Leaf News & Rumors

Idea for Brian Burke

2008-12-04T14:51:00.001-08:00

So only 1 of 100 would of said "Let's get Stempniak from the Blues!" and that one person was Cliff or Brian Bruke because burke could of had a say in the deal :O

So here's my idea with Stepniak working out so well with the leafs why don't we try and look under the bus for a second at players who no one would even mention as someone the leafs should look at it, or very few people would.

1) How about Jean-Pierre Dumont he has 5 goals and 24 points in 24 games this season and with his high salary he could come cheap for the Leafs. He's only 30, He's Canadian.

2) Devin Setoguchi? 25 years of age he has 13 goals and 29 points and once again he is a Canadian, he would take alot more than J.P Dumont but it would be worth it.

3) Kris Versteeg, Who? Yeah a 23 year old forward that plays with Chicago, he's a canadian and so far this season he has 7 goals, 22 points in 23 games and should come a bit cheaper than Setoguchi.

That is my top 3, just wanted to see your coments, plus you can post your own top 3 or top 5

Leafs vs Kings; Pregame Report

2008-12-01T11:54:00.000-08:00

Leafs will take on the Kings tonight at the Staples center tonight. Here's some notes about both teams that should effect tonights game.

- In games since 1998 the Kings are winning the series between them and the Leafs with a record of 10-4-1 and 2 ties in the favour of the kings.

- Jason Blake, who has missed the past 2 games with a concussion, is doubtful for tonights game and might return tommorow night vs the Sharks

- Leafs have lost 5 of their past 6 road games this season.

- Jason LaBarbera for the Kings and Vesa Toskala for the Leafs are expected to start tonights game, although there is a chance CuJo can start for the Leafs.

- Lee Stempniak has gotten a point in all of his games (but 1) as a Leaf this season, Let's see if he can continue his recent success in a Leaf Uniform.

-Burke is 1-0 as the Leafs GM, man he really is good!

- Just kidding about that last one

- Burke will be making the Trip with the Leafs as he is reportedly supposed to talk to Dave Nonis in San Jose after recieving permission from the Ducks organization to talk to him about a position with the Leafs

- "As players, there's always going to be stuff that's going on that's going to distract you," said Moore, who has two goals and two assists in his last four games. "If it's not one thing, it's another. That's the challenge that everybody faces, to play a focused game and not worry about surrounding things that are out of their control."
- This from Dominic Moore about the hiring of Brian Burke and the speculation around the media, fans and players over the past few weeks(from mapleleafs.com)

The Puck drops in L.A at 10;30 ET

Leafs vs Kings TONIGHT....enjoy

Corey Eves(leafer)
Leaf_Hero_14@hotmail.com

Burke is in, What Next?

2008-11-30T10:57:00.000-08:00

Brian Burke was officially announced as the Leafs new General Manager & President yesterday at about 2:15 pm est time. Well more like 2 months ago.

What is more amazing is that there are already Leaf rumors swirling when Burke clearly said he wasn't making any moves untill the New Year, not sure whats so hard to understand about that EKLUND! Do you really see Burke going out and making such a move to bring in a d-man in Jay Bouwmeester in 10 days? Since Burke put down his December 9th Leafs trading freeze untill the new year. So if i hear any Leafs rumors between the 9th and January 1st i'm gonna lose it because they are clearly NOT listiening to the GM of the Leafs.

Brian Burke is supposedly going to ask the Anaheim Ducks if he can neogotiate in bringing in Dave Nonis from the ducks to be his assistant GM, leaving Joe Nieuwendyk without a position in the Leafs Organization. I would think he would go down and work with the Marlies some how or stick with Cliff Fletcher in the special advisor position.

According to the Ottawa Sun the Anaheim Ducks are looking for another D-man, It reports that Brian Burke could send off Pavel Kubina or Tomas Kaberle there in hopes for a decent return. I think that the Leafs could fetch Bobby Ryan and a high priced player that is useless to the Ducks for cap reasons. I would go for this.

One of my Opinions here and plz comment on it but what would you guys think about brining a player like Jussi Jokinen, he alot of speed and can put the puck in the net when he has the chance when he wants to. With Tampa Moving Like crazy he could come cheap.

That's all for now,

Corey Eves(Leafer)
Leaf_Hero_13@hotmail.com

Enough is Enough

2008-11-26T16:01:00.000-08:00

The Maple Leafs management have grown tired over the team's lack of grit and the inability to fend off the heavyweights, or even middleweights in the league. A Jamal Mayers or a Luke Schenn can only go so far as the Leafs call up Andre Deveaux from the Marlies.

Deveaux, who has just come off a four game suspension, is set to make his NHL debut Thursday night as the Leafs travel to Ottawa to visit the Senators. Though considered an enforcer, Deveaux is fifth on the team in points (8), second on the team in goals (6) and first in penalty minutes (54). He's also one of the few players on the team who do not sit in the +/minus column. In 13 games played, he's only ten points shy of marking a career year.

The 24 year old is also in no ways a slouch in the size department. He stands 6'4" tall and carries 217 pounds with him into his power forward performance. He is considered a shut down forward with the ability to claim his territory in front of the net rather easily. Sounds exactly like the type of player Brian Burke would bring into any franchise. A big body who wants to crash and bang and plow in the garbage goals.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves; he isn't going to be a force on the second or even third line in the NHL, but he could be that fourth line player the Leafs have lacked since trading Wade Belak. Consider a line featuring Deveaux, Mitchell and Mayers. Not exactly the easiest line to play against considering all three are big bodies who want to score and love to throw their weight around.

It is abundantly clear after last night's performance against the Thrashers that the Leafs need an enforcer on the club, though many Leaf fans have been saying it since the beginning of the season.

The Leafs were always known to defeat the Senators in the playoffs because of their size and strength as they blasted bodies out of the way on route to series victories. Maybe it's time to bring some of that size and strength back into the core lineup.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

Leafs post game Notes

2008-11-26T11:59:00.000-08:00

The Leafs lost 6-3 last night against the Atlanta Thrashers, Here are some news and notes from the game last night and some other minor notes

- Newly acquired Lee Stempniak had his first point as a Leaf last night getting a assist on Nik Antropov's goal.

- Talks were being thrown all through the A last night saying the Brian Burke to T.O was very imminent and would happen before the weekend

- Jason Blake will sit out the Leafs next game against the Senetors on thursday with a minor concussion, after a hit from Colby Armstrong.

- The Leafs have called up minor league tough guy Andre Deveaux who is expected to make his NHL debut on Thurday. Andre just finished a 4-game suspension after a attack on Manitoba Moose D-man Nolan Baumgartner.

- Very happy with Luke Schenn as once again he stood up for a teammate as he was the only one to go after Armstrong after the hit on Jason Blake.

- Ian White had a battle with Kovalchuk all night. After things between them got started in the first period it never stopped eventually leading to a fight in the 3rd.

- Vesa Toskala will get the start thursday night

- With the Leafs not so good goaltending and tons of cap room, Eklund is stating that the Leafs could be interested in Khabibulin of the Hawks, a deal that would see Toskala go to the Hawks and see the Bulin Wall and a young player or picks come to T.O in return

Leafs Play in Ottawa vs the Senetors Thursday night

Corey Eves(Leafer)
Leaf_Hero_13@hotmail.com

Leafs Pre-Game Notes/Brian Burke and More

2008-11-25T13:42:00.000-08:00

An ailing crop of defenders, a change of scenery, and a night off.

After the Leafs got word that Jonas Frogren will be out of the lineup for up to six weeks after suffering two muscle tears in his arm, they found themselves down to six defensemen. Frogren suffered the injury on his first shift of Saturday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, and tried to play through it until he threw in the towel at the beginning of the second period. Ian White was moved to the back end during practice, and Mike Van Ryn is still a week or two away from action.

Carlo Colaiaicovo and Alex Steen passed their physicals today and are now official members of the St. Louis Blues. According to Carlo, “[he] and Alex believed [they] were part of the team’s future”, but they both are looking forward to pulling a different blue shirt over their heads. Steen believes “it's exciting. Chapter 2 has started. I'm excited to get down there and get to meet the guys and hopefully have a better, second, third and fourth quarter of the season.”

Acquired for the pair is shifty winger Lee Stempniak, who will make his debut tonight against the Atlanta Thrashers. In an interview with the Toronto Star, Stempniak explained his situation last year and showed confidence in coming closer to home. “"The goal scoring just wasn't there last year. It was disappointing and frustrating. I struggled at the start of the year. I think I had one goal after 20 or 21 games and I just sort of got deflated. It was a really hard year," he said. "This summer, I just put it behind me. The day the last season ended, I was looking forward to this year. I feel really good this season, confident and making plays when they're there and contributing in St. Louis. I'd like to just continue that."
Lee will find himself with Blake and Moore on the third unit the start the game, but don’t be surprised to watch him join Hagman and Grabovski or Stajan and Antropov as the night continues.
Curtis Joseph is excited to get the start tonight as well. "Any time you get a start, it's all good. I know my supporting role. I'm comfortable with that and enjoy it.” Joseph, whose numbers are almost identical to Toskala’s this season, is still searching for his first win since returning to the Maple Leafs this summer.

It’s an interesting matchup tonight as only 3 points separate the Leafs who barely hanging on to the 11th seed in the East, and the Thrashers who sit peacefully in last. Both clubs are currently on a 3 game losing streak. The Leafs seemed to post a better effort on the road, and the Thrashers are a much better team at home, but with the Thrashers visiting the Leafs tonight, it will be intriguing to see who can step it up while out of their element.

Brian Burke is also close to being named the new General Manager and President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, It is projected to be a 6-year deal worth 18-19.5 million (3.5 per year). Brian will not need to report to Richard Peddie or anyone of MLSE for any thing he does involving the Leafs. Brian will also get a signing bonus given out each year, the payment is also being worked out along with some kinks in the power issue.

UPDATE 5:07 PM EST: Dave Nonis is expected to be Brian Burke's assitant gm when Burke signs in the next 3 or 4 days

Note: Leafs may be looking at Bouwmeester once again according to Eklund at hockeybuzz.com

Corey Eves(leafer)
Leaf_Hero_14@hotmail.com

**Note: This is a michael aldred article, i am posting them untill he becomes a full time blogger here!

Leafs need to trade Ponikarovsky

2008-11-21T14:38:00.000-08:00

I have always hated the play of "Poni" i just think are a waste of money, 2.1 million a year to be exact. Now i know that his market isn't high, it's low, way low. i would be happy with a 4th round pick in return or better yet a minor leaguer. The Leafs have a list of players they will want to move by the deadline/at the deadline, as most teams do and i believe Ponikarovsky should be at the top of thsi list because really what does he do other than......well i can't even think of something that he does. If i were Cliff Fletcher/Brian Burke i would call up pheonix and say "here's an offer, Alexi Ponikarovsky for Brian McGratten, deal 0r no deal?" and leave it at that. This would give us more cap(not that it's a big problem) it would give us a enforcer, something the leafs need desperatly since Wade Belak was traded at last seasons deadline. Brian McGratton the former senetor is a true enforcer not a stupid one like the leafs got in Ryan Hollweg. The more tough guys we got, the less Luke Scheen needs to fight against other teams enforcers which will damage him up at 18 years old. Imagine a line of Ryan Hollweg-Jamal Mayers-Brian McGratten? I think that would:
A)Be somewhat of an energy line
B)Can be put on thje ice when the other team gets momentum

Overall if the leafs could get someone who has a bit of grit in them in return for Poni, i would be happy

Leafer

Wellwood Proving Leafs Wrong

2008-11-20T11:57:00.001-08:00

Cliff Fletcher is more than likely regretting the waiving of Kyle Wellwood. Kyle was waived by the Canucks as well, but after suffering a number of injuries, the Canucks were forced to recall Kyle from the AHL. And he's been on fire ever since.

He currently has 8 goals and 9 points in 14 games. This is certainly not the performance of someone who is "out of shape." But never-the-less, the Leafs did waive Kyle who could be a late bloomer, and could it be 1 or 2 seasons after the Leafs waived him. I saw on a site that if he plays the rest of the season and stays on the scoring pace that he's on now he could finish up the season with 41 goals - not bad for someone who was waived twice, by two different teams for being "out of shape".

But what else is new? The Leafs have a history of giving up on players earlier than they should. But I do give them credit for acquiring Mikhail Grabovski, who the Habs gave up on too early as well: something the leafs are glad that they did.

All in all Kyle is having a great start to what looks like a good season for him, and he deserves it. He works hard.

Quick Rumor Update: Eklund at hockeybuzz said today that the Leafs could be interested in Jordan Staal of the Penguins. Although Spector at spectorshockey.net said that a Pittsburgh newspaper reported that re-signing Staal was there #1 priority.

Burke To Toronto This Weekend

2008-11-19T06:10:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows that Brian Burke is coming to Toronto, But the matter is when! Most people think that it will be a long process but Brian Burke would not leave the Ducks without a back-up process in place. So Could Brian Burke and the Leafs have a deal planned out already? Financial terms yes, A probable 5 year 2.0-3.0 million each year. But how much power hehas is another story. Will he demand that Richard Peddie and everyone else at MLSE step away and let him do his thing. Problem: MLSE think that they know the game of hockey more than anyone in the league when they don't. This is what needs to be worked out in order for Burke to come to Toronto. This shouild be worked out by Saturday with Burke most likely eager to get into a Hockey market let alone the biggest one in the world! And Burke's ego will help MLSE get him in here...Burke thinks he's the best gm in the league and he may be but if he would win a cup in Toronto he would be a god and that's what Burke wants to do no doubt. According to Eklund at Hockeybuzz.com Sundin and Burke could come to T.O at the same time...personally i see Burke comes to Toonto in the next week but Sunbdin won't come back to Toronto!