Tim Connolly - Ol' Splodeybones!

Tim Connolly was signed to play between Joffrey Lupul and Phil Kessel on the top line. His skill and speed make him a great compliment for these two players who have both started the season on fire. Playing between these two players right now would be an ideal situation for any center in the NHL.

Too bad for Tim, then.

You see, Mr. Connolly suffers from something all athletes dread - the injury bug. It isn't really something you catch, but something that just seems to follow you like a spectre in the night. Once you are labelled as injury prone, it can be a nightmare to overcome. Just look at Joffrey Lupul and his career up to now.

Tim Connolly has only played six games for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, and now he is going to miss another week or two of action due to an "upper body injury". Since the Leafs are being vague - as always - about the injury, and based upon his history, I think it's safe to assume that Connolly was outside and was hit by a light breeze, which then gave him a concussion.

Connolly can have a big impact for the Maple Leafs. It's too bad that his injuries continue to prevent him from being a regular in the NHL. At least his contract is a short one?

My Blog

It's been awhile since I've posted about the Maple Leafs, but that is because I haven't really had anything to say. I have been thinking of starting a new blog where I post about things other then the Leafs. Movie and TV reviews, personal musings, politics, anything.

Instead of creating a new blog, I have decided I will be posting that stuff here along with any Leafs related articles I write. Hopefully, with the draft and free agency just around the corner, I will have a few things to say about my favourite hockey team.

Kris Versteeg and the Leafs

Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers played a tough, hard-hitting contest in Philadelphia. It was a very important game for both teams. The Flyers are trying to finish the season in first place in the Eastern Conference so they can have home ice advantage in the playoffs. For Toronto, just getting into the playoffs is the mission. Seeing two teams so apart in the standings play each other is usually an easy game to call, but not with so much at stake.

Despite all of that, the game may have meant more to one player. A player seemingly cast aside for "not fitting in"; a player who was pushed out the door by Brian Burke.

Kris Versteeg was a Maple Leaf for only 53 games. That seems like a short period of time to see if a player is the right fit on a hockey team. It seems even shorter when consider Versteeg's age (24) and experience.

Statistically, it is hard to say that Versteeg was a poor player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was on pace to score more then 20 goals and 50 points on a team that doesn't have many players capable of putting up those numbers. His plus/minus of -13 wasn't great, but the Maple Leafs were a struggling team before trading away Versteeg.

Still, management decided that Versteeg was expendable and decided to move him. The trade and the return the Leafs received for him have already been debated to death. The major factor was that Versteeg was not a fit with this Toronto team. Could it be that Burke and the Leafs staff wanted Versteeg to play with Kessel? On a team with clearly defined roles, it isn't hard to imagine that Ron Wilson and Brian Burke didn't like Versteeg as a third line player.

For a player who had just won the Stanley Cup, it must seem odd to have two teams in quick succession cast you aside. The Blackhawks, fresh off of their Stanley Cup win, had serious salary cap issues and Versteeg was not the only player moved to fix the problem.

With Toronto, Versteeg had to wonder what was preventing him from working out. He is a quick player with great hands and a solid shot, and can play good defence when he wants to. On a team that lacked obvious offensive talents, you would think that Kris Versteeg would be an important top six forward.

Whatever the reason for his departure, Kris Versteeg has never said a negative thing about his situation or the Toronto Maple Leafs. If he had any feelings of anger at the team, he certainly got his revenge by scoring two goals last night. The Leafs won the game on a late goal by Darryl Boyce, but Versteeg certainly showed off his talent and showed that he was doing what he (according to Burke) failed to do in Toronto - fitting in.

Time for change?

Brian Burke may have to consider firing his friend this off-season.

It has been a long time since I last posted. It has been hard for me to write anything about this team that hasn't already been said, and it is difficult for me to write about this team as it continues to struggle.

Entering this 2010/11 season, I had very high hopes. With improved goaltending, a new captain, and a few more players up front, I thought this team would be competing for a playoff spot. Instead, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves fighting to stay out of the draft lottery.

It is hard to say if this version of the team is any better then the team we saw struggle to compete last season. Between Giggy and the Monster, our goaltending has been only a small percentage better. Our defence has Brett Lebda continuing to give the opposition opportunities to score while Mike Komisarek gets paid a boat load to be, at best, a third pairing defender. The offence has moments where they look good, but then the team gets shut out by Dwayne Roloson. Seriously, Roloson must love it anytime he sees the Leafs are coming to town. I cannot remember him ever playing poorly against us.

This is not really what I wanted to talk about, really. What I did want to talk about was the coach of this hockey team, Ron Wilson.

Throughout the last three seasons, two things have been consistent with this Maple Leafs team. The powerplay has been anemic and the penalty kill has been an absolute joke. Both of these failures, at least from what I've seen, can both be blamed on the current coaching staff of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This has been a huge frustration for me. I am not angry that the team has struggled, but that the powerplay has continued to look the exact same over three years with Kessel replacing Mats Sundin on the side boards. The coaching staff has failed to move players around and change to look of the powerplay despite the lack of success.

I remember when Paul Maurice was behind the bench, the Leafs started out with the cross crease pass to Tucker. As teams keyed in on that move, the powerplay shifted to focus more on an umbrella with Sundin on the side boards. When the powerplay struggled, the team tried different things instead of just staying with one system.

With Ron Wilson behind the bench, the players have changed completely but the results have stayed the same. I know this current Leafs team was not expected to set the NHL on fire, but they have looked absolutely pathetic on some nights. I think a coaching change needs to happen. This team may not be a lock for the playoffs right now, but is better then 26th overall in league.

Will Ron Wilson be the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs next season?

I got NHL 11!

I just picked up NHL 11 for my PS3. I cannot wait to get home from school to start a franchise with the Leafs. The inclusion of the CHL should make Be-A-GM mode even deeper. Ultimate Team also seems like a fun mode to play around with, especially if I can get some friends to play with on the Playstation Network.

Last season, I was a sporadic poster. My goal for this new Leafs season is to post at least once a week, starting with training camp. Considering that I am now in college for journalism, maintaining this blog should be good practice.

Now I'm off to play some NHL 11!

Versteeg to the Leafs? Yes, please!

Here I am, preparing to sit and watch the 4 hour bore-fest known by TSN as "Free Agent Frenzy" tomorrow to see what our Toronto Maple Leafs do to improve, and out of left field comes this message - "Leafs Acquire Kris Versteeg". It took a second to sink before I reacted to the news...

Awesome. For weeks we have heard stories about how Brian Burke has been searching for a top six forward, a player that can step in a contribute right away. Names from Marc Savard and Nathan Horton to Brayden Schenn and Bobby Ryan have all been thrown about. Many of the rumours have been incredibly far fetched and illogical. Now, we have seen Burke and the Leafs HQ come through, bringing in a genuine top six forward who has already proven himself to be a good offensive performer.

I am excited to see that the Leafs have managed to bring in a player like Kris Versteeg. Versteeg is only 24 years old and exploded onto the scene in 08-09. Last season, the Blackhawks added some players and Versteeg was bumped to the third line, playing with John Madden, and he still was able to put up over 40 points and score 20 goals despite limited ice time. Versteeg is good in his own end, and has great offensive instincts. He may be a little small, but that hasn't limited him so far in his career.

The cost for Versteeg is what makes this deal amazing. To get him and prospect Bill Sweatt from Chicago, the Leafs gave up Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico, and prospect Philippe Paradis. Out of the three leaving Toronto, only one has played time in the NHL (Stalberg) and none looked to be more then third line players - something the Leafs have plenty of. This deal works for Chicago because they still needed to clear some cap space, and Stalberg should still be a good player for them on their third line.

The best part is that the Leafs were able to keep Tomas Kaberle. Since his no-trade clause was lifted, it has seemed like a certainty that Burke would peddle Kaberle. Many thought that the only way the Leafs could add a legitimate top six forward was if Kaberle was part of the deal. Now, the Leafs have added that top six forward and kept Kaberle. Burke can now move Kaberle to continue improving our group of forwards, or he could keep the smooth skating defenceman and longest serving Leaf and start working on a contract extension with him.

By adding Versteeg, the Leafs have improved offensively and now have more options going forward towards "Free Agent Frenzy". I have to tip my hat to Brian Burke and the Leafs for this pleasant surprise.

Free Agent Food For Thought

I haven't posted in awhile, but I plan to start back up as we get closer and closer to the new NHL season.

Anyways, it was great to see the Maple Leafs name Dion Phaneuf as captain. I know some are saying he was the only choice and questioning the timing of the move, I think that it was a smart decision. When in Calgary, Dion was obviously being groomed to for a leadership role. He is a very passionate player on the ice, and I think he can set the tone for others to follow.

The Leafs also released their new jerseys. Not a complete overhaul, but the new jerseys are very nice. If you haven't had the chance to see them, here they are!

Now, onto the topic I came here to talk about. I was on Hockey Buzz reading that the Leafs are going to target both Marleau and Kovalchuk. Now, both are great players, but I have learned to take anything a certain rumour blogger writes with a grain of salt. Plus, I don't think getting either player is a great idea.

Hear me out. Yes, Kovalchuk is probably the best goal scorer in the NHL after Ovechkin. Yes, Patrick Marleau had an amazing regular season for the Sharks this year. Adding either player would certainly boost the offensive abilities of the Leafs.

However, both Kovalchuk and Marleau are expensive players. Kovalchuk is going to be looking for a long contract with $10 million per year, while Marleau will probably be looking for $7 to 8. The Maple Leafs do not have a lot of breathing room under that salary cap, and I believe we need to add more then one player to increase the quality of our top two lines.

Instead of looking for one player to fix our offensive woes, I think the Leafs should look for a 30 goal scorer and one or two 20 goal men. This might not be possible with just free agents - a trade may be needed. With all the rumours floating around about Kaberle, though, I think Brian Burke is already working on this.

So, who do I think the Leafs should be gunning for? One name I've heard is Nathan Horton. Horton is a proven producer who still has some upside. He is the big body we need to improve our powerplay, and 27 or more goals three times in his career. Last season, Horton put up great numbers and could have put up a career high in points if not for injuries. The rumours of Kaberle going to Florida continue to pop up, so maybe this move is already being discussed.

Who do you think the Leafs should look to bring in? Would you rather see them bring up players from the Marlies and their other prospects? Post below and let me know!

Trade Deadline

Gold medal for the Canadian team?

Oh yeah, we rocked that shit. Crosby's overtime goal will probably be remembered as one of the best Canadian goals scored on the international stage. When I saw it on TV, I didn't even realize what had happened until the crowd went insane. It was a great moment for hockey and for hockey fans here in Canada and the United States. The US team was scary good. No one expected them to be as good as they were, but the goaltending of Ryan Miller and the quick and young forwards they had made them a real force. They caught Canada in the round robin, and almost got them again in the gold medal game.

Now that the Olympics are out of the way, we return to your regularly scheduled crazy NHL program. Now, with the trade deadline approaching, we are left to wonder if Burkie will be moving anyone else.

Really, the major move for the Leafs was made before the Olympics with the acquisitions of Dion Phaneuf and JS Giguere. The Maple Leafs still have several expiring contracts and some assets that other teams would desire. One is Tomas Kaberle.

For almost a whole year now, the rumours of Kaberle leaving town have been swirling. Although Tomas continues to deny that he would like to leave and says he will not waive his NTC, the Leafs would probably get back a sizable amount of picks and/or assets if they were to trade Kaberle. The two main issues are A) would Kaberle be willing to waive his no trade clause and B) would the Leafs want to move him anyway.

Another player who could move is Alexei Ponikarovsky. He has improved greatly over the last few seasons and is a legit 20 goal scorer in this league with the potential to score more. If Dominic Moore or Jordan Leopold are worth second round picks, then Alexei Ponikarovsky is worth AT LEAST a second round pick. He is a better player then Moore right now and could be a good addition to any team looking for a boost.

It will be interesting to see if Brian Burke makes any more moves at the deadline.

Jiggy - band aid or maybe more?

When I heard the trade sending Toskala and Blake away to Anaheim for JS Giguere, I was a happy man. Sure, we were picking up some salary but we managed to shed the terrible Blake contract and get rid of one of the worst Leafs goaltenders in recent times.

(In a side note, if Blake was making $2 million or less, I would have loved to see him stay with the Leafs. He is a tireless worker and although he makes some bad decisions and too many poor shots, he was a great person.)

Anyways, when the trade occured, it was thought that Jiggy was going to be a temporary fix until his contract expired. He would be the stop-gap, giving our team decent goaltending until our saviour named Gustavsson was ready. After seeing his first two games back and thinking back just a year or two, maybe people were too quick to call this man done. I think Giguere may be more then a short term fix.

How old was Belfour when he became a Leaf and helped the team make some playoff runs? Giguere is only 32 years old. He is not some ancient dinosaur like CuJo was in his last stint here. I may be jumping the gun on this, but Giguere has been very impressive in two shutouts against two game opponents in New Jersey and Ottawa - both tough teams to play due to varying circumstances.

If Giguere can prove himself to still be capable carrying the load, then maybe at the end of his contract he gets an extension, not his walking papers. I think that, like Belfour and Curtis Joseph, Jean Sebastien Giguere could be a long term solution. If that turns out to be correct, then Gustavsson will have plenty of time to work out the kinks and become the goaltender we all think he can be.

PHANEUF!

Brian Burke, you son of a bitch. Just as I was getting sad and depressed about this team, you make a huge move and get me interested again. What a way to wake up on Sunday, eh?

So, now Dion Phaneuf is a Toronto Maple Leaf. This is a player who can change a game, much like Phil Kessel. Phaneuf brings the hammer; he can change the momentum with a single hit. Oh, and he can do it on a regular basis. Unlike Exelby though, Dion also has the offensive tools to score goals and assists. The Toronto Sun calls him a "stud". I am going to call him a two-way player. He can play up to 30 minutes a night, shut down the best the other team has to offer, and produce offence.

Dion has had a rough year though. Once, he was a lock for the Canadian Olympic team and was a Norris Trophy candidate. He has struggled and found himself to be expendable. Why is that?

I think it is easy to see why Dion has struggled. Phaneuf is a bit of a rover - he likes to pinch and play offence, and he also likes to take risks and throw the body. Under Brent Sutter, he has been reigned in and it has affected his ability to produce. Also, the signing of Jay Bouwmeester has taken minutes from Dion. A team only needs one "elite" defenceman, and when Calgary brought in Bouwmeester, it became a case of too many hens in the hen house. Bouwmeester has not played too well in Calgary, either.

I don't think we will see the full effect of having Dion until next year.

I will miss Hagman. He was a creative player and he was locked into a sensible contract. White and his moustache will be missed as well. I had thought of Stajan as a Leaf for life for some reason. Mayers...well, I got nothing for him. Still, it was the cost of doing business. Outside of Mayers, all three players can add something to a team - but they are replaceable. A player like Phaneuf is harder to find.

I want to see Phaneuf and Komisarek as a pair. I think they both play solid defence, and Komisarek's steady play can set Phaneuf free to jump into a play or throw a big hit.

Does this move make Kaberle expendable? Will Phaneuf regain his All-Star form with the Leafs? These questions can only be answered by time.

What's the point?

I was not a serious fan before the lockout. Sure, I watched some games and I always watched Sports Centre, but I did not watch all the games. I would cheer when the Leafs made the playoffs, but I was never close to the team.

After the lockout, I somehow became a HUGE fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. From the 05/06 season on, I became a follower of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I don't really know why I did, but I did. I watched almost every game from 2005 to now. I think I have missed less then ten games. I remember being pissed off at how slow Jason Allison was. I remember seeing Ian White as a rookie and being angry at all of his turnovers, then becoming a fan of his as he became a solid player for us.

Brian Burke and the current version of the Toronto Maple Leafs have somehow ruined the joy I had in watching the Leafs play hockey. This team never made the playoffs from 2005 to now, but before this season I actually liked watching the team. I looked forward to each game. I cheered them on and I enjoyed watching my team play, even if they lost. This season has been different. From the New Year on, I have been reluctant to watch my favourite team play. Why is that?

This team has been horrible. Despite one run in December, this version of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been terrible. They cannot kill penalties, they cannot play on the powerplay, and they are as bad in net as they were last year.

Why should I watch this team? Can someone give me a good reason other then "OMG THE LEFS ROK!"?

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.