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, 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.

The Maple Leafs can shoot and score

The Toronto Maple Leafs have decided to show some offense this NHL season. The Leafs who have won 3 out of their last 4 games going into tonights match up against the Buffalo Sabres have scored 20 goals in their past 5 games. The have not only moved out of the NHL cellar but also moved out for the bottom end of the goals scored department as well. The Leafs have been getting scoring from quite a few players over this game not just someone named Phil Kessel. Niklas Hagman is now sitting at 13 goals after scoring five in his last three games and earning himself 3rd Star honours this week in the NHL. The interesting statistic with Hagman is that he has scored a whopping ten goals on the road this season. Phil Kessel is on an amazing tear having scored eight goals in twelve games so far this season and would be among the league leaders if he was healthy all season long. Alexei Ponikarovsky has nine goals and Matt Stajan has seven goals with five coming on the powerplay where he sits tied for 10th in the NHL. The Leafs will try to continue their offensive power at home where they have only one victory in regulation and will need to add to that total if they believe in making the post season. The Leafs will need all the fire power they have to get a few goals past a red hot Sabres netminder. The Leafs can shoot as they sit atop the NHL in average shots per game but we are slowly finding out that they can also score and this needs to happen on a regular basis if this season is to be saved and tonight would be a great night to continue the goal outburst.

30 Predictions for the Toronto Maple Leafs 2009-10 season

After reading many previews on the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight and watching some videos on sports sites I've decided to write another blog tonight with 30 predictions for the 2009-10 season, also on an inspirational note I would just like to congratulate Theo Fleury for a great story its just to bad he couldnt have taken it a bit further all the best to him as he continues his recovery.

30 Toronto Maple Leafs 2009-10 Predictions

30- Jonas Gustavsson plays in 35+ games this season

29- Colton Orr is involved in 15+ fights

28- The Maple Leafs move into the Top 15 on the penalty kill

27- Rickard Wallin leads Leafs in short handed markers

26- The Leafs finish with a winning record in shootouts for the first time

25- Carl Gunnarsson plays first NHL game

24- Brian Burke blasts the media

23- Tyle Bozak plays in at least 25+ games

22- Jason Blake and Alexei Ponikarovsky score 15+ goals

21- The Leafs goaltenders record 5+ shutouts

20- The Leafs score 8+ goals in one game

19- Lee Stempniak scores 20+ goals

18- John Mitchell gets first career hat trick

17- Luke Schenn leads the Leafs in hits

16- Mikhail Grabovski earns 65+ points

15- Niklas Hagman and Tomas Kaberle make All Star Game

14- Victor Stalberg scores 20+ goals

13- Victor Stalberg finishes in the Top 5 in rookie scoring

12- Francois Beauchemin scores 10+ goals to lead team defense

11- Phil Kessel plays center for the Leafs

10- Niklas Hagman leads Leafs with 3 hat trick games

9- Tomas Kaberle returns to the Top 10 of Defensemen scoring

8- Mike Komisarek is in the Top 5 in blocked shots

7- The Leafs win season series over Montreal

6- Niklas Hagman earns 70+ points and leads Leafs in scoring

5- Niklas Hagman scores 35+ goals

4- Mike Komisarek drops the gloves with Milan Lucic 3x

3- Lee Stempniak leads the Leafs in game winners and finishes in Top 5 in league

2- Francois Beauchemin named Team Captain

1- The Toronto Maple Leafs make a return to the NHL Playoffs

Toronto Maple Leafs Training Camp Roster

The Toronto Maple Leafs are ready to kick off training camp for the 2009-10 season with medicals today at the clubs new Mastercard Centre with on ice activities taking place tomorrow with their first preseason game kicking off on the 16th. The Maple Leafs training camp roster looks like this.

Goaltenders

29 Joey MacDonald
34 James Reimer
35 Vesa Toskala
50 Jonas Gustavsson
71 Beau Erickson
72 Andrew Engelage

Defensemen

2 Luke Schenn
3 Garnet Exelby
4 Jeff Finger
7 Ian White
8 Mike Komisarek
15 Tomas Kaberle
22 Francois Beauchemin
24 Jonas Frogren
26 Mike Van Ryn
36 Carl Gunnarsson
40 Phil Oreskovic
59 Todd Perry
60 Juraj Mikus
62 Joe Ryan
63 Josh Engel
66 Andy Rogers
69 Barron Smith
70 Jesse Blacker
78 Brandon Manning

Forwards

9 Niklas Hagman
11 Jiri Tlusty
12 Lee Stempniak
14 Matt Stajan
18 Wayne Primeau
20 Christian Hanson
21 Jamal Mayers
23 Alexei Ponikarovsky
25 Ben Ondrus
28 Colton Orr
32 Alex Foster
33 Jason Allison
37 Tim Brent
38 Jay Rosenhill
39 John Mitchell
41 Nikolai Kulemin
42 Tyler Bozak
43 Nazem Kadri
44 Kyle Rogers
45 Victor Stalberg
46 Dale Mitchell
47 Darryl Boyce
48 Ryan Hamilton
49 Stefano Giliati
51 Rickard Wallin
52 Greg Scott
53 Alex Berry
55 Jason Blake
56 Andre Deveaux
57 Robert Slaney
58 Mikhail Stefanovich
64 Richard Greenop
67 Jamie Devane
68 Joel Champagne
76 John Kurtz
84 Mikhail Grabovski

Will any Maple Leaf score 30 goals this season

The days keep winding down to the open of the 2009-10 season and myself like many Maple Leafs sit pondering who will score this season for the Leafs and will any Maple Leaf actually crack the 30 goal mark? The last time that this has happened in Leafland with a player not named Mats Sundin, we have to go all the way back to the 2002-03 season when Alex Mogilny scored 33. The question is will a player step up and hit the 30 goal mark for the first time in his career or will a player that has reached that plateau do it again. Jason Blake is the only Leafs player currently on the roster who has cracked the 30 goal mark when he scored 40 goals his last season on Long Island before signing a very generous contract with the Leafs but since joining the blue and white has scored 40 goals combined over the past two seasons but there is always a chance a player will crack the mark so we take a look at who has the potential to reach the this target as well look for a goal scoring highlight in every players description.

Best Bets

Mikhail Grabovski- The Leafs potential number one centerman will do well not take a few months off like he did in his first full season in the league when he scored 20. Offensively gifted best shot at cracking the mark.

Niklas Hagman- The Finnish winger scored 22 goals in 65 games and would have scored 28 if prorated for a full season. Hagman scored one of the best goals of the NHL season and if he gets top two line minutes should crack the mark.

Medium Odds

Alexei Ponikarovsky- The Leafs veteran winger has scored 20 goals three out of his last four season. Ponikarovsky looked good playing along side Grabovski and Kulemin if they continue together could crack the mark.

Nikolai Kulemin- The kid can play hockey and isnt afraid to get his nose dirty, looked more comfertable with Ponikarovsky and Grabovski towards seasons end chipping in 15 goals in his rookie year. Kulemin could crack the mark if he gets top two line minutes.

Longshots

Jason Blake- The only Leaf to ever surpass the mark but after the Moore trade cooled off from his hot streak to finish the season with 25 goals. Blake can skate like the wind and may crack the mark if he plays all season with the same passion he showed when teamed up with Moore as his center, linemates would feed off his energy as well.

Jiri Tlusty- Tlusty spent most of the season with the Marlies but was on fire when he was returned to them after a brief call up mid season and finished a point a game player with 25 goals in which five goals where in one game with the Leafs AHL affiliate. Tlusty will need to make the team first but with confidence and minutes he may crack the mark.

There will be 18 skaters on the ice minus the keepers come opening night against the Montreal Canadiens will any be able to crack the mark? We will have to wait most of the season to find out.

The Leafs interested in Hawks Patrick Sharp

Brian Burke continues to look around the league for a potential Top 6 forward and according to media rumours has his sights now set on Black Hawks forward Patrick Sharp. The Hawks are in cap trouble and need to get under the cap before the season is underway. The Hawks recent signing of Marian Hossa plus their recent error in getting out offer sheets for their RFAs in a timely manner has cost them more of a cap hit in re-signing these players then they would have had to pay them if the offers were sent out correctly, this now has Sharp and his 3.9 million salary cap hit the odd man out. The Hawks of course will want something back that will help the team move forward in their chase for Lord Stanley. Patrick Sharp is a 27 year old from Thunder Bay, Ontario who has scored 82 goals in his past three seasons, Sharp is also an ample penalty killer something the Leafs desperately need help in. The Leafs are said to be offering the Black Hawks Alexei Poinikarovsky in return, Ponikarovsky has scored 83 goals for the Leafs in his past four seasons and although Sharp would be an improvement on the ice, Ponikarovsky's value is instrumental in assisting the development of Nicolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski as was seen towards the end of last season when the trio formed an interesting line combination. The Leafs better move would be to send Matt Stajan and possible lower round draft pick to the Hawks for Sharp. Stajan just completed his best season in the NHL with 55 points and with 1 year left on his contract at 1.75 million he would not be a long term cap hit for the Hawks and would fill the third or fourth line center role. The Maple Leafs could easily replace Stajan with John Mitchell who with increased ice time showed the fans that his back to back seasons leading the OHL's Plymouth Whalers in scoring was not a mirage. Mitchell has improved each season as a pro and the increased ice time with Stajan gone could benefit not only Mitchell but the Leafs organization. Brian Burke continues to work the phones and we should see something happen in the next couple of weeks, lets hope his next move lands the Leafs Patrick Sharp a Top 6 forward.