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

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Doc Holliday

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Today's news around the NHL


Big changes coming for Tampa


The Lightning's epic collapse over the last four weeks will probably cost head coach Rick Tocchet and general manager Brian Lawton their jobs, as it probably should, writes Martin Fennelly in Tuesday's Tampa Tribune.

"Where's the system, the discipline, the consistency?" Fennelly asks. "More than once I've wondered whether Tocchet has provided enough structure, consistent structure, for this team and these players. This team seems all over the road."

You think? The Bolts, who were in sixth place in the East this time last month, now languish 28th overall.


Leafs still eyeing Bobby Ryan?

There was buzz earlier in the season that Ducks winger Bobby Ryan might be traded, and with him headed for restricted free agency, the possibility is still there.

So the Toronto Star's Paul Hunter has an idea: The Leafs could parlay young defenseman Luke Schenn for Ryan, since Anaheim is short on blueliners.

We know GM Brian Burke covets Ryan. Burke drafted him in Anaheim and he talks very highly of him, even now. And since the reports out of Anaheim are that Ryan and the Ducks have yet to make any progress on an extension, it might be worth it for the Leafs to call over to see what Ryan would cost them.

Only problem is that the Leafs don't have many assets in terms of draft picks; they gave their next two first-rounders and this year's second-rounder to Boston for Phil Kessel. It seems that trade comes to bite them in the butt every time they have a big move they can make... or when they think about the possibility of drafting Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin.


Leafs next captain?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been without a captain ever since longtime leader Mats Sundin skipped town almost two years ago. But now, it seems the original six club might have finally found someone worthy of the honor in recent acquisition Dion Phaneuf.

Phaneuf himself won't discuss the topic, but his teammates are quite happy to put his name forward, writes Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star.

"He was definitely one of the leaders in Calgary," Fredrik Sjostrom, who accompanied Phaneuf to Toronto as part of January's blockbuster deal with the Flames, told the paper. "No one was going to bump Jarome (Iginla) from being the captain, but Dion could have been a captain there. He gets everyone going, he's good at getting guys ready."


Contract looming between Monster & Leafs


Jonas Gustavsson is headed for restricted free agency this summer, and and he has yet to begin contract talks with Leafs brass. Still, Paul Hunter of the Toronto Star fully expects the Swedish backstop to return to TO next season.

That's good news for long-suffering Leafs fans, who have watched the "Monster" settle into a groove since veteran Jean-Sebastien Giguere arrived in a January trade with Anaheim. Gustavsson, who credits his relationship with Giguere as one reason for his improved play, has won four straight games.
 

lgna69xxx

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Would really like Bobby Ryan on the Leafs but i doubt Burke would trade Schenn, however maybe package kaberle and grabo for Ryan, a prospect and a low round draft pic, the ducks get some scoring punch back and a very good offensive dman, while the Leafs shed some salary to sing Ryan long term and also have more $$$ for other free agents ..

Phaneuf as the Leafs next Captain is a no brainer. expect it!

The Monster should re-sign for 2-3 years at 1.5 million per

Today's news around the NHL



Leafs still eyeing Bobby Ryan?





Leafs next captain?

Dion Phaneuf.


Contract looming between Monster & Leafs


.
 

Doc Holliday

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Would really like Bobby Ryan on the Leafs but i doubt Burke would trade Schenn, however maybe package kaberle and grabo for Ryan, a prospect and a low round draft pic, the ducks get some scoring punch back and a very good offensive dman, while the Leafs shed some salary to sing Ryan long term and also have more $$$ for other free agents .

I'd also send them Jeff Finger & John Mitchell to sweeten the pot. :D
 

lgna69xxx

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haha, your a few games to late Trimdog, the Leafs ended the Habs streak a few days ago, and Ottawa shut them out 2 days after that. but yea ole Marty B is always tough to beat, especially when he comes home to Montreal. Welcome to the hockey threads, good luck lol

Devils will be up from Jersey this weekend, so look for Brodeur to put a stop to that :p
 

lgna69xxx

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Another MONSTER outing, by Gustavsson

Jonas Gustavsson outduelled Swedish counterpart Henrik Lundqvist, stopping 36 shots Saturday as the Toronto Maple Leafs edged the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime.

Nikolai Kulemin scored the winner just 39 seconds into the extra period to extend Gustavsson's personal win streak to seven games. He's the first Leafs goalie to win that many in a row since Ed Belfour won seven straight from Nov. 22-Dec. 6, 2003.

It also marked the first time the Leafs won a game where they trailed after two periods all season and Lundqvist was a big reason why. The Rangers goalie made a gaffe on Tomas Kaberle's goal late in the game to allow Toronto to tie it.

Gustavsson hasn't lost since before the Olympics, where he and Lundqvist were teammates on the Swedish team.

John Mitchell had the other goal for the Maple Leafs (28-35-12), who have won nine of their last 12 games.

P.A. Parenteau and Brandon Dubinsky replied for New York (33-32-10).

The Rangers still have their eyes on a potential playoff spot and came out with some desperation, forcing the Toronto defenders into some early turnovers.

Parenteau stole the puck high in the Leafs zone and beat Gustavsson with a shot along the ice at 10:25 of the opening period. It was the second career NHL goal for the 27-year-old rookie, who was recalled from AHL Hartford on Friday.

New York extended its lead after more sloppy play in the Toronto zone. Dubinsky skated around behind the goal and tucked the puck in with just 10.6 second left before the intermission to make it to 2-0.

Mitchell got the Leafs back in the game just 1:33 into the second period, beating Lundqvist with a high wrist shot after receiving a nice backhand pass from Mikhail Grabovski. It was his sixth goal of the season.

The Rangers mounted a quick counter-attack, but Gustavsson had an answer, stretching out his left pad to rob Sean Avery on the doorstep.

As the period wore on, some bad blood between the teams emerged.

Dion Phaneuf and Avery shoved one another after a whistle before the Rangers agitator was knocked out of the game on a hit by Luke Schenn. Avery appeared to be favouring his left knee when he hobbled to the dressing room with seven minutes to play in the middle period.

New York appeared to have the game well in hand until Lundqvist surrendered a terrible goal to Kaberle. The Leafs defenceman fired a shot from the corner that found its way through at 16:25 of the third period, setting the stage for overtime.
 

lgna69xxx

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Habs Lose another very very important game as Bruins creep closer

-- Martin Brodeur continued his mastery of his boyhood team with 25 saves as the New Jersey Devils kept pace in the race for the Atlantic Division title with a 4-2 win Saturday over the Montreal Canadiens.

Patrik Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner, Danius Zubrus and Brian Rolston scored for the Devils (44-25-5), who won for the second time in five games.

Andrei Kostitsyn and Tomas Plekanec replied for the Canadiens (37-31-8), who have one victory in their last five games but still remained sixth in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Devils maintained their lead in the division even though they are tied at 93 points with the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-1 winners over the Philadelphia Flyers earlier Saturday. New Jersey has played one fewer game than Pittsburgh.

Montreal stays in sixth with 82 points, two points up on the seventh-place Boston Bruins and eighth-place Flyers. The Bruins, 5-0 winners over the Calgary Flames on Saturday afternoon, have a game in hand on Montreal.

Brodeur improved his career record against the Canadiens to 38-16-5, including a 3-1-0 mark this season. He wasn't tested often through 40 minutes of play, but came up with two big saves from close range on Dominic Moore and former teammate Brian Gionta early in the third to protect a 3-2 lead.

Jaroslav Halak made 22 saves for the Canadiens, his three goals allowed his highest total in six starts dating back to a 5-4 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers on March 11.

The Canadiens lost the special teams battle with an 0-for-4 performance on the power play. They are 2-for-23 at home since the return from the Olympic break. The Devils, meanwhile, went 2-for-3 with the man advantage.

Mike Cammalleri had two assists for the Canadiens, his first points in three games since returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for seven weeks.

Ilya Kovalchuk had two assists for the Devils.

The Devils took the lead 1-0 at 8:11 of the first, moments after the Canadiens Josh Gorges shot wide with an open net off a short-handed 2-on-1 rush. Elias corralled a rebound that popped out to the weak side and had an open net to shoot at for his 15th of the season.

New Jersey went up 2-0 on another rebound, with Langenbrunner spinning and firing one through Halak's legs from the slot at 1:59 of the second for his 18th of the year.

Montreal cut the lead in half when former Devil Scott Gomez found Kostitsyn alone in the slot, and he wired one inside the far post for his 15th of the year and third in three games at 5:15.

Zubrus re-established New Jersey's two-goal lead at 15:19 of the second with his eighth of the year, tipping a Paul Martin point shot in front through Halak's legs.

The Canadiens got that one back 90 seconds later when Kostitsyn wired one off Plekanec's skate in front and in at 16:49 of the second to make it 3-2 Devils.

Rolston finished it with an empty-netter with 9.6 seconds left for his 19th of the season and his 700th career point.
 

Doc Holliday

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Leafs sign college standout Brady Irwin

The Toronto Maple Leafs dipped into the United States college free-agent pool to sign 23-year-old forward Brady Irwin on Saturday.

The Leafs haven't announced the signing yet because Irwin and his University of Vermont team were only eliminated in the NCAA West regional by Wisconsin on Friday. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Irwin was raised in Toronto and played junior B for the St. Michael's Buzzers.

He was a teammate of current Maple Leafs forward Viktor Stalberg at Vermont the previous three seasons. Irwin completed his fourth season at Vermont with 15 goals and 34 points in 39 games.
 

joelcairo

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It also marked the first time the Leafs won a game where they trailed after two periods all season and Lundqvist was a big reason why. The Rangers goalie made a gaffe on Tomas Kaberle's goal late in the game to allow Toronto to tie it.

And no surprise there either! The leafs are incapable of coming back on their own merits (no talent, combined with no guts) and were able to do so for the first time all season (!!!!) only because Lundqvist blew it.
 

joelcairo

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The Rangers still have their eyes on a potential playoff spot and came out with some desperation, forcing the Toronto defenders into some early turnovers.

Even Don Cherry said it's a shame that contending teams have to play the squads hopelessly out of it, like the leafs, who will never have any success but can ruin the dreams of others. Still, if the Rangers couldn't even beat the lowly leafs, they don't deserve to make the playoffs. Bye bye Torts: your days are numbered - again!
 

lgna69xxx

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Awesome! His name correctly is Brayden Irwin, not Brady, i was pretty sure Burke would be able to sing this kid since he and Stalberg were buddies at Vermont .. another Big young talented College recruit, and the price is right, cost Burkie NOTHING!, no draft pick, no prospects, no players at all.. thats now Bozak and Hanson (Stalberg was actually drafted by the leafs) the Monster, and now Irwin that would of all been first to second rounders, i think that offsets the Kessel pics without a shadow of doubt. Bozak is looking like he would of been a top 10 pick currently, btw. and the Monster is looking like possibly one of the biggest steals that Burke has pulled off in a long time, along with the Phaneuf trade. No wonder Burke is one of the most respected GM's in all of the NHL

Besides the Leafs getting a 22yr old with natural scoring abliity in Kessel, Burkie has picked up several draft pics for trades he has made earlier this year..oh and dont forget Paradis from Carolina for Tlusty... Good Job Mr. Burke, good job indeed! lots of young talented kids are now back in the system with many more to come i am sure.. Burke by the time he is finished in Toronto whether love him or hate him, will change the way to build a team from the Norm. time will tell as always, but the Leafs are a whole different team than day 1 this season, and a much better team and organization overall
Leafs sign college standout Brady Irwin

The Toronto Maple Leafs dipped into the United States college free-agent pool to sign 23-year-old forward Brady Irwin on Saturday.

The Leafs haven't announced the signing yet because Irwin and his University of Vermont team were only eliminated in the NCAA West regional by Wisconsin on Friday. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Irwin was raised in Toronto and played junior B for the St. Michael's Buzzers.

He was a teammate of current Maple Leafs forward Viktor Stalberg at Vermont the previous three seasons. Irwin completed his fourth season at Vermont with 15 goals and 34 points in 39 games.
 

lgna69xxx

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Heres the article on Brayden Irwin

Contrary to reports from the CBC the Toronto Maple Leafs did not sign Brady Irwin. Rather, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Brayden Irwin from the University of Vermont Catamounts. The signing hasn't been made official by the Maple Leafs yet because Vermont was just eliminated from the NCAA tournament. The Globe and Mail reported just over a week ago that he was among Brian Burke's targets and it looks like he has once again gotten his man. He joins Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson as free agents that Burke has signed from the NCAA.

Brayden Irwin is a six foot, five inch 215 pound monster local boy from Toronto. He took a quantum leap in production during his last year which is not a surprise considering he was a senior and turned 23 on the 24th of March. Below is a table showing his production as well as their NHL Equivalencies over an 82 game season as well as a video of the newest Maple Leaf during a post-game presser:


Brian Burke may not have a draft pick in the first two rounds this year but he's off to a good start in adding prospects to help fill that gap.
 

lgna69xxx

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wrong thread, if you want the rules enforced in the serious hockey thread then respect them and play by them. this is the thread for Serious Hockey talk not your drivel. Please respect what the Mods asked us to do in here, ty
Well, by you, Doc, and Mrs. Burke anyway....and to tell you the truth, I'm not even that sure about Mrs. Burke!
 

joelcairo

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time will tell as always, but the Leafs are a whole different team than day 1 this season, and a much better team and organization overall

You are correct lg: time will tell as always. For an excellent example of just how correct you are, think back to the start of the current season when you and Doc were bragging about how great and succesful the leafs were going to be this year. Well, now that the year is just about over - for the leafs anyway! - we can see that time did, indeed, "tell".
 

joelcairo

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wrong thread, if you want the rules enforced in the serious hockey thread then respect them and play by them. this is the thread for Serious Hockey talk not your drivel. Please respect what the Mods asked us to do in here, ty

Perhaps referring to the thoughts of a fellow poster as "drivel" is not what was intended for a serious hockey thread. Physician, heal thyself.
 

lgna69xxx

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that does not prove anything, we all knew it was going to be hit or miss as it was not Burkes team yet, we as fans were excited and there is nothing wrong with showing that excitement, BUT the major difference is we believe in one of the BEST gm's in the NHL, Brian Burke, and at the begining of the season it was 50% "his team" now it is more 80% "his team" , and by October, it will be 95-100% "HIS TEAM" depending on what happens in the offseason... a true fan supports their team through everything, not just when they win 3 games in a row like alot of fake fans i know of :)

You are correct lg: time will tell as always. For an excellent example of just how correct you are, think back to the start of the current season when you and Doc were bragging about how great and succesful the leafs were going to be this year. Well, now that the year is just about over - for the leafs anyway! - we can see that time did, indeed, "tell".
 
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