To Trade or not to trade Tomas Kaberle
For three years, Tomas Kaberle has been linked to trade rumors that would send the long time Maple Leafs star elsewhere in order to acquire bigger needs for the team.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Northeast, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Bryan McCabe, Dion Phaneuf, Francois Beauchemin, Kaberle, Leafs, Luke Schenn, Mike Komisarek, Mike Van Ryn, Ray Bourque, Tomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs
Prospect Jerry D’Amigo Set to Join Leafs?
Toronto Maple Leafs Correspondent Luca Vacca (LeafsWire) takes a look at the speculation that Jerry D’Amigo, one of Toronto’s better offensive prospects, is ready to leave the NCAA to sign a contract with Toronto.
Some very interesting news came out yesterday, suggesting that Leafs prospect Jerry D’Amigo was ready to leave RPI in order to sign a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This news came as a shock to everyone, but could be a great move potentially, but only if Jerry is ready to make that type of jump.
Categories: Eastern Conference, Northeast, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Jerry D'Amgio, RPI, Toronto Maple Leafs
Another Step in the Right Direction : Versteeg to Leafs
NHLHS Toronto Maple Leafs Correspondent Luca Vacca (LeafsWire) takes a look at the acquisition of Kris Versteeg from the Hawks, and how it affects their free agency approach on July 1st.
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.
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Eastern Conference, Northeast, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Chicago Blackhawks, Chris Didomenico, Kris Versteeg, Philippe Paradis, Toronto Maple Leafs, Viktor Stalberg
Leafs Unveil New Jersey and New Captain
Toronto Maple Leafs announced Dion Phaneuf as the 18th Captain of the storied franchise while also unveiling a new jersey that the team will begin wearing in the 2010-2011 NHL seaon.
The Toronto Maple Leafs unveiled a new look Jersey and with it, a new Captain. Dion Phaneuf, acquired in a January 31st trade that saw 7 players change teams, is the 18th Captain in the long and storied history of the Maple Leafs franchise.
Categories: Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Brian Burke, Calgary Flames, Christian Hanson, Craig Conroy, Darryl Sittler, Dion Phaneuf, Doug Gilmour, Fredik Sjostrom, George Armstrong, Hap Day, jean-sebastian giguere, Jonas Gustavsson, Luke Schenn, Mats Sundin, Phil Kessel, Robyn Regehr, Ron Wilson, Ted Kennedy, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tyler Bozak, Wendel Clark
Report : Leafs Sign Finnish Goaltender Rynnäs
According to several sources on Twitter, as well as this Finnish article, the Leafs have reportedly signed Finnish free agent goaltender, Jussi Rynnäs.
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.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Northeast, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: AHL, Brian Burke, European Free Agent, Francois Allaire, Jussi Rynnäs, NHL, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies
Toronto : Complete Organizational Analysis (2010)
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.
Read more…
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Northeast, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Brian Burke, Carl Gunnarsson, Dion Phaneuf, Francois Beauchemin, JS Giguere, Luke Schenn, Organizational Analysis, Phil Kessel, Ron Wilson, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tyler Bozak
How Will the Leafs Recover Offense?
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?
Categories: By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Northeast, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Brian Burke, Fredrik Sjostrom, Ian White, Jamal Mayers, Jason Blake, John Mitchell, Matt Stajan, Mikhail Grabovski, Nazem Kadri, Niklas Hagman, Nikolai Kulemin, Rickard Wallin, Toronto Maple Leafs
The Sellers: Toronto Maple Leafs
The Sellers is a weekly column presented by NHLHotStove that will discuss all the rumblings and situations surrounding the teams that will most likely miss the playoffs. Heading into the March 3rd trade deadline, keep an eye out here for the bottom eight to ten teams in the league that will be known as “sellers”.
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.
Categories: By Teams, Deadline Speculation, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Northeast, The Sellers, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Alexander Steen, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Brian Burke, Carlo Colaiacovo, Francois Beauchemin, Garnett Exelby, Jamal Myers, Jason Blake, Jonas Gustavsson, Lee Stempniak, Matt Stajan, Mike Komisarek, Mike Van Ryn, Nik Antropov, Phil Kessel, Rickard Wallin, Tomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vesa Toskala, Wayne Primeau
Lunch with Brian Burke
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.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Eastern Conference, Northeast, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Chris Didomenico, Jacob Muzzin, Jason Blake, Jeff Carter, Jiri Tlusty, Jonas Gustavsson, Luke Schenn, Matt Stajan, Nazem Kadri, Niklas Hagman, Nikolai Kulemin, Phil Kessel, Philippe Paradis, Rickard Wallin, Tomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vesa Toskala
Nylander Clears Waivers, Minor Signing & Trade Rumors
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.
Categories: Atlantic, By Teams, Eastern Conference, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Northeast, Pacific, Phoenix Coyotes, Southeast, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Western Conference Tags: Bob MacKenzie, Calgary Hitmen, Corus Sports, Lance Hornby, Lee Stempniak, Michael Nylander, Michael Stone, Pat Burns, Phil Kessel, The Toronto Sun, TSN, Vincent Destouches, Vincent Lecavalier, WHL
Michael Leighton, Jeremy Reich Placed on Waivers
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.
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-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
thehotstove@gmail.com
Categories: Atlantic, By Teams, Carolina Hurricanes, Eastern Conference, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Northeast, Southeast, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes, Jeremy Reich, Joey MacDonald, Michael Leighton, Steve Valiquette
Trade Rumors: Busy Day in Carolina
TSN’s Bob MacKenzie reported a trade of former first rounders. The last place Carolina Hurricanes moved their most recent first round selection, Phillipe Paradis, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Jiri Tlusty.
The Hurricanes get an NHL ready player who can be inserted in their lineup immediately. Similar to their deals last year for Jussi Jokinen and Eric Cole the team gets a player who has shown flashes of offensive ability but fallen out of favor with their teams. Considering that Tlusty is only three years removed from his 13th overall selection giving up a young prospect like Paradis does not hurt as much.
Held scoreless in his two games with the Leafs, the 21-year-old put up 15 points in 18 games with their AHL affiliate. In 66 games last year in the A, the Czech native averaged a point per game with the Marlies. At his age, his production at the AHL level translates to the ability to hold a regular shift. Partner that with familiarity with coach Paul Maurice and the youngster should make a seamless transition to the Canes
Categories: By Teams, Carolina Hurricanes, Eastern Conference, Northeast, Southeast, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Aaron Ward, Anton Stralman, Bob MacKenzie, Brandon Sutter, Bruce Garrioch, Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Eric Cole, Eric Staal, Jiri Tlusty, Jussi Jokinen, Kris Russel, Paul Maurice, Philippe Paradis, Toronto Maple Leafs, TSN
