The Official LEAFS NATION Hockey thread

[Doc Holliday]

Hornby grades the Leafs

GOALTENDERS

James Reimer C+

Element of surprise reduced in his second year, short-handed goals are a concern. But still the most technically sound of the two.

Jonas Gustavsson B-minus

Cleaned up his positional game to a large degree and has the No. 1 job — for now.

DEFENCEMAN

Luke Schenn C

Salary went up, ice time is down, but he’s avoided long funks.

Dion Phaneuf B+

Leadership mantle fits him a lot better this year.

Big jump in points.

Cody Franson B-

Looked grim at the start when the newcomer was on the bench, but has found his niche.

Mike Komisarek C+

Held to 20 games by a broken arm, but secured a spot and is a big help to younger defencemen.

John-Michael Liles B

Before a Christmas concussion sidelined him, had made Tomas Kaberle a distant memory.

Carl Gunnarsson B-

Has come a long way from an unknown sixth-rounder.

Jake Gardiner C+

Rookie made the team based on his skating, stayed on because he learned all the ropes.

Keith Aulie C

Didn’t make the team at camp after last year’s good finish, but is improving. Size is still the key.

FORWARDS

C Tim Connolly C+

Didn’t get first-line role, but helped about everywhere else. Best of all, is staying healthy.

C/LW Matthew Lombardi C

No one knew what the Leafs would get after his concussion, but full credit for his comeback.

LW Clarke MacArthur C-

Slowly coming out of the funk that gripped the whole second line. Road goals a bonus.

LW Mike Brown C

Injuries have bitten into his season again. Demotion of Colton Orr underlines his importance.

LW Joffrey Lupul A

Makes the top line a double threat with Kessel.

Points in 33 of 41 games with his nose for the net.

C David Steckel C+

Great pre-season pick-up has been strong on faceoffs, but suffered with everyone else on penalty kill.

LW Jay Rosehill C

Careful not to hurt the team in his unique role, but not needed much in this year’s quieter NHL.

RW Matt Frattin C-

Not enough goals to avoid demotion last week, but lasted 37 games and made good impression.

RW Nikolai Kulemin D-

Production greatly reduced, still plays tough, but needs to show more in a contract year.

C Tyler Bozak B

Made people think twice about their criticisms. Held first-line role until his injury, plus-minus has improved.

RW Nazem Kadri C

Resilient and confident, despite another demotion. Learned a new job at right wing. Needs a strong finish.

LW Joey Crabb C+

Has done well just about every place Ron Wilson has put him — with 12 points.

RW Darryl Boyce C+

Don’t ever tell him he can’t find a role in the NHL.

RW Phil Kessel A

Could the Leafs have an Art Ross winner here? At least they have a 40-goal scorer.

C Mikhail Grabovski B-

If the Leafs are to hold their playoff pace or stop the trade hunt for a centre, they’ll need more from him.

C Philippe Dupuis D

More was expected of a defensive player who kept Boyce and others on the farm before going there himself.

Incomplete grades

G Ben Scrivens, RW Joe Colborne, RW Colton Orr

MANAGEMENT

Coach Ron Wilson and staff C+

They are ahead of last year in points and offence, while lagging a bit behind in goals against and suffering on PK. But it should be noted they made inroads despite injuries and with a relatively young lineup. Wilson should thank Marlies coach Dallas Eakins, too.

GM Brian Burke B-

Franson, Lombardi, Steckel, Liles and Connolly are a collective upgrade. But most believe Burke has one big trade to go this year, likely for an impact forward. Until the Leafs secure a berth, don’t get over-excited about the team’s direction.

Adviser Lil Burkie A+

On-the-edge humour keeps the team light but at the same time has been know to ruffle some feathers.

Five First-half Flops

Assistant-coaching shuffle, days of practice and video still can’t improve last-place penalty killing.

Despite Ron Wilson touting his second line as good or better than the first, he eventually breaks them up.

Nine losses in December undercuts team’s best start in years.

Colby Armstrong’s terrible luck with injuries in what he hoped would be a revival year.

Handling of the Wilson contract extension. He gets new deal without a playoff spot and picks Christmas Day to announce it.

Five first-half faves

Scored 25 more goals than this time last year, solving a lot of problems.

Taking on salary from Nashville with the

Lombardi-Franson deal pays off.

Kessel, Lupul and co. put together top-five power play.

Leafs have won 10 one-goal games, on pace for fewest overtime/shootout losses in years.

Have not lost more than three games in a row.

Second-half predictions

Trade or trades for a forward of some description well before the Feb. 27 deadline.

Some kind of off-ice distraction linked to the Rogers — Bell purchase of MLSE.

Marlies will be hard-pressed to utilize so many demoted veterans vs. developing young talent.

Wilson hoping history repeats itself. Leafs are 92-63-24 after Feb. 1 since the NHL lockout.

Game 82 in Montreal will have post-season implications for Leafs or Habs.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2012/01/09/19222931.html

 

[Doc Holliday]

Brian Burke to anonymous NHLers ripping Dion Phaneuf:

"They can all go defecate in their chapeaus"

I love it! :thumb:

 

[lgna69xxx]

Was reading a habs fans post on another forum wishing they had a gm like Burke, and many were agreeing with him as well. Sorry boys, Burkie is a Leaf and has a job to do, and to finish before he goes anywhere.

Brian Burke to anonymous NHLers ripping Dion Phaneuf:

"They can all go defecate in their chapeaus"

I love it! :thumb:

 

[lgna69xxx]

Haha! Love the Jealousy!

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=384805

 

[Doc Holliday]

“People love to hate the Toronto Maple Leafs. They hate the fact we’re the centre of the hockey universe.”------Brian Burke

I love it! :thumb:

 

[Doc Holliday]

NHLers who labelled Phaneuf overrated green with envy

by Dave Feschuk, The Toronto Star

An open letter to those NHLers who voted Dion Phaneuf the most overrated player in the league in a Sports Illustrated poll of 161 players.

Dear Jealous, Petty Gentlemen:

I’m sure you have your reasons. Maybe his $6.5 million salary is bigger than yours. Maybe his girlfriend is lovelier and more famous than yours. Maybe he hurt your feelings with some brash on-ice slight or another. Maybe his endorsement deals for energy potion and trendy parkas and hockey equipment have you calling your agent saying, “If Phaneuf can get that, why can’t I?”

But let’s face it, fellas. The vast majority of you can’t get it because you’re not the captain of the most watched, most loved and most valuable hockey club on the planet. You can’t get it because you wear neither No. 3 nor the C for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

You can’t get it, gents, and we feel for you. But that’s no reason to take it out on a guy who can. Envy and lust and wrath are deadly sins. And as Brian Burke, the Leafs GM, was saying on radio the other night, defending Phaneuf: “People love to hate the Toronto Maple Leafs.”

Look, there’s no Leafs apologist residing in this space. But there’s also no logical argument that Phaneuf is the league’s most overrated player—or overrated at all. There may have been a point, a few years back, when he was. But you can’t possibly be considered overrated when the franchise that drafted you 9th overall is less than two years removed from effectively giving up on you at age 24, which is what the Calgary Flames did when they dealt Phaneuf to Toronto. You could make a better case, given the relative chaff the Flames took back in the deal and given that Phaneuf is headed to his first all-star game since leaving Calgary, that he ranks as one of the most grossly underrated assets in recent NHL memory.

In other words, there’s obviously something other than thoughtful logic behind him being labelled Mr. Overrated.

As Carl Gunnarsson, Phaneuf’s teammate, was saying on Thursday: “It’s just he’s a pain in the ass to play against, probably. And he likes to talk out there, chirp guys. Some guys might have something against it and just put him on that list I guess. I wouldn’t mind that too much. I don’t think Dion does.”

Said Phaneuf: “I didn’t lose any sleep over it.”

Maybe some of you hate Phaneuf and the Leafs for perfectly valid reasons; that’s your right. But it’s easy to get the sense that a lot of you hate the Leafs simply because you wish your team had what they have, which, among many things, includes the unconditional and inexhaustible love of one of North America’s great cities.

You can’t get what Phaneuf gets because most of you play in places where panhandlers who work busy corners are better known around town than you. You can’t be overrated, most of you, because you’re not rated. You can’t be polarizing figures because you’re barely public figures.

We here in the centre of the hockey universe — your phrase, not ours, at least judging by how often it’s uttered by aw-shucks NHLers in the visitors’ dressing room at the Air Canada Centre — know the argument against playing in Toronto. We’ve seen those of you who play alongside deserts and sea resorts smirk as you say, “We make our millions and nobody with a microphone bothers us for weeks.” If that’s your take on life, you over-golfed, over-sunned denizens of the game’s irrelevant and insolvent outposts, enjoy your anonymity.

Just know that hockey tickets, where Phaneuf plays, are family heirlooms, and that hockey tickets, where you play, are those free things stapled to the pizza box.

Those of us who care about the game aren’t impressed that you’re content to be ignored. The athletes we’ve come to truly appreciate relish the spotlight, crave the big stage. Phaneuf, after some early stumbles, has embraced life under the Bay Street glare, and he’s currently prospering.

Certainly that’s another Toronto-based truth that has to stick in the craw of you pros residing in non-traditional markets. Phaneuf has mass popularity —as evidenced by his fan-voted spot in the all-star starting lineup — and yet the Leafs are coming up on the 8th anniversary of their most recent playoff game. Imagine the filthy lucre in which he’ll bathe if he leads his squad to, say, a single post-season victory.

Maybe, in the end, your voting for Phaneuf, like a lot of negative emotions, will have the opposite of its intended effect. You’d all clearly love to see him struggle, but this poll, in its little way, is more likely to help him succeed. For years Burke has been railing against Blue and White Disease, the sense of entitlement that’s bred in a city in which two-way-contract bubble players are afforded celebrity and all its perils. This kind of a poll, if it’s good for anything, gives a man who has everything a couple of important gifts: A renewed sense of purpose, for one, and a reminder he’s very much being watched.

Nice job, jealous, petty gentlemen. Can’t wait to observe your post-retirement careers as learned TV analysts in, um, the city you love to pretend to hate (but secretly, obviously love).

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs...ho-labelled-phaneuf-overrated-green-with-envy

 

[Doc Holliday]

JML re-signed by Leafs to 4-year extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to announce as early as Wednesday the signing of defenseman John-Michael Liles to a four-year contract extension, an NHL source told ESPN The Magazine.

Liles has been recovering from concussion-like symptoms and is expected to return to the Toronto lineup immediately after the All-Star break.

Liles was acquired in June by Toronto general manager Brian Burke in a deal that sent a 2012 second-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche. In 34 games with the Maple Leafs, Liles has 21 points, including four goals.

The signing would leave the Maple Leafs with a few other decisions before the Feb. 27 trade deadline. Goalie Jonas Gustavsson is slated to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, and the Maple Leafs are expected to begin contract negotiations with Gustavsson's camp, although that hasn't happened yet.

The front office also is weighing whether to trade Mikhail Grabovski, another potential unrestricted free agent. He played his best game of the season Tuesday in Toronto's win over the Islanders, but had a rough first half.

It's been a tough season for his entire line, with Nikolai Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur, one that was Toronto's strongest last year.

"I will say to be fair to them, not for one second was it due to a lack of effort," Burke told ESPN The Magazine. "They've worked hard from the first days of camp."

Burke would like to get bigger up front before the deadline, but understands it won't be easy.

"Guys with size who can play don't grow on trees," Burke said. "Teams that have them tend to keep them. These assets are not in play."

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs may have to move a defenceman or two

The Toronto Maple Leafs made it pretty clear that they think John-Michael Liles is one of the better d-men in the league with yesterday's deal, which pays him an average of $3.875 million a season over four years. But this also means they have far too much money put into their four most highly paid blueliners, Dion Phaneuf, Mike Komisarek, Luke Schenn and Liles. We know Liles and Phaneuf aren't leaving, so that leave Schenn and Komisarek as potential trade targets in the offseason, the Globe and Mail's James Mirty writes.

Mirtle adds, "It also looks unlikely that Toronto would attempt to bring in another defenceman via free agency or a trade, even with someone like Nashville Predators veteran Ryan Suter -- an old friend of Phil Kessel -- potentially available."

The Leafs have several key free agents to re-sign this summer, including RFAs Cody Franson, Keith Aulie and Nikolai Kulemin, and UFA Mikhail Grabovski. At this point, they don't have the money to do it, and if Leafs GM Brian Burke wants to bring in an elite forward soon (Bobby Ryan?), there's definitely some cap space that needs to be cleared out.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Grabovski trade talk

Recently, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke said he'd received inquiries about forward Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin. That's what he told Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman, which isn't a huge surprise since those two are impending free agents and Burke is one of the GMs in the league who talks a lot to the media about player transactions. However, that also means Burke knows how to use the media to his advantage. As The Hockey News' Adam Proteau tweets, "When Brian Burke talks about trading Grabovski, it could be the truth, or it could be - SHOCKER! - a negotiating ploy."

Grabovski is slated to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and he'll be looking for more than the $3.1 million he makes this season. There isn't too much cap space left for next season, but Burke might want to save some money to add a high-end forward; there's been rumors he's highly interested in trading for Bobby Ryan, among others. So it's possible Burke is sending the signal to Grabovski that they won't break the bank to sign him.

All that said, it's also very possible there is some interest in the trade market for Grabovski, given the reasonable cap hit ($2.9 million) for a top-six guy.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Great Vid with Brian Burke

[video=youtube;xj7uc88xFYE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xj7uc88xFYE[/video]

 

[lgna69xxx]

Nice to see Dion Phaneuf, Joffery Lupul and Phil Kessel represent the Maple Leafs with class and dignity at the All Star Game this weekend in Ottawa. All 3 deserved to be there and it is an amazing success story for Lupul who a year ago was out of hockey with a very serious back injury and was not sure if he would ever play again. Also, a nice side note, all three were players Brian Burke wanted and went out and traded for and now all three are cornerstones for the Leafs, hopefully for years to come. Dion has became the ultimate leader many never thought possible, as has Phil to being a great 2way player.... how did this happen? Well, both grew up or matured if you will. Lupul just needed to get healthy and now we see why the hype was there when he was drafted in the first round back in 2002. Congrats boys, you made Leafs Nation very proud this weekend :thumb:

 

[Doc Holliday]

I totally agree. As for Lupul, he actually nearly died & lost over 40 lbs during his ordeal. He went through two serious back surgeries, two resulting infections which included a blood infection. A year-and-a-half ago, he was at home spending his days lying in bed & 40 lbs lighter, feeling extremely weak & his career was in serious jeopardy.

Lupul was a throw-in in the deal that brought him to Toronto. Anaheim wasn't sure he could play decent hockey again & wanted to dump his big (it appeared that way at the time) contract. Toronto needed to dump a player & felt it had no choice but to take on Lupul's contract. What a great bargain this turned out to be!

As for Phaneuf, he's been nothing short of great this season & has actually performed & lead better than anyone had ever expected. He was easily a steal for the Leafs and worth every penny they're paying him. The Leafs also picked up Keith Aulie & Freddie Sjostrom in that one-sided deal. What a steal it was!

As for Kessel, the trade was good for both teams. Kessel will likely score at least 40 goals this season & has been a productive player ever since his entry into the NHL a few years ago. This season, he's been scoring more regularly, has helped revitalize Joffrey Lupul's career, and has become a solid two-way player and proficient passer. Of course, nothing comes free (unless you trade with Calgary or Anaheim), so the Leafs had to give the Bruins something in order to have an all-star player like Phil Kessel within its lineup. Boston got more than they bargained for and wound up drafting Tyler Seguin, who will also be a very valuable player for years to come. He likely will never have Kessel's scoring touch, but he no doubt will be a very good player also.

 

[Doc Holliday]

NHL star of the week: Mikhael Grabovski

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs...l-grabovski-wins-nhl-star-of-the-week-honours

 

[Doc Holliday]

Liles may return tonight

The Globe and Mail's David Shoalts reports John-Michael Liles should be in the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Forward Colby Armstrong is also expected back from injury.

Thought to be out with concussion-like symptoms, Liles recently insisted he was dealing with a neck issue instead.

It's anticipated defenseman Keith Aulie and forward Nazem Kadri could be the odd players out. In fact, both could very well be headed back to the AHL Marlies for the time being.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Grabovski's agent arrives in Toronto

TORONTO - Gary Greenstin, the California-based agent for Mikhail Grabovski, is in town — and it’s not to mark Groundhog Day.

Amid heightened speculation of what the Maple Leafs will do with Grabovski, their red-hot impending unrestricted free agent centre, Greenstin could be here to talk about the same kind of extension the Leafs gave defenceman John-Michael Liles last week.

Greenstin met the Leafs twice in Calgary during the world junior tournament. Asked if the visit with his clients (he also represents winger Nikolai Kulemin) would include a talk with general manager Brian Burke, Greenstin chose his words carefully.

“You’ll see,” Greenstin said. “I usually don’t make comments during negotiations. But I will say that Mikhail loves Toronto and the organization and would like to stay.

“Brian Burke has to do the best for the team. I have to do the best for my player. Right now, the best for my player is to stay with the Leafs.”

A source said a meeting had not taken place as of Wednesday, but noted Burke’s tone was very encouraging a week ago when a possible Grabovski trade came up in a chat with reporters on Long Island.

“We’re not even close to that,” Burke said that night. “That (UFA status) will be a factor, but I accept unrestricted guys, too, if they can help us get to where we want to get.

“I stuck with Ruslan Salei in Anaheim, because I thought he was what we needed to make the playoffs and make some noise. And he was great for us (when the Ducks won the Cup in 2007). There is no automatic rule that if a guy is unrestricted that I’m shipping him out.”

As well as impressing the Leafs with his play — seven points in two games before Wednesday and 17 points with linemates Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur — he marked his 28th birthday this week with a new-found maturity after growing pains on and off the ice. Grabovski’s deal this year pays him $2.9 million US.

“I’m very proud of this young man,” Greenstin said. “He’s a professional hockey player and he’s a great player. He has family here. He would love to stay in Toronto.

“He has great chemistry with Nikolai.”

A restricted free agent, Kulemin is also coming up for a new contract, but where Grabovski could beat last year’s career high of 58 points, Kulemin is far behind his pace of 2010-11.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Boyz.....

Phil Kessel scored his 30th goal tonight.....that's his 4th consecutive season with at least 30 goals. What a snipa, what a playa!!!

Thank you, Boston!! Thank you!!! LOL!!!!!! :thumb:

 

[Doc Holliday]

Darryl Boyce back in the lineup to face the Habs

Darryl Boyce’s return to the lineup against the Montreal Canadiens is even more special for him because it comes on a night when the Leafs are honouring former captain Mats Sundin.

Boyce, 27, is the only current Leaf to have played with Sundin. It happened in his first NHL game.

“At that time, I definitely didn’t know that shift would become a trivia question,” Boyce said Saturday after the optional morning skate at the Air Canada Centre. “I remember seeing him out there and wondering why we were on the ice together.”

Boyce will play on the fourth line with David Steckel and Mike Brown on Saturday night.

Coach Ron Wilson said the best way for the Leafs to “honour” Sundin would be to go out and “get two points.”

As for Boyce, it was January 2008 when he was called up from the Marlies and sent over the boards by then coach Paul Maurice. Sundin was on the ice and hadn’t yet come at the end of his shift, so Boyce got to skate with him.

Altogether, Boyce had five shifts in his first-ever game as a Leaf. But it didn’t end well. He injured his shoulder and wound up having season-ending surgery.

“I know I played with him,” Boyce said. “I don’t think he knows that he played with me.”

Boyce said he was just happy to get back into the lineup and healthy again.

“I just want to be an asset to this club, especially on a night like this,” Boyce said.

Boyce lost his job with the Leafs at training camp, beaten out by Philippe Dupuis, after playing 46 games last season. But he was recalled from the Marlies on Dec. 20. In 11 games, he has a goal and an assist. His goal was the winner on Jan. 3 against Tampa.

He’s been a healthy scratch for the past nine games after missing two with a back injury in mid-January.

Heading into Saturday’s game, the Leafs have gone 17 consecutive games without allowing a power-play goal. That’s the team’s longest streak in more than 70 years and the longest streak for any NHL team since the Chicago Blackhawks went 19 games in the 1969-70 season. The penalty kill has gone 28 for 28 in 2012. They’re the first team since the 1974 Blackhawks to go a calendar month with a perfect penalty-killing record, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Goalie James Reimer gets his second consecutive start Saturday night, his fifth in the past six games.

“Montreal is going to come out hard against us. . . . I’m going to try to make the most of another opportunity,” Reimer said. “I hope we can feed some energy off Mats (getting honoured). It’s obviously an emotional night for him — and for us, too. The crowd should be energized and we should, too.”

The Leafs weren’t expected to make any changes on defence. That means former Hab Mike Komisarek sits for the sixth straight game.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Gunnarson injures leg in practice; MRI scheduled this afternoon

This morning at practice, Leafs defenceman Carl Gunnarson was rammed into the end boards by Jay Rosehill & suffered an injury to his right leg. He immediately left practice & didn't come back, only to be seen later walking with a considerable limp. He's been sent to a Calgary hospital for an MRI.

My question is: "What the hell is Jay Rosehill still doing with the team? Has anyone not noticed that the Leafs haven't won a game since they sent back Nazem Kadri to the Marlies?"

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs waive Rosehill & Boyce

by James Mirtle, The Globe and Mail

Rosehill has been up with the Leafs ever since training camp, but has played in just 16 of 61 games and averaged 5:52 ice time a game.

Boyce, meanwhile, has bounced between the two teams, playing only 17 games in the NHL this season.

"We wanted to clean up some space," Leafs coach Ron Wilson said after practice. "We're going to promote a guy when we're allowed to once those other guys have cleared waivers, we're going to bring somebody in to maybe provide a spark.

"We've been thinking about a call-up for a couple of days now... Who we're calling up will be a mystery until noon tomorrow."

What does this all mean on the trade front? Probably not a whole lot, other than that, even with Frattin or someone else recalled, there'll be an open hole on the 23-man roster to add another body.

It also frees up a little more cap space, with the $140,000 left on Rosehill's contract presumably off the books the rest of the season.

Teams are only allowed four call-ups after the trade deadline, too, so this weekend is a good time to bring up whatever players the Leafs want on hand for their final 21 games and the playoff drive.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...two-players-as-deadline-looms/article2349414/

 

[Doc Holliday]

Website says Leafs have 43% chance to make playoffs

The Toronto Maple Leafs woke up Friday morning on the outside looking in at the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

The website playoffstatus.com calculates that the Leafs have a 43 per cent chance of making the playoffs heading into Saturday’s big game against the Washington Capitals.

Washington (29-26-5) is two points behind the Leafs, and the website calculates that the Capitals have a 42 per cent chance of making the postseason.

After the Leafs’ 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, Toronto (29-25-7) is in ninth place with 65 points, one point behind the Florida Panthers (27-20-12).

The Winnipeg Jets (30-26-7), with their 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, leapfrogged into third place because they lead the weak Southeast Division.

But because the Jets have played four more games than the Panthers, the website calculates that Winnipeg has a 41 per cent chance of making the playoffs while Florida has a 67 per cent chance.

The website says all future games are assumed won/lost with a probability based upon relative team strengths.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs...-chance-of-making-playoffs-website-calculates