The Official LEAFS NATION Hockey thread

[Doc Holliday]

So why isn't he on the Canadian Olympic hockey team? There are 3 goalies picked and he was not one of them.

He was bascially an unknown at the time the selection committee was scouting players for the team. The team was announced earlier due to Olympic rules. This is also Bernier's first season as a starting goalie. He was a very high draft pick (first round) a few years ago, but didn't play much in Los Angeles due to being the backup of Jonathan Quick, whom i consider one of the league's finest goalies.

The selection committee had its sights on Luongo and Price since a year ago. The big question was who would be #3. Would it be Fleury? Crawford? Smith? Brodeur? Bernier was bypassed since at the time, he was a relative unknown. Josh Harding of the Wild was also bypassed, many saying it was because he suffers from MS.

They went with Mike Smith as the third goalie named. Coach Mike Babcock was familiar with Smith from his years coaching in the western conference. Yzerman was also familiar with Smith since he once played with Tampa. But Smith has only had 1 successful season in his entire career. But he's great with his stick once he comes out of the net, which many attribute to the reason he was selected. But there's an inside joke going around in Phoenix that you want Smith 'out of his crease' and not 'in his crease'.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Because a couple of red wings are running the show....babs and steve-why. Bernier should be there if nothing more than to gain experience for/if there is another Olympic Games for NHL players in 4 years, which he would likely be the starter, what with the future he has in front of him.

So why isn't he on the Canadian Olympic hockey team? There are 3 goalies picked and he was not one of them.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I'm starting to fall in love with Tim Gleeson. I wouldn't be surprised if he wore an 'A' next season. His trade for Liles is starting to look like a steal for the Leafs since Carlyle didn't want anything to do with Liles. It also turns out that the trade was beneficial for Carolina since Liles has played very well for them and they seem to like him a lot.

I also love Bodie. It wouldn't bother me one bit if he took over McLaren & Orr's spot from now on. The kid can play & i'm impressed with his speed!

 

[lgna69xxx]

Gleason is a Warrior and i agree he has been great for us since the trade. I was also thinking the same about Bodie last night, the kid hustles, hits, fights and can skate for a big man and has some skill as well.

Loved the way Gleason went after that guy that slammed into Jonathan "Big Game" Bernier last night, throwing haymakers one after the other with authority! His teammates must love him for sticiking up for them the way he does. Good stuff :thumb:

 

[Doc Holliday]

Loved the way Gleason went after that guy that slammed into Jonathan "Big Game" Bernier last night, throwing haymakers one after the other with authority! His teammates must love him for sticiking up for them the way he does. Good stuff :thumb:

The haymakers were actually thrown against their tough guy (Gudas) who had jumped into the fracas.

Just a week or so ago, Gudas was grabbed by George Parros during a fracas. Immediately when this happened, Brandon Prust stepped in and prevented a fight since he knew fully well Gudas could immediately put an end to George Parros' career. Don Cherry noted this on his Coach's Corner segment and said nice words of Prust for his act of kindness (say what you want, he may have saved Parros' life with that act alone).

Today on Tim & Sid (AM 590), Sid kept calling Gleason "The Undertaker". Later as a guest panelist on Primetime Sports, he did the same thing and when asked by one of the members of the panel (it might have been Bob McKeown), he admitted that he found that there was a serious resemblance between "The Undertaker" and Gleason, often making the remark "Gleason went 'Undertaker' during the scrum last night". Now that i think about it, there is a resemblance between the two.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs are playing great, being the hottest team in the NHL over the past 15 games. They now stand tied with Montreal in 4th place in the eastern conference, a single point away from Tampa Bay. Until this weekend, the Leafs were ranked #9 in ESPN's power rankings. Tampa is in the #8 slot, and since the Leafs recently beat the Bolts two games in a row, they may take over their spot once the rankings are updated.

Many say that the break couldn't have come at a worse time for Canada's team, but the good thing about the break is that tired players will get a chance to replenish their battery during the 3-week break period. Many players have been playing with injuries & the break will give them time to heal. Same thing with Dave Bolland, who is expected to be re-join the team once the Olympics are over. He hasn't played since rupturing an ankle tendon in Vancouver back in early November.

But the Leafs will have to make room on their roster in order to add Bolland. How will this be done? Will they send down a player, release one or two, or make a trade? Could it be 'all of the above'?

The only improvement i could see the Leafs making is maybe adding a quality player on defence. I wouldn't mind a cheap rental like Andrei Markov & pair him up with Dion Phaneuf. But this is unlikely to happen since both teams are likely to be neck & neck in the standings until the end of the regular season. Unless the habs are blown away by an offer, that is. My guess is that Markov is likely to be dealt to a western conference team. Chicago maybe? Could Ed Jovanovski be dealt to Toronto with one more year left on his contract?

 

[lgna69xxx]

Clear a roster spot for Bolland? Simple, McLaren on waivers. Bodie is cheaper, can fight like Mac but has skill as well. Would anyone trade for McLaren? A 6th rounder maybe?

 

[Doc Holliday]

Clear a roster spot for Bolland? Simple, McLaren on waivers. Bodie is cheaper, can fight like Mac but has skill as well. Would anyone trade for McLaren? A 6th rounder maybe?

It'll take more than that. They need to clear about $1.5 million, and McLaren is making only $700 000. But it's a start.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Nice to see the Leafs last night get some secondary scoring when the Big line of Jvr/Bozak/Kessel had an off night. The defense has been chipping in A LOT lately as well. Jonathan "Big Game" Bernier was tough to beat all night once again and is proving (like i proclaimed when the trade was made) to be the offseason move of the year. Good Stuff. Now a tough road trip in Cali that see's the young Leafs play 3 games in 4 nights against 3 of the better teams in the league. I will be happy with 3 out of 6 points but satisfied with 2 as long as they play those teams tight and give a good showing. If they can play good against those 3 it will be a huge confidence builder heading towards the playoffs.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Doc, what are you hearing on the Bolland front? Will he be activated on the road trip or still a ways away? A 100% healthy Dave Bolland is like adding a huge piece at the trade deadline w/o giving anything up. We weathered the storm all season w/o him and he will be a huge addition when he comes back. Good Stuff!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Doc, what are you hearing on the Bolland front? Will he be activated on the road trip or still a ways away? A 100% healthy Dave Bolland is like adding a huge piece at the trade deadline w/o giving anything up. We weathered the storm all season w/o him and he will be a huge addition when he comes back. Good Stuff!

From what i've heard, Bolland is very close & the team is being very cautious in his case. If it would be the playoffs, he'd be playing. My guess is that they'll likely reactivate him within the next 10 games in order to get him ready for the playoffs.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Jonathan Bernier update

He had an MRI today which revealed a low grade groin strain. He's day-to-day & might play Saturday against Mtl.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Great news! I did not think it was very serious when he came back to sit on the bench in LA the other night. Reimer has played well in the last 2 games minus a softie yesterday. At least deadtroit has a chance tomo night w/o "Big Game" in net.

Jonathan Bernier update

He had an MRI today which revealed a low grade groin strain. He's day-to-day & might play Saturday against Mtl.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Gardiner with another goal tonight.... I dont know about you Doc or Rev but why not make him a winger next season? The kid is a GREAT skater, quick feet and soft hands = Winger material.

 

[lgna69xxx]

I wonder if Granberg or Holzer get a call up from the Marlies to replace Paul Ranger who for sure wont be in the lineup saturday. Maybe Brennan? Nice to have depth, that is for sure.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Likely it would be Holzer over Granberg for the simple fact of experience with the Leafs as you mention but he did not play all that well last season when he had his chance but thats what Steve Spott's job is down on the farm so hopefully he has helped the Big German Tank and molded him into a quality NHL defender IF recalled. Hard to say who might be brought up at this point if anyone.

On another note, has Spencer Abbott taken off or what?!!! Biggest improvement on the Marlies this season and one of the biggest in the entire AHL this season. So much so that even the great Don Cherry talked about this on HNIC's Coaches Corner last weekend.

http://www.marlies.ca/team/IndividualStatistics.asp

While Grandberg has impressive stats (a star in the making, if he keeps going like this), I think Holzer would be a good pick. Good combination of experience with the organization, and decent numbers.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs fire Randy Carlyle; Ron Wilson to finish season on an interim basis

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs have called a 3pm press conference to announce the firing of Randy Carlyle, who will be replaced on an interim basis by former Leafs great Ron Wilson. Also being let go are assistant coaches Dave Farrish and Greg Cronyn. Scott Gordon and Rick St-Croix were retained by the Leafs until the end of the regular season.

Carlyle, 57, was expected to lead the Leafs to the promised land this season. However, after a disastrous end to the month of March, Leafs brass decided that a change was needed in order to save the season and hopefully lead the Leafs into the playoffs.

Carlyle was not available for comment and it is expected that Ron Wilson has agreed to coach the Leafs until the end of the season. Rumours had been flying around the Air Canada Centre all morning that Carlyle's replacement would either be Doug Gilmour or Wendel Clark, two former Leafs greats. However, we learned that Gilmour had refused the Leafs offer and Clark told MLSE President Tim Leweike that he had no intention of ever coaching. Former Leafs captain Darryl Sittler was also rumoured to be in the running, but word is that he also politely declined the offer, also stating his non-interest in the coaching position.

Former Leafs goaltending great Johnny Bower had expressed interest in the goaltending coach position, but the organization decided to keep Rick St-Croix, who has done wonderful work with James Reimer.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Dion Phaneuf resigns from captaincy; David Clarkson named as new team captain

TORONTO - Shortly after learning that Randy Carlyle had been fired and replaced by former Leafs coach Ron Wilson, Dion Phaneuf announced that he was stepping down from the Leafs captaincy. GM Dave Nonis announced to a packed room that team brass had chosen Leafs superstar David Clarkson as Phaneuf's replacement.

At press time, Dion Phaneuf was not available for further comment, yet told an insider that he had enough with the spotlight being constantly on him and needed a break to concentrate on improving his game. He wished his successor the best of luck and full support.

David Clarkson was signed as a free agent during the off-season and his strong play no doubt led management to selecting him as the team's new captain. Clarkson, 30, met with the media at 5pm and stated he was shocked by today's events. He added that the last thing he expected was to be named team captain this early into his Maple Leafs' career. He also expressed disappointment at learning of Randy Carlyle's firing and stated the whole team should feel ashamed of themselves for their poor play throughout the season, which eventually led to Carlyle's dismissal. Clarkson promised to do everything in his powers to get the team to play better in support of new interim coach Ron Wilson, whom Clarkson praised as being one of the top coaches in hockey over the past decade.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs re-hire Randy Carlyle prior to tonight's game

TORONTO - Only in Toronto, many will say. Shocking news out of MLSE announcing that Randy Carlyle was re-hired by the team prior to the Leafs' game against the visiting Calgary Flames. This move was reminiscent of the late 70's when late owner Harold H. Ballard re-hired then-coach Roger Neilson a day after firing him. At the time, Ballard had requested that Neilson show up wearing a paperbag on his head and then remove it once standing behind the Leafs bench, which Neilson refused to do.

It is rumoured that current GM Dave Nonis was totally against the sacking of Carlyle & had given an ultimatum to team President Tim Leweike: re-hire Carlyle or fire Nonis. For the given time, Nonis got his wish.

Ron Wilson was offered a job with the Toronto Raptors broadcast crew, which he flately refused. Angry at the lack of respect shown to him by team brass, Wilson rushed out of the Air Canada Centre refusing to speak to the media.

Carlyle announced prior to game time that he'd be re-hiring Dave Farrish and Greg Cronyn, who were let go when he initially was fired earlier today.

There are no news on whether or not Dion Phaneuf will ask for his captaincy to be handed back to him following Carlyle's re-hiring.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Mike Babcock rumoured to be joining the Toronto Maple Leafs next season

TORONTO - Rumours were flying around this afternoon in regards to a possible marriage between current Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock and the Toronto Maple Leafs next season.

Babcock, who has a year left on his contract, would love to coach in a major hockey market once his contract with the Red Wings expires. His destination of choice would either be Montreal, New York, Chicago or Toronto.

Currently, there are no openings in any of those markets. However, should the Toronto Maple Leafs not make the playoffs, it would not surprise insiders if President Tim Leweike fires his current coach and replace him with a big-name coach. Babcock currently has a year left on his contract and would welcome a major raise, something MLSE would not be afraid to do considering they are one of the wealthiest organizations in professional sports.

Babcock, 50, has never been shy about his intention to possibly leave his current coaching position for greener pastures once his current contract expires. Babcock could ask Red Wings management to be relieved of his contract obligations, or an arrangement could be made between MLSE and the Red Wings.