Leafs Rookies Out In The Cold

The pain Leafs Nation is set to endure became more evident today as the final cuts were announced and most of the promising Leaf prospects now find themselves preparing with Sheldon Keefe for the upcoming American Hockey League season.

Chief among the kids that got a long look was 2014 first rounder William Nylander. Nylander had a strong showing in camp and during the preseason he made new Leaf coach Mike Babcock think long and hard about his final cuts. Babcock's suggestion prior to camp was that the kids would have to steal jobs and Nylander was arguably the Leafs top forward during the preseason.

He made a strong impression and he certainly didn't look out of place however the new front office in Toronto clearly feels it's the wrong time to thrust the rookies into the NHL with the Maple Leafs heading for what could be a tough season.

Another bright spot was fellow second year pro Connor Brown.
The former sixth round pick has continued to improve while silencing many doubters. The small forward gained praise from Leaf coach Babcock and was also among the final cuts proving that not only has he defied his draft position but he's also found himself on the Leaf coaches radar.

Going forward it's clear the plan has not changed. The kids will over develop in the minors and the veterans will play out their contracts until it's time for the Marlies and Major Junior players to step in.

In the meantime settle in. It could be a very rough ride especially with future star Austin Matthews set to go first overall in the 2016 draft not that anyone would admit that maybe... just maybe this team is set up to fail. Mike Babcock will whip the dogs but maybe it's best the team bottoms out one time before the club begins to reassemble the main roster for the future.

Why things failed in Toronto?

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It's easy to come out and blame the coaches. It's easier to say the players are lazy. Heck you wouldn't be wrong to pin the blame on the Toronto media either. What's clearer now more than ever is that it takes a special breed of player to not only come to Toronto in the first place but also to thrive in this market and that's something few players have been able to do in recent times.

Leafs fans have watched for years as desired free agents refuse to go the mecca of hockey that is Toronto. Some cite the extreme pressures of performing for the fans where a rough stretch has seen jerseys tossed and even waffles.

Often times the players that do sign in Toronto go on to have career worst years and the contracts they sign... Well it's like an anvil in a Looney Tunes skit when things start to go wrong and when it goes wrong early it gets brutally uncomfortable. David Clarkson is the flavor of the next 5 years. The hype machine blew up early with Clarkson when he was compared to Wendel Clark and he made a bold move to reverse Clark's famed #17 and chose #71 much to the excitement of some Leafs faithful. Then came the preseason suspension and the injuries and the lack of production for a $5+ million a year player. Suddenly the top prize of NHL free agency is one of the biggest busts in recent history. The contract is currently un-tradeable and this is just year two of seven!

Mike Komisarek and Francois Beachemin came to the Leafs in 2009. Komisarek would go on to be a flat out bust after leaving the Montreal Canadiens and would later succumb to a buyout from the Leafs. He's struggled to catch on with Carolina a season later and subsequently retired from the NHL returning to the University of Michigan to continue his studies and work as an assistant coach for the legendary Red Berenson.

Beauchemin was middle of the road with the Leafs. He didn't thrive but he also didn't disappoint and and in 2011 he was shipped back to the Anaheim Ducks for Joffrey Lupul and Jake Gardiner. One of the better trades Toronto has made of late which some will argue. He's been a continued to play a dependable game for the Ducks and is in line for a new deal coming up.


Over the years it's been clear Toronto is a last resort. Mason Raymond came here for a season and bolted to Calgary. Dave Bolland cost the Leafs a couple picks. He had a promising start before an early injury that basically ended his season. Given the option to return he went south to the Panthers with a big payday in hand.

 Then there are the guys who didn't think about it. Some can argue it's a good thing when I throw out a few names... Brad Richards Leafs nation wanted Richards so badly to play with Kessel... a top line center for free! Fortunately Richards signed with the Rangers and was a bust in NY.  Vincent Lecavalier after being bought out by the Lightning. He's struggling in Philadelphia and has been a healthy scratch at times this season. Zack Parise and Ryan Suter. Huge cap hits on super long term contracts(13 years!!!) The two biggest fish in Free Agency both headed to the Minnesota Wild.


So part of the problem is Toronto's inability to attract star players. So what's your next option? Much like the New York Islanders the Leafs built through trades. They made some pretty damn good trades to and I credit Brian Burke outside of the Bernier deal. The aforementioned Beauchemin for Lupul and Gardiner. Luke Schenn for James Van Riemsdyk. Frattin, Scrivens and a 2nd for Jonathon Bernier. Make no mistake the Bernier trade will be a positive in a few years if he's not traded. He's struggled as of late but the entire team is void of all confidence so pinpointing one guy proves nothing.

The Phil Kessel trade is completely in the air. There was no way to know Toronto would bottom out and the Bruins would snag Tyler Seguin. If Toronto played a little better that pick would become 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th which ended up being Erik Gudbranson, Ryan Johansen, Nino Niederreiter or Brett Connolly. Of those only Ryan Johansen has become a can't miss playing for Columbus. Even Seguin faltered in Boston and didn't become a breakout performer until he was traded to the Dallas Stars. Meanwhile Kessel has led the Leafs every season since the trade without a premier center.

The Dion Phaneuf trade was a step in the right direction whether you hate Dion or not.The piece the Leafs moved were spares. None of them went on to do anything significant. In that trade the Leafs acquired their best defender and although I dislike the contract that he got he is still the best defender in Toronto which will soon be challenged by the young Morgan Reilly but until the Leafs decide if Dion is to be traded or not you can't argue anyone could play the minutes and against the competition that he has.

The one thing that can never be argued is the level of talent in Toronto. It's abundant and it's going to be interesting conversations over the next few months as we try to learn what's ailing the Leafs.

Listening to Leafs Lunch on TSN 1050 there was talk about how the best players on the Leafs are not originally Maple Leafs products. For a team that has long traded picks for instant help this is no surprise but can it really be the reason the Leafs seem to fall on their faces after the new year comes around? Or is it that the constant pressure seems to peak each season during the Christmas break and regardless of who drives the 18-wheeler it's almost destiny for this team to collapse and limp into the summer dazed and confused?


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NHL Discipline = Joke

As a Maple Leaf fan I will admit to some bias in being inspired to write this. Recently we have seen the league trying to handcuff the physical side of the game in an effort to clean up the league. The addition of a 2 minute minor for removing your helmet before a fight and the age old leaving the bench to fight 10 game suspension. The latter has happened twice already in the preseason.

First with Paul "Biznasty" Bissonette leaving the bench to fight Los Angeles Kings forward Jordan Nolan after a hit in which Nolan left his feet and caught Rostislav Klesla high. A hit that sent Klesla to the hospital on a stretcher. Bisonette did what he is payed to do and that is to defend his teammates and this is a role that has been filled for decades by well known guys like Probert,  Domi, Parros,  Orr the list goes on and on. For good reason teams employ these guys like they do an insurance policy. Tough players who will stand up for teammates on a moments notice and go from hockey player to pro boxer quicker then a rowdy drunk at a nightclub.

While David Clarkson is certainly being paid for more than his fists the other night against Buffalo following a fight between Jamie Devane and Corey Tropp that saw Tropp knocked unconscious and helped off the ice by teammates and officials.  The following faceoff Sabres tough guy John Scott who stands 6 feet 8 inches tall and 255lbs lined up next to Leafs leading scorer Phil Kessel who is all of 6 feet and 202 lbs. Scott began his usual song and dance chirping and challenging Kessel like he would a fellow heavyweight tough guy and on the puck drop threw his gloves off and tried to grab Kessel who backed away and slashed Scott in the shin guard. Immediately teammates tried coming to his defence while some ended up grabbing a dance partner it was David Clarkson who hopped the boards from the bench and engaged Scott. Well Kessel ended up fighting anyway which is the last thing you want from your top scorer but a far cry from seeing him pummelled by someone who dwarfs him in every way.

The end result is a 10 game suspension for both Bisonnette and Clarkson. In both cases they came to the defence of a player who could not defend themselves against their opponent which is a role that their teams and fans would respect while the league sees it otherwise.

The part I find absolutely ridiculous is that the NHL has all these rules and one of the weakest disciplinary departments in all of professional sports. Colin Campbell could not find a balance between reason and reality when suspending players and to top it off with a bonus was intimidating referees who penalised his son. Then came Brendan Shannahan. A respected legend of the league and he quickly set a new precedent earning a new twitter tag the Shannaban. By midseason Shannahan lost his might and began to fall into the same frame of mind as Campbell allowing dirty hits to go unpunished but atleast he made some videos to explain his one game suspension for nearly decapitating a guy right?

So using only very recent examples we look at first the aforementioned John Scott. Engaging a skill player smaller than him who is not a fighter and who he knows isn't going to fight him in Kessel which incites a line brawl. John Scott is going unpunished!

How about Jordan Nolan who sent a player to the hospital when he left his feet to complete a hit? No supplemental discipline for Mr Nolan either.

Zack Kassian breaks Jordan Eberle's jaw! with a reckless high stick/stick swing after a missed hit! He's given 5 regular season games for this.

Bisonnette and Clarkson get 10 for standing up for their team mates

So to recap. You can attack star players and start brawls, You can destroy your fellow player and shorten careers and you can also break a guys jaw but by the power of Bettman if you leave the bench to defend your teammates you will be subject to the wrath of all the power of the NHL discipline office.  If that doesn't say open season I'm not sure what does.

The Remainder Of The Free Agent Class

Today we are going to take a look at some of the final free agents who could make a difference for your team.
 

Tim Thomas. I know this guy is unlikely to land a gig but I can't help but wonder.  Known more lately as a political bull in the proverbial china shop. Primarily with his refusal to meet US President Barrack Obama after winning the cup. Made into a big deal by hockey media it spelled the beginning of events that would eventually lead Thomas to take a year off from hockey. His rights were traded to the Islanders though continued his hiatus..

 

Well Tim is a free agent and has stated he may make a return(However, whether or not there are suitors may dictate that). His presence in the market brings a sense of intrigue. He's healthy, He has won a Stanley Cup, He was huge for the Bruins for years. His veteran leadership could go a long way for a team like Edmonton who have struggled defensively and between the pipes.

 

The problem with Tim Thomas is he's been out of hockey for a while now and the NHL is not a place where you can take time off and come back the same player. Will this keep him from getting any offers? More than likely at this point as many teams are not willing to gamble and still fear his political views will draw unnecessary attention to their club. 

Where does he land? Nowhere. I want to say he lands a gig but he's a risky pick up. I do believe he could be a sleeper on a cheap contract but where that is may not be answered

 

Jaromir Jagr. The man, the myth, the legend. Jagr is still playing hockey and much like Teemu Selanne you have to wonder what keeps these guys going after 20+ years? Jagr has been doing a tour of the league it seems as he's played for the Dallas Stars, The Boston Bruins and the Philidelphia Flyers since returning from the KHL. This trend is likely to continue as the Montreal Canadiens and the 41 year old Jagr appear to be in talks on a deal thats nearly happened twice before. In separate years Jagr spoke with Montreal management and both times signed elsewhere (Flyers, Stars). It looks like things will be different this time and still somewhat new General Manager Marc Bergevin will be able to hash out a deal that would reunite Jagr with former teammate Daniel Briere who signed in Montreal after a buyout by the Flyers.

Where does he land? Montreal is somewhere he's wanted to play for a while and the talk is out there so this one wont come as a surprise.


Mikhail Grabovski. His time with the Toronto Maple Leafs came to a screeching halt on July 4th(The day before his wedding, ouch) when the final four years of a five year contract were bought out. Grabovski went down swinging with a profanity filled tirade aimed at head coach Randy Carlyle which included criticism of the way he was used in the lockout shortened season and playoffs. He signed the $27.5 million dollar deal under former GM Brian Burke as a reward for a breakout year and Grabovski interestingly was quoted after the extension as saying "If you play well, it doesn't matter who your coach is". I wonder how he would respond if he were reminded of this statement now?

 

Grabovski brings a some nice offensive tools including great wheels(great skating/speed) and a good accurate shot. His biggest criticism would be lazy play at times. He is a talented player who can produce in a lot of roles but is most suitable as a second line center.  In a game against Boston a couple seasons ago he battled through an ugly hit from Zdeno Chara and a few shifts later broke in behind the defence and scored so there is no question he is durable and has heart. 

 

Where does he end up? I'm going to take a swing and say Winnipeg. A lot of ex-Leafs go there and they just happen to have a newly opened roster spot thanks to Alex Burmistrov's departure to the KHL.

 

Some other mentions are Damien Brunner who showed he has a knack for scoring. The question is where does he land and can he produce without Zetterburg?

 

Dustin Penner is sure to be on a few teams wish lists. The 6'4 forward known more for a pancake story than his scoring over the last couple seasons has two Stanley Cup rings(Anaheim, Los Angeles). He's a big body and will find work but can he start putting up points more regularly?

 

Douglas Murray while not the fastest player provides some grit and good play in his own end. Just about every team in the league can use a good defender and Murray isn't a gamble.

 

Ilya Bryzgalov needs a fresh start and a defence first team to pick him up. He's proved that he was reliant on Dave Tippett's system in Phoenix when he went to Philly and quickly got run out of town.  Decent goalie but doesn't bring anything that most teams aren't already getting from their goaltenders. Likely takes a backup gig to battle his way back up.

 

Mason Raymond has speed other players would kill for but unfortunately for him he's never been able to bury it consistently. He's a guy Vancouver fans had high hopes for but it looks like it's time to move on.

The rest of the pool is mostly injury riddled and full of veterans whose main role will be to bring veteran leadership more than anything.

 

Jagr in a Montreal uniform? Could your team use a Thomas or Grabovski? Discuss below.

Free Agency Day 1

This article can also be seen on Cornwall Free News.

Lets start with Daniel Alfredsson. 18 year veteran and now former captain of the Ottawa Senators. The heart and soul of Ottawa. He walks away and signs with the Detroit Red Wings. The outrage is apparent surrounding Sens army with many fans cancelling season tickets. It’s clear it’s a fan base stunned. In the end though there are those who appreciate the captains contributions and understand his decision to take a shot elsewhere and in the end they are the fans who are right at the end of the day.


Ottawa signs Clarke MacArthur out of Toronto and sends a clear message to fans by trading for Anaheim power forward Bobby Ryan. Ryan is a solid acquisition and it’s clear that Bryan Murray wanted to make it up to Ottawa fans going forward and show that Ottawa is not going to roll over just because Alfie is gone. Ottawa ships Silfverberg who is a good young player with good hands but they also send Stefan Noeson who is a former 1st rounder in 09′ and their first round selection in in 2014. On the surface both teams win as Ottawa gets a big name to help people forget Alfie while Anaheim gets three good pieces for the future and in the long run it looks like the Ducks win this trade(Sorry Sens fans). Bobby Ryan has a chance to change that though and will likely be featured on the wing of All-Star Jason Spezza so stay tuned as the East just got a lot more interesting.

TSN touted David Clarkson as their top available free agent. A big gamble with guys like Jarome Iginla and Stephen Weiss floating around. For the first time in a long time Toronto has landed one of the big fish in the market. The Leafs are continuing to pile up on grit and toughness. Nearly a week ago they acquired Dave Bolland from Stanley Cup Champ Chicago and today added another Toronto native. A seven year deal at $5.25 million anually is a steep price to pay for a guy who will likely challenge for a second line spot but is more suited to the third line but a price Toronto was in good position to pay. His heart and toughness are what likely endeared him to Toronto brass and that grit will make him an automatic favorite for coach Randy Carlyle. Look for Clarkson and Bolland to likely play with Nik Kulemin in a shutdown role to take on opposing top lines.

 

 

Toronto also ended the Tyler Bozak stalemate. Five years around $4 million per season. Bozak is best friends with Phil Kessel and even lives with him so it’s clear that this move not only helps bridge the lack of top line center issue but also goes toward re-signing Phil Kessel. It’s clear Bozak is well liked and it’s no surprise that both sides were able to find common ground going forward despite Toronto management playing hardball in the early going.


Nathan Horton signs a 7 year pact with Columbus. A risky deal but if it pays off Jarmo Kekalanen is quicky becoming one the best GM’s in the league. Jarmo has been a revelation in Columbus and is making huge strides in improving this team in a short period and I would not be surprised if he lands GM of the year in the near future. Horton is yet to have offseason shoulder surgery though  and also has concussion history so barring any lingering effects he will be a great addition to a team that traditionally hasn’t scored a lot of goals.


The day isn’t over but let’s close for now with a trade from Montreal to add enforcer George Parros. Far from the biggest deal of the day but certainly a smart one. The Habs have long been a small team often bullied by teams like the Boston Bruins. By adding Parros they now carry a one-two punch(pun intended) of George Parros and Brandon Prust to protect what has been the smallest team in the league and now ensures that scenes like Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren bullying the Habs top line wont happen again.


Some big fish left include: Tim Thomas, Ilya Bryzgalov, Mikhail Grabovski to name a few
Are you happy with what your team has done? Discuss below

You Call That Hockey?: Vincent Lecavalier's Future

Vincent Lecavalier, The long time Tampa forward is about to hit free agency during a strange and unpredictable time. A year or two ago Vinny would be walking away with a monster 10 year deal worth $65 million.

Fast forward to 2013. He's older(33) and slightly less productive depending on who you ask(If you ask me, not at all). Oh, And he's about to be bought out of a nasty contract that benefitted only him(Lecavalier) and his agent.


Fast forward to July 5th 2013. The market opens and Lecavalier will be receiving five to ten offers from teams falling over themselves to try and pick up a potential #1 center for free.


Does this not sound like Tampa 2.0? Is money going to be the biggest factor or is he going to Montreal for less? Growing up a Hab fan gives the Canadiens a distinct advantage in the process and more than likely a discount to boot.


Then you have teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs.  There is a hole between all-star wingers Joffrey Lupul and Phil Kessel. They represent guaranteed top line minutes and a fat paycheck likely in the $6 million+ range.


Does Lecavalier shy away from the spotlight that he has managed to avoid since being drafted to a non-traditional market? Does Vinny thrive in a market that loves hockey or does he wither?


What kind of contract does he sign? Surely there will be teams offering the maximum term of seven seasons. I believe it will take $42 million($6 Million/7 season) in the bank to entice the French Canadian.


The real question is can he live up to that? We've seen Vinny pot 50 goals and also put pen to paper on a monster deal before slowing down and coming back down to a normal but respectable scoring pace so the question is will this time be different?


I think the reasonable expectation in this precarious situation is to accept that Lecavalier's best years are behind him but that he can still be a game changing acquisition that becomes available so rarely that anyone who goes for broke once free agency opens will simply be understood as taking a necessary chance,  whether it's a hit or a miss a few seasons from now is something only Vincent Lecavalier can decide but he has a fresh start and a golden opportunity now to make Tampa regret the buyout and his doubters silent.

For kicks here is Vinny's 52 goal breakout season

                                       (not my video)

Exciting Draft Day And Trades

Draft day 2013 is beyond us now. So I guess it's time to have a look at the happenings of the day!

First off what a draft day. Brodeurs picking Brodeurs. 6 foor 4 inch Seth Jones comes up a little short in the 1st. Some trades also happened like Nino "coolest name in the league" Niederreiter being traded for Cal "also the coolest name in the league" Clutterbuck. How can you go wrong? Unless your Dave Bolland... Traded to my beloved Leafs as punishment for scoring the game winning Stanley Cup goal. Don't teams normally make statues for hero's? No... just no...  according to Kris Versteeg, Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien.

Lets start with me being right. In my last post Craziest Week In NHL History? I mentioned a man named John Tortorella. I also mentioned how he was trading down from Henrik Lundqvist to Cory Schneider. Yes well blame Gillis all you want(he deserves it) but I'm willing to bet Tortorella's all over this one. I called it days before it was announced that Cory Schneider was on the block and days later he is in New Jersey auditioning for that gaping hole that Martin Brodeur's going to leave when he decides to retire.

While we are on the subject of Brodeur lets have a look at a rare occurrence.

 

 

 

 

The Devils swing a trade to acquire the 208th (seventh round) pick of the 2013 draft and give Martin Brodeur the honor of drafting his own son into the NHL. While it's not a guarantee he will make it, having arguably the best goaltender ever as your father can certainly help you grow quicker than projections with input from good ol' dad.  If I'm Anthony Brodeur I'm picking on dad for not using his pull to make me a first round pick. All in theory but could you imagine the Prudential Center's hometown New Jersey Devils selecting a Brodeur in the first round on tv. Ridiculous would be the word to describe the crowds. While scouts are far from high on the kid I hope he gets a crack one day. Almost like Brent Gretzky versus Wayne Gretzky in stat comparison.

 

 

Clutterbuck for Niederreiter is the classic prospect goes sour story. Niederreiter is a very talented player and at 20 years old Garth Snow made a bold move in shipping him to Minnesota. The Wild on the other hand add a former 5th overall pick to their stable that already includes some impressive names like Charlie Coyle and Matthew Dumba. 

 

The Isles get tougher and get a guy who has played with Tavares before and therefore should have instant chemistry in a perfect world. Clutterbuck's role is unlikely to change as he'll be expected to lay the body as often as he likes(and enjoyes to) and may even get some reps with Tavares and Moulson. I like the move from both ends to be honest, however I do think Snow could have pulled a little more out of Minnesota.

 

Future superstar Seth Jones saw his stock drop to fourth as teams loaded up on offense. Don't read too much into this one. The big story here is Ryan Suter bolts to Minnesota and David Poile who nearly had his heart ripped out twice in one offseason (see Shea Weber offer sheet) now has another franchise defenseman to play in front of Pekka Rinne. Barry Trotz is also loving life at the moment. Can it go any more storybook for the Preds? What's next a Stanley Cup to spite Suter?

 

Dave Bolland wins his second Stanley Cup. Scores the dramatic game winner in game 6. Gets traded one week later to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Also Bryan Bickell within an hour of the trade signed a 4 year $16 million contract. If there is any solace to find it's that 1. He will get a more prominent role in Toronto. 2. He's close to home. 3. He didn't get screwed by being shipped to Atlanta like Byfuglien and Ladd or a train wreck Toronto team like Versteeg who later got traded to another train wreck in Philly and then another in Florida. It's like the Vince quote from the movie Fast Five... What? After you messed things up in Chicago? I free fell through every hell hole in the league.

 

For Toronto this trade gives Randy Carlyle the grit he loves and another player of his liking, Much like the signing of Jay Mcclement who is looking like a steal. It also may signal a new opportunity for Mikhail Grabovski who spent much of the lockout shortened season in the checking role dog house. If Grabovski gets a chance to play a more offensive role (See Tyler Bozak's spot on the top line) He will certainly chase it with everything he's got trying to cling to that opportunity. If he fails to grasp a bigger role it's likely going to be a change of scenery for Grabo.

 

 

There is still so much to come in a league ripe for action. July 5th marks the opening of NHL Free Agency. The buyout period ends in a couple days and the buyouts will be made official. Teams are still searching for all sorts of help in every area. Edmonton looking hard for help on the blue line. Philly wants a goaltender. Toronto and virtually every team except Colorado is looking for a centre. There are a host of compliance buyouts that have yet to be decided on let alone be announced and by the sound of things a lot of GM's are dangling some game changers due to salary cap constraints.



The craziest week in NHL history?



Toronto at Ottawa 4/20/2013

It's going to be one of those times where the excitement is going to be there but not boiling over and TSN will have some lame show to follow the action that wasn't. Maybe, just maybe, this time though they may have something...

It's been less than a week since the Blackhawks stunning 17 second comeback against Boston to win the Stanley Cup... Teams are itching to make improvements. There is a certain buzz about this offseason that hasn't been present since the pre-lockout era when teams like the New York Rangers spent lavishly trying to buy cups... Oh wait... They still do... see: Brad Richards, Bobby Holik, Scott Gomez, Wade Redden, Dariusz Kasparitis and Chris Drury to name a few.

The new CBA(Collective Bargaining Agreement) has put many teams in a frenzied position heading into this offseason as the salary cap drops to 64.3 million. Many teams are sitting on their buy outs while others are being forced already to make cuts to prepare for next season.

Several buyouts have already been announced. Today it was revealed by Lightning GM Steve Yzerman that career Lightning player and former captain Vincent Lecavalier would have his contract which was paying a whopping 7 million+ per season bought out and he will join the likes of Daniel Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov as free agency is on the horizon.

Vancouver is looking for a suitor for Roberto Luongo still and suggested today they will pursue a trade more aggressively in the coming weeks. Luongo is a compliance buy out candidate and any team interested is fully aware of the akward situation in Vancouver with 9 million in salary between the pipes. While unlikely it remains to be seen whether new Vancouver coach John Tortorella is comfortable going from King Henrik to Cory Schneider so this may be an interesting story as Torts looks at his current roster situation more closely and maybe just maybe Cory Schneider gets traded instead.

I believe any team interested in Luongo will wait to see if Vancouver cracks and uses a buy out before making any further pitches. If Luongo hits the open market he is likely to get a shorter but similar value contract although with Ray Emery, Mike Smith and the aforementioned Ilya Bryzgalov also available the market for the veteran netminder may dry up quickly as teams choose not to give up assets to fill the void between the pipes.

The GM's of the league will truly be tested in the coming weeks. Many more will falter than thrive as some will be gun shy while others will be throwing out big contracts on risky players. Trades will be coming and free agent bidding wars may get nasty as teams see a rare chance to sign pivots. The market for centers is a little deeper than usual with Lecavalier, Ribeiro, Elias, Bozak, Zubrus, Malhotra and a host of others still without contract presently

All this lunacy and we still haven't even touched on the draft... Do they take Mackinnon? or do they sucker someone just below them into trading up and then take the Denver kid Seth Jones? Last year Garth Snow  GM of the Islanders wanted Ryan Murray so bad he offered all of the Islanders picks to get the first overall and was rejected. This year Calgary offered all three of their first round picks for the 1st overall and that to was also rejected. In my opinion this year will be a record for Gary Bettman approaching the podium to announce trades. Ridiculous out of the blue trades coming... I think so.

Final thoughts: There are some interesting minor stories to watch out for in the coming weeks as well. Where does Jagr land next? Does Tim Thomas attempt a comeback? Does Selanne continue schooling players half his age and how about Alfredsson? Does Jarome Iginla take his talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat? Stay tuned

 

LNAH Comes To Cornwall

It's been a long bittersweet wait for those who knew it was coming but finally the wait is over. On Thursday the last day of May a press conference was called at the Cornwall Civic Complex to formally announce the arrival of Cornwall's newest addition.  A new chapter is being written in the City of Cornwall's storied hockey history. A city that has housed Major Junior/AHL/CJHL will add another league to it's resume. The LNAH. A league which is normally known more for it's rough play and fisticuffs. However when you take a deeper look at this league you recognise a girth of talent ranging from former NHL'ers and AHL'ers to Major Junior veterans. A quality of competition not seen since the days when the Cornwall Aces plied their trade as the minor affiliate of the NHL's Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche

Here is the press conference video announcing the arrival of the River Kings

Video credit: Keith Papineau

Keeping with the tradition of Cornwall hockey the River Kings will sport the blue,red and white which has been the go to colours of the Aces, Colts and Royals before them.

Quick to make a splash the River Kings management announced the first ever River King former First Round Pick(14th Overrall to the Washington Capitals) Sasha Pokulok of Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC. The 6'5 defensemen spent the 2011-2012 season in the KHL playing for Zagreb Medvescak playing 49 games and registering  17 points and a +12 rating.

Photo credit: Keith Papineau



Formerly Sherbrook St-Francois and this season the Windsor Wild. The River Kings will look to continue the franchises winning ways. Sherbrooke won the championship twice in 05-06 and in 2010-2011 season. The organisation then moved to Windsor to become the Wild where under GM and former Cornwall Aces goaltender Jean-Francois Labbe the team played in the final against Thetford-Mines Isothermic falling short of becoming the first team to win back to back championships since the Laval Chiefs from 2001-2003.


The River Kings were quick to pull the trigger on trades:
#1 http://caronetguay.lnah.com/nouvelle.aspx?i=9202#.T8jpLxIhBmc.facebook 
Translation: Pierre-Luc Faubert and 8th round pick to Cornwall
Yann Joseph, Denis Demarais, M-A Huot and Stephane Boileau to Trois Rivieres.

#2 http://coolfm.lnah.com/nouvelle.aspx?i=9208
To Saint-Georges: Samuel Grenache, Phillipe Bolduc, Martin Nolet and Brandon Christian
To Cornwall: Former Colt and NHLer Eric Meloche and Ryan-James Hand

Shipping out former Windsor Wild players who likely had no plans of playing in Cornwall and bringing in pieces to build upon.

The biggest piece of these deals is former Cornwall Colt, Penguin, Flyer and Calder Cup winner Eric Meloche. The 36 year old right winger is a veteran of over 70 NHL games 400 AHL games and 200 DEL games. Potential to hit a point per game or more is high with Meloche as his depth of experience will serve him and the River Kings well. He has put up points at every level of hockey and will be a leader on and off the ice for a team in it's infancy.

Photo credit: Stefanie Kovacevic

Congratulation to everyone who was involved in making this happen. Cheers to new beginnings here in Cornwall!!!

The Best Parts Of The First Round Of The NHL Playoffs

The first round of the 2011/2012 NHL playoffs has been intense to say the least. A completely different level of hockey than the regular season grind. And with a completely different level of hockey comes a new level of media coverage and fan interaction.

To start us off Stanley Cup winner and Olympic Gold Medallist Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh was being publicly ripped in the name of getting in his head and affecting his performance. The often ridiculed superstar says it hasn't got in his head but his team is now golfing or kicking pictures of Claude Giroux.

A Conn Smythe award a Vezina trophy oh... and a Stanley Cup are not enough to shake off the fans in Washington for Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas who is haunted by his decision to not attend the White House with the Bruins to celebrate their Stanley Cup victory last season.



Then you have Ilya Bryzgalov. Who is haunted by bears and fans... or fans dressed like bears... or a strange combination of both. How about bears in the crowd?



As a bonus for strange/funny so far Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have set a new record for goals scored in the first four games of a playoff series. 45 is the new magic number. The 1984-1985 playoff series between the Oilers and the Blackhawks comes in second with 44 goals.

A 10-3 rout of the Flyers helped Pittsburgh not only stay alive but also set the record. If you want to see more stats from this wild series check out  an article from the Bleacher Report's. I don't normally recommend that site because it's run by fans with wild imaginations but the article I linked has some fun numbers. Philadelphia would go on to win the series in 6 games in a rather anticlimactic 5-1 Flyer win.

At the time of this writing all four Western Conference series have been decided. The Kings eliminated the Canucks and their departure has led to the annual "Where will Luongo be traded?" rumours as expected. Come on Toronto ;) 

The St Louis Blues defeated the Sharks so the fans and columnists are now trading Patrick Marleau.

Phoenix beat the Blackhawks so Patrick Kane is being waved around by the fans and hockey writers like the white flag of defeat.

Nashville's defeat has put Detroit into Lidstrom limbo once again. As a bonus Tomas Holmstrom is also contemplating retirement. The days of "hockey town" dominating the NHL are getting closer that is until they draft two more Zetterberg's in the 6th and 7th rounds of this years draft.

Three Eastern Conference series are going to game sevens. If all the other series taught us anything Washington, Florida and Ottawa advance thoughor the sake of sanity and entertainment I hope New York and New Jersey win their game 7's so we at least have a few entertaining hockey teams to watch from the East. As for the Bruins... ... Lets go Ovechkin!

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Blue Jackets Ship Jeff Carter Out

The fire sale continues for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Recently shipping out Antoine Vermette to Phoenix and the hoopla surrounding Rick Nash the big fish coming into this trade deadline.

                                                                Jeff Carter - Los Angeles Kings

Jeff Carter and his instantly improved morale(Thank Mike Richards for this one Kings fans) will likely be the spark the Kings offense needs as they struggle to score more than two goals per game.

Jack Johnson is a good offensive D-man but has glaring holes when the puck is going the other way. Joining James Wisniewski as an offensive boost/defensive liability the Blue Jackets now have quite a bit of cash on the back end but Johnsons addition will help Steve Mason who has struggled mightily the last couple seasons.

                                                               Jack Johnson - Columbus Blue Jackets

I think in the long run if Jeff Carter stays healthy this trade was a steal for the Los Angeles Kings. Carter is a 30-goal scorer and that's without Drew Doughty on the blue line behind him. Columbus should have waited Carter out and forced him to adjust to life with the Blue Jackets. Instead they allowed him to quietly force his way out of the club and pushed the Blue Jackets to make a move.

Leafs demote Kadri and Aulie

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that forward Nazem Kadri and defenceman Keith Aulie have been sent to the American Hockey League affiliate Toronto Marlies in order to make room on the roster as forward Colby Armstrong and defenceman John-Micheal Liles rerturn to the lineup for the second game of a back to back with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Last night was one of the best games of the year as Pittsburgh battles hard from a 4-1 deficit to force overtime with Fluery pulled and less than a minute on the clock in a game Toronto should have dominated but a superb effort in the third saw Pittsburgh force overtime and later a shootout.

Kadri was the second shooter for Toronto as he skated out with his team allowing a goal on the previous Penguins attempt. The pressure was on Kadri but he was unable to beat a solid Marc-Andre Fleury and the third shooter Phil Kessel also failed to score going wide of the net with a backhand that sent the Pittsburgh crowd abuzz as they watched their Penguins steal a game that many though was over.

It was an attempt that may well haunt Kadri as he now finds himself demoted to AHL. He played very well and made the most of this opportunity and it's not a stretch to say his next call up will be his last as Nazem has greatly improved his game and is no longer considered a liability because of flashy moves leading to turnovers.

With the trade deadline comes speculation and the wheels are spinning as rumours swirl that Toronto is pursuing big centerman Ryan Getzlaf of the Ducks and Columbus' Jeff Carter. Many believe both deals are within grasp but any deal likely sees the Leafs overpaying from a position of strength which is Torontos defense core. Blacker, Komisarek, Aulie and the big fish of the group budding shut down defenceman Luke Schenn.
Whether the Leafs are able to hash out a deal remains to be seen but GM Brian Burke has a love for the flashy move and has shown before he will pull the trigger on a deal if it makes his team better.

JVR out with concussion

Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren announced today that big power forward James Van Riemsdyk is out indefinitely after taking hits to the head in consecutive games.

Van Riemsdyk reportedly felt off, felt as though something wasn't right and tests confirm JVR suffered a concussion at some point. James has been linked heavily in trade speculation with the Toronto Maple Leafs with the suggested return being big bruising defender Luke Schenn.

Philly before the draft traded then captain Mike Richards to Los Angeles in exchange for Wayne Simmonds and Lukes younger brother Brayden Schenn so the appeal of uniting them in the city of brotherly love is quite the thought for a Flyers fan base that has seen defensive stud and team captain Chris Pronger shelved for the remainder of the season.




Let's all hope for a speedy full recovery for JVR. With him being available it will certainly make this years trade deadline interesting to watch as Holmgren has shown he is always a willing player in the trade market.

Leafs Defeat The Sabres

                                                      Recalled for last nights game

The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up a well earned with in a hard fought exciting matchup. Big hits and solid play kept the building on it's feet as the Torontos "goal"den boy Nazem Kadri gets called up and nets the game winning goal in his return to the NHL.

The former 7th overrall pick in NHL Draft has struggled to keep a place with the big club. It's been said that Kadri's next call up would be his last and if last night was any indication Naz has made this claim look like a good one. He showed great speed throughout the game and looked as though he finally belongs in NHL. A great shot top shelf on Miller and he has the game winner.

Toronto got into penalty trouble. 4 penalties in the second period but they bounced back after allowing a power play goal and continued to battle and you can't ask for anything more from a team than to not give up.

James Reimer seems like he is returning to the form that made everyone so excited about the young goaltender. He stopped 40 of 42 shots and looked solid throughout making all the necessary saves to lead him team back into the win column.

If the team can beat the Islanders tonight Toronto will head into Christmas with a 18-13-4 record. Despite that many people still believe Wilson should be fired. Brian Burke is a family guy. A high moral guy so if he were even thinking about it just a little bit you would be waiting until the New Year but I highly doubt Wilson gets fired. Contract extension? Now that I highly doubt also.



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Concussion Control: Part 2 Fighting

                                          

In part one it was head shots and my observation that players simply are not doing enough to protect themselves. Now we look at one of the most discussed issues in hockey. Fighting.

                                                                 Downey vs Boulerice

For as long as hockey has been played big hits have been a part of it and with big hits comes injuries and the all important intimidation factor. Hitters like Scott Stevens were feared by many for their ability to lay career shortening hits.

With the realisation that star players had targets painted on them came the birth of a new player. A new breed of toughness and those men are called "Enforcers" There job is to protect the skill guys and allow them to focus on scoring.

These guys are tough as nails. Many of them admittedly feel very nervous before games knowing they are likely going to fight,There are those who look forward to it and then there are some who do it because it's their best chance to be able to play the game they love and not because they want to.

In the last couple years the NHL and alumni ranks have been hit hard by some tragic deaths to well known enforcers.

Wade Belak who I had the pleasure of meeting as a kid during his days in Cornwall with the Aces (Hershey Bears now). He was honestly one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. A Funny guy. Liked to have fun. Admitted after his career he would have trouble sleeping the night before if he knew he was going to have to fight.

Other players included Derek Boogard, Bob Probert and Rick Rypien. All well respected men all dying within a short 2 year span which led to the outpouring of frustration as Probert's brain showed signs of a degenerative brain disease that was later revealed to be found in Boogard's brain as well.

Doctor's want fighting out. Players want fighting in. "Heavyweights" in the NHL are on the decline and are finding themselves benched or demoted more often than ever before as the NHL transitions to a more speed and finesse game.

Beagle vs Asham

Aaron Asham and the controversial "Go to sleep" KO celebration shows that despite the time passed since the unfortunate deaths, the complaints on fighting are not going away. Beagle the other fighter in this video suffered a concussion. Whether his concussion was from the punches or hitting the ice is up for debate.

Can fighting be banned? In my opinion no absolutely not. Guys like the concussed Sidney Crosby need protection or the game will fail to grow. Wayne Gretzky proved this. Gretzky was nearly untouchable but that's because his supporting cast was built so that anyone who dared touch him would be punished. That intimidation factor is critical to the protection of star players.

It's not the ideal job but someone has to do it and as long as hockey exists their will always be people ready and willing to drop the mitts to keep their jobs to protect their friends to protect themselves.

Shout out to Paul Shantz! Guy is tough as nails. Go Warriors