Kadri Back Tracks On Salary Demand
Reports abound that Restricted Free Agent (RFA), Nazem Kadri is looking for a five to eight year deal at $5 million dollars per year. But the 22 year old has denied making such demands. Maybe reality has set in or maybe someone has told the kid he's not dealing from a position of strength. Kadri had a good year last season scoring 18 goals to go along with 26 assists. This included two hat tricks: one on February 28 against the Islanders and one on March 30 against Ottawa.
After the 3 goal outburst against the Senators, Kadri had one goal and four assists in the last 12 regular season games. In the seven game playoff against the Bruins, he had a goal and three assists. Thus, since the hat trick on March 30, Kadri had two goals and seven assists in 19 games. The numbers simply do not add up for an eight year contract at $5 million dollars a year.
There is no question that Kadri has the offensive skills that arguably could make him the team's first line center. However, he is not there yet and has not proven it over the course of an 82 game schedule. I'm also still concerned about his size. While not afraid to body check, he seems to get knocked off the puck rather easily. That could be a problem for a number one center.
Some have said that the recent contract Adam Henrique signed with the New Jersey Devils has strengthened Kadri's bargaining position. Henrique signed a six year deal worth $24 million dollars, or an average $4 million dollars a year for six years. The 23 year old center scored 16 goals and had 35 points in 74 games played in the 2011-12 season. That year, he had five goals and eight assists in 24 playoff games played. Three of his goals were game winners during the Devils run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Last season, Henrique fell off scoring 11 goals and 5 assists in 42 games played.
While they may be nearly the same age and play the same position, I don't believe Henrique's contract should have a bearing on what the Leafs do with Kadri. This isn't an issue where Kadri can go to arbitration and use Henrique's deal as a benchmark. The Leafs cap situation is totally different than the Devils as they still also have to re-sign Cody Franson and will have to decide what they will do in 2014-15 with Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf who will both be looking for a raise.
If Kadri truly loves being a Maple Leaf and he believes this team can be a contender for awhile, he needs to accept a bridge contract similar to what P.K.Subban signed with the Montreal Canadiens. Subban stands to make a considerable amount of money after this season and with the salary cap going up next year, the Canadiens would be crazy not to give Subban a sizable increase equal to that of a Norris Trophy candidate. The same could be true for Kadri. Sign a one or two year deal at $2.5 million dollars a year and work your way up to that number one center spot. At the end of the bridge deal, Kadri would be in line for big dollars at the age of 24. That makes sense for the Maple Leafs and it makes sense for him.
It's one thing to be confident in one's abilities but it's another to be stupid. As mentioned, Kadri is not dealing from a position of strength. It is highly unlikely that another team would give him an offer sheet that would force Dave Nonis' hand. That being said, the Leafs have all the cards here and maybe that's what has sunk in to Kadri and Company.
Leafs Learn Valuable Lesson With 4-2 Win
Before last night's Game 2 in Boston, many Leaf fans waited to see what type of effort they would get from their beloved hockey team. There was no question we would learn a lot about Randy Carlyle's team. Well, whatever happens in the rest of this series one thing is clear: the Maple Leafs can play with the Boston Bruins. More importantly, this young Leafs team learned a valuable lesson from Game One: they need to play with urgency and use their speed to be successful.
After Nathan Horton gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead, it would have been easy for this young team to fold on the road. But that didn't happen as the Leafs tied the game on a power play goal from Joffrey Lupul (his first of two goals) and from that point forward the Leafs never trailed again. The Leafs were successful because they used their speed to get out of their own end and provide an aggressive forecheck. They also banged away at the Bruin defense corp, including Zdeno Chara. In the end, it created plenty of odd man rushes which led to a breakaway goal for Phil Kessel which proved to be the game winner. For Kessel, it silenced all of the critics along with the capacity crowd at the TD Garden.
After the Bruins made the score 3-2, James van Riemsdyk scored a beautiful goal that salted the game away. van Riemsdyk continues to use his body to go to the net and his goal was a classic example of that. His first shot was stopped but he kept with it and shoveled the rebound past Tuukka Rask that ended the Bruins hope for a comeback.
The Leaf lineup changes, which many in the media said would be of no consequence, also played a huge part in the Leaf victory. Ryan Hamilton and Matt Frattin were definite factors. Hamilton had two assists and Frattin made a beautiful play setting up Lupul's second goal. These two also delivered many body checks on anyone wearing a Bruin jersey, something that was lacking in Game One. Both of them made an impact.
On the back end, while Jake Gardiner had a couple of miscues that made for some scary moments, his ability to move the puck out of his own end was a big plus for the Leafs. He also made a couple of nice defensive plays, including one on Tyler Seguin. Ryan O'Bryne was very solid and should remain in the lineup. Overall, the Leaf defense corp had a good night and James Reimer was solid in the Leaf net.
Frattin, Hamilton, Nikolai Kulemin, Leo Komorov and Colton Orr did a great job in laying the body on the Bruins and this must continue as the series shifts to Toronto. Like in a prize fight, these body blows soften up the opponent which can lead to scoring chances for the Leafs more skilled players. Mikhail Grabovski, a whipping boy by many, has played very well the last two games. His speed resulted in the van Reimsdyk goal and it is evident that the Bruins can't match it. You have to love the way Grabovski is playing because he continues to get banged around but gets right back up and keeps on going. In fact, last in the third period he went right at Bruin power forward Milan Lucic with a body check deep inside the Bruins zone after he was leveled just minutes before that.
Game 2 has given the Leafs the blueprint for success in this series and in playoff hockey. For the youngest team in the league, this experience is invaluable. Hopefully, they can build on this at the Air Canada Centre on Monday night where you know that the crowd will be electric. Once again, this Leaf team has bounced back from adversity which is not only a good sign for the rest of this series but is also a good sign for the future.
Leafs Need To Bounce Back Tonight
Tonight we will find out a lot about the 2012-13 Toronto Maple Leafs. After having been thoroughly dominated by the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night, the Maple Leafs must try to find a way to straighten out their game and give themselves a chance to win. Reports are that Leaf Coach Randy Carlyle will be making some line-up changes for Game 2. It would appear that Jake Gardiner will make his first NHL playoff appearance to replace the injured Mike Kostka. Carlyle should go one step further and replace John-Michael Liles with Ryan O'Bryne. O'Byrne has playoff experience and provides toughness on the back end. He also is a good penalty killer.
Up front it appears that Ryan Hamilton may be in the lineup. In my opinion, this is a good move as Hamilton was in the lineup in the last two games against the Bruins in the regular season where the Leafs went 1-1 and were every bit as good as Boston. Hamilton is a rugged forward who has some scoring touch and is a good penalty killer. Coach Carlyle should make another move, one that I know that he won't. Clarke MacArthur should be replaced by Matt Frattin. MacArthur has been slumping and Frattin is not afraid to take the body, has speed and can score.
There are some who confuse fighting with toughness. The Leafs had both Colton Orr and Fraser MacLaren in the lineup on Wednesday yet the only one to fight was Leo Komorov. If it were me, I'd keep Orr in the lineup and take MacLaren out. How about these lines: Kessel-Bozak-JVR, Lupul-Grabovski-Kulemin, Frattin-Kadri-Komorov and Hamilton-McClement-Orr. Carlyle wouldn't have a problem rolling these four lines and would have enough players in the lineup who will finish their checks and not be afraid to use their body.
The Leafs need to use their speed as they are much faster than the Bruins. Utilizing their speed should help them to have an aggressive forecheck. They need to test Tuukka Rask and put a body on the Bruins defense every chance they get. This team has exceeded all expectations this year. No one had the Leafs making the playoffs this year. For a young team, this is a learning experience. Hopefully, they have learned from the lesson of Game One. They have an opportunity to minimally lay the groundwork for seasons to come. It starts tonight. Anything is possible, just ask the Islanders.
Special Time When Leafs Are In The Playoffs
As the clock wound down in Ottawa on Saturday night and the Leafs were on their way to clinching a playoff spot for the first time in 9 years, I began to think about how special it is when the Leafs make the Stanley Cup Tournament. My first playoff memory goes back to the 1968-69 season where the Leafs would be squaring off with the Bobby Orr-led Boston Bruins. A Leaf playoff tradition began that year when my grandmother made blue ice cubes for Game One.(the tradition will continue next week) She, along with my brother and I, had a Seven-Up with our blue ice cubes in honor of the Leafs. Unfortunately, things didn't turn out well as the Bruins swept the Leafs 4-0 and as a result Punch Imlach was fired.
The next Leaf playoff series that sticks out in my mind was the 1970-71 series against the New York Rangers. The Leafs had a 2-1 lead in the series and I was convinced that they were going to knock out the Rangers behind the goaltending of Bernie Parent and Jacques Plante. The series had a wild game at Madison Square Garden where a bench clearing brawl broke out and Parent's goalie mask was thrown into the crowd by Ranger Vic Hadfield. Parent didn't have another mask so Jacques Plante had to finish the game. The Leafs won the game but eventually lost in 6 games, losing the last game in overtime on a Bobby Nevin goal that beat Jacques Plante. The loss resulted in a heated discussion between me and my Dad who was a Ranger fan the next evening at the dinner table.
The 1975-76 season saw the Leafs take on the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs. The year before the Leafs gave the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Flyers all they could handle taking the series to 7 games. This time around, Leaf Coach Red Kelly invoked Pyramid Power to give his team the edge over the Broad Street Bullies. As a result, we constructed our own blue and white pyramid and we placed the Stanley Cup from our table top hockey game inside. Again another seventh game and another Leaf loss. The pyramid was smashed to pieces but the Cup was saved.
The 1977-78 playoffs saw the Leafs take out the Los Angeles Kings in the preliminary round. I remember Game One was in L.A. and Tiger Williams was taking on everyone who wanted to go. The Leafs would advance to take on the New York Islanders and would win an exciting Game 7 in New York when Lanny McDonald scored the overtime winner. I was watching the game at my cousin's house with a bunch of Leaf fans and the place exploded. Found out a few days later from my cousin that the neighbors weren't too happy. The Leafs would eventually lose four straight to Montreal with the last game decided by a Cam Connor goal in overtime.
The 1982-83 playoffs had the Maple Leafs taking on the Minnesota North Stars. This series marked the first time that I would attend a playoff game at Maple Leaf Gardens as my wife and I attended Game 3 as we scalped tickets out on Carlton Street. The Leafs would win that game and the place was absolutely crazy as they staved off elimination. But they would lose in Game 4 at the Gardens.
In the 1985-86 playoffs, the Maple Leafs would take on the high-flying Chicago Black Hawks in the preliminary round. After winning the first two games in Chicago, the Leafs came home for the opportunity to knock off Chicago. My 2 brothers and I made the trip to Toronto and scalped tickets for the game and what a game it was as the Leafs buried the Hawks and eliminated Chicago. It was pandemonium at the Gardens but the best was when we got out onto Carlton Street. The street was wall-to-wall people and a sound truck was blaring out the song, "The Night Chicago Died." It was unreal. St.Louis was Toronto's next opponent and had the opportunity to see another Leaf win at the Gardens. But the series would go seven games with the last game in St.Louis. After regulation the score was tied. The Leafs had a glorious chance to win when Wendel Clark hit both goal posts and the resulting play led to a Blues goal which ended the series. I was enraged and punched a door waking up my two year old which didn't make me too popular with my wife.
The 1992-93 playoffs were for me the most exciting of all Leaf playoff seasons. The Game 7 victory over the Red Wings set off a wild celebration at my house. Next up was the St. Louis Blues and I can remember being all out of sorts when the Leafs played the Blues on a Sunday afternoon. The Leafs would win that series and next was the LA Kings. The Game Six loss was difficult, especially since Kerry Fraser was blind in one eye and couldn't see out of the other. But I still BELEAFED that the Leafs would prevail. My brother and I had the opportunity to go to Game 7 at the Gardens. We got to Toronto early and the city was electric. A bed sheet was hanging out on a balcony on Yonge Street saying: Beleaf In The Dream! Even with the Leafs down and the goalie pulled I thought they would tie it up but it didn't happen. Without a doubt the most devastating loss I have experienced as a Leaf fan. With a tear in my eye we left the Gardens before they gave the Kings the Clarence Campbell Trophy.
The 2000-01 playoffs saw the Leafs sweep the Ottawa Senators and go on to face the New Jersey Devils. I was convinced that the Leafs would advance especially when they were up 3-2. But the Leafs dropped Game Six at home and then were trapped to death in Game Seven to lose the series 4-3.
The following season was a special one as the Leafs were without a few regulars, including Captain Mats Sundin. They would defeat the New York Islanders in a very physical series and then head to Ottawa hurting big time. But they would come from behind several times and defeat the Senators once again to go on to the Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. Once again, I felt that they were the better team and they were getting some of their regulars back, including Sundin. However, they would lose in six games.
The Leafs entered the 2003-04 playoffs after acquiring Brian Leetch and Ron Francis. I was convinced that this would put them over the top to get to the Stanley Cup. They would defeat the Ottawa Senators once again and move on to face the Philadelphia Flyers. After dropping the first two games in Philly, the Leafs came back to the ACC and won the next two games. I had the opportunity to be at Game 4. But the Leafs would lose Game 5 and set up a must win Game 6 at the ACC. After tying the score to send the game to overtime, they would eventually lose which led to quite a terrible scene at my house as my son and I were stunned.
Throughout the years, the thing that is consistent is the fact that everything centered around the Leafs success in the playoffs. A loss usually meant that the next day would be miserable. A win always meant having a little extra spring in my step the next day. There has been rage, tears, elation, screaming (in joy and outrage) and nervousness. There is undoubtedly lucky shirts worn, the same rituals set and the need for no interruption for 60 minutes. You can bet that come next week I will be wearing a Leafs lapel pin to work, maybe even Leaf cuff links. I have a blue sapphire and diamond ring that usually comes out come playoff time when the Leafs are in it. Take it to the bank that it will be on my finger next week.
There is nothing like the playoffs when the Leafs are in it. It will be interesting to see who becomes this year's playoff villain. Over the years there have been: Ken Hodge, Wayne Cashman, Dave Schultz, Don Saleski, Steve Webb, Daniel Alfredsson, Marty McSorley, Dino Ciccareli, Steve Payne and the list goes on. The fact that this year's Leaf team is the youngest in the league really has me excited. There are players that I really like and if they have some success it will be even more gratifying. One thing is for sure, I will be living and dying with them come Game One. Batten down the hatches, the Leafs Are Back In The Playoffs.
Nonis Gets It Right
Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Dave Nonis refused to mortgage his team's future by going after Roberto Luongo and was not able to get a deal done with Miikka Kiprusoff but he added some much needed depth on the blue line by acquiring Ryan O'Byrne from the Colorado Avalanche for a fourth round pick in 2014. O'Byrne is a tough stay at home defense man who will be a perfect pairing with either John-Michael Liles, Jake Gardiner and Mike Kostka. O'Byrne is also a very good penalty killer and should really help an already vastly improved PK unit. He also has playoff experience which should help the likes of Kostka and Gardiner.
By adding O'Byrne, Coach Randy Carlyle can really spot when he wants to use his two young defense man. This was the type of move that I had hoped Nonis would make: adding depth to the defense corps. O'Byrne is not a Norris Trophy candidate but he is the type of defense man who will fill fit nicely in Randy Carlyle's system. With respect to Kiprusoff, based upon what Nonis said at his press conference, the Calgary goalie had personal considerations which prevented a deal from getting done. It was clear that Kiprusoff would have come to Toronto as a mentor and he was excited about that role. But in the end, he did not want to make a commitment that he couldn't keep and for that Kiprusoff is to be respected.
As far as Luongo goes, the Canucks goaltender is clearly frustrated as he realizes that his ridiculous contract term is what has held up any trade. As a result, until Vancouver General Manager Mike Gillis comes down on his ridiculous demands, the Canucks will have nearly $10 million tied up in goalies. Better them than the Leafs.
Nonis made it clear in his press conference that the Leafs would not mortgage the future nor put themselves in cap hell. The Leaf GM gets it and with that philosophy Leaf Nation may have something good going for the next several years.
Do You Remember Felix Potvin?
The 1992-93 Toronto Maple Leafs captured the hearts of Leaf Nation as they made their way to the Western Conference Final and but for a blown call by Kerry Fraser should have been in the Stanley Cup Finals. The goaltender for that team was a 21 year old by the name of Felix Potvin. Potvin played well enough that the Leafs were able to trade Grant Fuhr to Buffalo for Dave Andreychuk and Darren Puppa. The Leafs were one high sticking call away from the Finals and a date with Montreal with a 21 year old inexperienced goaltender and a defense that was anchored by veterans Jamie Macoun, Dave Ellett, Bob Rouse, Todd Gill, Sylvain Lefebvre, and Dmitri Mironov.
Why am I bringing this all to light?? Rumors are hot and heavy that the Leafs are interested in acquiring Miikka Kiprusoff. Many are saying that Toronto needs an experienced goaltender but as history shows that is not the case. If the current edition of the Maple Leafs could add an experienced defenseman to go along with Dion Phaneuf, Mark Fraser, John Michael-Liles, Carl Gunnarsson and Cody Franson, the Leafs would be able to bring Jake Gardiner and Mike Kostka into the fray if necessary.
James Reimer and Ben Scrivens have led the Leafs this far and to now add a Kiprusoff or a Luongo would make no sense. Combined their salaries don't come close to either Kiprusoff's or Luongo's and would allow the Leafs greater flexibility in the off season. Moreover, how can these kid goalies gain playoff experience if they don't play. Being in a playoff spot is great and certainly anything can happen but logic would say that the Leafs will not win the Stanley Cup this year so why not allow these kids to grow by experiencing what it means to play goal in the playoffs.
This morning Darren Dreger said that the Leafs getting Kiprusoff would make them a better team. I disagree. Getting a player like a Keith Yandle would be much better than getting Kiprusoff. Here's hoping Dave Nonis sticks to the plan and doesn't mortgage the future. Does anyone remember Owen Nolan??
Leaf Nation Chill Out
After the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 loss last night against the Winnipeg Jets, members of Leaf Nation and the Toronto media were pressing the panic button big time. The Leafs have lost three games in a row for the first time this season and people are convinced that we are going to have a repeat of last year. Let's examine the three losses.
The first loss was at the hands of the Boston Bruins in Boston. The Leafs lost 4-2 with Boston's last goal being in the empty net. In watching the game, the Leafs never quit and in fact could have rolled over when Boston went up 3-1. I venture to guess that last year's team would of rolled up in a ball and died. When that game ended, I was proud of the effort that the Leafs put out that night.
Loss number 2 was against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the ACC. The Leafs came back from a 4-2 deficit to tie the game and send it into overtime. The Leafs traded chances with the Penguins in overtime and lost in the skills competition known as the shootout. The NHL is the only major sports league that determines wins and losses by a skills competition but that is for a post on another day. The Leafs got a point in a game that they twice battled back from a 2 goal deficit. Once again, I was happy with the effort.
Last night, loss number 3 was the worse loss the Leafs have suffered since they lost to the Canadiens at the ACC. The turning point was their inability to score on a 1:53 2 man-advantage. Bad line changes and terrible defensive zone coverage led to an embarassing loss against a team that is not better than Toronto.
So what does this all mean? Well, the way I see it we will find out a lot about this edition of the Leafs over the course of the next two games. In listening to Toronto radio today, the Leafs shouldn't show up tomorrow against the Penguins. But, the Leafs beat the Penguins in Pittsburgh and we saw what happened Saturday night. The Leafs can win tomorrow and they can win against the Jets on Saturday night.
The Leafs need to make some changes in my opinion. Jake Gardiner needs to be brought up immediately. As I have stated many times, Gardiner is a special talent. He has the ability to carry the puck out of the defensive zone, the ability to make the quick pass and will be a huge difference on a power play that needs help. The other change I would make is move Mikhail Grabovski on the first line with Phil Kessel and James van Reimsdyk. Tyler Bozak would go on the new third line with Nikolai Kulemin and either Jay McClement or Leo Komorov. The new second line would be Nazem Kadri with Clarke MacArthur and Matt Frattin. Randy Carlyle must also limit the amount of ice time that the fourth line receives.
The Leafs also need to spend less time trying to create fighting opportunities and more focus on taking the body creating an aggressive forecheck. The power play needs some changes. Along with Gardiner coming up, Carlyle needs to mix things up. Have Grabowski center JVR and Kessel with the 2nd unit being Kadri with MacArthur and Frattin. If MacArthur or Frattin don't go to the net then put McClement, Komorov or Kulemin out there to screen the goalie. You might want to consider moving Dion Phaneuf upfront with Franson and Gardiner at the point.
As far as the goalies go, it drives me nuts when Leaf fans start calling for Roberto Luongo. Last night, I would only fault Reimer on one of the 4 goals. Other than that, he was hung out to dry and the first Jets goal was a lucky deflection off the body of Nik Antropov. The Leafs can make the playoffs with Reimer and Ben Scrivens. If they don't make the playoffs, they will get a good draft pick in a deep draft. So Leaf Nation, take a deep breath!! If someone told you before the season that the Leafs would be in 6th place at the halfway point of the season would you have been surprised?? I think so.
Leafs Fight Hard To Earn A Point
Being down 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins after the first period, it looked like the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to be blown out of the ACC. But the Leafs turned things around in the second period and tied the game late in the third to earn a big point before losing in the shootout 5-4 to the Penguins. Randy Carlyle deserves full marks for making line-up changes heading into the second period when he moved the Grabovski line against Sidney Crosby's line and moved Tyler Bozak's line against Evgeni Malkin's line. Carlyle moved Jay McClement on Grabovski's line and put Leo Komorov on the 4th line. The other big move was pairing Cody Franson with Dion Phaneuf.
James Reimer over came a rough first period and made some critical saves particularly in the third period that gave the Leafs the opportunity to tie the game. Reimer also had a huge save on Crosby in overtime. James van Reimsdyk was a physical presence as he gave Marc-Andre Fleury fits all night, parking himself all night in front of the net which resulted in his 14th goal of the season that got the Leafs on the scoreboard. He also leveled Evgeni Malkin in the third period that sent Malkin to the bench for the rest of the game.
Phil Kessel tied the game late in the third and he also had 2 assists. Kessel was flying in the third period. The Leafs outplayed the Penguins in the third period and in the overtime. They also had 2 power play goals and killed off all 4 of the Penguin power plays, including a 5 on 3. An unsung hero was Jay McClement. He was a force on the penalty kill and he really was aggressive on the forecheck particularly when he was re-united with Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin.
Tonight was a clear indication that this team is quite different from last year's squad. In a week that they faced New Jersey, Ottawa, at Boston and Pittsburgh, the Leafs earned 5 points out of a possible 8. The point tonight was huge, especially with the way the game started.
The Leafs are next in action Tuesday at Winnipeg, at home against Pittsburgh on Thursday and close the week out at home against Winnipeg.
Burke’s Fingerprints All Over Leafs 3-1 Win
On a day that Brian Burke's relationship with the Toronto Maple Leafs officially came to an end, his fingerprints were all over the Leafs 3-1 win over the slumping Buffalo Sabres. Phil Kessel, the player Burke traded for and was routinely criticized for acquiring, showed why he is a special player even though he didn't score a goal last night. Kessel assisted on Dion Phaneuf's first goal while the Leafs were on a power play as he made a nice pass setting up the Captain. But as nice of a play as that was, Kessel's second assist was the offensive highlight of the game as he fooled Leaf-killer Ryan Miller and made a beautiful pass to James van Riemsdyk who tapped the puck into the net and gave the Leafs a 2-1 lead. There is no doubt that Miller thought Kessel was going to shoot the puck as the Leaf forward decoyed him beautifully.
van Riemsdyk, acquired by Burke from Philadelphia, scored his second goal late in the third period on a nice pass from Cody Franson while the Leafs had a two-man advantage. JVR now leads the team with 11 goals and has been a big contributor, not only offensively but also killing penalties. The 23 year old seems to be buying into Coach Randy Carlyle's system as he is consistently placing himself in front of the opposing team's goalie.
Ben Scrivens bounced back strongly from Tuesday's 4-2 loss against Tampa as he was solid in goal particularly in the first period when the Sabres outshot the Leafs 13-10 in the first period and turned away 31 shots overall. I had to laugh Wednesday morning as hockey expert Pierre MacGuire was critical of Scrivens based upon his performance against the Lightning. The kid had one bad game in the last five, yet MacGuire had the gall to say that Scrivens needs to show that he wants to be the number one goaltender. Well, the way to do that is to bounce back from a bad game and the kid did just that last night.
Cody Franson had one of his better games as he was definitely a force offensively and showed some of the promise that the Leafs believed was possible when Burke acquired him in a deal with Nashville that sent Brett Lebda to the Predators. Not sure if either Lebda or Robert Slaney, the other player Burke sent to Nashville, are playing in the NHL.
It is obvious that this young team has bought into Randy Carlyle's system of play. The Leafs are becoming a more difficult team to play as they lead the league in hits and in fights. It should be pointed out that Brian Burke inherited Ron Wilson. Wilson was hired by Cliff Fletcher, prior to Burke's arrival. As Burke admitted upon Wilson's dismissal, he and Wilson had a difference of opinion on the team's style of play. As a result, Burke's biggest mistake may have been hanging onto Wilson for too long. Who knows if the fiery Irishman would still be here if Wilson was let go prior to last season. However, it may not have matter as Burke wasn't corporate enough for the Bell/Rogers executives. But as Dave Nonis said, when this team sees playoff success it will be because of the groundwork laid by Brian Burke.
Game Notes: Sabre fans and media types have a hard time admitting that the Leafs are a better team right now - Rob Ray is one of the worst analysts in the NHL. He referred to Nazem Kadri as Nathan Kadri and at the end of the game praised the Sabres for a good effort. Not sure what game he was watching - It will be interesting to see how long Terry Pegula keeps Darcy Reiger as GM - WGR 550 resident hockey gasbag Paul Hamilton was lamenting Steve Ott's goal being disallowed for goaltender interference. This from a guy who was all over the Milan Lucic hit on Miller last year when Miller was in the faceoff circle. Miller was even questioning last night's call but what would you expect from a team looking for excuses as opposed to looking in the mirror - check out the following column from Damien Cox. Great read:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/02/21/exmaple_leafs_gm_brian_burkes_departure_to_anahiem_as_parttime_scout_shouldnt_be_a_surprise_cox.html
Scrivens Leads The Way As Leafs Win 3-0
Ben Scrivens was solid in goal last night as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated their provincial rivals, the Ottawa Senators, 3-0 at the Air Canada Centre. With James Reimer out of action, the pressure was on Scrivens to perform and off of the last two games the Leafs have to be happy so far with his performance. Last night, the Maple Leafs did not play their best game and were still able to come up with two points as a result of the play of their young goaltender.
In the second period, Scrivens was solid as the Senators fired 19 shots at him without putting one in the back of the net. The Senators had a couple of point blank chances in the third that would have tied the game but Scrivens was equal to the task and shut the door. Credit must be given to Ottawa for mounting an attack with a depleted lineup but the Leafs young goalie showed that he can hold down the fort until Reimer comes back. It also allows Leaf General Manager Dave Nonis to concentrate on other areas of the team and not make a rush move for a veteran goaltender.
Both of the Leafs first 2 goals were a result of players going to the net. That is a positive and something that Coach Randy Carlyle has been preaching. However, it seems that the Leafs have not been able to utilize their speed to generate offense. I thought that they were better in their own zone last night but they didn't seem to have much going in pressuring Ottawa in the Senator end of the rink.
Nazem Kadri seems lost out there without Matt Frattin. The two had some good chemistry going and the injury to Frattin has impacted Kadri's play. In addition, Kadri is brutal on faceoffs and is a part of his game that he needs to work on. I did not have a problem with Colton Orr being on that line but until Clarke MacArthur is able to develop some chemistry with Kadri, it appears that this line will have difficulty generating offense.
The Leafs head to Florida for back-to-back games against the Panthers and the Lightning. It will be interesting to see how Carlyle handles the goaltending situation. Will Scrivens start both games or will Jussi Rynnas see his first start of the season with the Leafs. Either way, the rest of the team will have to be on its game defensively in order to pick up some valuable points. It won't be easy.
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