Posts tagged Captain
Kaberle traded for State of Minnesota
Jun 25th
Tomas Kaberle, the only player on the Toronto Maple Leafs with more than two years spent playing for the team, has been traded to the United States of America for the entire State of Minnesota.
Kaberle, along with throw-in and Toronto Marlies team Captain Ben Ondrus, are heading to the North American nation in exchange for Minnesota, the thirty second state in the United States Union. The twelfth largest by area, and twenty first by population, Minnesota is most well known to Canadians for being a border state of Manitoba and Ontario, and for their hockey teams – the Minnesota North Stars of 1967 to 1993, and the Wild of 2001 to present.
Leafs 2010-2011 Schedule Breakdown
Jun 22nd
Lost in the news of pretty much anything else imaginable today (Nathan Horton to the Bruins, Scott Niedermayer’s retirement, an increase in the salary cap, Pat Quinn’s lack of a head coaching job and an awful Hall of Fame class) was the announcement of the entire 2010-2011 NHL schedule for all 30 franchises.
The Toronto Maple Leafs kick off the season in a style similar to last season, hosting the Habs on October the 7th. It’s definitely a schedule different than last season’s as the Leafs don’t make anything that remotely resembles a home-stand until they host the Canucks, Predators and Devils from Saturday November the 13th until Thursday November 18th. And again, that’s barely a home-stand considering that’s only three games.
As for a road trip, there isn’t one that lasts more than two games until a Western-Canadian road-swing that sees the Leafs play the Oilers, Flames and Canucks from December 14th-December 18th.
The Leafs make a bit of a longer road-trip in mid-January when they play the Thrashers, Sharks, Kings and Coyotes over the course of six days.
The Buds next so-called “home-stand” takes place all the way in March, when from the 10th to the 14th the Leafs will host the Lightning, the Sabres and defending Eastern Conference Champs, the Philadelphia Flyers.
The blue and white will close out the regular season against their most hated of rivals, facing off against all other four teams in their division once apiece in their last six games of the season.
The longest break from action will be five full days without hockey as the Leafs play the Atlanta Thrashers at the ACC on December the 20th and don’t pick up again until boxing day in New Jersey.
Ilya Kovalchuk Isn’t That Impossible
Jun 18th
With the Leafs having a forward core that’s been described as absolutely brutal, and one of the most pathetic that has ever graced the NHL from a team that wasn’t within its first 2-3 years of existence, there is a lot of hype over what Brian Burke will do with this roster that has promise for the future, but no zing for the now. People are undecided if the big move is going to happen via trade, or via free agency. Personally, I think we’re going to see a little bit of both. Do I have any idea whatsoever the results are going to be? No clue. But do I have any wants?
Absolutely. In fact, I have the biggest want, with my eyes entirely on the big prize. Specifically, I want the man who just might be the best free agent in NHL history, all factors considered (more on that later). Of course, I’m talking about #17 of the New Jersey Devils (you know him better as the only relavent thing the Atlanta Thrashers have had in years) Ilya Kovalchuk.
Now, I know what you’re thinking “Jeff, first off, best UFA ever? You’re crazy. Secondly, he’s going to want too much money, thirdly, he’s going to the KHL, fourth, Burke doesn’t want him, and five, why would he want to come here?”
All fair arguments. But I’m still going to try to squash them.
Captain Phaneuf! Finally something to cheer about
Jun 15th
After a few quiet months for the team during yet another year without playoff hockey, MLSE finally gave Leafs Nation something to get excited about. On Monday, a press conference was set up in order to unveil the team’s new jerseys, and it’s new captain. Dion Phaneuf was chosen to carry both the honour and responsibility of being the 18th captain in Maple Leaf’s history. He will have some very big shoes to fill, as that “C” has not been worn by anyone other than Mats Sundin since the late 1990’s. Mats was an excellent captain, and he truly was the heart and soul of this team for over a decade. Before him, came 2 other great captains in Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour, who truly “bled blue and white” during their time with the team. Phaneuf definitely has his work cut out for him, because the last few captains have been 3 of the most respected Maple Leafs players of all-time. If Phaneuf is half the leader that either of those 3 were then this is a great move for the franchise. I personally think he is up for the task, however, this move has caused a lot of mixed reactions from the media and fans. In fact, a lot of people see this as a bad move, and believe that he is not the right man for the job. Not only do some say that he is not fit to captain the Leafs, but they argue that he is one of the most overrated players in the NHL.
Leafs Changes Sinking In
Jun 15th
Leafs Fans have had a full day to let it all sink in…
A new team sweater, or at least an old one revised, and the 18th Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been officially unveiled. In natural fashion, fans are now left to ponder if any of these changes can transform an organization that is in desperate need of a turn around.
Unfortunately the Leafs new jerseys really cant do much in terms of helping them win games. I assume the hope is to harness whatever made the Leafs so great in the generation that wore a similar style. It seems a little superstitious to myself, thinking that your jersey can make you play different because you think of the old-timers that got the job done back in their glorious era.
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