The Official M.E.R.B. Hockey Thread

[gohabsgo]

Burke has all you gullible and delusional Leaf fans fooled. This move is a perfect distraction and reeks of desperation. Now the media doesn’t have to focus as much on what’s really wrong with your pitiful 29th place team and thereby takes the heat off Burke and his buddy Wilson. Great timing on Burke’s part, though.

Sutter has been trying to trade Phanuef for months – but no takers! I wonder why? Now a sucker in Burke comes along. Burke overpaying for other teams sloppy seconds yet again.

Burke said at the beginning of the season that your team would be contending for a playoff spot but instead find themselves one spot removed from the NHL cellar - now this move is little more than a lame attempt to save face and deflect criticism.


With no cap space for offence and no draft picks, Toronto will be a mediocre team for years to come. It’s an illusion - all Burke has done is given Leaf fans more false hope.

 

[lgna69xxx]

man, this sounds so much like what Gainey has done to your team.... ahhhh thats where you got it from

With no cap space for offence and no draft picks, Toronto will be a mediocre team for years to come. It’s an illusion - all Burke has done is given Leaf fans more false hope.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Gainey will be out as GM before Burke, at least i am sure you hope so

Big buffoon Burke will be out of a job by the end of 2010. Let's just hope he doesnt return to tsn.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Big buffoon Burke will be out of a job by the end of 2010. Let's just hope he doesnt return to tsn.

No, but if it ever happens, i know thousands of Habs fans who'd want him instead of Gainey anytime!

 

[Doc Holliday]

man, this sounds so much like what Gainey has done to your team.... ahhhh thats where you got it from

Their ignorance fails to make them realize that just under 2 years ago, Gainey traded first & second round picks to Calgary for Alex Tanguay. Of course, we all know what happened afterwards. He let Tanguay leave for free agency at the end of last season without getting ANYTHING for him in return. What's with letting go unrestricted free agents who've cost the organization considerably and not getting anything in return? GAINEY = STOOPID!!!!!!!!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Montreal media now in love with Brian Burke!!

I was listening to CKAC all day yesterday, and later watched "L'Anti-Chambre" on RDS & L'Attaque a Cinq on TQS. It now appears that there's quite a love-fest going on between the Montreal media & Brian Burke. You wouldn't believe all the praise that Burke was getting by not only the Mtl media, but also the callers. You also wouldn't believe how fed up they are with Gainey as their GM!!!!

Respected journalist & Mtl media personality Francois Gagnon absolutely loves the Giguere trade. He noted that Giguere is now going back to meet up with his 'big brother", Francois Allaire, where he'll once again be a #1 goalie who'll be productive and be able to mentor the young Gustavsson, who's yet to be ready to be annointed the #1 goalie status. Giguere also alluded to this fact when meeting with the media yesterday....that on top of helping the team & trying to obtain another contract, he's looking forward to working & helping out with the young Gustavsson.

This trade also gave the Leafs the opportunity to shell out $8 million in salary owed to Jason Blake for another two seasons. So considering Giguere has $6 million left on a 1 year contract, and that they likely would have had to shell out $2-3 million for a goalie during the off-season, the deal now looks clearly in Toronto's favor. Blake was unproductive & had basically become a 15 goal scorer shooting blanks on most nights.....at $4 million per season!!

Bob Hartley, a former Stanley Cup winning coach who now works for RDS, mentionned that he absolutely loved the Toronto/Calgary trade in the fact the Leafs obtained an all-star kingpin for their defence, who's only 24 years old. When he analyzed the trade, he pointed out that it's basically a bunch of 3rd liners on expiring contracts for an all-star who was dubbed a franchise player less than 2 years ago. He pointed out to the Sam Pollock philosophy that the team who wins a trade is usually the one that comes out with the best player. Ian White? He referred to him as being a fairly useless defenceman....small in stature, good offensively, but terrible defensively and dubbed him a "giveaway machine" who often had the knack to give away the puck which resulted in costly goals. The panel compared that trade to an NBA-type trade, where teams are often trading players on expiring contracts in order to get their cap down at the end of a regular season.

What most experts are pointing out is that the Leafs might have obtained a gem in Keith Aulie, who now plays in the AHL and is closer to the NHL than most people believe. He was Tyler Myers' defense partner at last year's WJC and they were dubbed "The Twin Towers" since both players were 6'6" and were the winning team's shutdown defensive pair. As some pointed out, that trade was basically Phaneuf, Ollie & Sjostrom for Nik Hagman & Ian White, a trade 95% of the GMs around the league would be salivating to make with Calgary.

One other note: I wrote the other day that Jeff Finger would likely be bought out if he & his $3.5 million contract (with 2 more years left) can't be traded away. Well, i was told yesterday that the plan would be to send him to the minors next season in order to save a lot of $$ cap space-wise......which is what should have been done with Andrew Raycroft & Darcy Tucker instead of simply trading them and/or buying them out, which continues to haunt the Leafs economically. But again, Brian Burke can't be blamed for that mess, since it was made by Cliff Fletcher, who's better days as GM were clearly a thing of the past. Most of the old-time GMs have no idea how to operate in a cap era. Just look at the mess Gainey's made with Mtl if you need further proof. By the way, i absolutely love Jean-Charles Lajoie's immitation of Bob Gainey....hillarious!!!

 

[lgna69xxx]

is there any video of this?

By the way, i absolutely love Jean-Charles Lajoie's immitation of Bob Gainey....hillarious!!!

 

[lgna69xxx]

was that really a first and 2nd rounder?

Their ignorance fails to make them realize that just under 2 years ago, Gainey traded first & second round picks to Calgary for Alex Tanguay. Of course, we all know what happened afterwards. He let Tanguay leave for free agency at the end of last season without getting ANYTHING for him in return. What's with letting go unrestricted free agents who've cost the organization considerably and not getting anything in return? GAINEY = STOOPID!!!!!!!!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Today's rumors around the NHL

-NJ Devils are now part of the Kovalchuk talks.

-Leafs getting offers for Alex Ponikarovski.

-The Blues are shopping around defenceman Eric Brewer.

-The Bruins are talking about acquiring Keith Tkachuk from the Blues.

-The Trashers & the Kings are trying to set up a package in order to get Kovalchuk traded to LA; the asking price might be too high, the Trashers wanting the Kings top 2-3 young forwards.

-The Philadelphia Flyers are also in the hunt to obtain Ilya Kovalchuk.

-The Bruins are interested in obtaining Phoenix Coyotes' Peter Muller.

-The Montreal Canadiens must be considering a trade to boost their anemic attack, right? So far, no rumors have been coming out of the Habs camp.

 

[Doc Holliday]

was that really a first and 2nd rounder?

Yes. A first-round pick in 2008 and a second-round pick in 2009. And they then turn around less than a year later & let him go for free. Incompetence at its highest level!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Newest Leaf has size....and character!!

Keith Aulie and his dad, Bill, don’t talk it about much anymore.

But the day Aulie — the newest member of the Toronto Marlies — saved his father’s life is a testament to the kind of quick-thinking, fast-acting defenceman Brian Burke acquired in the blockbuster trade with Calgary on Sunday.

Aulie, acquired with Dion Phaneuf and Fredrik Sjostrom, was just 16 and playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings when his father was clearing snow from the family pond outside Rouleau, Sask., for a game of shinny.

The tractor cracked through the ice and started to sink. Bill Aulie got out a window, but was trapped under ice. Keith — 6-foot-6 and 208 pounds then (225 now) — was about to dive in when he noticed his father got a hand through the crack. Keith grabbed his dad by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to safety.

“It’s a good feeling that everything’s all right,” said Keith Aulie. “It’s a special thing between me and my dad. Something in the universe went right for us that day.

“Life can change in a moment. I’m happy the way it worked out. It sure could have ended a lot worse.”

Aulie’s hockey life certainly changed in a flash on Sunday, when he was included — at Burke’s insistence — in that blockbuster. Just 20 and owner of a gold medal from the 2009 world junior tournament, Aulie is expected to continue his maturation process with the Marlies.

“I’m progressing at a slow and steady rate. I had a slow start, but I’m getting better every day,” said Aulie.

The Flames were waist-deep in quality defenceman, so coming to Toronto provides Aulie with, perhaps, an easier or quicker route to the NHL where he might get a chance with a rebuilding team, and an honest look at training camp.

“It sure looks that way,” said Aulie. “There’s a lot of opportunity on a rebuilding team, so that will something to be cool to be a part of.

“It’s a good feeling (to be wanted).”

Aulie had two goals and four assists in 43 games this season for the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL. But he’s coveted more for his size.

As for his timeline for when he wants to be an NHL regular: “Right now,” he said, laughing, but not really joking, “my biggest goal is to get better every day, to prepare for the NHL, to make it there.”

 

[Doc Holliday]

Giguere & Phaneuf shut-out New Jersey 3-0 in their first game with the Leafs

TORONTO -- Dion Phaneuf made quite a first impression with his new fans in Toronto.

Physical on the ice and chatty in the dressing room between periods, the rugged defenseman helped lead the Maple Leafs to a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.

Toronto snapped a six-game losing streak in Phaneuf's debut.

"It was a great honor to put this jersey on and to be a part of this organization," he said. "The fans were unbelievable. To be on this side and playing in front of them wearing this jersey, it meant a lot to me. It was a very special game in my career."

Jean-Sebastien Giguere also made the most of his Maple Leafs debut. He finished with 30 saves and became only the second Toronto goalie to record a shutout in his first outing. Ed Belfour beat Pittsburgh 6-0 on Oct. 10, 2002.

"It was a good result," Giguere said. "Since I've come here, over the last 48 hours, I really like what I've seen from the rest of the team. Everybody's really focused. Everybody's working really hard. Tonight, you could tell."

By the end of the first period, Phaneuf had landed a hit, took part in a fight, and received an ovation.

Nikolai Kulemin, Phil Kessel and defenseman Francois Beauchemin provided all the offense Giguere needed. Another newcomer, Fredrik Sjostrom, earned an assist on Kulemin's first-period goal to mark his first game with Toronto.

"They're better defensively, you can tell," Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said. "They've got great shooters on the point and you could see it tonight. They got some great shots."

New Jersey backup Yann Danis, making his first start since Nov. 21, stopped 23 shots.

Phaneuf and Sjostrom were acquired from Calgary, and Giguere came to the Leafs from Anaheim on Sunday in a pair of big trades.

More changes could be coming to the Maple Leafs before the March 3 trade deadline.

Toronto followed an overtime loss in New Jersey on Friday with another defeat at home to Vancouver on Saturday, when the Maple Leafs gave up a three-goal, first-period lead en route to a 5-3 loss.

Kulemin gave the Leafs a 1-0 lead against the Devils on Tuesday when he buried a rebound of Sjostrom's shot behind Danis.

It was a rare night off for No. 1 New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur, who had played in 40 consecutive games and had become only the second NHL netminder to play in 15 or more games in consecutive months.

Phaneuf gave the crowd its second thrill of the game when he fought defenseman Colin White. The fans roared as Phaneuf skated to the box, chewing on his mouth guard.

"He's gung-ho, seems to love hockey, and it rubs off on everybody," Leafs coach Ron Wilson said of Phaneuf. "We could hear him talking in between periods from the coach's office, which is almost two rooms away and three doorways. And you could hear him the whole time in between periods."

Kessel made it 2-0 two minutes into the second when he put a rebound past a helpless Danis. Toronto grabbed a three-goal lead when Beauchemin took a pass in his skates and ripped a shot through Danis from the blue line.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Today's rumors around the NHL

-Biggest rumor of the day has the Leafs sending either Garnet Exelby or Lee Stempniac to Edmonton for team captain Ethan Moreau & a 2nd or 3rd round pick

-Boston is still interested in trading for either Keith Tkachuk, Ray Whitney or Peter Mueller; they're no longer interested in obtaining Ilya Kovalchuk, deeming the price to obtain him too high.

-The most likely team to obtain Kovalchuk are the LA Kings. If the trade does come through, expect the Kings to send a package of prospects including Wayne Simmonds, Jack Johnson, Oscar Moller and/or Brayden Schenn. The package will include some of those players, not all of them. Boston is now out of the picture since GM Peter Chiarelli has indicated firmly that their #1 pick (via Toronto) will not be traded away under any circumstance.

-The Penguins are still very interested in obtaining Alex Ponikarovski of the Leafs & pairing him with Evgeni Malkin. But Brian Burke has hinted that he likely won't be able to obtain a first-rounder for Poni. Expect a 2nd rounder & a prospect to be sent to Toronto if the trade does happen.

-Calgary Flames might be dumping some salary in order to sign Ilya Kovalchuk. Insiders claim that the Flames are extremely interested in having Kovalchuk as part of their long-term plans.

-The Flames are also interested in trading for either Mike Ribeiro or Tomas Plekanec. They've also put center Jamie Lundmark on the market.

-Boston has put forward Michael Ryder on the trade market. They need to free up some cap space in order to make a run at several players that might help them secure a playoff spot.

-Dallas is shopping around goaltender Marty Turco & a few players in order to free up some cap space & get younger between the pipes. They'd be interested in obtaining one of Mtl's two goaltenders. Fabian Brunnstrom, Mike Ribeiro or Steve Ott might be used as trade bait.

-The Chicago Blackhawks are interested in obtaining Tampa defenceman Andrei Mezzaros. But he's got a hefty multiyear contract, meaning that the Hawks would have to get rid of a few big contracts (e.g. Patrick Sharpe) in order for the trade to happen.

 

[Doc Holliday]

This just in

-Atlanta Trashers GM Tom Waddell has informed Ilya Kovalchuk that he will be traded within the next few days.

-Coach Ken Hitchcock was fired by the Columbus Blue Jackets; Claude Noel was named interim coach.

 

[gohabsgo]

Leafs pick in DUI drama

Matt Frattin of Edmonton was pulled over by campus police on Aug. 19 and prosecutor Jason McCarthy said he passed some sobriety tests but failed others.

Frattin was kicked off the team following his arrest, which was his second run-in with police that summer.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct stemming from a July incident in which he and a former university player were accused of throwing objects onto a street.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2010/02/03/12723131-ap.html

sounds like a Burke type of player ...

 

[gohabsgo]

Today's rumors around the NHL

-Biggest rumor of the day has the Leafs sending either Garnet Exelby or Lee Stempniac to Edmonton for team captain Ethan Moreau & a 2nd or 3rd round pick

Moreau is 34, slow, 4 goals and a -12 (should fit in nicely as a top 6 forward with Toronto)

 

[gohabsgo]

Giguere & Phaneuf shut-out New Jersey 3-0 in their first game with the Leafs

Did you and your idiot parrot grab your lawn chairs and head down to Yonge Street to get a good spot for the parade?

 

[lgna69xxx]

For once Octavian, i totally agree with you that this is good news! it Means Komi should be completely healthy next season, and since he got injured from the Lucic Fight.... i for one am glad he is shutting it down to get the surgery, we need him 100% next October...


QUOTE=Octavian;458711]Good news for the Leafs and the U.S. olympic team. http://www.cyberpresse.ca/sports/hockey/201002/03/01-946096-la-saison-de-komisarek-est-terminee.php[/QUOTE]

 

[Doc Holliday]

Moreau is 34, slow, 4 goals and a -12 (should fit in nicely as a top 6 forward with Toronto)

Only a true airhead wouldn't be able to realize that this trade is all about obtaining a quality draft pick. It's got nothing to do with Moreau or the players Toronto would be sending to Edmonton. It would basically be a salary dump for Edmonton & Toronto gaining a quality pick in return for the favor. Duh!!!!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Good news for the Leafs and the U.S. olympic team. http://www.cyberpresse.ca/sports/hockey/201002/03/01-946096-la-saison-de-komisarek-est-terminee.php

This means that the Leafs can remove Komisarek's contract from their cap & be able to make some moves within the next month...either make another great trade, or take on someone's excess contract if they send them a 1st round pick. Everybody wins!