Good News! Luke Schenn Edition
Since posting the parable of Owen the other day, and most especially since reviewing the commentary appended thereto, it has come to my attention that:
- The Tragically Hip suck or else the Tragically Hip are the very Platonic embodiment of the concept of “win”. It is not at all clear which of these two statements concerning the properties of the Tragically Hip inclines towards truth, yet the truth is said to be obvious, immutable and beyond the realm of debate;
- It is a very good idea to proofread what you have frantically typed in a guilty paroxysm of nostalgic reminiscence before hitting the “publish” button. Failure to do so may have the inattentive rookie blogger combining various teams, their nicknames and game results in a charming but utterly abstract and completely fictional goulash of confusion. In the unlikely event this is not the effect one is really attempting to achieve, this little pro tip may help you avoid embarrassment;
- It is quite possible that I am the first person on earth and in the history of ever to reference both the Three Stooges and Waiting for Godot in the same sentence. Now I’ve gone and done it in consecutive posts! Don’t be expecting this level of achievement in every installment, kids, outstanding performances have a way of regressing to the mean;
- My theory of road trips, nascent and ill-developed though it may be, is fertile ground for graduate study. Even more startlingly, the road trip is fertile ground for reality television. How has there not been a Big Brother style reality show centred around the road trip. And no, I haven’t forgotten about the Amazing Race; pay attention man, those dudes travel in pairs, not triads. As an aside, I wonder how many other areas of human endeavour are equally of interest to academics and reality TV producers?
- I somehow managed to omit from the story the fact that my buddies and I attended a cocktail mixer at the IMF. Trust me, you don’t know from fun until you’ve partied with international debt specialists in a brightly-lit impersonal and institutional room in the middle of the afternoon; and
- At least some of you are seeing some of the same positive developments in certain Maple Leaf players that I am.
Before we get to the subject of today’s post, Luke Schenn, a preliminary word if you will about the title of these entries: a few years ago, I heard about this guy who ran these ridiculous weekly departmental meetings in his office; at the beginning of each meeting, each employee in attendance was required to speak a little bit about “Good News” from his or her department. Those of you too young for the workforce will not have had the pleasure of having your very soul embalmed by flickering fluorescent light at the glacial pace of yet another mind-numbing bureaucratic circle-jerk – consider that little treasure just another among the many precious little gifts life bestows upon you as you age – so you won’t have a point of reference about these “Good News” greetings. I’m not a religious man, but I am reasonably certain that if there is a hell, it’s not terribly dissimilar from a room full of disinterested co-workers eternally telling each other about recent noteworthy achievements in the exciting field of expense accounting.
This “Good News” business always got me wondering whether bored, mischievous employees with a healthy sense of rebellion started to take certain liberties with the basic conceit of the format. You know, stuff like blurting out, “Good News! As a result of popular demand, the company medical plan now covers ebola,” or “Good News! Most of the fire is now out in Records.”
Anyway, like the rebuilding process ahead of our beloved Blue and White, this exercise in identifying and celebrating the little steps on the path to success is a long road. The mind is clouded by the negative energy of anger, frustration and failure. So let’s get started with a little exorcism of sorts: out with the negative, in with the good.
- Good News! In 74 days, it will be impossible for anyone to score on Vesa Toskala, even from 194 feet away, because a court-imposed restraining order will keep him a minimum distance of eight hundred yards from any Leaf net. Coincidentally, that is roughly the same distance from the crease that he currently travels after over-playing the shooter and flopping into the corner;
- Good News! There are no immediate plans to cancel transatlantic air travel, so Rickard Wallin will have that going for him when he returns to Sweden this summer, confident that he made the right decision to retire from the NHL – in 2004;
- Good News! It is very unlikely that Jason Allison will be attending Maple Leaf training camp in September 2010. I have no idea whether he’s been invited or not, but if he hasn’t already started moving towards the training camp facility, there’s no way he’ll arrive in time; and
- Good News! Relief is in sight for Leaf fans suffering through repeated ugly penalty killing failures: Leaf broadcasters have agreed, whenever the Blue and White are assessed a minor infraction, to show something less unpleasant to TV viewers. Currently, they’ve selected some stock footage of a guy beating a baby seal to death with a boat paddle.
I’m sure you can think of a few pieces of Good News! yourself – drop ‘em in the comments if you like.
With that little bit massive ponderous bulk of negativity banished from our collective consciousness, let’s talk about the most obvious reassuring sign of this otherwise woebegone season: Luke Schenn. It was just a little over a month ago, December 12th, that the sophomore defender was held out of a game against the Capitals as a healthy scratch for the first time in his pro career. Schenn’s play had unmistakably faltered, when compared to his rookie campaign. In fairness to the young defenseman, he was playing with new partners and often on a different side of the ice, a not insignificant challenge for a young blueliner. Nevertheless, it was clear that something more than just that was wrong. Schenn was frequently out of position, pinching down the boards unwisely or – worse still – caught halfway between dropping back conservatively and aggressively attacking, accomplishing neither goal. It was clear that Schenn wasn’t seeing the game and reacting to game situations with the same natural ease that he had routinely displayed last year. Among the major casualties of his nascent indecision was his physical play; we just weren’t seeing Luke thunder guys into the boards with the same degree of frequency to which we’d grown accustomed. Brows were furrowed, and the concern was real and palpable among many of the faithful that Schenn was next to add his name to an ignominious list of fizzled prospects on the Leaf point (let’s call that list the “Gary Nylund Compendium”).
This was serious business, Schenn stumbling. To many, he represented (and still may represent) a Leaf Captain of the Future. In my article about the rebuild in the Maple Leafs Annual, when I tried to envision what a successfully rebuilt Leaf team would look like, Luke Schenn was there with a “C” on his chest, beaming a proud Saskatchewan smile as he raised the Cup over his head. In many ways, he is a metaphor for the future of the club, and his struggles were a seized upon and examined like an omen of ill-fortune.
More recently, though, something encouraging has happened: Luke Schenn has started to not just return to the level at which he played last year, but to surpass it. He has returned to hitting attackers with authority and may generally be counted on now to conservatively but effectively deflect attackers to the outer portions of the ice. Offensively, he has exhibited clear signs of growing comfortable and confident with his level of talent. Last year (and much of the early part of this season), Schenn would invariably direct the puck at the net from the line with a wrist shot; in these last few weeks, he’s taken a couple of slappers and managed to get them low and on goal. An NHL defenseman has to be able to do this with confidence, even one that isn’t – and isn’t going to become – an offensive dynamo. Schenn has also been Johnny on the spot as the late man on a couple of rushes, smartly joining the attack and potting a nice goal as the trailer against Philadelphia a few days ago.
The point is that Schenn has faced the sophomore swoon and seems to have overcome it; a lot of you are seeing the same thing, judging by the comments on that first post. He’s showing some additional dimensions to his game which proves that he’s coachable and which will allow him to continue to survive in the NHL. He’s hitting and he’s playing reliably and consistently for the most part. That’s good news for Leaf fans going forward – again, maybe not this year or even the next, but Schenn is showing signs that as the team matures and develops, he will be right there getting better too. Maybe the best news of all, though, for Leafs fans came after that banishment to the press box in December. Schenn didn’t offer any excuses to reporters. Instead, according to the Toronto Star, he said this:
There’s always going to be controversy and a little bit of adversity playing here but I think guys have to be held accountable.
Maybe that’s a big reason why we haven’t had success in the last few years or so, maybe the guys haven’t been held accountable. So, hopefully, I’ll be part of things to come here in the future and if I’m held accountable at an early age, it’ll make me stronger down the road.
Stronger down the road; that’s the way I see Luke’s career going, and I hope it runs a parallel course with the arc of the team.
——-
As an aside, I’ll be at the game against the Kings Tuesday night. I am fully expecting the “first home game after a five-game trip beatdown by a superior team” being inflicted on the Leafs. More than anything, I’m hoping that the Monster plays; haven’t had a look at him in person yet. If I remember to charge my iPhone and my hands aren’t full of Burkie dogs, I’ll be tweeting the occasional thought, assuming that those occur. You can follow along, if you like, here.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Maybe that’s why BB isn’t keen on moving Kaberle until the summer…? Waiting to see where this kid ends up in the draft and the POW right in the kissa!! BB swoops in, trades up for him and the rest is history
January 26th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Kostas wrote:
We can hope
January 26th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
@ rustynail:
Hope is all we have left.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
TuckerThomas wrote:
Sad isn’t it. Maybe Kadri can bring his coach with him next year.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
rustynail wrote:
I hope so. lol
January 26th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Wow eh… seems like the kind of guy we need. He’s only 17? I think i read that on a website… if he is then he’s going to be a beast.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Right now Niederriter is projected to go as early as 12th… so there is hope if BB can play it right.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Wow I would totally trade Kabs, Poni, Hagman, whatever it took to get picks and move up to get this kid. He’s a monster!
Could we get a petition going and send it to BB??
January 26th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I thought he was one of the best players in the WJC too. I thought he was Swiss though?
January 26th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
@ Jordan
He is swiss.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
It may not be a bad move if Burke waits until the summer, trades Kaberle to whichever teams are in the 10-15 range, and try to grab Niederriter. If the season ended today, Boston would be a good team to try and grab a first from. Boston would pick with our 3rd overall (if the lottery kept us picking 3rd), and we would pick their 11th overall. Cap issues would have to be worked out though.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
@ Jordan:
Haha! Swiss, Swedish. Whats the diff? But yes he is Swiss. I have no idea why I wrote Swedish cause I knew he was Swiss.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Toskala is Finish(ed) but we all know he is really Swiss. In a cheesy kinda way.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
@TuckerThomas
I concur …… I hope they don’t finish last!
Stajan will be traded.
Didn’t Pheonix inquire about him recenrtly?
Will Wallin score a goal this season and will he finish the year with the Leafs or will he be waived (good-bye)?
January 26th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Wallin just signed a 2 year contract extension with Toronto
January 26th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
dmnted wrote:
Yes Phoenix has come up a few times with Stajan. And their fans at HFBoards are willing to part with way more than anyone here would want to believe. Most of the Preds fans actually want him there.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
@ Kostas:
Haha! Good one!
January 26th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
LOL.. I tried
January 26th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Kostas wrote:
Them’s fighting words.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
TuckerThomas wrote:
What kind of proposals have they suggested?
January 26th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
TuckerThomas wrote:
Link? Or just tell us the names that have been tossed around? haha
January 26th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
@ luke:
I’m just checking the Preds forums at HFBoards right now. I’ll get back to ya.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Someone come up with a proposal for the Preds involving Stajan and I’ll post it to see what they say.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Kostas wrote:
Let’s hope it was with Toronto FC.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
HFBoards are so vast its like looking for a needle in a haystack. I wish I could find those threads from a couple of months ago. Both the Preds and Yotes fans were willing to pay way more than I thought was worth it for Stajan.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
The problem with moving Stajan ( and I do believe he is average at best ) is if you look at the UFA list available this summer Stajan is near the top. The Leafs finally have cap room to spend and the available UFA’s suck!!! There is not a centre available that is a huge improvement over Mat
January 26th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Oh, the free agent market this year is fucking terrible. Worst in years. Probably ever.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
The Leafs should over spend for Kov. I know he plays wing but the Leafs need that talent boost. He is only what? 26? Over pay Burke!!! Over Pay!!!
January 26th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Having said that I say move as many bodies as possible for picks. Lets worry about next years team next year. Maybe package a half dozen 2nd rounders for a decent player. I say nobody is untouchable, nobody!
January 26th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
I just dont get this ” I will not ask Kaberle to waive his no trade” Bullshit! I get the respect thing and the make Burke look like a players GM for future UFA crap. But do we want to be known as the team with the nice GM that treated Kaberle fairly and gave Boston better picks then we needed to or do we want to be known as a up and coming team with talent!
January 26th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Any truth to Kaberle to Boston for our 1st round pick back? I doubt it but I can only wish. That would of been the original deal. Kaberle and a 1st for Kessel. I doubt Boston bites now unless we agree to the Boston 1st instead of the Toronto 1st. Where does Burke go from here? If we take on contracts for picks/prospects then we burry players with the Marlies or put up with a crap team next year and watch Boston pick in the top 5 once again.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
@ theking
BB is much clever than we give him credit for. What if BB trades Kabs at the draft and we end up getting a prospect like Niederreiter in return and maybe 3rd pick
January 26th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
rustynail wrote:
Ya…
Although he does have a name that yells BUST.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Off topic but anyone interested in Deon Phaneuf? The guy is overpaid, is not having a great year, and is expendable because the Flames have a stacked defense. The flames won’t push the panic button yet but if they could get a top 6 forward and a defencmen maybe they would make the deal. I would start of with Hagman who would be second in goals (18) and a defencemen. Finger in my mind is unmovable even though people like Charlie think he has value but if we are taking on a guy like Phaneuf who is making 6.5 million they would have to take on Finger who has a shorter contract. Finger + Hagman for Phaneuf. We win that deal, and the leafs don’t win many deals so I doubt it’s even logical… It would add the prairie boy’s on defense with already having White and Schenn. Phaneuf – Schenn, White – Beauchemen, Komisarek – Gunner. Not bad… Kabs is turned into a top line forward or prospects/ picks.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Sutter has come out and said Phaneuf is not for trade.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Kostas wrote:
did not no thattttt…
January 26th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Plus that’s a horrible trade for Calgary… Sutter would be fired. Would you get rid of Phanuef for Hagman and Finger??? fuck no
January 26th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
LeafsRyan. wrote:
January 26th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
[...] career as a semi-dedicated Leafs blogger is off to a scintillating start: a second post in as many days is up over at Maple Leafs Hot Stove, and has been summarily decreed to be prolix and pointless (though not in those precise terms), [...]
January 26th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
LeafsRyan. wrote:
No, Charlie claimed that before he started sucking like a drunken hooker.
And that trade sucks for Calgary.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Kostas wrote:
Sutter also said Tanguay wouldn’t be traded and he was.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Fuck the IMF.
January 27th, 2010 at 7:14 am
[...] Good News! Luke Schenn Edition : Maple Leafs Hot Stove [...]
February 7th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
[...] goals scored via slapshot in an opportunistic fashion, not to mention a solid defensive effort, Luke Schenn also made me look like a genius, which I always [...]
February 13th, 2010 at 2:43 am
arizona credit repair…
I like the way things get done around here….
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