What to do with the Leafs goaltending situation?

Hey Leafs Nation its been a bit of time since I have been able to sit down for an extended period of time and blog about my favourite club the Toronto Maple Leafs, I hope to be able to do this a little more frequently as the hectic pace of the past few months slows down for the Holiday season. I have spent a bit of time thinking lately as Im sure many fans have of the Buds goaltending situation.


We have the "Monster" Jonas Gustavsson playing as well as he can in front of a team who cant seem to find the back of the net on a regular basis and have clear periods of bone-headedness in their own end on too many nights but he still sits with a .902 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.91 respectable numbers for a player entering his second season in the NHL and who is signed through next season.

Dion Phoneyneuf or Captain Pylon does it make a difference?

The season is just 10 games in and the attack dogs seem to have gotten loose and their primary target seems to be new Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf. The club looks to have come back down to reality after winning their first 4 games, the club has turned around and earned just one victory in their last six games played. This should not be a surprise to most but their lack of goal scoring is a tad disheartening.


This was not what Brian Burke had in mind when he acquired some key pieces to his puzzle over the last twelve months. The season is still early and another four game winning streak may quiet the attack dogs of Leafs Nation but this was always brewing for most fans, as many myself included feel that the team was a tad to quick in handing over the captain's C to newly acquired Dion Phaneuf.

Which Maple Leaf should be bronzed in front of ACC

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their impressive performance to start the season taking 9 out of a possible 10 points as the club looks to break their longest playoff drought in club history. The team is oozing confidence, looks faster and has one of the better back ends in all of hockey but there is something else brewing.... with the opening of  Maple Leaf Square the club has basically cornered off a section across from the Air Canada Center on Bremner Blvd and York Street, the club has opened the highly successful Real Sports Bar and Grill voted ESPN's Best Sports Bar already, Real Sports Apparel, and the soon to be opened Eleven Steakhouse, talk about making money.


There is something missing at this spectacular corner and that is a bronzed statue of one of the all time Maple Leaf greats. We have Wayne Gretzky outside Rexall Place, Vince Lombardi in front of Lambeau Field and even Rocky Balboa in Philadelphia but one of the greatest franchises in all of sports does not have a statue dedicated to one of their all time greats, something that could not only awe but inspire the club and Leaf Nation, something like we might just see in Rome.


The biggest question is not should the Leafs organization do this but more about when and who? The who question is the biggest question of all and this will rage debate back and forth between Leaf and Non Leaf fans alike. Who exactly do we honour with such a tribute, which Maple Leaf has earned this privilege to be enshrined for all of time, to be photographed endlessly by hordes of visitors and to have fathers, mothers, grandparents pass on who it is and what he did for the club to the younger generation of Leaf lovers.


This is not a simple question to answer but of course I will do my best to narrow it down to who I feel deserves such an honour. The first though is no ownership, management or coaches, the player should have won a cup with the club, be one of its all time leaders in various Leaf statistics. He should be a player that all Leaf fans know something about even if they never had the opportunity to see him play.


This process is not a simple one but taking what I have decided to look at this narrows the field down to five greats. Dave Keon, Tim Horton, Johnny Bower, Turk Broda and Frank Mahovlich. Keon has the most points, goals and assists from this group, while Horton has the most games played as a Leaf. Broda leads the group with five Stanley Cups. There needs to be another criteria added as this may just have one stand out a bit more then all the deserving candidates and that will be career in the NHL with the club.


This last criteria narrows the field to just one player, the late great Walter "Turk" Broda the only one in the group of five to play his entire career with the organization. Broda along with his five Stanley Cups, also captured two Vezina trophys and leads the club in all time wins, shutouts, games played in both the regular season and in the playoffs. The NHL Network has rated Turk Broda the 9th Best Goalie of All Time and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978.

 Well there you have it Leafs Nation, its time to honour a Leaf great with a bronzed statue in front of what is slowly becoming a hot corner in the city of Toronto. Walter "Turk" Broda the first and only Leaf to have this honour bestowed upon him, what do you think Leafs Nation is this the right choice or do you prefer to honour someone different?

Who is Maple Leaf Tim Brent?

Tim Brent's name has been talked about throughout this past training camp as the journeymen forward has finally landed a spot to start the season on a NHL roster but many including myself wonder who is Tim Brent and where did he come from?


Brian Burke signed the center to a two way contract on July 6, 2009 as he looked to add depth to a weak Toronto Marlies roster, Burke was familiar with Brent having had him under the Anaheim Ducks franchise and believe it or not Brent was drafted twice by the Ducks franchise after failing to sign with them the first time picked.

The Leafs roster is down to 30 players

Ron Wilson continues to dwindle his ranks as the NHL regular season inches closer, the Leafs coach currently has narrowed his open day camp to 30 players with 3 goalies, 10 defensemen and 17 forwards remaining in camp.


Current Roster


Goalies: J.S. Giguere, Johan Gustavsson, James Reimer

Toronto Maple Leafs invite 63 players to camp

Can you believe that training camp opens up this Friday for our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs.... its our favourite time of the year and thats the fall or hockey season as it is also known. Brian Burke and Ron Wilson hope to be able to guide this club into a late spring for the first time since the lockout and have invited 63 players to this seasons training camp.

Why the Maple Leafs will make the playoffs

The NHL training camps are just around the corner and Leafs Nation is wondering if this will finally be the season in which the club and its fans get to do more in April then whine and pack their bags, something the club has not done since the pre-lockout days. Brian Burke has continued to retool the team into a club that will play hard every night and coach Ron Wilson will need to continue to get this club to buy into his system, if the club is to make some sort of run towards the playoffs. The real winners when this happens will be the fans, how many playoffs do we have to sit and listen to how great our friends teams are and how our team has all the golf courses in the country booked, I for one am sick of it and this is why I feel the Leafs will make the playoffs this season.

Maple Leafs acquire another defensemen

Brian Burke has acquired another defensemen via trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Leafs sent prospects Alex Berry and Stefano Giliati for Matt Lashoff. The 23 year old blueliner has appeared in 63 career NHL games with Tampa and the Boston Bruins and spent most of last season in the AHL. The former first round pick joins an already crowded Maple Leafs back end as Burke looks to make sure that this training camp will be as intense as ever since he has been with the Leafs.

Toronto Maple Leafs release TV schedule for 2010-11

The Toronto Maple Leafs have released their TV schedule for the 2010-11 season and all the teams games will be televised once again this season with Leafs TV showing 12 games, CBC 24 games, TSN 17 games and Sportsnet 29 games. The team will also have all its preseason games televised with 6 games on Leafs TV.

Leafs TV Schedule below

The times they are a Changin' in Leafland

The hockey season is just around the corner now and most Leaf fans are hoping that this will be the season to see improvement by the Buds, hell who knows maybe even a long winning streak but what comes to mind through all the gloom of the past seasons is a song by Bob Dylan that gives some hope and has a few similarities to what has happened or can happen in Leafland.

The popular song by Bob Dylan about "The times they are a Changin'" heeds to mind what we in Leafland have been experiencing as Brian Burke continues to make over the roster to a team that will come out to compete every night and most importantly return to the playoffs. The Leafs as in Dylan's first stanza have been sinking like a stone since the lockout with lackluster performances and no playoffs.

The Best UFA signings by our Toronto Maple Leafs

This has been a quiet off season for the Toronto Maple Leafs when it comes to the unrestricted free agent market. The Leafs signed Colby Armstrong when the gate opened July 1st and Brett Lebda on July 7th, they also look to have loaded up the Marlies with a few other minor signings but the biggest move of this off season will not be a free agent signing and may just be the yet to be made trade involving blueliner Tomas Kaberle, IF that even happens.

The signing of unrestricted free agents started to slowly take shape in the mid 90's and has grown thanks to the collective bargaining agreements over the years to what we know today. The Leafs first busy summer in the UFA market takes us back to 1997. The Leafs picked up Derek King, Mike Kennedy, Kris King, Igor Korolev, Kevyn Adams and Glenn Healy before the start of that season.

Toronto Maple Leafs sign German forward

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they have signed 22 year old German forward Marcel Mueller to a 2 year entry level contract. Mueller has played the last three seasons in the German Elite League and was a member of the German National team at this Winter's Olympics and World Championships. Leafs GM Brian Burke continues to attempt to restock the Leafs youth, lets see what he has up his sleeve next.

What if Burke decided to trade Luke Schenn

This is a question that many news reporters and Leafs fans are wondering when it comes to the Tomas Kaberle saga, is it possible for Leafs general manager Brian Burke to switch gears and move the younger Luke Schenn for a top forward instead of the veteran blueliner. The one thing that most NHL teams covet is a puck moving offensive defensemen and Tomas Kaberle more then fits the bill, Kaberle's pinpoint passes have sent many Maple Leaf players one on one with the opposition goaltender over his career in Toronto and is the type of defensemen that the club will need as it moves towards respectability.

Brian Burke could send Kaberle packing out of town but in a few years may require a player just like Kabby to bolster his roster, how is that for irony. Kaberle loves Toronto and would like nothing more then to retire as a Toronto Maple Leaf, there is no denying that the 32 year old Kaberle is a top 10 offensive defensemen in the NHL and is a bargain at $4.25 million for the season. Could then the Leafs general manager re-sign the veteran blueliner for a longer stay and set his sights on shipping the younger Luke Schenn out of town?

Maple Leafs sign Brett Lebda to two year deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed unrestricted free agent defensemen Brett Lebda to a two year contract worth 1.45 million a season. The 28 year old blueliner has played his whole career with the Detroit Red Wings and last season dressed for 63 games picking up 8 points. Lebda is a stay at home defensemen and the club will be looking for him to fill in the #5 or #6 spot on the team. This move adds more depth to the Leafs backend as Brian Burke continues to listen to offers for veteran Tomas Kaberle.

Kaberle trade will have domino effect on Maple Leafs

Brian Burke seems to feel that he is holding all the cards when it comes to moving long time Leaf Tomas Kaberle, as bonafide offensive defensemen have dried up in the UFA market, the Leafs GM is holding his trump card close to his chest and feeling out what the market is willing to offer or more like what is the most some team is willing to pay for the Leafs most gifted blue liner. 

The Leafs should be able to maximize their biggest asset if Kaberle were willing to negotiate with the team he was heading to and sign an extension with the club this would almost guarantee the club a first rounder or even better yet a top six forward. What Burke is hoping for is that some team will get desperate and offer the Leafs a deal that the general manager will have a hard time saying no to, this could at best be a pipe dream but one that does exist out there. 

Maple Leafs re-sign Nikolai Kulemin and John Mitchell

The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed two components from last seasons squad by inking Nikolai Kulemin and John Mitchell this past day. Kulemin was signed to a 2 year contract worth 4.7 million over 2 years. Kulemin was one of the better Leafs in the second half last season and chipped in 16 goals in 78 games. Mitchell was signed to a 1 year contract worth $725,000. Mitchell's second season in the NHL saw the youngster suffer an injury which derailed his on ice performance as he scored only 6 goals which was half of what he scored his rookie year.

Maple Leafs sign Colby Armstrong to three years

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made their first signing of the off season as the UFA market kicked off at 12pm today and that is former Penguin and now for Thrasher Colby Armstrong. The 27 year old hard nosed winger was signed to a three year contract worth $3 million a season. Armstrong will bring grit to the club and has easily become the Leafs most hated player, as opponents know that the Buds have just become that much more tougher to play against. Armstrong has scored 78 goals in his NHL career, amassed over 360 games played.

Maple Leafs acquire Kris Versteeg from Hawks

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired two time 20 goal scoring winger Kris Versteeg from the Stanley Cup Champs along with college prospect Bill Sweatt and have shipped off Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis. The Leafs have added some scoring to the club in the 24 year old Versteeg who comes with a cap hit of $3,083,333 and is signed for the next two seasons. Brian Burke has added some help up front and a possible top six forward but I feel he may have given up a tad too much in this deal. Stalberg is a speedster and the most likely of the new arrivals to crack the teams opening day roster in Chicago, while DiDomenico is a talented forward who just happens to be on the small side for Burke's liking. The hoping here is that the deal helps both sides, as it seems Burke wants to make the playoffs now in hockey mad Toronto while the Hawks are more then happy to stock the cupboard with prospects as they look to get under the Cap. This deal seems to have Scotty Bowman's fingerprints all over it as it seems Brian Burke was unable to wrestle away another Hawk by the name of Patrick Sharp who would have been a much better acquisition by the Leafs general manager. The club now prepares for the opening of the UFAs today and we hope that Burke has something else up his sleeve as I am not too impressed with his first move this Canada Day.

Toronto Maple Leafs 2010 NHL Draft Choice

The Toronto Maple Leafs ended up with a second round pick after all when they acquired Calgary's second round choice from the Chicago Black Hawks to land Portland Winter Hawks left winger Bradley Ross with the 43rd overall pick of the draft. The Leafs send Calgary unsigned pick Jimmy Hayes. Brian Burke also acquired Anaheim's Mike Brown for the clubs 2010 fifth round pick.

Here is a look at the Leafs picks in the 2010 NHL Draft

Toronto Maple Leafs 2010-11 Schedule

The NHL has released the 2010-11 season schedule and our boys in blue will open the season and end the season at home against the Montreal Canadiens on October 7, 2010 and April 9, 2011.

Here is the full Toronto Maple Leafs schedule:

October

7- vs Montreal
9- vs Ottawa
13- at Pittsburgh
15- at NY Rangers
18- vs NY Islanders
21- vs NY Rangers
23- at Philadelphia
26- vs Florida
28- at Boston
30- vs NY Rangers

November

2- vs Ottawa
3- at Washington
6- vs Buffalo
9- at Tampa
10- at Florida
13- vs Vancouver
16- vs Nashville
18- vs New Jersey
20- at Montreal
22- vs Dallas
26- at Buffalo
27- at Ottawa
30- vs Tampa

December

2- vs Edmonton
4- vs Boston
6- at Washington
8- at Pittsburgh
9- vs Philadelphia
11- vs Montreal
14- at Edmonton
16- at Calgary
18- at Vancouver
20- vs Atlanta
26- at New Jersey
28- vs Carolina
30- vs Columbus

January

1- at Ottawa
3- vs Boston
6- vs St Louis
7- at Atlanta
10- at Los Angeles
11- at San Jose
13- at Phoenix
15- vs Calgary
19- at NY Rangers
20- vs Anaheim
22- vs Washington
24- at Carolina
25- at Tampa

February

1- vs Florida
3- vs Carolina
5- at Buffalo
7- vs Atlanta
8- at NY Islanders
10- vs New Jersey
12- at Montreal
15- at Boston
16- at Buffalo
19- vs Ottawa
22- vs NY Islanders
24- at Montreal
26- vs Pittsburgh
27- at Atlanta

March

2- vs Pittsburgh
3- at Philadelphia
5- vs Chicago
8- at NY Islanders
10- vs Philadelphia
12- vs Buffalo
14- vs Tampa
16- at Carolina
17- at Florida
19- vs Boston
22- at Minnesota
24- at Colorado
26- at Detroit
29- vs Buffalo
31- at Boston

April

2- at Ottawa
5- vs Washington
6- at New Jersey
9- vs Montreal

TMLs 2010 NHL Mock Draft

The NHL gets set on June 25th for the first round of the NHL Draft 2010 in Los Angeles and all Leaf fans know that the club does not have a first round pick in this draft at the moment but that could all change with a trade. TML Fan Fury though has decided to still bring you a first round mock draft of who we think will go where.

Toronto Maple Leafs announce Dion Phaneuf as Captain

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally announced one of the NHL's worst kept secrets and that was naming Dion Phaneuf the teams new captain. Brian Burke acquired the rugged defensemen last January in a blockbuster deal with Calgary and felt that Phaneuf would be the teams future captain and thats exactly what happened just five months later. Phaneuf becomes the Maple Leafs 18th captain, the club did not have a captain the past two season after Mats Sundin had served in that role the past 776 games. Phaneuf is a talker and will be a different leader then the former Swede. Will this be a move in the right direction for the club only time will tell.

Its time for the Leafs to change goal horn

The playoffs continue and we Leaf fans continue to enjoy the games without our beloved squad in the post season. There is a lot of talk in the blog world when it comes to the Leafs pertaining to free agents, trades and what the club can muster in the draft. 

I have decided to take another route at the moment and blog about another thing that the club can look into this off season at the Air Canada Centre and that is to change the goal horn to something a little more lively. The fans at the games in most cases are too quiet for my liking and without the scoreboard telling people when to cheer and chant who knows if any sound would come out especially from the platinum section. 

TML Fan Fury Special Guest Article on Traumatic Brain Injury

The playoffs continue and us Leaf fans continue to sit on the sidelines and enjoy but with a bit of remorse that our club is not making the playoff runs that some of the clubs are doing as we reach the final four in the quest for Lord Stanley. This is also a busy time for myself and blogging has not been as frequent as I would have liked but for our 100th post we have decided to talk hockey in general and have granted a request for a special guest blog from Chelsea Travers an outreach representative for CareMeridian on the seriousness of head injuries, having suffered a couple of concussions myself I know that its best we try to be safe and smart when we are out on the ice.

Grading the Maple Leafs Season, Player by Player

The Leafs finished their 2009/10 season with a victory over the Habs on April 10/10 and after taking a few weeks to asses the Leafs season. I am now taking a look at how each player performed in a Leafs uniform this season, this will include players that were traded to and from the team and have played in a minimum of 25 games for players and 15 games for goalies.

Maple Leafs sign rookie Finnish goalie

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed a rookie European netminder for the second year in a row as Brian Burke has signed Finnish keeper Jussi Rynnas. The Leafs GM had made a trip to Finland over the last few weeks with assistant Dave Nonis to meet the Finn and then made another unexpected visit to the keeper in Montreal as he was touring NHL cities last week. The soon to be 23 year old keeper was considered to be the best available goalie in Europe this season, which makes Burke, two for two the past couple of seasons after acquiring Jonas Gustavsson last off season. Rynnas played 31 games for Finnish club Assat Pori where he posted a .929 save percentage and 2.50 goals against average. There has been no official announcement from the Leafs on contract but it is rumoured to be a 3 year entry level contract and Rynnas should start the season with the Toronto Marlies next season. Francois Allaire is said to have been a major influence in Rynnas signing with the Leafs, as he is regarded as the best goalie coach in the world at the moment.

Will the Maple Leafs be fishing for Free Agents?

The NHL playoffs are on and us Leafs fans are sitting back and enjoying the hockey that is being played now as our team sits on the sidelines once again for another season. Brian Burke pulled off another great move last week signing restricted free agent Jonas Gustavsson to a two year deal for $2.7 million as the keeper continues his growth under the tutelage of Francois Allaire. 

Burke now has turned his attention to winger Nikolai Kulemin and since the Leafs dont have a pick until the third round of the NHL draft at the moment, I have decided to take an early look at some of the key unrestricted free agents that Burke may want to go after as he looks to get the Maple Leafs rebuilding plan on fast track but before we get their we need to take a look at the clubs current cap structure. 

Reviewing the 30 Predictions for 2009/10 Leafs Season

The Toronto Maple Leafs have wrapped up yet another disappointing season, as they miss the NHL playoffs for the fifth year in a row. Leafs Nation famous we will get them next season is starting to sound like a sour note in Leafland. Brian Burke will make changes this off season, not being in the post season eats at him. The Leafs did show some promise after the Olympic break but it is nothing new as all Leafs teams have played better through March and April every year since the lockout only to not be in the post season. This organization must be better, the fans demand it.

What the 2010/11 Maple Leafs roster might look like

This is just about done for our current Toronto Maple Leafs and all but what spot the Leafs will finish in the standings is all but decided. The Leafs will miss the playoffs again and have not made the post season since before the lockout. Brian Burke will have a bit of work to do as he continues to rebuild this team in the right path. The club has once had a strong finish to the season as seems the norm the last few years and with younger players on the roster accomplishing the streak this time around, there is a sense of hope and not some mirage we have been accustomed to in seasons past.
Brian Burke's team will look very different then the team that started the 2009/10 season, it already does but will be much more so as some UFA's will be let go and others signed from around the league. The Leafs will trade some players and receive some back in return.

We take a look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs 23 man roster should look like in 2010/11.

Goalies

Jonas Gustavsson
J.S. Giguere

Defensemen

Dion Phaneuf
Francois Beauchemin
Mike Komisarek
Carl Gunnarsson
Luke Schenn
Keith Aulie
Free Agent/Trade Acquisition

Forwards

Phil Kessel
Tyler Bozak
Nicolai Kulemin
Viktor Stalberg
Nazem Kadri
Christian Hanson
John Mitchell
Luca Caputi
Fredrik Sjostrom
Rickard Wallin
Colton Orr
Free Agent/Trade Acquisition
Free Agent/Trade Acquisition

I know some of you are wondering where Tomas Kaberle is and I feel Kabby will be traded this off season, possibily for a 1st rounder and prospect, especially if he signs with the team he is traded too. I'm sure you also notice Jeff Finger is missing from the list, I feel he will be bought out or sent to the Marlies next season to get that big cap hit off the teams roster. Then you have Mikhail Grabovski his contract may be harder to get off the books but since we managed to do it with Jason Blake's I'm sure Burke will be able to move Grabo, his welcome has worn out and he does not fit on the top two lines. The other more shocking player that some see on the roster is Rickard Wallin, I know Wallin cant score but he and Sjostrom have been terrific killing penalties and he does do the little things right, like block shots and check hard, he would cost the team little to re-sign. I feel that Garnet Exelby, Wayne Primeau, Jaime Lundmark will be allowed to walk as they are pending UFAs. The only player I have a hard time making my mind on is Mike Van Ryn when he played for the Leafs last season he did look good and may be a welcome surprise if he stays healthy and signs for alot lower salary then he is getting now. Well there you have it Leafs Nation a look at the 2010/11 Leafs roster have fun dissecting it.

Toronto Maple Leafs sign Brayden Irwin

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to go the NCAA college route to help rebuild their team a bit faster signing University of Vermont forward Brayden Irwin. The 23 year old Toronto native was signed to a two year entry level deal and was a teammate last season of Leafs winger Viktor Stalberg. The 6'5 player finished his fourth season in Vermont picking up 34 points in 39 games. Irwin is the first player signed by Brian Burke from the college ranks this season, Burke signed up Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson last season, both players are currently playing with the NHL club.

What will the Leafs do with Grabovski?

The other night I was enjoying the Leafs game as most fans I'm sure have since the Olympics and a though crossed my mind, what will the Maple Leafs do with Mikhail Grabovski? Tyler Bozak has looked terrific between Phil Kessel and Nikolai Kulemin, a line I like to reference to as the B2K line and how many fans out there know that the kid leads all NHL rookies who have played in at least 20 games this season in points per game. 

Thats right more the Tavares, Duchene and Bergfors and currently sits in 12th place in rookie scoring two points from moving into 9th. These kind of impressive statistics should all but guarantee Bozak a spot in the middle next season. Then you have the Leafs top prospect Nazem Kadri the 93 point player who finished fourth in scoring in the OHL and currently has 14 points in 5 playoff games to lead the league in playoff scoring at the moment. 

NHL Team by Team Breakdown of Best Prospects

The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently the youngest team in the NHL and have played quite well, winning seven of their last nine games as they fight to get out of the 29th spot in the league and have been a thorn on the side of many teams needing the points as they fight for their playoff lives. The Leafs situation gives some food for though of what do the rest of the NHL teams prospects look like, taking every player in the organization that is 25 years of age and under as of today as well under 40 NHL games played lets take a look at a team by team breakdown of the clubs Top 5 Prospects.

Who has made the Best 1st round picks

The big talk lately is all about the Toronto Maple Leafs trading away this years and next years first round draft pick to the Boston Bruins, some fans have accepted this, some fans are not sure what to think and others are mad as hell based on the Leafs current position in the NHL. 

I have decided to do some research on a team by team basis to see which teams in the NHL have drafted the best first rounders between the 1996-2006 season whether they are on the team that drafted them or have been traded it does not change the fact that they are still first round selections. 

Its time to get over the Phil Kessel trade

On September 19, 2009 the Toronto Maple Leafs traded away their first and second round picks in the 2010 draft along with their 2011 first round pick to acquire 36 goal scorer Phil Kessel from the Boston Bruins. Leafs Nation for the most part jumped for joy as the team had acquired a 21 year old sniper and top six forward for the squad. 

The Toronto Sports papers, radio stations and Canadian Sports stations had tons of praise and were quick to pat Leafs GM Brian Burke for making a bold move since the drafts over the next two years were predicted to be weak, comments on more of a positive manner were posted all over the internet on blogs and sports websites, fans texted their non Leaf friends to let them know watch out the Leafs were finally moving in the right direction.....fast forward to March 8, 2010 and pandemonium has broken out all over the same places in less then 6 months, terrible trade, the Leafs continue to throw away their draft picks, Kessel will never be a guy the team can build around, Burke made a big mistake are some of the comments that are being made now. Take a CHILL Leafs Nation.

Leafs deadline trades after a few days of review

After taking a few days to take a good hard look at the Toronto Maple Leafs trades on deadline day March 3 , 2010 I have come to the conclusion that for what we had to do, we came out just fine, I know many Leafs fans are thinking what is this guy talking about. We Stink!, fair enough but with the players we had we sat in 29th place in the NHL and after the trades we still sit in 29th place in the league are we worse? Are we better? Time will tell. 

The one thing we do know is that Burke traded a bunch of UFAs that the team did not want to keep and got back mostly picks that with some good scouting, not always a Leafs strong point, maybe just maybe we can find a gem in the later rounds. 

Which Leafs will end up where?

The trade deadline is March 3rd and Maple Leaf fans across the country and around the globe have started talking up a storm about who could go where and who we can get in return as they seem to do every season at the deadline. 

This season has a little different twist then previous years since the lockout as Brian Burke tries his best to continue to steer this franchise in the right direction, after Burke pulled off the Kessel trade earlier this season and the Phaneuf trade earlier this year, Maple Leaf fans await to see what will the Leafs GM do next? 

Leafs Rumours II, Stempy to Pens? Kaberle waiving NTC

The NHL has shutdown for the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver and many Toronto Maple Leafs fans have shed their blue and white colors at the moment, to the red and white colors of Canada, hoping that their country can continue bringing as many medals as they can in these last few days. While back in the NHL most players have returned to practice this week with their respective clubs, as teams continue working the phones and preparing for the March 3rd trade deadline. We bring Leafs Nation a second part to the latest rumours regarding Leafs players around the league, how real are they who knows but enjoy.

Ponikarovsky knows his trade bait
source: Toronto Star

Leafs know changes could come with trade deadline looming
source: TSN

Penguins eyeing Ponikarovsky and Stempniak
source: Post Gazette

Kaberle may be willing to waive NTC
source: Hockey Buzz/Strickland

Ponikarovsky and Finger both on the block
source: Examiner

Burke continues to shop Ponikarovsky & Stempniak
source: Fox News

For whom the deadline tolls
source: Sportsnet

Busy deadline ahead for Leafs
source: Toronto Sun

Talk it up Leafs fans as the deadline gets closer.

Mikhail Grabovski arrested at Olympics

There are many news reports coming out of Vancouver, that Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski was arrested Friday night while attending the Olympic games in a street scuffle. Grabovski who has been out of action for the Maple Leafs since breaking his wrist on January 2nd, was in Vancouver rooting for his home country of Belarus. The news reports indicate that Grabovski was released Saturday night to his parents and at the present time has not been charged with anything. Here is guessing the Grabovski's wrist is feeling a bit better.

Leafs Rumours, Cody Hodgson, Stephen Weiss in Blue and White?

The NHL has shutdown for the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver and many Toronto Maple Leafs fans have shed their blue and white colors at the moment, to the red and white colors of Canada, hoping that their country can bring home as many Gold Medals as possible. While back in the NHL most teams are working the phones and preparing for the March 3rd trade deadline. The NHL will not resume until March 1, 2010 and with the trade freeze in place teams will not have much time to wheel and deal once its lifted and NHL season continues. The Leafs are a club looking to continue to remodel the current roster, the team still has six upcoming UFAs with all but Van Ryn looking like they will get a one way ticket out of town. The club also has three restricted free agents. The one thing that all Leafs fans can agree on is that whether its an Olympic break, the summer season or a Christmas break we all love to get all the Leafs news we can and what better then some juicy rumours. I have decided to give Leafs fans that fix by combing the net and posting links to the latest rumours out there during this break, how real are they? who knows?, but lets enjoy

Cody Hodgson coming to Toronto for Kaberle
source: The Hockey News

Stephen Weiss on the Leafs radar
source: Ottawa Sun

Ponikarovsky prepared for trade deadline
source: Slam Sports

Kings looking for Top 6 forward, Ponikarovsky anyone
source: The Fourth Period

Maple Leafs offered 2nd round pick and prospect for Ponikarovsky
source: CBC Hotstove

Poni drawing tons of interest, Kabby staying put
source: TSN

Eklund thoughs on Stempniak, Exelby and Ponikarovsky destinations
source: Hockeybuzz

Penguins heavily scouting Alexei Ponikarovsky
source: Kuklas Korner

Talk it up Leafs fans as we get set for the trade deadline.

Maple Leafs claim Jaime Lundmark on waivers

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired another Calgary Flame after picking up former first round pick Jaime Lundmark on waivers. Lundmark has played in 280 NHL games to date with 39 goals and 96 points. Brian Burke looks to have picked up another NHL body as they get prepared for the NHL deadline in which the club could be moving up to five forwards from the current roster. The 29 year old Lundmark is in the final year of a contract that pays him $600,000 and then will become an unrestricted free agent. Lundmark has 9 points in 21 games for the Flames this season, in other Leafs notes Stalberg and Hanson have been returned to the Toronto Marlies during the Olympic break.

Taking a look at the Leafs best prospects

The Toronto Maple Leafs have looked different since trades on January 31, 2010 not only has the team received some solid goaltending but they have played with some confidence and more importantly the Leafs have played with a youthful energy something not seen in these parts for quite some time. We take a look at who we think the teams top ten prospects 24 and under and who have not played more the 40 games in their NHL careers, these players should wear the Blue and White uniform in the future.

Maple Leafs fans wake up to a Burkie Blast

Toronto Maple Leafs fans went to bed last night with a bitter taste in their mouths after watching their beloved Leafs blow a 3-0 lead against the Vancouver Canucks on Hockey Day in Canada. This morning many started their Sunday as they normally would but what most fans did not expect was to get hit all of a sudden by a Burkie Blast. Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke had seen enough and today many players got the "pink slip", when it was all said and done Burke has sent off six players on the current Leafs roster and taken back four in two separate trades completed today. 

The time to trade Kaberle has come

The time to trade defensemen Tomas Kaberle has come in the Brian Burke era. The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their free fall in the NHL and Burke can not sit back and continue to watch this without doing nothing, his ego would not allow it, his passion to win will not allow this and his commitment to right the Leafs ship will not let this happen. 

The Maple Leafs biggest asset is Kaberle, he knows, we know it and Kaberle knows this. Tomas Kaberle has on most nights done his best for this organization, a team he loves, a city he adores. The Leafs general manager knows that Tomas Kaberle has a no movement clause at least until it opens again in the summer but will Burke get as much for Kaberle if he waits for this time? I think not. 

What the Maple Leafs should do at the deadline

The NHL trade line is set for March 3rd 2010 and the Toronto Maple Leafs continue their spiral through the NHL this season. The deadline is closer then many might think with the NHL ready to close shop for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver in three weeks then when it starts up again there is only three days for the deadline. 

This will be Brian Burke's time to put his biggest stamp on the club roster, as the Leafs will have nine unrestricted free agents when the season concludes and four restricted that could be a total of thirteen new faces on the Leafs squad a complete overhaul is not out of the question for this sorry bunch. 

Selecting the NHL All Stars for 2009-10 season

The NHL would be having an All Star game around now if not for the season closing down and heading to the Olympics next month in Vancouver. I have decided to take a look at the teams around the league and select an All Star team for both the Eastern and Western Conferences based on this seasons performances.

The Leafs waddling through their worst month since lockout

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue on their waddling days of January which has been the teams worst month statistically since the lockout, if the team is to succeed in its quest to make the playoffs again then they need to come to grips with one of the coldest months of the year in Canada. 

The team is 1-5-0 so far this month and continue to struggle in their penalty kill and scoring goals in general. Leafs Nation is not impressed and for all the knocks on Phil Kessel who's scoring has dried up, this is more then a one player problem as is always in team sports one player alone does not make or break a teams fortunes, all wheels need to be moving in the same direction.

What is fun about being a Leafs fan right now

The Maple Leafs continue their tail spin away from a post season spot and currently sit nine points back of the eighth and final spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference. Maple Leaf fans around the globe continue to suffer from various negative emotional feelings in the early weeks of 2010 whether it is anger, rage, fury, sadness or frustration there has been little to be content about as one decade has ended and another has begun. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to struggle to score goals even though they are the league leaders in shots per game, what this tells us is that the Leafs lack finishers, who would have though it? The Leafs have the worst penalty killing unit in the NHL and are close to being the worst of all time, placing your sticks into passing lanes while killing penalties seems to be some sort of artistic form for this bunch, who would have though it?

NHL Awards at the Half Season mark

The NHL season has just passed the halfway point in the season and we at TML Fan Fury have decided to take a look at who deserves to win the NHL Awards at the halfway mark of the season. There have been a few surprises and some things have stay status quo but for the most part this season, after watching numerous games this season this is our call.

Agree or Disagree?

Jack Adams Award (presented to the leagues best coach)

Winner- Joe Sacco (Colorado Avalanche)
Finalists- Dave Tippett (Phoenix Coyotes), Jacques Lemaire (New Jersey Devils)

Frank Selke Trophy (presented to the top defensive forward)

Winner- Patrick Marleau (San Jose Sharks)
Finalists- Rene Bourque (Calgary Flames), Mike Richards (Philadelphia Flyers)

Lady Byng Trophy (given to the league's most gentlemanly player)

Winner- Martin St Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Finalists- Brad Richards (Dallas Stars), Zach Parise (New Jersey Devils)

Calder Trophy (given to the rookie judged top in the league)

Winner- John Tavares (New York Islanders)
Finalists- Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalance), Tyler Myers (Buffalo Sabres)

Norris Trophy (awarded to the top defensemen in the league)

Winner- Dan Boyle (San Jose Sharks)
Finalists- Duncan Keith (Chicago Black Hawks), Mike Green (Washington Capitals)

Vezina Trophy (presented to the league's top goaltender)

Winner- Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres)
Finalists- Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils), Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix Coyotes)

Hart Trophy (awarded to the player judged best in the league)

Winner- Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres)
Finalists- Marian Gaborik (New York Rangers), Henrik Sedin (Vancouver Canucks)

First Team All Star

G- Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres)
D- Dan Boyle (San Jose Sharks)
D- Duncan Keith (Chicago Black Hawks)
RW- Marian Gaborik (New York Rangers)
C- Joe Thornton (San Jose Sharks)
LW- Alexei Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)

Second Team All Star

G- Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils)
D- Mike Green (Washington Capitals)
D- Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings)
RW- Patrick Kane (Chicago Black Hawks)
C- Henrik Sedin (Vancouver Canucks)
LW- Dany Heatley (San Jose Sharks)

Maple Leafs turn for Winter Classic and we know where

The Winter Classic has come and gone once again and this time at Fenway Park was another spectacle to watch, there is nothing like watching professional players, playing outdoors in what can come across to us as a game of shinny. 

We can all relate to that growing up and going into our backyards or the local community rink with temperatures below zero, the frost coming out of our mouths as we spend hours every day and week through the winter months, not so much chasing a dream but in love with a game.