By Alexander Monaghan
President 

Over the weekend, NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan had some work to do. At least five separate incidents were reviewed (pretty much everything is reviewed in the ‘Shanaban’ era) but at the end of the day, only two players wound up suspended from the League. Dan Carcillo, a repeat offender, took a two-game ban for a dangerous push-from-behind on Carolina Hurricanes d-man Joni Pitkanen. Andy Sutton, another repeat offender, traveled to New York today in order to find out his punishment from a high clothesline delivered to Colorado Avalanche rookie Gabriel Landeskog.

One of the bigger non-calls was Francois Beauchemin’s open-ice hit on Mike Fisher, which came from the blind side. Fisher never saw it coming and while the hit was not targeting the head — the explanation handed down upon us — it came out of nowhere. Take a look for yourself:

Fisher, an outspoken veteran forward and team leader, was quite expressive over this non-call, via Twitter:

@ian_mendes players are really confused. I’m out because of a similar play and no dice as well. I don’t get it!

A very important center in the Nashville Predators system, Fisher already made his impact known with two goals and four points in three games. Last season he was a vital cog for coach Barry Trotz and company, helping them defeat the offense-heavy Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Unfortunately, his impact now will be counterproductive for the Preds as his absence hurts the team’s depth as well as their chances of getting back into the playoffs.

As this article is written, the Preds play without him in the lineup. In fact, his return to the lineup is somewhat indefinite. His presence on Twitter may indicate he’s healthy enough to perform daily activities but he almost certainly won’t travel with the team to Phoenix and is highly doubtful for their three games in California.

So, in summary, we leave you with the facts and the vote.

As the Leafs continue to slide through a largely disappointing season, Brian Burke has been busy working towards making the team more competitive for the future. In the past several weeks, Burke has managed to sell off his most desired assets and acquire several key pieces as he migrates from a hastened retool to a full blown rebuild.

Courtesy of Getty Images

The first player to be moved out of Toronto was defenceman Francois Beauchemin. The Leafs’ ability to trade the workhorse blueliner was brought about by the development of Keith Aulie, whom the Leafs felt was able to step in and absorb the large amount of minutes Beauchemin was used to playing. The Leafs were able to eventually strike a deal with the Ducks, sending Beauchemin over for under-used forward Joffrey Lupul, college defender Jake Gardiner and a conditional fourth round pick in 2013. Toronto was looking to move their defender, while also acquiring some forward help.

By acquiring Lupul from the Ducks, they took a low risk – high reward gamble. Lupul could regain his goal scoring form and be a valuable winger for the Leafs, but should he falter, would only cost the franchise money (which the Leafs have an abundance of). At the same time, the Leafs were able to add the impressive Gardiner, a smooth skating defender playing with the University of Wisconsin. A former first round pick, Gardiner is not a lock to become a solid puck moving defender, but certainly has the potential and skills to do so. With proper development, Gardiner could one day become a top four puck mover for the Leafs, something they would need to eventually replace Tomas Kaberle.

Strong asset management is key in a salary capped NHL, and by trading an acquired free agent for future assets, the Leafs were able to maximize the return on their free agent investment.

***

Kris Versteeg, one of the key pieces acquired by Burke in the offseason in order to make the team more competitive, was dealt off to the Philadelphia Flyers for the Flyers’ first and third round picks in the 2011 NHL entry draft. The move came as a bit of a surprise to many, who figured Versteeg was an integral part of the rebuild given his skill and age.

Courtesy of Abelimages/Getty Images North America

Versteeg was given every chance to be a top line player in Toronto, mostly on the first line alongside Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel, however he was not found compatible, and soon found himself playing on the third line. At just over a $3 million dollar cap hit, Versteeg was an expensive piece to have playing low minutes on the third line. Burke and his management group decided that Versteeg did not fit into the desired winning equation in Toronto, and moved him to Philadelphia for what Burke called a good price tag. There were rumours that Versteeg was unhappy in Toronto, but these were shot down quickly by both the player and the team. No one will ever know for sure, but it was obvious Versteeg was not a fit in Toronto. Looking at the deal as a whole, it works out to:

LEAFS TRADE: Viktor Stalberg, Phillipe Paradis, Chris DiDomenico.
LEAFS RECEIVE: Philadelphia’s first and third round picks in 2011.

The deal looks pretty good at face value, and would look better if the Leafs were able to parlay the picks into a young, promising talent.

***

Courtesy of Dave Sandford/Getty Images North America

At long last, the Kaberle trade saga came to a climax with a deal to the Boston Bruins. After many years of trade rumours and speculation, Kaberle was finally dealt by the Leafs to their Northeast rivals, the Bruins. When the trade was completed, Burke revealed that the Kaberle camp sought a contract extension, but Burke felt the team needed to move in a different direction and thus declined to extend the aging defender. At $4.25 million cap hit, Kaberle was considered a bargain premier pucking moving defenceman, and was always coveted by other teams in their push for the Stanley cup. The offers Burke received were never what he considered good value for his player, and so he waited until a team was able to meet his request.

In order to acquire the Czech blueliner, Boston was forced to part with it’s first round pick in 2011, prospect Joe Colborne, and a conditional second round pick in 2012. A steep price, but one Boston felt was justified in order to acquire a key player as they contend for the Cup this year.

In return for a player who would not be back with the team next year, the Leafs received some very good pieces to aid their rebuild. Colborne is a top prospect, and at a position the Leafs are severely lacking, center. At 6’5″ and 213 pounds, Colborne has the size that Burke loves in his players, and has the potential to become an offensive threat at the NHL level. The Leafs were also able to add another first round pick, albeit a late one, and a conditional second round pick in 2012 (if Kaberle resigns with the Bruins, or the Bruins make it to the Stanley Cup finals).

Again, another case of smart asset management, and maximizing the return of a player acquired for virtually no prior assets aside from money.

- – -

After trading these three players for quality future assets, the Leafs now shift their attention to a buyers stance as they look to acquire some young players to bolster their roster. The team was not only able to move their players for future assets, but also clear valuable cap space for future additions. Burke has stated that he will try to parlay some of his ten draft picks in 2011 into young players who would have an immediate impact (as opposed to draft picks who would have no impact for at least three years).

After losing Kaberle, the Leafs are carrying only six defencemen, and the focus has shifted to acquiring one, specifically a young puck mover who could either step into Kaberle’s shoes, or serve as a stopgap until Gardiner or Jesse Blacker are ready. As always, the Leafs are looking to improve their forward depth as well, as they keep tabs on several players and their prices around the league.

While many of Toronto’s bigger moves have already been completed, the trading deadline is still a week away, and this provides ample time for GM Burke to swing a few more deals.

Luca Vacca
NHLHS Toronto Maple Leafs
luca@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @luca_vacca

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.

This off-season has turned into the Ilya Kovalchuk heat wave however, Kaberle’s name has been discussed just as much – it just does not hit the headlines here in the states as much as Kovalchuk does. The Los Angeles Kings and the New Jersey Devils – two teams on American turf were the front runners in the Kovalchuk sweepstakes which placed a damper on all the Kaberle news for those of us south of the border.

The issue – if Brian Burke does not receive a package worthy for him to pull the trigger by the end of this weekend, all bets are likely off that a trade will indeed go down.  As of Monday, Kaberle and his No Trade Clause will kick in thus ending all speculation of being able to move the player without him agreeing to go to the team that has met Burkes demands.

If the weekend comes and goes without a reasonable offer for Kaberle, look for GM Burke to begin serious negotiations on a new 4-5 year contract.  At 32, Kaberle still has more then a few serviceable years left and look for a potential “home town” discount given to the only franchise he has known.

With no one of Kaberle’s skill set in the organization poised to take his spot, trading him for a top six forward only creates another hole to be filled at a higher cost.  Replacing someone of Kaberle’s caliber will require spending more money then re-signing him.  With the league set to potentially face another work stoppage once the current CBA expires, is it a smart move to significantly increase your payroll by $2 million?

With the pre-deadline acquisition of Dion Phaneuf, Kaberle finally has a booming shot on the backend to set-up on power plays that he’s been missing since Bryan McCabe was sent out of town for Mike Van Ryn.  Give these two a full season of playing together and maybe the Leafs power play can move out of the basement.  A good quarterback on the power play is something that doesn’t come cheap.

By keeping Kaberle in the mix it also creates quite the balance for the three defense pairings heading into the 2010-11 season.  With Mike Komisarek set to return from injury as well as Francois Beauchemin, the aforementioned Phanuef in the mix along with Luke Schenn, the Leafs have a season to look forward to.

As much as it would create joy to see a good young talent wearing a Blue & White jersey next season, at what cost does it come?  Players of Kaberle’s ilk don’t come around that often, and for an organization that hasn’t had the greatest track record of drafting and developing talent, he’s a rarity.

Personally, I (Jose) feel for Kaberle, and would love to see him win a Stanley Cup a la my favorite defensman Ray Bourque. There truly is, at this point in time, no current Leaf who deserves it more, but it would also be a treat to witness Kaberle do something that has not been done in our lifetimes -  no Leafs Fan Favorite have yet to play their entire career in Toronto.

Whatever happens in the coming days regarding Tomas Kaberle’s future, we wish him nothing but the best.  A most unselfish player deserves nothing less.

So Leafs fans, does it make sense for Brian Burke to exhaust every avenue to find the perfect, most thrilling deal for the services of Kaberle, or should the Leafs hold on to the long time power play quaterback? Would you enjoy witnessing Kaberle end his career right where it started? Or are you more focused on the potential return and how it could improve a major need for 2010-11 and onward?

Jose Simoes
NHLHS Writer
jsimoes@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @RTRHockey

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

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

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