Der Toronto Maple Leafs Thread

[Lichtgestalt]

Philadelphia Flyers - Toronto Maple Leafs 3:1 (1:1, 1:0, 1:0)

1:0 (8.) Amonte 2 (Roenick, Zhamnov)

1:1 (15.) Mogilny 1 (McCabe, Leetch)

2:1 (26.) Ragnarsson 1 (Handzus, Kapanen)

3:1 (56.) Gagne 2 (Leclair)

Shots on Goal: Flyers 26, Leafs 23.

Penalty Minutes: Flyers 6, Leafs 8.

Powerplay Conversion: Flyers 0/3, Leafs 0/2.

GO LEAFS GO!!

[Seppo Dramac]

Gibt es seriöse Aussagen wann Sundin und Nolan wieder zurückkommen? Ist es möglich dass Wade Belak heuer nochmals aufs Eis darf oder gibt es schon eine Entscheidung der NHL?

[Lichtgestalt]

Gibt es seriöse Aussagen wann Sundin und Nolan wieder zurückkommen? Ist es möglich dass Wade Belak heuer nochmals aufs Eis darf oder gibt es schon eine Entscheidung der NHL?

belak hätte schon in game 3 gegen ottawa wieder eingesetzt werden dürfen, quinn hat aber bislang auf ihn verzichtet (und meiner meinung nach zurecht, ich will ihn heuer nicht mehr in blue & white sehen).

sundin wird eventuell schon in game 2, spätestens in game 3 dabeisein; nolan skatet wieder, bis zu einem eventuellen einsatz wirds aber sicher noch anderthalb, zwei wochen dauern.

[AustroLeaf]

So, nachdem der Schock der Playoff-Niederlage gegen die Philadelphia Flyers so langsam am Abklingen ist, grabe ich diesen Thread einfach mal wieder aus.

Erste Offseason-Moves der Leafs noch vor dem 1.Juli, dem Stichtag für die Unrestricted Free Agents:

TORONTO (CP) -- Darcy Tucker and Ken Klee have re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tucker, 29, a feisty right-winger with the NHL club for the last 4 1/2 years earned $1.6 million US last season, when he collected 32 points including 21 goals in 64 games. He scored twice in 12 playoff games.

The native of Castor, Alta., has played 609 NHL games for Montreal, Tampa Bay and Toronto and has 298 points (127-171) with 1,015 penalty minutes. His best season was 2001-02 when he had career highs in goals (24), assists (35) and points (59).

Tucker was originally Montreal's eighth choice, 151st overall, in the 1993 entry draft.

It's a multiyear deal. Terms were not disclosed.

Klee will get $5 million US in his two-year deal, which was plenty to keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Klee, 33, played 66 games last season and had 29 points including four goals. He was paid $1.5 million US. The reliable defenceman didn't get a point in 11 playoff games. The Indianapolis native has been selected to play on the U.S. team in the World Cup of Hockey this summer.

He has played 636 NHL games for Washington and Toronto and has 140 points (47-93) with 644 penalty minutes.

Klee was Washington's 11th choice, 177th overall, in the 1990 draft.

Quelle: www.slam.ca/HockeyToronto, via Toronto Sun.

Wichtige Vertragsverlängerungen für Toronto; beide Spieler befinden sich auf mittlerem Gehaltsniveau (d.h. wären auch bei einem eventuellen Salary Cap gut finanzierbar) und sind doch elementare Bestandteile dieses Teams. Klee hat diese Saison die Abwehr stabilisiert und vor allem Tomas Kaberle gestützt; Darcy Tucker hat auf die schwache Saison 2002/03 mit all dem geantwortet, was ihn (und die Leafs im Allgemeinen) auszeichnet - Emotion, Kampf, Körperbetontheit, ein Schuß nastiness, aber auch Tore. 2 wichtige Spieler der sog. 2.Reihe hinter den Topstars wie Sundin, Belfour, Nolan etc.

Ich freue mich auf weitere Jahre, in denen Joe "Mackinaw" Bowen "Hooooly Mackinaw, Tucker LEVELS xxxxxx. What a hit!" in den Äther brüllen kann.

[AustroLeaf]

Genauere Daten bezüglich der Vertragsmodalitäten:

D Ken Klee (33) - 2-year contract; 2.5 million US per year

RW Darcy Tucker (29) - 3-year contract; 2.1 million US per year

Tucker hat ein Prämiensystem in seinem Vertrag, durch das er bei Erreichen aller Boni sein Gehalt noch einmal um 350.000 $ steigern kann.

Die Leafs haben somit momentan für die nächste Saison 11 Spieler unter Vertrag mit Gesamt-Gehaltskosten von 36,85 Mio. $.

Vom aktuellen Kader sind dies: Mats Sundin (9.0 Mio), Owen Nolan (6.5), Brian Leetch (6.0), Alex Mogilny (5.5), Ken Klee (2.5), Darcy Tucker (2.1), Tie Domi (2.0), Matt Stajan (0.95); der Rest sind Leute aus dem Farmteams.

Dazu noch einige restricted free agents und eine ganze Latte an unrestricted free agents.

Die nächste Aufgabe von GM John Ferguson Jr. wird wohl die Verhandlung mit einigen Schlüsselspielern unter den Free Agents sein, nämlich Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk und Ed Belfour.

Fix verlassen werden den Klub: Robert Reichel (?), Mikael Renberg (--> Schweden).

bearbeitet 20. Juni 2004 von AustroLeaf

[AustroLeaf]

Ein bißchen Pre-Draft Talk:

Der diesjährige Draft findet bekanntermaßen am 26./27.Juni in Raleigh, Carolina statt.

Der erste Pick der Leafs ist erst in der dritten Runde (Position 90) vorgesehen (der 1st-rounder ging an die N.Y. Rangers im Trade für Brian Leetch, der 2nd-rounder im letztjährigen Wesley-Trade nach Carolina). Gerüchte besagen, daß GM John Ferguson Jr. versuchen wird, via Trade in die erste oder zumindest zweite Runde vorzukommen; scheinbar haben die Leafs ein Auge auf ein, zwei bestimmte Spieler geworfen, die sie an Position 90 nie kriegen würden.

Andere Quellen (slam.ca) besagen, daß die Verhandlungen mit Carolina wegen RW Jeff O'Neill wieder intensiviert wurden, was den Leafs (neben aktuellen Spielern) sogar noch weitere Picks kosten könnte.

Im Rahmen des Drafts wird JFJ auch mit Rick Curran, dem gemeinsamen Spielervertreter von Gary Roberts und Joe Nieuwendyk, zwecks neuen Vertrages für die beiden zusammentreffen.

[AustroLeaf]

Laut der Ottawa Sun könnten sich die Toronto Maple Leafs und die Ottawa Senators ein Duell um den unrestricted free agent Kris Draper (zuvor Detroit) liefern. Die Sens könnten einen two-way player wie ihn ohnehin dringend gebrauchen, und bei den Leafs wird mehr und mehr gezweifelt, ob es tatsächlich gelingt, Roberts und Nieuwendyk zu halten. In diesem Falle könnte Draper als Nieuwendyk-Ersatz von unschätzbarem Wert sein.

Der aus Toronto stammende Draper, diesjähriger Gewinner der Selke Trophy für den besten two-way forward, wird allerdings vermutlich ein Jahresgehalt von ca. 3-4 Mio. $ verlangen.

[AustroLeaf]

Mit dem einzigen Pick, den sie in den ersten drei Runden zur Verfügung hatten (3.Runde, Pick Nr.90), drafteten die Maple Leafs gestern einen Goalie - Justin Pogge.

In diesem Bereich können die Leafs sicherlich etwas depth gut gebrauchen. Der folgende Artikel beschreibt den gestrigen ersten Draft day aus Leafs-Sicht.

Quelle: Toronto Sun

Justin Pogge knows what it takes to beat out a Maple Leafs goaltender for a job.

Relax. We're not suggesting he's about to replace pending unrestricted free agent Ed Belfour in the Toronto net.

But the lanky native of Fort McMurray, Alta., did show his mettle last season by usurping 2002 Leafs draft pick Todd Ford as the starter for the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League. Ford eventually was traded to the Vancouver Giants.

Because Ford is the only goaltender in the Toronto organization currently under contract, the Leafs headed into yesterday's NHL entry draft looking for depth at the position.

And they feel confident they addressed that need by selecting Pogge with the 90th overall pick -- the only one the Leafs had through the first three rounds.

General manager John Ferguson admitted discussions were held on numerous fronts about potentially moving up, but nothing panned out in the end.

"Obviously we were on the phone to see if there was anything out there, but there wasn't anything that made sense," Ferguson said. "There were things out there that just didn't materialize."

While Pogge was not on the radar screen of some teams -- heck, the Leafs could not even reach him to set up interviews with the media -- director of amateur scouting Barry Trapp said the 6-foot-3, 183-pound goalie fell exactly where Toronto had him ranked.

"He has a great upside to him," Trapp said, adding that Pogge was impressive for Canada's under-18 team this spring. "I saw him a number of times and so did some of our other scouts."

While the Leafs have six picks today -- one in each of Rounds 4 through 9 -- Ferguson also is faced with attempting to come to terms with Belfour and fellow pending free agents Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts by midnight Wednesday.

While the Belfour situation is a priority for the Leafs, Rick Curran, the agent for Roberts and Nieuwendyk, hopes to speak with Ferguson at some point today.

---

THE NEW GUY

NAME: Justin Pogge

BORN: April 22, 1986

TEAM: Prince George Cougars of the WHL

SIZE: 6-foot-3, 183 lbs.

CATCHES: Left

2003-04 STATS: 44 GP, 2.83 goals-against average, three shutouts, 9.01 save percentage.

OF NOTE: Ranked eighth among North American goalies by Central Scouting ... Beat out Maple Leafs prospect Todd Ford (74th overall pick, 2002) for starting job in Prince George ... Drew raves for his play for Canada's under-18 team this spring.

[AustroLeaf]

Hier die restlichen 6 Picks der Maple Leafs von heute, allesamt eher unbeschriebene Blätter:

113 TOR (from EDM) ROMAN KUKUMBERG (LW) 4/8/1980 Bratislava, Slovakia

157 TOR DIMITRI VOROBIEV (D) 10/18/1985 Togliatti, Russia

187 TOR ROBERT EARL (LW) 6/6/1985 Chicago, Ill.

220 TOR MAXIM SEMENOV (D) 2/9/1984 Kazakhstan

252 TOR JAN STEBER (C/LW) 10/19/1985 Ostrava, Czech Rep.

285 TOR PIERCE NORTON (RW) 6/7/1985 Boston, Mass.

Auffallend: Kein Kanadier mehr. MMn gescheite Taktik von John Ferguson Jr., eher die Europäer zu draften. In der Vergangenheit waren bei den späten Picks, die dann doch eingeschlagen haben, fast alle Europäer (bei den leafs z.B. Berezin, Kaberle und Markov) - die (vorwiegend kanadischen) Scouts der NHL-Teams vertrauen eher auf die eigenen Boys und sind bei den Europäern meist etwas zögerlicher.

[AustroLeaf]

Verhandlungen mit Belfour spießen sich

Die Uhr tickt, der 1.Juli kommt immer näher; doch die Leafs scheinen mit Ed Belfour nicht auf einen grünen Zweig zu kommen. Das Bollwerk im Tor der Leafs, baldiger unrestricted free agent, verlangt einen 3-Jahres-Vertrag in der Gegend von 6-7 Mio. $ Salär pro Jahr. Wobei das Salär für JFJ weniger das Problem zu sein scheint als die Laufzeit - Belfour ist immerhin schon 39.

Die Leafs wären an einem 1-Jahres-Vertrag hoch interessiert; ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, daß sie auf 3 Jahre raufgehen.

Doch wer hütet dann nächstes Jahr unser Tor? Ist Tellqvist denn wirklich schon reif?

[Lichtgestalt]

LEAFS SIGN ROBERTS, NIEUWENDYK & BERG

(June 30, 2004) -- John Ferguson, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Wednesday that the club has re-signed Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts and Aki Berg to contracts. In keeping with club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Nieuwendyk, 37, played 64 games for Toronto last season collecting 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists) with 26 penalty minutes. He ranked third in the NHL in faceoff winning percentage (60.4%), 13th in shooting percentage (16.8%-tie) and 21st in powerplay goals (10-tie). He finished third on the team in goals, third in powerplay goals, third in game-winning goals (5), fourth in points, and fourth in powerplay points (20-tie). He also played nine playoff games for the Maple Leafs scoring six goals with four penalty minutes.

He ranked fifth in the NHL playoffs in shooting percentage (26.2%) and eighth in game-winning goals (2-tie). He led the team during the playoffs in goals, game-winning goals and shooting percentage.

The native of Oshawa, Ontario has won the Stanley Cup on three occasions (1989, 1999, 2003) and is only the ninth player to skate for three different Stanley Cup winning franchises (Calgary, Dallas, New Jersey). In 1999, he led the NHL playoffs in goals (11) and won the Conn Smythe Trophy awarded "to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs".

In 1995 he won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy awarded "to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy contribution in his community". In 1987-88, his rookie year, Nieuwendyk collected 92 points (51 goals, 41 assists) in 75 games. For his efforts he won the Calder Memorial Trophy awarded "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League".

Nieuwendyk was a member of the 2002 Canadian Olympic team and won the Gold Medal collecting two points (one goal, one assist) in six tournament games.

Nieuwendyk has played for four teams in his NHL career: Calgary, Dallas, New Jersey and Toronto. In 1177 career NHL games he has collected 1062 points (533 goals, 529 assists) with 627 penalty minutes. He was originally Calgary's second choice, 27th overall in the 1985 Entry Draft.

Roberts, 38, played 72 games for Toronto last season collecting 48 points (28 goals, 20 assists) with 84 penalty minutes. He ranked second in the NHL in shooting percentage (22.6%), second in game-tying goals (2-tie), 12th in game-winning goals (7-tie), 13th in powerplay goals (11-tie) and 23rd in goals (tie). He finished first on the team in powerplay goals, first in game- tying goals (tie), first in shooting percentage, second in goals, second in shorthanded points (2-tie), second in game-winning goals, second in multiple-goal games (4), fourth in powerplay points (20-tie), fourth in multiple-point games (11-tie), fifth in points (tie) and fifth in plus/minus (+9-tie). He was selected to participate in the NHL All-Star Game and collected two points (one goal, one assist). He also played all 13 playoff games for the Maple Leafs collecting eight points (four goals, four assists) with 10 penalty minutes. He finished first on the team during the playoffs in powerplay goals (2-tie), second in goals (tie), and second in points (tie).

The native of North York, Ontario is one of only six players in NHL history to score 350 goals and amass 2000 penalty minutes (Mike Foligno, Brendan Shanahan, Rick Tocchet, Pat Verbeek and Kevin Dineen). He has participated in the NHL All-Star Game on three occasions (1992, 1993, 2004) and won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey in 1996. He has scored 20 or more goals in a season 12 times over his 17-year career with Calgary, Carolina and Toronto. In 1029 career NHL games he has collected 806 points (397 goals, 409 assists) with 2345 penalty minutes. He was originally Calgary's first choice, 12th overall in the 1984 Entry Draft.

Berg, 26, played in 79 games last season recording nine points (two goals, seven assists) with a plus/minus of minus-one and 40 penalty minutes. He was held pointless in ten playoff games.

The 2004-05 season will be Berg's fourth as a Maple Leaf. The native of Turku, Finland was acquired by Toronto from Los Angeles in exchange for Adam Mair and Toronto's second round choice in 2001 Entry Draft (Mike Cammalleri) March 13, 2001. He was originally the Kings' first choice, third overall, in the 1995 Entry Draft. In 531 career NHL games Berg has recorded 77 points (15 goals and 62 assists) with 318 penalty minutes and he will represent his country at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

(mapleleafs.com)

[Lichtgestalt]

BELFOUR BACK WITH LEAFS

(June 30, 2004) -- John Ferguson, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Wednesday that the team has come to terms with goaltender Ed Belfour. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Belfour, the NHL's all-time active leader in wins (435) and shutouts (75-tie), led the Maple Leafs to the team's best regular season in franchise history in 2003-04, personally recording 34 wins 19 losses and six ties. He ranked second in the NHL in shutouts with 10, becoming the first Maple Leaf goalie to reach double digits in that category since Harry Lumley posted 13 in 1953-54. Belfour was also among league goaltending leaders finishing third in wins, 10th in save percentage (.918-tie), and 12th in goals against average (2.13).

In the post-season, the native of Carman, Manitoba led the Maple Leafs to a first-round series victory over the Ottawa Senators posting three consecutive shutout wins and becoming just the 11th goaltender in Stanley Cup playoff history to record three shutouts in one playoff series.

Belfour, 39, joined the Maple Leafs on July 3, 2002, signing as an unrestricted free agent. In his first season in Toronto, he set a franchise record for wins in one season with 37 and finished third in Vezina Trophy voting (goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position) and finished third in year-end all-star team voting. In just two seasons in Toronto, Belfour already ranks seventh in franchise history in shutouts (17-tie) and 10th in wins (71).

Belfour was originally signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Chicago Blackhawks June 18, 1987. He went on to play parts of nine seasons in Chicago winning the Vezina Trophy twice (1991, 1993) and leading the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Final in 1992. He was traded to the San Jose Sharks on January 25, 1997 in exchange for Chris Terreri, Ulf Dahlen and Michal Sykora and the following off-season signed as an unrestricted free-agent with the Dallas Stars.

In his first season in Dallas, Belfour led the NHL and posted a career-best 1.88 goals against average. The following season, he won his first Stanley Cup leading the Stars to a six-game series victory over the Buffalo Sabres and shared the Jennings Trophy (goaltenders of the team with the fewest goals against) with Roman Turek.

The 16-year pro begins the 2004-05 season with a career record of 435 wins, 281 losses and 111 ties with 75 shutouts and a 2.43 goals against average. He is third (tie) in NHL history in wins trailing only Patrick Roy (551) and Terry Sawchuck (447), eighth (tie) in shutouts and seventh in goaltender assists (31).

He has played in five all-star games (1992, 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999) and was selected to represent Toronto in 2003 but did not play due to injury. Belfour also won the Gold Medal as a member of Team Canada at the 2002 winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and has been named to Team Canada for the upcoming 2004 World Cup of Hockey to take place in September.

(mapleleafs.com)

[AustroLeaf]

Angeblich bemühen sich die Leafs um die Dienste von unrestricted free agent Glen Murray, vormals Boston Bruins.

Ein kräftiger Right Wing mit einem Laserbeam von Schuß, sowas wär ein schönes Spielzeug...

Quelle: www.spectorshockey.net (Spector ist meist sehr gut informiert)

[AustroLeaf]

Quelle: Fan590 Toronto Radio

Howard Berger on the Fan590 Toronto had an update where he spoke with the agent of Dmitry Yushkevich. His agent told Berger that Dmitry is done playing in Russia and would be willing accept an offer that he likes to NHL teams. The only team mention is the Toronto Maple Leafs as Dmitry loved playing there.

Na ja, ich weiß nicht, ob mir das wirklich taugen würde. Yushkevich, berühmt und geliebt für seine schier unglaubliche Schmerztoleranz und Bereitschaft für letzten Einsatz, wird auch nicht jünger. Mit dem jüngst engagierten Trio Belfour, Roberts und Nieuwendyk sowie Leetch und Mogilny hätten die Leafs eher eine Infusion jüngeren Blutes notwendig. Hoffentlich beißen sie nicht an.

[AustroLeaf]

Fan590 Radio meldet folgendes:

Apparently according to NHL Sources unnamed, Glen Murray is on the verge of signing a contract with the Leafs. When Murray's agent was contacted he said they had spoken with the Leafs regarding Murray but wouldn't go into detail and those same NHL sources have said Murray is off the market.

Bitte bitte haben wollen!