Clayton Hansler
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Posts by Clayton Hansler
Leafs Lock Down Hamilton
Jun 4th
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed Ryan Hamilton to a one-year, two-way contract worth $500,000 at the NHL level, or an AHL salary of $105,000. The Whitby, Ontario native came to the Marlies during the 2008/2009 after being traded from the Wild’s AHL affiliate, Houston.
The undrafted winger was forced to undergo heart ablation surgery, similar to that of Leafs goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, partway through the season to correct an irregular heartbeat. Though out for nearly half the season, not dressing for a total of 33 games, Hamilton finished off the year leading the Marlies in goals and among the top-five in assists. Hamilton’s best season was in 2007/2008 with Houston where he registered 20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points. I presume, barring any injuries, Ryan will top that this season. 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 >
Toronto Crease Crowding; Scrivens Added to the Mix
Apr 28th
Rumours have been confirmed of another goaltender signing in Toronto. The latest addition to an already crowded crease is NCAA grad Ben Scrivens. 23 year old Scrivens has just completed his fourth year at Cornell University, the former romping grounds of hall-of-famer Ken Dryden, and is expected to report to the AHL Marlies next season and battle for ice time.
Ben has played 34 or more games in three of his last four seasons, has averaged less than two goals a game over his two most recent seasons and a save percentage of .930 or better in all three. The 6’2” Spruce Grove, Alberta native, joins a depth chart of goaltenders that already includes in some shape or form Jonas Gustavsson, JS Giguere, James Reimer, Jussi Rynnas and Andrew Engelage. Ben was overlooked during the years of his draft eligibility but raised the eyebrows of a few NHL clubs this past season, the Philadelphia Flyers thought to be foremost.
Today’s signing of Scrivens (coming only six days after the Leafs inked a two year deal with Jussi Rynnas) adds to the speculation that the Leafs 99th pick in the 2006 draft, James Reimer, will be moved over the summer. Reimer drew attention to his game after putting up impressive numbers for the AHL Marlies last season, at times leading he league in save percentage. After his final press conference of the season, Brian Burke alluded to moving Reimer in return for a pick in either of the first two rounds of the upcoming 2010 NHL entry draft.
Scrivens received a one year, entry level contract from the Toronto Maple Leafs, the most allowed under the terms of the current NHL collective bargaining agreement.
Finnish Tender Rynnas Chooses Toronto
Apr 21st
It has been leaked that the Toronto Maple Leafs have won the race to sign highly-toted European goaltenderJussi Rynnas. This will mark two straight years that Burke has lured a coveted overseas puck-stopper to the team, beating out as many as a dozen other NHL franchises in the process.
The 22 year old Rynnas may not wear the number 50, but his 6’4″ frame makes Jussi an absolute monster. Though playing in a different league than Jonas (Gustavsson in the Swedish Elite and Rynnas in the Finnish Elite), Jussi’s numbers are stronger when you compare the statistics leading up to their NHL signings. Where Gustavsson’s 2.87 GAA and .902 SV% was highly regarded by Toronto media and fans alike, Rynnas blows him out of the water averaging slightly over 2.5 goals per game (2.55) and a save percentage of .929.
But as we all know, stats don’t mean everything. The largest criticism surrounding Rynnas is his positional play. To correct this and further adjust him to the North American game, Jussi will spend next season with the Toronto Marlies splitting his time between the pipes with Leafs draftee James Reimer.
Although at first glance this may look like a notch on Burke’s belt, I believe the winning of this battle, like the signing of Gustavsson, should be awarded to Francois Allaire and his ability to secure and develop NHL calibre goaltenders. The Maple Leafs are yet to release an official statement regarding the Jussi signing, but news reports are already fluttering over the pond from Finland.
All I hope is that this guy’s better than the Leafs last Finnish goaltender…..
Tuesday’s Top 5: Drafted & Departed Leafs
Dec 2nd
Near the start of the season on Hockey Night in Canada, CBC shared a statistic regarding the link between a team’s sticking with prospects and the winning of the Stanley Cup; 24 of the past 25 teams to win the Cup did so with at least ten players on their roster that had been with the team since draft day. Ten players – that’s half of the guys on the ice.
And really, this stat makes perfect sense. During one of the most pivotol points of a player’s career, their introduction to professional hockey, they develop in the same atmosphere and with much of the same direction as their future teammates either had or will have. The Leafs’ are currently not doing as bad in this respect as one might think. If we were to include the presently injured Mitchell and Gunnarsson, the Leafs have nine players on their roster that have been drafted and introduced to North American professional hockey by MLSE.
It would stand to reason that if the Leafs wish to bring the Stanley Cup back to Toronto, then the rentension and development of these drafted players would be of a high importance. But in recent years (recent being 16 or so), the running joke between Toronto hockey fans is that we’ve come to expect players drafted by our team to excel once being traded.
So I put this theory to test. I looked at all active TML drafted NHL’ers, compared stats from before and after they were traded and looked at the value they hold to their present team.
The Friday Foto: Toronto’s Maple Leafs
Dec 2nd
It’s Friday, we have all put in a long week and there is no energy left to skim over, let alone delve into, a heavy hard-hitting blog. The Friday Foto is short, simple, sweet and generally light hearted in nature. Nothing that is too hard to handle, and something that will hopefully end your Friday with a smile.
Please enjoy today’s Foto (I spell it with the F because I’m cool like that) featuring the Maple Leafs’ Lee Stempniak.
(please read responsibly)
Toronto may not have put together the most skilled team for the 2009/2010 season (please guys, prove me wrong), but Cliff Fletcher and Brian Burke have exceeded at bringing in guys that fit well with the team mandate to always be giving to the community.
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