Leafs Fall to Wild
It started off as a fast paced and strong two-way game for both clubs, but the Maple Leafs just could not keep up with the Wild’s pressure for a full 60 minutes. Minnesota came into this game to make a statement, much like the Leafs did on Saturday night against the Red Wings. There were key chances for the Leafs to score, but a few bad breaks, including costly penalties, and missed opportunities cost the Leafs their 7 game point streak in a loss against the worst team in the Western Conference.
Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it sounds. Minnesota had won 3 of their last 4 games heading into last night, and Niklas Backstrom (who earned his 100th win last night) has posted at least a 0.909 SV% in every start since October 17th. He, like Gustavsson, is thriving on the high shot totals. Unfortunately, last night Gustavsson had a poor outing as the Leafs failed to do much of anything defensively and he paid for it.
“We didn’t play a full 60 minutes and at times we looked really flat. We can’t play like that in our own building. We’ve got to learn from this because these are costly points. Just as we’re starting to creep back in past a few teams, it would have been a big two points for us,” said the now fourth liner Matt Stajan.
The Leafs let in 5 goals on 31 shots, including 3 goals on just 9 shots in the 2nd period. Last night is a game the Leafs hope to forget rather quickly.
Phil Kessel now has 3 points in his last 2 games and 4 points in 4 games on the season. He scored a beautiful breakaway goal last night after receiving the perfect long stretch pass from defenceman Jeff Finger.
Ron Wilson said all that was needed to be said after last night’s performance.
“We seem to struggle when it’s not a Saturday night game at home. Emotionally we came out a little flat, we were just content to move along,” said Wilson. “We’re not good enough to get full of ourselves after we’ve had a couple of good weeks. I was a little disappointed in our approach, but more teaching tools for me.”
“We made some bad decisions with the puck and without it,” said Leafs defenceman Francois Beauchemin. “It came back to haunt us.”
“Haunt” is the perfect word, as the Leafs got an early look at a Scrooge Christmas where the Ghosts of Games Past came to pay them a little visit.
The game seemed to take the wrong turn after Colton Orr tried to challenge Derek Boogaard to a fight early in the second period. Orr took an unnecessary penalty on the play and the Wild never looked back.
Toronto will now have a few days off before traveling to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks. They will then fly back home to host the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Check Out:
Full highlights of last night’s loss and see Phil Kessel’s breakaway goal.
Funny Video of Wilson Jinxing Kessel
Dan Renaud discussing if Burke should trade White or Kaberle
Other Articles:
Canucks Get Romped (Includes Highlights)
Giguere on the Way Out?
Fedor’s Next Opponent?
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@mapleleafshotstove.com
November 11th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
@ TT
So true. We might have our own Savard, so why spend it when we could spend it on better stuff next year.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
We don’t wanna blow up the team to get him up but as soon as an opportunity presents itself we need to give him a shot over anyone else IMO!
November 11th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
@Jordan
Good point. Still need Tlusty to show anything in the bigs though. Could he be Eric whatever his name was?
November 11th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
@Neverlosehope
No one said anything about signing FA’s. I’d rather see the entry levels. Get rid of dead weight. Why keep a guy who isn’t helping you? Get him out anyway possible.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
@TT thats why I expect we will see Bozak, Hanson and Stralberg up later in the season to see what assets we need most in the off season.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
@ Charles
Edward has been exiled to the US for two weeks for work purposes and as they are probably keeping him busy there, he has not time to come and chat (and knock back the Irish coffees)… LOL.
@ TT
Wouldn’t be surprised if Bozak turns out to be the best of this young crop of players… he certainly seems to have the mental makeup to be a difference maker… and we need a power forward anyway (not instead), regardless if the #1 centre comes from FA or within… this team lacks physicality, toughness and tenacity up front… it was evident before the season began and has become brutally obvious with each passing game. That should be our #1 priority.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I say this team lacks creativity in the top six which causes the bottom six to have to change their styles to adjust.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
If I had to compare Bozak to any player I’ve ever seen play it would have to be Gilmour. He has the potential to be that type of player and it excited me very much.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
What we REALLY need is a leader in my humble opinion. Who’s available by trade or UFA for that?
November 11th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Tlusty could turn out to be a real good player in 1-3 years. Maybe he’s a late bloomer ala Boyes…maybe not. Who knows? But if the Leafs ever consider trading the guy, they better be SURE to get a good return.
***)
delusional daydreaming trade, close to same cap hit(i know, i know…never happen)
Tlusty, Stajan, XLB, Dido
to Buffalo for
Derek Roy, first round pick in 2010, 2nd round in 2011
…lol…one can dream
Hagman-Roy-Kessel
Poni-Grabs-Kulemin
Blake-Mitchell-Stempy
Wallin-Primeau-Orr
November 11th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
@ HH
I think you have missed many of the recent posts of this thread (not to mention the last few weeks)… If you go back and read a few, you will see many people “dreaming” of acquiring Marleau, Savard or Kovalchuk (all potential FA’s) in the off season.
Agreed, we need to develop some young talent/entry level contracts but not sure that we have all the pieces with those guys (power forward?) yet… but I am all for shedding the dead weight, assuming you mean contracts like Blake and Finger… the others will be taken care of at the end of the year when they become FA’s or traded before for anything we can get… but can’t imagine there will be any takers for the Blake and Finger contracts… unless it is waiver re-entry claims.
Nevertheless, this team is not particularly deep on prospects, especially on D and therefore next year could be very long without some shrewd maneuvering…
November 11th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
but us leaf fans have to realize that 21 is still a young kid. It takes time to become a top 6 in the NHL, and not to beat a dead horse, but Brad Boyes is a perfect example. It wasnt till he was 24 till he started to put up good numbers, even though he was ripping the AHL up
November 11th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Am I right that on the big club Poni, XLB, Stajan, White, Vesa, Primeau, are all UFA or RFA and seasons end or are there more?
November 11th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
@ Jordan
Good point. So lets not include Tlusty in any mock lineups till 2012/13.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
@ Pazuzu
Interesting “dream” trade… if Tlusty and Dido reach their potential we could end up regretting that deal, but if you don’t roll the dice you can’t win.
Still think that lineup is lacking size and sandpaper up front… would really like to see us land a poor man’s Lucic in one of the later rounds or as a college FA…
November 11th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
@Neverlosehope
I was thinking of next year as well, assuming the college guys make the teamStalberg/Hansen are big), maybe aquiring or signing a power forward sometime between now a next season and assuming Kadri plays in th AHL next season and the loss of some UFA’s so it’s not so crowded. I’m surprised you think it’s interesting…
November 11th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
@Pazuzu others that are ufa or rfa are Kulemin, Gustavsson, Mitchell, Stempniak, Mayers and Wallin
November 11th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
@Pazuzu I believe Kadri has to play junior next year unless he plays with the leafs.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
@ pazuzu
Stempniak, Kulemin, Mayers, Tlusty, Wallin, Mitchell, Van Ryn, Gustavsson
November 11th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Wow. Got a lot of UFA’s and RFA’s. White, Mitchell, Kulemin, and the monster are the only keepers in my mind.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
@rustynail
well, I certainly cannot see Kadri playing another year of junior. Stranger things have happened, i guess.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
@ Pazuzu
Size doesn’t matter… Poni is big but does not play a power forward game… Hansen and Stalberg have the size but right now not the makeup to be power forwards, although they are trying to get Hansen to change his game… I think Stalberg will be fine as a blazing scoring winger as long as he recovers his game and avoids the head shots.
Wendel played a power forward game, but certainly was not one of the biggest men on the ice… it’s all about desire and of course the mean streak is necessary… another thing we lack is a super pest, but Dido may help fill that role if he recovers enough to have an NHL career.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Should of cloned Wendel in in the early 90′s.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
@ Pazuzu
That was the biggest mistake in Leaf history, after the Aki Berg signing of course. Maybe Wendel’s son, but can we wait that long?
November 11th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
U guys think BB will make a move or ride it out this season?
November 11th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Already signed for next year….
.
Blake-??- Kessel
??-??-??
Hagman- Grabovski- ??
??-??-Orr
.
Komisarek-Kaberle
Beauchemin-Schenn
Finger-??
.
?? Better be Monster.
??
Fill in the blanks.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Thats based on last night’s lineup.
Kadri, Bozak, Stalberg etc can be added to the blanks..
November 11th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
@ TT
The scary thing about that schematic is that it is worth $36.3 mill toward the cap leaving about $20 mil for the 13 players missing (including Monster) if the cap doesn’t drop (and it will, book it!). Even with the likes of Bozak ($3.7 mil), Hansen and Stalberg, still need to bring in 8 more skaters and 2 goalies for less than $15 mil and maybe less than $10 mill… scarrrry.
The BIG (Burke created) problem is that we have $19+ mil invested in 5 defencemen for next year. That $19 mil should be for all 8 Dmen… IMHO, we need to dump one or two of Komi (2nd choice), Beau (1st choice) or Finger, just for starters. Of course, that will never happen…
November 11th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
If I had to make a fantacy lineup for next year, it would be:
UFA-Kadri-Kessl
Hagman-Grabo-Kulemin
Stalberg-Bozak-Mitchell
Orr-______-Rosehill
Komi-kaberle
schenn-beachemin
white-Gunnersson-Blacker
Gustavsson
Mcdonald
****UFA I would want Kovalchuk or Marleau, or trade for Lecavalier
November 11th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
@ Never
I’m all for dropping Beauchemin. But chances are Kaberle goes.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
@Never
both finger and blake will be off the books next year, dont even kid yourself because Im %100 sure Burke will have them gone soon enough
November 11th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
@ Charlie
Who would replace Kaberle? Nobody will take Beauchemin with his contract, unless he goes into a phone booth and comes out a changed man.
@ Jordan
If they are bought out they will be counting toward the cap for years (à la Tucker), and no one will take their contracts… so I guess you are thinking re-entry waivers… we will see… just remember though, they are both Americans and Burke is partial to his own… but I hope you are right, because they will not be missed.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
@ Never
I’m not advocating trading Kaberle (nor am I opposing it), but I just feel like Burke is going to trade him because at this rate, he WILL get that ridiculous offer. And I’m not saying there will be anyone asking for Beauchemin…. just saying I would like to trade him.
.
And I hope they don’t buy out Blake or Finger or subject them to re-entry waivers. Blake maybe as a last result, but certainly not Finger. He’s a solid defender…. so what if his contract is bloated. Doesn’t mean we dump him for nothing.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
* result should read resort.
Damn, when we getting that edit button!
November 11th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I would trade Blake & Tlusty for Horton if Mattais came along.
-
Who cares if Blake is tearing it up right now… if he is even considered to?? He is 37 years old with 2 years left on his contract, and is no where close to being a piece of the future team. He isn’t a major playoff performer, and the only reason he got 40 goals was because of Yashin feeding him the puck or him slapping his rebounds in. A one year wonder that’s all he is. Tlusty is doing extremely well in the AHL, but one has to wonder why he can’t transition his game at the NHL level. He can be a late bloomer like Antropov, but should they wait 6 to 8 years for him to develop into a solid second line player?? I’m sure he can develop into a solid player soon if he was played more often but obviously he won’t get his time here, with others higher up than him on the depth chart.
-
Toronto on the other hand receives a young rugged forward prospect with offensive potential in Matthais and they also receive a 24 year old power forward in Nathan Horton. Yeah he has been struggling in Florida, but so has the whole franchise. (May I add he has always finished in the top 3 or so for scoring in Florida ever since he’s been there) He is surrounded by shitty or under achieving players, what else is expected. Put him in front of his home town crowd and a big stage like the ACC and you will see what he can do, this 3rd overall draft pick (in the deepest draft) and his potential and abilities will shine through. He is exactly what Leafs are lacking and so desperately need to be a contender, a true power forward. Imagine a line of Kessel, Kadri or Bozak and Horton, Leafs future first line for years to come. They would have speed, playmaking abilities, power and nastiness (Horton), and all can finish. This is the only way I would accept Tlusty being traded, if a package of this calibre comes back, plus they lose that shit brick Blake.
-
Now the question is would the Leafs, with this trade proposal, you do that trade??
November 11th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I’d do that trade and Florida might. They save 1 million in real dollars next year and no change in cap and there is the possibility that Moore and Blake have chemistry again. Horton’s contract and 4 million cap hit is for a year longer too.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
@ DIGGLER
Again, it’s wayyyy to early to write off Tlusty. That being said, very intriguing…. Matthias is a C though and with Kadri, Bozak and Grabovski around, not sure where he wouls fit when he cracks the NHL. Matthias is rated a 7.5 C and Tlusty a 8.0 C. But we do need a big body that can score. Bottom line, I think I would do it.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
This is an interesting paragraph on Tlusty…. I hope it’s true:
.
“Future
Tlusty combines a willingness to engage in the rough stuff along with his more refined skill set, which projects him to be an attractive future top-two center with the Leafs. “
November 11th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Thinking about it some more…… Blake to us is a salary dump. So essentially, we’re trading Tlusty for Horton and Matthias. And we get to dump Blake. I think it has turned into a no-brainer.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Personally, I would try Tlusty at center with Kessel and Hagman. Maybe Jiri needs somebody like Phil to bring out the best in him
November 11th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
I have said to try Tlusty in the middle for a while now!
November 12th, 2009 at 3:09 am
@ Micheal Aldred
“Leafs Fall to Wild” or is it “Leafs Fall too Wild” cause this fall has been way too wild.