Toronto Maple Leafs

[AustroLeaf]

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

0:1 (11.) Downie (Vandermeer, Dowd)

0:2 (17.) Carter SH (Umberger)

1:2 (45.) Sundin 19 PP (Wellwood, Kubina)

2:2 (52.) Sundin 20 (Blake, Gill)

2:3 (58.) Richards PP (Knuble, Briere)

SOG: Leafs 56, Flyers 32

PP: Leafs 1/6, Flyers 1/2

Go Leafs Go!

[Lichtgestalt]

zur zeit kommts echt knüppeldick:

* colaiacovo hat sich bei der attacke von dowd (cheap shot?) dasselbe knie verletzt, an dem er zuletzt operiert wurde. zwei stunden nach dem spiel war keinerlei belastung möglich.

* blake hat sich dank eines sucker punches von downie am auge verletzt, und angeblich soll die geschichte nicht so harmlos sein wie ursprünglich angenommen.

* platz 27 in der liga (+1 punkt auf die capitals, +2 punkte auf die oilers), platz 13 in der conference (-4 punkte auf die flyers bei drei spielen mehr, -5 punkte auf die rangers bei gleicher spielanzahl) und der nächste road trip steht schon vor der tür (ducks, kings, sharks).

bearbeitet 6. Januar 2008 von Lichtgestalt

[themanwho]

SOG: Leafs 56, Flyers 32

54 saves von Niittymaki

Wie verhext. Und wer stemmt sich dagegen? Der ( c ), wer sonst.

[Lichtgestalt]

zur abwechslung mal gute nachrichten: berichte über colaiacovos karriereende sind übertrieben, carlo fällt lediglich 7-10 tage aus - nach dem western trip sollte er also schon wieder dabei sein.

blakes auge hat keinen strukturellen schaden genommen, die schwellung ist aber derartig stark, dass er derzeit nicht trainieren kann - von "mindestens golfballgross" ist die rede...

bearbeitet 6. Januar 2008 von Lichtgestalt

[Lichtgestalt]

LEAFS FUTURE HINGES ON SUNDIN DEAL

Given their current predicament, there really is only one unthinkable result to this season for the Maple Leafs. That would be to miss the Stanley Cups playoffs – already a likely result – and then allow Mats Sundin to walk out the door as an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

To avoid that nightmare, one of two events must occur before the Feb.26 trade deadline. Sundin must be dealt to a contending team eager to pay a ransom for his considerable skills. Or he must be signed to a new, multi-year contract. What the Leafs cannot permit to occur, however, is for Feb.26 to come and go without Sundin being either traded or signed. That would be utter madness.

The opportunity to realize enormous gains in prospects and draft picks would be gone, and if the idea is to retain him at a sensible salary under the cap, any leverage the Leafs might have, such as Sundin fervently wishing to remain a Leaf for a hometown discount, would be lost.

Either they'd then have to overpay Bryan McCabe-style to keep him or they'll be forced into a bidding war July 1. This is significantly different than last summer when the Leafs held an option on Sundin for the '07-08 season, and then he agreed to re-work his deal to help the team with the cap.

Moreover, if the club misses the post-season, you'll be looking at a new management team and quite possibly a new coaching staff. That would be a tough sell to Sundin, who turns 37 next month, and introduces the strong possibility he'd signed elsewhere and the Leafs would get nothing for losing their best player and top asset.

Besides, if the Leafs really are willing to take a chance on trying to re-sign Sundin in June or July, that's another reason to trade him before the deadline. That's what St. Louis did, after all, with Keith Tkachuk last year. They traded him to Atlanta for Glen Metropolit, two first-round picks, a second-rounder and a third, then re-signed him in the summer for $3.5 million (all figures U.S.) per season. Theoretically, the Leafs could do something similar.

If he's made available before the deadline, Sundin will be more valuable than any other player on the market, and more valuable than any player who was out there last February. The captain's strong play this season – two more goals Saturday night – has been a blessing for the Leafs, who can demand more because the big Swede is still an impact player.

Last year's deadline market was strong – Anaheim got a first-rounder for Shane O'Brien, Detroit wasted Canadian national junior team centre Shawn Matthias and a second-rounder to get Todd Bertuzzi from Florida – and there's no reason to believe teams won't be out trying to strengthen themselves again this year. Imagine what Brian Burke might be willing to pay to give his Ducks a chance to repeat? Sundin would be the perfect replacement for Teemu Selanne, and don't forget, Anaheim owns Edmonton's first-round pick. Or what about Sundin as a winger for Sidney Crosby?

Re-signing Sundin, meanwhile, also has merit, as long as it isn't simply based on sentiment. If the Leafs believe he has three to four years left and can perform an indispensable role in forging a winner, then you can make the argument keeping him makes sense. That's why L.A. brought back Rob Blake, now 38, and paid him $6 million per season two years ago. But if that's what the Leafs are planning, they've got seven weeks to lock him up.

It's either that or trade him, unless organizational suicide is what MLSE has in mind.

-> Toronto Sun

[AustroLeaf]

Nicht nur Sundin, ein Midnight Madness Sale ("everything must go") wird gefordert:

LEAFS NEED TO GAMBLE

Club should clean house now

Purely by accident, John Ferguson's mismanagement of the Maple Leafs has put the hockey club in a surprising position of strength to move forward in the future.

Assuming he isn't making the decisions now -- or anymore -- the Leafs have a unique opportunity, for a club that has been skating in circles post-lockout, to start over.

As the Leafs creep slowly toward the bottom of the National Hockey League standings -- only two teams have fewer wins -- the real possibility of a lottery pick, and maybe even first pick overall in the NHL draft, isn't out of the question.

The draft pick is nice, but it's only a part of what needs to be done. If this team, in its current structure, is this terrible, then dismantling it over the next six weeks should be the goal for management, which is counter to Ferguson managing to save his job.

CASH IN

It isn't just about cashing in on Mats Sundin, who continues to insist he doesn't want to be traded.

The truth is, and for the good of the franchise, Sundin must be convinced to be traded.

He can choose to sign back in Toronto after the season if he likes. But the Leafs cannot afford to allow the possibility of stockpiling young players and draft picks in exchange for a player who is considerably more valuable at this point than Peter Forsberg.

If the price of Forsberg going to Nashville or Keith Tkachuk going to Atlanta in rent-a-player moves is an indication, the notion of a contender being able to add a player of Sundin's capabilities is indeed enticing.

Which, for a moment, brings us back to the dismal Leafs. If Ferguson isn't the GM of the future and isn't much of a GM of the present, should he be the one dealing Sundin? Will he get maximum value? Will he even entertain the subject if it means his certain dismissal? Will he last longer than the board of directors meeting sometime next week?

And if not Ferguson, then who begins the great Leaf selloff?

This isn't only about Sundin. It's about cashing in on every possible asset while at the same time opening some salary space, if possible. That is the real difficulty here.

Because, no matter who gets drafted in June with what pick, there is still $40 million in carry-over contracts to worry about and the not-signed Sundin is not among the $40 million. So it is imperative that between now and the trade deadline, the Leafs begin moving as many contracts as possible, clearing cap and roster space at the same time.

If Sundin needs to be convinced to be dealt, the same conversation must take place with Darcy Tucker, who is overpaid at $3 million now and barring significant change will be overpaid for the next three seasons also.

The Leafs have to determine what, if anything, they can get for Tucker.

It is the same story with Jason Blake, with Pavel Kubina, Mark Bell, Andrew Raycroft and Alexei Ponikarovsky. Blake is signed until 2012. Kubina and Ponikarovsky until 2010. Bell and Raycroft for another season. This is garage sale time. Everything is available for a price.

(I'd keep Nik Antropov, Vesa Toskala, Tomas Kaberle, Bryan McCabe, whose salary decreases in each of the next two years, and not much else.)

Bringing in high-end draft picks to a roster that doesn't work accomplishes little. Clearing the deck is mandatory for the Leafs' future. Not only is it possible to come up with a Steven Stamkos or a Drew Doughty from this year's draft, but if the Leafs find enough homes for their veteran players, then a lottery shot at John Tavares or the Swedish Pronger, Victor Hedman, a year from now isn't a bad way to go.

It all comes back to decision-making, which by itself is problematic. Ferguson's agenda is to stay employed. The best way he can do that is by making the playoffs. But at this date, his personal agenda and the team's future agenda are directly in conflict.

And all this happening with Ferguson getting occasionally lucky. You see, when he traded for Toskala and Bell last summer, he gave San Jose the option of two different first-round draft picks from the Leafs, last year's pick or this year's pick.

Doug Wilson, who turned the choice and a trade into Logan Couture, was happy to use the Leafs pick last June. Truth is, he would have been a whole lot happier to have a shot at Stamkos this time around.

The Leafs now have a shot at a lottery pick. That has to be worth something. What they do with it and what they do around it will determine what kind of team they have for the future.

Link zum Artikel (Toronto Sun)

[Lichtgestalt]

Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Toronto Maple Leafs 5:0 (2:0, 0:0, 3:0)

1:0 (3.) Bertuzzi 7 (Schneider, Huskins)

2:0 (20.) Perry 23 (Bertuzzi, Getzlaf)

3:0 (45.) Bochenski 1 (Bertuzzi, Getzlaf)

4:0 (47.) Weight 7 PP (Perry, Niedermayer)

5:0 (51.) Kunitz 15 PP (Weight, Perry)

SOG: Ducks 24, Leafs 28.

PIM: Ducks 22, Leafs 28.

PP: Ducks 2/4, Leafs 0/6.

-> Recap

[AustroLeaf]

[themanwho]

Du sagst es. 0/6 im PP, und die Ducks sind trotz ihrer namhaften Defense kein gutes Team im penalty killing. Und dass Toskala bei seiner Rückkehr in Kalifornien unter die Räder kommen könnte, das hab ich befürchtet.

[Lichtgestalt]

LEAFS DONE IN BY DUCKS

ANAHEIM -- At least the people in charge of this sorry Maple Leafs squad were there to witness the embarrassment first-hand.

Ownership, hockey management and scouts were all in the Honda Center last night to watch their 14th-place-and-falling club bounce off the heavily armoured Stanley Cup champion Ducks, 5-0. In their past 11 games, the Leafs have scored more than two goals just twice and even the return of goaltender Vesa Toskala last night had little impact in yet another convincing loss.

Richard Peddie, the president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., is here on an off-ice business trip, while general manager John Ferguson brought along both of his assistants, Jeff Jackson and Mike Penny, as well as the scouting staff that had been around a couple of days for midseason meetings. But what they can do at this stage to resurrect team fortunes, shy of getting a whopper of a trade offer for Mats Sundin and selling him on a move, is limited.

They saw the Ducks make a fast transition on a slow Leafs line change for their first goal, with ex-Leaf Mathieu Schneider sending Todd Bertuzzi in on a breakaway. Toskala, just back from a groin injury, didn't risk the splits. After Toronto's new power-play point man, Alex Steen, could get clear for a shot with Chris Kunitz off for bumping Toskala, Hal Gill fell at the Ducks line leading to a 3-on-1 and Corey Perry's 23rd goal.

That was basically the game. The Leafs had six power-plays -- including a late two-man advantage -- but rarely even threatened Anaheim netminder J-S Giguere. "It's discouraging," coach Paul Maurice said afterwards. "We have to find a way to get some of these guys going." On the ineffective power-play, Maurice said: "We didn't put the puck on net, even though we had enough opportunities. That 5-on-3 to end the game answers your question."

Sundin was equally as perplexed. "We're making it too complicated for some reason," he said. "It's been a problem all year." Though the Leafs were still hanging around in the third, they quickly showed why they have just one win in 15 games when trailing after two periods. Bertuzzi bumped Nik Antropov off the puck leading to an early goal and Doug Weight and Kunitz added others on the power play.

The Ducks were distracted from their mission only for a few shifts in the second period trying to deliver payback to Pavel Kubina, who they thought had tried to knee Perry. That led to three consecutive Anaheim penalties, but the Leafs rarely threatened. Toskala's return sets up three games' worth of intriguing goaltender matchups, including tonight in Los Angeles, the Leafs' best chance for any points on this three-game California trip.

By decree of a cautious Maurice, Toskala sits for medical assessment after his first action in almost three weeks and Andrew Raycroft likely gets the start. Raycroft's opponent could be ex-Leaf Jean-Sebastien Aubin, whose winning ways in relief of Ed Belfour in 2006 almost put the Leafs in the playoffs. But he couldn't overcome a lack of confidence and a clash of personalities eventually saw him depart for the coast. Aubin is now a bit player with the Kings, but he was called upon early in a Tuesday night blowout when young Jason Labarbera stopped just four of the first seven shots in the visiting Nashville Predators' eventual 7-0 rout.

With two nights off, Toskala will presumably get the game he has waited for since the NHL schedule came off the press in July -- in San Jose against his former running mate Evgeni Nabokov. Toskala had expected lots of traffic in his crease from the burly Anaheim forwards who took that bump-and-run route to a Cup title last spring.

-> Toronto Sun

[Lichtgestalt]

Los Angeles Kings - Toronto Maple Leafs 5:2 (4:0, 1:1, 1:0)

1:0 (3.) Calder 6 (Handzus, Willsie)

1:0 (14.) Brown 21 PP (O'Sullivan, Kopitar)

3:0 (18.) Frolov 8 (Nagy, Armstrong)

4:0 (20.) Brown 22 PP (Visnovsky, R.Blake)

5:0 (27.) R.Blake 4 (Frolov)

5:1 (36.) Antropov 16 PP (White)

5:2 (52.) Tucker 5 (Wellwood, Woszniewski)

SOG: Kings 24, Leafs 50.

PIM: Kings 12, Leafs 12.

PP: Kings 2/6, Leafs 1/6.

-> Recap

raycroft nach 4-11 raus, 50 schüsse und nur zwei tore, last 10 2-7-2, in den letzten 11 spielen nie mehr als drei tore erzielt, gesamtscore der letzten vier niederlagen 6:19. die rote laterne in den power ranking haben wir uns redlich verdient.

[themanwho]

Teams aus der Northeast fahren wohl in Zukunft ungern nach L.A. - umso schlimmer dass die Kings vorgestern von den Preds 0-7 zerlegt wurden. Und dann sind sie 5-0 vorne, ajaijai. Antropov wieder mal mit einem Punkt nach 11 Spielen, positiv möchte ich das jedoch auch nicht nennen.

[Lichtgestalt]

BE-LEAF IT OR NOT

(Jim Kelley)

Things are a little chaotic in the Centre of the Hockey Universe, so let's make this crystal clear: the question isn't whether or not the Leafs should move Mats Sundin but rather who should do it, when and for what?

OK, we'll backtrack a bit for those who spend too much time at the wine bar, whine bar or sushi bar at the Air Canada Centre. The Leafs must trade their captain and, arguably, their best player simply because he will bring something in return, he's a diminishing asset and re-signing him (assuming he would even agree to that) is a poor investment in the present and a flat-out mistake for the future.

The man will turn 37-years-old before the Feb. 26 trade deadline and his best and most productive years are behind him. To put it in a framework that the Ontario Teachers' Pension group would understand, he is a diminishing return on their investment and the time to sell is now. Playoff chance or no playoff chance the time to do it is at or near the deadline when the return will never be better.

If the goal is to make the Leafs better, then Sundin has to be used as a chip that will bring more talent to the organization. Making the playoffs and likely being swept in the first round -- especially if the Leafs draw Ottawa, their most likely opponent -- doesn't do that. Got that?

OK, now that we have that question settled, who should do it? That's a little more complicated. Ideally, it should be general manager John Ferguson. He is, the last time I looked, the general manager and that's his job and there isn't anybody in Leafs World (they eclipsed favoured 'Nation' status with their last profit and loss sheet) who is more knowledgeable about what Sundin's value is, what the market is for a player of his age and talent and what the Leafs need in return.

That being said, this is the Leafs so naturally logic doesn't rule, nor does common sense apply. The corporate spin is since Ferguson is on the last year of his contract, he's a lame-duck general manager and he might make a poor deal, one that sends Sundin to somewhere in return for the kind of immediate fix that might get the Leafs into the playoffs or he keeps Sundin in the fold for the same reason. The spin-off from that spin is that Ferguson might do that just to get a contract extension and that would be short-sighted.

That's crap.

Ferguson has made his share of mistakes but on character alone, Ferguson's the one man in the organization who likely would do what's best for the organization just on principle. To turn the matter over to Richard Peddie, Ferguson's boss and the man who declared that hiring Ferguson was "a mistake" would likely be the biggest mistake. Peddie's done a poor job running the Leafs and has more self-interest in trying to fix it than anyone at the ACC short of Larry Tannenbaum (Peddie's boss). This, after all, is the man who led the failed search for a "mentor" for Ferguson and the man who has presided over most of the errors the Leafs have made as an organization.

Having Peddie present trade scenarios to the Board of Directors is like having Osama bin Ladin presenting a blueprint for security at a nuclear power plant. If the board has shown anything during its time running the Leafs it's that it is fractured, rife with infighting and has no clue in regards how to build a bird house let alone a winning hockey team. Besides, trading Sundin isn't just about making a deal, it's about handling a player in a way that's a win for the organization and a win for a player who has given good service to the franchise and deserves not to be embarrassed, demeaned or humiliated, something the board could do without even trying. Ferguson knows these things. He knows Sundin, the market, Sundin's value in the market and how the player would like the matter to be handled. Sundin has been careful to say he's a Leaf and wants to be a Leaf forever and everyone needs to say that there's nothing going on right now, but that's mostly good PR.

Behind the scenes, the script would read something along the lines of Sundin professing he doesn't want to leave, but waives his no-trade clause for the good of the future of the team. He then picks the best offer he can or will agree to and then professes to say that though he's leaving he'll always be Maple Leaf, will come back as a free agent if the opportunity presents itself and, in any event, intends to always carry the Maple Leaf close to his heart and will likely come back to Toronto to raise his children. It's all blah, blah, blah, but with a ring of truth if that turns out to be the best-case scenario for Sundin.

If not, well, the fans eat it up and if he does stay away it can always be made to look like some deep-pocketed owner made him a foolish offer that he couldn't refuse. Fans accept that and sometimes it actually works out that way. Ferguson knows this, the people above him … heck … they think Tie Domi can run the show. Regards the question of when, well, who better than Ferguson to know that answer as well.

Offers come in stages; first there are hints of interest, then there are absurdly weak or inane offers followed by some serious interest and then, if market conditions have been set properly, desperation. This is not a case of trading Class A stock for Class B, it's about knowing how to dance and, especially, knowing when to take the lead or walk away. I'm not going to claim Ferguson is an instructor in these types of deals but he should have at least learned enough from his mistakes to get a deal better than the guys who usually lead with their best foot in their mouth.

The best bet is to be firm and to make it crystal clear that if a team's best offer isn't on the table just days before the deadline that the opponent trying for that must-have playoff spot will have his on there. That's what the St. Louis Blues did in trading Keith Tkachuk to Atlanta late last season. That's what the Flyers did with Peter Forsberg and Nashville bit hard. Atlanta needed to make the playoffs or it would be general manager Don Waddell's job. Waddell paid the price. Nashville needed to make a deep run into the playoffs in order to make enough money to keep ownership interested in keeping the team. The ploy failed, but it wasn't because the Predators didn't try and general manager David Poile offered up the best package.

You need a man who understands the market to make a deal like that. It's not like building a condominium or fielding a minor-league soccer team. It's conceivable Peddie or the board might know exactly what the Leafs need (especially if Ferguson told them) but it's an altogether different thing to make it happen. Now there are rumours that Sundin doesn't like or respect Ferguson and if that's true, it complicates things, but it's a given that Sundin realizes staying in Toronto is not the best idea. Remaining a Leaf does precious little for him this season and it makes no sense for management, whomever that might be, to extend his contract now when they can get something for him. Then should he be so inclined, re-sign him as a free agent in the off-season after the team has improved itself with either players, prospects or draft picks. No matter what Ferguson's future, Sundin, by virtue of playing a role in what the Leafs get for him and having a say where he ends up, has control over his destiny.

The Blues got two first-round picks , one each in the second and third and a mid-level player for Tkachuk who got the Thrashers into the playoffs, watched them lose in the first round and then re-signed with a better St. Louis team then the one he left. The Flyers got two good prospects -- Ryan Parent and Scott Upshall and Nashville's first- and third-round picks in the 2007 entry draft and could still get Forsberg back should he opt to return to hockey as a free agent at some point this season. All that and with or without Forsberg they are a better team than the one he left. Those are good hockey deals, the kind good hockey men make.

Is there anyone in Leafs' management save Ferguson who would even begin to understand, let alone execute deals like that? I rest my case and it's on Ferguson.

-> sportsnet.ca

[Lichtgestalt]

SHARKS CIRCLE LEAFS GM, COACH

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a couple of minor player moves yesterday amid rampant speculation about the job security of head coach Paul Maurice and general manager John Ferguson. One day after losing 5-2 to the last-place Los Angeles Kings to fall to 0-2 on their California trip, Toronto called up goaltender Justin Pogge from the AHL and claimed centre Dominic Moore off waivers from Minnesota.

It was hardly enough to quell the various rumours surrounding a team that has won just twice in 12 games and has fallen to 28th overall in the NHL. In fact, Toronto's 16 wins leaves it tied for last in the league with the Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Richard Peddie, the president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment who raised eyebrows when he joined the team on the road trip, told a sports website the board would be discussing Ferguson's future very soon. "If we think we need to do something, we'll do it when the timing is right," Peddie said in Los Angeles. Reached by e-mail by The Canadian Press, Peddie said he had no further comment.

The fact his job is being questioned didn't surprise the general manager, who is under contract until June. "To hear that anyone is not disappointed with the effort recently would not be surprising," Ferguson told reporters in Los Angeles. "None of that surprises me. I am responsible for everything that goes on here. I am accountable for it. That's nothing new."

He declined to say if he had considered firing Maurice. "I'm not going to get into that right now," said Ferguson. "We're all accountable, the players, myself, the coaching staff. We'll leave it at that."

It's been a turbulent week for the Maple Leafs. Local news outlets in Toronto spent days debating whether captain Mats Sundin should be dealt before the Feb. 26 trade deadline. Sundin is earning $5.5 million this season and is slated for unrestricted free agency July 1, but he has a no-trade contract so it may have been a pointless discussion. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, cancelled a scheduled practice in Los Angeles and headed to San Jose, where they will conclude a three-game road trip against the Sharks tonight (CBC, 10 p.m. ET).

Pogge, the former Canadian world junior star, could make his first NHL start in that game. Vesa Toskala had been expected to face his former team but the Leafs No. 1 goalie tweaked a groin injury on Thursday after relieving Andrew Raycroft during the loss to the Kings. Toskala will be a game-time decision for tonight.

The 21-year-old Pogge is having a solid year in the American Hockey League with the Toronto Marlies. He is 13-3-4 with a 2.27 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. Meanwhile, new Leaf Dominic Moore joins the Maple Leafs after putting up three points (1-2) in 30 games for the Wild this season. The 27-year-old grew up in the Toronto suburb of Thornhill. In 186 career NHL games Moore has 18 goals and 41 points.

-> thespec.com

[Lichtgestalt]

San Jose Sharks - Toronto Maple Leafs 3:2 (0:1, 0:1, 3:0)

0:1 (4.) Antropov 17 (Sundin)

0:2 (22.) Kubina 3 PP (Kaberle, Toskala)

1:2 (42.) Marleau 8 PP (Thornton, Bernier)

2:2 (49.) Rivet 5 PP (Marleau, Thornton)

3:2 (51.) Pavelski 9 (Cheechoo, Carle)

SOG: Sharks 35, Leafs 25.

PIM: Sharks 6, Leafs 10.

PP: Sharks 2/4, Leafs 1/2.

-> Recap