Rumors
Winds Of Change
Jul 12th
Winds of change are blowing through the NHL. Once mocked and ridiculed teams such as Florida, Atlanta, Edmonton and the Los Angeles Kings are now looking fresh and ready to compete. Similar changes have taken place in Tampa where the biggest move was Steve Yzerman, who by taking over the GM position, offers instant credibility to the Bolts franchise. Looking back at the last 10 or so years (not to get overly depressed), there’s nothing to suggest why we should be talking those teams down. For the Maple Leafs, success has been rare and far apart. So, where does this leave the Blue and White? Are we a part of the big shift of power that is going to hit the NHL in the next couple of years or are the Leafs just a rock too hard to be moved by the wind? In this article I’ll compare the Leafs with other franchises that I view as the most capable of future NHL success and are also in the midst of a rebuilding process. Details down below.
Another Team In Toronto? A View From Zagreb, Croatia
Jul 10th
Recently, actually since I watched TSN’s segment “Why not Canada?”, I’ve caught myself thinking about hockey markets in general as well as the possibility of the NHL relocating or expanding (less likely) a team to Toronto. Now, keep in mind that this is primarily an outsider’s view on the situation but that could very well make it an objective one. As I already pointed out in my previous article for Leafspace, I absolutely agree with the fact that experiments conducted by Gary Bettman and the NHL with non viable USA hockey markets were an utter and complete failure (with the possible exception of the Dallas Stars and more recently the Nashville Predators – those markets/teams indeed still struggling with financial issues but managing to have on ice success). So, while do I sympathize with hockey fans in Atlanta, there is always the greater good for the game of hockey to keep in mind (The article is called Homeless Hockey and can be found here). And, that’s just my humble opinion, hockey can only thrive in a real hockey market with passionate fans and media, corporate support. That said, I don’t really think it would be wise to have another team in the Toronto area. Read on.
Wild Thoughts And Crazy Pills
Jul 8th
Well, I’m sure all of you had some dreams about who you’d like to see in a Leafs uniform. Me too, but this isn’t about those players. It’s about being mildly realistic in my pursuit of players that wouldn’t make you a material for institutionalization if you mentioned them in the same sentence as a Maple Leafs jersey. Also, those are the players nobody talks about very much, they are not the center of the NHL universe like a certain Russian player who shall remain nameless. I think they deserve at least an honorable mention, so I’m just putting it out there.
A Game Of Kovalchuk
Jul 5th
As much as this isn’t directly related to the Leafs anymore, it still kind of is. Ilya Kovalchuk is a fantastic hockey player. Wait, let me rephrase that, Ilya Kovalchuk is a great offensive hockey player and a superstar goalscorer. In his 8 NHL seasons and 621 games played, the tallied 338 goals and 304 assists (642 points). That puts his NHL average at about 1.03 points per game. He is a fantastic skater who possesses great stride, speed and is one of the most influential powerplay performers I have ever seen. That’s mainly due to his offensive instincts and a superior shot that is easily one of the best in the game, if not the best. That said, would I want him on our team? My answer is plain and simple, my answer is no. And here is why.
Perfect Fit?
Jun 27th
What constitutes as a perfect fit? Is it the chemistry with the linemates, matching voice in the locker room, or capturing the spirit of a given team? I guess it’s a little of everything. Whatever the main ingrident is, I’m pretty sure Marc Savard would be just that on our current Leafs roster. I’d like to start by addressing the trade rumors surrounding Savard. The main rumor is that he’s going to be traded to the Leafs for something other than Tomas Kaberle. Let’s speculate shall we.
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