03DEC - Toronto Maple Leafs TOP SCORERS 2012-13

NEW Maple Leafs Aucoin, Kostka, Ranger shine

Although nobody is really tearing up their league, most of the Leafs players and prospects are continuing to develop in 2012-2013, with Joe Colborne's slow start the notable exception. Aucoin, Kadri, Kulemin and Grabovski are all performing as management had hoped and expected, with Morgan Reilly, Josh Nicholls and Tyler Biggs all putting up big numbers in junior ranks. Reilly was recently invited to Team Canada junior camp.

The biggest outperformer has been Mike Kostka, and it would not be surprising to see he and Jake Gardiner remain a tandem with the Leafs. Komarov, Zigomanis and Hamilton have been consistent as usual,  and Matt Frattin, whose season is just getting underway, has 7 goals in 8 games. One blessing of the NHL lockout is that there are no fans and pundits screaming for Paul Ranger's promotion to the Maple Leafs, as he leads the Toronto Marlies with a +9 even strength rating.

Between the pipes, Ben Scrivens (7-6) shook off a spotty start and is nearing peak form, while Rynnas has been sensational (3-0-1). Mark Owuya (2-2) is still looking to regain last season's form, however he is the youngest pro Leafs goalie and is still learning the AHL game, having played half of last season in the ECHL. In the OHL, Garret Sparks (15-7) of Guelph Storm has been solid to spectacular, stealing a few games for his teammates.

At yesterday's Marlies game, Nazem Kadri was about to get into a scrap with Lake Erie's Bill Thomas, but Brad Ross quickly stepped in to take the fight, and delivered a victory too. Brian Burke was sure to notice future Leafs power forward Ross protecting an explosive current asset that may center the Leafs top line sooner rather than later. 

weighted points

Aucoin AHL 20 x 2 = 40

Kulemin KHL 18 x 2 = 36

Kadri AHL 18 x 2 = 36

Kostka AHL 18 x 2 = 36

Grabovski KHL 17 x 2 = 34

Biggs OHL 31 x 1 = 31

Komarov  AHL/KHL 15 (9+6) x 2 = 30

Nicholls WHL 30 x 1 = 30

Gardiner AHL 14 x 2 = 28

Zigomanis AHL 11 x 2 = 22

weighted goals

Nicholls WHL 19 x 1 = 19

Kulemin KHL 9 x 2 = 18

Grabovski KHL 8 x 2 = 16

Biggs 15 x 1 = 15

Frattin AHL 7 x 2 = 14

Hamilton AHL 7 x 2 = 14

Komarov AHL/KHL 6/1 x 2 = 14

weighted defencemen

Kostka AHL 13 x 2 = 26

Reilly WHL 26

Gardiner AHL 11 x 2 = 22

Finn OHL18

Percy OHL 17

unweighted +/-

Kulemin KHL +11

Biggs OHL +11

Ranger AHL +9

Komarov AHL/KHL(7+2) = 8

unweighted save percentage

Rynnas .938

Sparks .916

Scrivens .910

Owuya .833

Leafs prospect Jerry D'Amigo an AHL rising star

As if Brian Burke didn't already have a cupboard overflowing with NHL prospects, and along comes Jerry D'Amigo's four goals in the first two games of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup playoffs. In late season rankings, D'Amigo placed only #18 on my Top 25 Toronto Maple Leafs 25 Years of Age and Under.

After a 15 goal regular season, I imagined D'Amigo as a key but not crucial piece in a Rick Nash trade. Now that he has emerged as a potential deal maker, I'm not so sure I want to let him go, for the same reason I wanna keep Naz, and that is I believe Kadri may very well outscore Nash over the next 5 to 7 years. Could D'Amigo also have that much potential, or at least be a solid big game player, as he has been for the USA National Juniors team?

In any case, if Toronto had to give up one of Kadri or D'Amigo (plus Connolly and other assets) to get Nash, consider that Jerry and Rick are both right wingers, so if Nash comes in, we have Kessel and Nash at that position and D'Amigo would be bumped further down the depth chart.

It's only been two games, however with D'Amigo's ascendance to AHL playoffs star, it is refreshing to be able to consider a much wider range of options for Leafs moves this June, and they are likely to add a proven NHL goalie before even looking at Nash. Stay tuned.

Phaneuf or Schenn to be traded in offseason: Maple Leafs news

In today's Toronto Star, Feschuk reports that the fight between Phaneuf and Brayden Schenn a few nights ago "fuelled long-held speculation that the tension that exists between Phaneuf and Toronto’s Schenn is a cancerous dressing-room presence."

If this is really long-held speculation, why did we not hear about it at the trade deadline? That would have explained why so many were willing to trade Luke Schenn, a leading hitter, and why the disaster got deeper when the Buds were neither buyers nor sellers... indicating a time when they were lacking confidence in the present, but not giving up on the future.

A proven goalie is #1 objective

If Phaneuf is to retain the captaincy of the Maple Leafs, it would likely be wise to try and get a goalie or a centre/left winger for Schenn. If Dion is to be relieved of the captaincy (think about it though, who else is ready for it? Grabovski? Gardiner?), then he should be the one to be traded. If word gets around that both are on the block pending acceptance of best offer, and great offers come in for both, it could fully clear the dressing room of any lingering effects from the 2011-2012 collapse.

If both Dion and Luke are moved in the offseason, the D before further acquisitions would be:

Gardiner

Gunnarsson

Liles

Franson

Komisarek

Holzer

Blacker

A D coming back via trade and/or a free agent signing would be required if they both go, however if only one of them goes, the team may still want to add another mobile defender, in case Blacker or Holzer isn't ready, and as injury insurance.

Fan 590 Brady and Lang discuss Phaneuf and Schenn feud implications

HF Boards thread regarding Leafs trade Phaneuf or Schenn

So long Monster, I truly wish you well

Leafs have Reimer and 3 AHLers in the nets for 2012-2013

In another travesty of epic proportions, more nails were placed in the Allaire and Gustavsson maple coffins tonight as the Leafs were eliminated by 3 half-snapper, top cheddar shots that could have been saved. All 3 goals high on glove side. The problem is Allaire's system emphasizes protecting holes 3,4, and 5, leaving the top corners open. Shooters know this, and have been exploiting the knowledge for months.

So we have James Reimer, currently ranked #3 in my Top 25 Toronto Maple leafs 25 years old or younger, behind only Jake Gardiner (#1) and Phil Kessel (#2). The problem is that of the next 3 guys, Ben Scrivens, Jussi Rynnas (#20) and Mark Owuya (#8), none have played more than a few games in the NHL, and Owuya played most of the year in the ECHL.

Burke now in market for big-time goalie

All 3 of those Leafs prospects need to play at the AHL level or higher next year, and none of them can be guaranteed an NHL spot. This means one of them needs to be traded, and based on 2011-2012, Jussi would be the man on the block. Playing well in his NHL debut tonight likely increased his value so that's good, and the loss will also help us get a better draft pick.

What goalies are available? More than people will tell you about. You see, the free agent names are the ones everyone talks about, and there are many of those:

Goaltenders - 2012 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents
Player	2011-12 Team	11-12 Cap Hit	Contract Notes
Cristobal Huet	Chicago Blackhawks	$5,625,000
Martin Brodeur	New Jersey Devils	$5,200,000
Dwayne Roloson	Tampa Bay Lightning	$3,000,000
Antero Niittymaki	San Jose Sharks	$2,000,000
Chris Mason	Winnipeg Jets	$1,850,000
Michael Leighton	Philadelphia Flyers	$1,550,000
Dan Ellis	Anaheim Ducks	$1,500,000
Tomas Vokoun	Washington Capitals	$1,500,000
Jonas Gustavsson	Toronto Maple Leafs	$1,350,000
Johan Hedberg	New Jersey Devils	$1,250,000
Scott Clemmensen	Florida Panthers	$1,200,000
Alex Auld	Ottawa Senators	$1,000,000
Martin Biron	New York Rangers	$875,000
Johan Backlund	Philadelphia Flyers	$800,000
Ty Conklin	Detroit Red Wings	$750,000
Josh Harding	Minnesota Wild	$750,000
Andrew Raycroft	Dallas Stars	$650,000
Yann Danis	Edmonton Oilers	$650,000
Curtis McElhinney	Phoenix Coyotes	$625,000
Al Montoya	New York Islanders	$601,000
Ray Emery	Chicago Blackhawks	$600,000
Curtis Sanford	Columbus Blue Jackets	$600,000
Brent Johnson	Pittsburgh Penguins	$600,000
Brian Elliott	St. Louis Blues	$600,000	Re-signed with the Blues. 2 years, $3.6 million.
Evgeni Nabokov	New York Islanders	$570,000
Nathan Lawson	Montreal Canadiens	$550,000
Mike McKenna	Ottawa Senators	$550,000
Drew Macintyre	Buffalo Sabres	$525,000
David Leggio	Buffalo Sabres	$525,000
Jason Bacashihua	Philadelphia Flyers	$525,000
Scott Munroe	Pittsburgh Penguins	$525,000
Matt Climie	Vancouver Canucks	$525,000
Dany Sabourin	Washington Capitals	$525,000
Peter Mannino	Winnipeg Jets	$525,000

The Leafs are a big bucks franchise and can also afford to bid on restricted free agent goalies in a sign and trade deal, and to take a high-priced goalie from a team looking to shed salary. Look for a veteran signing, likely from the above list, as that allows us to retain assets. The free agent and Reimer battle for the #1 spot, Scrivens and Owuya beginning 2012-2013 with the Marlies, with one caveat. If Scrivens leads the Marlies to a Calder Cup and is a significant contributor to the cause, he could elevate himself into the mix. He's had 5 victories and 3 shutouts in his last 6 games, so don't count Ben out.

Sources: http://www.sportscity.com/nhl/2012-nhl-free-agents-unrestricted-listed-by-position/#Goalie,