After a full week off and the “reset button” pushed, the Leafs look to get win #1 on the road against Roberto Luongo and the Canucks.  Tonight starts the first of 7 games against teams that combined, have a winning percentage of 41%.  Definitely a different level of competition than their first 7 games who combined for a winning percentage of over 60% including the hottest teams in the league.

Tonights Leafs Line-Up

Forwards
Ponikarovsky Grabovski Blake
Stalberg Stajan Hagman
Mitchell Wallin Stempniak
Mayers Primeau Orr

Defence
Kaberle Komisarek
Beauchemin White
Exelby Schenn

Goalies
MacDonald
Reimer

LT

I switched back and forth quite a bit tonight on the drive home. Watters, Brady and Dreger was good. I have to say though, that Jeff Blair is growing on me as a co-host for Mccown. It is no surprise then that his article tonight on the Leafs, is your homework. We live in a hockey crazy market where the hiring of a new stickboy is big news. Some times we need to take a deep breath and relax, gain some perspective. Blair’s article tonight does that. I was talking to LT earlier when word started to circulate that Rick Nash may re-up with the Blue Jackets before becoming an UFA. There was panic in our brains as we started to try to figure out what the hell Burke would do if that were to happen. No Sedins, no Nash…P A N I C Truth is, we all now this is going to take time. Burke has just started, so let’s all breathe.

“Brian Burke owes Mike Gillis a debt of gratitude. In re-signing Henrik and Daniel Sedin, the Vancouver Canucks’ general manager might have saved Burke from undoing much of the good he did in a half-year as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs.”

I think the take away is that Burke has a plan and the Sedins would have been a quick fix. I hate to say it, but the renovation not rebuild that Bill Watters refers to all the time.

“But the twins are also a dynamic that makes Wilson’s job a little more difficult at a time when the Maple Leafs need to be as light as possible on their organizational feet.
The Sedins are not a bad gambit for a team on the cusp of a Stanley Cup, but a club like the Maple Leafs, which is gosh-how-many years away from realistically contending, would be better advised not to get locked into too many complicated situations.”

I know the argument, you add the Sedins and you should be closer to contending. Problem is the spare parts aren’t there just yet. Not by a long stretch.

“So don’t beat up Burke over “losing out” on the Sedins. Day 1 of free agency went pretty well. Colton Orr is a booty call for a guy like Burke. Mike Komisarek and Garnet Exelby mesh moxie with the physical aspects of their games and most importantly ensure that when Tomas Kaberle is moved, those minutes will be divvied up among defencemen with an NHL pedigree. Minutes are hockey’s version of innings pitched.”

I think that’s right. Players are assets, Move them around to maximize value and return. That isn’t always easy to do. The other key that Blair doesn’t mention is giving kids the minutes they need to become seasoned. Schenn played a lot last year because he was able to do so in an environment where he could afford to learn, to make mistakes. I say it all the time, you can’t suck and blow. It’s hard to grow kids when you are expected to win every night.

“Komisarek will be useful to the Maple Leafs while they’re rebuilding and when (if) they are contending. He is precisely the kind of player who stays healthy and has a skill set that will ensure he does not become surplus to requirements for this management team. And his contract is hardly onerous, especially if the salary cap stays north of $50-million (all currency U.S.) in 2010-11 as some now expect instead of falling as low as $46-million to $48-million.”

I think that is yet be seen, but no this isn’t a head scratcher as other deals have been.

“You can debate all you want about whether Burke over-reached going into the draft when he said he wanted to get John Tavares. I thought it was good, clean fun, a no-autopsy, no-foul thing. It was apparent from Burke’s face during the draft that Brayden Schenn was the player he wanted, and my sense is that for all the nudge-nudge, wink-wink with the Sedins and that flight to Stockholm, Burke’s target all along during the free-agent season has been goaltender Jonas Gustavsson.”

We won’t know the answer to that until at least Burke is gone. I am having a hard time thinking he jumped on a plane over to see the Sedins only to then learn they weren’t available. We have been sold that he tight with these guys, there agent had to have known he was getting on a plane if the intent was to sell them on the leafs. Gustavvson signs here, it was a trip well worth it. If not, the prices of beers at the ACC will go up a quarter to pay for it. Scuttlebutt is that if he wanted Brayden Schenn he could have had him for Kaberle.. Hard to believe if he is peddling Kaberle now that he didn’t get Schenn.

“That’s how Burke ought to be judged this summer: depth on defence and in goal, something that gives his team a chance to steal a few games while it gets a better read on the likes of Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson. Don’t pay attention to what Burke says. Pay attention to what he does.”

Bingo, perspective. Enough said.

TSM

Follow me on twitter at @yyzsportsmedia

Blair is here

“

Jeopardy answer, three guys who have never eaten in my kitchen!

The post was going to start with how things were pretty tame today, financially speaking until all hell broke out and the dumb money started to flow. All and all it has been a wild free agent frenzy. Contrary to what hockey’s most famous prognosticator predicted, there were far more than 15 moves today. Teams were busy with a capital B. It may not have been the flood of activity that some predicted, but rather a constant dribble and then a huge dinner time rush and it’s been steady all night.

No, I don’t work for Twitter, but I can tell you that it was the tool of choice at the 2nd annual TSM NHL FA pool party. There is nothing out there that can keep you connected with more info in one place.

The day started with the Lightning making a big splash, Ohlund for silly money and term. Have no fear though, once the bolts cowboys go belly up this deal will be someone else’s problem. Word also broke that the Sedins were not in play as they took the Canucks money and ran.

Funny thing about that was that we later learned that Mr. Burke has jumped a plane to meet with the boys in Sweden the minute the clock struck 12:00 over here:

“Burke, you see, flew overnight from Boston to Frankfurt and then on to Stockholm today with bold, ambitious plans to make a face-to-face offer to Henrik and Daniel Sedin today in Sweden but was thwarted in the final minutes before the free agent season opened when the identical Swedish twins signed new five-year deals averaging $6.1 million per season just before noon EST with the Vancouver Canucks.

When Burke’s flight hit the tarmac in Stockholm, he got that bad news, and found that defenceman Mattias Ohlund, another potential free agent target, had signed with Tampa Bay.

Armed with lots of MLSE money and acres of precious salary cap space, Burke targeted the 28-year-old identical twins – Henrik is six minutes older than Daniel – as his No. 1 free agency priority. All signs suggested the Sedins would try free agency, but a last ditch offer by Vancouver GM Mike Gillis on Monday apparently was enough to meet their demands.

The Leafs probably would have been willing to go higher on salary, perhaps as high as $7 million per twin, but the talented brothers clearly wanted to stay on the west coast and opted not to entertain other offers.”

Ouch…all the way there and to walk away with ….

“The Leaf GM, meanwhile, could now use the trip to take another shot at convincing Swedish free agent goalie Jonas Gustavsson, who is at home in Sweden right now, to join the Leafs.

“That is going to be an exercise in persistence,” said Burke, who has made two trips to Europe in the past three months to try and convince Gustavsson to pick the Leafs over the Stars, Avalanche and Sharks.”

Ah yes, when in Rome…..

So no Sedins to help make a quick fix now what?

Well, his first move was signing Colton Orr. Who clearly has the truculence that Burke has spoken of wanting on many occasions. Why do I like this deal? Simple, 4 years, 1 million per. In the grand scheme of things it’s irrelevant. No one will ever say, OH the contract they gave Orr, what an albatross! For what he is, it’s a good deal.

“- Gotta love Brian Burke. His first signing is Colton Orr, giving the fighter a four-year deal worth $4 million. He immediately gives the Leafs the heavyweight Burke needs. Wonder what this does to the market for Chris Neil? It’ll take all of one shift for Orr to become a fan favorite in Toronto.”

That from Craig Custance.(As for Neil, stupid term and money).

Damien who is enjoying strawberries over in London dropped a minor bombshell on twitter in saying that not only had the Leafs signed Orr- but they also had traded (yes, past tense) Pavel Kubina… Talk about Tweet and Beat..

Well it took several hours, but later it was revealed that indeed Kubina was off to Atlanta and the rights to Tim Stapleton to the Atlanta Thrashers, for hard-hitting defenceman Garnet Exelby and youngster Colin Stuart. This move dumped about $2 million off the bud’s books and ads a fairly nasty defenceman to the roster.

Perspective is a wonderful thing. The Atlanta papers headline screamed, Thrashers Acquire Standout Defenceman. Now how many here would say that about Kubina? The Atlanta take on Exelby:

“Exelby, 27, played all six of his NHL seasons with the Thrashers after they selected him in the eighth round of the 1999 draft. The fan-favorite defenseman appeared in 59 games last season with seven assists.
“I’m disappointed to have to trade one of my favorite players in Garnet Exelby,” Waddell said. “He did everything we’ve ever asked of him. … When you make a deal and get a good player, you have to give something good back.”

Then, several minutes later it was announced that Burke dipped a bigger toe into the free agency pool, coming home with Mike Komisarek. It’s a 5 year deal worth 4.5m per year against the cap. According to TSN the deal also”includes a limited no-trade clause. Every September, Komisarek will be asked by Toronto to submit a list of 12 teams he would accept a trade to. This will allow Toronto to control his contract in the event things don’t work out the way both sides anticipate they will.

USA Today’s Kevin Allen listed this as one of the day’s best moves:

“Brian Burke signs Mike Komisarek to be one of the foundation blocks of the “new look” Toronto Maple Leafs. He was born to play for Burke. He’s a big shutdown defender who will fight and use his size and strength.”

A league executive told me tonight that Komisarek is good. This a move that will gets lots of play (hey it’s Toronto!) but Komisarek is a bit overrated. He is better than Finger for sure, but not as good as the hype.

The Globe’s take so far:

“So instead Burke signed hard-hitting rearguard Mike Komisarek and moved out veteran defenceman Pavel Kubina and his team-high salary of $5-million (all currency U.S.) in a trade with the Atlanta Thrashers for rugged blueliner Garnet Exelby.”

This, right now leaves the D as follow:

Kaberle/Komisarek
White/Schenn
Exelby/Finger
Stralman

Word is around tonight that Van Ryn won’t back next season in one way or another, hence his omission.

Where to now? Wel, several guru’s tell me that while the Kessel/ Kaberle talk haven’t formerly restarted they would be stunned if that deal doesn’t get done in the near future. The leafs do need someone to score some goals, I have heard the name Chad LaRose a couple of times and the Canes have said the are ready to move on from him. I still think he will pick up forward toughness to match his d toughness. He has lots of coin to spend and said he will spend it.

Are we better today? No idea, we certainly are a different team for sure. Tougher and still can’t score goals.

Wild day, that ends with the teammate killer not making up his wind and sticking the Sens with a 4 million bonus payout. Gotta love the character of Danny Heatley.

More tomorrow for sure

TSM

follow me on twitter at @yyzsportsmedia

craig custance is here
AJC is here

Well friends, it’s that time of year again. Time for our GM to check his list and go shopping. Yes, it’s the proverbial Thursday after American Thanksgiving for NHL GM’s. For us Leaf fans it is also what has been one of the few days to get excited about. So I turn to you again, and ask, what are you expecting? I don’t necessarily mean in terms of players, but what is it you want Burke to do? What is the goal? How should we judge him? Unfortunately, from my perspective, Burke has misspoken again, by saying that he will spend to the cap. Why is this a mistake? For two reasons primarily, one, I don’t care how much he spends as long as he builds the team properly. Don’t go overpay just to spend to the cap. I have much for patience for smart contracts than I do for dumb ones. Secondly, cap space is worth GOLD. Why go out and blow it now? If everyone is only mostly right (as opposed to mostly dead) and the cap only goes down slightly next year as opposed to dramatically, isn’t it still better to have lots of room to maneuver? Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t so much like last year when the battle cry was wait till 2 years. I think we got our Burke day present early and this is now his team.

So, here is what I am thinking. I would like things to be a little more clear in net than they were last year. I for one never was a huge fan of Toskala. I said when JFJ traded for him that it was another desperate move by a desperate GM. So an upgrade in net would be nice for me. I am also a big believer in trading assets when they are at their peak and also never losing assets for nothing. For that reason I think it would be in Burke’s best interest to move both of Kaberle and Kubina. I think therefore his attention should be on a stud pointman and some good strong tough d as well. Upfront more jam is needed and few guys with some hands. I know I am not overly popular with this but I don’t know why you go spend 12m on the twins, but as I say too often there are smarter folks out there who think this is a no brainer.

It was suggested to me that with a few brush strokes it is not beyond the realm of possibility that Burke could sign the Sedin twins, Beauchemin and trade Kaberle for Kesse and than also have the Monster in place. Would you be elated with that? If not that, what is it you want? How should we judge Burke? What do we want from our team this year?

For my 2 cents, I am certain of one thing. If they are going to be tooth and nail to make the playoffs, I would rather they shit the bed all over again. I’d rather be dead in the water than be in no man’s land again. In that regard, I would rather see Burke, spend really smart, retain as much cap space as possible and let the kids play. If he thinks he can really turn this around smartly and not mortgage his ability to make the right moves down the road, than I can live with that too. I won’t be crushed if they make the playoffs. I will be pretty fucking pissed if they finish 3 points out of it though. I would like to see him get out from some contracts, move some guys who are otherwise not going to be resigned and get value for those guys who are at their peak in terms of value.

The emphasis should be on building the franchise. Creating the right atmosphere, and getting players who make everyone around them better. No one in the boat who isn’t rowing the same way. I don’t care about what comes out of Burke’s mouth nearly as much as what comes from his fax machine and PR department. Show me, Brian, don’t tell me. Talk is cheap. Don’t tell me you are going to be active. Be active. Don’t talk about John Tavares, go get John Tavares (figuratively speaking).

I am not the least bit surprised that he tendered an offer to Justin Pogge. Why the hell wouldn’t he? There is nothing to lose. I mean, let your new goalie guru take a shot at him and if he still can’t play you have lost some cash. No brainer.

So, leaf fans, spill it…what do you want, and how do we judge BB?

TSM

Let’s assume Burke could sign them for $5.5m each a year for 4 years. Would you do it?

An informal poll of Leaf fans has shown that those of us opposed to the Sedin twins joining the Buds outnumbers those in favor almost unanimously. I don’t think I have seen one comment by a fan or fellow blogger who is in support of such a move. Everything I have heard is that the twins are as good as guaranteed to come to Toronto. Look for the two of them to eat up anywhere from 10-13 of next years cap. Now, who the hell am I to be telling you what I hear? I know….Others are starting to bang the same drum:

“I have been warned by several impressive sources not to underestimate Brian Burke’s resolve in pursuing the Swedish twins he drafted to the Vancouver Canucks almost 10 years ago. Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin can become unrestricted free agents on July 1st if the Canucks do not re-sign them, and hockey fans in British Columbia are justifiably anxious to see whether or not their team can afford its two best offensive players. If the twins are on the market when the free agent sweepstakes begin, Burke is likely to be front and center on behalf of the Maple Leafs.”

I know it’s only Howie, but if a nobody like me is hearing loud drumbeats I can only imagine what a real insider is hearing…..

““He has to go after them,” one of hockey’s most recognizable faces told me Friday at the United Center, prior to Chicago’s overtime victory against Detroit in Game 3 of the Western Conference final. “The Leafs are one of the few teams that will have the money this summer to accommodate the Sedins and Burke is being smart by talking about making the playoffs next year. This is the type of big-time move he has to make.”

I don’t understand that logic at all. Yes the Leafs will be one of the few teams with cap space but why blow it on these two guys? Why does he have to go after them? I would rather he stay the course and build this thing properly than go this route. I don’t understand for the life of me why this move makes sense.

“The conversation occurred one night after a hockey executive in Pittsburgh told me Burke is “salivating” over the chance to bring the offensive spark of the Sedins to Toronto.”

If Burke is looking to alienate himself from Leaf fans I suspect this is the way to do it. From my perspective, regardless of their talent level they are not the type of guy that Leaf fans will get excite over. I for one wouldn’t go to a game to see them. If it happens, I will be the first to say I hope I am wrong, but I don’t believe these two guys are the the building blocks this team needs.

“The pre-game discussion here in Chicago also touched on veteran goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who lost his starting role to Jonas Hiller during Anaheim’s playoff push this spring. “Burke might take a look at him,” I was told. “Bringing in a proven goalie is a lot different than going after a prospect from Sweden” — the latter reference, of course, pertaining to free agent netminder Jonas Gustavsson of Swedish Elite team Farjestad, who several teams, including the Maple Leafs, have recently pursued.”

Oh my….Can you imagine the lack of excitement going into the Leafs pre-season as the Toronto Maple Caducks prepare for another season. Leaf fans, am I the only one who would be scratching your head should these rumors come to fruition????? If Burke heads down this rumored path I think the Burke honeymoon could be ended much sooner than anyone predicted. Ask yourselves this, would you rather a quick fix to a playoff spot or a slow rebuild with franchise type players wearing blue and white, which could mean another season without the playoffs in Toronto. Don’t know about you, but I would rather be on the sidelines for another year and get this thing right then see a quick fix, shopping sprees done this off season.

Berger is here

By the way, our Toronto Blue Jays are now in a slump 0-5 in their last 5 games. Keep sharp objects away from a certain Jays Fan and Toronto blogger.

TSM

It’s late, but I got a call late this evening from someone who told me the identical thing that I got from a Toronto media media member earlier tonight, word for word:

“The Sedins will be here (In Toronto). They are done with Mike Gillis and his head games.”

You know I am not in favour. All I am saying is that 2 different credible sources sent the EXACT same thing tonight.

Keep praying that they are wrong….

TSM

Back from Detroit. Fuuny, I didn’t get much of a feeling for how gung ho Red Wing mania is there this time. I spent almost the entire weekend in downtown Detroit and didn’t see anything Red Wing related at all. I actually heard a radio ad today for Red Wing playoff tickets..  If you ever go to Detroit, by the way, there is a great new hotel downtown.  Westin has redone the old Book Cadilac Hotel and I can tell you, the rates are very reasonable and the hotel AMAZING.  So if you want to go see the Wings, Lions or Tigers…check it out.

In any event… here is a review of the things I am seeing tonight:

Pierre LeBrun on the Hot Stove last night offered up his opinion that the Isles may be souring on John Tavares, and starting to think about not wanting JT as this years prize for finishing dead last.

“In the last couple of weeks there have been rumblings coming out of Long Island … and suddenly it’s not a sure bet, according to these rumbling, that Garth Snow will take John Tavares as we’ve been led to believe all along, I’m told the Lightning would immediately go to Toronto’s table and say ‘Alright, Brian, we’re open for business. We want Kaberle and Luke Schenn.”

Now, LeBrun did say, that in talking to a Leaf source he was nearly laughed off the phone, and this is only one person’s opinion. Let’s just say again, it is going to be very interesting leading up to the draft.

We here in the Great White North are fortunate enough to see all the Caps v Pens action. In the USA- not so much. At least not everywhere:

“According to sources, the NHL made approximately $3 million last year out of its profit-sharing arrangement with NBC. That’s $3 million, total, or $100,000 per team. Not even Phoenix needs that, not when the NHL’s signature series is all but shut out by the NBC, not when there’s no ESPN to showcase it. Do Bettman and the NBC people mean to say that there was no way a potential Game 5 of Ovechkin-Crosby — it’s only LeBron against Kobe, Magic against Bird, Tiger against Phil, Arnie against Jack, Brady against Manning — onto the network in prime time next Saturday night in place of all those “Law and Orders” that run ’round the clock? Does Bettman recognize what’s being lost here by not having the ESPN brand behind this dream matchup that will, in fact, be imaginary to scads of potential viewers. Here it is, Ovechkin vs. Crosby, the Caps vs. the Penguins, and it’s being played in the dark.”

Larry Brooks is 100 right on this one. Bettman Inc. has based his entire regime on 2 issues. Cost certainty and growth in the USA. Growth in the USA will never, never come with a television deal like the current one in place. With the economy in the shitter, I don’t see how the owners are willing to live with this television deal.

You know how much I love me them Sedins. I have said it repeatedly, and I know I may be alone, but I don’t want them on the Buds. Kevin Paul Dupont lists about 7.5 million reasons why I don’t:

“Their deal in Vancouver paid each of the Sedins $3.75 million this season. They easily will average upward of $6 million each on their next contract, and given that they won’t turn 29 until September, they might persuade someone to cough up, say, $90 million over six years, averaging out to $7.5 million per Sedin. A cap hit of $15 million is high, but as Detroit showed with deals for Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen, a couple of “soft” years can be tacked on to the back end, possibly lowering the cap figure for each to slightly below $6.5 million. All of a sudden, someone has themselves a latter-day version of Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson (young readers, please consult “Total Hockey,” 1978 Rangers).”

God, please tell me Burke isn’t going to blow the cap on these 2 guys….

Steve Simmons had a couple of beauties in today’s Sun. The first is a rarity. The Leafs getting defended in the local media.:

“But the sequence of events needs to be re-examined: 1) The Leafs waived Wellwood in June of last year; 2) Vancouver claimed him and signed him in early July; 3) The Canucks placed Wellwood on waivers in mid-October and sent him to Manitoba; 4) Every team in the NHL passed on Wellwood, even though he was earning less than $1 million US per season; 5) After recalling Wellwood, the Canucks scratched him from a number of games this season, even though he was not injured. To recap: The Leafs didn’t want him. The Canucks didn’t believe in him. The rest of the National Hockey League wasn’t interested. Goes to show that sometimes everybody can be wrong, at least over the short term. The Canucks were willing to spend $20 million on Mats Sundin and wound up with a more effective player for a fraction of that cost.”

I just love the morons who try to shit on the Leafs for cutting Wellwood. Just because a guy shows some promise elsewhere doesn’t mean that the team that gave him up was wrong for doing so. Making such a claim is more pathetic then giving up the player in question, by a long shot.

“I’m starting to hate myself because I’m starting to like some of the things J.P. Ricciardi has done. Nobody drafted before Aaron Hill is better than him. Marco Scutaro is tearing it up. Ricky Romero, before going on the disabled list, looked legit. It doesn’t exactly make up for the contracts given to Frank Thomas, Vernon Wells and Eric Hinske but what looked to be the end for J.P. is starting to finally look like a beginning”

These Jays are interesting. They lose a series to Kansas City and lots of folks, my included think and say, here we go, the beginning of the end. Yet then the O’s come to town and the Jays take the broom to them. It says here that the Jays should go get an arm and reward the guys for the amazing start. Be prepared for those lean days ahead…

Good Sunday night- talk on Monday.

TSM

Ho hum, another season gone. Man did it go fast. Not much drama either. Now the fun begins. If only there was going to be as much turnover in sports media as there appears to be in the TML!

Here’s a round up of what I am reading, hearing and seeing on this cold, but sunny Fall, I mean Spring day:

Quote of the day comes from Adrian Dater, the awesome Colorado Avalanche beat writer and blogger:

“The whispers are starting in earnest, that former Avs winger Eric Lacroix could be the next GM of the Avalanche. Other than having no previous experience at the job at the NHL level, I can’t think of anything that should disqualify him for the job. Hey, why not? When your dad is still the team president, and you’ve spent the last year as a scout with the Phoenix Coyotes, watching every Avs game at the Pepsi Center as part of the job, and spent the previous couple of years in the front office of a minor-league team in Phoenix, why shouldn’t that get you a job running an NHL team?”

Gotta love walking into a new gig with those paid to critique you already taking jabs (and appropriately so). I love that Strachan has this as a done deal on what has become the Satellite Hot Stove. Is anyone else out there pissed that our hard earned tax dollars can’t do any better then the collective morons they put on what used to be the best segment of hockey talk every week? Who the hell is running that show?? Talk about a need for a mandatory review!

You can read Dater’s piece(not peace) here.

Funny how much of a homer Larry Brooks has become. His column used to be a good read. Lately it has become tired, boring and so predictable. Get a load of this crap:

“Speaking of making sense, there is nothing more absurd in sports than the NHL’s revenue-sharing system, under which the Maple Leafs, the league’s wealthiest and most profitable franchise, get a rebate check worth between $4-4.5 million because the rest of the teams’ combined payrolls created an excess of escrow money. The Maple Leafs did not come close to spending at the $56.7M cap, coming in at an approximate $49M. They invested, what, maybe 40 percent of their hockey-related revenue on payroll, yet they will get a refund because other teams invested up to 65 percent of their income on players? That would be tantamount to the Yankees getting revenue-share money from MLB because the Royals, Pirates, Marlins and Rockies went on a spending spree.”

Know this sports fans, if Glen Sather had done the same thing, Brooks’s lips would return to Sather’s ass to lay a big smackeroo right where his lips usually are. I say it a million times, bash the buds where they deserve it (there is lots of ammunition). How funny that the guy who was the police of the hockey writers has become a total shill for the home team. Dare I say Howard Berger has become more objective then this jackass. Seriously, I wonder if Brooks’ bedroom is adorned with photo’s of Sean Avery, Glen Sather and Bob Goodenow. Oh wait, I forgot, his favorite Ranger player of all time Bobby Holik, whom he lobbied for 975 straight columns for the Rangers to acquire. Dominic Hasek, that big hulking goalie once beat the pulp out of a hockey writer (the horror). I would love to see Brooks in a elevator or dark alley with Brian Burke!

You can read the rest of Brooks dribble here, including this gem, which you can discuss amongst yourselves” Oh, like Brian Burke wasn’t going to have Ron Wilson coaching the 2010 US Olympic Team?”

This is bad i know, but I can’t resist. What do you call soon to be new Maple Leaf goalie (I hope) The Monster prior to his first NHL appearance?

The Green Monster!

Proof is in the pudding:

” And he has a warning for those who plan to be on hand: Don’t feel too secure. “I keep hearing and reading about the 17 players we have under contract for next season,” Burke said the other day. “Well, those 17 had better not get too comfortable. “I’m not afraid to buy guys out. And I won’t hesitate to send guys to the minors if they have a poor camp. “I will do whatever it takes to do make this team better.”

I am not saying he won’t do it. I am just saying talking is one thing. Doing quite another. I hope the talk gets backed up, I really do.

Making a list and checking it twice:
“We plan to be quite aggressive in free agency,” he said. Burke can’t speculate on potential targets. So we’ll do it for him.Don’t be surprised if he makes a hard pitch for the Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik. It was Burke, then the GM of the Vancouver Canucks, who wheeled and dealed himself into position to pick the highly skilled brothers at the 1999 entry draft. To this point, there is no certainty that the twins will re-sign with the Canucks.Florida Panthers defenceman Jay Bouwmeester also is likely to be coveted by the Leafs. There have been suggestions that Bouwmeester, a Prairie boy at heart, might favour the Alberta-based teams, however. Sens tough guy Chris Neil and Calgary Flames forward Mike Cammalleri are among the other possibilities. All the while, Burke understands the salary cap will likely drop in future seasons. A recent report suggested Burke would not go over $6 million US for any player.”

I know I am in the minority here. 2 thumbs down on the Sedins. Thumbs up on Neil and Jay Bo (but he aint going to sign here). If he gets the twins, I will be happy to eat crow should I be wrong, but I am not a big fan of dumping a boat load of cash on either or both of these guys.

Tie Who?

File this one under whatever happened to.. I ran into Tie Domi at SportingLife on Yonge street yesterday. The former bud and fan favorite used to be a huge drawer of crowds wherever he would go. There he was with huge Sean Avery sunglasses on, (may as well have been a neon sign saying LOOK AT ME), without anyone caring. He even took off the shades at one point, glances around the packed store (50% of shoes draws a crowd!) and again no one looked back, let alone ask for an autograph. Better yet, when I told Mrs. TSM that Tie Domi was in the story, 2 guys overheard me and said in unisen “WHO CARES”….ouch!

All Class:

I took the family over to the North Toronto Arena yesterday to see if Mike Toth was hanging out eating hot dogs. No really, my nephew’s team was playing in the Atom AA Ontario Tourney that was being held at the local arena. Red Kelly’s grandson was playing as well and he was sitting in the row behind us. My Father in law, the world’s biggest sports fan, as long as the sports are in Detroit, couldn’t help himself but chatting up with the 8 (yes time Stanley Cup winner. Kelly, was the proud wearer of one of Mike Illitch’s new Stanley Cup rings that the current red wing over gave to players who won cups with the wings but never received rings for their efforts. While one game was being played on the North Toronto ice surface, another appeared to be played on Kelly’s ring too! Kudos to Kelly and his wife who chatted up my father in law for the better part of 10 minutes. Mrs. Kelly was STUNNED when my father in law knew her name…classic. The best part, and I can’t make this up was after the game, Kelly walked over to us and congratulated us on my newphew winning the game MVP award for his team. It doesn’t get any classier then that!

On A Sad Note:

I write this with a heavy heart today folks. In only a few short hours I will go put on my Sunday’s best and pay tribute to a great man. My great uncle passed away the other night at the young age of 85. The only reason that I share this here (not hear) is that there is little question in my mind that my love for sports and hockey can be traced back to him. As a younger man he somehow found himself in the constant company of the Stanley Cup winning Toronto Maple Leafs on a personal level. While I was too young to remember it, as a young boy he would take me and my brothers and cousins in to the buds dressing room to meet all the guys. He lived, at one point the dream many of us would have killed for. He used to travel with the team on the road. Those of the players who are still around, he still called friends today. Playing golf and cards with them on many a Saturday and Sunday afternoons. While he often fell asleep watching the games, I am not sure he ever missed a leaf, raptor or jays game if it were televised. Every time I talked to him, I was fortunate enough to hear the tales of his trips to see games in all of the major sports in eras where the athletes were true heroes. I was lucky enough to have dinner with him the night before he died. He sat at the table and told me how he used to take his son to New York to see the likes of Jim Brown and OJ Simpson run the ball (“can you believe they would rush for over 200 yards a game alone in snow?”). Each time I saw him a new story was told, different then anyone I have ever heard before. Each time, me like a 6 year old boy soaking in each and every one in as if I where actually there with him. A bombastic man he was, I am not sure a greater sports fan ever lived. An early riser, in the office at 4:30, 5am, he used to call it a night pretty early. 2 years ago he called in a favor to one of his buddies and scored us a pair of Jays tickets, first row above the Yankees dugout. It was the game that went the distance when Vernon Wells hit a walk off home run. The game ended late that night. Way passed his bed time. He sat there with me that night telling a million stories while he took in the game. We stayed till the end that night and I tell you no one screamed louder when Wells hit the ball out that night. Last season he was unable to go to the game, but of course secured the same pair for the same game and gave them to me. The next morning I called to thank him again for the tickets and of course he had watched on tv. As I left dinner the other night, totally unaware that it would be the last time I would ever see him alive, he said to me, “don’t worry, I will get those tickets this year…we’re going again.” Always the best of intentions, always wanting and willing to share the experience. Why with me directly, I do not know. I am such the better person for them, and I will remember him always. I think this year, when the Yanks come to town I will take little TSM in his honor.

Have a good Sunday…

Here’s your bikini of the day from bikinibeat.org:

“In four months, both brothers may be available as 28-year-old unrestricted free agents, two point-a-game players that could instantly take the Leafs from also-ran status to that of a playoff team.At that point, few would blame the Leafs if they said, “Screw patience and the five-year plan. Let’s get better now.” Each currently makes $3.75 million (all figures U.S.) under deals signed in 2006 by former Vancouver GM Dave Nonis, now Burke’s right-hand man in Toronto. Each twin reportedly wants $7 million. And that’s where the Leafs’ interest tails off.”

That’s right. A little common sense may finally have arrived in the GM’s office at the ACC. In years past one could assume that the buds would way overpay for players like the Sedins. The Leafs have become notorious for overpaying free agents. I think Cox is bang on in his assessment of the Burke plan. He won’t overpay for anyone, at least not yet. There is no reason to.

“The guess is they only land in Toronto at Burke’s price, not as beneficiaries of a wild bidding war.”

Not that I don’t like the brothers. I just don’t want to overpay for them at this point.

Enjoy the game tonight.

Anyone else going to the game vs. the Caps? If so happy to meet up for a pop before or after.

Looking for Maple Leafs tickets the rest of the way? Look no further…