Der Toronto Maple Leafs Thread

[Lichtgestalt]

umwerfend komisch

[Bam_Margera]

umwerfend komisch

also ich hätte da noch eins:

[Lichtgestalt]

SUNDIN WANTS TO REMAIN A LEAF

Raycroft defends himself against critics

TORONTO (CP) - Captain Mats Sundin wants to wear the Toronto Maple Leafs uniform for a 13th NHL season, if not more. "I love being part of the organization, I love the challenge that is for this team to win a championship," Sundin said as he and his teammates cleaned out their lockers Monday. "The challenge of the Toronto Maple Leafs not winning the Stanley Cup since 1967 is a huge positive thing in my opinion for motivation to come back and get better every year."

Toronto Maple Leafs Carlo Colaiacovo (right) congratulates Mats Sundin on his second period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in NHL action in Toronto, March 13, 2007. (CP/Adrian Wyld) As the post-mortem on Toronto's 40th spring without silver began Monday, the focus seemed to centre on Sundin's future. The 36-year-old Swede once again refuted nagging rumours that won't go away - that he might just pack it in this year and call it a career.

"I don't know where that's coming from," said the star centre. "I love playing here. Toronto is my home. I haven't had any other thoughts."

His teammates sure hope that's the case. "He's our leader," said defenceman Bryan McCabe. "We need him back. He belongs in a Maple Leaf uniform. Hopefully he'll retire in the blue and white." Goalie Andrew Raycroft can't imagine where his team would be without their captain. "He means absolutely everything to this team," said Raycroft.

Sundin needs a new deal. His current contract carries a US$4.56-million club option for next season but a $6.33-million cap charge - because it's the average of a contract that counts against the salary cap - so the Leafs would rather decline the option and word is GM John Ferguson would like to sign Sundin to a new two-year extension that's more cap-friendly.

Sundin could force the issue and try greener pastures, but he doesn't sound as if he wants to. "That's always been my feeling all season long - that I wanted to finish my career as a Maple Leaf," he said. "That's still the same." Still, he won't deny that being out of the post-season for a second year in a row is hard to digest.

"Being 36 years old and missing the playoffs two years in a row this late in my career - that's tough," said Sundin. "In saying that, for the most part of this season I'm very proud of my own performance but as a group we've really fought adversity. We haven't had a full roster throughout the whole season. It's a bitter feeling knowing that I think we had a good enough team to do well in the playoffs."

Sundin isn't the only player looking for a new deal. Winger Alexei Ponikarovsky will be a restricted free agent this summer while Nik Antropov, Bates Battaglia, Boyd Devereaux, Travis Green, Jeff O'Neill, Michael Peca and Yanic Perreault are unrestricted free agents. They won't all be back.

Forwards signed for next season are Matt Stajan, Alex Steen, John Pohl, Darcy Tucker, Kyle Wellwood, Kris Newbury and Chad Kilger. On defence, McCabe, Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, Hal Gill, Wade Belak and Andy Wozniewski are all under contract while Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo are restricted free agents.

In goal, Raycroft will enter the second season of a three-year deal while backup J.S. Aubin is unrestricted. Raycroft has been the lightning rod for fans' frustration in Toronto throughout the season despite tying a franchise record for wins by a goalie. The 26-year-old netminder said he isn't bothered that the lasting image of his season might be getting pulled in Saturday's regular-season finale versus Montreal. "Obviously, you don't want that to happen but at the same time I had 37 wins this year," said Raycroft. "Being in this city, I know there's going to be a lot analysed in the next week . . . but the bottom line is that there's not many people that plays goalie in the National Hockey League that get 37 wins in a year - top 10 in the league. I'm happy with that. I would have liked to have had 16 more (wins) in the playoffs but it is what it is."

-> CBC Sports

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

O'NEILL KNOWS HIS LEAFS DAYS MAY END

A frustrated Jeff O'Neill left the Air Canada Centre yesterday lugging a bunch of his belongings and a whole slew of questions. Why, for example, was he booted into the doghouse and left to rot there for such a long time? And why did the Maple Leafs braintrust refuse to put him back in the lineup even after the team had suffered some ugly losses?

Whatever the case, the King City native realizes the writing might very well be on the dressing room wall concerning his future -- or lack of one -- as a Maple Leaf. Having been healthy scratch for the team's final eight games, O'Neill understands his days in blue and white could be done. "I'd love to come back," O'Neill said yesterday. "I waited 12 years to come back home to play. But the fact they didn't dress me for so long seems to be explanatory."

After scoring his 20th goal of the season back on Feb. 24, O'Neill optimistically told reporters he hoped to crack the 30-goal barrier. But those aspirations were quickly squelched when he failed to record a point in the following 12 games, causing management to hand him a one-way ticket to the press box. "I scored 20 goals for the team with marginal ice time," O'Neill said. "Then I went into a slump, which I admit. Still, you don't get out of a scoring slump if you are getting just six or seven minutes of ice time per game."

As for being banished into street clothes for the Leafs final playoff run, O'Neill could not explain the decision. "It's disappointing," O'Neill said. "No one talked to me about it. I was just told: "You are not playing" and that was it."

O'Neill's relationship with coach Paul Maurice has run hot and cold dating back to their days with the Carolina Hurricanes. After each made his way to Toronto, Maurice benched the hard-shooting winger during the end of the pre-season last fall because he thought O'Neill needed to work his way into game shape.

Asked about Maurice, O'Neill said, "we're fine." Yet read between the lines, and a different picture is painted. "I know I could have made a difference down the stretch for the team," O'Neill said. "But someone saw it differently. Someone decided I wouldn't go in even after a couple of stinkers. Other guys were put back in the lineup when we struggled earlier in the season, but I didn't get the chance."

With his two-year, $3-million US deal with the Leafs expired, O'Neill can't say if retirement might be the path he chooses. "I don't know," O'Neill said. "That's too far ahead. I just have to take a deep breath and see what happens."

-> Toronto Sun

[AustroLeaf]

Die Leafs sind dieses Jahr das Team mit den meisten man games lost to injury. Angesichts dessen, daß sie vor der Saison in praktisch keiner der Expertenmeinungen auf einem Playoffplatz gesehen wurden, muß man vor der Bilanz des ersten Jahres Maurice den Hut ziehen. Man kann nur hoffen, daß er weiter in Ruhe arbeiten kann und nächstes Jahr einen etwas stabileren Kader zur Verfügung hat. Daß sein System funktioniert, ist für mich evident.

Bitter, daß es sich am Ende so knapp nicht ausgegangen ist. Ich bin der Meinung, daß man in den Playoffs nicht von vornherein chancenlos gewesen wäre; gegen Buffalo gab es einige interessante Partien, eine Bilanz von 3S-5N; wobei bei 2 der Niederlagen jeweils eine 4:1-Führung verschenkt wurde. Da hätte man also was erreichen können.

Wie auch immer, so bleibt halt nur das Zuschauen. Diese Saison war für mich dennoch ein Fortschritt im Vergleich zur letzten, es gab genug Momente, wo man auf die Leafs stolz sein konnte. Nächste Saison wird uns Paul Maurice in die Playoffs führen.

GO LEAFS GO!!!

also ich hätte da noch eins:

Wenn schon, dann wäre es im NHL-Thread passender; hier so knapp nach dem haarscharfen, enorm bitteren Verpassen der Playoffs ebendieses genußvoll zu zelebrieren, zeugt nicht von Feingefühl.

[compadre]

also ich hätte da noch eins:

geil

Quelle

bearbeitet 17. April 2007 von compadre

[Lichtgestalt]

umwerfend komisch

[compadre]

ich weiß

[AustroLeaf]

Domi vs McKay

Tucker vs Janssen

The Mighty Devils?

bearbeitet 22. April 2007 von AustroLeaf

[compadre]

The Mighty Devils?

wennst mir scho so kommst, hier kriegt euer mächtiger Kämpfer kräftig auf die Schnauze

Belak vs. Janssen und

und der retourkampf am 20.3. wegen den kaberle-check war ja nur ein ringelspiel-fahren, sunst nix. wo da die revanche gewesen ist.... sehen auch nur die leaf fans

bearbeitet 23. April 2007 von compadre

[AustroLeaf]

und der retourkampf am 20.3. wegen den kaberle-check

Auf den konnten sich auch richtig stolz sein!

PS: Herbert.

[compadre]

Auf den konnten sich auch richtig stolz sein!

ist sich keiner stolz drauf. aber übertrieben wird da ja auch die ganze zeit... ein late hit wie 1000 mal pro saison. und? ist eh bestraft worden....

[AustroLeaf]

ist sich keiner stolz drauf. aber übertrieben wird da ja auch die ganze zeit... ein late hit wie 1000 mal pro saison. und? ist eh bestraft worden....

Nicht gesehen oder keine Ahnung?

[compadre]

edith: mag net streiten....

bearbeitet 25. April 2007 von compadre

[AustroLeaf]

Sundin hip ailment confirmed

Captain may still need operation

By MIKE ZEISBERGER

Mats Sundin apparently has a torn labrum in his hip, leaving surgery as one of his potential treatments.

Maple Leafs general manager John Ferguson and J.P. Barry, Sundin's agent, confirmed Tuesday that going under the knife is, in fact, one of the options facing the long-time Toronto captain.

At the same time, both parties were confident that Sundin, an unrestricted free agent come July 1, would be fit and ready to go when NHL training camps roll around in early September, no matter which path he chooses to take.

"It's not for me to say whether Mats will require any medical treatment concerning various ailments he might have right now but I can assure you it's not career threatening," Barry said. "At least we have not received information to that end."

Sundin, meanwhile, was very perturbed that such personal details were forwarded to columnist Steve Simmons, who reported on Sundin's hip woes in yesterday's edition of the Toronto Sun.

"It's upsetting that someone would leak medical information like that," Sundin told Barry Tuesday morning.

Said Barry: "Mats knows his contract situation will be a topic around town. But his medical situation is a private issue and should remain that way.

"Mats wants to know if someone has a problem with him and wants to disrupt contract negotiations. Is that why this stuff was leaked?

"Someone obviously leaked confidential medical information and then it was sensationalized. It's disturbing."

Sundin has been vacationing in the Carribean and Europe. He is scheduled to have the hip re-examined next week in his native Sweden.

Talks between the Leafs and Sundin's camp continue, with a two-year deal worth between $11 million and $12 million US believed to be a realistic compromise.

Ferguson, meanwhile, said the ailment did not cause Sundin any significant pain during the season.

"He played every game down the stretch and didn't even miss any practises," Ferguson said. "To suggest this might be long term would be speculative and premature.

"(The condition) came up in the (end-of-season) exit exams. But at this point, he has not yet been advised that surgery is required."

Link zum Artikel

[Bam_Margera]

Djurgarden makes offer to Sundin

While the Toronto Maple Leafs are working towards a new contract with Mats Sundin, his former team in Sweden wants him to come home.

Stockholm-based newspaper Expressen reports that Djurgarden IF of the Swedish Elite League has offered the Leaf captain a one-year contract. No financial terms were disclosed, but sources tell TSN that the deal - offered a couple of weeks ago - is worth just over $1 million.

When asked about the chances of Sundin returning to his old club, his Swedish agent Claes Elefalk maintained that they are not planning on negotiating on anything other than a two-year extension with the Maple Leafs.

"It's impossible," Elefalk told Expressen Sunday night. "We are now negotiating a new contract with Toronto. If we can't agree, then Toronto can exercise their option clause on him. We're still trying to negotiate a two-year deal."

Contract talks between both sides are expected to pick up once Leaf general manager John Ferguson Jr. returns from the World Hockey Championship in Moscow.

Sundin was taken first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989 and played the following season with Djurgarden, scoring 10 goals and 18 points in 34 games.

bearbeitet 14. Mai 2007 von Bam_Margera