The Toronto Maple Leafs Thread

[fonger]

Tonight:

LEAFS vs SABRES

MAPLE LEAFS (1-7-2) at SABRES (7-1-1)

Season series -- First meeting this year, but the Sabres hold a five-game winning streak over their Northeast Division rivals, two at home and three at the Air Canada Centre. The last win for the Leafs was on Dec. 12, 2008, a 2-1 victory in Buffalo.

Big Story -- No question it's Buffalo's perfect three-game road trip, capped off with a solid 4-1 effort over the Devils at the Rock Wednesday night. The Sabres allowed two goals or fewer in each game on the trip.

Team scope

Maple Leafs -- They only have one win to show for it, but the last four games have shown a clear improvement for the Leafs. The offense broke out in their 6-3 win over the Ducks, but another solid effort in Dallas was overshadowed by a 4-3 overtime loss.

One reason the Leafs are playing with more confidence is that Jonas Gustavsson is back in nets after missing time with a groin injury.

"He's played very well, kind of the way we've expected him to play," coach Ron Wilson said Thursday. "You see us being a little more confident in how we play when we know we're getting big saves back there at the right time."

With Vesa Toskala coming off IR, however, the question becomes when to rest Gustavsson.

"I don't really know, we'll decide after the game whether he'll play in Montreal," Wilson said. "I mean, Vesa's rarin' to go too so it might be a good time for Vesa to get in there and keep Jonas from playing back to back this early in his comeback. Three games in four nights is a lot.

"If this is a (goaltender) controversy, there's 10 times as much controversy in other cities when it comes to goaltenders."

http://cdn.nhl.com/mapleleafs/images/upload/2009/10/stempniakpreviewoct30.jpg

Sabres -- The 10-game mark was an important one for 19-year-old defenseman Tyler Myers. It's the point when his three-year rookie contract kicks in, and management had the option of sending him back to his junior team in Kelowna.

But he has two goals and three assists in his first nine games, plus a highlight-reel shootout goal in the Sabres' 3-2 win at Tampa Saturday night. So important to the team's early success he was that Sabres management is willing to put up with the fact that free agency will come a year earlier for him than other members of his draft class.

"He should play here," Buffalo defenseman Henrik Tallinder said. "I'm really amazed with his poise with the puck. It's unbelievable for his age, 19. You don't see veteran guys have that."

Tallinder compared the 6-foot-8 Myers to another tall defenseman, Boston's 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara.

"Not even close. I still don't think Chara has the same movements as this kid has," Tallinder said. "It's scary how good he's going to be."

Who's Hot -- With the 31-save performance in New Jersey, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller is 7-0-1 with a 1.60 GAA on the season. Even better, he has a 1.20 GAA in Buffalo's five straight wins over the Leafs.

Toronto's Jason Blake turned in his best game of the year in Dallas with three assists. Niklas Hagman had the hat trick in Anaheim, of course, but he has a total of four goals and one assist in his last five games.

Injury Report -- Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera is close to returning from the rib injury he suffered Oct. 10 in Nashville. "There's a chance for the weekend," coach Lindy Ruff said. "We'll just have to see." Defenseman Toni Lydman suffered a setback with his groin injury in practice on Monday and missed Wednesday's game in New Jersey. Leafs right winger Phil Kessel (shoulder) is on track for a Nov. 3 return.

Stat Pack -- For a team with only one win so far this season, the Maple Leafs lead the NHL in power-play percentage at 30.77 percent. By stark contrast, their penalty kill is worst in the league by several percentage points at 63.41 percent. Only the Ducks have allowed more power-play goals than Toronto's 15.

Puck Drop -- It'll be a true measure of whether the Leafs are about to turn the corner as they continue their road trip against one of the League's hottest teams.

-- Matt Mankiewich, NHL.com

[Newf]

MONTREAL -- A wild game between the rival Canadiens and Maple Leafs came down to a shootout, where Montreal has been unbeatable this season.

Mike Cammalleri and Scott Gomez scored as the Canadiens pulled out a 5-4 shootout win after blowing a two-goal lead in the third period.

Six of Montreal's seven wins this season have come in overtime or shootouts -- including an OT win over the Leafs in the season opener for both teams on Oct. 1 in Toronto.

"Our fans like OT and shootouts I guess," said Cammalleri. "We didn't want to give them those two goals.

"The fans were singing 'Na Na' (Goodbye) and were ready to go out and enjoy their Saturday night. We'd have liked to hold them off, but the big thing was to get the win."

The Canadiens led 4-2 midway through the third, but Alexei Ponikarovsky's second of the game and a last-minute goal from Tomas Kaberle tied it with 54 seconds left in regulation.

Both Montreal shooters beat Vesa Toskala in the shootout, both with wrist shots to the glove side on which he didn't move. Jaroslav Halak stopped Lee Stempniak and Kaberle in Toronto's first shootout of the season.

Kaberle added three assists, giving him 13 points in his last five games, including a five-point night against Anaheim on Oct. 26.

Wearing their brightly striped vintage jerseys from 1912-13, the Canadiens got goals from Glen Metropolit, Guillaume Latendresse and Hal Gill in the second period. Roman Hamrlik scored in the third.

Stempniak also scored for Toronto (1-7-4), which ended a five-game road trip with a 1-1-3 record.

Montreal (7-7-0) ended a two-game skid.

"I could throw out all the cliches, but we still have to find a way to win," said Leafs coach Ron Wilson. "Which cliche do you want? We never say die, blah, blah blah? We still need to win."

Emotions ran high between the rivals and there were frequent shoving matches after whistles but surprisingly no fights between the NHL's two oldest clubs, although there looked to be a few up in the stands with the usual large group of Toronto fans mixing with the locals.

"That was a rivalry game," said Cammalleri, a Toronto native. "There was no love lost.

"There were words exchanged that I can't repeat. There was blood on the ice. There were fights in the seats from what I could see. That's a rivalry game."

After a sloppy but uneventful first period, Ponikarovsky knocked in Kaberle's rebound on a power play 1:12 into the second.

But Metropolit, who has eight points in eight games this season, scored 1:15 later.

Latendresse scored on Tomas Plekanec's rebound at 12:24 and former Leafs defenceman Gill netted his first since joining Montreal in the summer.

Stempniak closed the gap to 3-2 with 4:44 left in the period on a point shot that beat Halak cleanly.

Hamrlik was at the far post to put in Gomez's shot just after a power play ended at 9:50 of the third period. It was the 20th goal allowed by Toskala in four starts this season and 23rd in five appearances, although he made 35 saves on the night.

Ponikarovsky scored his second of the game with 3:28 left.

The Leafs called a timeout with one minute remaining and sent out six attackers. Kaberle's point shot went off Jaroslav Spacek's skate and slid inside the far post to tie it.

"He's doing a great job," Wilson said of Kaberle. "He's picking up points by the bushel on the power play, which has been pretty good."

The Leafs went 2 for 7 on the power play and are 9 for 26 with the advantage in their last five games.

Former Canadiens defenceman Mike Komisarek nailed Metropolit with an open-ice hit early in the second period, leading to a melee. The crowd booed loudly each time Komisarek hit the ice. He left Montreal to sign as a free agent in Toronto in the summer.

There was a scoreboard tribute to former Canadiens great Jacques Plante, who became the first goaltender to wear a mask full-time 50 years ago on Sunday.

NOTES: Canadiens winger Matt D'Agostini, checked in the head in Chicago on Friday night, saw a doctor before the game but there was no immediate word on how seriously he is injured. Greg Stewart got back into the lineup after missing 10 games. ... Toronto winger Phil Kessel skated Saturday morning, and Wilson said this week he might make his Leafs debut on Tuesday against Tampa Bay. ... Ponikarovsky has more career points (25) against Montreal than any other team.

[fonger]

http://cdn.nhl.com/mapleleafs/images/upload/2009/10/ponyhabs400oct31.jpg

http://cdn.nhl.com/mapleleafs/images/upload/2009/10/leafscandiens700oct31.jpg

[fonger]

Leafs Remain Winless At Home After OT Loss <br />
<br />
TORONTO -- Some 13 minutes into his Toronto Maple Leafs debut, it looked like Phil Kessel might be headed right back onto the injured list. <br />
<br />
Zipping...

[Newf]

from tsn.ca

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20091106/kesselbig_40174.jpg

(Sports Network) - It appears that Phil Kessel was worth the wait for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The streaking forward will face his former team, the Boston Bruins, for the first time this evening in a Northeast Division showdown at TD Garden.

Kessel notched a career-high 36 goals, 24 assists and 60 points in 70 games with the Bruins last year, his third with the club. Despite offseason shoulder surgery, he was dealt to the Maple Leafs for first-round picks in 2010 and 2011, as well as a second rounder in '10, and was quickly signed to a five- year deal by Toronto.

"Obviously I love Boston," said Kessel. "I love the city, the fans were great to me, the organization treated me great. Unfortunately they went in a different direction and it didn't work out."

Kessel's injury caused him to miss the first 12 games of the season, but he has been a force since returning to the ice. The forward has 10 goals and 15 points in 15 games with the Leafs, notching two goals in Thursday's 6-3 victory over the Blue Jackets.

Jason Blake, who came into the game with two goals, notched his first multi- goal game since February 14 in the win, while Lee Stempniak and Nikolai Kulemin also scored. Toronto picked up its fourth win in five games overall and fourth straight on the road.

The Maple Leafs also got 33 saves out of Joey MacDonald, who picked up his first victory of the season. MacDonald was in net again after it was learned that Jonas Gustavsson needed to undergo a second heart procedure after leaving Tuesday's game following the first period with an elevated heart rate.

Toronto could be getting some help in net tonight, as Vesa Toskala could return from a five-game absence due to a groin injury. He has struggled to a 1-4-2 mark and 3.91 goals-against average this season.

The Maple Leafs conclude a three-game road trip tonight and are 6-5-4 as the guest this year.

The Bruins will be getting a good look at the Leafs over the next week. Following this contest, Boston is idle until it hosts Toronto again on Thursday. The Maple Leafs will play twice at home between the meetings.

The Bruins are coming off just their second loss in eight games (6-1-1), a 5-1 setback to the Canadiens last night on the Montreal franchise's 100th birthday. Boston fell behind by five goals before Vladimir Sobotka's third- period tally ended the shutout.

Tim Thomas was rocked for five goals on 23 shots through two periods in defeat. Tuukka Rask finished the game by stopping all six shots he faced.

"We missed several chances early and at the end it just snowballed," said Bruins forward Marc Savard. "We were sloppy tonight. We did get chances, but we didn't press enough and they weren't going in."

Boston, which is one point back of first-place Buffalo in the Northeast standings, is 8-5-3 at home this year.

The Bruins won their final five meetings with the Maple Leafs a season ago and have also taken seven of eight in addition to 11 of the last 15 meetings. Toronto has lost two straight and six of its last 10 in Boston.

[Newf]

So how about those Leafs? I know every year we end up saying maybe next year it will turn around... but I gotta say I really am excited about next season after seeing these kids play the last few weeks. With Kadri hopefully maikng the team next year and a couple moves in the summer I think this team will compete for a playoff spot next season.

[torpainter]

LMAO
I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard that...lol

[Newf]

LMAO
I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard that...lol

yah me too lol, thats why I said I know we hear it all the time, gotta keep the faith though, without that we have nothing :D

[fonger]

go leafs go

[sneerboy]

I'm so old I've seen the Leafs win the Stanley Cup.
:D

[chuck]

So how about those Leafs? I know every year we end up saying maybe next year it will turn around... but I gotta say I really am excited about next season after seeing these kids play the last few weeks. With Kadri hopefully maikng the team next year and a couple moves in the summer I think this team will compete for a playoff spot next season.

i believe you may be right.

seems the leaf organization still wants to season kadri for a bit longer in the minors.

[The Cobra]

i believe you may be right.

seems the leaf organization still wants to season kadri for a bit longer in the minors.

They want to "season" him all right-----------but they want to get something for this horrid waste of a draft pick.

[chuck]

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/chuck067/images.jpg

THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are making some lineup changes to try to take advantage of the tired New York Rangers.

Kris Versteeg pronounced himself fit after missing Thursday's game with a sore back while Christian Hanson was recalled from the AHL Marlies on Saturday.

Coach Ron Wilson planned to insert the six-foot-four, 220-pound centre directly into the lineup against a Rangers team that is coming off a 4-3 loss Friday to Carolina.

"We want to (play at a high pace) early and try to wear them down."

Wilson wouldn't say who Versteeg and Hanson would replace in the lineup. The most likely candidates are Mike Zigomanis and John Mitchell.

Hanson was one of Toronto's final cuts out of training camp and general manager Brian Burke indicated at the time he probably deserved to make the team. The 24-year-old has focused on trying to make improvements in some of the areas that were mentioned when he was cut.

"They want me to play a little more tenacious, a little more physical role," said Hanson. "I'm taking faceoffs, playing centre now, I've got to bear down and win 50 to 55 per cent of those."

His time with the big club sounds like it might be short-lived.

"We just want to get bigger tonight and Christian's the biggest player we have down there," said Wilson.

Versteeg has been battling a sore back recently and had an MRI Friday to confirm there's no structural damage, according to Wilson. With his mind at ease, the winger will be back in his spot on the second line with Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur.

He wouldn't say if it's an issue that has plagued him in the past.

"I guess that's going to have to be between me and the boys back there," said Versteeg. "I feel good right now. This is something that you know you're going to have to fight through and do what you can to help the team."

The Leafs have struggled offensively during a recent 1-3-1 stretch. They've scored seven goals during those five games.

"Obviously we're creating our chances and it hasn't been quite going in," said Versteeg. "We were getting goals in the first three or four games. Then when you don't get goals for three or four games the fire bells go off."

The Leafs and Rangers will be facing one another for the third time in two weeks. Toronto won 4-3 at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 15 while the Rangers pulled out a 2-1 victory at Air Canada Centre on Oct. 21.

[chuck]

well, it was 2 zip for the rangers. leafs directed 70 shots at goal...half were blocked. just couldn't score.

with a terrific start to the season...seems the problem this club has is starting to show.

FORWARDS!

a lack of scoring ability. they have gone over 122 mins without a goal. kessel can't do it all the time. team needs some extra punch....

i think its time to move kaberle...for a good,proven goal scorer, playmaker....grinder..whatever works, to solve this puzzel.

i am sure the wheels are turning in burkes head after last nights loss.

i also think, and i agree with don cherry, the leafs should bring up kadri. hes playing good, scoring and could help out this team. an extra goal a game could make the difference.

[Newf]

I too would like to see Kadri up with the big club...trade Grabo for a bag of pucks and call the kid up! Also would like to see a D-Man moved for a scorer, not necessarily Kaberle though. Also would like to add that Phaneuf has got to step up and play harder...his defensive abilities are horrible, he doesn't throw the big hit like he used to, and his shot is way off target! he needs to be better all around!

[doggy10]

i agree with you chuck for the most part. we definetly need to trade a d-man for a forward. not sure kaberle would fetch very much anymore being he is not at his prime anymore, and he is a free agent at the end of the year.3 years ago when the "cater" trade was made he was at the top of his game and was a steal at 4mill a year for 3 more years then.

also i think it might be time to give kadri a shot. i agreed in sending him down but he seems to found his game and we have nothing to lose. with a great start to the season it would be a shame to have that gone to waste. i think, actually i know for a fact that ron wilson is a big problem in the dressing room. how do i know? well lets just say my cousin was traded from the leafs last year and has since signed a 14 mill/ 4 yr deal with the team he was traded to. he told me many guys before didnt get along with wilson and at the begining of last season, he told me he would be traded that year and sure enough he was. too bad wison is burkie's buddy. i think burke is great for the team and has done what he can since being GM.

well i hope they can turn things around, make a trade and make the playoffs this year. either way i will always wear my blue and white proudly even when they lose.

[chuck]

i agree with you chuck for the most part. we definetly need to trade a d-man for a forward. not sure kaberle would fetch very much anymore being he is not at his prime anymore, and he is a free agent at the end of the year.3 years ago when the "cater" trade was made he was at the top of his game and was a steal at 4mill a year for 3 more years then.

also i think it might be time to give kadri a shot. i agreed in sending him down but he seems to found his game and we have nothing to lose. with a great start to the season it would be a shame to have that gone to waste. i think, actually i know for a fact that ron wilson is a big problem in the dressing room. how do i know? well lets just say my cousin was traded from the leafs last year and has since signed a 14 mill/ 4 yr deal with the team he was traded to. he told me many guys before didnt get along with wilson and at the begining of last season, he told me he would be traded that year and sure enough he was. too bad wison is burkie's buddy. i think burke is great for the team and has done what he can since being GM.

well i hope they can turn things around, make a trade and make the playoffs this year. either way i will always wear my blue and white proudly even when they lose.

i too am not a fan of wilson. if the leafs continue to fall behind in the standings, i think burke will have no choice but to let wilson go. buddies or not, its for the betterment of the club and franchise. business is business and wilson knows his job is unsecure if the club continues to drop.

a new coach can have a very positive affect on a troubleing team.

[tanger]

After watching the last two games, it very apparent what the leafs are missing - a power forward. None of our 'top 6' are willing to drive it to the net. If you watch them play, everything is from the outside and we've become a perimeter team, which is super easy to defend against. We need some rugged, power forwards, who are willing to go to the dirty areas and drive to the net, with or without the puck.

I too would like to see Kadri play on the big club. He didnt deserve a spot out of training camp but I think Grabo is garbage and Kadri could probably do what he is already doing and more. But I dont think Burke will call him up until he get 20-30 games inthe AHL.

[doggy10]

its true timing of when to bring up a rookie is crucial. kadri has excelled in the ahl but if he gets called up there will be alot of pressure on him again like there was in pre season and training camp. either way he has to learn to over come that eventually i guess.

[tanger]

its true timing of when to bring up a rookie is crucial. kadri has excelled in the ahl but if he gets called up there will be alot of pressure on him again like there was in pre season and training camp. either way he has to learn to over come that eventually i guess.

True...dont you just love the Toronto media LOL

Leafs need to get a TRUE #1 center so that when Kadri gets called up, the spotlight wont be entirely on him - that's not a knock on Bozak, I like him but I think he's a #2 center right now in his career.

I would like to see Burke make a move for Brad Richards, he's UFA after this year, if we can land him for 6mil-ish, I would take that. Or another option is Jeff Carter but hes RFA after this year so it would take some serious assets to pry him away from Philly. JMO

[doggy10]

bingo, those are the 2 rumured trades. would love to get either one of them. i too loke bozak but he is a 2nd line center at best forsure. we need scoring bigtime. power forward and a center os a must. like i mentioned earlier, i don't think kaberle would land us a top 6 forward. might have to trade some value to get some value. a possibility is schenn. i kow thats not a popular move but he is a big asset hat may fetch someone big in return.

[fifties]

Is it true that the Toronto Police Department's Traffic Division -instead of citations to appear in court- is now issuing tickets to Leaf's games?

[doggy10]

Is it true that the Toronto Police Department's Traffic Division -instead of citations to appear in court- is now issuing tickets to Leaf's games?

sorry fif, you must be mistaken. even when we lose we are still sold out. always have, always will be...lol

[tanger]

bingo, those are the 2 rumured trades. would love to get either one of them. i too loke bozak but he is a 2nd line center at best forsure. we need scoring bigtime. power forward and a center os a must. like i mentioned earlier, i don't think kaberle would land us a top 6 forward. might have to trade some value to get some value. a possibility is schenn. i kow thats not a popular move but he is a big asset hat may fetch someone big in return.

If only we did the Sundin-Carter trade when it was still on the table a couple years back. It will be interesting to see what Philly does - they have some pretty big contracts next year, and unless they move Briere (which wont be easy at 7mil for the next 2 years) I dont see how Carter fits under the cap.


Is it true that the Toronto Police Department's Traffic Division -instead of citations to appear in court- is now issuing tickets to Leaf's games?

Gotta admit...that made me chuckle lol. But hey, I dont think anyone would have believed me if I said the Leafs would be better than the Sabres and the Devils one month into the season :thumbsup:

[doggy10]

If only we did the Sundin-Carter trade when it was still on the table a couple years back..

it was kaberle for cater...not sundin...lol but yes you are right, i wish it went through.

[chuck]

how can the buds.., with so many changes since last year....play like last years leafs. constantly loseing these close games....giving up leads late in the game....can't win a shot-out if they tried...now they are getting blown away by tampon bay! from a 4-0 start to losing like 6 in a row.

hmmm, all these changes from last year....except one....coach wilson is still there!!!...send this guy packing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chuck]

keith jones says it.....cut and dry..."leafs won't be getting out of this anytime soon....leaf fans better get use to it".

[flekr]

keith jones says it.....cut and dry..."leafs won't be getting out of this anytime soon....leaf fans better get use to it".

like we aren't used too it? .....lol

(doggy say hi to stajan)

[chuck]

Did Nazem Kadri’s AHL career end in a game misconduct?

It will take a long time to find out, but Kadri is going to need just that kind of aggressiveness, maybe a touch more, to thrive with the Maple Leafs at 20 years old.

Kadri and defenceman Keith Aulie were pulled up to the big club, Friday. Forward Christian Hanson and defenceman Korbinian Holzer were sent back down.

In the Marlies last game against the Adirondack Phantoms, Kadri annoyed several opponents toward the verge of violence. That he was tossed for overenthusiastic criticism of an official wasn’t icing on the cake, but then again, it didn’t hurt.

Nazem Kadri isn’t Sean Avery. His game isn’t based on trying to antagonize opponents and then waltzing off the ice with a goal and a win. Avery is working a very narrow boardwalk. For better or worse, he’s the only one.

But lost in Kadri’s 93-point final season of junior was his 105 penalty minutes. The return of his assertive game, even in the wake of a goalscoring slump that saw him score only once in his last six AHL games, likely prompted the Leafs to bring him back.

He has a few things in his favour. For all the talk of the Leafs youthfulness, there is something about a seven-game losing streak that speaks to a need for energy. Kadri can’t supply all of that, but he can bring a little. He’s selling what the big club needs.

Second, he will play on a line with Tyler Bozak and Nikolai Kulemin. Kulemin has been the Leafs’ best-all around forward and his defensive game will fill in Kadri’s major deficiencies. As a second line left winger, Kadri will get plenty of ice time. Bozak, whose ability to find Phil Kessel seemed to vaporize as the season elapsed, gets a new target and another chance.

This, of course, has been the most widely-anticipated roster move of the season and clearly it’s one the Leafs would have preferred not to make. Keeping Kadri with the Marlies, at least until Christmas, came without risk. Bouncing the kid between the big club and the Marlies looks a little dicier.

Still with Colby Armstrong two weeks to a month away from returning to the lineup, Kadri will be playing with house money for a while.

It will be plenty obvious if Kadri’s still fledgling pro game is built on sand or stone and this is where Kadri’s cocksure nature has to take over.

He needs an edge of certainty to navigate what could be the early days of a productive NHL career. He will need even more if today’s move proves a misstep that only he can set right.
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/chuck067/kadri195nov12.jpg

[chuck]

So a guy finds a lamp in the desert. He rubs it and out pops a genie. He asks him what his wish is and the guy responds,"I want to live forever". The genie says," I am sorry, that is the one wish I cannot grant". The guy says," okay, I want to die after the Leafs win the Stanley Cup". The genie says," you sneaky bastard."

[fonger]

hahaha, okay that was a good one..

[2010buddy]

how can the buds.., with so many changes since last year....play like last years leafs. constantly loseing these close games....giving up leads late in the game....can't win a shot-out if they tried...now they are getting blown away by tampon bay! from a 4-0 start to losing like 6 in a row.

hmmm, all these changes from last year....except one....coach wilson is still there!!!...send this guy packing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah and don't forget the fool up in the box .That has no picks to choose from in the near future as he has done the team a waste of picks.

Mind you I love it when I see the seats that are empty as the true fan has had enough of the misery.

Go Marlies Go