The Toronto Maple Leafs had much work to do this offseason in order to become more competitive for next year. They took a huge step forward last night by acquiring yet another Chicago cap casualty, Kris Versteeg.

If there was one thing that was certain this off-season, it was that the Leafs needed major renovation prior to entering this season. It was a priority to beef up the top six by acquiring/signing high quality forwards. With the defense “presumably set”, the Leafs set their sights on acquiring  forwards at the least possible cost. Enter Kris Versteeg and the Chicago cap situation. Chicago was forced into dealing onr of their better, more expensive players in order to keep their “core” locked up. It was a necessary transaction, because Chicago was in deep cap trouble, and Brian Burke came in and swooped like a vulture. Like the Dion Phaneuf trade, he was able to turn a few spare parts that didn’t fit in going forward,  into the top six forward he has coveted.

To be fair, he didn’t just give up any old players. Viktor Stalberg is a speedy offensive threat, who, if able to find his game could become a good second or third line player. Chris DiDomenico is a resilient, young player with offensive and defensive abilities to be proud of, and he is projected as a high energy, bottom line player. Philippe Paradis was a relatively unknown prospect in Toronto, having been previously acquired a short while ago in exchange for Jiri Tlusty. He was only expected to be a big, industrial checker on the fourth line, so nothing really lost there. His stock was falling fast.

It is my opinion that the drafting of Josh Nicholls and Sam Carrick in this years entry draft made DiDomenico and Paradis expendable. Then you factor in that Stalberg is older than Versteeg, and Versteeg has accomplished much more, you see why Toronto made the deal.

It’s hard to determine a winner yet on the deal, but you can see that obviously both teams addressed their issues: Chicago’s cap problems and Toronto’s lack of top six forwards.

The Toronto Maple Leafs unveiled a new look Jersey and with it, a new Captain.  Dion Phaneuf, acquired in a January 31^st trade that saw 7 players change teams, is the ^18th Captain in the long and storied history of the Maple Leafs franchise.

The announcement this afternoon ended the 2^nd longest captain-less period for the Leafs.  Phaneuf joins a list of the greatest Leafs to wear the “C” a list that includes names such as Hap Day, Ted Kennedy, George Armstrong, Darryl Sittler, Wendel Clark, Doug Gilmour and Mats Sundin.

With 3 former Captains: Armstrong, Sittler and Clark at his side, and 3 current teammates: Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak and Luke Schenn sitting front row, Phaneuf proudly put on his new #3 “C” Leafs jersey.  “It’s a tremendous honour…means a lot to me” was his immediate response to being named the new captain.  “I just want to be myself and lead on and off the ice…we have to learn and get better as a team” sounds like a captain in my books.

GM Brian Burke opened the conference by saying “He’s the guy I would have begged Wilson to pick” while also stating that Phaneuf is the type of leader that the team has been waiting for since Sundin left.

“Dion represents everything we want a Leaf player to be, he plays with passion” was how Coach Ron Wilson introduced the new captain to the media.

Leaf great Wendel Clark had these words of wisdom for Phaneuf “Just be yourself and have fun with it, things can be tough when its bad, but when they’re good, there is no better place to be captain.”

Phaneuf’s time with the Calgary Flames ended amid reports that he was at the center of some dressing room issues, which led to his subsequent trade to Toronto.  While several former Calgary teammates have stood up for him, Craig Conroy said “I think Dion is a great player and a good guy, I didn’t have a problem with Dion” others took backhanded shots at him. “Maybe things weren’t working out here, or guys were plateauing, there were changes made. The feeling around our dressing room was better after that, no one was having any fun” according to Robyn Regehr.

His teammates and coaches in Toronto have nothing but praise and respect for him, “We would have to make a mega-deal to bring the greatest captain of all time in order to not name Dion the captain” Head Coach Ron Wilson said in an interview.   Christian Hanson, Phaneuf’s stall mate had this to say “You just look at how the team’s been doing since he got here. The energy’s really picked up” and “He comes in and he’s just always talking, always getting the guys going. I definitely think it rubs off.”  Doesn’t sound like the bad apple Calgary made him out to be, but again, give it time and who knows what his new teammates and coaches will be saying about him.

While his offensive numbers are not what they used to be, just 32 points in 81 games in ’09-’10 his lowest total since joining the league in ’05-’06, he has brought a steadying force to the Leafs defence corps.  Under the mentoring of Jean-Sebastian Giguere, and an improved defence, Jonas Gustavsson finished the season by going 7-3-1 with a 2.48 GAA and a .910 SV% compared to the 9-12-8 record with a 3.03 GAA and .899 SV% he had prior to the trades.

Much of that can be attributed to Phaneuf’s presence.  Combine that with the improvement to the Leafs Penalty Kill due to the additions of Phaneuf and Fredik Sjostrom, finishing the season on a run that would have put them in the top-10 had it been achieved all season long, and you can begin to see the positive impact Phaneuf has had on this Leafs team.

It comes as little surprise to me, that the Leafs brain trust of GM Brian Burke and Head Coach Ron Wilson, feel comfortable with Phaneuf’s performance and demeanour to stick the “C” on his freshly designed, new Leafs jersey.  However, only time will tell if Phaneuf can live up to the short list of great Leafs captains, and dispel any rumours that he was a cancer in the Flames dressing room, or just be another case of talent wasted in a blue-and-white uniform.

I’m hoping it all works out and he leads the once proud franchise out of the basement of the NHL and back amongst the elite where they belong.

We got your fix right here.

We go live tomorrow with our 2009-2010 NHL season wrap-up show.

Be sure to tune in live with us tomorrow from 1-3 p.m. EST.

The Hockey Guys on Blog Talk Radio – link for show tomorrow. Chat room will open approximately 5 minutes prior to show’s puck drop.

Brian Burke parallels signing college/European free agents to finding a wallet on the ground. He might have just found a wallet with several hundred dollar bills in it.

Burke might have struck gold again. Reports this morning have the Leafs signing highly-sought, free agent goaltender Jussi Rynnas. Like last year, Rynnas is supposedly the best available goaltender not playing in the NHL. According to this Finnish newspaper, Rynnas has agreed to terms with Toronto ( a two year, two way deal) and will likely begin next season splitting time with Leafs farmhand James Reimer. Shortly after the rumour made its rounds through the internet, Darren Dreger tweeted : “Leafs are hopeful they’ll be able to sign Rynnas, but there is no agreement, yet. Goalie with good potential.”

EDIT: Stars GM Nieuwendyk confirms Rynnas to Leafs : http://bit.ly/c1wfFR.

If this signing turns out to be true, Leaf fans have something to be cheerful about. In the span of roughly a year, Brian Burke has managed to reverse Toronto’s terrible goalie situation. He signed phenom Jonas Gustavsson on July 7, 2009. Then, when it was confirmed Vesa Toskala could not stop a puck to save his life, he upgraded him by trading for J.S. Giguere. Since that time, the Leafs goaltending has been a strong point, and not the achilles heel that plagued them since the lockout ended. For good measures, Brian Burke goes out and signs another monster goaltender, this time Jussi Rynnas. At this point, it looks as if Gustavsson and Rynnas/Reimer will be the goalies of the future in Toronto if they can develop into quality netminders.

A little about Rynnas:

Rynnas was born 22 May, 1987 so he’s still very young at 23 years of age. He’s a big guy, monster-esque, standing at 6’5″ and approximately 200 pounds. This year was his first in the SM-Liiga and he played 31 games, putting up a GAA of 2.50 and a SV% of .929. Very impressive for a young guy such as himself. He actually had the best save percentage in the SM-Liiga and won the reward for that regard. His scouting report has him as a big goalie, who plays positionally sound, but does need to work on his game a bit. Francois Allaire will help in that regard, and was definately one of the factors that brought Rynnas to Toronto.

Here is a video of some Rynnas highlights from his last season (2009-2010) in the SM-Liiga: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3ZDNp8L2Qo.

Hopefully, he doesn’t sport that mustache when he comes to Toronto, but I do like the energy he brings, especially when he’s firing up the crowd towards the end.

LeafsWire (Luca Vacca, Mark Teofilo)
NHLHS Toronto Maple Leafs Correspondent
Email : leafswire@nhlhotstove.com

Twitter: @leafswire

The Road Back to Glory.

With the season almost over, and the Leafs on the outside looking in once more, we thought it would be fitting, due to the recent string of success, to look at the organization piece by piece and see exactly what we have moving forward. Once this is done, we can establish some sort of wish list and look at what the Leafs could possibly target this offseason. With the rosters of both the NHL and AHL teams essentially locked, here is our complete organizational analysis of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the end of the 2009-2010 regular season. This is probably going to be very long, so let’s get started right away.

MANAGEMENT

Brian Burke: The GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brian has been on the job for almost a year and a half now. You can see his impact almost immediately, with a completely overhauled roster, filled with his trademark top six skilled players/ bottom six plumbers. Although he has not translated roster moves into success just yet, you can see the team is moving in the right direction with players such as Kessel, Phaneuf, Schenn and Bozak as potential building blocks. Brian is under contract for 4 more years after this.

Cliff Fletcher: Fletcher took over as the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, effectively ended the JFJ era. As soon as he started, he made it clear that he wanted to rid the country-club attitude surrounding the Leafs organization. He tried to trade most of his players, including the Muskoka 5, but was thwarted by their no trade clauses. Eventually, he bought out Tucker and traded McCabe but was unable to do much of anything else. Other moves attributed to him include the acquisition of Grabovski, Hollweg, and Stempniak. As you can see most of those moves have failed in the Leafs favor, but change nonetheless was needed for the organization. There’s a reason why Cliff is in the hockey Hall of Fame, and this go around with the Leafs was no different. He helped clear the canvas for Brian Burke, and the eventual moves he made.

Dave Nonis: Surrounded by controversy in Vancouver, Nonis was let go and eventually joined his buddy Burke in Anaheim. Naturally, when Burke left Anaheim to join Toronto, Nonis was close behind. The biggest factor of having Nonis on board is that he’s essentially a GM on his own, so it’s as if the Maple Leafs are run by two capable GMs. Nonis helps Burke by carrying out trade and free agent contract talks, which Burke praises highly and gives credit to freely. The fear with Nonis is that some team may pry him away to be their sole GM (see Nieuwendyk), but recently he was named the GM of the Marlies which may keep him more involved in Toronto.

Dave Poulin: The most recent addition to the management comes in the form of Dave Poulin. After being a prolific NHL’er and captain, most notably with the Philadelphia Flyers, Poulin joins the Toronto organization. Not much is known about his role, however he can often be seen talking with Burke, and Burke has made it clear he trusts Poulin’s advice. It is believed Poulin may have taken on the role Nieuwendyk once had in this organization, that is, travelling to conduct contract talks in person with targeted players.

Ron Wilson et al: The coaching staff of the Toronto Maple Leafs is led by Ron Wilson. Under his leadership are assistants Rob Zettler, Tim Hunter and Keith Acton. This combo of coaches (minus Acton) was brought over from a very successful Sharks organization, and was considered one of the best available staffs at the time. They allow technology to play an important role in their coaching, using various gadgets and gizmos during games and practices, along with regular review of video footage. Ron Wilson is regarded as one of the best coaches in hockey right now, but he hasn’t had much to work with during his tenure in Toronto. Now that the team begins to take form, look for Wilson’s systems to be played more effectively and produce more wins.

Needs: Nothing. Toronto has one of the best management combinations in the league. Whether they can translate that to success on the ice is a different story.

PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT THROUGH 2010-2011

(D) Keith Aulie: Aulie was brought over from Calgary in the same trade which saw Dion Phaneuf become a Leaf. At the time of the trade, Burke announced that he had to push hard for Aulie, whom Calgary thought very highly of. Aulie is best known for his participation in the 2009 World Junior hockey tournament, where he helped Canada win gold. Also, he was featured on many sports stations for his act of courage when he rescued his father from drowning in the family pond. Aulie is a big boy at 6’5″, 205 pounds and plays as big as his frame. He’s very physical, and his forte is shutting down the opposition. In his first year of professional hockey, he put up 6 points (2-4) in 28 games split between the Marlies and Heat of the AHL, all the while being +2 on the year. He is currently recovering from season ending shoulder surgery, but the Marlies will look forward to his return next year. We project him to be playing on the Leafs eventually in a 4-6 defenseman role.

(RW) Alex Berry: There’s not really much to say about Alex other than the fact he played college hockey, is a big guy, and likes to play physically. He hasn’t put up decent enough offensive numbers to crack the Leafs roster in any scoring capacity, and doesn’t have the defensive/physical requirements to be the enforcer/4th line forward. He’s slipping away from his spot as a minor leaguer as well, bouncing back and forth between the Marlies of the AHL, and the Royals of the ECHL.

(D) Francois Beauchemin: Francois is a player Burke thinks very highly of, and it showed when he went out and signed him this past offseason. Francois is billed as a steady, veteran defenseman who can play sound defensively, and can contribute a hard shot from the point. Although he started the season off roughly, Beauchemin has bounced back into form. Up until the Phaneuf trade, he was eating up very heavy minutes with Komisarek sidelined, and Kaberle and Schenn not playing up to standard. Now, he usually plays alongside of Phaneuf, and they complement each other quite nicely. Beauchemin’s biggest knack up until now has been his tendency to pinch and get caught doing so. He was trying to force offence, and was burned while doing it. With Phaneuf, he is now relied upon to cover Phaneuf’s pinches, and so far it has worked. This year, Beauchemin is a -14, with 25 points (5-20). We predict Beauchemin will patrol the Leafs’ blueline until his contract expires, allowing younger Leafs (Aulie, Blacker) to develop properly.

(D) Jesse Blacker: Widely regarded as a steal in the second round, Jesse Blacker is someone to get excited about. For most of his OHL career, Jesse played on a stacked Windsor team and was able to learn and develop there. This year however, he wanted to expand his role and asked for a trade to a team with less talent on the blueline. He was traded to Owen Sound, and played there for the rest of the season. In 57 OHL games this year, Jesse had 30 points (6-24). Jesse is described as a stay at home defenseman, with a decent offensive touch. He doesn’t shy away from the physical game, and has a great set of wheels, which his coach in Windsor, Bob Boughner, called his greatest asset. When we attended the rookie tournament in Kitchener prior to the season, Blacker, along with Gunnarsson, Bozak and Stalberg looked the most NHL ready. Jesse just recently signed a three year entry deal with the Leafs, and will begin his pro career with Marlies in the AHL. We project Jesse to be on the Leafs blueline in a 3-5 spot by 2011-2012.

(C) Tyler Bozak: Tyler was last season’s most prized college free agent, alongside of Matt Gilroy (NYR). The scouting reports all had him down as a speedy and skilled center, with the ability to create plays and offense. He was also labeled as having tons of hockey sense. After quite a strong showing in training camp, Tyler was sent down to the Marlies for developmental purposes. He would start off slowly, and run into injury/sickness issues which had many in Leafs nation worried. However, as soon as injury struck the center position, Tyler was recalled and had an impact almost immediately. Once the Phaneuf trade went down, Bozak would become a regular in the Leafs lineup, and rightfully so. Along with Kessel and Kulemin, Bozak shows tremendous chemistry and skill, accounting for much of Toronto’s offence. Just how good is Bozak? In 27 games this year, he has 21 points (7-14), many of which have been highlight reel caliber. Pro-rated, Tyler would have 63 points (21-42), making him a 20 goal scorer/ 40 assist man. Tyler has all the tools to become a top tier NHL center, and right now his potential is huge. We project him to be a solid second line center down the road, but he could possibly become top line talent if he elevates his game reasonably.

(C) Darryl Boyce: Darryl was undrafted, and then signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Before joining the Leafs organization, he played for the St. Michael’s Majors of the OHL, and put up some decent numbers (54-91-145) before going to play in the CIS, for New Brunswick. After making his Marlies debut, he was called up midseason as an injury replacement. Shortly after making his NHL, in fact only five shifts later, Boyce separated his shoulder and his season was over. Since recovering, Boyce has played for the Marlies, and quite effectively at that. Boyce is described as having above average speed, a decent offensive touch, and a tendency to play physical. In his AHL career, he has accumulated 250 penalty minutes over 134 games. We predict Boyce will never get a full-time job in the NHL, but could serve as a decent 4th line injury replacement. He could be an important part of the Marlies for years to come however.

(LW) Luca Caputi: The focal point of the Ponikarovsky trade, Luca is considered an NHL ready prospect who can contribute immediately. Brian Burke let everyone know he could have received draft picks in exchange for Ponikarovsky, but opted instead for Luca Caputi. Caputi is still quite raw in terms of NHL talent, but put up impressive junior and AHL numbers. At 6’2″ and 184 pounds, Caputi is slotted as a power forward, but will need to fill out his frame in order to compete with NHL defenseman for space and time in front of the net. He plays with a great work ethic, and loves to create energy and play physically. He isn’t afraid to drop the gloves either. So far this year, Caputi has put up 7 points (2-5) in 13 games with Toronto/Pittsburgh, and is even. Optimistically, we predict that Caputi could become an effective second line winger with a lot of hard work, but more realistically see him as an excellent third liner.

(LW) Jamie Devane: With their third pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft, the Leafs selected 6’5″ Jamie Devane. The pick was met with confusion by much of Leafs Nation, because no one had heard much about Devane prior to his selection. Well, his biggest strength is his size. A hometown kid, Devane started his OHL career by getting into 14 official scraps. He plays very physically, but that’s where it ends basically. He isn’t an offensive dynamo in any way, putting up 17 points (5-12) in his first 64 games. He was widely considered a project, and indeed he must develop much further if he wants to make the NHL in any capacity other than enforcer. Even then, his defensive game and skating needs a bit of work.

(C) Chris DiDomenico: One of the best feel good stories we’ve ever heard, Chris “DiDo” is something special. He was drafted by the Leafs in the 6th round in 2007, and hasn’t looked back from there. After basically going undrafted for junior, he was invited to play for the expansion Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. He would lead the team in scoring as a rookie with 75 points (25-50). In 2009, he helped Canada win gold at the World Juniors, playing alongside John Tavares. Shortly after the conclusion of the tournament, he was traded to the best team in the QMJHL for their playoff run. Tragically, he suffered a broken fibula, one of the worst and most debilitating injuries, before he could help his team in the memorial cup. Miraculously, he has spent a good part of the last year (May 2009-Feb 2010) recovering, and doing what not many thought he could do. On Feb 17th, 2010 he returned to action, putting up four points in his first game. He currently has 22 points (7-15) in 12 games played. At 5’11″ and 165 pounds, Chris is considered very small, but what he lacks in size he makes up in effort. He has a natural talent for scoring, along with great hockey IQ, but unfortunately his skating needs work. We predict Chris to crack the Leafs lineup sometime in the next two years as a third line center, or play for the Marlies in the meanwhile.

(D) Jeff Finger: Finger is the perfect example of a good player with a bad contract. At the time of his signing, the lineup was dominated by offensive minded defensemen who were soft defensively. Names like Kaberle, Kubina and McCabe should ring a bell. Finger plays a quiet game, blocking shots and playing positionally well. He’ll throw hits also, and drop the gloves occasionally. He’d be perfect in a 5-6 role IF his contract was structured better. 3.5 million dollars annually is about 2.0 million more than I would give him, based on his game. That being said however, people shouldn’t hate the player, but rather the contract. Finger puts up decent offensive numbers, and is mindful of his penalties, and like we said earlier, would be perfect in a 5-6 role at a lower salary. The way it works out, by the time Finger’s contract is over, the Leafs will have younger, better and cheaper defenseman to insert into the lineup.

(G) Jean-Sebastien Giguere: If there’s an analogy out there that fits J.S. Giguere to a ‘T’, it’s his resemblance to Gandalf from the popular Lord of the Rings series. He started off strong and powerful in Anaheim, like Gandalf the Grey, but was reborn into a more “mentor-ship” style role in Toronto, like Gandalf the White. Although he vehemently denies it, Giguere is teaching Gustavsson the ropes, whether he likes it or not. It’s in the way he plays, and the way he acts as a teammate. Starting off the season with Anaheim, Giguere was reduced to Hiller’s backup and put up subpar numbers. After the trade that brought him to Toronto, he has since put up these numbers: 10 GP, 2.46 GAA, 0.920 save percentage, while going 4-5-1. His presence in net not only helps the on ice product, but also off the ice. His 7.0 million dollar salary carries on to next year, but after that it will expire. We have yet to see what the future holds for Giguere, and if it involves the Leafs past this contract.

(LW) Stefano Giliati: Initially, Giliati started off as a promising offensive product in the QMJHL. In four years, he put up 207 points (94-113) while also showing his physical edge and nastiness, putting up 271 penalty minutes. However, after going undrafted the Leafs signed him to a contract, and he has played in their minor league system since then. Since going pro, Giliati has not impressed. In almost 69 games with the Marlies (over a few seasons) he has only scored 9 goals and put up 24 points. His stock has dropped so much, that he has played the majority of this season with Reading of the ECHL Once touted as a solid offensive threat, he has now been reduced to a decent defensive depth forward, but at his pace he won’t make it to NHL, especially if he can’t crack a weak Marlies squad. We predict he’ll fade from the Toronto organization soon.

(C) Mikhail Grabovski: Grabovski is the feisty center we acquired from Montreal last offseason for a second round pick and the rights to Greg Pateryn. He’s a very tricky player in order to evaluate. At times he shows flashes of brilliance, but at others he looks like he’s completely lost. Before and after acquiring him there were stories of bad attitude problems he possessed, and of course the whole drama with the Kostitsyn brothers. There’s no denying he has offensive skill, but sometimes his tendency to give the puck up, or give up on a puck battle weigh him down. Also, his inability to win draws adds to his list of issues. At times, we wonder why he hasn’t been converted to the wing, where he can use his speed and offensive prowess to create offence. With the development of Bozak and Kadri, and Grabovski’s inability to be defensively responsible enough for bottom line duties, you have to begin to wonder if his days in Toronto might be coming to an end. We predict him to be traded within the next two years if he can’t be converted to a winger properly.

(RW) Richard Greenop: Richard was drafted in the 6th round by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007. He continued his OHL career with the Windsor Spitfires, but was never signed by the Blackhawks organization. In the summer of 2009, Brian Burke signed Greenop looking to add toughness and size to the Toronto organization. Like his behemoth brethren Devane (who he actually fought here.), he failed to put up the offensive numbers and display the defensive prowess required of a two-way, bottom line forward. In 168 games in the OHL, he put up 25 points (9-16). We’ll say the same about Greenop that we did about Devane: he must develop much further if he wants to make the NHL in any capacity other than enforcer.

(D) Carl Gunnarsson: The dark horse of a seemingly perfect blueline, Gunnarsson made his statement as an injury call up during the course of the season. Although having a strong rookie tournament (which we witnessed) and training camp, Carl was eventually demoted to the Marlies. At the beginning of the season (when the kool-aid was still cold and refreshing) the defensive corps was perfect, and a rookie like Gunnarsson wasn’t good enough to crack it. Well, half a season later the Leafs sit in the bottom of the standings. Gunnarsson gets the call, and begins to impress as soon as he steps on the ice. He was eventually injured in a game against Buffalo, and missed considerable time. However, the impression was lasting, as Gunnarsson secured a spot for the remainder of the season. He is described as being calm and collected, with a knack for the powerplay. His defensive and offensive game are good enough for the NHL, but are still improving as he learns and grows. He leads the team with a +11 rating, putting up 11 points (2-9). There are some whispers going around that he will eventually be Kaberle’s successor, using his speed and smarts to imitate Tomas’ outlets.

(D) Simon Gysbers: The most recent addition to the Toronto organization, Simon is a homegrown product hailing from the same town as the LeafsWire team, Richmond Hill. His signing was virtually unheard of prior to it actually happening, but it’s obvious that the Marlies needed depth at the defense position, and Gysbers fills it. At 6’4″ and 200 pounds, he isn’t the fast skater around, but he’s described as having a good shot and can log a ton of minutes. During his college career he accumulated 68 points (19-49). As Gysbers plays more with the Marlies we can begin to see where he fits into the grand scheme of things, but due to the current logjam at defense, it looks as though he’ll be a Marlie for the length of his contract.

(D) Tomas Kaberle: The last of the “Muskoka 5″, Tomas is considered one of the premier puck moving, offensive defenseman in the league. The knock on Kaberle has never been his lack of skill, but rather his inability to waive his no trade clause in order to bring offensive help to the organization. However, it can be said that Kaberle, once a prolific offensive defenseman, has waned in that regard ever since he was rocked by a Cam Janssen hit several years ago. This season started well for Kaberle, leading the team in points for most of the year. However, ever since the trade deadline loomed, Kaberle’s play had dropped off, and he began to be an even bigger liability defensively, and has seen his ice-time cut with the acquisition of Phaneuf. Kaberle’s future in Toronto seems decided; however Burke will make no public assurances. It’s widely believed that after the 2010 NHL entry draft, Kaberle, whose no trade clause is temporarily elevated, will be dealt for a combination of picks and prospects, or a premier offensive threat.

(C) Nazem Kadri: The most prized possession of the Toronto organization in terms of prospects, Nazem Kadri is collectively known as a big part of the future of the Toronto franchise. It wasn’t always so. At last year’s draft, everyone could see the anger in Brian Burke’s sour face as the Los Angeles Kings selected forward Brayden Schenn, younger brother of Luke. However, life did go on and Brian exacted his revenge, selecting Nazem Kadri to spite Senators GM Murray. At first, what looked like a awry pick turned out to be one of the best of this decade. Nazem is a true offensive dynamo, and he fits the Burke-type mold well. This year, his last in junior, he lit it up. After missing time due to Leafs related business and the world juniors, Nazem finished third in OHL scoring with 93 points (35-58) in 56 games. His scouting profile says all good things about him, however it does note he needs to mature into a stronger body in order to cope with the bigger and stronger defenseman in the NHL. If Nazem can continue to do what he does best, and bulk up in the meanwhile, we predict Nazem will become a capable two-way, top tier center. He will probably end up with second line duties, but we won’t be surprised if he gains top line responsibilities.

(RW) Phil Kessel: Brian Burke’s most talked about acquisition, Phil Kessel is a player Brian Burke wanted, and got. Much to the dismay of the Toronto media, fans, and just about everyone else in the league, Burke surrendered two first round picks and a second rounder for the young American sniper. At first, everyone was alright with the deal because Toronto was expected to contend for a playoff spot. However, as soon as the season went south, the Torontonians were up in arms demanding why Burke would trade a potential Hall or Seguin for an injured, average player in Kessel. Well, we hope everyone has witnessed what Phil Kessel is capable of (minus Savard, might we add). Kessel is an offensive explosion, dazzling with his speed and skill. He creates offense easily, and is a complement to any line. However, the biggest knock on Kessel we’ve seen is he can be soft on the puck at times, is partial to giveaways and gives up easily on puck battles. If you notice, most of those are defensive faults, things Kessel was never expected to excel in. However, with a little work in that regard and keeping up his offensive prowess Kessel can, and will, be a top line offensive threat.

(D) Mike Komisarek: One of Brian Burke’s objectives this past offseason was to get big and mean on the blueline, and turn that soft serve defense into pure brawn. To do this, Brian signed Mike Komisarek to a long term deal. At first, everybody was stoked for Komi’s arrival. However, as the season began you could see Mike was adjusting to his new team, and taking bad penalties and not playing as great as he would like. However, as he began to feel more comfortable and take on a bigger leadership role, he began to find his stride. That’s when he was injured. After missing time, and coming back and playing at less than 100%, Komisarek was shut down for the rest of the season. Although his first season was disappointing, he showed promise and poise that will be welcome on our blueline for years to come.

(D) Juraj Mikus: (Not to be confused with the Juraj Mikus drafted by Montreal, and currently playing in the Los Angeles Kings system) Juraj made the jump to North American professional hockey this year, starting his AHL career with the Marlies. Mikus was drafted in the 5th round by the Leafs in 2007, and until now had been playing over in Europe. At 6’4″ and 185 pounds, Mikus needs to fill out his body a bit more to be competitive at the professional level. On the flipside, he put up good offensive numbers, posting 18 points (4-14) in 58 games played. While Mikus probably won’t crack the Leafs lineup any time soon, he’s described as having good hockey smarts and a decent outlet pass. If he keeps working, he could get the call as an injury replacement and get his chance to impress, Gunnarsson-style.

(RW) Dale Mitchell: Dale’s stock has dropped in recent years. After being drafted in the third round of the 2007 NHL entry draft, Dale was projected as pure scorer based on his offensive numbers. In 293 games played at the OHL level, Dale tallied 294 points (136-158). After playing initially for Oshawa, Dale found his way to a Windsor team and helped them in their success. At the beginning of this season, Dale chose to begin with the Marlies, but was later sent back to Junior to play his overage year. After returning, Dale injured himself (rolled his ankle) and missed a chunk of the season. Since returning to action, he is engaged in the Spitfires playoff run and will look to help them like he did last year. As for his future with the Toronto organization, his small stature hurts him because he isn’t skilled enough where it overshadows his size. That being said however, he could potentially make the team in a few years in a middle (2-3) line role, marginally.

(LW) Colton Orr: Colton Orr is the pro-typical version of a modern NHL enforcer. Orr is a big man at 6’3″ and 220 pounds. Orr strikes fear into the hearts of hockey players, and loves to drop the gloves in order to defend a teammate or energize the team. The biggest advantage to having Orr as the team’s enforcer is his ability to play smart defensively. Orr is not a liability defensively, I repeat, Orr is not a liability defensively. Orr isn’t just sent out there to fight, he gets the odd shift to play and wear down the other team. At 1.0 million dollars, Orr is a great bargain as a fourth line checker/enforcer.

(D) Dion Phaneuf: The other major acquisition this season, Dion Phaneuf is the second cornerstone Brian Burke hopes to build the Toronto franchise upon. It was generally agreed upon that the Phaneuf trade was a total steal by Burke, and that he committed highway robbery on a desperate Darryl Sutter. Phaneuf is recognized around the league as a defensive stud, and an amazing player. His statistics have faltered somewhat over the years, but he still plays his game on the ice. Phaneuf’s insertion into the lineup has brought many new elements to this Toronto team. A booming slap shot, a better penalty kill, imposing physical presence, among many others. It doesn’t just end there, he brings some intangibles to the table as well. His presence has energized and composed the Toronto team, not to mention his positive effect on the younger defenseman, like Schenn and Gunnarsson. Phaneuf will be a cornerstone and face of the franchise for many contracts to come, and is being touted as the next Leafs captain.

(G) James Reimer: When Justin Pogge was around, no one paid much attention to Justin Reimer, who was drafted in the 6th round in 2006. He played in the WHL up until last season, where he went pro and played mostly in the ECHL. He did play 3 games with the Marlies however, where he put up a 3.28 GAA and a 0.882 save percentage. Not very impressive, however this season has proved different for the 6’2″ 208 pound goaltender. Splitting duties with Joey MacDonald this year with the Marlies, James has had an amazing season. Prior to injuring himself midseason, he was posting decent numbers. Since coming back, James’ numbers look like this: 18 games played, 2.18 GAA and a 0.930 save percentage for a 11-5-1 record. James’ biggest strength and success comes from his size. Unlike the Jonas Gustavsson of the early season, James makes saves with his size and being positionally sound. He doesn’t flop or dive around to make his saves. With Gustavsson’s future uncertain, and Giguere’s future beyond next season not know, there may be room for Reimer to wiggle in the backup spot, providing he keeps up his good work.

(LW/D) Jay Rosehill: Jay Rosehill joined the Marlies organization during last season when he was acquired at the AHL trade deadline. After being a defenseman for most of his life, he was converted to a winger. At 6’3″ and 210 pounds, Rosehill is a big guy who loves to throw his weight (and fists) around. After impressing the brass in training camp, Jay made the Leafs team. He played in the beginning, in a fourth line energy role and could be counted on defensively because of his history. Jay even pitched in with a goal and assist while he was up. However, the numbers game came into effect and Jay was sent back to the Marlies once injuries subsided. Jay can be counted on as a regular injury call-up, who when inserted, provides energy and physicality. We predict Jay to possibly have a full time spot on the Marlies next year, but most realistically see him as a useful call-up.

(D) Luke Schenn: Once proclaimed as the next captain of the Leafs and cornerstone of the Leafs franchise, Schenn’s predicament on the Leafs blueline is puzzling. After having an outstanding rookie season, Schenn seemingly fell into the fabled ‘Sophomore Slump’. Like the rest of the blueline, Schenn has the big mold Burke is looking for. Schenn stands at 6’2″ and weighs in at 216, and he can throw his body around as we have seen. Last season he even took it upon himself to play enforcer, often fighting to defend a teammate. Luke possesses all the tools to be a successful NHL defenseman, and a captain at that, but he has hit a snag this year. He doesn’t look like the Luke of last year, although Phaneuf has helped him to improve and return to form. Never an offensive powerhouse, we have started to see Luke’s slap shot improve and his offensive game as well. At this point, it looks as if Luke can be a big part of the team moving forward, but you have to worry a bit that either he might drop off, or fall out of favor with management. We (optimistically) predict Luke to be a 2-3 defenseman for the Toronto organization in the next few years.

(RW) Fredrik Sjostrom: Sjoey, as he’s affectionately known as, was considered a throw in to the Phaneuf deal by many. However, Burke told the masses that he had a purpose in acquiring Sjostrom, who he believes possesses speed and penalty killing ability. With Sjostrom’s performance on the ice, he has also proved to Toronto fans that the Leafs were right to acquire him. Sjostrom is a speedy winger who has excellent defensive awareness and ability. He and Phaneuf, along with improved goaltending, have allowed the Leafs to achieve a vastly improved penalty kill since their arrival. Although Sjostrom was drafted for his offensive talent, he has progressed over the years nicely into a defensively responsible checker. His addition to the team is most welcome, and we would be happy to see him resigned. We predict him to be a staple on the checking line, similar to what Sami Pahlsson was in Anaheim.

(LW) Robert Slaney: Slaney’s signing is attributed to the now departed Nieuwendyk. Toronto targeted him and signed him after he put up 81 points (36-45) for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. This year he began his professional career, and has since split time with the AHL’s Marlies and the ECHL’s Royals. His offensive numbers have dropped off a bit since going pro, but his game style continues. Slaney is a big kid at 6’2″, 203 pounds and likes to play with a physical edge and use his size to his advantage. During the rookie tournament in Kitchener, we even saw him drop the gloves. Obviously something about Slaney’s game intrigued the Leafs brass, and at this point we can see him honing his game in the minor leagues, at least until his current contract is up.

(RW) Greg Scott: Another free agent signing, Greg Scott was signed from the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. After putting up 70+ (38, 32-37, 44) point seasons, the Leafs took a gamble on the 6’0″, 178 pound forward. Like Slaney, he began his professional career this season and has split time with both the Marlies and Royals. Scott has somewhat translated his offensive game to the Marlies, putting up 26 points (9-17) in 61 games played. His use has been limited to low minutes, and is noted with a few bad playing habits (turnovers, lack of judgment, etc.) Its possible Scott could end up a role player in the next few years in the Leafs organization, but it’s unlikely.

(LW) Viktor Stalberg: One of the best looking prospects at the rookie tournament, Stalberg impressed Leafs management enough to obtain a top six roster spot to start the season. Stalberg’s biggest strength is his speed, which he has begun to use effectively. When he’s on his game, Stalberg can create offense and cause penalties with his speed. After lighting up the score sheet in preseason action, Stalberg has somewhat slowed (due to a Volchenkov hit) but has begun to pick it up again as of late. Stalberg’s effort and ethic determines his spot in the lineup, either a top six forward or bottom line duties. His most glaring deficiency comes in the form of his judgment, he often makes “bad” decisions with and without the puck, often ending in turnovers or him being knocked (or hit) off the puck. We project Stalberg to come into his own, and eventually make use of his speed which makes him an effective second line winger.

(RW) Mikhail Stefanovich: With their 4th round pick in the 2008 draft, the Leafs selected Mikhail Stefanovich. Almost immediately, the pick was seen as a steal, because a player of his size and skill should have gone earlier. However, since then the hype on Stefanovich has disappeared quite a bit. Not to say Mikhail isn’t a skilled or exciting player, but his weaknesses have finally caught up to him. His main weakness is his lack of effort, which he has displayed on numerous occasions. The skills and tools are there, but there has to be a drive to succeed for the tools to be of any use. That being said, if Mikhail can have a change of attitude and put his tools to good use, there is hope for him to become a legitimate scoring threat. We predict Mikhail will probably pan out as a third line scorer, but are optimistic he becomes a fringe second liner.

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That’s all for this week folks, next week we’ll have the rest of the analysis including UFA’s, RFA’s and unsigned property and draft picks of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. We hope you enjoyed.

LeafsWire (Luca Vacca, Mark Teofilo)
NHLHS Toronto Maple Leafs Correspondent
Email : leafswire@nhlhotstove.com

Twitter: @leafswire

Website: www.leafswire.ca

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded away Ian White, Jason Blake, Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers and Niklas Hagman accounting for 38 percent of their offense.  What will the team do to replace the four missing forwards?

When questioned GM Brian Burke mentioned the one forward acquired, Fredrik Sjostrom, as one of the players likely to fill the void.  Known mostly for his penalty killing ability Sjostrom will probably play more than in Calgary, where he found himself a healthy scratch on numerous occasions.

Recent healthy scratch John Mitchell also should be reinserted into the lineup and can hopefully keep his job with a return to his early season form.  The other two players needed most likely will be Viktor Stalberg, Rickard Wallin or Christian Hanson.

Needless to say these four players will not make up the scoring lost.  The Leafs lose their top goal scorer and their fourth, sixth and eighth leading scorers putting a gigantic hole in the offense.  The return of Mikhail Grabovski should help but it will not be the answer.

Burke mentioned the shop being open for business which should mean a forward or two needs to be acquired at some point.  If the Leafs have serious interest in making the playoffs they must also improve their forward core.  Listed below are the expected forward lines after both trades.

Alexei Ponikarovsky – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel
Nikolai Kulemin – John Mitchell – Viktor Stalberg
Wayne Primeau – Lee Stempniak – Christian Hanson
Jay Rosehill/Fredrik Sjostrom – Rickard Wallin – Colton Orr

Probably the weakest forward core in the League with a lot of room for improvement.  Nazem Kadri looks like a reasonable candidate to make this roster out of training camp next season at this point.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove

Brian Burke stepped into the Maple Leafs organization promising to build a contender. His theme of truculence has not paid off.  The Maple Leafs currently sit in 14th place, nine points out of a playoff position.

Off-season acquisitions Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin, Phil Kessel, Wayne Primeau and Jonas Gustavsson signed to substantially upgrade the Leafs roster.  Spectators could only describe the reality of it as failure. From Gustavssons health issues to Toskalas “7-11″ five hole the team fell far from expectations.

Burke must now understand the time arrived to build around “Franchise” Kessel.

Of the aforementioned, only Komisarek would gauge the best return.  However, based on his play this season and inflated 4.5 cap hit he would certainly become a tough sell.

The issue with this Leafs club: UFA central. Lee Stempniak, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Rickard Wallin, Matt Stajan, Vesa Toskala, Jamal Myers, Mike Van Ryn, Garnett Exelby and Primeau all expire at seasons end.  Veteran wing Jason Blake and powerplay quarter back Tomas Kaberle omit themselves from trade talk with a NTC and immovability, respectively.  Burke believes Kaberle reserves the right to stay with his hard work in the organization and thinks Blake to be the hardest working player on the team, which makes him not worth trading at his value.

The question is are these players good players due to being on bad teams or are they held back by being on a bad team?

C: Matt Stajan, 26 – UFA with 734,456 million remaining

Is Stajan case of glorification or actual top line talent? Either way Stajan would make a useful edition for a playoff bound team as his two-way abilities, scoring touch and occasional grit solidifies most team’s top-six. When challenged he proved capable of stepping up his game but will any other team than Toronto bother?

W: Alexei Ponikarovsky, 29 –  UFA with 883,446 million remaining

As an original Leaf, sentimental attachment need not apply. This year the 29-year-old proved he can score without Nik Antropov, certainly a boost in value.  Comparable to Antropov he should fetch at least a second round draft pick and a conditional pick at the trade deadline.

W: Lee Stempniak, 26 – UFA with 1,049,223 million remaining

The lesser of the cast, Leafs fans often regard Stempniak negatively.  Only eclipsing the 20 goal mark once in his career fans hoped he would regain his scoring touch.  This year he may come close to 20 but nothing compared to the dominant power forward he projected to be.  At this point his game lacks great value and would not merit a substantial return.  Stempniak could be moved but low will Burke go?

D: Mike Komisarek, 28 – Signed through 2014 with a 4.5 million cap hit

The Leafs brought in this 6’4″, 243 lbs blue liner to add size. Unfortunately, Komisarek carries a hefty cap hit with very little return besides a physical presence.

Probably unlikely to be traded, but Burke should reconsider when looking at his effect on the current roster.  He does not throw his weight around appropriately which should be his strength.  A change of scenery might benefit the Long Island native.  Would the Islanders be interested in bringing in this hometown boy?

If history repeats itself Stajan’s abilities will show their true colors but not immediately. Observing the careers of other young players who left Toronto, Carlo Colaiacovo and Alexander Steen took over a full year to recover their confidence.  A full season away from a judgmental hockey city, who often find themselves on the losing end of the spectrum, should elevate a player’s game once more.  Ponikarovsky may not fit into this mold but Stajan and Stempniak seem a prime candidates to produce consistently elsewhere.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

Earlier this afternoon, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke discussed numerous topics on Leafs Lunch – Leafs Nation Edition with Dennis Bayak.  With the Leafs playing much better than their winless start, they may make some noise during the trade deadline or as Burke alluded to before it.

Personally I have always admired Burke’s honesty in discussing his teams.  He usually gives his fans a perspective on what he plans to do while playing his cards close to the chest.  The GM of the 2010 Team USA program also announced he will release the roster on Monday, December 28th.

Lets break down some of the topics discussed.

On the State of the Team

• Thinks the playoffs are realistic and notes the team work ethic has been great to date.
• Reemphasized not winning their first seven games really hurt their chances of climbing the standings.
• Would like to see both goalies healthy and in rhythm.  Wants two weeks with both Jonas Gustavsson and Vesa Toskala healthy so he can assess the situation and rely on one of them down the stretch.
• Thinks the team shows strong character.  He signed and traded for character and therefore did not ship out players during the beginning of the season.

On Specific Player Personnel

• Likes the added offense of Niklas Hagman, noting the Finn already scored 16 goals, a total he did not make until February of last year.
• Feels Nikolai Kulemin will not be a top six forward but makes a great shut down player and “has third line written all over him.”
• Discussed Jason Blake as the hardest working player on the team.  Does not mind the salary owed to the veteran.
• Will honor the NTC of Tomas Kaberle noting he deserves it with his excellent career performance as well as loyalty to the team.
• Thinks Luke Schenn needs to sit out to teach him lessons.  Last year they did not have the dept to do so.
• Disagrees with Rickard Wallin scoring goals at the NHL level.  Believes he is a fine bottom six player capable of winning face offs but is not nearly strong enough on the puck.
• Believes Matt Stajan plays great with Phil Kessel, filling the first line center position admirably.

Trade Talks and Trade Rumors

• During the losing streak, there were two vulture trades which Burke would have entertained had they continued losing.
• Felt Jiri Tlusty would be an NHL player but not in Toronto.  Thinks Philippe Paradis could be a power forward eventually but was taken too high.  There was one more offer for Tlusty but offered significantly less value.
• No contract talks with Gustavsson.  Still unsure what he has with The Monster.  Prefers not to talk during the regular season but understands it may need to happen.
• Spoke with the Philadelphia Flyers numerous times but nothing regarding Jeff Carter.
• Regarding the Kessel trade, noted how he cannot wait for the stars to align just to make a move for a valuable piece.  Clearly will build around the talented right wing.
• Nobody is untouchable but Burke will not trade a young player who is playing hard.
• The Leafs hold an advantage in the ability to take on salary both on their cap and budget. Burke will try to swing something to that effect before the deadline, but otherwise will make according buy or sell moves depending on the team’s playoff positioning.

On Prospects

• Gave us an update on Chris Didomenico, noting he should be back in six weeks.  Burke mentioned that the injury sustained to his femur could be career threatening but not in this case.
• Expressed excitement to see Nazem Kadri at the World Juniors starting this weekend.  How he performs will be crucial to this kid’s projection.  Kadri scored twice in Team Canada’s 16-0 drudging of Latvia today.
• On OHL overager Jacob Muzzin, the GM showed interest but was not nearly as high on him as other teams.  If you are unfamiliar with Muzzin, we discussed his signing with the Los Angeles Kings last week.

That pretty much sums up the variety of topics discussed.  Some interesting talks in the trade rumors section, as Burke seems to feel Carter will stay in Philadelphia.  The Leafs do hold a competitive advantage with some added cap space and this general manager seems willing to use it at his discretion.   Despite the teams record, the building blocks are there with what could be a very solid core down the road.

Hope you enjoyed our latest feature. You can help NHLHS stay alive by visiting our sponsors to the left or clicking on our donate tab at the top.

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-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
thehotstove@gmail.com

A few things going around the league.  Nothing huge on the trade front as can be anticipated.  Most rumors or big deals will not materialize until at least February when we have clear cut buyers and sellers.

• Lance Hornby of The Toronto Sun reports the Leafs self-imposed trade deadline has come and passed.  Earlier in the year, notably before the return of Phil Kessel, Toronto was expected to have a major fire sale.  At this point, I would expect a smaller move along the lines of the Lee Stempniak trade after the period of immunity passes.
• Former NHL head coach Pat Burns says “Vincent Lecavalier will be traded this season.”  The article by Vincent Destouches of Corus Sports covers the entire story in which Burns mentions the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers as interested parties.  Despite the ties the former coach has to the NHL community this seems like more like speculation than inside information.  The 29-year-old is due a whopping $7,727,273 cap hit through 2020 so any deal will have to involve a number of moving parts.  The former first overall pick projects to score 16 goals and 68 points.
• In a minor move, the Phoenix Coyotes inked Calgary Hitmen defenseman Michael Stone to an entry-level contract.  The 19-year-old Stone currently leads all WHL defensemen with 34 points in 32 games.  Click here for the ‘Yotes full press release.
• As anticipated Michael Nylander cleared waivers.  TSN’s Bob MacKenzie reported the news first.

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Follow me on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates

-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
thehotstove@gmail.com

Bob MacKenzie reports, via Twitter, both of these players have been placed on waivers.

According to Chip Alexander’s Canes Now starter Cam Ward is expected to play Wednesday making the Leighton expendable to the team.  In parts of three seasons with Carolina the 28-year-old held a line of 8-12-0-2 averaging a GAA of over three.  With other established backups such as Joey MacDonald and Steve Valiquette passing through waivers earlier in the year I would expect there to be few takers on the veteran.

In other news the New York Islanders also placed 30-year-old Jeremy Reich on waivers.  The Craik, Saskatchewan native did not play a game for the Isles and has six points over 99 career NHL games with the Bruins and Blue Jackets.  He was originally drafted in the 2nd round by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

Thank you for reading, we hope you enjoyed this feature. You can help NHLHS stay alive by visiting our sponsors to the left.

Follow me on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates

-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
thehotstove@gmail.com