I'm back!

I went home for the holidays and neglected my blog for a little while. I got Rock 'Em Sock 'Em 21 on DVD. That should be fun to watch; I haven't watched on of these since the 90's. I also got to watch the Leafs struggle against Buffalo, Phoenix and Montreal but pull out wins over Pittsburgh and Boston. Despite some shakey play, the Leafs remain in the hunt.

The game tomorrow in Edmonton will be fun to watch, if only because we rarely get to see the Edmonton Oilers. They are a young team that is still struggling to find consistency. They lack potent weapons on the offensive end, but have the people in place to have an effective powerplay (although they are below the Leafs in that category).

I'd like to see Phil Kessel be an impact player tomorrow night. I think his play has been sub-par recently, and a good game on the road could help him to find his goal scoring rythym again. And if Kessel can get going, that will help his linemates to produce. If I were Ron Wilson, I would stop putting Kessel on the half boards and instead have him set just off to the side of the goal. Kessel could then look for rebounds and tip ins, or the Leafs could try to implement that cross-crease play that was so successful with Darcy Tucker and Kyle Wellwood / Mats Sundin.

The World Junior Hockey Championships has been fun to watch, with the Leafs finally having a good prospect in the tournament. Kadri has been solid, although a bit undisciplined. The tournament has been a bit of a bore though. Canada has destroyed Latvia, Switzerland, and Slovakia. The games have been too one-sided to be entertaining. We do have the US coming up and that game should be a fun one to watch.

Home Cooking

The Leafs are playing well at home.

Read that again. Now remember, we are talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs here. For the last few years, they have struggled on home ice for whatever reason. My hypothesis? The Leafs just like the food on the road better.

One player who I have really liked is Jason Blake. Yes, his contract is still obstructive and obviously too large, but if Blake was getting $2 million per year, he would be a very good deal for any team. He has consistently brought a high level of energy to each game, and I like the way he has been driving towards the net more instead of going around it.

I think Luke Schenn is going to be sitting for a little while. Exelby and Finger have actually been a very steady pairing for the Leafs over the last two games, and if they continue to play well, Schenn might be better served by playing for a few weeks with the Marlies. I actually want to see him back in the line-up, but maybe a stint with the AHL affiliate will allow him to get more ice time and improve.

Anyways, with this latest "surge" underway, the Leafs play the suprising Phoenix Coyotes. The Coyotes have 7 more wins and 9 more points then Toronto, and would be in 5th place above the Bruins if they were in the Eastern Conference. Also, the Coyotes have a 5-4 record against the Eastern Conference this year.

I like seeing the Coyotes doing well. After all of the talk of moving and the team being sold, it is good to see them pushing towards the playoffs.

I like the Leafs chances against this team, however. The Coyotes do have one of the hottest goaltenders in the league right now in Ilya Bryzgalov, but I don't think anyone outside of Shane Doan scares our defence. With the way they are playing right now, I think Francois Beauchemin and Ian White will be able to perform and shut down the top line of the Coyotes. The real question is if the Leafs can score on Ilya Bryzgalov enough to win. With Phil Kessel and Niklas Hagman still rolling, the Leafs have two strong lines to throw at Phoenix and hopefully, get some quality scoring chances.

As long as the Leafs can continue their current trend of playing disciplined hockey, I think they have a great chance of continuing to streak forward and up the standings.

In this instance, hate is not too strong of a word.

I absolutely, positively despise the Ottawa Senators.

I am a big supporter of the Toronto Maple Leafs and a hockey fan in general. If I could see one team implode and wither away, it would be the Ottawa Senators. Ever since I have watched hockey, I've watched Ottawa and their stupid faces.

The rivalry between Toronto and Montreal is historic and goes back to the start of the 20th century. For me, Montreal is a rival, but there is a level of respect for them and all they have done. Without the Canadiens, the Leafs would be weaker. I do not hate the Canadiens. I don't wish harm on the Canadiens. I do wish for terrible things to happen to Daniel Alfreddson. The rivalry between the Sens and Leafs has not existed as long, but it means more to me. I've watched those playoff series (even though they came before I was a serious hockey fan). I remember having my heart smashed by Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza over and over again since the lock-out.

When I watch the Leafs and the Senators, I get angry. I throw things around the living room. I yell spiteful, hateful things at the TV. It is fun to get into a game that much - but only when my team wins. Whenever Ottawa beats the Leafs, it ruins my day. No, it ruins my week. Heck, it can even linger for a whole month. I still get pissed off thinking about the 2007/08 home opener. At least Dany Heatley plays in the other conference now...

Tonight, the Leafs can make it four straight at home and continue to inch closer to a playoff spot. More importantly to me, they can beat a rival and team that is ahead of them. I hope Colton Orr can grab Spezza and put a fist right into his nose.

Go Leafs Go!

A pleasant surprise!

In my last post, I mentioned the Leafs home woes and their tendency to suffer a let down after a big win. Tonight, they proved me wrong on both accounts by playing a strong game on home ice against the New York Islanders.

What can I say? Luke Schenn is starting to look more comfortable again. He made one turnover that led to a penalty, but he also flattened Jon Sim and was otherwise a solid player for the Leafs. I know the coaches are trying to get him to produce offensively, but I think they should make sure he is rock solid in his own end. He looked that way last season at times.

Jason Blake is finally being rewarded (ignoring his big contract of course) for his hard work. The game winning goal tonight is suitable prize for a player who seems to give 100% every game. Except on the first goal of the game by the Leafs, I think the second powerplay unit looked more fluid and had better control. I think this is, in part, because of Jason Blake and his play along the boards.

Beauchemin scored. When I was at the game on Monday, I could see just how hard he can shoot. He truly possesses a rocket.

Finally, Vesa Toskala was the man tonight. Even though he allowed two goals in the third, he also won Toronto the game in the third period when he was bombarded with quality chances. His post to post save on Okposo was beautiful and, I hope, is a sign that he is rounding back into his form from two seasons ago.

The Leafs did what they need to do from now on - win in regulation. If they can beat Boston tomorrow, they will inch closer and closer to a playoff position. After the weekend's massacre, I would normally say that the Leafs will struggle. I think the Leafs will take the momentum from tonight and from Monday and carry it over into tomorrows contest.

My first game, and what's next...

So, I've officially seen a live Maple Leafs game in person. I sat at the very back of the Air Canada Centre and had only standing room behind me. Despite being so far from the action, I enjoyed every moment of the game. Listening to, and interacting with the people around me was definitley fun. I tried to start a few "Go Leafs Go" chants.

I always thought that when people said the ACC was quiet, they had to be exagerating. After experiencing the game first hand, it is true. I think the crowd is louder at the Barrie Molson Centre then the ACC. Even after the celebration of a goal, the crowd quickly died down to near silence. Maybe, sitting at the very back, I did not get to hear the entire crowd. I don't know. It seemed very quiet (except when the crowd was prompted by the screens to "Make Noise").

I would say my experience was great. Everyone around me had fun and I loved seeing Poni collect two quick goals. Some of the stops from Toskala were very impressive and had the kids next to me really cheering.

Now, the Leafs welcome the New York Islanders to town. Do you remember last time? Do you remember how the Leafs took over 60 shots and still found a way to lose?

I think, as Ron Wilson said, the team is doing a better job of going to the net and looking for rebounds. They have a "shoot first" mentality and everyone is now clueing in to what to do around the net. The Islanders are coming to Toronto after playing a tough game and losing to the Flyers tonight, while the Leafs played a relatively easy game against the Thrashers on Monday and are rested.

Why do I get a strange feeling of dread? The Leafs terrible record on home ice is a start, and their performance against the Islanders last month is another reason to feel a bit quesy. Still, the Leafs have been playing well for a few weeks now. Tomorrow's game should be a good one.

I'm excited!

I'm not that excited by Saturday's game against Boston. That was just a train wreck. Seeing the puck continously filter into the Toronto goal was just not an uplifting sight. The Leafs were not even competitive in the game. It was embarassing.

What I am excited for it tonight's game against the Atlanta Thrashers. The Thrashers are not normally an opponent to get excited for, except for the fact we get to see former Leafs Pavel Kubina and Nik Antropov. The reason I am excited for tonight's contest is because I will be in attendance.

I have never been to a Maple Leafs game. Despite being a huge fan for years, I have never had the time or money to make it to a game before until now. This will be my first experience seeing the Maple Leafs live, and I cannot wait to get to the Air Canada Centre to catch the game.

Hopefully, the boys will put in a good performance for me.

Just when I think I'm out...

...they keep pulling me back in!

These Toronto Maple Leafs might have dug themselves into a deep hole in October, but they are determined to remain relevant and interesting. Sure, they spotted the Florida Panthers an early two goal lead in the first period. Unlike earlier in the season, however, the blue and white managed to battle back and eventually grab the win. It was very refreshing to see Toronto hold the lead late and defend it without the opposition creating one amazing scoring chance after another.

The Maple Leafs are 5-4-3 in the month of November. 13 points in 12 games is in no way a great month, but for a team that won once in October, it is a vast improvement. The players have not given up yet, and that gives me at least a small amount of hope that this team can battle back and compete for a playoff spot.

As Greg Millen said tonight, the puck just seems to find the good goal scorers sometimes. The second Kessel goal definitly follows that adage. The first goal by Kessel was just a supreme effort by a talented player. I could watch that goal for days and not get bored of it. Hagman continued his excellent play with two goals. Both came from his willingness to go to the net and fight for space. His backhander through a crowd had eyes and I was very suprised to see the puck even reach Vokoun.

The star of the game, in my eyes, was Ponikarovsky. People always bash him, but he has been a key contributor for this team for years now. To see him involved in four goals tonight was not a suprise. When he decides to compete, he has both the size and strength to bully the defence and he has enough of a scoring touch to be a threat around the crease. With Mats Sundin, he was a force, and last season he scored a career high 23 goals without Mats. I believe Alexei is a free agent at the end of this season, and I wonder if he will go the way of Antropov and be moved.

This was a good game for the Leafs. To come back on the road is always a strong statement. Hopefully, the Leafs can keep this little streak going and inch their way back into the race.

The Hagman Question

The Leafs beat Tampa Bay tonight, and it was a bit of a wild affair with sloppy play by both teams allowing some excellent scoring chances and some big hits. Garnett Exelby's low (but not dirty) hit on Steve Downie early on was a treat to see.

Nikolai Kulemin and Matt Stajan both scored, while Niklas Hagman had two goals. His play tonight and over the course of the season has raised a question - what does Brian Burke do with him?

Hagman has 2 more years after this season left on a contract that pays him $3,000,000. That is a very good price for a player who can score and be used in all situations including the penalty kill. Hagman's 11 goals so far leads the Toronto Maple Leafs and he is always working hard on the forecheck. When you add everything together, Nik Hagman is a very attractive forward.

So, what does Brian Burke do with him? The Leafs are not out of the playoff race yet and a hot streak could come at any time, but the odds are that they will be on the outside looking in come playoff time. With his reasonable contract and his abilities, Nik Hagman could bring the Leafs a good prospect and a pick in trade. However, if Burke thinks this team will be able to bounce back and compete next season, then holding onto a player who can produce on the second line would be a good idea.

Personally, I like Hagman. There are some players who seem unwilling to battle for the puck and play a hard-nosed game. Hagman battles. He pushes and shoves more then he dekes before finishing a play, but he also has the hands to score some beautiful goals. He is not a Phil Kessel or a Alex Ovechkin, but he is a capable and reliable player who will be an important part of this team this season and next. I would keep Hagman with the Leafs.

What do you think? Do you think Hagman should stay, or do you think he should be moved for picks and/or prospects?

EDIT - Here is another beauty by Hagman.

Toskala is out, MacDonald and Hanson are in.

During the second period of the Leafs 4-3 loss to the Islanders yesterday, it looked as if Vesa Toskala took himself out of the game after letting in the last of 3 goals. Joe Bowan and Greg Millen speculated that Toskala was probably injured. Now we know that he is.

Vesa Toskala has been placed on IR with a groin injury, while John Mitchell has also been placed on injured reserve. Mitchell hurt his knee during the Islanders game. To fill the holes in the line-up, goaltender Joey MacDonald and forward Christian Hanson have been recalled from the AHL Toronto Marlies.

We have seen MacDonald already in the NHL this season for the Leafs. The interesting name to see is Christian Hanson.

In the AHL, Hanson has been producing at a point per game pace with 8 goals and 18 points in 18 games. Last season, Hanson played 5 games for the Leafs and scored a goal and added an assist. Signed out of college by Brian Burke, Hanson looked good in the preseason along with Tyler Bozak and Viktor Stalberg. With good numbers in the AHL and a big frame, could Hanson be the power forward the Leafs have been missing since the opening of the season?

I don't know if Hanson is ready for prime time yet, and I don't think it would right to expect the world from him. If he is ready to play at the NHL level (and at 23 years old, he could be) then Hanson would definitly fill a void for the Leafs. Toronto lacks a big bodied skill player that will go to the net.

I think Hanson will be a solid contributor for the Leafs one day. That day could be now if Ron Wilson is willing to give Hanson the opportunity. I think that Hanson would be a good player for the Leafs on the powerplay. Putting his 6'3, 203 lb frame in front of the goaltender could help, and having Hanson cleaning up after Phil Kessel's scoring chances would be good to see.

Of course, this all assumes he is up for the challenge now.

Talking Trades

Despite the win on the weekend over the Washington Capitals, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in a very tough spot. They are in last place and already 10 points back from the final playoff position. They aren't out of the race yet, but their odds continue to fall every week. The game tonight against the New York Islanders will give us a strong indication of whether this team will fight for a spot or if they are going to roll over.

This team needs a change both in the locker room and on the ice, and it needs some new blood. That is why the trade rumours continue to surround this hockey club. Could a trade be coming in the next few days or weeks?

One rumour making the rounds involves Chicago and Toronto. With Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane all due for new contracts, Chicago needs to shed some salary. Toronto is close to the cap, but is willing to move an expiring contract. One name that is thrown about is Brent Sopel. With a modest $2.3 million hit, moving Sopel would give Chicago the room they need moving forward to extend the contracts of their three young players. Sopel is not a poor player, though. He has struggled with injuries, but is a solid defensive defender who has shown some offensive ability. His 42 points in 2003/04 are proof of that. He is also a career plus player over the course of his NHL career. According to rumour, going the other way would be Garnett Exelby. "X" has a reputation as one of the better open ice hitters in the league, but he has looked only average so far this season. His salary and expiring contract make him very tradeable. Toronto would recieve a draft pick in compensation from Chicago is the deal, as well.

Would this be a trade Toronto should explore? I believe it is. Losing Exelby is not a loss, and Sopel's salary would not hinder the Leafs going forward as they shed a ton of salary in the off-season. Sopel would be a solid 5-6 defenceman for the Maple Leafs and would be a good depth player. Also, getting any draft picks would be a plus for the Maple Leafs after giving up their 1st and 2nd round picks in the Kessel deal.

There are other trade rumours involving Brian Campbell moving for Kaberle, and trading with St. Louis. I have only discussed the deal I feel is the most realistic and likely at the moment.

What do you think? Post a comment below and tell me your opinion!

Well, shit.

I don't know what to say. I honestly thought this team was better then October showed. I really thought that Ron Wilson would turn this team around and that the month of November would be a good one for the Leafs.

Sadly, after two great wins, the team has sunk back into the hole they started to climb out of. It looked promising. Seeing the Leafs beat the Red Wings in the way they did was very encouraging. Then, the Leafs were stomped on by Minnesota and Calgary and lost close games to Ottawa and Chicago.

The most recent loss is the straw that broke the camels back for me. The Leafs had a 3 goal lead over a struggling Hurricanes team and let them come back. Then, the Leafs had the lead late and allowed Carolina to tie the game with just 2.9 seconds left - another recurring theme in this NHL season for the Blue & White.

Phil Kessel has been a spark for the team, but no one around him has ignited. Jonas Gustavsson is looking less like a monster and more like a human, while Toskala is still Toskala.

I am still going to watch, but I am starting to feel like this season is a wash.

The "C"

One month in to the 2009/10 campaign, and the Toronto Maple Leafs do not have a captain. Francois Beauchemin, Mike Komisarek and Tomas Kaberle all wear the "A" on their chest and that makes them front runners to inherit the captaincy. That does not mean they will become the next captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, however.

Mike Komisarek has definitley improved his level of play from the first weeks of the season. He has become a steady, reliable defensive partner for Tomas Kaberle and has thrown several huge hits. His hit on Montreal's Glen Metropolit is an example of how Komisarek has improved as the season has gone on.

Francois Beauchemin seems to still be adjusting to playing with his new team. He does not have Scott Niedermayer next to him and is just now rounding into form. I think he is a good addition to the team, but I do not believe he is a leader who can make others step up when the game gets difficult.

Kaberle has exploded offensively in the last few games and now has 2 goals and 18 points to lead the Maple Leafs. His impact on the powerplay is huge, and with Kessel and Stempniak each sitting on the wings waiting to unleash one-timers, Kaberle has more time and more open ice to work with. However, I would not make him the captain of the hockey club. He is the longest serving Leaf, but I do not think he enjoys being in the spotlight. This could be seen last year when, surrounded by trade rumours and being constantly hounded by the media, his play fell off. Even with his impact on the team, I do not believe Kaberle is the captain the Leafs need.

So, it sounds like Mike Komisarek should be the next captain, right?

It might sound like that is what I am saying, but I am not. The captain of your hockey team needs to be a fighter. He cannot be afraid to fight for his position and battle every game. He also needs to lead by example, whether he can help his team offensively or defensively. I think Mike Komisarek fits this criteria, but I think someone else fits and has done more and battled more.

If it was my choice, I would make Ian White the captain and leader of the Toronto Maple Leafs - and not just because of his wicked facial hair.

Last season, Ian White started the season as a healthy scratch. He managed to fight his way onto the team and since then has been a stalwart on the Leafs blueline. His tenacity and ability shows in his stats. White scored 10 goals and led the team with a +6 rating despite missing 11 games. What he lacks in physical size he makes up in his willingness to battle. It seems like White never takes a shift off, and that is the kind of example you want your captain to set.

This season, White is one of only 4 Maple Leafs without a negative +/- rating and even when the team was playing poorly in October, Ian White was putting in a competitive effort each night. He has 3 goals and 9 points this season while recieving minimal powerplay time. His play in his own end has been very good and he has helped ease the burden of generating offence from the forwards.

I believe Ian White should wear the "C". All that is needed is a contract extension for Mr. White.

Monster Performance

After a horrible start to the season, who thought the Maple Leafs would be able to play so well against the Detroit Red Wings?

Sure, the Wings are missing some key people, but they have been playing well despite their losses and are still a dangerous team in the Western Conference. Tonight, the Leafs were able to take the lead and hold it with good defence and some great goaltending from "The Monster".

Seeing the Leafs score 5 is great. In all of their overtime loses, they have struggled to put the puck into the net. With Phil Kessel in the line-up, the Leafs just seem to be better at finishing their chances. The powerplay continues to be a positive for the Leafs and the penalty kill is slowly improving.

I expect Jonas Gustavsson to start on Tuesday against Minnesota and on Friday in Chicago. Depending on how the Chicago game plays out, he could also play on Saturday against Calgary. Really, this team needs to ride "The Monster". He is playing very well and is the reason why the Leafs have seemingly found their groove.

Out Of The Basement!

The Toronto Maple Leafs are no longer sitting in last place! Wooo!

Of course, it really wasn't something they did. The poor play of the Carolina Hurricanes has seen them only earn 7 points (like the Leafs) with one extra game played. Their best players (Cam Ward, Eric Staal) have not been their best players so far, and they have suffered in the standings for it.

So, tonight, the battle for last place takes place. Somebody has to win. Can the Maple Leafs finally win a second game this year?

The Leafs need to start quickly. Carolina, like the Leafs, have been outplayed in the first period this season. If Toronto can score an early goal, the Hurricanes may struggle greatly to get back into the game. As long as Toronto stays out of the penalty box, they should be able to pick up two points tonight and start a charge towards getting back into the playoff race.

Phil Kessel was exciting to watch on Tuesday. Can he continue to play well and add some firepower to the Leafs lineup?

A New Beginning

So, October was a fun month, eh?

Everything pointed towards the Leafs being a better team then this before the season began. The defence was supposed to be tougher. The goaltending was supposed to improve. The penalty kill was supposed to be somewhat effective.

With one month done and only one win, the Toronto Maple Leafs have looked worse then the team from last year. Losses to Washington and New York stick out in particular as moments this Leafs team would like to forget. Vesa Toskala was absolutely terrible and has lost his starting job. Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin have had a difficult time fitting in. Finding goals has been difficult.

Looking forward, there is some hope still for this Maple Leafs team to turn things around. The last four games have seen a huge improvement in all aspects of the game. Jonas Gustavsson has been fantastic. The defence has done a better job in front of the net. The powerplay has started to perform at a high level, mostly because of Tomas Kaberle.

The Leafs have recieved points in all of their last four games, but only won the game in Anaheim. They deserved better against Dallas, Buffalo and Montreal.

Despite the terrible start, Toronto is only 7 points back of a playoff spot. With "The Monster" in goal and the addition of Phil Kessel to the line-up, the Leafs will begin the long climb back into contention tomorrow night when the Tampa Bay Lightning come to the Air Canada Centre.

I personally believe Kessel will make a difference for the Leafs. Although some say Marc Savard is the reason Kessel scored 36 goals, the majority of Kessel's goals actual come from his powerful wrist shot. His ability to put a hard, accurate shot on goal from all angles will be a big help to a Leafs team that sometimes fails to even hit the net.

This is a new beginning for the Leafs. Hopefully it is a good one.

Leafs Send Down Stalberg

Yesterday, in preparation for tonight's game in Buffalo, the Maple Leafs called up Jiri Tlusty and sent down Viktor Stalberg and Joey Mac to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.

I understand sending down Joey MacDonald. He didn't win when he started and with Vesa healthy, there was just no space left for him with the team. I also understand calling up Tlusty. A first round pick in 2006 (13th overall), Tlusty has shown flashes of talent at the NHL level but has failed to produce consistently. Last year in the AHL, Tlusty was fantastic and produced at a point per game level. He has continued to produce in the AHL this year and he could be taking a step in the right direction.

I do not understand sending down Stalberg, however. He looked fantastic in the preseason and, despite his lack of production, he has been receiving plenty of minutes and has been a good player for the Maple Leafs. If he was playing on the last line and not getting any playing time, I would understand. Since he has been playing, I think he should be allowed to work on his game at the NHL level instead of sending him to play against a weaker level of competition.

Tonight is Toronto vs. Buffalo. Here are a few key points I think will lead to success for the Blue & White.

1. Defence, defence, defence! The Leafs have seen Jonas Gustavsson make big saves over and over. Now, it's time for the defence to step up and lighten his workload. Against a quick, skilled team like Buffalo, it is important to make them work to the outside and keep them from using their quickness to cut into the slot. Toronto needs to use their size and strength on the backend to grind the Buffalo forwards against the boards and make them tired. This will slow their forecheck and create more opportunities on the breakout for the Leafs forwards.

2. Discipline. The penalty kill has slightly improved, but is still a huge liability for the team. What is a good way to neutralize this weakness? Stay out of the box! It is almost impossible to stay out of the penalty box for the entire game, but a good team can limit the time they spend a man down. Don't take dumb roughing penalties after the play and DO NOT take penalties while in the attacking zone!

3. Momentum. Toronto has played well in two straight now and needs to come out strong. They need to set the tone and carry the momentum they have built up forward into the HSBC Arena. Toronto has been taking a lot of shots on goal and creating chances. They need to continue that and force Ryan Miller to play a perfect game.

If the Leafs can focus on these key points, then tonights game should be a fun one.

Leafs lose, but...

The Leafs lost to the Dallas Stars in overtime, but they were the better team for the entire game. Dallas managed to take advantage of a powerplay and some lucky bounces to keep pace with the Leafs until the extra frame.

Despite losing the game, Leafs fans have to be happy with the effort and determination that was seen on the ice. If Toronto had come out and looked flat like they have against New York and Washington, then any momentum acquired by winning on Monday night would have been long gone by this morning. By putting in a spirited 60 minute (and more) performance against a good Dallas team, the Maple Leafs have built more momentum.

Jonas Gustavsson made some huge saves in the second and third period and looks to be the real deal. As soon as pucks stop going in off of teammates and taking wierd hops, his stats will begin to reflect his level of play.

Several other Leafs played well. The defence as a whole has improved. Beauchemin continues to make some poor decisions, but he has limited his mistakes and started to play a more simple and effective game. Lee Stempniak scored on the powerplay and seemed to generate a few other chances. Nik Kulemin had two goals and he was fighting hard for the puck. Even the much maligned Jason Blake had a strong 3 point game.

Next up in Buffalo on Friday at the HSBC Arena. Toronto and Buffalo always put on a show, so I can't wait to see it!

Tonight is the Night!

The Maple Leafs lost on Saturday but they played one of their best games of the year. Roberto Luongo and the Canucks did just enough to beat the Leafs, but the Leafs were the better team for the majority of the night.

Now, against a struggling Anaheim team and with "The Monster" between the pipes, tonight is the night that Toronto picks up their first win. If the Leafs want to get anything out of this season, the turn around has to happen NOW.

Here are three reasons why I think tonight Toronto picks up the first win of the season:

1. "The Monster". Gustavsson looked good in his only full game of the season against Ottawa and could be the solution in goal for the blue and white. Toronto has desperately needed a consistent, steady hand in goal. Outside of Saturday, Joey MacDonald was not that and Vesa Toskala has has a nightmare start. Gustavsson will be the goaltender that helps this team climb out of this early hole.

2. Momentum. The Leafs lost last night, but they did a lot of good things. If they hadn't taken all of those penalties to start the game in Vancouver, they would have likely won.

3. Anaheim is struggling. The Ducks have lost three straight, including a very poor performance on the weekend against the improved Blue Jackets. Just like the Maple Leafs, the Ducks have struggled with somewhat poor netminding and I think tonight their struggles will continue.

If Toronto can just stay out of the penalty box, the chances are good that they will win the game tonight.

Well...

I was hoping that, if I waited, I would have something good to say about the Leafs.

I was wrong.

Instead, I was just dissapointed again by a team that just doesn't want to compete for sixty minutes. At home against the New York Rangers, the Maple Leafs looked very good in the firs period. Although they ended the period down by a goal, they were controlling the play and limiting their mistakes. They continued to do this until half way into the second period. After seeing Henrik Lundqvist play so well for 30 minutes, the Leafs must have just given up?

It is very disheartening to have a full week to dwell on this loss. The team has just been awful in every game this season outside of the opener against Montreal. Yes, goaltending has been a major issue. However, the whole team has just played weak.

Where is the competitive spirit? Where is the drive and determination to win?

Maybe...just maybe if Gustavsson returns and makes a few big saves for this team, there will be a response. Maybe.

One Last Chance...

Vesa Toskala is a lucky man. Despite his poor play this season, the injury bug has given Toskala another chance to show all of us Leafs fans that he can be our goaltender.

Jonas Gustavsson looked good in the loss to the Senators. I feel that Toskala would be on the bench watching tonight if Gustavsson could play, but a groin injury has sidelined "The Monster" for the time being.

I have been a supporter of Vesa Toskala since his arrival from San Jose two seasons ago. He was good in his first season as a Maple Leaf. Last season, however, was a bad year for Toskala. Whether he was injured or not, Vesa did not give the Leafs the goaltending neccessary to be a competitive team on most nights. Now, with his injuries healed, Toskala has looked even worse. The goal he allowed in Washington to Ovechkin was terrible. A similar goal was scored on Saturday night by Matt Cooke.

Sure, the rest of the team has not been at there best so far. Despite that, Toskala has done nothing to prove himself capable of being a #1 goaltender in the NHL. Without your goaltender making the early save for you, it is impossible for a team to get any momentum. And without any momentum, winning a game in the NHL can be impossible.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Let's start with the bad here. Toronto wasted a strong defensive game. Ottawa had a good amount of shots on goal but a good portion of those chances were from the outside and the point. Beauchimen and Komisarek were calm and limited their mistakes. Toronto did not show the toughness that we were promised in the offseason by Brian Burke, but they did a good job defensively.

The ugly part was the offence. Maybe the Leafs were focusing too much on the defensive side of the game or maybe it was just Ottawa doing a good job themselves. It doesn't matter. The Leafs failed to generate much of an attack, only scoring the one powerplay goal.

Jonas Gustavsson would qualify as the good. He stopped 26 of 28 and looked solid. The two goals against him were one that should not have counted and a penalty shot. Pretty good for his first start of the year.

Still, the Leafs ended the game with a loss and are still looking for win #1. This Saturday they play the Pittsburgh Penguins. Toronto will need to be at the top of their games to win on the weekend.

Is it time for "The Monster"?

The questions surrounding Vesa Toskala and the Leafs goaltending situation were not answered on Saturday night when the Capitals scored 6 and dominated for most of the game. The play of the defence was pourous and terrible. Once again, Mike Komisarek continued to make a home in the penalty box while Francois Beauchimen looked out of place. It wasn't the terrible play of the defence that set the tone early in the game, however.

The goal by Alex Ovechkin scored just 77 seconds into the contest set the tone for the entire game and deflated a Leafs team that entered the game looking to make up for a dissapointing loss in Game 1. All of the blame for this goal falls at the feet of Vesa Toskala. Yes, Ovechkin is the best scorer in the league. However, the wrist shot he took from 40 feet out was not a difficult save. Toskala let in 3 goals in the first period and was pulled from the game.

Gustavvson did not look amazing, but looked better then Toskala on Saturday night. With a date with the Senators set for tomorrow night, the question is this - Is it time for "The Monster" to make his first NHL start?

I think now is the time to give Gustavvson a start. If everything goes well, Gustavvson will put in a good performance and help the team pick up two points. I also think it could help Toskala to show him that he is replaceable. If Gustavvson does not perform, then Toskala gets another shot in the crease.

It doesn't really matter who starts in goal, though, if the Leafs defence does not get their act together.

Old Habits Die Hard.

Coming into tonight's game, the Leafs were looking to their newly remodelled defence to help the penalty kill and improve from last season. They were looking for some toughness and some solid play from the goaltender.

However, not everything went as desired. Mike Komisarek spent 15 minutes in the box and was sitting on his butt when the Canadiens scored the first goal and the late tying goal in the third period. Komisarek was brought in to help the penalty kill, but it is hard to have him helping out when he is the one in the penalty box. Francois Beauchimen looked too eager to jump into the rush and was constantly out of position, leaving his defensive partner Luke Schenn out to dry on many occasions. In the early parts of the game, the Leafs showed a bit of a mean streak with some big hits and fights from Colton Orr and Jay Rosehill. As the game progressed, however, Montreal began to outmuscle the Leafs.

In goal, Vesa Toskala was not great, but he was not helped by the play of his defence in front of him.

Were the new Leafs a little too eager or excited? Hopefully that is the reason why they were repeatedly out of position and why the Leafs blew a late 3-2 lead and wound up giving Montreal the extra point in overtime.

Some positives do come from the 4-3 OT loss. The Leafs powerplay looked good with Stajan scoring twice. In fact, the line of Blake-Stajan-Stalberg were creating scoring chances throughout the game. Tomas Kaberle looked like his fantastic self, making a great play on Stajan's first goal. Another positive is that the Leafs outshot Montreal by a wide margin. Carey Price put in a great performance and likely saved the game for his team. The Leafs had long periods of possession in Montreal's zone, and if they can continue to pressure the opposing team like that they will definitly win more then they lose.

Overall, this is a tough loss to swallow. The next game for the Leafs comes this Saturday against the Washington Capitals, who were powered by 2 goals from Ovechkin in a 4-1 win over the Bruins.

Wilson Names Three Captains, Line-up For Opening Day...

It's opening night for the Toronto Maple Leafs! I'm really excited for the beginning of a new campaign and I really hope our team can show some improvement over last season.

According to Sportsnet.ca, Ron Wilson has decided to go with three associate captains this season. Wearing the "A" will be Tomas Kaberle, Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchimen. Wilson will name a captain later in the season when he sees someone step up and assume the role of leader for the team.

I like the idea of waiting to name a leader. Right now, there are a lot of new faces. Hopefully, someone will step up and take the "C". Last year, the Leafs remained without a captain throughout the whole season. This year, someone will wear the badge.

The lines for tonights games look like this:

Forwards:

Stalberg Stajan Blake

Ponikarovsky Grabovski Hagman

Wallin Mitchell Stempniak

Rosehill Primeau Orr

Defence:

Beauchimen-Schenn

Kaberle-Komisarek

White -Exelby

Goaltender

Toskala
Gustavsson

These lines were also taken from Sportsnet.ca. Toskala starting in goal has caused some concern among Leafs fans, but it is the right move. He is the veteran and deserves a chance to prove himself. It is a long season, and Gustavsson will get an opportunity to prove himself. If Toskala can perform like he did in his first season with the Maple Leafs, then it will be a great season for the Blue and White.

So Long, Mats!

Mats Sundin ended his 18 season career season quietly in Sweden. With that, one of the greatest players to ever play for the Toronto Maple Leafs and one of the best from Sweden left the game of hockey.

Sundin accomplished many milestones during his career. He was the first European born player to be drafted first overall in the draft and went on to prove himself worthy of that pick over his career. Sundin was the first Swedish player to score 500 goals in the NHL and is tied for the lead in overtime goals. His 564 goals ranks 20th overall in the NHL. Mats also captained Team Sweden to a gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino.

Personally, Mats Sundin is still my favourite player of all time. He was a great leader for the Maple Leafs, setting franchise records in goals and points. He led the team deep into the playoffs, and he gave us plenty of exciting moments while with the team. His time spent with Vancouver last season hurt some fans, but I believe he is one of the best Leafs ever and deserves a spot in the rafters of the Air Canada Centre.

For me, I will always remember watching Mats score his 500th goal against the Flames, finishing off a hat-trick in overtime while shorthanded. I believe Mats will be in the Hockey Hall Of Fame and I hope he is remembered by all Leafs fans for the years of entertainment he gave us.

So long, Mats!

The Monster Has Arrived!

After watching tonight's preseason game, it is easy to see why Jonas Gustavsson is nicknamed "The Monster". In twenty minutes of work Friday night in Detroit, Jonas looked solid. Tonight, with two periods of work, Gustavsson looked excellent. He was very aggressive when challenging the shooter and made a terrific cross crease save to rob the Red Wings on a two on one scoring chance. The fans in the ACC gave him a standing ovation for his effort.

"The Monster" is able to use his 6'3 frame to block a large portion of the net off. When he comes out of his crease to challenge a shooter, there is very little net for the shooter to work with. He is also an incredible athlete, as seen in his acrobatic cross crease save.

Vesa Toskala continues to look better then he did last year, but a weak goal tonight against him makes it look like he may be challenged by Gustavsson this season. It happened all throughout last season for Toskala, with weak goals getting past him and taking the wind out of the sails for the rest of the team.

Another stand out tonight was, once again, Viktor Stalberg. He has impressed everybody with his speed and offensive ability this preseason and could make the team after scoring his 5th goal so far.

Gustavsson's big save.

My Thoughts And Predictions...

Next Thursday, the Leafs begin the 2009/10 season with a new line-up against an old rival in the Montreal Canadiens. With all the changes to the roster, fans of the Leafs from all around once again look hopefully into the future. We all hope for a miracle season with the Leafs making the playoffs then grinding through the playoffs, finally grabbing the Cup and breaking the long, long, long, long drought.

Is this version of the blue and white an improvement over the teams from the last three seasons? Brian Burke came into the organization midway through the 2008/09 campaign, but did not put his stamp on the club until the off-season. It started with the signings of college players like Christian Hanson and the talented Tyler Bozak, and continued at the draft where Burke added skill with the first pick and toughness with the rest. With free agency came true change. Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin and Garnett Exelby add a new level of toughness and grit to the defence while Colton Orr is the true heavyweight the Leafs have missed since trading away Wade Belak. "The Monster" was also brought into the organization, giving us a goaltender who should be able to push Vesa Toskala and provide us with depth in goal.

With the recent addition of Phil Kessel (out until mid-November after shoulder surgery) to the forward corp, the Leafs have a little bit of firepower to go along with the fire added during the summer. Are these Leafs better then those of years past?

I think that the Leafs will be a harder team to play against. I also think that with Komisarek and Beauchemin added to a group that includes Luke Schenn and Jeff Finger, the penalty kill should be much improved. In goal, a healthy Vesa Toskala has looked quicker and more flexible in the preseason and should play better then he did last year. Up front, the Leafs lost some offensive punch when they traded away Nik Antropov at the trade deadline, but the addition of Phil Kessel and improvements from Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin should have the Leafs in the middle of the pack. If given a chance, I think the three young college players (Bozak, Hanson and Viktor Stalberg) that have looked great in preseason play could also have an impact by adding an element of speed that the Leafs have lacked.

If Toskala is healthy now, I think the Leafs have improved enough to have a good chance at 5th to 8th in the Eastern Conference. Boston didn't improve (although they are the best team in the division), Montreal shook things up and could go either way, Buffalo didn't improve and Ottawa is full of question marks between the pipes and on the blue line.

I am excited for this season. I really believe this team has improved and should be much better then the team that played last year. I can't wait for the opener on Thursday! GO LEAFS GO!

The Future

After last nights preseason game, I just wanted to share the highlight - the play of our first round pick this year, Nazem Kadri. Not only did he tie the game late in the third, but he scored the shootout winner! If you missed it, here is the video.

Kadri scored tying goal then wins the shootout!

He might not make the team at the end of the preseason, but the future is very bright for Nazem Kadri and for the Toronto Maple Leafs. For a team that has been missing a true offensive player, Kadri looks like he could fill that role perfectly.

A Few Videos I Enjoy...

Below are a few links to some videos I really enjoy. Some commercials and some cool moments I just feel like sharing. Enjoy!

Mats Sundin Nike Commercial #1

Mats Sundin Nike Commercial #2

Mats and Wayne McDonald's Commercial

My Favourite Leafs Moment!

Wade Belak...SCORES?!

Luke Schenn ERASES Malkin then fights Tyler Kennedy!

If you have any videos you'd like me to see and share, just e-mail me the link at bradleyhutchison@hotmail.com or post a comment below!

Welcome to my blog!

Hey everyone out there!

My name is Bradley Hutchison. I am a 23 year old college student from the Kitchener/Waterloo area and I am a huge Maple Leafs fan.

With this blog, I want to share with you what I think about the team. If I think they just made a sweet deal, I'll say it. If I think they made a huge mistake sending someone to the Marlies, I'll post that. I'll even post things that aren't about the Leafs, like things I like about video games and politics.

I'll start this off by explaining my love for this team. I wasn't the biggest hockey fan growing up. I loved to play NHL 94, but watching it? I thought it was boring! I had some hockey cards and I liked Dougie, but I was never loyal to one team or another. This all changed with the lockout. I suddenly missed hockey. When it came back, I watched every game I could. It wasn't long before the Leafs emerged as my team. I know about the 40 years and I know all the history surrounding this team. I also watched as the Leafs missed the playoffs by one point two seasons in a row. I cheered as my favourite player of all time scored his 500th goal in overtime....shorthanded. Now, I am the most loyal Leafs fan that I know.

I hope that everyone comes back and reads my thoughts and, more importantly, gives me feedback and responds. I am more then willing to debate any issue!

Thanks for reading,

Brad