Leafs, Coaching, Tank Nation and McDavid

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Leafs - A much needed win for the Leafs depending on what side of the fence you're on. The Leafs win in 4-3 in OT against the Winnipeg Jets. Kadri and Winnik has big nights and JVR broke a scoring slump. Leo Komarov put a rocket past Hutchinson and the offense came alive last night to earn the Leafs 2 points.

Coaching -

per The Leafs Nation quoting Damien Cox - Mike Babcock and his future in Detroit has kind of gone under the radar for a while now, which is probably exactly how (Red Wings general manager) Ken Holland would like it. But this we know: the Edmonton Oilers this week said they're not going to take the interim tag off of Todd Nelson, even though his record is pretty good. Toronto, of course, also has an interim head coach and we know that job may be open.

I think what's going to be interesting is that both of those teams, and others, won't make any decision on a permanent head coach until they know what's happening with Mike Babcock.

What we see here is pure speculation. You have two struggling teams in Edmonton and Toronto. Both as mentioned are using the interim tag since firing the their head coaches. Nelson is 10-12-3 so far in Edmonton which according to Cox is pretty good...... . The Oilers are looking better but a sub .500 record is hardly worth commitment.

In Toronto Peter Horachek is 3-15-2. Without question he's not going to be the head coach in Toronto.

To suggest these teams are going all in on Babcock on the basis that they have interim coaches is ridiculous and unfounded. Mike Babcock is sure to test the waters but make no mistake his players in Detroit are showing him they can compete and the playoff performance of the Detroit Red Wings will go far in determining if Babcock comes back.  With the leverage of being a highly sought after coach we already know Mike Babcock is going to cash in big. With a brand new arena on the way the way the team has battled for him I just can't see his future outside of Detroit all differences with Ken Holland aside.


Tank Nation - The fans were dealt a stinging blow in an anti Tank Nation perfect storm last night in the NHL as the Oilers lose 2-1 in regulation to the Anaheim Ducks and the Carolina Hurricanes also lost 3-1 against the New Jersey Devils. Toronto battled and got a 4-3 win which merely serves as a moral victory in the room and further stress for fans hoping to land one of the top 2 prospects in the upcoming entry draft. If there is a silver lining it's the depth of the draft and a top 5 pick should turn into a special player

Connor McDavid - Every point is a step in the wrong direction and last night the Leafs took two. The odds of winning the lottery are not as favorable as many may believe though they have improved over recent years. Short of a miracle the Leafs will not be selecting the young phenom who's been on every ones radar for years. McDavid would love to be a Leaf and unfortunately what we'll see is another young Toronto area prospect go on to help a US based team.

The Next Captain of the Leafs is...

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As long as contract talks go smooth in Toronto it's got to be Nazem Kadri. The poster boy for home grown players in Toronto. His offensive gifts have taken a backseat to a more responsible two way game. Randy Carlyle's influence over Kadri and his at times tough love approach have built a stronger player in Kadri. The over confident kid from his early days is turning into the steadying leader in the dressing room.

His composure and ability to make it onto the score sheet even in the dark days show a maturity that not only is he able to continue to play hard but he's also able to do it despite the circumstances that plague the Leafs heading into this rebuild. Kadri will be the veteran presence on this Leaf team when the dust settles and the young guys the team bring in will be looking to Kadri to lead.

The team defied Leafs Nation when Nazem Kadri the 7th overall pick was made to take the long scenic route in regards to the development despite being a dynamic offensively gifted player in junior. He was sent back to the London Knights after his draft year where he exploded for 93 points in 56 games and when fans were calling for him to be make the big club Kadri wound up spending most of the next year in AHL with the Marlies. He would go on to spend part of his first three pro seasons with the Marlies riding buses and trying to prove his worth.

Kadri's first full season was a good one 50 points in 78 games and he's currently on pace for 57 points this season despite a more brutal than usual team slump in TO and a greater focus on his two-way game.

Kadri isn't going to win the Hart trophy but his time here and the work he's put in represents the patience that has been missing from this club for over a decade+. You can knock Brian Burke for his at times over the top comments and penchant for being the face of the the Leafs during his time but the system he put in place has finally got Leafs Nation to put it's expectations in check to a certain degree.

Since Burke was GM the Leafs have learned to be patient even if it costs people their jobs and to stay the course with young prospects. Of the Leafs last three drafts the only player to taste NHL action and he's done so full time is stud offensive blue liner Morgan Reilly who Burke famously said was #1 on the Leafs board at the draft but was available at #5.

Four drafts ago (2011) is the next time we see Leafs prospects with NHL experience. Josh Leivo and Stuart Percy are finally starting to get looks with the big club. Leivo has been up and down between the Leafs and Marlies and Percy had a strong camp and started the year with the Leafs before being sent down.

It can be argued the Leafs have played it too safe with their selections but it's clear Kadri was the beginning of a new era in Leafs development. When Luke Schenn was rush to NHL the pressure was too much and after a strong rookie season he burnt out and people started calling for a trade. The Leafs fortunately were able to flip him for James Van Riemsdyk. This helped Burke realize the answer wasn't a quick retool as he first suspected but a wake up call and also that rushing prospects at the urging of the fans and media was not the way to go.


Kadri's self belief took a back seat to proper development and the kid who was once his own biggest fan realized the name on the back of the jersey wasn't as important as that big Leaf on the front. Ever since it's been fun to watch Kadri. He takes less risks now and having played a lot this season with Winnik and Santorelli he's shown a much better commitment to two-way hockey and as he grows as a player so to does his status as a veteran going forward for the Leafs.

I was there in Ottawa that night a hat-trick for Kadri and a beauty ending to the night with Ron and Don in the house

Will Kadri land the Captaincy in the event of a Phaneuf trade? I don't have the answer but I believe he has all the tools and the mental strength to carry this team on and off the ice and I'd be ecstatic to go and get a C put on my 43 jersey.

Game 58 Panthers @ Leafs Recap

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Another loss for the Leafs. Also known as another win for Tank Nation. The Leafs once again show up and look lost for the majority of the game. Clarkson is being knocked down and injured, Gardiner's failing to keep the puck in the zone and Bernier is getting burned.

The bright spot is both Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak score with a house packed full of scouts and GM's from around the NHL. Kessel with a beauty snipe that few in the game can pull off and it adds a small lift to the crowd as the Leafs go on to lose 3-2.

Brandon Kozun returned to the Leafs lineup tonight. Kozun created a big buzz in the training camp and the preseason making the Leafs out of camp. He struggled once the season got underway and ended up injuring his ankle when he was checked and slammed awkwardly into the board. He was assigned to the Marlies and has had an average campaign. He didn't stand out tonight but didn't look bad and with a few games up we'll see if he can start to play his game but so far Kozun's faded as quickly as he burst onto the scene at the beginning of the season and many are hoping he can regain the form he showed early.

Olli Jokinen had a quiet game but was definitely trying and vocal in trying to rally the troops. He's not going to be a Leaf for long but anything he can do to improve his value before the deadline can't hurt even if he does not get dealt.

The intrigue of the approaching deadline is exciting and with over 20 scouts and GM's in Toronto tonight it's clear that not only are the Leafs still open for business but there may be a few surprises still to come because as good as Daniel Winnik has been he's not going to pack the scouts suites on his own. Potential Roman Polak and Tyler Bozak trades before the deadline are possibilities.

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Leafs: Looking forward

The Toronto Maple Leafs are finally in rebuild mode. Leafs nation saw a partial rebuild under former GM Brian Burke who came in with a bang acquiring now Leafs leading scorer Phil Kessel and then trading Stajan, Hagman, White and Mayers to the Flames for now Leafs Captain Dion Phaneuf. Eventually this led to trades for James Van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner and Cody Franson

Now we are witnessing the Leafs tear down. It's going to be a lot of fun to watch from a transaction perspective. Today Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli were moved to Nashville for Nashvilles 2015 First round selection and Brendan Leipsic. Leipsic is a former CHL scoring champion and one of the top rookie point producers in the American Hockey League this season. The Leafs strike early by moving two players they couldn't get signed to extensions and bolster the impressive group of young forwards on their way through the system.

New Leafs prospect Leipsic joins OHL scoring champ Connor Brown with the Leafs AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies. Both players are top 5 in rookie scoring in the AHL and should become the top line for the Marlies as the team battles it's way back from a rough start. The Leafs top prospect William Nylander will have some strong options on the wing as if he hadn't already with Frattin, Abbott and Mckegg having good seasons thus far.

Marlies will get more talent next season to develop in Gauthier, Verhaeghe and Andreas Johnson. Rinat Valiev is 2 years away. #TMLtalk
— Paul Hendrick (@HennyTweets) February 15, 2015

As Paul Hendrick points out there are also players graduating from juniors next season led by Leafs 2013 1st rounder Fredrik Gautier. The 6'4 220lb Gautier will continue to grow as he makes the jump to the AHL in what will undoubtedly become a Calder Cup contender. Joining him will be Andreas Johnson who will likely be coming over from the SHL and Toronto born Carter Verhaege.

Looking forward there are rumblings of potential Bozak, Lupul and Winnik trades before the deadline as teams look to beef up for playoff runs and the Leafs continue to tear down as they build for what we all hope will be a much brighter future. Toronto now has two first round picks for the first time since drafting Tyler Biggs 22nd and Stuart Percy at 25th overall in the 2011 Entry Draft

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