The Official LEAFS NATION Hockey thread

[lgna69xxx]

Burke confirms Wilson extension a done deal

(According to NHL Network, it is a one year extension) Some pretty impressive stuff in the article as well. Leafs have improved a lot since the ASG last season and players saying to Burke, "do not change the coach" among other things.

TORONTO – After spending a few seasons overhauling the roster, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke was finally satisfied with how his team looked at last season's All-Star break.

The Maple Leafs have returned to respectability in the Eastern Conference since then, and Burke rewarded Ron Wilson for the turnaround, confirming Monday that the veteran coach has signed a contract extension.


"This coach has earned this extension," Burke said. "It's not charity, it's not a gift."

The Maple Leafs have not made the playoffs in three seasons under Wilson, who is 119-120-42 overall with Toronto, but the team appears to be on track to change that this season.

Entering Monday night's games, the Leafs were sixth in the East with 40 points. Wilson has also guided the club to a 36-22-10 record since the middle of the last season.

"It's pretty impressive, it's certainly a healthy clip," Burke said.

Burke confirmed the deal during the second intermission of Monday's AHL game between the Toronto Marlies and the Hamilton Bulldogs at Air Canada Centre. He did not reveal contract details.

The 56-year-old Wilson was in the final season of a four-year deal.

"When the coach goes into the cage, he needs the chair and the whip — not just one," Burke said. "It's not enough to just be the coach for the rest of the season, in my opinion.

"So I think it's an important statement. I think there's a respect level involved and I think it was the right thing to do."

Wilson tweeted a day earlier that he got his wish of a new deal. He had hinted last week that he wanted a new contract from Santa Claus for Christmas.

"'He came! He came!' Remember saying that as a little kid? Well he did: I got a new Red Ryder BB gun and a contract extension!" Wilson posted Sunday on his Twitter account.

Wilson said the quest for results remains just as high, even with the increased contract security.

"I've seen lots of coaches get fired this year with lots of (contract) term left, so the pressure doesn't change," he said after the Leafs practiced Monday. "It's still the same. I could get fired next week for all I know. So I have a little bit of combat pay coming in other words.

"That's kind of the way I look at it."

Burke said he worked out the deal with Wilson about three or four weeks ago. The GM added it was up to Wilson when he wanted to make the news public.

"Ron elected to release it in the last couple of days and that's fine with me," Burke said.

Wilson has also coached in Anaheim, Washington and San Jose. Over 18 seasons, he has a career record of 637-546 with 101 ties and 88 overtime losses.

"He hasn't been out of work very long," Burke said. "There's a reason for that. The hockey community believes in this guy."

While Wilson has yet to win a Stanley Cup as a coach, Burke feels he has Hall-of-Fame credentials.

"Ron Wilson is in the top 10 in every category in the history of the league in terms of coaching," Burke said.

Fans have had a mixed view of Wilson's performance since his arrival in Toronto.

His future is regularly debated on sports-talk radio in the hockey-mad city. Chants of "Fire Wilson" have also been heard at Air Canada Centre over the years with the Leafs failing to reach the postseason.

However, Burke said there are usually clear signs when it's time to make a coaching change and he hasn't seen them.

"You have agents calling you and complaining that the players don't like the coach and aren't going to play for him," Burke said. "You have what we call snipers — unnamed players taking shots — and there has been none of that since I've been here.

"In fact, I had players come to me last year telling me, 'Don't change the coach.' So it hasn't been nearly as big an issue or a debate as it's been outside the room or outside of our organization."



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/...n-wilsons-extension-1695160632/#ixzz1hhBTTTqx

 

[Doc Holliday]

Lombardi eyes return

(ESPN) It appears Matthew Lombardi is saying "thanks, but no thanks" to mid-season surgery.

The Toronto Sun reports Lombardi could be back in the lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs within the next week or two -- the decision is being left to team doctors. The center himself seems to think it won't be long now.

"Pretty close, I think," Lombardi said. "Just waiting on the OK to go. We'll see what the medical staff says and go from there."

"I feel good and strong out there. I'm pretty confident."

There had been talk of required surgery to fix a suspected shoulder injury Lombardi sustained in mid-November. If so, that procedure has clearly been postponed until after the season.

Lombardi's return could result in the assignment of Darryl Boyce back to the AHL Marlies.

 

[Mod 8]

Hello everyone,

I would like to remind you all that this is a thread for Leaf fans to post in to show their support for their favorite team. If you are not a Leaf fan, you have no business posting in this thread. Any further attempts to instigate a response in this thread will end in a very bad way for the instigator.

Mod 8

 

[Doc Holliday]

Brown, Komisarek near return

TORONTO - What will end first, the Maple Leafs’ losing streak or the long wait that Mike Brown and Mike Komisarek have endured on the injured list?

For Toronto’s sake, some Ws beter start appearing first, even though the imminent return of the duo later in the week would help immensely.

“They’re impact players,” goalie James Reimer said after both made it through a two-hours practice on Monday at the MasterCard Centre. “Their role is huge for our team and our success. It will be great to have Komo back there, a steady defenceman who blocks shots and does a great job of boxing guys out. Brownie just works his butt off and does what it takes, every shift.”

Both have been gone weeks, but coach Ron Wilson cautioned it’s too early into their on-ice re-conditioning to expect a return any earlier than Saturday’s game against the Red Wings. Wilson also pointed out that Wednesday’s practice at an outdoor community rink before playing the Jets won’t likely be a proper test for any players. So the impetus to halt a three-game slump will be with most of the players who departed Winnipeg New Year’s Eve on the wrong end of a 3-2 decision.

“Hey, it’s a brand new year,” Reimer said. “December (4-6-3) wasn’t the month we wanted, but the sun came up today.”

A new year meant some new lines with Toronto trying to avoid a four-game losing streak for the first time in 13 months. Concern that leading scorer Phil Kessel was going to be sidelined with a foot injury were eased when he returned with Joffrey Lupul and Tim Connolly, though regular first-line centre Tyler Bozak remains on the IR.

Brown’s way back to the lineup was cleared when winger Philippe Dupuis was placed on waivers Monday. With the Leafs’ penalty killing at 30th and specialist Dupuis being party to the problems and scoreless, the move made sense as soon as his broken hand healed. Wilson said he hopes Dupuis finds his scoring touch with the AHL Marlies, assuming he’s not claimed.

“I’d play tomorrow if they’d let me, but it’s up to the trainers,” said Brown, who is coming off back surgery. Komisarek, recovering from a broken arm, hopes to be back by next week for certain.

Left winger Joey Crabb is now playing with Russian-speaking Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin, the latter most in need of a complementary winger. Matt Frattin, in a scoring funk of his own, was dropped from that line and is now on the fourth unit with Darryl Boyce and David Steckel. Matthew Lombardi was between Nazem Kadri and Clarke MacArthur on Monday.

The Leafs take on the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday, heralding nine of the next 10 games at home. Oher than saying Jonas Gustavsson would be getting some starts during the homestand, Wilson would not confirm using him ahead of Reimer on Tuesday.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2012/01/02/19190856.html

 

[evillethings]

too bad komie's returning. might mean fewer mins for gunner' who's been playing well lately. hope they find a way to continue giving gunner' more minutes.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Agreed, Gunnar has been very good. Komi deserves one last chance to be the Komi he was in montreal, even tho he was playing his best hockey before he got injured.

too bad komie's returning. might mean fewer mins for gunner' who's been playing well lately. hope they find a way to continue giving gunner' more minutes.

 

[Doc Holliday]

too bad komie's returning. might mean fewer mins for gunner' who's been playing well lately. hope they find a way to continue giving gunner' more minutes.

I doubt Gunner will be the one affected. More like Franson & Gardiner.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Most likely Franson because he is slower than Gardiner and with Komi in the lineup, we cant have another slow Dman staying in. In a way, i'd love Gardiner to get some time in the AHL for 10-20 games or so just to polish his skills. Dont get me wrong, he has been very good for a rookie but i think a 3-6 week stint under Dallas Eakins down on the farm would make him soooooooo much better.

I doubt Gunner will be the one affected. More like Franson & Gardiner.

 

[Doc Holliday]

In a way, i'd love Gardiner to get some time in the AHL for 10-20 games or so just to polish his skills. Dont get me wrong, he has been very good for a rookie but i think a 3-6 week stint under Dallas Eakins down on the farm would make him soooooooo much better.

I agree. It might help him improve his decision-making. Heck, send down Luke Schenn with him! These two constantly get caught rushing into the offensive zone at least once per game....which drives me nuts! I also have no idea why Gardiner is being used on the PK. He's overwhelmed whenever the opposing team forechecks aggressively. Considering he was playing college hockey last season, it isn't surprising that he needs more experience & stamina.

 

[evillethings]

I...Heck, send down Luke Schenn with him! ...

about time someone said that too... Luke's been hanging around the NHL based on his potential and not his actual playing ability. it's hurt his development.

 

[evillethings]

Most likely Franson because he is slower than Gardiner and with Komi in the lineup...

i'd say jake draws the short straw just because he lacks some of cody's big league experience, granted not by much. but it's a toss up and depends on what wilson has for bf on decision day.

 

[Doc Holliday]

What i like about Franson is his big shot from the point & that he's big and physical. Gardiner reminds me too much of Tomas Kaberle.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Colton Orr put on waivers

(ESPN) According to RDS' Renaud Lavoie, the Toronto Maple Leafs have placed forward Colton Orr on waivers.

***

Faster and arguably more skilled, the 2011-12 Toronto Maple Leafs may no longer have much use for a player like Colton Orr. The 29-year-old on-ice pugilist has been a healthy scratch far more often than not this season. And Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun wonders "when and if" Orr will ever suit up for the Blue and White again:

"... on Friday night, the Leafs will play their 23rd game of this engaging season and for the 19th time, Orr is all but certain to be a healthy scratch. His talents -- primarily his fists -- have been deemed unnecessary by coach Ron Wilson. Even as the Leaf bodies have gone down, one by one, the club has pushed Matt Frattin back into the lineup, found a place for Joe Colborne, even used Jay Rosehill on more occasions, but has found little reason to dress Orr and there's been barely a hue or cry of any kind asking why ... Orr has only played 18 minutes, 39 seconds as the designated scratch of this Leaf season. He has fought just once. The Leafs were blasted that night ..."

Earning $1 million annually, Orr is signed through until the end of next season. Unless the winger becomes more relevant, GM Brian Burke may try to move him.

 

[lgna69xxx]

I forgot about Aulie, i think at this point Franson and Gardiner will both stay unless they just have a terrible cpl of games before Komi is back. Aulie is a solid player and his time will come.

What i like about Franson is his big shot from the point & that he's big and physical. Gardiner reminds me too much of Tomas Kaberle.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Great win by the Leafs tonight. 4-0 over Winnipeg. Leafs are now in 7th position. Leafs had their most dominating game of the entire season. Go Leafs Go!

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs...fence-monster-shuts-out-jets-in-leafs-4-0-win

 

[Doc Holliday]

Poor penalty killing reflects badly on Ron Wilson

by Jeff Blair, The Globe and Mail

There have been times in his coaching career when nobody killed penalties like Ron Wilson’s teams killed penalties. There’s his 1997-98 Washington Capitals, co-holders, with the 1999-2000 Dallas Stars, of the NHL’s single-season record with an 89.2-per-cent success rate. And in 2007-08, Wilson’s San Jose Sharks led the league at 85.8 per cent.

Then consider that the Toronto Marlies have one of the best penalty-killing units in the American Hockey League, and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ long walk in the short-handed desert under Wilson remains a mystery – last in the league at 73.4 per cent.

The Leafs, who play the Detroit Red Wings at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday, had only one penalty in Thursday’s 4-0 win over a Winnipeg Jets team that, as usual, floundered on the road. The Leafs killed off the penalty, as they killed off all five penalties in a 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

Tampa, a team with high-end offensive talent, is dead last in the league on the power play on the road (seven goals in 82 opportunities, or 8.5 per cent) and fourth on the power play at home.

“Honestly,” Lightning head coach Guy Boucher responded when asked what the Leafs’ silver-lining brigade could take home from the penalty-kill shutout, “we wouldn’t have scored if we were playing against four orange cones.”

A false spring? The Red Wings will be more of a test.

Toronto is a city of analysts, and if explanations for the Leafs’ short-handed woes were compiled, they would boil down to some combination of too many minor penalties, fear of their own goaltender, a tendency to overreach for loose pucks in their own end while at the same time failing to challenge at the blueline. In general, there’s a passivity that suddenly turns frenetic when the opposing team starts to squeeze.

Wilson said after Friday’s practice that his team “bottomed out” in giving up two power-play goals in a 3-2 loss to the Jets on New Year’s Eve. He credited regular penalty-killing minutes for Darryl Boyce and Joey Crabb for giving the unit more zest, joking about how “bubble players” will do anything to keep a job, including “sticking their head in front of a shot.”

The Leafs have had a fine collection of dead-enders in recent years, so you’d think the one area in which they’d be proficient would be a seat-of-the-pants penalty kill.

Now the expected return of Mike Brown and Mike Komisarek to the lineup Saturday, coupled with Dion Phaneuf’s uncertain status, could put the penalty kill in a state of flux. (X-rays revealed Phaneuf did not suffer a fracture after a shot hit the side of his face on Thursday, and he is expected to play Saturday after missing Friday’s practice.)

Ken Hitchcock’s Stars team in 1999-2000 shares the record for single-season penalty-killing efficiency with the Capitals that were coached by Wilson. Now head coach of the St. Louis Blues, Hitchcock said this week that weaknesses in penalty-killing units are among the most easily exposed items during video sessions, and that failing to address bad habits leads to a “sense of panic” in a game that is more than ever determined by special teams.

“Generally,” Hitchcock said, “the good penalty-killing teams beat you with their legs. You watch them and they’re skating to position instead of just sort of gliding into position. Some people will say you kill penalties with your head. To me, it’s always been the legs.”

Leafs defenceman Keith Aulie has split penalty-killing time with both the Marlies and the Leafs this season, and he shook his head when asked why one team has been so good and the other so bad.

“The structure’s the same,” he said with a shrug. “It’s really all a matter of confidence. With the Marlies, we’d go out on the PK thinking we were going to kill it off. One guy would pressure the other team, and all of a sudden we were all going at that team hard. When you are confident, you are comfortable. And when you are comfortable, you don’t try to make plays that aren’t there.”

After three and a half years of Wilson, there is no reason that this shouldn’t be part of the Leafs’ DNA. Along with being shut out from the playoffs, it’s the most disturbing blot on his résumé.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs won't deal for goalie

(ESPN) Poised to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the duration of the season, goaltenders Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer can each take a nice deep breath. As far as the general manager is concerned, the Leafs have zero interest in trading for another netminder.

"Not a chance," Brian Burke told ESPN.com (Cross Checks Blog). "We're not talking to any teams right now about getting a goalie."

Instead, the Leafs are reportedly interested in exchanging a defenseman for a bulkier top-six forward.

"Our forward group is small," the GM said. "If we can add some size up front, we would."

And don't be surprised if the Leafs make such a move in the next couple of weeks. Burke confesses to a preference of having his squad in place well ahead of the trade deadline -- ie. by the end of January.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs blue-line shuffle

(ESPN) Anticipating the return of Mike Komisarek, and assuming fellow defenseman Dion Phaneuf is able to play -- as expected -- the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs will have a significant decision to make for Saturday's contest with the Detroit Red Wings. Who sits? The choice may not be an easy one for Ron Wilson.

Bob Mitchell of the Toronto Star suggests either Cody Franson or Keith Aulie will return to the press-box, under such circumstances. Assuming the Maple Leafs are shopping Franson as a trade asset -- at least to some degree -- we anticipate Aulie will be the odd blue-liner out.

UPDATE: Or Jake Gardiner could sit. James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail:

"(Coach Ron) Wilson says Jake Gardiner 'could be' the scratch on defence tonight. That's usually a yes."

 

[Doc Holliday]

Gustavsson looking more like a monster

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...Social+Network+/+Media&utm_source=twitter.com

 

[lgna69xxx]

The REAL Captain Canada: Dion Phaneuf

TORONTO – Teammates chuckle at his intensity on the ping-pong table.

But it appears in the heat of competition, Dion Phaneuf knows no other way.

"It gets heated," Keith Aulie told the Leaf Report. "He has the whole team laughing at him just because of the way he gets so aggressive playing ping-pong."

The 26-year-old Leaf captain is by no means a perfect leader, but one evolving under the glaring spotlights of Toronto. Gazing through the lens of a pair of teammates – Aulie and Carl Gunnarsson, his two regular defensive partners – it's apparent the Edmonton native is a uniquely styled captain, one with relentless energy on the ice and behind closed doors, a personality striking in contrast to his public persona.

"They probably perceive him as a guy with his eye-brows down, angry all the time, but that's definitely not him at all," Aulie said.

Practice

"In practice he always wants to go first, wants to go hard," Gunnarsson said. "All that energy, you just feed off it. I think it's good. He's always on his toes, no matter what time of day it is or when practice is or if we had a game the night before, he's always going 100%."

A solid two-handed chop to the midsection of 21-year-old Nazem Kadri sets the tone at a Monday practice from MasterCard Centre. Perhaps in jest, but certainly not lacking in tension, Phaneuf glares almost menacingly at his rookie teammate from centre ice.

"That guy hates to lose," Gunnarsson said. "Even if it's just a one-on-one battle on the boards in a five-on-five [drill] or three-on-three, doesn't matter. He just wants to win it all. Sometimes you look at his face at practice, after a game, the day after a game, he goes out there and you see his face on the three-on-two and he just wants to go out there and not kill guys, but really finish off and not let any goals in."

"In practice he's obviously a vocal guy," Aulie added, "maybe not so much now with his sore cheek, but normally he's a pretty vocal guy. He'll chirp at guys and make sure guys are working hard, but at the same time, he understands everybody personally and knows what makes everybody tick, the different personalities in the room, and I think that's one of his best assets in the room."

In-Game

In spite of the brash personality, Phaneuf isn't breaking down each shift with a fine-tooth comb on the bench – as some players prefer to do – but he is accountable for his mistakes.

"If he's done something wrong, he's honest about it," Gunnarsson said. "He says 'Gunnar, my bad. That's my goal' or whatever happened. I think if you make a mistake, he will hold you accountable to it, but he's not the guy who's going up to you and telling you to go somewhere else. He's not that guy, but you know when he holds himself accountable out there, he's doing the same thing to you."

A 4-3 victory over the Wings on Saturday was not without its hiccups for the Leafs, including a momentum-sapping second period dominated by Detroit.

"When we had that bad period against Detroit, he lets us know that it's not going to be enough to win the game," Gunnarsson said. "He's the one to talk about it in the locker room."

Aulie recalled an intermission chat with Phaneuf during an off-night at the Bell Centre last season.

"He just came in and talks about it and says 'Hey don't worry about it. It's a hockey game. It's all about what you do next. Young guys are going to make mistakes and it's all about how you deal with it. If you just take it in stride and learn on it, then you'll be better off than sitting there and thinking about it and letting it brew in your mind and pouting'."

"He's always got a real positive outlook and I think that's what's brought him so much success in his career," Aulie continued. "He started at such a young age and he's always just had that 'Go get 'em' mentality. I remember watching him in World Juniors when I was just a young guy, but watching him out there and seeing how aggressive and mean he was on the other teams and just that 'Go get 'em' positive attitude, it's really contagious in the dressing room.

"When the game's on, when it's between whistles, he's completely focused on what's at hand and he understands what it's all about."

Off-Ice

"Every time he comes to the rink, it's like he's had 10 coffees," Aulie said. "He's just zipped up and ready to go every time. I've never seen him come into the rink mopey. I can't even remember the last time he said he wasn't feeling well or feeling sick. He just comes to the rink ready to go every day. Obviously he's not a robot, obviously some days he isn't feeling great, but he comes to the rink and says he's feeling great and works hard every day and I think that's all you can ask a captain to do."

"He's got the most energy of all the guys I've played with," Gunnarsson added. "Showing it to everyone else, talking, screaming, shouting it in the locker room to get everyone else going. I think he's just one of a kind."

"With me, he's always known that I don't have to be yelled and screamed at," Aulie said. "He just has to let me know. I think he kind of understands that that's how I learn best and he adapts to that really well.

"I think that's one of his strengths as a leader is just understanding that about players and understanding what makes everybody go. I think that helps him motivate."

http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/blogs/jonas_siegel/?id=384649