Leafs Lose, No Sluts Flash Crowd (boo-urns)

In news so irrelevant that I almost don't want to post about it, the Leafs lost to the Buffalo Sabres last night 5-1. The Leafs didn't look like a team fighting for their playoff lives, they looked like a team without hope...and I can't say I'd be any different if I were a part of the team. Their listless play lately is a pretty good indicator that the team damn well knows how effed they are this year, maybe even that they're aiming for the top (#1 overall) by aiming for the bottom (30th place).

Carlo Colaiacovo really, really looks like Dina Pugliese from Breakfast Television.
I don't know which of the two to feel more sorry for.

The only thing I'd like to note about the game last night was that Vesa Toskala allowed an uncharacteristic bad goal. I tried to think back to the last time I saw Vesku do that, and honestly couldn't remember. I'd put his season totalof bad goals at about 5. Contrast this to the last two seasons of goaltending in Toronto: Ed Belfour (because he was old and injured) and Andrew Raycroft (because he has the motor skills of a drunk) were good for one bad goal every other game. I can't even fathom how few points the Leafs would have this year without Toskala.

The latest Sundin rumour:
Mats Sundin + Matt Stajan + 2009 2nd Round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for Bobby Ryan + Brendan Mikkelson + 2008 1st round pick (from Edmonton).

From what I hear, this deal is on the table and awaits Mats' approval. This is a boner of a move. Bobby Ryan, I'll remind you, was the #2 overall pick in 2005. Translation: he was the highest-drafted player in the world in 2005 not named Sidney Crosby. He is offensively gifted and is a sure first line player to be.

Edmonton's 2008 draft choice is another ridiculous asset. Edmonton currently sits 27th overall, making their draft choice no lower than 5th overall if the season ended today. Considering the injury troubles in Edmonton, you have to imagine that the 28th place Leafs will surpass them by the end of the year, and maybe even the 29th place Lightning. So, Edmonton's pick could be #2 overall in the strongest draft year since 2003. The Leafs, by making this deal, would likely have two of the top five draft choices. My mouth is watering at the prospect.

Losing Matt Stajan in the deal is almost a bonus. He is a restricted free agent at the end of the year, and has shown that he can be nothing more than a 3rd line centre in the league. There really is nothing wrong with that - every team needs a 3rd line centre - but Stajan is too soft to ever excel in that role. Moreover, Anaheim employs one of the top (if not the top) 3rd line centre in the league in Sammy Pahlsson...so I think Matty would be playing 4th line minutes or switched to the wing.

Thanks for staying, Kabbie:
Fletch had a deal on the table that would have sent Tomas Kaberle to Philadelphia. In return, the Leafs would have received Jeff Carter + a draft pick. As noted earlier this week, Kabbie wants to stay a Leaf, so he invoked his no trade clause. My opinion on this deal depends on where the draft pick would come from, but unless it was a 1st round pick this year (again, a very strong draft year), this deal makes no sense.

Kaberle is one of the best in the league at his craft, and his contract is below market value. To lose that for Jeff Carter is simply not worth it. Carter hasn't exceeded 45 points in any of his three NHL seasons, despite playing with my vote for 2008 breakout player of the year Mike Richards. Carter can score, but not well enough to lose Kaberle.

So, this is a big sloppy kiss on Kabbie's cheek for being stubborn and refusing to leave town when asked.