Alex Tran
In this second installment of the MLHS 2011 NHL Draft preview series, we're going to take a closer look at Mark Scheifele, the Barrie Colts' two-way centre who has seen his stock climb drastically over the past couple of months. Scouts describe him as one of those well-rounded, hard-nosed players who just love to compete night in and night out. Once viewed as a second tier prospect, Scheifele has silenced critics with a standout OHL season and now finds himself poised to be a Day One selection at this year's draft. [more…]
As part of our 2011 NHL Entry Draft coverage here at MLHS, I will be releasing a series of player profiles highlighting a handful of players who figure to be selected toward the middle-late first round or early second round. The Maple Leafs appear poised to select three times (Flyers' 1st round pick, Bruins' 1st round pick, Leafs' 2nd round pick) within this range, though Burke has stated the possibility of combining two of those picks in an effort to move up. These profiles will provide a brief overview of the player's strengths, weaknesses, and draft day outlook. Today, we'll begin with Peterborough forward Matt Puempel.
The Basics: Talented goal scoring forward for the Peterborough Petes; 34 goals and 35 assists for 69 points in 55 games played. [more…]
According to the Swedish news outlet Aftonbladet, the Maple Leafs are looking to add once again to their very deep pool of goaltending prospects. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the San Jose Sharks are reportedly the two front runners for the services of Mark Owuya, a young standout netminder out of the Swedish Eliteserien. Playing as a 21 year old rookie, Owuya stole the starting job for the Djugarden hockey club and went on to post a 2.18 GAA and .927 SV%, good for third and first overall respectively among qualifying goaltenders this past season. For comparison's sake, Jonas Gustavsson recorded a 1.97 GAA and .932 SV% during his last year in the Eliteserien, albeit at 24 years of age. [more…]
According to the Toronto Star's Damien Cox, the Leafs are expected to sign 24 year old forward prospect Leo Komarov to an entry-level contract at some point in the near future. The Maple Leafs hold Komarov's NHL rights as a 6th round selection, 180th overall back in 2006. Komarov was born in Estonia, but grew up playing hockey in Finland where currently holds a duel-citizenship along with Russia. He has spent the last two years playing in the KHL, earning himself an all-star appearance this past season. In 52 games played for OHK Dynamo Moskva, he recorded 14 goals and 12 assists, in addition to 70 penalty minutes. Komarov also impressed during a brief playoff run, scoring 4 times and adding 2 helpers in just 6 games. [more…]
Some saddening news to pass along this evening, as NHL.com reports that EJ McGuire, Vice President of the NHL's Central Scouting Service, has passed away [more…]
- Matt Frattin's magical season just keeps on going. Frattin scored the WCHA title clinching goal, burying a rebound in double overtime in Saturday night's [more…]
Six points out of the last playoff spot in the East with only fifteen games to go. The Maple Leafs have their backs against the wall and now it's time for one of the league's youngest teams to grow up...and quickly.
Tonight's matchup against the seventh place Sabres could be the biggest game of the year to this point and there is no doubt that the team must come away with two points in hand if they want to stay within striking distance of the eighth seed. Sjostrom is out with an upper-body injury and will be replaced on the fourth line by Jay Rosehill, while James Reimer will once again start between the pipes for the Buds. It should be a good one.
Matt Frattin's 2010-2011 collegiate season has been nothing short of spectacular and the nation's leading goal scorer was officially recognized for it with WCHA Player [more…]
James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail has a couple of interesting updates for your Family Day:
- The Maple Leafs are exploring a contract [more…]
Update (12:45 pm): TSN reports that Toronto will receive Joe Colborne, Boston's 2011 first round pick and a conditional draft pick, pending the official trade call to the league office.
According to the Boston Globe, it appears as if the Bruins and Maple Leafs are closing in on a trade that would send defenseman Tomas Kaberle to Boston in exchange for the Bruins' 1st round pick in 2011 along with top prospect Joe Colborne. However, the Bruins are very tight up to the cap and will need to shed some salary in order to make it work. Rumours indicate that the cap casualty could be impending UFA Mark Stuart or RFA Blake Wheeler. If completed, the trade would see Toronto add two excellent long-term assets into the organizational cupboard.
Combined with the recent additions of former 1st round selection Jake Gardiner and the two Flyers' draft picks, Burke will have managed to significantly improve the team's future outlook within a matter of weeks. [more…]
With the February 28th trade deadline approaching quickly, one player whom opposing GM's appear to be targeting on the Maple Leafs' roster is Kris Versteeg, [more…]
