Der Toronto Maple Leafs Thread

[Lichtgestalt]

LEAFS POSTSEASON HOPES LIKELY OVER

Montreal (CP) - The Toronto Maple Leafs now have 12 games left in the 2005-06 season to start looking at younger players for next year - because there's no point playing for this season anymore.

Not after Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, a second straight one-sided defeat to the rivals they had hoped to catch and pass before leaving town. Instead they headed to New Jersey for Sunday night's game seven back of the Habs, who were stumbling before the Leafs arrived this week but now once again hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. "Thank you Toronto" should be have been written on the board in Montreal's dressing room. The Leafs were the perfect tonic for the previously-struggling Canadiens.

"Is is frustrating? Sure it is," Leafs coach Pat Quinn said, and he wasn't just talking about the last two games. "You don't come to work every day to lose. I know I don't." The Leafs arrived in Montreal in 10th place, only three back of the Canadiens. They left in 12th place, Florida and the New York Islanders having past them, and sit only two points ahead of 13th-place Boston - the club that earlier Saturday fired GM Mike O'Connell for a season gone bad.

Could similar changes come from up top at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment? It may indeed be the last 12 games in Quinn's seven-year tenure as Leafs coach, and the security of John Ferguson's position as GM isn't exactly written in stone either. "We're going to take a look everything at the end of the year - including me," Ferguson said before leaving the Bell Centre. "We all get reviewed at the end of the year." Asked whether he was worried about his own job, Ferguson responded: "No, I am not."

Mikael Tellqvist has a dozen more auditions to prove he's a capable No. 1 goalie. He hasn't convinced anyone since Ed Belfour's season ended Thursday, given up 11 goals in two games and not giving his team a chance to win the two biggest games of its season. He walked out of the dressing room without stopping for reporters, clearly angry with how things have gone since he took over the No. 1 job.

For the record, Toronto's much maligned captain Mats Sundin showed up big time in the biggest game of the season, scoring twice, threatening on every shift, and even roughing it up with Montreal defenceman Craig Rivet in the third period.

Too bad so few of his teammates followed his lead from the get-go. Yes, veteran tough guy Tie Domi stuck up for his captain by going after Rivet with 5:58 left in the third period, but it was too late in the game and way too late in this season to be sending messages. Results are what were needed here this week, and the Leafs weren't even close.

The Leafs were still in this game Saturday but a penalty so emblematic of Toronto's tortured season ended their chances: too many men on the ice. Andrei Markov scored on the ensuing power play to make it 4-1 and end Toronto's hope for this game, and likely its season.

The third goal was also a killer, with only eight seconds left in the first period. Leafs forward Nik Antropov stopped skating on his backcheck and allowed Radek Bonk to break free and score on a tap-in. "Those are the kinds of mental errors that have been happening too often in the last month and a half," said Quinn. "It's been a daily challenge," Quinn added, speaking of his most frustrating season behind the Leafs bench. "We haven't responded as well as I believe we're capable of."

Toronto actually started strong Saturday, outshooting Montreal 6-0 and going up 1-0 on Sundin's power-play goal, but once Michael Ryder tied it at 8:38 of the period it seemed the Leafs lost their enthusiasm. "We gave up that first goal, and bang, it seems like we lost our confidence," said Toronto winger Darcy Tucker. "Our psyche is fragile right now. We need to be mentally tougher."

It doesn't matter anymore.

-> Canadian Press

[Lichtgestalt]

QUINN FINISHED, JFJ TOO?

(Montreal) - Pat Quinn walked into the empty dressing room wearing an overcoat and a crooked smile, joking with reporters, candidly revealing the state of an injured player, looking like he didn't want to leave.

He normally doesn't joke after losses.

He normally doesn't hang around.

He normally doesn't reveal anything about anybody's health.

Quinn is no dummy. He knows that it's over.

You can see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice, read it in his behaviour.

He knows his time has come with the Maple Leafs, just as his team's time as a playoff pretender came to unofficial conclusion last night in a game that was desperate and pathetic and troubling, everything this hockey season has been.

He knows he will be handsomely compensated to walk away some time in late April or early May -- Quinn is nothing if not an astute negotiator.

He will not be fired before then. John Ferguson, the general manager for the moment, said as much last night. "We're going to take a look at this at the end of the year," he said. When asked if he had concerns about his own job being in jeopardy, the normally wishy-washy Ferguson answered directly: "I do not." Perhaps he should.

The question now, after back-to-back embarrassments in Montreal, after being stripped naked by a most ordinary team, is who besides Quinn will take the fall for this fretful season? Who will accompany the longtime coach out the Maple Leafs door?

The diagnosis is in on this sorry season, Quinn's seventh as Toronto coach, after must-win games translated into 5-1 and 6-2 losses at the Bell Centre. The best before date has passed on this team. The product has gone rancid. There are now 12 games left in this season going nowhere, 12 games left for one of the most successful coaches in Maple Leafs history. That seems wrong. Almost everything about this team and this time seems wrong. Hell, you know the season is lost when you give up one goal on a weak line change and another on a too many men on the ice penalty. Losing is one thing. Self-destruction shouldn't become a Leafs game plan.

Some of this is reminiscent of a quote once attributed to the late football coach, John McKay. When asked what he thought of his team's execution, McKay quipped, "I'm in favour of it." All Quinn would say in defeat last night was, "There are a good bunch of kids on this team. They work hard." They're just not good enough. The Leafs are 12th in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of 13th- place Boston, who yesterday fired general manager Mike O'Connell.

Last night, the New York Islanders, who fired their coach and watched their general manager fire himself earlier this season, passed the Leafs by a point. Last night, the Leafs were handled by the Canadiens, now seven points ahead. Montreal fired its coach halfway through the season. The Leafs will wait until the gory conclusion before doing what's now apparent.

The real test for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. will come from what it does with Ferguson. A front page business story in the National Post yesterday indicated that some unnamed MLSE board members believe Ferguson is executing his plan for rebuilding the Leafs, which involved the sacrificing of Quinn. Quinn wouldn't comment on the story last night, saying he hadn't read it. When asked if he was set up for failure by the GM, he wouldn't answer.

If any of that is true, and that seems beyond belief, then the board of MLSE is even more naive and clueless about sport than it comes off as being publicly. This remains a team with limited parts with which to build, not enough money with which to buy and not enough speed to play the new NHL game.

Other than that, all is well. Now it's time to play out the string -- and wonder just how long anybody remains employed.

-> Toronto Sun

[Lichtgestalt]

LEAFS FOLLOWING USUAL SCRIPT

(Montreal) Ah, so that's the fable.

The Maple Leafs are now trying to spin the story to fit the facts, using anonymous sources in one of the country's national newspapers to get the word out that they expected this disaster all along, but just didn't want to tell their fans. We knew we'd be crap, the sources argue, and we are crap. So that must make us smart, right? No, just an embarrassment to the city, really.

Go into Montreal with a chance to save the season by playing with pride ... and lose two by a combined 11-3 score. Not even remotely close in either, including the 6-2 shellacking received courtesy of the Habs last night.

Thus endeth the Leaf season. It is over, the post-mortems can begin with gusto and there is now only a draft lottery position to decide. At least it gives the bloodless Ontario Teachers' Pension Fund and Larry Tanenbaum a nice set of bookends. An NHL team that sits 12th out of 15 teams in its conference to go with an NBA team that is tied for 11th/12th out of 15 teams in its conference, and is also draft lottery bound.

Very impressive, gentlemen. That's MLSE — Mellow Losers Sports and Entertainment. The proud and the brave.

Given the disastrous performance of the corporation's hockey department over the past three days, you might think today would be Bloody Sunday as somebody — a coach, an executive, a team president, a masseuse — walked the plank to demonstrate at least a degree of interest from the proprietors. Even the Boston Bruins, for goodness sakes, axed GM Mike O'Connell yesterday, and that team sits just two points behind the Leafs. The condo-salesmen who own the Leafs, of course, would never contemplate such a thing any more than they would dream of being in their ACC platinums before the five-minute mark of a period.

Basically, your Leafs have gone down without a fight this season, blown out of a playoff berth without having made a single aggressive attempt to change the face of this team all season long. Guess that's part of the plan, too.

The Montreal Canadiens, in sweeping a two-game series over the Leafs with absolute ease, demonstrated that they understood what was at stake in these two games, and played like they understood, pounding the pathetic Leafs 5-1 on Thursday and again last night to jump back into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They were better in every single facet of the game both nights.

Who would have predicted that it would be Alexei Kovalev laying out Darcy Tucker with a thundering forearm shiver, not the other way around? Mats Sundin came to play last night, scored twice and got his nose in the middle of just about every unfriendly gathering. And that was about it.

In delivering a second consecutive beating, the Montrealers knocked the Leafs all the way back to 12th in the conference, a scenario that, according to yesterday's National Post, GM John Ferguson confidently foresaw in internal meetings before the season and one with which MLSE brass were quite comfortable.

To paraphrase, the GM apparently told the board, "We will stink this year and for the foreseeable future." To which the board said, "No problem. Profits are up. Let's have lunch." And that's how a 100-point team becomes one of the NHL's worst clubs in just one season.

Last night, the team that now makes lineup decisions based on which players complain loudest, effectively concluded its season by allowing Montreal's fourth line to beat them. With the game tied 1-1 in the first, the Habs got two goals from fourth liner Radek Bonk, doubling the former Senator's goal production on the season. That was, in the words of the departed Ken Klee, Johnny Ballgame right there.

Just as, we are to believe, MLSE had it planned all along.

-> The Star

[Lichtgestalt]

FOOT WOES LIKELY TO END KHAVANOV'S BRIEF ERA WITH LEAFS

MONTREAL—Ian White will play his first ever game for the Maple Leafs tonight because Alexander Khavanov has probably played his last one for the organization. Khavanov suffered a non-displaced fracture in his right foot in last night's 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Since the recovery period is four-to-six weeks and the Leafs are almost certain not to make the playoffs, there is almost no chance he will be back this season. Khavanov was signed to a one-year deal last summer and while he has been a good shot blocker, he has struggled with the new, faster NHL and will likely not be re-signed this summer.

White normally would not have been the one to get the call, but the Leafs and Toronto Marlies are so battered by injuries on defence that they had no other choice. Brendan Bell, who would have been called up, was injured in last night's Marlies game and isn't available. That means the Leafs/Marlies have a total of seven defenceman injured at the moment in Carlo Colaiacovo, Staffan Kronwall, Jay Harrison, Brad Brown and Andy Wozniewski.

These two-game sets, like the kind they just completed against Montreal, in the same city might be good for travel and rivalry purposes, but don't expect the Leafs to be giving them any ringing endorsements. Earlier this year they played two straight games in Ottawa and were outscored 11-3 in those two games as well, meaning that in back-to-back road games against Northeast Division opponents, the Leafs are 0-4 and have been outscored 22-6.

As has been the case this season, the Leafs simply have not been able to deal with adversity very well and in both the Montreal games pretty much gave up after hitting a rough spot. "We give up the first goal and then we seem to lose our confidence," said Darcy Tucker. "Our psyche is fragile. We need to be mentally tougher." Although Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn verbally admonished Alexander Steen for creating the 3-on-1 that led to the Canadiens first goal, he continued to take the high road in pretty well every area. While basically acknowledging that his team probably isn't good enough to make the playoffs, he continued to praise their level of effort. "When you're losing a lot, I guess you could come to that sort of conclusion," Quinn said when asked if his team was simply not good enough. "But they're a good bunch of kids who work hard and make a lot of mistakes."

Those mistakes came right from the goal out. After a strong start during this run, Tellqvist is beginning to look worn down and has not played well in the past two games. "Clearly our goaltending wasn't where it should be," said Leafs general manager John Ferguson. "There were a few I'm sure Telly would like to get back."

-> The Star

[Lichtgestalt]

New Jersey Devils - Toronto Maple Leafs 3:4 (1:2, 0:1, 2:1)

0:1 (9.) Kilger 15 (Tucker)

1:1 (18.) Rasmussen 5 PP (Parise, Brylin)

1:2 (19.) Wellwood 11 (Tucker)

1:3 (36.) Sundin 20 (White, Ponikarovsky)

2:3 (43.) Gomez 26 (Gionta, Brodeur)

2:4 (52.) Stajan 10 (Berg)

3:4 (57.) Elias 9 PP (Gomez, Rafalski)

SOG: Devils 38, Leafs 40.

PIM: Devils 2, Leafs 12.

PP: Devils 2/5, Leafs 0/0.

-> Recap

[AustroLeaf]

Erstaunlich. Auf einmal klappen Siege in New Jersey und Philly.

Philadelphia Flyers - Toronto Maple Leafs 2:3 (1:1, 0:0, 1:2)

1:0 (4.) Pitkanen 12 (Kapanen, Forsberg) PP

1:1 (15.) Sundin 21 (White, Antropov)

1:2 (41.) Ponikarovsky 18 (Antropov, Sundin)

1:3 (43.) Steen 17 (Stajan, Berg)

2:3 (56.) Umberger 15 (Handzus)

SOG: Flyers 30, Leafs 26

PP: Flyers 1/4, Leafs 0/2

Goalies: Niityimäki (PHI), Aubin (TOR)

Recap

[AustroLeaf]

Jason Allison wird den Leafs für den Rest der Saison fehlen. Dazu ein Artikel aus der Toronto Sun (Link):

ALLISON'S TOUGH BREAK

Season over after busting hand against the Habs

PHILADELPHIA -- The Maple Leafs will have to continue their hollow charge to a playoff berth without their second-leading scorer.

X-rays yesterday in Toronto revealed Jason Allison has a broken bone in his hand, the club confirmed last night.

Though the Leafs said Allison would be out indefinitely, it is expected he will be lost for the remainder of the season, which likely is nothing more than the 11 games remaining. Also, Allison could require surgery.

"It's unfortunate for us and for Jason," Leafs general manager John Ferguson said in an e-mail. "We will miss his presence and production and rely on others to pick up the slack."

Allison suffered the injury, thought to be in his right hand, Saturday night in the third period in Montreal against the Canadiens.

The post-Allison era begins tonight at the Wachovia Center against the Flyers. It's paramount the Leafs strike from the gates with the same kind of hustle they used against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, a 4-3 win.

Where did that dominant first period come from?

"I ask myself the same question," said Leafs coach Pat Quinn, who gave the players yesterday off. "In both games in Montreal we had a good jump early and got deflated fast. We have had it and not been able to sustain it, but (Sunday night), we did."

If the Leafs are to get into the playoffs, they will need to win at least nine games. That would put them at 90 points, the magic total supposedly required to qualify for the Stanley Cup tournament.

But at the same time, the Leafs would have to keep their fingers crossed the Canadiens and Devils (both with 79 points) stumble. They would have to win no more than five games each and, even if that happened, the Leafs also would hope the Atlanta Thrashers and to a lesser extent, the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers, fall by the wayside.

Without Allison -- who had been out of the NHL since 2002-03 because of injuries before Ferguson signed him in August -- the Leafs will save money.

He made $1.5 million US in base salary, but there was $3 million to be had in bonuses. Allison had 60 points (17 goals and 43 assists) in 66 games. Had he reached 70 points, he would have made another $1 million. At 35 games played, a bonus of $222,222 kicked in, which rose incrementally every five games to what would have been a total of $2 million had he played 75 games. By playing 31 more games past 35, Allison made another $1.55 million, bringing his total salary to just over $3 million.

Allison was woefully slow for the faster-paced NHL and was a major defensive liability. He was minus-18, and his 70 giveaways are the most on the Leafs. Nearly two-thirds of his points -- nine goals and 30 assists -- were on power plays.

[AustroLeaf]

Außerdem der Link zu 2 sehr interessanten Artikeln (ebenfalls Toronto Sun) über die Situation bzw. das Management der Leafs (sicher was für dich, llcoolw):

--> Leafs were in same position as other high-payroll teams

--> What's wrong with the Leafs? It starts at the top

[themanwho]

Hm, solange die Habs überall und die Devils sogar in Ottawa gewinnen, nützen die Siege leider trotzdem nichts. Aber verspielt hat man den Playoffeinzug (wahrscheinlich) ja schon viel früher.

[Seppo Dramac]

Außerdem der Link zu 2 sehr interessanten Artikeln (ebenfalls Toronto Sun) über die Situation bzw. das Management der Leafs (sicher was für dich, llcoolw):

--> Leafs were in same position as other high-payroll teams

--> What's wrong with the Leafs? It starts at the top

1005434[/snapback]

Der zweite Link funktioniert leider nicht, kann mir aber vorstellen dass auch hier die allgemeine Meinung vorherrscht: die MLSE lässt JFJ und PQ gewähren, egal wie die Erfolge aussehen. Oder?

[Lichtgestalt]

Der zweite Link funktioniert leider nicht, kann mir aber vorstellen dass auch hier die allgemeine Meinung vorherrscht: die MLSE lässt JFJ und PQ gewähren, egal wie die Erfolge aussehen. Oder?

1005988[/snapback]

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE LEAFS?

It starts at the top

By PIERRE LEBRUN, The Canadian Press

(CP) - No one expected much of the Maple Leafs this season, despite their fans' hopes. Most pegged the team to finish in or around the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with many picking Toronto to be on the outside looking in. That seems to be holding true.

A look at what went wrong for the Leafs this season and what they must do moving forward:

OFF THE ICE

It became clear that the relationship between rookie GM John Ferguson and veteran head coach Pat Quinn is fractured beyond repair. There were hints of this throughout the season but it was there for all to see this weekend in Montreal with the confusion over goalie Ed Belfour's health.

Truth be told, neither Ferguson nor Quinn are to blame for overall problems. They never had a chance. A first-time GM inherited a veteran coach who not only had decades of experience on his new boss, but was also the team's former GM.

Ferguson also deserved a better chance, but he was behind the eight-ball right off the bat in Toronto. Every new GM deserves the chance to hire his own people, especially his own coach. Quinn is most likely gone and the veteran coach already appears to know it.

As for Ferguson, he'll probably get at least one more year. He's created plenty of salary cap space for this summer and probably deserves a chance to spend some of that money and mould the team he wants.

ON THE ICE

Every team's success in the NHL starts from the net out and that's where the problems started for the Leafs this year. Belfour, who was tremendous in his first two years in Toronto, was average at best this season as his age (40) and back problems finally caught up with him.

Belfour's bad back has opened the door for Mikael Tellqvist, who had better numbers but has failed since officially being given the No. 1 job, giving up 11 goals in two losses to Montreal. He now has 11 games to showcase his skills for next season.

The blue-line has been brutal for the most part all season long, another reason why the Leafs won't make the playoffs. After the all-star pair of Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe, who were excellent this year, it gets thin in a hurry. Khavanov, Aki Berg and Ken Klee (before he was traded) struggled most the year, opposing forwards preying on their giveaways. On the bright side, Staffan Kronwall showed promise in the 34 games he played.

Up front, it's been a mixed bag. Captain Mats Sundin had a poor first half, set back by a scary eye injury, but he's come on strong in the second half. Darcy Tucker has been Toronto's most consistent forward, tying a career-high with 24 goals, but also displaying the kind of hustle and desire few of his teammates have matched.

Rookie Alexander Steen started off strong but the demands of an 82-game season have seen him fade a bit in the second half. But he's a keeper. Alexei Ponikarovsky and Chad Kilger are the other bright lights in a season gone wrong.

On the down side, winger Jeff O'Neill has been the biggest disappointment. And Jason Allison wasn't the dominant No. 2 centre Ferguson had hoped he had signed. Overall, not enough offence except for its power play.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Leafs, not counting any of their AHL prospects, only have 10 players under contract for next season, which gives Ferguson some flexibility in rebuilding his club. First he must say goodbye to Belfour. Ferguson should give serious thought at approaching veteran goalie Curtis Joseph about returning home to end his career.

The blue-line needs serious help. First Ferguson must try to re-sign McCabe, who is slated for unrestricted free agent status July 1. He's not worth $5 million a season and unless his asking price comes down, he's a goner. That's OK, there's plenty of big-name defencemen on the free-agent market this summer, led by Zdeno Chara, Ed Jovanovski, and even the likes of Pavel Kubina, Willie Mitchell and Jay McKee.

Up front, Kilger will be an unrestricted free agent and needs to be re-signed, he's proven to be a quality third-liner. Nik Antropov will be a restricted free agent, Ferguson should opt not to qualify him and let him go free. He's never lived up to his first-round hype. Eric Lindros is a free agent, and we suggest bringing him back. Yes, he only played 32 games, but put up 22 points and was a pretty good player, especially at $1.55 million. He'll come back cheap.

Ferguson also has to look at what's available elsewhere. Star winger Patrik Elias will be unrestricted. Todd Bertuzzi may be available via a trade. Brad Richards will be a restricted free agent but the Lightning may find it difficult to re-sign him. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The bottom line? Ferguson won't appease Toronto's faithful fan base unless he returns in September with a drastically different-looking lineup.

[AustroLeaf]

35 Minuten sind im ACC gespielt, folgender Zwischenstand:

Toronto Maple Leafs - Buffalo Sabres 5:0

1:0 (3.) O'Neill 17 (Steen, Stajan)

2:0 (5.) White 1 unassisted

3:0 (6.) Domi 5 (Wilm, Richardson)

4:0 (7.) Antropov 9 (Sundin, Ponikarovsky)

5:0 (16.) Antropov 10 (Sundin, Ponikarovsky)

Sauberer Blitzstart.

bearbeitet 2. April 2006 von AustroLeaf

[Lichtgestalt]

Toronto Maple Leafs - Buffalo Sabres 7:0 (5:0, 0:0, 2:0)

1:0 (3.) O'Neill 17 (Steen, Stajan)

2:0 (5.) White 1 (unassisted)

3:0 (6.) Domi 5 (Wilm, Richardson)

4:0 (7.) Antropov 9 (Sundin, Ponikarovksy)

5:0 (16.) Antropov 10 (Sundin, Ponikarovsky)

6:0 (45.) Ponikarovsky 19 (Tucker, Wellwood)

7:0 (51.) Stajan 11 PP (Steen, White)

SOG: Leafs 22, Sabres 22.

PIM: Leafs 7, Sabres 7.

PP: Leafs 1/1, Sabres 0/1.

[Lichtgestalt]

Toronto Maple Leafs - Buffalo Sabres 2:3 SO (0:1, 1:1, 1:0)

0:1 (5.) Roy 17 (Kotalik, Afinogenov)

0:2 (31.) Afinogenov 20 PP (Briere, Kotalik)

1:2 (32.) Pohl 2 (Sundin, Ponikarovsky)

2:2 (53.) Stajan 12 (Steen, O'Neill)

2:3 (SO) Afinogenov

SOG: Leafs 33, Sabres 36.

PIM: Leafs 12, Sabres 14.

PP: Leafs 0/6, Sabres 1/5.

-> Recap

[AustroLeaf]

Toronto Maple Leafs - New York Islanders 3:2 (0:0, 1:1, 2:1)

0:1 (33.) Yashin 26 (Blake, Nilsson) PP

1:1 (38.) Tucker 25 (Wellwood, White)

1:2 (45.) Satan 30 (Martinek, Campoli) PP

2:2 (51.) Tucker 26 (McCabe, Sundin) PP

3:2 (58.) Ponikarovsky 20 (Antropov)

SOG: Leafs 22, Isles 29

PP: Leafs 1/6, Isles 2/7

--> Recap

Derzeit 6 Punkte Rückstand auf Rang 8, noch 7 Spiele.