tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Leaf Trade Rumors: Gardiner & Grabovski On The Move??

As we get closer to the February 27th NHL trade deadline, trade rumors involving the Toronto Maple Leafs change hourly and there is plenty of debate as to what this team needs. My opinion is that they need one (if they could two) big forward who can clear space for their talented smaller forwards. Think Ryan Malone or someone like a Brian Boyle (I am not saying that Brian Boyle is available).

There are two big stories floating around Toronto one involving Rick Nash and the other involving Mikhail Grabovski. Nash is the big Columbus Blue Jacket forward who is on the trading block. Nash has given the Blue Jackets five teams that he would agree to go to. One of those teams are the Toronto Maple Leafs. There has been plenty of speculation that Blue Jacket GM Scott Howsam would only consider a deal with the Leafs if rookie defenseman Jake Gardiner was involved. Quite frankly I say no thank you if I'm the Leafs. I've always liked Rick Nash as a player and would love to see him in a Leaf uniform, however the soon to be 28 year old comes with a $7.8 million price tag that runs through 2018. In addition, in order to get Nash it will take more than Gardiner including possibly Mikhail Grabovski and some experts are saying that Phil Kessel might have to be involved.

Moving either Grabovski or Kessel to get Nash makes no sense. If bringing Nash in is to provide more scoring it makes no sense to give up one of your top points producers to get him. Could you imagine Nash on a line with Grabovski?? Moving Grabovski basically means you have traded away your best center man. (more on this below) As far as Kessel goes, you would be trading away a 24 year old All-Star who appears to continue to improve his game and one has to wonder how much higher this kid can go if he had a big center to play with and this is not meant as any slight to Tyler Bozak. Who would you rather have centering Joffrey Lupul and Kessel: Bozak or someone like Ryan Getzlaf??

As far as moving Gardiner, I think that would be a huge mistake. As I have stated many times on this blog, Gardiner is the best young defenseman that this organization has had since Borje Salming. His skating ability is excellent and he leads all rookie defensemen in scoring. Many NHL scouts are saying that this kid can be something special. At the age of 21, Gardiner is already one of the Leafs top 4 defenseman and to move him would be a huge mistake. Having a young defenseman who can skate and has offensive ability to make plays are not easy to find. Gardiner could anchor this defense corp for 10-12 years. Getting Rick Nash would be great, but will the overall cost increase or decrease the team's chances to make the playoffs.

Yesterday Darren Dreger reported that the Leafs had an offer on the table for Mikhail Grabovski that included a second round pick and a top prospect. There was a belief that the Leafs could possibly hold out and get a first rounder and a top prospect. In twitter world it was speculated that the St.Louis Blues were the team involved but that has not been confirmed. Dreger went on to say that this could be an attempt by Brian Burke to put heat on the Grabovski camp to lower its contract demand to stay in Toronto as it has been reported that Mikhail loves living in Toronto.

If Brian Burke makes the deal as reported by Dreger and no other deal is made then it basically tells me that Burke does not believe that this team can make the playoffs and if they do make it they will be an easy mark for a Rangers or Bruins team. It is inconceivable to me that Burkie would move his best center man for a draft pick and propsect unless that draft pick is a top first round pick. Grabovski is the Leafs best center right now and moving him without getting anyone to replace him means that Tim Connolly becomes your 2nd line center. Somehow that doesn't inspire me.

Brian Burke's history with the Maple Leafs has been to make a deal that no one was expecting. It would seem that with the glut of defensemen that the team has that one of them would be included in a trade. I would think that Gardiner, Dion Phaneuf and John-Michael Liles would not be involved in a deal. But one thing is clear: I would be shocked if Burke does not make a trade. A big forward would be what I think the team needs and if it was a center man that would even be better. Only time will tell, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, the Leafs have a tough one tonight against the Vancouver Canucks. Its a big game for the Leafs as the Washington Capitals pulled within one point of Toronto and Winnipeg is now only 4 points behind. This game will be a tough one and hopefully the Leafs will play with desperation tonight. James Reimer gets the start on Hockey Night In Canada. The puck drop is at 7:05pm.

Leafs Continue Downward Spiral With 5-1 Loss

With plenty of members of Leaf Nation in attendance, the Toronto Maple Leafs once again came out sleep walking at the Scotiabank Saddledome and dropped a 5-1 decision to the Calgary Flames. The loss is their fourth straight as they cling onto 8th place by one point ahead of the Washington Capitals. In a game that had huge implications for their playoff hopes, the Leafs came out flat once again. The last time the Leafs really came out of the gate in the first period firing on all cyclinders was on January 31st in Pittsburgh.

As has been the case in the 3 previous games, the Leafs defensive zone coverage was awful and as a result they quickly found themselves down 2-0 in the first period. Tyler Bozak's goal late in the first period gave Leaf Nation hope, however the Leafs would never recover from the early hole that they dug for themselves. Another common thread that showed up last night was the Leafs inability or desire to go to the front of the net and create traffic in front of the other team's goaltender. While the Leafs outshot the Flames 42-34, Mikka Kiprusoff was able to see just about everything and rebounds may have been there for the taking but the Leafs were no where to be found.

At this point I keep on wondering who on this team is capable of making a play that is going to turn this thing around. Who in that locker room is going to grab the team by the throat and will it to a victory similar to a Wendel Clark. Apparently the players only meeting that took place after the Montreal loss did absolutely no good.

The Leafs have been outscored 10-1 in their last two games. But more disturbing seems to be the lack of defensive discipline in their own end and the lack of physicality which translates in not going to the other team's net and a meek forecheck. The great chemistry that was present after the encouraging 5-0 win in Ottawa has disappeared and the Senators are now four points ahead of Toronto. The Capitals, while a point behind the Leafs, will have two games in hand on Toronto after the Leafs game against the Oilers tonight.

One final point, the Leafs goaltenders are not stealing a game. If there is any position on this team that could turn this around it is between the pipes. Unfortunately, neither James Reimer or Jonas Gustavsson has been able to make that big save or series of saves that can turn a game around. It will be interesting to see who Ron Wilson has in goal tonight against the Edmonton Oilers.

Someone needs to step up and lead this team out of its funk otherwise this season is going to slip away. The puck drop tonight is at 10:05 at the Rexall Centre.

Leaf Playoff Chances Slipping Away

Last night's horrendous 5-0 loss at the hands of their ancient rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, has left the Toronto Maple Leafs playoff hopes in a shaky position as they head out for a 3 game Western Canadian road trip. For the third game in a row, the Leafs power play was awful, they were unable to create consistent scoring chances, their defensive zone coverage was brutal and they refused to play with the desperation that is needed for a team looking to make the playoffs for the first time since the lockout.

Prior to their trip to Winnipeg, there was plenty of talk that the Leafs might not make a deal because the team was playing well and Brian Burke might not want to mess with the team chemistry. But, this unwilligness to play responsibily in their own end and bring more bodies in front of the other team's net began in the Monday victory over Edmonton. These last four games just highlight what is a problem for this Leaf team: they don't have enough size upfront to work the boards and create chances. The Leafs propensity to try to skate into the other team's zone and make cute plays is not working and will not work if they make the playoffs. This is also the problem with the power play where there are too many passes on the outside and nothing happening in front of the opposing goalie.

I have said all along that the Leafs need to make a trade and the last four games have solidified my opinion. Brian Burke cannot be too happy with what he has seen over the last four games, particularly last night. With the ceremony honoring Leaf great Mats Sundin and playing against the Habs on Saturday Night, one would have to think that this Leaf team would have come out firing on all cyclinders particularly after coming off two straight losses. But instead they were flat and at times looking disinterested. It might be time to bring Mike Kommisarek back into the lineup and in spite of Ron Wilson's defense, Tim Connolly may need to get a seat up in the press box. One thing is clear: something needs to change in a hurry otherwise Leaf Nation will once again be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

Leafs Fall To 8th With 4-3 Loss

Last night was not a good one for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Not only did they lose to the Flyers in Phildelphia by the score of 4-3, but Ottawa defeated Nashville and Florida knocked off L.A. which means the Leafs are now in 8th place only one point ahead of the Washington Capitals. While its unrealistic to think that the Leafs are going to win every game, what's disturbing was how flat the Leafs were in the first period and how poor their defensive zone coverage was throughout the game. In order for the Leafs to make the playoffs they need to be more defensively responsible than they were last night.

For anyone to question James Reimer last night I'm not sure what game they were watching. Reimer was hung out to dry many times throughout the game and really had no chance on any of the Flyer goals. Defensive zone coverage doesn't only apply to the defensemen. The forwards have a role to play in that and Tim Connolly was brutal last night. On Brayden Schenn's goal, which proved to be the winner, Connolly allowed the Flyer youngster to swoop in without laying a glove on him. Jake Gardiner was out of position and Luke's little brother lit the lamp to give the Flyers a 4-2 lead. Connolly's only contribution has been on the penalty kill but $4.5 million for a penalty killer is difficult to swallow.

In the last two games, the Leafs have had quite a bit of difficulty getting out of their own end. Both the Jets and the Flyers had an aggressive forecheck and the Leafs were unable to handle it. The quick breakout passes that allows them to utilize their speed has been limited in the past two games. It seems that they tend to be running around a little too much and that is also evident when trying to breakout of their own end when they have a man advantage. In both games, the Leafs were unable to generate any scoring chances at the end of the game when they were trying to tie it up. Last night was particularly frustrating as they had a power play and pulled Reimer with about 1:30 left and could not get any quality scoring chances.

Saturday night is a must-win for the Leafs as they take on the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens are a team that the Leafs should be beat. They are the better team. However, 3 weeks ago they dropped a 3-1 decision to Montreal in a lacklustre game at the ACC. With a 3 game western road trip facing them next week, the Leafs need these two points. I would hope that they will come out early and play with a sense of urgency as you know that the Habs would like nothing better than to throw a monkey wrench into the Leafs' playoff chances.

Saturday night is also Mats Sundin night as the Leafs will honor their former captain and all-time point leader as they raise his banner up to the rafters. Boy, couldn't the Leafs use the Big Swede now. Imagine him centering Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul. It would have been quite an upgrade for Mats as opposed to centering Jonas Hoglund and Mikhael Renberg.