Leafs Make a "Monster" Signing

By Jack Porter

Sportsnet is reporting that the Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Jonas Gustavsson sweepstakes.

"The Monster" has signed a 1 year deal with the Leafs worth $810,000 with a signing bonus of $90,000. The 24 year old was said to be looking at Toronto,Dallas,Colorado and San Jose as his destination,but ultimately chose

Toronto.Gustavsson was the best goalie in the Swedish Elite League this season. He posted a 1.96 goals against average and a save percentage of .932 and helped lead his team Farjestad to a league championship.More News Will Come On The Story Soon.Welcome to Leafland Jonas.

Leafs Being Investigated For Tampering

By Mike Burse

The Globe and Mail is reporting that the NHL is investigating the Maple Leafs for tampering regarding comments made of the Sedin twins prior to July 1 free agency.
The comments made by Head Coach Ron Wilson while he was on the Fan 590: "You're hearing right now, and this sounds very contradictory but, there's a real possibility, I would think, that we would be going after the Sedins. Let's just speculate there." This comment was made only one day prior to the free agency period. Apparently it is enough for the NHL to warrant an investigation.

Speculation of this investigation has been confirmed by Leaf General Manager Brian Burke: "The league has indicated that they are looking into it, so we will have no public commentary at this time." That is the statement that Burke gave to the Globe and Mail.
Have the Vancouver Canucks filed a complaint to the league regarding the Maple Leafs possible tampering? According to the NHL's Deputy Commissioner the answer is no,

No, the Canucks have not filed tampering charges." The League has also declined to make any further comment at this time.

So what does this mean for the Maple Leafs if these allegations are upheld? There is a possibility of the NHL using draft picks as punishment. Earlier in the season the Maple Leafs lost $500,000 and a fourth round draft pick as they signed Jonas Frogren to a contract over the NHL's entry level limits.

Just to clarify the Frogen situation, the NHL believed Frogren to be an entry level player as he was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 1998 and never signed an entry level NHL contract at that time. Although the Leafs and Don Meehan at the time believed Frogren to be an unrestricted free agent and signed him to a contract over the $875,000 entry level limit.

If the Leafs lost $500,000 and a fourth round pick for a contract infraction, then one would have to assume that they stand to lose much more than that for tampering.

In 1994 then New Jersey Devils General Manager Lou Lammoriello launched an investigation of the St. Louis Blues after they had made an offer sheet to then restricted free agent Scott Stevens. Four years later the NHL awarded the Devils $1.4 million, their choice of one of the Blues' first round picks from 1998 to 2003, and the ability to swap first round picks once during that time period.

The big difference here is that the Sedin twins resigned with the Vancouver Canucks. Therefore you would have to assume that the compensation would be less if the Leafs were found guilty.
This will be an interesting story to watch unfold over the course of the off season.

New Leaf Enemy?, Kovalev a Sen?

By Jack Porter

According to the FAN590 Alexei Kovalev has come to terms with the Ottawa Senators. Alexei was replaced along with Saku Koivu and Alex Tanguay by Montreal through the additions of Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez and Mike Cammalleri. 

Ottawa GM Bryan Murray is going to make a "major team announcement" at 4:40 pm at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

It looks like the Dany Heatly saga may be close to coming to an end with the signing og Kovalev.

Leafs sign six players including Nazem Kadri

By Jack Porter

The Leafs made some minor signings today re-signing Ben Ondrus and Ryan Hamilton. They also signed three free agent forwards in Tim Brent, Jay Rosehill and Richard Greenop.

The 23 year old Rosehill played this past season with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals and Toronto Marlies scoring  seven goals and eight assists with 275 PIM.

Brent led the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs in scoring with 20 goals and 42 assists for 62 points. The Cambridge native is 25.

The 20 year old Greenop, who ranked sixth overall in the Ontario Hockey League in PIM, was a member of the Memorial Cup winning Windsor Spitfires.

The Leafs also signed 2009 first round draft choice Nazem Kadri to a three year entry level contract.  The 18 year old scored 78 points in 56 games this season with the London Knights of the OHL. He added another 21 points in 14 playoff games. 

Francois Beauchemin, The Newest Leaf

By Jack Porter

According to Rogers Sportsnet the Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenseman Francois Beauchemin to a three year deal worth something in the area of $10 million.

Beauchemin played in only 20 games last season but recorded 5 points and a -3 rating. Beauchemin is the third defenseman Toronto has added this offseason leading to the speculation that some current Toronto defenseman are being shopped, including long time Leaf Tomas Kaberle.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Draft Analysis: An in Depth Look

By Shane House

Going into this year’s draft, there were a lot of expectations for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Brian Burke held a season ending press conference saying that he would attempt to move up in the draft and attempt to go after John Tavares, which essentially got every Leafs fan excited for the future and excited for the draft.

Of course once again, Leafs fans were let down.

Burke did not move up in the draft and didn’t pull off a miracle in getting John Tavares. But still there was hope in drafting Luke Schenn’s brother Braydon, who was projected to go fifth overall. Fans hoped for the big deal that would see the Leafs move up and get Braydon Schenn.

Once again Leafs fans were disappointed and the Los Angeles Kings did not part with their pick.

So what were we to do next?

With the seventh overall selection, there was a lot of speculation that the Leafs might still trade down to get Zack Kassian, while also getting more draft picks.

But instead of something exciting happening, the Leafs uneventfully drafted Nazem Kadri of the London Knights. A good player and a solid prospect but not what Leafs fans exactly imagined.

Kadri is a small forward with a lot of skill and a nose for the net. Not your typical Brian Burke player. Plus to boot he was a Montreal Canadiens fan, which to be honest, didn’t sit well with me.

So after Friday and Saturday passed, I looked at who we got and was puzzled.

I didn’t know how to take it. No big names and nothing flashy. So I thought I would give it a couple days and wait to see how I felt about the draft.

What I came up with is that the Leafs had an amazing draft, taking all players that would fit the mould of a Brian Burke team. Kind of like the draft, none of them are flashy or the types of players that jump off the page, but if all pan out, will each contribute in a big way with the team.

Here is my scouting report for each player drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft:

 

First Round, Seventh Overall—Nazem Kadri—London Knights—Center

56GP—25G—53A—78PTS—31PIM

Nazem Kadri is a tall, lanky prospect who has the potential to be a number one center down the road, something that the Maple Leafs have not had for some time. His stick handling is considered to be one of the best from the draft and is also considered a clutch playoff performer, scoring 21 points (9G and 12A) in 14 playoff games. Finally, before his jaw injury, people worried about his toughness. But after coming back from a broken jaw, after only missing 17 games, there is no question that he can play through the pain, which obviously caught Brian Burke’s eye.

Player Comparison: Marc Savard

Second Round, 50th Overall—Kenny Ryan—USNDP—Right Wing

53GP—21G—20A—41PTS—44PIM

Kenny Ryan is a strong skater that plays a very solid two-way game. He is very hard to knock off the puck because of his big size and is a very hard worker in the corners. One thing to note is that he is also very gritty, with Darren McCarty being his favourite player growing up. The difference between the two is that he is also very fast on his feet, being one of the fastest to come from the United States National Development Program.

Player Comparison: Todd Bertuzzi

 

Second Round, 58th Overall—Jesse Blacker—Windsor—Defenseman

67GP—4G—17A—21PTS—54PIM

Although at first it does not look like it, Jesse Blacker is a great two-way defender with a great defensive presence and an ability to always be in position. He is good in the corners, almost always being able to come out with the puck. He also has an underrated ability to move the puck, something that was not able to be shown with limited ice time last season. Finally, unlike most two-way defenseman, he is a really sound and fast skater, being able to skate back on the rare occasion that he is caught out of position.

Player Comparison: Dennis Wideman

 

Third Round, 68th Overall—Jamie Devane—Plymouth—Left Wing

64GP—5G—12A—17PTS—92PIM

Even though Devane was unranked by most NHL scouts, this pick makes all the more sense when you look into it. Jamie Devane was one of the biggest fighters in the OHL last season, getting 14 fighting majors last season. What that also tells us is that in playing 64 games, he only got 22 actual penalties, which means that he is not dirty by any means. One thing you can count on with this kid is that he will come into every game playing as hard as he can, while doing everything possible to win. The two big knocks on this kid is that he is not a good skater and has no scoring touch, but in all honesty, I really don’t think Burke drafted him for his gracefulness and scoring ability.

Player Comparison: Chris Neil

Fifth Round, 128th Overall—Eric Knodel—Philadelphia Jr. Flyers—Defenseman

51GP—13G—32A—45PTS—30PIM

The first thing that stands out about this kid is his size, standing at 6'6" while weighing an astonishing 216 lbs. That size is very rarely seen from a high school kid. Another thing that stands out about the kid is his ability to shutdown opposing players, saying that he takes a pride in always having a good plus/minus. Finally, and the most important reason why I think Burke drafted him, is his heart. Knodel is the type of guy that always has a team first mentality and is always willing to do whatever needs to be done in order to win, which means that Burke can mold his 6'6" frame into whatever playing style he wants; something that is very hard to find in a hockey player.

Player Comparison: Pavel Kubina

 

Sixth Round, 158th Overall—Jerry D’Amigo—USNDP—Right Wing

44GP—19G—24A—43PTS—53PIM

Jerry D’Amigo was ranked 67th by central scouting for this year’s draft. So why did he fall so far? The reason is because of his decision making. Although he does possess great offensive abilities and great puck-handling skills, he sometimes has the habit of losing focus which in turn hinders his decision making on the ice. Not to mention, his defensive game could use some work. But still, you cannot deny his scoring potential and his tenacity with the puck, being another player drafted that has a lot of heart and leadership abilities.

Player Comparison: Brian Gionta

 

Seventh Round, 188th Overall—Barron Smith—Peterborough—Defenseman

34GP—0G—2A—2PTS—57PIM

Son of former NHLer Steve Smith, he is considered more of a project at this point. But standing at 6'4", there is potential here. He has a great physical aspect to his game, being able to dish out crunching hits. Besides that, there is a lot of work to be done here. His positioning is average at best and his skating leaves a lot to be desired. But I imagine with more playing time in the OHL next season, a lot of those issues will be addressed.

Player Comparison: Greg Zanon

 

Also, I have a new blog and if you want to check it out you can go to http://shanegordonhouse.blogspot.com/ and see all my articles starting from March 7, 2009.

Angela Ruggiero To Develop Women's Professional Hockey League

By Mike Burse

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will be the last time Angela Ruggiero, a 5'9" defender for team USA, suits up to play for the American National Team. In the Women's game she is a big physical defender that will be retiring at the age of 30. It is very common to see the Women retire at earlier ages as they do not receive the same financial backing that the Men do.

She competed with the National Team for her first Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan during 1998. Over the past 11 years Ruggiero has become an important fixture on the National Team and for Women's hockey in general. Her goal in her final Olympics is of course to beat USA's main rival Canada and in the process win the gold medal.

In 213 games for the US National Team she has recorded 56 goals and 122 assists for 178 points as a defender.

Also, She has appeared on the sixth season of Donald Trump's popular television series "The Apprentice". Trump offered her a job following the show but she decided to decline and train for one final Olympic Games. Prior to this she had attended Harvard University and obtained a degree, showing that this is one driven and multi-talented individual.

Her plans for retirement? Helping to develop a Women's professional hockey league for players from all over the world to participate in. She believes that the Canadian Women's Hockey League and the Western Women's Hockey League are the foundation that the new league could be formed out of. Even the NHL only started as a 6 team league with mostly Canadian players.

Ruggiero believes that the two current Women's hockey leagues in Canada should allow players from all over the world to showcase their skills. This is the only way to create a league in the Women's game that is the equivalent of the NHL in the Men's game.

She also still has a working relationship with Donald Trump whom seems to be getting more involved with the sports entertainment business. With the kind of financial backing that Trump could supply this makes Ruggiero's vision a real possibility.

Could the National Hockey League one day be competing with the "Women's Professional Hockey League" for television ratings? As long as there are intelligent, driven people like Angela Ruggiero working for it anything is possible.

Truculence on Toronto Maple Leafs' Blue Line

By Mike Burse

Here is an evaluation of the Leafs' current defence core.

 

Thomas Kaberle A-

We should hold onto this puck moving defenceman. He is a level below the best puck moving defenders in the game, but his contract nearly puts him on par with them in terms of value. He could be very valuable in teaching Anton Stralman the ropes on the power play. I would keep him with the Leafs for the remainder of his contract.

 
Mike Komiserek B-

Do not let delusions of Chris Pronger come to your mind when you think of this young man. He may be the second coming of Jason Smith though, and Smith is a solid defenceman and leader. $4.5 million per season is a little pricey for a player of his ilk, but that’s what you had to pay to get his services off the open market.

 
Garnet Exelby C+

If not for his nasty streak and how difficult he makes himself to play against then he would be an AHL player. He won’t score but he will be an effective third pairing defender that opposing forwards will think twice about cutting through the middle of the ice when he is there.

 
Mike Van Ryn  B-

If only this guy could stay healthy for a whole season. He is an effective offensive defenceman who will not hurt you too much in your own zone. Overall, he is a valuable player to have in any lineup.

 
Ian White B-

He would be a C+ but his versatility to play the wing brings him up one level. He has a great first pass out of his own zone that can often create a good offensive chance for his team. He also has a little bit of a nasty streak for a smaller player.

He can play on the second power play and penalty killing units and contribute to a team. A solid performer any team would not mind having in the lineup.

Jeff Finger C+

 He is a solid defender who can chip in a little on offence, but he is built to play a shutdown role. He would be a good player to pair Luke Schenn with, as he would provide a steady influence and cover up for Schenn’s youthful errors.

 

 Luke Schenn C+

 Don’t kid yourselves Leafs fan this kid is a work in progress. Do not expect him to be leading this team for another two or three seasons at the earliest. Defencemen are like a fine wine and usually get better with age. Be patient with this young man as he has all the makings of a future captain on a Stanley Cup team.

 

Anton Stralman C

 If not for his offensive skills he would be nowhere near the NHL. He will likely be the 7th defenceman and a power play specialist. He could develop into a player much like Thomas Kaberle. He will be an effective player if he is not given the wrong kind of minutes.

 

 

Overall this team has a fairly solid back end now. This should help Vesa Toskala immensely in the coming season. Now the Leafs need to have some more scoring and skill on their forward lines. But that is a topic to analyze another day. Chime in with your thoughts on the Leafs new defence core.

Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Profile: Leo Komarov

By Jack Porter

Leo Komarov is maybe the perfect player to play in GM Brian Burke's system.

He is small at 5'10" but plays like he's 6'6". Leo is a pest; plain and simple, but he's not a liability defensively or offensively on the ice. He's virtually unknown among the Leaf faithful, but when he does come to North America he's bound to be a fan favourite.

He's sometimes refereed to as a dirty player but he certainly knows how to hit. He was drafted in 2006 but don't expect him to come to the Leafs until he learns to control himself on the ice.

What Komarov Brings The Leafs

Leo gives the Leafs a third line forward who can draw penalties and pound other teams stars. He also likes to crash the net and his nice shot can help him put up goals when doing so. He's not going to score 50 goals but he'll be able to chip in 10-15 goals as a third line winger, plus he'll give the Leafs powerplay opportunities to score every night with the amount of penalties he draws. 

Komarov Plays Like

Sean Avery, Cal Clutterbuck and Patrick Kaleta.

Komarov Next Year

He'll likely get an invite to camp because of the type of game Burke is trying to play. He could make the Marlies, and at 22 a season or two in the minors could have him ready to be a good third line winger for the Leafs.  

Toronto Maple Leafs' Prospect Profile: Juraj Mikus

By Jack Porter

Juraj is virtually an unknown commodity when it comes to Maple Leafs prospects. The 20-year-old Slovak was selected in the fifth round—134th overall—in the 2007 draft by the Leafs.

Mikus is a towering 6'4" defenseman with considerable offensive upside. In 2006-07, he tore up the Czech Junior League; he was plus-32 and added 24 points in 42 games. He represented Slovakia at the 2008 World Junior Hockey Championship, scoring a goal and two assists in six games.

 

What Mikus Brings The Leafs

Juraj is a big defenseman who has the vision and puck-moving ability to play the North American game. His biggest assets are his reach and point shot. Once he fills out his lanky frame (he's only 186 lbs. now) he could become a solid fifth or sixth defenseman in the NHL.

Mikus Plays Like

a lesser skilled Zdeno Chara 

 
Mikus Next Year

Juraj will continue to play in Europe, and once he fills out he could be playing in the AHL. He could graduate to the NHL a few years later.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Prospect Profile: Jerome Flaake

By Jack Porter

Germany's Jerome Flaake is on the fast track for the NHL and he'll burst on the scene with the Toronto Maple Leafs soon enough.

Flaake is one of the best prospects to come out of Germany in years. Flaake scored an astounding 80 points in 36 games in Germany's premier junior league, the DNL.

He plays with an edge that could benefit him greatly and has a healthy size at 6'2 and 187 pounds as well.

What Flaake bring the Leafs

The Leafs get a phenomenal skater in Flaake. He is a smart player who can dangle with the best of them. He is a gifted scorer and has a frame that is big enough to bump other players. He's also a feisty forward racking up 188 PIMS in 193 career games in German and international games.

Jerome Plays Like

Flaake plays a feisty game with scoring touch similar to that of Jarome Iginla.

Flaake Next Year

Jerome will stay in Europe next year and then will try to transfer his skill to the North American game. Toronto fans are already excited, and for good reason.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Prospect Profile: Jimmy Hayes

By Jack Porter

Jimmy Hayes will no doubt be on the list of great Leaf's prospects to come out of the 2008 draft ( see: Luke Schenn, Mikhail Stefanovich, Joel Champagne

and Jerome Flaake).

Jimmy was taken with the Leaf's second-round pick, 60th overall. Jimmy had solid seasons with the U.S. in international play as well as a good stint with the
Lincoln Stars of the USHL. Hayes has signed a letter of intent to play at Boston College this coming fall. 

At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Jimmy fits perfectly into Burke's plans for the future of the NHL's greatest franchise.

What Hayes Will Bring The Leafs

Jimmy is the perfect combination of size and touch. At 6-foot-5 nobody will push him around, but he also has some of the best hands in junior hockey. Hayes also has the speed to get open and put his hands to work. Although he can play the power forward game, he may be more effective as a dangler. Jimmy is also great off the ice, he's a team player and has impeccable work ethic.

Jimmy Plays Like

Jaromir Jagr

Jimmy Next Year

Jimmy has signed a letter of intent to play at BC and will play there at least until his junior year. After that the Leafs will have a player ready to make an impact in the NHL.

College Finds: Diamonds In the Rough

By Jack Porter

With the recent Leafs signing of Christian Hanson, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss some other good college signings.

Here are the top ten college-signed players coming at you now:

10. Blake Wheeler—Minnesota

College Stats: 127 GP 42 G 54 A 96 P

NHL Stats: 75 GP 20 G 22 A 42 P

9. Rene Bourque—Wisconsin

College Stats: 152 GP 57 G 40 A 97 P

NHL Stats: 241 GP 54 G 61 A 115 P

8. John Madden—Michigan

College Stats: 160 GP 80 G 100 A 180 P

NHL Stats: 706 GP 140 G 157 A 297 P

7. Jason Blake—North Dakota

College Stats: 119 GP 71 G 100 A 171 P

NHL Stats: 662 GP 174 G 224 A 398 P

6. Andy McDonald—Colgate

College Stats: 137 GP 67 G 88 A 155 P

NHL Stats: 480 GP 119 G 214 A 333 P

5. Chris Kunitz—Ferris State

College Stats: 152 GP 99 G 76 A 175 P

NHL Stats: 329 GP 87 G 118 A 205 P

4. Brian Rafalski—Wisconsin

College Stats: 146 GP 20 G 78 A 98 P

NHL Stats: 689 GP 67 G 356 A 423 P

3. Dan Boyle—Miami-Ohio

College Stats: 148 GP 40 G 107 A 147 P

NHL Stats: 594 GP 91 G 254 A 345 P

2. Martin St. Louis—Vermont

College Stats: 139 GP 91 G 176 A 267 P

NHL Stats: 685 GP 237 G 345 A 582 P

1. Ed Belfour—North Dakota

College Stats: 34 GP 29 W 4 L 1 T 3 SO

NHL Stats: 963 GP 484 W 320 L 14 T 76 SO

Toronto Maple Leafs' Prospect Profile: Viktor Stalberg

By Jack Porter

Viktor Stalberg has become a gem of a pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Stalberg was passed by in his first two years of draft eligibility, but in 2006 the Leafs made him their sixth-round pick, 161st overall.

Viktor has progressed every year and was (until today's signing of Christian Hanson) the Leafs' best NHL-ready prospect playing at the collegiate level. Viktor's biggest accomplishment has come this year, as he has been named to the top 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. The Hobey Baker Award is given to the best college player.

 

What Stalberg Brings The Leafs

Viktor is a very intense player and has size to match. At 6'3" and 191 pounds, Viktor could fill out a little more, which is a scary thought.

Stalberg is a natural sniper and has a good scoring touch. His passing and defensive play has been criticized by some scouts, but his skating helps mask that. He has great acceleration and can reach top speed in just a few strides.

He forechecks well, but he could use his size to improve his physical game. His sniper of a shot could be a strong benefit for the Leafs down the road.

Stalberg Plays Like

Mike Modano.

 

Stalberg Next Year

Stalberg will likely return to Vermont for his senior year of college hockey to help mentor his younger brother Sebastian, who will join UVM next season.  

Toronto Maple Leafs' Prospect Profile: Mikhail Stefanovich

By Jack Porter

Years down the road Mikhail Stefanovich may be viewed as one of the big draft day steals that helped rebuild the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs took Mikhail with their fourth round pick (98th overall) in the 2008 NHL entry draft. Stefanovich was a highly touted prospect at the beginning of the 2007-2008 QMJHL season. So highly thought of that he was projected to go as high as the top 10.

Scouts then found a flaw in this young man's game though. Mikhail was not playing to the best of his abilities every night. This worried scouts and his ranking began to fall. Come draft day teams passed over him because of his work ethic.

The Leafs, however, saw the potential in him. Instead of using their fourth-round pick to get a player who had a chance of making the NHL, they took a player who will make the NHL if he just changes his attitude.

This season, Stefanovich did just that, he decided he wanted to play hockey from day one of the 2008-2009 season.

Stefanovich finished the regular season with 49 goals and 27 assists for 76 points, also he was an amazing plus 30. Oh ya, he got the 76 points in just 56 games for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL good for 17th in league scoring behind guys who played 10-12 more games than him.

 

What Stefanovich will bring the Leafs

Mikhail is a big forward with a scoring touch and could work wonders with fellow Belorussian Mikhail Grabovski a few years down the road. Many scouts are amazed by his hockey sense, he has the ability to out think almost anyone when on the ice.

NHL Central Scouting's Chris Bordeleau says, "He's a big kid, 6'2" and 200 pounds. He has good overall skills, but needs to improve on his work ethic and his involvement if he's going to make it to the next level. When he is on his game, he is a good skater and has a great shot. He can really stickhandle but needs to show it more."

 

Stefanovich Plays Like

Olli Jokinen

 

Stefanovich Next Year

Mikhail will be playing for the Marlies next season and will see a few games with the Leafs.