Leafs News: Coborne traded to Calgary, D battle hot

With Dave Nonis trading Joe Colborne to his former boss Brian Burke's (is he chasing a mistake?) team for a 4th round pick next year, the competition for the 12th and 13th forward spots (at least until Clarkson and McLaren return) has come down to the wire. Joe C never really impressed in Toronto, though he often upped his game when with the Leafs relative to his time with Marlies (as with Kadri). Colborne has big size but doesn't use it, which must have befuddled Carlyle daily. 

Here is the current situation up front for the Leafs:

Big Six:

JVR - Bozak - Kessel
Lupul - Kadri - Clarkson (suspended, pencil Raymond in for now)

Third Line

McClement - Bolland - Kulemin


Fourth Line

Here's where it gets tricky, and don't be surprised if the Leafs pick up a center off waivers, after letting Colborne go. McClement or Bolland could be asked to center the fourth line if no C is picked up today or tomorrow. Regardless, there are two openings (Orr will play certain teams) and five bodies:

Carter Ashton, Troy Bodie, Trevor Smith, Jamie Devane and Josh Leivo

Ashton makes a mil per year, more than the others, and can also be sent down without waivers, so look for him to be parked with the Marls for now. While Leivo probably deserves a shot soon, with Clarkson out of the lineup, more experienced players like Brodie and Smith may get the nod, so here is one possibility for a temporary fourth line:

Devane - Smith - Orr

13th forward: Brodie

Leivo and Ashton will be sent to Marlies with encouragement to continue stellar play and be ready for a callup.




Maple Leafs 7th D: Reilly or Liles?

Most commentators assume Liles is going on waivers and ending up with the Marlies but that only frees up 900k or so, whereas if they trade him and pay half his salary that frees up 2 mil. Even if he does go to Marlies, he could be back up if Reilly goes down, but don't hold your breath. The vibes would indicate that Lieweke, Nonis and Carlyle all believe that for the Leafs to be serious Stanley Cup contenders, they will need both Gardiner and Reilly to be dynamic offensive contributors. Add in Franson, and all three leafs pairings could be dangerous.

Here are the perceived D starters:

Top Six

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Fraser - Franson
Gardiner - Ranger


7 and 8

Reilly, Liles, MacWilliam



I called the Joe Colborne trade a couple of days ago, and I can't avoid this feeling that some other NHL team is going to cut someone that Nonis and Carlyle want, so stay tuned, the next twenty-eight hours (deadline for rosters is 3pm Monday) will be fascinating for NHL fans.

Toronto Maple Leafs #1 overall in NHL

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?

Kadri to skate with #1 line tonight against Ottawa

Nazem Kadri centering Lupul and Kessel versus Senators

When Tim Connolly banged himself up crashing into the boards at practice yesterday, that noise was the sound of opportunity in the Leafs camp and it is Nazem Kadri who has been called upon to fill the whole on the potential number one line for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As the song says, for Kadri, Tonight's The Night....


This evening's projected lineup against Ottawa Senators:

MacArthur - Grabovski - Kulemin
Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
Armstrong - Boyce - Frattin
Rosehill - Dupuis - Crabb/Orr

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf
Liles - Schenn
Aulie - Franson

Reimer

Kaberle may want to check with Vancouver

Sedin twins need replacement for Erhoff

Vancouver can either rebuild for the future, or retool for this year, and if they choose the latter path, Tomas Kaberle could be a suitable replacement for the now-departed Christian Erhoff.

The Sedins need someone to get the puck up fast, and Kabs can do it.

Leafs ink Optimus Reim to 3 year contract!!!

King James Reimer slated to be #1 for Toronto Maple Leafs

Contract reported at three years, $5.4 million

“We are extremely pleased to have come to terms on this new deal with James and his agent Ray Petkau,” said Leafs GM Brian Burke. “He earned the opportunity to play at the NHL level this past season and he made the most of it with his outstanding play. He really grabbed the net and never looked back. We are confident that his talent and strong work habits will be contributing factors to our team’s success next season.”

Reports indicate it is worth US$5.4-million, which would equal a $1.8-million annual cap hit. Reimer, 23, was due to be an restricted free agent on July 1. Toronto now has two goaltenders under contract for the 2011-12 season. Swede Jonas Gustavsson has one year remaining on a contract that will pay him $1.4-million. Veteran J-S Giguere is an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and is unlikely to be retained by the Leafs.

In addition, if Gustavsson is moved, recent Swedish signing Mark Owuya may already be a strong backup to Reimer, as he had the best save percentage in Sweden's elite league this year. At the very least, Owuya will battle Ben Scrivner and Jurki Rynnas for the #2 position on the big club, as Gustavsson is likely to be moved (he needs a new start elsewhere) at the first reasonable offer.

Though starting 2010-2011 in the AHL, Reimer was recalled four times from the Marlies last season and he made his NHL debut in the third period and stopped all four shots December 20 versus Atlanta. He registered his first NHL shutout with 27 saves on February 3 against Carolina. He managed a win in a season-high five consecutive road games from February 8 to March 3. His strong play in March earned him the NHL’s Rookie of the Month Award with a 9-4-1 record, one shutout, a 2.87 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. The goaltender fashioned a record of 11-3-4 when making 30 or more saves in a game this past season.

Internationally, Reimer was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia where he was unbeaten in four games. He compiled a record of 3-0-0 with a 2.04 goals against average and a .920 save percentage.

Reimer is a former East Coast Hockey League playoffs MVP after appearing in eight playoff games for the Kelly Cup-winning South Carolina Stingrays in 2009. The 6-2, 220-pound native of Morweena, Manitoba was originally the Leafs’ third choice, 99th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and signed his first contract with the Maple Leafs on March 19, 2008.


Toronto Maple Leafs trade idea

Washington needs toughness and depth, so Brian Burke should consider offering Gustavsson, Komisarek and one of Tyler Bozak and Colton Orr, for Alexander Semin. Now, it's true that Semin has only a one year deal at $6.7 million, however if we can get rid of some salary in the deal, it may make sense for both teams.

Leafs drive alive; East race tightens as 5 points separate 7th from 10th

Lupul scores two to tie game; Kadri score shootout winner

The Maple Leafs continue to improve and after beating the Boston Bruins 4-3 tonight, now find themselves 5 points back of 7th place, with the Buds and the strangers each having 4 games left, while Buffalo and Carolina have five apiece.

Ideally the Leafs would win their 4 games, with Buffalo and New York wining only one each, and Carolina winning no more than 2. That would put the Leafs into 7th place, so there a much wider range of scenarios that would put them into 8th. Odds are slim, yet that doesn't mean it ain't whole lotta fun.

NHL East Division Stanley Cup Playoffs Race

7 BUFFALO NE 77 39 29 9 87
8 NY RANGERS ATL 78 41 32 5 87
9 CAROLINA SE 77 37 30 10 84
10 TORONTO NE 78 36 32 10 82




The NHL West features 7 teams battling for the final 5 playoff spots. You may think Phoenix is home and cooled out, however if Dallas were to win their 3 games in hand, they'd be just 2 points back, with 4 games to go. This one is gonna be crazy during the final week of the NHL's 2010-2011 regular season schedule.

NHL West Division Stanley Cup Playoffs Race

4 PHOENIX PAC 78 42 25 11 95
5 LOS ANGELES PAC 76 44 26 6 94
6 ANAHEIM PAC 77 44 28 5 93
7 NASHVILLE CEN 77 41 26 10 92
8 CHICAGO CEN 76 41 27 8 90
9 DALLAS PAC 75 38 26 11 87
10 CALGARY NW 78 38 29 11 87

NY Rangers lose to Sabres, Carolina wins as race gets tighter

NHL East Conference 7th and 8th Place both up for grabs

With the New York Rangers dropping 3-2 to the Buffalo Sabres tonight, and Carolina winning 2-1 over Florida Panthers, here's how the NHL East playoff race is shaping up:

NHL Eastern Conference, standings as of March 1st, 2011

EASTERN DIV GP W L OT PTS

7. NY RANGERS ATL 65 33 28 4 70

8. CAROLINA SE SE 64 30 25 9 69

9. BUFFALO NE 62 30 25 7 67

10. TORONTO NE 63 27 27 9 63

11. ATLANTA SE 64 26 27 11 63

The Toronto Maple Leafs are now 6 points out of 8th, 7 points back of 7th. With Montreal defeating Atlanta 3-1, the Canadiens have likely made the playoffs, and Atlanta faces an uphill battle as the worst-positioned of the five teams above that are battling for the final two playoff spots in the NHL East Conference.

The Leafs face Penguins Wednesday, followed by Philadelphia and Chicago. It would be very helpful if they can get three points out of these three games, and the deuce may need to come tomorrow night.

Go Buds!

NHL Playoff races: Leafs now 7 points out of 7th place

NHL East has 6 teams battling for 3 playoff spots

By picking up two points in their overtime and shootout losses on the weekend, the Toronto Maple Leafs find they are now just 7 points out of 7th place, and only four points behind Carolina holding the eighth and final Eastern Conference NHL playoff spot:

EASTERN DIV GP W L OT PTS

6. MONTREAL NE 63 33 23 7 73

7. NY RANGERS ATL 64 33 27 4 70

8. CAROLINA SE 63 29 25 9 67

9. BUFFALO NE 61 29 25 7 65

10. TORONTO NE 63 27 27 9 63

11. ATLANTA SE 63 26 26 11 63


Montreal is very close to being in, so in my mind there are really 5 teams battling for 2 playoff positions.


NHL Western Conference 2011 Playoff Race

The West is truly crazy, and we're gonna have to keep an eye on this one and narrow it down a bit in a week or two, but right now it is wide open. There are 11 NHL teams battling for West playoff spots 3 through 8:

WESTERN DIV GP W L OT PTS

3. SAN JOSE PAC 63 36 21 6 78

4. PHOENIX PAC 64 33 21 10 76

5. LOS ANGELES PAC 62 35 23 4 74

6. CALGARY NW 64 32 23 9 73

7. MINNESOTA NW 62 33 23 6 72

8. DALLAS PAC 62 33 23 6 72

9. CHICAGO CEN 62 33 23 6 72

10. NASHVILLE CEN 63 32 23 8 72

11. ANAHEIM PAC 63 33 25 5 71

12. COLUMBUS CEN 61 31 24 6 68

13. ST LOUIS CEN 62 28 25 9 65



The Elite: Vancouver, Philadelphia, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Boston, Washington


The Pack: ALL the teams featured in the playoff races above.


The Future: Edmonton, Colorado, Ottawa, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Florida

With the NHL trade deadline being tomorrow afternoon, we're down to the nitty gritty and already seeing playoff-style intensity in games affecting divisional standings. This is gonna be fun!!!

Go Leafs Go!