Horses and Hockey

Nash names Toronto Maple Leafs as one of five teams he'll play for

2012-02-17T09:18:00.001-08:00

According to Calgary Herald, Bruins, Kings, Rangers and Sharks also in mix

Rick Nash, so far the biggest name on the NHL rumour mill ahead of the Feb. 27 trade deadline, has given the Columbus Blue Jackets a list of five teams to which he'll OK a trade, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

According to the Dispatch, the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs "are believed to be on the approved list."

The paper also says the Jackets are seeking at least one young player on an NHL team's roster, as well as top prospects and draft picks.

Sharks net Moore

The San Jose Sharks added depth at the centre position Thursday night by acquiring Dominic Moore from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The deal sees the Lightning land a second-round pick while handing over a seventh-round pick to San Jose. The second-rounder originally belonged to the Minnesota Wild.

The well-travelled Moore, 31, has also played for the Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Toronto, Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens.

In 56 games with Tampa this season, Moore had four goals and 15 assists.

Meanwhile, the Lightning plan to keep Pavel Kubina out of the lineup while attempting to trade the veteran defenceman. Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman announced the decision Thursday.

Tampa Bay entered Thursday 13th in the Eastern Conference and is a longshot to make the playoffs.

Kubina, 34, has 11 points and is plus-1 in 52 games this season.

Nazem Kadri interview: "you kind of learn to cope with it"

2012-02-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

In an interview with Sean Fitzgerald of the National Post today, Toronto Maple Leafs' star prospect Nazem Kadri talks about another demotion to the Marlies amid widespread trade speculation.

When did Leafs general manager Brian Burke and coach Ron Wilson tell you that you were headed back down to the AHL?
“They told me before the morning skate yesterday. They just told me to keep working, keep plugging away. And they told me I had a bright future with this organization, and I believe I do. It’s kind of nice that they’re behind me, but obviously, right now it’s a bit of a complicated situation. Whatever happens in the near future happens, but I’m hoping to stay with this team and this organization, because that’s where I want to be.”

You’ve been up and down a bit — is it frustrating?
“It’s, I guess, a little bit frustrating at first. But you kind of learn to cope with it. One thing, before I left yesterday, Burkie and Wils told me not to be discouraged because they believe in me, and it’s not like I’m getting this demotion because I haven’t played up to expectations or up to standards. It’s just a situation where I was able to be sent down and not clear waivers. It’s as simple as that. Like I said, I don’t know what’s going to happen here with the team and the organization in the next couple of weeks, but I sure hope to be a part of it.”

You had a big hit on Penguins defenceman Paul Martin on Tuesday night. How would you grade what might be your last NHL game for at least a little while?
“I don’t really tiptoe around the ice and walk on eggshells just because I’m afraid someone’s going to come after me. So I just play the way I’ve got to play. And it was a good, clean hit. So it’s not like I left my feet or I led with my arms or my elbows. It’s part of my game. I can get under people’s skin, too, along with my skill game. I think that’s what makes me such a key component, and I also think that’s why Wils and Burkie have such high expectations and told me that I had a bright future with this club — because they enjoy the way I play and the heart I wear on my sleeve.”

How do you deal with your name coming up in trade speculation?
“I don’t really read too much into the newspapers and the magazines and the blogs. I’m not really too into that. I have, obviously heard on TV, when your name randomly comes up when you’re just sitting there watching. It’s a bit awkward, but like I said, whatever happens, happens. And this is an organization that I want to spend my whole career with, so I hope they see it the same way.”

Do you think this was one of your better stints with the Leafs?
“For sure. I think it’s been good. It’s been fun. I’ve also learned a lot. I think Wils trusts me on the ice, too, in certain situations where, before, he didn’t at all. Like you saw in the last game against Pittsburgh, I was out there against that top line quite often, with Malkin probably the most dangerous player in the league right now. Wils had the confidence in me to throw me out there and actually create and take care of my own end, too.”

NHL talk: Rick Nash for Kadri, Komi, Lombardi and Aulie

2012-01-19T12:42:00.000-08:00

Ohio has a significant Islamic population and Nazem Kadri could be a crucial ambassador to the community, helping the Blue Jackets extend their reach. The Maple Leafs would likely have to add a draft pick, plus take another veteran from Columbus.

It makes no sense for Columbus to be paying Rick Nash $8 million per year for the next five years, when they have to now enter a rebuilding mode and are a small market team. Waiting until the trade deadline will be too late, if someone wants Nash, he should bid now and bid large. Got it, Bri?

Maple leafs off to best start since 1962

2012-01-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

50 years ago: A string of 3 straight Stanley Cup victories

The last time the Toronto Maple Leafs started in a calendar year with 4 wins was 1962, the year Bill Barilko's body was discovered at the plane crash site 100km north of Cochrane, ON. Nobody is predicting 3 Cup wins in a row (with parity and 30 teams, highly improbable relative to early 60s), however with the NHL's youngest team skating in Toronto, a few consecutive years in the playoffs may be in the cards. In this new concussion-concussed NHL, a team needs to have 3 or 4 NHL goalies, plus about 30 NHL-calibre players. The Buds have this type of depth, and as the season wears on our youth and vigor wear down opponents, and one can only hope that the Boston Bruins have peaked too early.

NHL trade rumour: Rick Nash to Maple Leafs

2012-01-10T10:40:00.000-08:00

With the Columbus Blue Jackets sinking in the standings and suffering perennial attendance woes, how long before GM Scott Howson begins the rebuild by shopping Rick Nash and his $8 million salary? Well, of the 4 teams at the bottom of the standings, Anaheim may be timid about dealing with Brian Burke again, and Carolina is unlikely to part with either Staal or Skinner, while the Islanders probably still feel they are in the race. This means that Columbus is the best trading partner for an upwardly mobile team like the Leafs, so let us think about what it will take to land Nash.

First, the Buds are close to the salary cap so will need to send at least 7 to 7.5 mil in salary to Columbus, though Leafs contracts will expire before Nash's, providing room for Columbus to re-sign prospects in coming years.

From Toronto:

Nazem Kadri

Jussi Rynnas

Matt Lombardi

Mike Komisarek

2013 1st Round Draft Pick

From Columbus:

Rick Nash

Comments, anyone?

Toronto Maple Leafs top scorers, January 2012

2012-01-08T16:53:00.000-08:00

Forwards & Defensemen

#	POS	PLAYER	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW	S	S%
81	R	PHIL KESSEL	41	24	24	48	6	10	5	0	4	146	16.4
19	R	JOFFREY LUPUL	41	19	28	47	8	36	5	0	3	121	15.7
3	D	DION PHANEUF	41	7	21	28	2	47	5	0	0	116	6.0
42	C	TYLER BOZAK	35	7	18	25	4	20	3	0	0	53	13.2
84	C	MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI	35	12	11	23	0	12	4	0	1	72	16.7
12	C	TIM CONNOLLY	29	7	15	22	6	20	2	0	2	46	15.2
24	D	JOHN-MICHAEL LILES	34	4	17	21	2	12	2	0	0	68	5.9
16	L	CLARKE MACARTHUR	34	12	9	21	1	18	3	0	2	62	19.4
41	L	NIKOLAI KULEMIN	41	4	12	16	0	6	0	0	0	57	7.0
46	R	JOEY CRABB	30	6	6	12	0	17	0	1	2	29	20.7
36	D	CARL GUNNARSSON	40	2	10	12	5	14	0	0	0	51	3.9
2	D	LUKE SCHENN	40	1	11	12	6	37	0	0	0	47	2.1
4	D	CODY FRANSON	26	3	8	11	2	14	1	0	0	25	12.0
39	R	MATT FRATTIN	37	5	5	10	2	16	0	0	1	55	9.1
51	D	JAKE GARDINER	37	0	10	10	-1	16	0	0	0	34	0.0
15	C	MATTHEW LOMBARDI	23	2	5	7	-6	4	0	1	1	31	6.5
20	C	DAVID STECKEL	38	7	0	7	-2	6	1	2	0	43	16.3
43	C	NAZEM KADRI	11	3	2	5	5	6	1	0	1	16	18.8
8	D	MIKE KOMISAREK	19	1	3	4	1	26	0	0	0	13	7.7
32	C	JOE COLBORNE	9	1	3	4	1	2	0	0	0	7	14.3
18	R	MIKE BROWN	19	1	2	3	0	31	0	0	0	20	5.0
47	L	DARRYL BOYCE	8	1	1	2	1	14	0	0	1	4	25.0
28	R	COLTON ORR	5	1	0	1	1	5	0	0	0	3	33.3
9	R	COLBY ARMSTRONG	9	0	1	1	-4	4	0	0	0	6	0.0
59	D	KEITH AULIE	11	0	1	1	-3	16	0	0	0	9	0.0
11	C	PHILIPPE DUPUIS	30	0	0	0	-2	16	0	0	0	30	0.0
38	L	JAY ROSEHILL	15	0	0	0	-2	21	0	0	0	8	0.0

GOALIES

#	GOALIE	GPI	GS	MIN	GAA	W	L	OT	SO	SA	GA	SV%	G	A	PIM
50	JONAS GUSTAVSSON	20	17	1096	3.07	12	7	0	1	576	56	.903	0	1	4
34	JAMES REIMER	17	17	958	3.01	7	4	4	1	482	48	.900	0	0	0
30	BEN SCRIVENS	8	7	425	2.96	2	4	1	0	219	21	.904	0	0	2

January 2012 games for Toronto Maple Leafs, current roster

2012-01-08T16:49:00.000-08:00

TUE, 10 JAN 2012	SABRES	MAPLE LEAFS	7:00 PM	SNET-O
SAT, 14 JAN 2012	RANGERS	MAPLE LEAFS	7:00 PM	CBC, NHLN-US(HD)
TUE, 17 JAN 2012	SENATORS	MAPLE LEAFS	7:00 PM	SNET-O
THU, 19 JAN 2012	WILD	MAPLE LEAFS	7:00 PM	TSN
SAT, 21 JAN 2012	CANADIENS	MAPLE LEAFS	7:00 PM	CBC, RDS(HD), NHLN-US(HD)
MON, 23 JAN 2012	ISLANDERS	MAPLE LEAFS	7:00 PM	RIS(HD), LEAFS TV

Forwards

#	NAME	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DATE OF BIRTH	AGE	BIRTH PLACE
9	COLBY ARMSTRONG "A" **	6' 2"	195	23 NOV 1982	29	LLOYDMINSTER, SK, CAN
47	DARRYL BOYCE	6' 0"	200	7 JUL 1984	27	SUMMERSIDE, PE, CAN
42	TYLER BOZAK **	6' 1"	195	19 MAR 1986	25	REGINA, SK, CAN
18	MIKE BROWN	5' 11"	205	24 JUN 1985	26	CHICAGO, IL, USA
12	TIM CONNOLLY	6' 1"	190	7 MAY 1981	30	SYRACUSE, NY, USA
46	JOEY CRABB	6' 1"	190	3 APR 1983	28	ANCHORAGE, AK, USA
11	PHILIPPE DUPUIS	6' 0"	196	24 APR 1985	26	LAVAL, QC, CAN
39	MATT FRATTIN	6' 0"	200	3 JAN 1988	24	EDMONTON, AB, CAN
84	MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI "A"	5' 11"	183	31 JAN 1984	27	POTSDAM, DEU
43	NAZEM KADRI	6' 0"	188	6 OCT 1990	21	LONDON, ON, CAN
81	PHIL KESSEL "A"	6' 0"	202	2 OCT 1987	24	MADISON, WI, USA
41	NIKOLAI KULEMIN	6' 1"	225	14 JUL 1986	25	MAGNITOGORSK, RUS
15	MATTHEW LOMBARDI	5' 11"	195	18 MAR 1982	29	MONTREAL, QC, CAN
19	JOFFREY LUPUL	6' 1"	206	23 SEP 1983	28	FORT SASKATCHEWAN, AB, CAN
16	CLARKE MACARTHUR	6' 0"	191	6 APR 1985	26	LLOYDMINSTER, AB, CAN
38	JAY ROSEHILL	6' 3"	215	16 JUL 1985	26	OLDS, AB, CAN
20	DAVID STECKEL	6' 6"	215	15 MAR 1982	29	MILWAUKEE, WI, USA

Defencemen

#	NAME	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DATE OF BIRTH	AGE	BIRTH PLACE
59	KEITH AULIE	6' 6"	217	11 JUN 1989	22	ROULEAU, SK, CAN
4	CODY FRANSON	6' 5"	213	8 AUG 1987	24	SALMON ARM, BC, CAN
51	JAKE GARDINER	6' 1"	173	4 JUL 1990	21	DEEPHAVEN, MN, USA
36	CARL GUNNARSSON	6' 2"	196	9 NOV 1986	25	OREBRO, SWE
8	MIKE KOMISAREK "A"	6' 4"	243	19 JAN 1982	29	WEST ISLIP, NY, USA
24	JOHN-MICHAEL LILES **	5' 10"	185	25 NOV 1980	31	INDIANAPOLIS, IN, USA
3	DION PHANEUF "C"	6' 3"	214	10 APR 1985	26	EDMONTON, AB, CAN
2	LUKE SCHENN	6' 2"	229	2 NOV 1989	22	SASKATOON, SK, CAN

Goalies

#	NAME	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DATE OF BIRTH	AGE	BIRTH PLACE
50	JONAS GUSTAVSSON	6' 3"	192	24 OCT 1984	27	DANDERYD, SWE
34	JAMES REIMER	6' 2"	208	15 MAR 1988	23	MORWEENA, MB, CAN
** = INJURED RESERVE

The Monster returning to form, Leafs veterans return for win

2012-01-08T07:08:00.000-08:00

Though Jonas G has backstopped the Leafs to many victories this season, the vast majority of them were helped by a barrage of Maple Leafs goals whenever Monster was in front of the twine. It didn't bode well for the playoffs, when things tighten up and leaky goalies start golfing.

Well, I will be the first to admit that I have not been a fan of Jonas Gustavsson ever since the two heart surgeries appeared to take away his confidence and vitality. Perhaps we can call this the "Jason Blake Syndrome" as JB never regained his scorer's touch / hunger for goals after he got hit with cancer, and it seemed top me that JG was at risk of never reverting to the form he displayed in his rookie year.

With The Monster scaring opponents, Rynnas needs to be moved soon

Okay... I sit corrected yet again. Jonas won last night's game for the Buds, and I am grateful for that, and am also grateful for the patience and trust shown in Jonas by Leafs management, as I would likely have moved him months ago. My belief is that the Leafs currently have at least 4 NHL-calibre goalies (Optimus, Monster, Scrivens, Owuya), with the potential for 5 to 6 if Rynnas and Sparks continue to improve. With Gustavsson clearly rounding into top form, the time to move Rynnas is fast approaching.

Owuya's promotion a key to Marlies' Calder Cup aspirations

Mark Owuya lead the Swedish elite league in save percentage last year, as a rookie! As of now, he has the best GAA and the second best save percentage in the entire American Hockey League however he just dropped off the chart as he only has ten games and there is now an 11 game minimum. Considering that he is statistically one of the top two goalies (the other is Cedric Desjardins) in the AHL, it is crucial for Mark Owuya's progress and value for him to be back in the AHL soon. He's an NHL goalie, so having him ride the buses in the ECHL may have been a good character-building exercise, yet now the Marlies can use his winning ways and he is showing every indication he and Scrivens can lead them to a Calder Cup.

Crunch time for Maple Leafs' callups from Marlies

2011-12-29T13:05:00.000-08:00

Burke unites "old gang" for 2012 NHL playoffs run

With Boyce and Kadri now joining Reimer, Aulie and Crabb on the Toronto Maple Leafs big league roster, the experiment with veterans is currently on the shelf, perhaps temporarily. Injuries to Colby Armstrong, Matt Lombardi, Philippe Dupuis, Mike Brown, Mike Komisarek and now Jean-Michael Liles have opened up the Buds' bench to the very same young players (okay, Boyce is 27 but he does play like it's now or never) who partook in a string of successes in the early months of 2011.

The coming weeks will allow Burke and Wilson to assess the progress of all these callups, decide which veterans can be moved to keep the team stocked with picks and prospects, and begin to prepare for someone like Boston or Philly in the very first round of the 2011-2012 NHL playoffs.

Note to Mr Burke: Ask Mikhail to sign for two years at $3.5 mil per or 3 years at 3.7 mil and then after the paperwork is signed an dry, move him to the first line where he belongs. Phil K is now one of the premier passers in the league, however neither Bozak nor Connolly have ever been goal scorers, so Grabovski is the natural partner for Lupul (also a good passer) and Kessel.

Peace to All,

Joe Trainor

Toronto Maple Leafs may be sellers again

2011-12-10T17:57:00.000-08:00

Leafs top 40: Keepers, Bubble and Trade Bait

by Joe Trainor, 10DEC11

After the Maple Leafs traded Tomas Kaberle last year, the youth movement was in full swing and the Buds finished the season with a strong winning streak. Certain players that were part of that, including Matt Lashoff, Nazem Kadri, and Darryl Boyce, are currently with the Marlies, while Aulie has just recently re-joined the Leafs.

I posit that the team has not shown too many signs of being a serious Stanley Cup contender, and that the way to a sustained era of Cup-contending teams likely means being sellers again, in advance of and at the trade deadline. I am also suggesting that the Leafs can be sellers, get younger, improve their record and make the playoffs. If true, who should the Leafs regard as Keepers, who is On-the-Bubble, and who looks like valuable Trade Bait?

Toronto Maple Leafs Top 40 Players

Keepers

1. Kessel

2. Gardiner

3. Phaneuf

4. Schenn

5. Reimer

6. Aulie

7. Franson

8. Frattin

9. Colborne

10. Biggs

11. Scrivens

12. Owuya

13. Blacker

14. Sparks

15. Lupul (oldest keeper, could be available but at very high price eg. two first rounders and a 2nd rounder)

16. MacArthur

On-the-Bubble

17. Bozak (his value could be highest now having had 1st line duty)

18. Liles (hate to see him go, however for an offer like we got for Kaberle ...)

19. Kadri (hometown not always the best place to begin NHL career, plus he won't make leafs into Bruins...)

20. Armstrong (at 29 years old, deserves a shot at a Cup)

21. Gunnarsson

22. Steckel

23. Komisarek

24. Rosehill

25. Kulemin

26. Brown

27. Hamilton

28. Lashoff

29. Mueller

30. Crabb

Best Toronto Maple Leafs trade options:

31. Gustavsson - The oldest goalie in the system at 27, he's unlikely to get better and hasn't shown consistent playoff calibre stretches. Flashes of brilliance, sure, but the leakiness means it may be time to test the Leafs' netminding depth.

32. Rynass - If not the Monster, then Jussi Rynass should be moved to get Mark Owuya back in the AHL. He led the Swedish Elite League in save percentage last year and is the second ranked goalie in the AHL right now. He has little to learn playing for Reading of the ECHL.

33. Connolly - Anything close to what we got for Kabs would see Connolly shipped out, however we'd be best to try him on the top line first, just in case it actually did make sense to bring him here, and to showcase him for buyers. We could trade one of Connolly or Grabovski, but not both.

34. Grabovski - He is the Leafs best center and as he is a free agent at the end of the year, Burke should try and sign him now. I would prefer to see Grabo re-signed than traded, as Bozak doesn't score and Kessel is one of the best passers in the league. Mikhail could easily slide into the top line if Connolly is moved, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Leafs start the playoffs with a top line of Lupul-Grabovski-Kessel even if Tim C is still with Toronto. If he won't re-sign, his 3-month rental should bring the Leafs a young NHL player plus a pick or prospect, and we can still bid on him in the offseason.

35. Boyce - The Leafs have a winning record with Boyce in the lineup, but at 27 the PEI native is languishing in the AHL and looks to have little future with the big club. Darryl could benefit from a move to a team like the Canucks that needs more grit to protect the Sedins.

Other names the Leafs may move:

36. Orr

37. Lombardi

38. Dupuis

39. Zigomanis

40. Gysbers

I see no reason why the Leafs can't get younger and better, at least this year, building assets that can be spun for final pieces during next two to three years of building consistent playoff team. Having written that, if Rynass and Kadri were the price for Zach Parise, I'd be happy with that as long as Parise was signed to a two year extension as a condition of trade.

It all depends on what's on the table, and with Burke being the sharp tack that he is, listening to offers for Leafs up for grabs may reveal some opportunities that can take Toronto to the next level, without mortgaging the future.

Mark Owuya is the new Reimer, deserves shot with Leafs

2011-12-04T12:52:00.000-08:00

Led Swedish elite league in save percentage, now 2nd in AHL

With Optimus Reimer back in the saddle for the Buds, the accepted wisdom of the Leafs netminding depth is as follows:

Reimer

Gustavsson

Scrivens

Rynnas

Owuya

Sparks

Based on their play over the past year or so, Owuya is the fast-rising player to watch.

Maple Leafs backup netminder Gustavsson has rarely appeared to be a playoff calibre goalie, however his recent NHL wins have lifted his market value. The oldest goalie in the system at a just-turned 27, the Monster exceeded my expectations in about half a dozen of the 14 games he's appeared in, at other times looking erratic. As the New Jersey Devils have goalies aged 39 and 38, Jonas may look like a youngster to them... Zach Parise, anyone?

Rynnas struggled in the early season but has recently won four of five, helping the Marlies regain first place. Scrivens has been stellar from day one of camp and deserves to be the goalie leading the Marlies to a Calder Cup.

Mark Owuya deserves a shot at the NHL soon. After leading the Swedish elite league in save percentage last year as a rookie, he is now 5-2 and second in the American Hockey League with a 1.78 GAA, and his .936 save percentage is also second best in the league. If either Reims or Goose stumble in the next few games, it may be time to see how Mark In Da Net plays out in the bigs.

Greatest Hockey Fight Ever - Canada vs Russia Juniors, 1987

2011-11-30T09:18:00.000-08:00

Theoren Fleury decks offending Russian, starts bench-clearing brawl

The World Junior Championship (starts Boxing Day, every year!!!) is my fave sports tournament (followed by Summer Olympics, then NCAA March Madness), and you rarely see fights in that tourney of the world's best young hockey players. Back in 1987 things were a little bit different, and this bench clearing international brawl must have been huge fun for the Russians, who were not allowed to fight in games back home.

The undrafted Theoren Fleury started this fight while sticking up for a teammate, and the very next day I wrote the Maple Leafs suggesting they ignore his diminutive size and sign him. About 10 days later he got inked by Calgary and went on to a stellar NHL career, and is now a highly regarded spokesperson for victims of sexual abuse.

Both teams were disqualified from the tournament but it was totally worth it; the subsequent rise of Gorbachev and Yeltsin caused communism to fall just two years later. Coincidence?

Leafs vs Bruins; Truculence is Toronto's Job One

2011-11-28T15:40:00.000-08:00

Call me old fashioned, but I don't really care all that much how many points the Toronto Maple Leafs earn during the coming home and home series against the Boston Bruins, the defending Stanley Cup Champions, and current NHL bad boys.

Burke's team is young and fast, with secret fists of fury

It would be awesome if Mike Brown can return for at least one of these games (only if 115% ready), and Wilson will be wise to include names such as Orr, Rosehill, and Aulie in both tilts, together with stalwarts such as Phaneuf and Schenn. Here's the rub; Boston can punch a Sedin in the face with no repercussions, and they can run over and concuss Ryan Miller while players stand around and plead with a referee, but the puck stops here. Colby Armstrong would never put up with that shit, and neither should any player wearing the Maple Leaf this week.

If Boston so much as touches Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner or the Toronto goalie, I don't wanna hear any Leaf player even mention Brendan Shanahan's name afterwards, unless it's discussing a hearing he'll be attending to explain why he defended his teammate.

That's it. No fucking around. There's a new sheriff in town, and the cheapshot era, personified by both the Canucks and the Bruins, is over.

5 Best Moves made by Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke

2011-11-28T07:40:00.000-08:00

These five trades brought the Toronto Maple Leafs Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf, John Michael Liles, Joe Colborne, Tyler Biggs, Cody Franson, Matt Lombardi and Keith Aulie. Has any other NHL General Manager come even close to this bounty over the past three years?

1. Beauchemin for Gardiner and Lupul - I would have loved getting Gardiner straight up for Beauch as knew him from USA juniors, and at the time the extra "cost" to obtain Jake G was being willing to take on Lupul's contract. Aaaaahhh, well, ya okay, I think we can do that.

2. Kaberle for Joe Colborne and two draft picks (one used as main bait to move up for Biggs, the other traded straight up for Liles) - Boston got a Cup, and Burke and Leafs fans owe Kaberle big time, for his foresight in choosing the team that could afford him and that he could help win the Stanley Cup. Mats Sundin may have done something similar in his waning years, yet he probably loved the City of Toronto more than the team (he also did not get to work with a GM of Burke's calibre and influence).

3. Two 1st rounders for Phil Kessel - Most feel the Leafs lost or broke even on this one but if you look at the "team" Burke inherited when he arrived, he really did need to bring in a top level player to begin building a team around. The price (Tyler Seguin, Jared Knight and Doug Hamilton) turned out to be very high, however as the Leafs are now the youngest team in the NHL and Kessel is among the best goal scorers on the planet, this trade is smelling sweeter as time goes by. He's two years younger than Ovechkin and two months younger than Crosby, and Canada better watch out for him (and Jake Gardiner) at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

4. Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Ian White and Jamal Mayers for Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and Keith Aulie - The Leafs have a strong winning record whenever Dion is in the lineup (ditto for Aulie), and he is the best Leafs captain since Dougie Gilmour. I would trade those four players for Dion straight up, so whatever becomes of Keith "Muhammad" Aulie, this was a move that had to be done.

5. Brett Lebda and Robert Slaney for Cody Franson and Matthew Lombardi - I understand that having a deep-pocketed team helps with straight salary dump deals, however in this case we got to dump salary also. If Nashville's recent woes worsen, GM David Poile could be on the hot seat, but goalie Pekka Rinne (.925, 2.47, 10 wins) has proved worthy of the dollars freed up.

5B. Not trading Franson in early 2011-2012, despite numerous offers.

5C. Getting Liles for a 2nd rounder (compare to price Boston paid for Kaberle 3-month rental).

Resurgent Monster means Jussi Rynnas on the bubble

Props to both Burke and Wilson for sticking with Gustavsson when it seemed like he'd never recover the form he had before going down twice with the heart ailment in 2010-2011. Over the past few games we may have been witnessing a newly confident, far more experienced Monster, one who may actually challenge Reimer for Leafs' net supremacy.

Scrivens can lead the Marlies to the AHL's Calder Cup championship, where Owuya can solidly back him up. Sending Rynnas to the ECHL would just devalue him, so look for Jussi to be traded within 10 days, for a big forward prospect or a 3rd round draft pick.

Younger, faster Leafs to face Washington Capitals tonight

2011-11-19T11:48:00.000-08:00

The Monster gets home start in Toronto net

With Lombardi and Grabovski each out for three to four weeks, and Mike Komisarek now sidelined indefinitely with a broken arm, tonight begins the testing of the Maple Leafs much-commended newfound depth. Joe Colborne has been called up from the Marlies, and Cody Franson is about to get some serious minutes.

If the Buds are to contend for Lord Stanley's gorgeous trophy, then both of these gentlemen should try and make it extremely difficult for management to take them out of the lineup, and a la Jake Gardiner, they can do that by playing hard at both ends of the ice, and winning.

Mark In Da Park is ready if Goose falters

For Jonas Gustavsson, this could be the beginning of the resurrection of his NHL career, or it could be his last hurrah. The second best goalie (after Ben Scrivens, not including Reimer until he is healthy again) in the system right now is Mark Owuya, and his AHL goals against average of 1.40 proves that Mark leading the elite Swedish league in save percentage last season was no fluke. Any faultering by The Monster and/or setbacks by Reimer could see Owuya getting a home start, where Scrivens has been erratic; Mark Owuya could be in the North American big leagues very soon.

Five ideas to take Maple Leafs to next level

2011-11-16T08:52:00.000-08:00

NHL's Toronto squad a young team, with room for improvement

Here are five suggestions that Brian Burke and Ron Wilson should consider. These are basically tweaks that will allow the Leafs to experiment without shaking up the core of a successful 2011-2012 NHL team.

To get to the next level:

ONE: Give Mark Owuya a start in the NHL. Jonas G is not good enough to be a playoff goalie, so if Owuya cannot handle the bigs, then we need to bring in another goaltender. Reimer cannot be counted on for more than twenty starts between here and the end of the season, and whether he is a playoff-calibre goalie when he returns, well, that remains to be seen. Scrivens is #1 now but he and the team need a more reliable backup than the erratic Monster.

TWO: Try Cody Franson on the wing. We need scoring, and having a D-man up front could be crucial if one or two go down in a playoff game. Gary Leeman made the transition from D to F at the NHL level, and scored 50 goals one year.

THREE: Get Rosehill and/or Orr into some games. The NHL battles will intensify as the season wears on and the playoffs approach, and Mike Brown is too valuable to the team to be the only fighter between here and there. We do not need a punch-weary Brown in April, so it may be best to give him every 3rd game off.

FOUR: Grabovski deserves a shot between Lupul and Kessel. He is our best centreman, so deserves a few games on the big line, to see if chemistry arises. There's nothing going on with the second line right now, so the timing this week is as good as any.

FIVE: Bulk up player support for a longer season, as none of these lads were on the Buds last time they made the playoffs, and most are too young to have ever played in post-season NHL. In January it would be wise to add a chiropractor (there's a reason Donovan Bailey brought his chiropractor to all big track meets), a nutritionist and a massage therapist to the team's 2012 traveling entourage.

Three of first four moves could be tried for a game or three to see if they are worthy of implementing for longer periods, while the fourth calls for prudence when allocating tough guy minutes, to preserve vibrant truculence for the real season in the Spring. The final suggestion may have elements already in place, however bolstering the team's support staff and traveling entourage sends a signal that we expect the boys to be playing hockey in May, and we are preparing now for just such an eventuality.

VIDEO: Nazem Kadri scores game winner in OT for Toronto Marlies

2011-11-13T21:19:00.001-08:00

With Maple Leafs in scoring drought, Kadri could soon be back in bigs

Toronto Maple leafs goaltending depth chart

2011-11-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

Scrivens now Numero Uno in Leafs net

Having won two of his 3 NHL starts and providing playoff-calibre netminding yesterday in stealing a win over then Blues, Ben Scrivens is now the Leafs top goalie. Even when Reimer returns it will be slow going, with JR playing one of every three or four games, probably until February at least. For the next few months, barring a trade or free agent signing, Ben will hold down the fort.

1. Ben Scrivens

The best goalie at training camp now getting an opportunity to show he belongs in the bigs. Mobile, confident big man is developing into a solid Allaire student, now graduate.

2. James Reimer

Concussed or whiplashed, he remains a major hope of the team and Leafs fans. Thank God his helmet / mask when flying off, for if it had stayed on the injury may have been much worse.

3. Jonas Gustavsson

I wouldn't be surprised to see Owuya in the 3 slot soon. The Monster has never proven he is an NHL calibre goalie, and being 2 years older than Scrivens, he may never be as good as Ben is now. Is there any way Burkie can trade him to a Swedish elite league team for a big, undrafted winmger?

4. Mark Owuya

called up from the ECHL to join the Marlies after Scrivens went to Leafs, mark In Da Park continues to shine and may switch places with Gustavsson soon, if the latter cannot be traded.

5. Jussi Rynnas

Struggling with the Marlies this year; hoping he can either turn it around quickly, or get a fresh start with another AHL team

6. Grant Rollheiser

22 year old netminder plays for Boston University in NCAA.

7. Garrett Sparks

18 year old is Buds goalie of the future, a great prospect.

5 things Leafs fans should be happy about

2011-11-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

Positive news for 2011-2012 Toronto Maple Leafs

Fast start – Even though the team was not playing that well, the Maple Leafs managed to get out of the gate strong and were leading the division, the conference and the league after a dozen games or so. This shows that with improvement, we can be a bona fide contender.

Surprises, the good kind – Lupul, Gardiner, and Komisarek are all exceeding expectations.

Brian Burke – His moves have taken a faceless, gutless team and shaped them into something close to formidable, with tremendous upside due to abundance of youth, plus great prospects with the Marlies. look for Burkie to sign Turco, or better still, trade prospects and/or picks for Nabokov, wasting away on the last place Islanders team.

Phil Kessel - The NHL's leading sniper this year is also 10th in the league in assists, a sign of a constantly improving player that is often overlooked by Leafs fans and local media.

Dion Phaneuf - The Maple Leafs have a winning record over the past two years whenever Dion is in the lineup, and he is the best captain the Leafs have had since Doug Gilmour.

Toronto Maple Leafs leaders: Plus / Minus

2011-11-07T13:06:00.000-08:00

These stats are as of 07NOV11:

Phil Kessel +9
Joffrey Lupul +7
Mike Komisarek +6
Dion Phaneuf +5
Mikhail Grabovski +5
John-Michael Liles +4
Clarke MacArthur +3

Toronto Maple Leafs #1 overall in NHL

2011-11-03T19:41:00.000-07:00

Deep Leafs squad, sharp Scrivens debut too much for Columbus

While Jonas Gustavsson was not able to ignite a goaltending controversy while filling in for James Reimer, there may soon be a battle brewing for the backup position. With Ben Scrivens throwing down a stellar debut in a 4-1 win over Columbus Blue Jackets, it seems to be getting clearer by the day that the best pair of goalies the Leafs have right now includes a guy with the first name Ben. It's not to say that Scrivens won't go back to the Marlies and continue his winning ways there, however when one looks to Spring and the NHL playoffs, you want to begin with two guys that are each a number one. The Monster has shown flashes of brilliance, and at age 27 may be just finding his stride, but with Reimer at 23 and Scrivens now 25, either Gustavsson or Rynas will likely be gone by the trade deadline.

There's also no rush to trade Cody Franson, as we don't really know yet what we need back. If a crazy offer came in Burke would likely take it, but another month of wear and tear will give us a better idea of what's required to go beyond my pre-season expectation of making it into the 2nd round of the playoffs. The penalty kill is the most glaring deficiency, yet there are still options within the team that may figure it out, together with the new assistant coaches. A fair bit of the recent troubles were due to a feeble box out that didn't pressure the puck, misreading the positions of opposition forwards and, hate to say it, erratic netminding by the Monster.

Biggest pleasant surprises of the year so far for Leafs:

Jake Gardiner - I wanted him to challenge for quarterback of the power play at camp, as I felt he could be as good as Liles and would be too skilled for the AHL. In fact, he has exceeded my expectations, so let me ask: Would you trade him for PK Subhan? You have to think about it now, whereas a few months ago you wouldn't even ask the question. He'll be playing for Burke and Team USA at the 2014 Olympics.

Joffrey Lupul - Kessel is an amazing passer, but Lupul has also scored a lot of goals through hustle and sharp play.

Kessel - I wanted him to watch Mike Bossy vids during the Summer; looks like whatever he did, his progress as top level NHL sniper continues, and he's been outscoring Ovechkin for over half a year now.

Phaneuf - From the first game after the Kaberle trade, the defence and the team belong to Dion, and he leads by example. Say no more.

With MacArthur, Crabb, Connolly and Grabovski all contributing offensively, and players such as Colbourne, Kadri, Frattin and Boyce on the Marlies, the Maple Leafs are stocked from the nets out. If Colbourne is going to come up to the Leafs this year, then a package of players could be moved for a strong college player, a top AHL prospect that can finish the year with the Marlies, and possibly a draft pick.

The ShanahaNHL is a fast-paced league with little room for cheap shots, and young teams such as Toronto, Edmonton and Ottawa are striving ahead of the pack. We need to stay youthful and fast, rolling four lines over the boards with speed and passion.

Here is the list of Toronto Maple Leafs that I believe may be traded in coming months (first posted last week):

Darryl Boyce
Jussi Rynnas
Nazem Kadri
Cody Franson
Rosehill or Orr, not both
Korbinian Holzer
Mike Zigomanis
Marcel Mueller
Brayden Irwin
Simon Gysbers
Juraj Mikus

Here is my updated and expanded list as of tonight, with the Leafs in first place overall in the National Hockey League:

Darryl Boyce
Cody Franson
Korbinian Holzer
Jonas Gustavsson or Jussi Rynnas, not both
Nazem Kadri
Rosehill or Orr, not both
Josh Engel
Mike Zigomanis
Marcel Mueller
Brayden Irwin
Simon Gysbers
Juraj Mikus
Will Acton

What's your offer?

Maple Leafs exceeding even my expectations

2011-10-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

In early Summer 2011 I hoped that Jake Gardiner would go into Leafs training camp with the mindset that he was going to be the quarterback of the power play. Why did I want this? Everyone seemed to be giving the job to Liles uncontested, whereas I had been watching Gardiner develop on the USA junior team and he looked like a solid bet for the NHL.

I also hoped that Phil Kessel would watch video of Mike Bossy, and of Phil Kessel when hot, and hit the ice demanding and expecting big things from himself. He has developed into a premier passer over the past couple of seasons, Joffrey Lupul being the prime beneficiary, yet his sniping ability is so dominating that his assists pile up unnoticed.

My big concern was the position of backup goalie, and up until, well, yesterday against Pittsburgh, I was wholly unconviced that Gustavsson could be a reliable backup. In last night's game he played like a lad named James Reimer, and with Scrivens and Rynnas backstopping the first place Marlies in the AHL, the Buds are super-deep in the nets right now.

My hope was and is for the Maple Leafs to be contending for first in their division on January 1st, and be in the top four or five in the conference, and also to advance to the second round of the Stanley cup playoffs. They are noble goals for a young team, and we are definitely pointed in the right direction.

The fact that we are winning does not mean there won't be a trade, because Burke's phone is likely ringing with offers daily. The key will be to make a move that can add to the 23-man roster without detracting in any way from the success and momentum established so far.

So, who could be traded? Daryl Boyce is a proven NHLer with a winning record in the big leagues, and right now he's languishing on a 3rd line in the AHL, so he could be headed to Anaheim or Vancouver. Korbinian Holzer is likely ranked behind Aulie, Lashoff and Blacker, so could be moved as part of a package.

Two more controversial names would be Kadri and Franson. Beginning an NHL career in one's hometown can be tough, and I'm not convinced Burke sees Nazem Kadri as more than a top nine forward, and perhaps not quite nasty or hungry enough. Franson will likely be given another chance to contribute to wins, showcase his talents and increase the price should he be moved. It is too early to give up on such a talented young player, unless a sensational offer came in for him.

I am hoping Colbourne, Crabb, Aulie, Lashoff and Scrivens will be kept on the Marlies as insurance for the Leafs this year, and core building blocks for the next few years as contracts expire. I also think Mike Brown has earned the tough guy role over Rosehill and Orr.

Hockey players in Leafs system that could be traded

Here are names we could see being traded by the Leafs, but only if Burke thought he was receiving value that will help the Leafs now or in the future, without diminishing the Leafs or, to a lesser extent, the Marlies, hopes for this year:

Daryl Boyce
Jussi Rynnas
Nazem Kadri
Cody Franson
Rosehill or Orr, not both
Korbinian Holzer
Mike Zigomanis
Marcel Mueller
Brayden Irwin
Simon Gysbers
Juraj Mikus

Ideally Burke will move one player from the bottom five of the 23-man and package him with two mid-level Marlies, getting in return a top six scorer/playmaker, or a physical top nine winger/scorer. If he has to add in a 2nd round pick to get the right guy, Leafs fans have learned to trust that Brian's choice will far more often than not turn out to be a sound decision.

Leafs: The Monster's LAST STAND tonite?

2011-10-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

Motormouthed, inconsistent goalie talking and playing way out of lineup

Known to teammates as Goose, his nickname may be revised to Loose, after Jonas Gustavsson remarked to the media about James Reimer: "You never know with concussions."

What??? We thought this was a neck injury, but thanks for spilling the beans there loosey-goosey.

Anyways, Monster's recent play reminds one of Andrew Raycroft and Vesa Toskala, in that it requires excuses to justify. Leafs fans are definitely lacking confidence in Jonas, as the team rarely plays well in front of him, and the last time he won a game for the Maple Leafs was ... never?

Don't be surprised if Ben Scrivens gets the MSG start tonight, however if The Monster is in the nets, he must play very, very well or tomorrow he will be on waivers and Sunday will join the Toronto Marlies.

"Yo-Yo" Kadri to face Big Bad Bruins in Boston

2011-10-20T09:51:00.001-07:00

Mere hours after being sent down to the Toronto Marlies, injuries to Colby Armstrong and Clarke MacArthur in last night's win over Winnipeg resulted in Nazem Kadri getting called back up to the Buds. He is in Boston with the Leafs now, and is expected to play tonight against the Bruins.

Gotta love the depth Burkie has built into the 2011-2012 Toronto Maple Leafs!

Kadri to Marlies; Leafs Big Nine a tough nut to crack

2011-10-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

If anyone is wondering why Naz has been sent to the Buds' farm team, think of how far we've come. With the additions of Connolly, Lombardi, Steckel, Frattin and Dupuis, it is harder now to crack the Toronto Maple Leafs top nine than it was to make the big six last year.

Also, don't be surprised if Kadri has been told he may be down there for awhile. Joey Crabb is playing real well, potting two sweet goals in Saturday's win over Erie Monsters, and Joe Colborne is among AHL leaders.

Finally, a player has extra pressure starting his NHL career in his hometown. I am sure Burke is listening to offers as I type.

Maple Leafs with best plus / minus should stay in the lineup

2011-10-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

Here are 2011-2012 Toronto Maple Leafs with a +/- of at least +2:

Dion Phaneuf +8

Phil Kessel +6

Joffrey Lupul +6

Tyler Bozak +4

Carl Gunnarsson +4

Mike Brown +2

Another thing about Brown, even though he's an American, he plays hockey like a Canadian, and Leaf fans love him for it!

NHL Hockey: Leafs vs Jets, 3 things to watch for

2011-10-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

Will Lombardi get the call between Lupul and Kessel?

No, Bozak will get at least one more game on the first line.

Will rookie D-man Jake Gardiner be back in the lineup?

Yes; Franson should sit and shut up.

Will Gustavsson get his first start?

No, even though it would be logical, so that Reimer can play Thursday in Boston and against Montreal on Saturday. The prob is that Leafs fans do not like Gustavsson as he has let us down five too many times, plus we can really use the win. Look for Optimus to play Wednesday and Saturday with The Monster facing the Stanley Cup champions in Beantown on Thursday; trial by fire and ice.

NHL concussion comebacks a healthy sign for Crosby

2011-10-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

There may be other chapters to this feelgood story, however with 3 players beginning successful comebacks in recent days, any additional tales will be just icing on the cake. Scoring in their first game back after a long absence due to concussion were the Toronto Maple Leafs' forwards Matthew Lombardi and Colton Orr, while Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens banged one home in the Habs victory over Winnipeg, just his second game back.

Syd my man, you too can do it!

Toronto Maple Leafs depth chart, October 2011

2011-10-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

As training camp broke and Steckel was added for faceoffs and penalty killing, the Leafs opened the season with Connolly and Kadri on the shelf due to what are hopefully minor injuries.

Here's a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs depth chart as of today, October 9th, 2011:

Forwards

Kessel
Grabovski
Kulemin
Bozak
Lupul
Connolly
Lombardi
Steckel
MacArthur
Armstrong
Dupuis
Frattin
Brown
Rosehill
Orr
Kadri

Farm

Boyce
Crabb
Colbourne
Zigomanis

Defence

Phaneuf
Liles
Schenn
Gardiner
Gunnarsson
Komisarek
Franson

On the farm:

Aulie
Lashoff

Simon Gysbers
Korbinian Holzer
Jesse Blacker
Juraj Mikus

Goaltenders

James Reimer
Jonas Gustavsson

Ben Scrivens

2-way battle for Marlies backup spot:

Jussi Rynas
Mark Owuya

Crabb, Colbourne and Boyce power Marlies to 3-2 AHL opener

2011-10-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Victory over champs led by Toronto Leafs late cuts

Even though the Leafs pulled last night's game out of a rabbit hat in the end, they did dominate Ottawa for long stretches, and Brian Burke must be smiling today. As the Leafs enter a week of practice, the Toronto Marlies are showing the depth the Leafs GM can benefit from. When Connlly and Mac Arthur return, both Kadri and Frattin could also find themselves on the Marlies, strengthening this club even further.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (CP) - Darryl Boyce scored the power-play winner with one minute left in the second period as the Toronto Marlies defeated the defending Calder Cup champion Binghamton Senators 3-2 in American Hockey League action Saturday.

The Marlies scored three times in the second period to earn the win. Joey Crabb got Toronto (1-0-0) on the board at 3:24 of the period, then Joe Colborne and Boyce scored power-play goals to give the Marlies their first lead of the game.

Kaspars Daugavins and Eric Gryba scored in the first period for the Senators (0-2-0).

Ben Scrivens made 23 saves for the Marlies, who went 2-for-7 on the power play.

Mike McKenna made 35 stops for the Senators, who were blanked on four power-play chances.

NHL Ottawa vs Toronto Preview

2011-10-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

With Game 2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs 2011-2012 season just a couple of hours away, here are some notes regarding tonight's game versus Ottawa Senators, who opened their own season with a 5-3 loss in Detroit last night (courtesy of mapleleafs.nhl.com):

Season Series: It's the first of six editions of the Battle of Ontario, a series that ended with each team winning three times last season. The Senators have won their last two trips to the Air Canada Centre.

Team Scope:

Senators: You can be sure this was not how Paul MacLean had planned to start his NHL coaching career. In his first game as the boss, MacLean watched in horror as Ottawa fell behind 5-0 in Detroit on Friday night before scoring three times in a 5-3 loss that looked closer than it was.

"It looked a lot like it did when I was on the other bench from this bench," said MacLean, who was hired in Ottawa after six seasons as an assistant to Mike Babcock with the Wings. "For me, I felt comfortable being here at Joe Louis Arena, I've been here before. But we made a few mistakes."

Maple Leafs: Optimism reigns in Toronto, where the Leafs got their season off to a satisfying start by blanking the archrival Montreal Canadiens 2-0 on Thursday night. James Reimer stopped all 32 shots he faced and made goals by Matthew Lombardi and Dion Phaneuf stand up.

Not that coach Ron Wilson is ready to declare his team a powerhouse as it tries to end a playoff drought that dates to 2004. After all, the Leafs started last season by going 4-0-0, then collapsed with 11 losses in their next 12 games.

"We're still going to be a work in progress," he said.

Who's Hot: Reimer is now 21-15-5 since joining the Leafs on Jan. 1. … Newcomer Dave Steckel didn't hit the scoresheet Thursday night, but he more than did his job by going 18-7 in the faceoff circle. Steckel led the NHL in faceoff percentage last season.

Injury report: The Senators are without center Peter Regin (shoulder). Jesse Winchester (shoulder) and Matt Carkner (knee) are on IR. Center Zenon Konopka missed Friday's game with a back problem but hopes to play against the Leafs.

Toronto is still without one of its big offseason signings, center Tim Connolly, who's out with an upper-body injury. The Leafs hope he'll be back in a week or so. Forward Nazem Kadri is out with a knee injury.

Stat Pack: Reimer went 2-0-1 with a 0.98 goals-against average against the Senators in 2010-11, including a 2-0 shutout on Feb. 19. … The Leafs, among the NHL's worst penalty-killing teams during the past few seasons, held Montreal scoreless in five tries on Thursday and scored a shorthanded goal.

Puck Drop: No one is happier to be in the lineup than Lombardi, whose shorthanded goal on Thursday came in his first NHL game since he sustained a concussion last Oct. 13, when he was playing for Nashville. He couldn't even skate for 10 months and was only cleared for contact last week.

"It just goes to show that if you want it enough and you want to push yourself you can do it," said Lombardi, who played about 11 minutes on Thursday. "You've just got to believe in it."

Optimus Reim stonewalls Habs, leads Leafs to 2-0 win

2011-10-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

Lombardi and Phaneuf goals enough for a victory

After a truly shaky first period, when veterans Phaneuf and Komisarek held steady and Reimer performed solidly, the rest of the Maple Leafs joined the party in the second.

It's just one game but with players such as Connolly, Franson and Kadri out of the lineup, and proven NHLers like Boyce and Aulie with the Marlies, there is enough depth there for Burke to swing a two for one or three for two deal with a team that may be thinner.

Picking up Steckel for a fourth round pick may or may not turn out to be listed among Burke's brilliant horse trading moves, but tonight he was a big help, a force in the faceoff circle while patrolling the 3rd line wing. Lombardi on the 4th line is also intersting, as Brown and Rosehill open up room for a top six calibre forward.

Frattin doesn't really work on the Grabovski line because he is a shoot first forward and both of his linemates are better NHL snipers than he is, though he's getting there. Still, I'd like to see some responsibility thrown on him, he wants it.

Here are some line combos for Wilson to ponder for the 3rd game.

Frattin - Lombardi - Kessel
MacArthur - Gabrovski - Kulemin
Steckel - Dupuis - Armstrong
Brown - Bozak - Rosehill

Another thing I would like to have Wilson consider is occasionally dressing Franson as a fourth line winger. This could be a way to ensure defensive depth in the playoffs, though with players such as Connolly, Kadri, Crabb, Orr and even Boyce all itching to get into the Buds lineup, I can understand if other players get shots at those forward jobs that occasionally come open.

Lombardi scores first of season to give Leafs 1-0 lead

2011-10-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

The second period was much better for Leaf fans, with Matt Lombardi's shorthanded goal providing an early spark that carried on through the period. Phil Kessel is starting to get untracked and is looking dangerous.

Both Liles and Phaneuf are moving the puck well, and though Schenn's timing is still off, he's already a looming presence threatening fearsome hits.

This Lombardi signing could turn out to be a real blessing...

Leafs - Habs 1st period live blog

2011-10-06T16:55:00.000-07:00

The Canadiens outplayed the Leafs for sure, yet the score is still 0-0, and Phaneuf, Komisarek and Reimer all looked good.

There's no chemistry or confidence in the forward lines yet, however even one goal can change that.