Leafs News

Lots to talk about here, so lets get started.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for their game in Raleigh, North Carolina tonight to face the Hurricanes, yesterday afternoon Cliff Fletcher met with captain Mats Sundin about his future. From the news, Cliff Fletcher seems to be on the same page as Mats Sundin about him wanting to stay in Toronto, and it looks as if Mats won't be going anywhere unless we get offered a mass amount and he agrees to waive his no-trade clause for the sake of the team.

The Leafs are back on the same track as before, calling up the incompetent Ben Ondrus yesterday, as well as already having Kris Newbury on the team. Okay, I understand we are going through a bad stretch of injuries with Bryan McCabe, Alex Steen, Mark Bell, Alexei Pokihonsky, and call-up Darryl Boyce all being injured. But seriously, how many chances are you going to give these goons Ondrus and Newbury? As well as already having two fourth lines on our team with Moore-Wellwood-Belak. I say this has to be the end of the line for these goofs who have already shown they aren't the right type of player needed for the new NHL.

Boyd Devereaux and Chad Kilger did not make the trip with the team to Raleigh, but I think they should be giving different players from the Marlies their shot at the NHL (ie. Robbie Earl, David Ling, John Mitchell, or even give Jeremy Williams another shot) over Ondrus and Newbury.

I also don't like how Jiri Tlusty, with just 3 goals, 3 assists, and a minus-7 rating in 28 games played for the Leafs gets to play on the first line with Sundin and Antropov. Yes, the team has many players injured, and sure Tlusty probably deserves a real shot at proving he is NHL calibre, but there are better players that could be put with Sundin and Antropov in a time like this. If I were Maurice, I would try to snap one of Tucker, Wellwood, or Blake out of their slumps by playing one of them on the big line, as something has to give soon with these guys.

Salmon-Head Tony: Today, the Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Tony "Alphabet Soup" Salmelainen on waivers.

That's Quite Enough Woz For My Liking: My favourite news of late with the Leafs is that Andy Wozniewski has officially lost his spot on the team as their last line defenseman. Great news for the Leafs, with McCabe coming back in two or three weeks, lets see if Colaiacovo can stay healthy for a few days long enough to get rid of Woz, who has proven he is too slow for this NHL, and every play he is involved in he is two steps behind the play and not in the right position.

Around the League Leaf Rumours: I am hearing that Antropov and Raycroft could be going to San Jose, as well as Bryan McCabe with the possibility of going to SJ or LA. SJ makes more sense because LA is already dealing with a pretty hefty blue-line with the likes of Rob Blake and his roommate Jack Johnson, Lubomir Visnovsky, Tom Preissing, and Brad Stuart, while SJ has a very weak blue line, lead by Craig Rivet and Matt Carle.

Earlier, Sundin was rumoured to be heading to Calgary, but that seems very unlikely now after the secret Fletcher-Sundin meeting, along with Phaneuf about to be signed, them signing CuJo (Raycroft was supposedly involved in the Sundin deal), talking with Olli Jokinen, as well as the imminent return of Peter Forsberg.

Justin Pogge: Can someone please update me on the Justin Pogge situation? I haven't heard any news of him being sent down to the Marlies, and if he is still watching the Leafs games from the press box, who is or was backing up Clemmensen in the Marlies while he was or is still up.

Tonight's Game: I'm not sure what to think of the Leafs anymore. Are they aiming to gain those 6 points, hop over 6 teams and squeak into the playoffs to get tossed out in the first round just to sell some tickets? Or are they now aiming for a great lottery pick in the draft? In any event, the Leafs faceoff against the 'Canes tonight, who lead their piss-poor division but are only 6 points ahead of the Leafs. This Carolina team has shown that they are much better than the Leafs, with John Grahame proving he isn't worse than Raysoft, along with them beating us 7-1 in October, and the turn-around game in December where they came back to win it in overtime after the Leafs blew up a late lead. The Leafs recently played Carolina on January 15th, beating them 5-4 in a fairly interesting game.

Looking Forward: The Leafs next game is back home this Saturday, February 2nd against the Ottawa Senators. The Sens will be without Dany Heatley, and their captain Daniel Alfredsson for this game. Maybe for once the Leafs could beat the Sens in the regular season so I can shut up all of the band-wagon Sens fans I know.