking it with class as always, putting the team first. I personally don’t get all the Stajan hate. He is a solid third line guy who can kill penalties and is a leader in the locker room. The fact he is not a top six forward is more the fault of Leafs management putting him in that role. Stajan will skate with Wayne Primeau and Colton Orr tonight against Minnesota.

Damien Cox has a positive article up about the Leafs defense sharing the work load. Derek’s Details: Many called me an eternal optimist when I said the Leafs defense just needed a little while to get used to each other. And while I don’t dispute the notion of being that optimist, it’s clear this group is getting more and more comfortable with each other, and Ron Wilson’s system with each passing game.

Paul Hunter takes a look at the Leafs goaltending situation, and how the job is Jonas Gustavsson’s to lose. Derek’s Details: I was at the game Saturday night in person, and I can tell you first hand that the legend of the Monster is growing which each passing save. Gustavsson was solid in shutting down the Wings offense, and the crowd loved it. He will start tonight, and he certainly deserves to.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Jonas Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild, NHL, NHL rumours, NHL Trades, Toronto Maple Leafs | Leave a Comment »

Thoughts From Hall Of Fame Weekend In Toronto

Posted by leafsnationlive on November 9, 2009

The view from our seats as myself, along with five Leafs fans outnumbered the two Red Wings fans we were with Saturday night.

Apologies or not posting something on Saturday night’s game sooner. It was a special weekend in Toronto, a special weekend for hockey, and I simply decided to enjoy it as a fan.

Without further delay, here is my first hand recollection from the Hall Of Fame game I attended in person Saturday night between the Leafs and Red Wings.

–The new improvements to the Air Canada Centre are unbelievable. It’s so bright and inviting with the many HD screens located outside the building, inside the concourse, and of course the new score clock. The Maple Leafs Square looks very cool as well, though I wouldn’t even want to wager a guess at what a condo right across from the Air Canada Centre would cost.

–There was a really nice mix there of Leafs fans as well as those representing the Red Wings. The crowd was into the game all night, and having fans of both teams in attendance made for a fun atmosphere.

–The Leafs organization did the Hall Of Fame ceremony really well. About ten minutes before they brought out this year’s inductees, they aired video of all the inductees up to this point. Of course the biggest cheers went out for Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, Darryl Sittler, and Wayne Gretzky.

–Seeing all the past Hall Of Fame inductees on the ice was pretty cool. Though some of us questioned why Sittler and Howe weren’t in attendance, there were big cheers for your Red Wings and Leafs representatives, guys like Scotty Bowman and Johnny Bower.

–Brett Hull got a good cheer, definitely the least loudest of the group however. It was a very touching moment to see Brett and his father, Bobby, embrace on the ice with a long hug. Brian Leetch got a good reception as well, and there were even a few Leafs jerseys sporting his name on the back throughout the crowd.

–Luc Robitaille got a real good reception. Luc has always been one of the nicer guys in the NHL, so it’s no surprise he got the reception he did.

–By far the biggest ovation of the night (and the only time the entire building rose to their feet during this ceremony) was for Steve Yzerman. And while it was a reception certainly helped by the Red Wing fans in attendance, there were plenty of Leafs fans standing and cheering just as loudly as everyone else for Stevie Y. Certainly part of this is due to his involvement with Team Canada, but there is no doubt there are those who simply appreciated Yzerman, no matter what jersey he wore. I know as a die-hard Leafs fan, I could honestly say Steve Yzerman was my favourite player of my generation. A true class act, it’s hard to find someone who can say something bad about Yzerman.

–Onto the game itself, which was pure joy for Leafs fans in attendance. Both teams had their chances early and took turns dictating the pace before Wayne Primeau snapped home his first as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Draper blew a tire in the neutral zone, which allowed Primeau to get in on a two-on-one and convert. Judging by his reaction, he was clearly excited to get his first on home ice.

–Leafs fans seemed happy and content, almost bubbly, to actually be going into the first intermission with a lead. Then, it finally happened. It may not be one for the highlight reel, but Phil Kessel got his first as a member of the Leafs, the weight of getting number one is off, and the crowd went absolutely nuts. Everyone was standing and cheering, and stood for a standing ovation again as Andy Frost announced his name as the goal scorer. There were a lot of Phil Kessel jerseys in the crowd.

–Jeff Finger? Who knew?! Finger jumped into the rush and deposited the puck behind Osgood, finishing off a nice give and go with Stempniak and Stajan. A very nice rush from these three as a Leafs penalty was ending.

–John Mitchell’s goal was a popular one as well. Leafs fans were pretty pumped all night until Cleary scored to make it 3-1 early in the third. Then, to be honest, everyone got a little nervous. But those were calmed seemingly minutes later. The Leafs survived a five-on-three, and then Detroit took a bench minor, and that was a turning point in the game. It allowed the Leafs to push back after the PK and not only gain some momentum, but a goal in the form of a John Mitchell tip. Ron Wilson must be grinning from ear to ear. After proclaiming he was putting Mitchell with Kessel to get them going, Mitchell has looked reborn, and Wilson looks somewhat like a genius.

–Ponikarovsky salted the game off with a weak backhand, which only intensified the Leafs fans mocking chants of “Osgood.”

–Overall a great game to attend, from the pre-game ceremonies to the actual way the Leafs came to play on this night. I thought they did an excellent job of getting into the lanes and blocking shots. Not to mention the play of Jonas Gustavsson was certainly “Monster” like. Gustavsson was awarded a trophy following the game as the Hall Of Fame night MVP, something he certainly earned. His legend is growing by the save.

–Very cool thing during a commercial break to that I was unaware of until Saturday night. Luke Schenn, in his rookie year, set up a charity called Luke’s Troops. With this charity, Luke buys tickets and donates them to members of the Canadian Army. On this night a young man was there (I didn’t hear his name) and when announced was given a standing ovation. A very emotional night as the young soldier got a little choked up, and the crowd gave him all the adulation he deserved for being such a brave man.

–The game ended with Leafs fans going crazy, most everyone stayed to see Gustavsson get the MVP trophy. After the game fans piled into the exits and into the escalators, and while there was a nice energy, it was a little quiet as fans navigated their way down the escalator. That changed however once you got into the concourse. There were large groups of fans chanting “go leafs go” at the top of their lungs.

It was a Saturday night in Toronto, after a Leafs win no less. One could argue that there is no better place.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Detroit Red Wings, Hockey Hall Of Fame, Leafs Nation Live, NHL, NHL rumours, NHL trade rumours, Toronto Maple Leafs | Leave a Comment »

A Friday Morning Look Around The City

Posted by leafsnationlive on November 6, 2009

Phil Kessel will skate on a line with John Mitchell tonight as the Leafs battle the Hurricanes

Mike Zeisberger has an article in today’s Toronto Sun looking at what he has dubbed the battle for 29th, as the Leafs get set to battle the Hurricanes tonight in Carolina. Derek’s Details: No matter what the standings read, I still look at any team that has a player like Eric Staal as being dangerous. That being said, the injuries may be simply catching up the Canes, and it may be a good time for Toronto to get some confidence.
“The Zize” has another article appearing in the same Sun looking at Nazem Kadri’s progression in the OHL. Derek’s Details: After starting a little slow, Kadri now has a healthy goal and point streak going, and has added an edge to his game that makes him a nasty dude to play against. The Leafs can be nothing but impressed with his season to date in the OHL.
Jeff Finger wants to be sent down. According to Finger, he says being in the AHL will save him cash, as players in the AHL with a one way NHL deal get nothing taken off their paycheque and put into the league’s escrow system. Derek’s Details: Well, that’s a little alarming. Certainly Finger can’t be happy about being in the press box over the past few games, but there is something that screams concern over the fact that Finger seems more interesting in saving money than he is playing hockey games. Finger, though overpaid, was one guy I really enjoyed watching last year, and tonight he draws back into the lineup as he and Exelby continue their platoon for the sixth defenseman spot.
According to Andy Strickland of ESPN Radio, the Maple Leafs may be considering placing oft-scratched forward Jamal Mayers on waivers. Strickland notes that there would likely be teams interested, as Mayers would bring toughness and leadership to teams. Derek’s Details: This appears the only logical step, though if there is interest, I am sure Burke may peddle him for any sort of draft pick before exposing him to the waiver wire. If Mayers wasn’t picked up immediately, he would most certainly be gone on re-entry waivers. Mayers is a good guy, better yet, a great guy. He does tons of charity work, is light in the room and keeps his teammates pretty loose, but it just is a matter of the numbers game right now for Jamal in Toronto and a move may be beneficial for both parties involved at this point.

There’s some quick early morning notes for you. Be sure to check back to the site often as we get ready for the Leafs@Hurricanes tonight on LeafsTV. We’re also giving away another pair of platinum Toronto Marlies tickets during the game

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Leafs Hit Road To Battle Hurricanes Amid Own Storm Clouds

Posted by leafsnationlive on November 5, 2009

Jeff Finger will draw back into the lineup Friday against Carolina

The Toronto Maple Leafs were back on the ice today, practicing with some different line combinations, particularly the one that will feature newcomer Phil Kessel.

Kessel, after spending game one in a Leafs uniform on a line with Matt Stajan, will get a chance to play alongside John Mitchell this Friday in Carolina. The move comes, according to head coach Ron Wilson, in an effort to get the second year centre going. Mitchell is goalless so far this season, with just five assists to show for his efforts.

Kessel was far and away the best player on the ice for either team on Tuesday as the Leafs lost a hard fought game 2-1 in overtime.

Getting away from the not-so-friendly confines of the Air Canada Centre may do the Leafs wonders, for more reasons than one the obvious, that being the fact that the team is winless so far on home ice.

But even further is the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs today became the second known hockey organization to admit to getting their H1N1 shots, which has outraged many in the general public, who feel the sports team has jumped the line due to their status as professional athletes.

According to NHL on TSN insider Darren Dreger, the Leafs admit fully to getting the shots, though they also admit to no wrong doing in terms of how the acquired the vaccines.

News broke last night that members of the Leafs and the Marlies, the teams AHL affiliate, were given the needles following Tuesday’s game against the Lightning. It was earlier today that the team acknowledged they got the shot based on the fact that they believed the room to be contaminated.

According to team sources, both Tyler Bozak and Andre Deveraux have been bedridden and quarantined with what they believe is the H1N1 virus. Furthering the paranoia is the fact that Jiri Tlusty, a recent call up to the Maple Leafs, is also reporting symptoms believed to be associated with the virus, which led the Leafs to feel it necessary for them to get the shots due to the fact that they felt at higher risk.

For their part, the Ontario Health Minister is outraged at the fact that the Leafs were allowed to get the shot, which is in high demand right now among everyone. Ontario says they will launch a probe into how the members of the Maple Leafs were allowed to jump queue, and how they acquired the much sought after vaccinations.

Kessel Officially Arrives As Leafs Lose in OT

Posted by leafsnationlive on November 4, 2009

Phil Kessel was held off the scoresheet, but looked impressive in his Leafs debut

It’s another night, and another overtime loss. A hard fought effort where the Leafs perhaps deserved a better fate. A night where perhaps the final goal of the night shouldn’t have counted. A night where, perhaps we got a true glimpse of what the future may in fact hold for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I know, it’s getting a little redundant to sit here and speak about the positives after a losing game. But hey, it’s not my fault. Tell the Leafs to close one of these games out and we can all talk about something else.

The Leafs now have a five game point streak going, where they have collected six of a possible ten points, the latest coming last night on an overtime loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Lightning forward Ryan Malone scored a somewhat disputed goal to end the contest.

But it wasn’t all bad news for Toronto.

As in the case with all of the games following a scheduling gap that gave them one full week off, the Leafs have been a better team, and tonight was no different.

Just quickly, it was also good news for those in attendance at Boston Pizza on Yonge Street watching the game. They were hoping so much for a Leafs win that if the Buds lost, they would give out a free pizza to those in in the restaurant. Looks like they gave out around 100 pies.

Not only were the Leafs arguably the better team, but they also had one player in particular who dominated tonight every time he was on the ice (well, almost every time.)

He skated hard, flying past (most) opponents. He had great opportunities to score, but couldn’t buy a goal. He showed a ton of heart by pulling himself off the mat after this crunch by Matthias Ohlund.

He, represents a big chunk of the Maple Leafs future going forward. And if tonight was any indication of what Leafs Nation has to look forward to, he will be welcomed with open arms.

His name, is Phil Kessel.

Playing in his first game since being acquired by the Leafs from Boston for three quality draft choices this past September, Kessel looked as fast and dangerous as ever.

He attempted 19 shots, ten found their way to the net.

He played with a sort of confidence that we haven’t seen from a Leafs player since..well, since big #13 left a few seasons ago.

He didn’t score. There’s no denying he wasn’t found anywhere on the scoresheet. But no one with an unbiased opinion could say that the guy didn’t deserve to be.

It was early. It was only one game. But it looks like Phil Kessel will be a hungry sniper for us every night, trying to prove he was worth the contract and draft picks that were moved to acquire him.

Further more, despite being only 21 years old, he looks like someone the other players can attach themselves to. Almost looking up to him (which is a figure of speech if you’ve ever stood beside the guy.)

Kessel had the attention of his teammates on the bench, and on the ice, where they were all trying to raise their game to his level. His mere presence made this team just a little better last night.

Lost perhaps in all the Phil Kessel hoopla was the play of Jonas Gustavsson, who once again gave the Leafs a chance to win the hockey game.

Every night since making his regular season debut, Gustavsson has given this team the chance to win, and is doing so all as a rookie in the National Hockey League.

And while I have always been a fan, and never once bashed the guy, I have to ask: How comfortable is that spot on the bench Vesa?

Other than to up his trade value, there is simply no reason to start Toskala, and no reason why we can’t assume Gustavsson is now our number one guy.

Can this last? Is this just a hot stretch for a goalie who has the advantage of shooters not knowing his ‘book’ so to speak?

Well, throw stats and age aside, and I think we see a goalie who will be solid between the pipes for years to come. His positioning on deflections and tips is solid. His reactions are also good (aside from last night’s opening goal.)

And not that it matters, because everyone reacts differently, and I am not accusing Vesa Toskala of not caring, but Gustavsson shows it with every goal.

The guy hates to lose. Hates to give up a single goal.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and more specifically Brian Burke worked very hard in the offseason. Laying groundwork to bring in new guys. He reportedly worked extremely hard to bring in two specifically.

Their names were Phil Kessel and Jonas Gustavsson.

And so far, it’s easy for Leafs Nation to see why.

It’s a rebuild. No one said it would be easy. No one said it would be fast and pain free. But for tonight, we got a chance to see where this team perhaps truly is, what with a legitimate number one goalie and a true top six sniping forward.

There will still be many bumps in the road no doubt, but it’s hard not to at least get a little excited about the latest developments. If nothing else, it looks like we will have fun watching Kessel and Gustavsson for the next few years.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Leafs Nation, Leafs Nation Live, NHL, Phil Kessel, Phil Kessel hit, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs | Leave a Comment »

Toronto Marlies Platinum Ticket giveaway!

Posted by leafsnationlive on November 2, 2009

You could be seeing Tyler Bozak up close and personal by entering our contest for a chance to win platinum Toronto Marlies tickets!

If you follow us on Twitter, you know by now that we opened up a contest today for a pair of platinum Toronto Marlies tickets for a game against the Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado’s AHL affiliate) on December 27th, 2009!

Here is a quick update on how the contest will work.

For those who have entered the contest by re-tweeting something on Twitter, you will receive a direct message from Leafs Nation Live tomorrow night at the very beginning of the first intermission of the Leafs/Lightning game.

That direct message will contain a special, unique password. As soon as you get your password, you come to this website, where there will be a new contests and giveaway page. Click on that page and enter your password. If your password opens the page, you’ve won the tickets! Simple as that!

After you’ve won the tickets, feel free to get in touch with me through direct message on Twitter, or through the email addresses listed on the “about the author” page, with your mailing information and the tickets are yours!

Just a reminder though, once the contest passwords are sent at the beginning of the first intermission, you only have until the 10:00 minute mark of the second period to claim the tickets. If the winning name does not claim the tickets in the allocated time, a new password will be given out to the remaining contestants, who will have a chance to unlock the page!

Not a follower on Twitter and still want to get in on the contest? No problem!

Simply plug your email information into the comment box below, or email me, and you will also be entered to get a password and a chance to win platinum Toronto Marlies tickets!

But hurry, the deadline for people to enter will be tomorrow at 6 PM.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Leafs Nation Live, NHL, NHL rumours, Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Maple Leafs prospects, Toronto Maple Leafs rumours, toronto maple leafs tickets, Toronto Marlies | Leave a Comment »

Leafs Effort Is There, But End Result Eludes

Posted by leafsnationlive on October 31, 2009

gustavsson_jonas_courtesy_260 You know, sometimes inspiration can be found in weird places. I mean, here we are, about three weeks into the season, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling out of the gate to say the least. And really, while there should be tons of notes to take and opinions to make as to why they are struggling, fact of the matter is, I haven’t a clue why.

Truth be told, maybe this team just isn’t as good as everyone thought they were after a solid pre-season that perhaps raised expectations a few notches. Truth be told, maybe this team isn’t any better than the one that stepped on the ice last year.

But really, that can’t be it.

I mean, despite their early struggles, there is no doubt Francois Beauchemin and Mike Komisarek are upgrades on defense. Garnet Exelby is a physical guy who has made a mark early. And Jonas Gustavsson, after running into early injury troubles, has rebounded nicely and looked good so far in the games this week against Anaheim, Dallas and Buffalo.

In fact, the whole team has rebounded quite nicely. After getting their first win of the season (and only win of the season) against the Ducks on Monday night in California, the entire Leafs team seems to have turned the corner and are putting together better results.

Perhaps the product of confidence that comes with actually winning a game. Perhaps the product of new players finally getting more comfortable in their new uniforms and within their new Ron Wilson style systems.

Either way, as me and my son spent the week celebrating Halloween (arguably our favourite holiday) one thing became very, very clear to me.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are beginning to look a lot like Charlie Brown.

What with the getting rocks for Halloween, or thinking this may actually be the time they get to kick that football.

You see, it appears the Leafs are a better team than they were once the season began, again a product of chemistry no doubt. But will this year’s team ever be able to kick the proverbial football?

Toronto is a media driven city. It’s very hard for the players of this team to do anything without it being noted by members of the media. The FAN590 did report that Jamal Mayers did in fact eat at the Burger Bar on Augusta yesterday. For the record, he gave the burgers 4 and a half stars.

Ok, so the above was a little fictitious, but you get the idea.

And while it certainly has never been my job to pump up the media even more than it already is, I really can’t help it this time.

It happened last season. It’s happening this season.

You see, there were times last year when the Toronto Maple Leafs played well enough to win games, but simply couldn’t find that game breaking goal to tie the game or put them on top. It looked as though the team was a pure sniper away from perhaps making a little more noise than they did. Well, that and goaltending of course.

Fast forward to 2009, and it looks like the goaltending situation has been taken care of. One can’t jump to conclusions but it looks like Jonas Gustavsson is capable of making saves and keeping us in games. He also doesn’t look intimidated going into contests, and the team in front of him has reacted accordingly.

And again, for the most part, the efforts are there.

The Leafs are starting to skate faster, hit harder, past crisper, and show more poise and confidence with the puck (case in point, Lee Stempniak actually concluded a breakaway. Not successfully, but the shot and effort was there.)

And so looking at this year, it looks again like the team is a pure goal scorer short of making things at least a little interesting.

Enter Phil Kessel.

Not too much pressure right?

Actually, I don’t think the pressure will be as much on Phil as it was, say two weeks ago.

The Leafs actually have a win, and look at there, before you know it they are racking up a few points despite the recent losses. They now have 5 points in 11 games, which is not exactly a number to be proud of, but the overtime loss points have helped them dig out of the hole a little bit.

Tomas Kaberle is firing on all cylinders. Niklas Hagman is proving why the Leafs gave him a four year deal last summer. Mikhail Grabovski has finally come to play, and Lee Stempniak looks like a player reborn.

So hopefully, Phil Kessel does not feel nearly as much pressure as he would going into his first game now that the Leafs have a few points, and some better efforts to speak of in the last few games.

The big question now remains, who will be the centre that plays with Phil Kessel, the set-up man?

For this, I say, look a little further down the ice. In fact, it may not be the man you would traditionally think.

The Leafs do have a premiere set up man for Phil Kessel. But he isn’t a forward.

His name is Tomas Kaberle.

The Czech born blueliner, is one of the best passers in the game, whether it be tape-to-tape in the attacking zone, or springing a player with a stretch pass out of the zone.

Kaberle has 13 points,12 of which are assists. Seeing him deliver stretch passes to the speedy Kessel would certainly help the Leafs to score more goals and be more competitive in the game ahead.

An update on tonight’s game against Montreal

After last night’s heartbreaking loss in Buffalo, the Leafs held an optional practice today. Only a handful of players took to the ice. Kessel, Mayers, Rosehill, Finger, Schenn, Beauchemin, and Toskala were on the ice.

Jonas Gustavsson watched practice from the bench, and while Ron Wilson has been quiet on tonight’s starter, though it looks like Toskala will get the start.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Hockey NIght In Canada, Jonas Gustavsson, Maple Leafs goalies, Montreal Canadiens, NHL, NHL prospects, NHL rumours, NHL Trades, Phil Kessel, Ron Wilson, Toronto Maple Leafs | Leave a Comment »

Things To Think About As Leafs Set Record For Futility

Posted by leafsnationlive on October 25, 2009

Joey MacDonald played well last night, but it wasn't enough as the Leafs lost 2-1

Another night. Another loss. At least we can say in this one we saw a glimpse of heart.

After controlling the bulk of the play in the second and third period the Leafs still couldn’t find a way to solve Roberto Luongo (few can) and the result; a 2-1 loss at GM place at the hands of the Canucks.

The Leafs are now off to their worst start in franchise history, and this week isn’t looking kind to them schedule wise. There is, however, some good news on the horizon.

It looks as though “The Monster” Jonas Gustavsson will be ready to take on Brian Burke’s old team, the Anaheim Ducks, this coming Monday night. It would also appear that sniper Phil Kessel, will be ready to go by November 3rd, but as noted earlier this week, the Leafs will certainly exercise caution in getting Kessel back in action.

And while it’s very possible that this team will enter Hockey Night In Canada with a record 0-10-1, I personally predict we will see the Leafs in the win column by the end of the week, and a big game by Gustavsson, combined with the timing of Brian Burke making his return to Anaheim, and it may make for the perfect time to break the goose egg for the Leafs.

The Leafs had a full week off to diagnose the problems that ails them, and while it didn’t come on the scoreboard, there were some positives things to say about this team, particularly in the third period when they controlled the flow of the game.

Still, it’s getting to the point where “good efforts” are no longer things the players, nor the fans, are willing to hang their hats on. As we near the end of October, Leafs Nation is hungry for a win. Just one win, which will hopefully get the ball rolling.

And don’t kid yourselves, the players want it to. It’s not only a monkey, it’s more of a 1000 gorilla carried on all of their backs.

Everywhere they go through the city, they are reminded of their atrocious start. As much as they try not to, they can’t help but see the sports section in the paper, or hear it on the news. They know what they need to do. Now it’s time to go out and do it.

And now, a new Sunday morning staple, things to think about..

Luke Schenn played a career low 10 minutes and change last night. There had been rumblings all week Schenn may end up in the pressbox for this contest, but he did get the start and played a bit more of a physical game for the Leafs. He did contribute to the parade of penalties the Leafs took in the first (six in a row) and while it wasn’t a bad game for Luke Schenn, he is clearly fighting it, looking to hit his groove and get into the swing of things early in this season.

Joey MacDonald played as admirably as one could possibly expect of him. MacD made some big saves for the Leafs when they were in a 2-0 hole, which allowed the team to have a chance in this game. Not sure if he will ever be any team’s “answer” goalie, but the Leafs are lucky to have a goaltender like MacDonald in their depth pool in between the pipes. MacDonald is a very serviceable goalie.

Niklas Hagman got the team going tonight with a goal that cut the lead to 2-1. I have been a fan of Hagman since his time in Dallas, and he was one my list a few years ago when I did an article on who the Leafs should sign in the off season. If he can stay healthy, I think Hagman can have another 20 plus goal season.

Mike Komisarek’s season so far has been a microcosm of the Maple Leafs season as a whole. One step forward, two steps back. It seems every time Komisarek does something noteworthy, he then does something detrimental to the team and their chances of winning the game. Komisarek admitted last week to Bill Watters that he may be pressing too hard, trying to do too much. Here is hoping he can find his game this week as the Leafs play a few games far away from home.

Guys like Jamal Mayers really need to step up their game if they want to be a part of this team much longer in my opinion. Even in small doses, Mayers was ineffective as a fourth liner. The only time he appears on the game sheet is when he took a penalty. And while he was trying to stir things up for his team, he was simply bad tonight and had a few bad turnovers. He needs to be careful, particularly with guys like Hanson and Bozak nipping at his heels.

Lastly, does Lee Stempniak have unflattering pictures or incriminating information about Ron Wilson or Brian Burke? In 8 games this season, Stempniak has one point and is a minus 4.

The Question

Each and every day I get questions from fans through my email account, as well as Twitter. I answer every question personally, so feel free to get in touch with me at anytime.

Aside from answering every question personally and as promptly as possible, I also pick one question every week that I can further elaborate on here in this Sunday article “Things To Think About..”

This week’s question comes from Twitter follower ODurkin: “What do you make of the Giguere to Toronto rumours?”

Well, first things first. J.S. Giguere makes a boatload of money. And while the Leafs may have the cap space (assuming Toskala would go the other way) it’s still a lot of money to commit to a goalie. However, it’s obviously an area the Leafs need to commit to (perhaps.)

To look at this accurately, it must be looked at from both angles. First, from the Leafs.

Giguere would bring some familiarity to the Leafs. New GM Brian Burke is very familiar with “Giggy”, as is goalie coach Francois Allaire. Giguere is a big goalie who uses his size to his advantage, similar to what the Leafs hope Jonas Gustavsson will do once healthy.

Career numbers would suggest that Giguere would be an upgrade over Toskala.

From the Anaheim angle, it looks as though they appear ready to go with Jonas Hiller, as they should in my opinion. I got the chance to watch Hiller last year in a Western semifinal game against the Red Wings, and he impressed me with his skill and his attitude towards the game.

A move back to California may very well help Vesa Toskala regain his form. It’s appearing to look like Toronto has become a toxic environment, and a move out of town may in fact be the best thing for him.

However, the bottom line is, (and not to make excuses) but the number one and number two goalies are on the injured list, and the best offensive player hasn’t even stepped foot on the ice. I would be reluctant to hit the panic button yet, and that especially goes in goal.

While fans and players may never feel confident with Toskala in the nets behind them, the fact remains that we haven’t seen enough from Jonas Gustavsson to make a fair assessment of his game. Gustavsson played in one regular season game that he started, and despite losing to Ottawa, he looked great in using his size to cut off the angles on tips and deflections.

Until we see what Jonas Gustavsson can really give us (and as noted we may well see it as soon as Monday) I think you sit tight on goaltending. Do you really want to make a move which could have you cap strung if you already have a good goaltender on the team? Giguere also left last night’s game with a groin injury, which is really what ails the Leafs with their current stoppers.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: J.S. Giguere To Toronto, Joey MacDonald, NHL, NHL rumours, NHL Trades, Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs | Leave a Comment »

Thoughts On Van Ryn, Kessel, and Blacker PLUS gameday lines

Posted by leafsnationlive on October 17, 2009

Van Ryn proved effective during games with Toronto. Unfortunately they were few and far between

The Toronto Maple Leafs get back on the ice tonight as they play hosts to the team currently situated nicely at the top of the NHL standings, the New York Rangers.

Not exactly the type of task the winless Leafs were looking for.

The Leafs meanwhile, will have Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman back in the lineup. Both were healthy scratches the last time Toronto played a game, this past Tuesday in a loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Here are the Leafs lines for tonight’s game against New York. Nikolai Kulemin, Jamal Mayers, and Garnet Exelby are the healthy scratches.

Forwards

Ponikarovsky–Grabovski–Hagman

Stalberg–Stajan–Blake

Mitchell–Wallin–Stempniak

Rosehill–Primeau–Orr

Defense

Kaberle–Komisarek

Beauchemin–White

Schenn–Finger

Goal

Joey MacDonald

One player who won’t be in the lineup for Toronto for a very long time is Mike Van Ryn. The London, Ontario native who has had a terrible stretch of bad luck over the past two seasons, will sit out the entire 2009-2010 season as he is undergoing a serious knee surgery that may prove to be career threatening.

The official name of the procedure is an osteotomy, which is a surgery where the bone is cut and the knee is actually realigned. It is the same surgery Steve Yzerman had following the 2002 season.

Van Ryn spoke at length yesterday with members of the media, in which he admitted to talking with Yzerman about the surgery, it’s pro’s and con’s. He stated speaking with Yzerman made him feel more at peace with his decision, and more confident he would eventually get back to playing the game.

A 30 year old who will be coming off major knee surgery as he enters free agency this upcoming summer, Van Ryn spoke of the risks of having teams not willing to give him a chance once he is deemed fit to return, if he is deemed fit to return. He spoke, however, of bigger things than hockey. Things like quality of life as a human being going forward.

The news was brighter for another member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Phil Kessel, acquired from the Boston Bruins earlier in the pre-season, skated with his teammate yesterday. Kessel was participating in every drill that didn’t include contact.

By all eyewitness accounts, Kessel looked good during drills, despite being obviously a little rusty.

After the practice he was all smiles about getting to finally join new teammates. ”I skated yesterday, but by myself” said Kessel through a smile. ”Today was like the first real practice so it was fun. Glad to be back on the ice.”

Finally a quick word on Jesse Blacker, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect expected to start blogging live on this site in just a few weeks time.

News broke yesterday that Blacker had in fact gone home from the Windsor Spitfires and told team officials he wouldn’t return to the team, demanding a trade. In an interview with the Windsor Star, Blacker spoke of Windsor being a great organization, but stressed the fact that he simply wanted more playing time as he develops and continues to make strides towards become a professional hockey player.

An email sent to the Windsor Spitfires Public and Media relations groups were not returned as of this writing.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Jesse Blacker, Leafs Nation Live, MIke Van Ryn, NHL rumours, NHL Trades, Osteotomy, Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies, Windsor Spitfires | Leave a Comment »

The Leafs Could Use Help With A Little “Man Advantage”

Posted by leafsnationlive on October 15, 2009

Luke Schenn has struggled this year on Toronto, but he surely isn't alone.

As October quickly bleeds away from us, two things are certain. Number one, it’s getting quite cold outside. Number two, the reception for the Leafs during home games so far has been that much colder.

If you didn’t hear (please note the sarcasm) the Toronto Maple Leafs are marred in one of the worst starts in their storied history. To make matters worse? Well, the NHL schedule makers have Leafs games so spaced it, there is nothing to do but talk about the woeful state of the team.

As I sat the other night watching the third period of yet another embarrassing game, I was approached online by a friend who follows the sport as well, albeit one who’s allegiances lie with a different team. After we exchanged brief greetings, he asked me what just about every person I know has asked me in the past five to seven days.

“What the heck is wrong with the Toronto Maple Leafs”

That’s what he said. Or, something like that anyway. A few of the words may have gotten lost in translation.

And to be honest, I simply couldn’t tell him the answer.

A brand new year, the first full year for the illustrious Brian Burke. New players. Skaters who at the time looked tailor-made for this team (and I am not saying they still aren’t mind you.) All this leads to one thing. Expectation of a team that should be improved.

It started in June. Continued into July. And with a 6-3 pre-season record that saw the team play very well during the entire exhibition schedule, expectations were raised.

And perhaps expectation is the fly in the ointment if you will.

If you look at teams rebuilding, it is fair to say only Toronto has a group of fans who feel the rebuilding process is taking longer than it should.

After all, the Kings and Coyotes are off to fast starts. But there is no reason to believe they can continue these winning ways, just as there is no reason to believe the Leafs will continue to bomb this 2009-2010 season as bad as they are currently.

It’s about time. And it’s about basics. These two things will be the key to the Leafs turning this season around.

First up, time. Chemistry usually isn’t an instant thing.

Very rarely do teams, or players, who have undergone such upheaval as the Leafs, click this quickly. Despite having the longest pre-season schedule, this is very much still a maturation process between players, coaches, and management alike.

The second thing is basics.

Obviously it’s easier said than done as they are proving, but the Leafs simply need to nail down a win and get some darn confidence back. It’s a group that looks scared to play at home. They look terrified to give up that goal that will put them down on the scoreboard.

Simply put, they are forgetting why they are in the NHL in the first place.

To have fun, and play a game that they love.

For the most part, these are good players. They simply need to loosen up and get back to doing the little things that make each of them as a group effective. Reading today an article about what the Maple Leafs dressing room was like Saturday night after their loss to the Penguins.

Now, you certainly wouldn’t expect a locker room of professional athletes to be jovial following a thorough thumping, but a rebuilding team comes up short against the Stanley Cup Champions, and the group in Blue and White act as though there is no lower point.

It’s a very quiet room. It doesn’t look like any leader is stepping up to break the silence and jilt these players out of their slumber. Players are already avoiding media, and we’re only weeks into the season.

It has quickly become a toxic environment in Toronto for the players.

These guys need to loosen up and have some fun, and it isn’t like I am the only one who thinks this way.

For today’s practice, head coach Ron Wilson took a bit of an unconventional method to dealing with a team in a bad losing streak.

He brought out the dodgeballs!

Yes, I said it. For those who didn’t hear, the Leafs decided to have a game of shinny, play a shootout style drill, and finish up the practice with a game of dodgeball.

It’s only October. Clearly no one in Toronto is pushing the button, and fans shouldn’t either.

In fact, while I agree wholeheartedly on fans voicing their opinions, positive or negative, I think it’s time the fans in Toronto bring themselves to the forefront and become the Leafs seventh man.

It’s time to stop sitting on your hands. It’s time to stop waiting in the arena after puck drop for the first goal against. It’s time to stop sitting their talking pre-game and saying things like “how bad will it get tonight?”

After all, the Maple Leafs have some of the most dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate fans in the National Hockey League. It’s time to start acting like it.

It’s clear at this point these players don’t have the confidence to get things done with six men, so let’s give the Leafs a “man advantage” in the form of support.

I know it’s tough. I know you’re dissatisfied. But this is a call to all those who call themselves members of Leafs Nation.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help this team bring the pride back to Toronto. There is a heartbeat missin’ in the city as Sam Roberts would say.

It’s your call. Are you in, or out?

Good, strap on the skates. Jersey is hanging behind you.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Brian Burke, Leafs Nation Live, Leafs rumours, Leafs trades, Luke Schenn, NHL, NHL rumours, NHL Trades, Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs | Leave a Comment »

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