Archive for May, 2010
Loiselle Joins Leafs’ Brass
May 29th
About six hours ago hockey analyst and insider Nick Kypreos tweeted this:
Sportsnet has learned Claude Loiselle will soon be named Ass’t GM of Toronto Maple Leafs. Announcement could come as early as this week.
The announcement was later confirmed by several other insiders including CBC’s Jeff Marek and the Globe and Mail’s James Mirtle, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise to Leafs nation after Jeff Jackson stepped down as General Manager of the Toronto Marlies this past spring. Dave Nonis replaced Jeff Jackson’s role and it was rumoured that the Maple Leafs would look to add a new Assistant General Manager to focus mainly on salary cap concerns regarding the big club in the coming months. It would not be surprising if that was the focus of Claude Loiselle’s hiring.
Loiselle was a former heavyweight in the NHL highlighted by a 21 point, 209 PIM season in 1988-1989 with the New Jersey Devils. Up until now Loiselle was Assistant General Manager of Tampa Bay Lightning affiliate Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League. Loiselle will join a stacked group of upper management amongst the Toronto Maple Leafs that already includes Brian Burke, Dave Nonis and Dave Poulin among others.
Talking Nazem
May 27th
It’s that time of year again, the time of year when the heart of Leafs nation sinks like a stone because of a continued lack of organizational focus on the draft. That feeling will be elevated to a new degree this June when the Boston Bruins draft second overall off of a draft pick acquired from the Maple Leafs in the infamous Phil Kessel trade.
But let’s not talk about how much that quite frankly sucks, let’s not focus on whats bad. Instead, lets focus on what we do have to be excited for in the form of a prospect: the infamous Nazem Kadri. I’ve wanted to do a piece on Nazem for awhile, about his potential as a star, his potential as a bust, his potential as a player for the Leafs next year and more.
I compared his stats, read all about him, watched his videos, but as I continued to research I asked myself why I didn’t just learn firsthand about Nazem from those who know him best: the diehard London Knights fans.
There was immediately one person that came to mind, and that’s Brandon Krug, or as most of you know him as on Twitter, Kadri_Nation. I asked him if he wouldn’t mind answering a few of my questions, and he was kind enough to oblige, so without further ado here’s what he had to say:
How good do you think Nazem Kadri can be in the NHL? How many points do you think he could one day put up and who would you compare him to in today’s game? More >
Hot for Holzer: Korbinian Signed
May 27th
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed German defensemen, Korbinian Holzer, to a 2 year, 2-way entry level deal. The contract will see the youngster earn $62,500 ($781.25 per game) at the AHL level or a cap hit of $595,000 ($7,256.10 per game) in the big league.
Holzer was drafted 111th overall by Toronto in the 2006 NHL entry draft and has spent the past three seasons developing in the DEL (German Elite League) with the DEG Metro Stars. The 6’3”, 190lbs defenseman’s recent season was his most impressive yet, playing 52 games, notching 22pts (6 goals and 16 assists) and spending 96 minutes in the penalty box. Korbinian’s resume was further bolstered last season with ice time while representing Germany in both the 2010 Olympic Games and the IIHF World Championships, though failing to earn a medal at either international event. More >
Rickard Wallin Eulogy
May 26th
Ladies and gentlemen, it is with the deepest volume of ecstasy imaginable that we announce today that Rickard Wallin has decided to move out of Peter Chiarelli’s Secret Underground Laboratory (his Toronto home) and settle back in to where he was truly meant to be: Ikea Farjestad. Though the contract which our dearly beloved Goggles has signed allows him to opt out should he come to an agreement with a professional American team before July 15th, Wallin has all but turned the page on a profoundly traumatizing chapter in his life and made it quite clear that he’s looking for a new home, a new contract, a new beginning. The Reading Royals are believed to be in hot pursuit of Wallin’s disservices.
It was a long and miserable journey for both parties profusely hurt by the relationship, but it was a journey that did not go without it’s redeeming moments. More >
7 Reasons #84 Should Stay
May 22nd
Whether it’s TSN’s Off-Season Game Plan or just another thread on the HF Boards, the consensus is that Mikhail Grabovski could be shipped out of town. But why?
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think he’s the greatest offensive stud or an answer to any position longterm, I don’t think he’s going to score 30 goals or dish 50 assists, I don’t think he has any shot at ever topping 60 points in a season. I don’t really like his cap hit, his contract, his attitude or his ethic. I don’t like his defense, his rushes or even his hair. But put all those negatives aside, and Mikhail Grabovski is a guy who could be integral in helping the Maple Leafs reach the playoffs next season. How?
Here’s how:
1. What he plays.
Grabovski’s played as a center during his entire tenure as a Maple Leaf and presumably the majority of his pro career. The Leafs could really use a center with at least some offensive flair like Grabovski in the top six.
Also, if Nazem Kadri doesn’t make the team, than the Leafs don’t have to worry. If they deem Kadri too small or realize that he really does need more work in a lower league, they can send him to the minors and not worry about their second-line center position because they’ll still have him on the roster. More >
Leafs Prospect of the Day – Who is Kenny Ryan?
May 18th
Between May 16th and June 4th, LeafsHQ has decided to pick a Leafs prospect for every day, and write up a report on them. Check in every day for the latest prospect!
The 5 W’s
Who is he?
Kenny Ryan is the first winger to be picked in the Brian Burke era, and one who fits the mold that Burke is known for. Ryan is an 18 year old Right Winger from Franklin, Michigan. A right handed shot, the 6’0, 209lb Ryan may not tower over the average player, but he definitely doesn’t let that stop him from using his body to his advantage. Though he has nopro experience just yet, Ryan is playing in the Memorial Cup as we speak with the Windsor Spitfires.
Leafs Prospect of the Day – Who is Mikhail Stefanovich?
May 17th
Between May 16th and June 4th, LeafsHQ has decided to pick a Leafs prospect for every day, and write up a report on them. Check in every day for the latest prospect!
The 5 W’s
Who is he?
Mikhail Stefanovich is considered by a considerable margin to be the biggest “boom/bust” prospsect in the Leafs organization, and one of the top 2 Belarussians named Mikhail in the teams history. Stefanovich is a 20 year old Right Winger from Minsk, Belarus. A right handed shot, the 6’2, 202 lb Stefanovich has a fair amount of size to go with his talent. Though he has no North American pro experience just yet, Stefanovich has been plaing in the QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) for the last several years.
The Toronto Maple Leafs: Future Cinderellas?
May 16th
By now it’s no secret that the rival Montreal Canadiens have gone on a Cinderella run defeating the Presidents Trophy winners and the defending Stanley Cup Champions in seven games each to clinch a berth in the final four of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It’s also no secret how they got there. Hitting at open ice. Shot-blocking. Outstanding goaltending. Despite a lack of skilled offense, this total blue collar effort has brought the Habs past arguably the two best teams in the league like many Cinderella’s before them.
Which has me wondering: if the Leafs do sneak into the playoffs by breaking in on the last couple available seeds in the Eastern Conference next year like everybody expects, could they do the same?
Looking back on earlier years, I found a few things out about how the Leafs of today, who weren’t Leafs yesterday, compare to the Habs of…today. More >
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