Leafs
How do you undo any progress and momentum gained by a 5-2 win over Pens in their home opener? How about a 7-3 loss to the Islanders back at home, coughing up a two goal lead and conceding five unanswered? That’ll do it. [more…]
The Islanders are obviously a beatable opponent, but don’t face the same mental and physical challenges of a back to back cross-border scenario after a high-tempo game for the Leafs last night. The key for Carlyle’s team will be avoiding the let down coming off of the high in Pittsburgh. [more…]
Randy Carlyle will ice a new look lineup tonight for the Leafs' big test against Pittsburgh in the Penguins' home opener. [more…]
The Leafs are 1-1-0 after a 2-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in the home opener despite a 35-20 shots advantage. The shot clock doesn't tell the whole story, but this one was first and foremost about Ryan Miller. [more…]
In his media address after the morning skate ahead of tonight's home opener, Randy Carlyle made an interesting comment on the Leafs' home ice advantage or lackthereof so far during his tenure. [more…]
By Alec Brownscombe & Declan Kerin
Shocking, is the only way to put it.
No, this wasn’t a move that was waiting in the wings. Last night, Dave Nonis and Brian Burke were taking in a Marlies game expecting to be the assistant GM and President and GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively, for the upcoming 2012-13 season. It came as a bombshell to absolutely everybody short of Tom Anselmi and some board members. If that’s not raising red flags in your head already, it should be. [more…]
From a cursory assessment of the team at the onset of a new season, many fans and pundits have predicted the Leafs were going to struggle scoring goals more than they were at keeping them out in recent years. [more…]
Brian Burke spoke to reporters out East at the P.E.I. Special Olympics Festival Luncheon on Wednesday.
“With the salary cap and the new collective bargaining agreement that’s coming up, I don’t know what our plans are for filling out our roster,†Burke told the large gathering at Credit Union Place.
“Free agency starts on July 1, it’s a really thin group.
“Teams are locking all these quality players up now, so the group that is getting to the market is thin, it’s shallow. There are really two high-end players and that’s about it, (Nashville defenceman) Ryan Suter and (New Jersey forward) Zach Parise.
“I don’t think we are going to be in on either one of them.â€
Burke continued:
If you haven't been able to get to a game at Ricoh and don't have local Toronto Rogers TV, [more…]
Now that we pretty much agreed that tanking is the way to go (had to drag this writer in chains and he's still not at peace with it), let's try to examine how much Leafs Nation really needs that high end first round pick/player.
When you take tanking out of the equation (and if you’re like me, you have to, because it’s not like you’re going to stop watching this team) you realize that watching the current day Edmonton Oilers really seems more fun than watching the current day Maple Leafs. The amount of sheer young talent and hope for the future makes games exciting, makes fans watch even though they are losing games. Watching Taylor Hall fly down the wing, Eberle’s quick hands or an 8 point night by Sam Gagner beats watching basically the same result with no such talent on the roster.
Of course, the acquisition of Jeff Carter by the Los Angeles Kings couldn't simply put to bed the rumours surrounding one potential Leaf trade target, it sprung to life another. Word broke yesterday that, in wake of the Carter acquisition, Kings GM Dean Lombardi could be open to moving power forward and captain Dustin Brown if the price is right.
Now, every name that hits the rumour mill gets dressed in an imaginary Leafs uniform, but a name like Dustin Brown strikes me (and surely Burke) with considerable intrigue. At 27, signed for two more seasons at 3.175 million, the possibility of Brown's availability must make Burke's eyes light up. A member of his Team USA silver medal winning 2010 Olympic team, Brown brings experience, leadership, a physical presence for the top six (2nd in the NHL in hits, and he hits hard), and could add a new dimension to the Leaf attack. Not to put too much value or significance into any one player, Brown poses an attractive solution, or at least part solution, to many of the Leafs deficiencies in the forward ranks with his skill and toughness package. It's no wonder there's consensus among the insiders that Burke would have a major interest in the 27-year-old if available. [more…]
This is part one of a preview series on potential trade deadline targets for the Leafs. Important to keep in mind is the framework in which I'm analyzing these trade options in this series: Brian Burke will be weighing the future against the present. Burke's only going to be dealing for immediate help if it equally benefits the team long term. There will be no selling out for this season; as much as Burke is feeling the pressure to make the playoffs in his fourth season as Leafs czar, more patience is needed as his team simply isn't at that stage of the competition yet.
Evgeni Nabokov:
The attraction to the 37-year-old pending UFA is one, how well he's fared in front of a porous Islanders defense since his return to the NHL, and two, his history of success under head coach Ron Wilson in San Jose.
The Islanders have struggled to find consistent reliability in net as much as the Leafs have in recent seasons, so dealing Nabokov as opposed to signing him seems unlikely at this point barring an inability to come to terms in contract negotiations. [more…]
