Derek Harmsworth
In part five of his 12 Burning Questions series, Derek Harmsworth takes a look at whether Joffrey Lupul can finally find a long-term fit with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In part four of his 12 Burning Questions series, Derek Harmsworth takes a look at whether Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski can continue their goal scoring ways.
In part three of his 12 Burning Questions series, Derek Harmsworth takes a look at expectations for Phil Kessel, and whether or not this is the year he cracks the 40 goal plateau.
5QTF2SMQME25 - In part two of his 12 Â burning questions series, Derek Harmsworth takes a look at what type of impact John-Michael Liles will have in his first year with the Maple Leafs.
Derek Harmsworth returns with his 12 Burning Questions series for Maple Leafs Hot Stove. Â In part one, he asks if James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson can make for a competent goaltending duo for Toronto.
There is little question that next season is the one Brian Burke has been working towards as the beginning of his team's perennial contention; playoffs are no longer the hope, they're the expectation for 2011-12. Brian Burke enters year three at the helm of the team.  The team has improved steadily in the previous years under Burke, and with the way last season finished, fans will be expecting bigger and better things from the Leafs this year.
Even the most optimistic of Leafs fans would have a hard time believing the roster as currently constituted is a playoff lock. There's work to be done this summer once Burke finishes vacationing in Afghanistan (that's a joke). With that in mind, I've compiled a list of players who may be on the Maple Leafs radar.  It's important to note I've included only UFAs, and the course the Leafs take in free agency will be altered in many different ways, by many different decisions. Let's take a look at a few names that could help the Leafs move forward. [more…]
If this is an "Inception" inspired dream, James Reimer is going to be one angry guy. Â But who's kidding, Christopher Nolan is tied up on other projects, and even more of a stretch would be to see the happy-go-lucky Reimer mad.
Although I'm not sure he's even had to time to sit down, lean back, and take in everything he has accomplished this past season, James Reimer is on a whirlwind tour through the land of hockey, picking up fans and supporters along the way.
What was once a distant dream now appears to be inching closer to reality. Â The Toronto Maple Leafs, considered by many in pre-season polls to be among the NHL's worst teams, are right in the thick of the playoff hunt, and look to continue to defy the logic and keep the run going against the banged up Pittsburgh Penguins tonight on Hockey Night In Canada.
The Storyline
The Maple Leafs continue their unlikely push for a playoff spot tonight when they host the Penguins. Â Not only are the Leafs defying expectations, but they're doing it despite being active sellers through the start of February. [more…]
After what has felt like a lifetime of speculation and rumours, the Toronto Maple Leafs officially pulled the trigger on a transaction that will see Tomas Kaberle, the longest serving member of the organization, on his way out of town.
By now you know that the Maple Leafs received prospect Joe Colborne, a first round pick, and a conditional second round pick from the Bruins in exchange for the services of Kaberle.
It’s a move that already has been held up to the light my many, in an attempt to evaluate the pros and cons from both angles. The scrutiny will only intensify as Kaberle gets back into the playoffs with the Bruins, and the Maple Leafs use their picks received either as assets in another deal, or in drafting players at this year’s 2011 NHL entry draft. [more…]
The Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the Atlanta Thrashers to the Air Canada Centre tonight for the first of four meetings between the teams. Â The Maple Leafs are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, while the Thrashers are fresh off a 7-1 win over the New Jersey Devils this past Saturday night.
The Storyline
The Maple Leafs currently sit in 13th place in the East with 28 points, while the Thrashers sit fifth in the conference with 41 points. Â Atlanta can jump back into first in the Southeast division with a win tonight. Â Atlanta is 6-2-2 in their last ten, while the Maple Leafs have struggled as of late, compiling a record of 4-5-1 in their last ten games. [more…]
In the second installment of The Weekender, Derek Harmsworth takes a look at the week that was in Leafs Nation, previews the week's games, and goes around the league.
The Week That Was
On Tuesday night the Toronto Maple Leafs made their return to Western Canada, kicking off a three game swing against the Edmonton Oilers. Â Following an embarrassing loss at the hands of the Oilers a few weeks before, and comments by Taylor Hall that, whether they came out wrong or not, seemed to fire up the visitors, the Maple Leafs brought their game to Edmonton and skated to a 4-1 victory. Â Dion Phaneuf, who was a big storyline of the Western trip, opened the scoring for the Leafs with his first of the season. Â Mikhail Grabovski, Kris Versteeg, and Phil Kessel also tallied for the Leafs. Â Jordan Eberle was the lone Oilers goal scorer. Â Maple Leafs goalie J.S. Giguere got the win, stopping 23 shots. [more…]
The Toronto Maple Leafs return to action tonight, kicking off a three game, all Canadian Western road swing beginning in Edmonton as they tangle with the Oilers. Â The Leafs are coming off a positive swing through the top teams in the East, finishing with a 3-2 record against Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Montreal.
The Storyline
Not only will the Toronto Maple Leafs be looking to build on the little success they have had lately, but they will also be looking to avenge the happenings of December 2nd, when the Edmonton Oilers came into the Air Canada Centre and embarrassed the Maple Leafs in a 5-0 rout. Â Sam Gagner, Ryan Jones, Taylor Hall (2), and Jordan Eberle all scored for Edmonton that night, while Nikolai Khabibulin picked up the shutout. Â The Leafs are 4-5-1 in their last ten games.
The Oilers, meanwhile, are looking to rebound after a dismal 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Â The Oilers amassed a mere 12 shots on goal in the contest, and spent the majority of yesterday's practice working on ways to improve their firepower.
And as if they needed the extra motivation, Taylor Hall made sure the Leafs were fired up with a little bulletin board material. [more…]
