College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

It may have taken 15 games, but the Toronto Maple Leafs finally…won at home. They look to make it two in a row as they face the Minnesota Wild tonight. In fact the Leafs picked up their first W at home since April 11 when they dummy-ed the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 on Saturday night. Toronto got fantastic performance from goaltender Jonas Gustavsson. The Monster turned aside 35 shots en route to his third win of the season. Expect Gustavsson to be between the pipes tonight. Saturday night was full of firsts for the Leafs. Of course there was the first home win, forwards Phil Kessel and Wayne Primeau notched their first goals in the blue and while and d-man Jeff Finger scored his first goal of the year. Toronto has collected points in seven straight games and hopes to take advantage of a Minnesota team that struggles on the road. In nine games away from home, the Wild are 1-8.

Last night’s game with the Ducks was a breakout for many Maple Leaf players. Hagman and Kaberle come to mind as obvious choices. Clearly the monster allowed the Buds to relax a little enroute to 11 power plays. It is not going to be easy if they have to rely on 11 powerplays every night to win a game. I am pretty sure that the Maple Leafs out of the first period were just under 10 minutes in time with the man advantage.

So with a few guys appearing, at least for night to get their game on, there is one guy who just clearly is out of it. His play, for lack of a better word, sucks. That would be none other than whipping boy Jason Blake. Forget for a small second the amount of cash he is earning. Forget the number of years he is playing and just look at the stats through the first several games. Through 9 games he has 1 goal, 2 assists, he is a -7 with 6 penalty minutes and 31 shots on net. At this pace he should be thanking everyone alive if he gets close to 20 goals this year let alone the 25 he had last year. It has become more and more apparent that the guy simply can’t play. He looked totally lost and disinterested throughout the entire game last night. Talk about a guy destined to play for the Marlies right now. I can’t for the life of me understand why Burke hasn’t followed through on his promise to bury guys who aren’t performing irrespective of their contract. Here is a guy who makes big bucks for no, not little, no bang. There has to be someone down on the farm who can produce as well as he can with a small percentage of the salary cap hit.

As demoralizing as it can be for a team to have a goalie let in easy shot after easy shot, it has to be equally as troubling to see a guy as untalented as Blake is get 12-16 minutes per game. Hell Luke Schenn has seen his ice time rocked back under 10 minutes and this clown is nearly averaging 15? Schenn’s a rookie. Enough is enough Brian, swallow hard, bite the bullet and bury JFJ’s wonder boy. Perhaps, not likely you can do something with him on re-entry waivers. Blake is totally ineffective offensively. He is a liability defensively. And to top it off he makes a lot of money.

All of those things to me scream of demotion. So far, in this respect Burke has yet to walk the walk. He has said he would do it. We are just waiting for him to do it. Let’s hope that Blake is the first to go, setting an example of the others who are out there floating.

@yyzsportsmedia

So yesterday you read the post about how the Maple Leafs won’t make the playoffs. Today, I am here to tell you why they will make it. A slam dunk? Hell no. However I think the pieces are in place to get this team to the MLSE payday. Here is why:

First and foremost, the Dream Tream. Burke and his disciples have been at this for long enough in their current roles. This is Burke’s team now and he and the rest of his management team will find a way. These guys know what they are doing, they know what they have and they know how to acquire what they need. The Leafs actually have a hockey department which they haven’t since, well since EVER. Does this mean a cup? No, no cup, but it does mean there should be results.

Next there is accountability and attitude. The Mats Sundin/Tie Domi country club appears to be closed. Wilson and Burke will not allow the players to hide anymore. Losing doesn’t appear to be acceptable anymore.

The additions to the lineups are obvious. Did they add the best players in the league? Maybe not. However the Leafs now have something they haven’t had in years, depth. Their defence from top to bottom should be amongst the best in the league. Consider Luke Schenn. Where does he fit in? There are bodies ahead of him who are going to be getting a lot more ice time than him this season simply because of depth. Up front there are more character players who will help create the type of style Burke want’s his team to play. The younger guys like Stalberg will be fun to watch and he has surrounded them with quality people who play the game the right way.

Goaltending, the coach can’t play, but hopefully he can help those who do. Toskala is in put up or shut up mode. Either he is a number one goalie or he isn’t. If he returns to form from 2 years ago, the Leafs will be in great shape. The Monster seems to have the tools to be a much more reliable backup then Cujo. With the defensive core around them, playing net should be a little bit easier than last year. Now they maybe killing more penalties than in years past, however I think their goaltending will be much improved.

The number one reason the Leafs will make the playoffs is in the numbers. Eight teams make the playoffs. The Leafs finished 12th. 4 teams finished ahead of them. Who makes up the top 8? Well, Pittsburgh and Washington appear to be the closest things to locks. Boston and Philadelphia round out the top 4. New Jersey always seems to make the playoffs and so far there is no reason that I can see that this changes this year. Carolina did well under Mo towards the end of last year so they too will be in the running. So there you have your top 6. That leaves 2 playoff spots left and the pack to fight for them. I refuse to think that the Isles will be all that much better this year. Tampa and Atlanta are crap shoots at best. I am willing to go out on a limb that the Leafs will have at least an equal season to last year. I find it hard to fathom that the three teams who finished behind them will improve enough to pass them. Ottawa traded away Heatley. How much of a cancer was he in the room? Will there be a positive effect or a negative one in having him in San Jose. I am thinking they continue their decline. I am not sure there is team in the league that I am less impressed with their off season than Buffalo. I think Buffalo nose dives this off season. I am not thrilled with the moves the Panthers made either, I don’t see them making the playoffs again this season. Jay Bo was a horse and they haven’t replaced him. That leaves Montreal and the Rangers. I don’t like the moves the Habs made this off season at all. I think they are going to have a tough time getting back to last seasons mark. The Rangers on the other hand should be able to hold ground. I think they did just enough to remain in the hunt.

So as we get closer to the deadline I think Burke will be able to add the pieces needed to get the team to the money making round. I think the addition of Kessel will be a huge moral booster for the Maple Leafs. The pieces may not be there now, but I think they will be. I think there are enough quality guys on the pharm to push those on the big club that they will keep the team moving forward. A lock? No. A team that is interesting as hell to watch this season? For sure. Intriguing will be the word I think we use a lot to talk about the Leafs.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Greetings from the Windy city. I can tell you there are no signs of a recession here. Every place I walked by tonight was hoping! I mean lined up out the door. Here are a couple of quick hits for you…

Leafs home opener is tomorrow, exhibition I realize. Is this not the free game? In a town where everything is really expensive and we rip the hell out of MLSE, why isn’t more being said about the game being free? I don’t care what a sponsor is paying, people will be able to get in for nothing. That’s a big deal. We shit on them for their bad actions, kudos to the good.

So, when did our beloved media experts become doctors too? I know they are all business experts, lawyers and now they are doctors? Jonas Gustavsson has a heart procedure and all hell breaks loose (not lose). I mean really, let’s go down to Howard Berger for reaction????? This isn’t a knock on Berger, but let’s hear from, oh, I don’t know someone who actually knows what the hell they are talking about. Same goes for Ron Wilson. Where is the trainer, the team doctor, hell the guy who did the procedure? It’s bad enough when a sportswriter used to cover complex business issues. Then it was complex legal issues. Now, it’s medical issues. Talk about trying to start a fire… the headlines on the Star’s website you would have thought Jonas had a Monster bypass! The fan had it as their lead story- that ended with he is expected to be away for 48 hours. 48 hours?????? Are you kidding me????? ?No offense, but wake me when their is news.

So birdies are chirping that we are going to see some sizeable differences in the ratings book when they come out soon. Keep in mind they are mostly irrelevant as they were over the summer months, and let’s not review how bad radio was in this town this summer. But, I am told that with younger demo’s the Bill Watters show actually may have gained on PTS. I would say Mccown’s show, if he had been there more than he was away, maintained a solid lead in the more traditional target bracket, but in the younger demo apparently Wilbur (or should we say Hayes) apparently kicked some but. Furthermore, we are told that the Fan morning show maintained its status as well. We should have more info and real numbers later.

True story, people were talking Chicago Blackhawks hockey in the hotel bar tonight. To be fair, the conversation started with cab gate, but in the end there was actual hockey discussion. There are not too many US cities where I think we can say that.

I have no clue whether or not this is factually based, but an unusually high number of people have pegged Donald Fehr for some sort of role with the NHLPA. Now, doesn’t that give you the warm and fuzzies. Word around camps by the way is that Matt Stajan was one of the loudest voices on the can Paul Kelly witch hunt. Am I the only person who remembers a time where teams actually frowned on players being active in their union.

Missed Mike Hogan the last couple of days? Word is that he has a back injury. Get well soon Mike, clearly carrying the Argo bandwagon on your shoulders has taken a toll.

Golick, Goldberg and Young…no, not the newest Wall Street law firm, but the 2nd string Monday Night Football crew..WOW is that a huge drop from the first team. Seriously, is that the best they could muster up???? 10 plays in and I was praying for Schult’s moustache.

Raise your hand if you have ever been to curling fantasy camp???? Landry was there, sounded kind of cool…if you are into that kind of thing.

We have a couple of new writers joining TSM. Look for expanded coverage on Raptors, Leafs, Jays, ARGOS and TFC. We will be adding in more NFL, tennis and I am really excited to announce CHL hockey. Yes we will have our very own junior hockey guru (no it isn’t Mike Toth) to break things down for those of us who don’t get out to the game much.

I happen to be in 1, yes one fantasy football league. Truth be told my 12 year old nephew did my drafting for me. His first pick Drew Brees. Not a bad first week.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Just got back from the Blue Rodeo concert and it was awesome. Lt rocked and rolled through the entire show and sang every word! The opening act as many of you suggested was really good too.

Rookie camp is almost up on us and there are two players I think that will garner the most attention in both rookie camp and the full training camp. The Toronto Maple Leafs first round pick Nazem Kadri has, unfairly, in my opinion huge expectations simply because of the season Luke Schenn had last season. As a result of Schenn making the team last season, expectations for Kadri will be high. I know the answer is simply that just because Schenn made has no bearing or reflection of Kadri. I do know about expectations though in this town, and people I do believe will feel let down if he isn’t good enough to make the team. The right answer is that he should play wherever it affords him the best opportunity to develop. Opinions on that will be far and wide. Where does leave him, I don’t know, but I am betting that he doesn’t make the team. I would be less surprised to see him back with the London Kinights than I would to see him a Leaf. That would really surprise me.

In the same vein is the question of the young goalie Gustavsson. He is older, more mature, but he too has never played in the NHL. Goalies also tend to take longer to develop. If Gustavsson bombs out of the gate, how long do they let him stay with the big club and not play? How soon do they send him to the minors? How much of that is based on the play of Vesa Toskala? If Toskala is no better this season than he was last, will that put added pressure on The Monster? I really hope not. In an ideal world, the growth and maturation of Gustavsson should be totally unrelated to that of the rest of the team and or Vesa Toskala. He should be afforded every opportunity in training camp to make the team. If he struggles then he should go down and get his game minutes in. Will that happen? Time will tell. In both cases the pressure on both kids will be immense. The pressure on Burke will be equally as high. Not trading away picks and prospects at the draft was Burke’s first test. Not rushing his kids will be his second.

On the topic of the Maple Leafs, it is very quiet out of MLSE after the report of no official team representative at Ted Kennedy’s funeral last week. Silence tells me that, unfortunately, there is no good explanation for the absence and that the good ship Maple Leaf screwed up. The appearance of not caring in this matter is hard to ignore. The silence on the matter is deafening too. Let’s hope that if it is true, that no one from the team was there, that it was a total 100% mistake and that the will admit so publicly.

So, Paul Kelly is on the hot seat already in the NHLPA? This has to be a joke right? How is it possible that the NHLPA can be this dysfunctional. Again, if it is true, and they are really thinking about replacing Kelly, then I have the perfect replacement for him. David Miller. Yes the Mayor of Toronto would be perfect to serve the NHLPA. He has done such a wonderful job as Mayor of the City of Toronto, i feel that we Torontonians should swallow hard and suffer by letting him go and run the NHLPA. If not Miller, Glen Healey would be an awesome choice! If you are sensing a little bit of sarcasm it’s because I am laying it on pretty thick!

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Editors note, I thought that if kadri made the leafs and lost his junior eligibility he could go to the marlies. I was wrong.

Summer must really almost be over. Howard Berger is back at work. No, his latest blog doesn’t discuss why Tomas Kaberle is still a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite his prediction that Brian would and should trade him, he must think we all used the flux capaciter and moved back in time and forgot that he wrote the piece. Berger’s latest piece, following the good writing of our friends at PPP, is focused on the importance of Francois Beauchemin to the upcoming fortunes of the Maple Leafs.

Berger’s argument (I will summarize, sparing you the pain of reading his blog) is that assuming the goaltending is better this year (and without that assumption there is no point analyzing the Maple Leafs season at all- so says HH) the key player to the Leafs season will be Beauchemin. Given the current makeup of the blueline, HH’s surmizes that Beauchemin is the only Maple Leaf defender who will actually shoot the puck.

Now here are a couple of retorts. First, nothing besides the law of averages guarantees that the Maple Leaf goaltending will be any better this year. Toskala is at best an unknown. He has had one better than average season here and one lousy one which may or may not have been largely due to injury. There is no reason to be confident that he will be any better this year. Hell, his injury may not have been the cause of his problems and if they were there is no guarantee that he won’t re-aggravate the injury or that injury is full healed. As for the The Monster, he is a rookie! Huge potential, no promises. There is no reason to count on him being any better than CUJO- except of course the law of averages.

Secondly, given the team that Burke has put together, I find it very hard to lay the success or failure of this team on anyone player who doesn’t play the position of goalie. Seriously, does anyone really think that there is one player who’s play is so instrumental that their performance or lack thereof will dictate the outcome of the Maple Leafs season? This isn’t a knock on Francois, or any other Maple Leaf player. I just don’t think there is one guy whose play is so vital as to be labeled vital as Berger suggests.

The best part of Berger’s post:

“I was looking to come to a hockey-first city and Toronto was one of my top choices. When Burkie gave me a good deal, it was very exciting.”

What a surprise, when Burke gave him a good deal it was very exciting. You mean he was motivated by the almighty dollar? The shock. Again this isn’t a knock on Francois, I don’t blame him one bit. You don’t get to UFA status too many times and when you do, you had better hit a homerun. Just ask Dominic Moore how the advice he was given last year has turned out for him so far. Think Moore has had a restful off-season? I don’t care if Burke’s offer was or wasn’t the highest offer, read the quote- when the deal was good- meaning when there was a lot of money on the table then I got excited. I have more respect for Francois for admitting it. The truth, JP is always the way to go.

One last thought. Anyone else find it amusing that the reporter who doesn’t watch non Maple Leaf games on tv is in Calgary for the team Canada Kum Ba Yah camp? Can anyone think of one good reason to have this guy there? I mean, he really only covers the Maple Leafs right, and the odd playoff series. In times of economic challenges, I am quite surprised that Rogers spent the $ sending Howie to Calgary.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

So the Monster takes #50 and his buddy Rickard Wallin is 51..check this tribute out:

It says here that the Barenaked Ladies could sing that catchy tune on opening night, no?

Sportsnet is the only outlet I have seen that is saying he has signed with the leafs. They say it’s a one year deal.

LUCAS OLENIUK / TORONTO STAR Coveted Swedish goaltender Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson arrived in Toronto on a flight from Dallas at 3:30 p.m. The Toronto Maple Leafs have shown interest in signing him. (June 19, 2009)

After a long flight and great time in Dallas, Jonas looks like he’s ready to crash in his hotel room for the weekend!

We will monitor media outlets and report on whatever we learn about the Monster Summer Tour 2009….

LT for TSM

Thanks to a reader who sent me this after reading my previous post. I am not going to comment at all as I am in no position to do so. Here is the gist of the article in the San Jose Mercury News, the Golden State Warriors are hoping to win the NBA draft lottery which takes place this coming Tuesday night or at the very least move from #7 to number 2 or 3(sound familiar?). If they don’t win the lottery and move up that way then they have targeted Chris Bosh as the next best thing. Here is what the article says about that:

“The main targeted veteran, I’m told, is Toronto’s Chris Bosh–no surprise, given how hard Riley tried to get him at last year’s trade deadline. Though Bosh is a big member of the great free-agent class of 2010, and therefore potentially available in a deal this summer if the Raptors are scared of losing him next year, it’s hard to see Toronto giving him
away. They’re going to want Anthony Randolph. The Warriors are going to have to think hard about anything involving Randolph, though I’m sure Don Nelson wouldn’t be broken-hearted about it. Heck, Randolph’s not going to be in his prime until Nelson is long retired, so why would Nellie want any part of him? But could the Warriors trade Randolph, at 19 with a chance to be one of the top 10 players in the league in a few years… for a possible one-year rental of Bosh, who may or may not ever be a superstar? (I guess Nelson thinks Bosh would be an idea big man in a scatter-ball mania.) Another huge problem: To get Bosh, the Warriors almost have to include Andris Biedrins (no problem for Nellie, obviously) for value and contract purposes, but Biedrins remains a base-year player until June 30 next summerOOPS THAT CHANGES THINGS. That’s complicated, but basically it means that a Biedrins-involved trade has to be a monster monetary deal (involving three or four big contracts going both ways) for Biedrins’ deal to fit into any trade. Update: But only until June 30. Again: OOPS. Randolph and Biedrins for Bosh doesn’t even come close to a workable NBA trade. The money’s all wrong. The Warriors and Raptors would have to build another $10M or so both ways into this deal. Also, by my reading of the CBA, I don’t believe Jamal Crawford can be traded until and unless he DOES NOT opt-out on June 30. It’s like the Baron Davis situation last year–Crawford, for trade purposes, is considered a potential free agent, and you can’t trade pending F/As until July 1. If Crawford opts-in, which is likely, he can be traded after June 30, since he will then have two years left on his deal. If he opts-out and becomes a free agent, then the Warriors can still sign-and-trade his rights after June 30. But, unless I’m wrong, Crawford CANNOT BE MOVED in the period from now until July 1, which means zero movement for him at draft time (June 25). Obviously another candidate to be moved: Monta Ellis, but he’s also a base-year player until June 30 next summer. Much easier to trade: Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli, but they don’t have much value, thanks, in no small part, to Nelson’s handling of them.”

Okay NBA fans tell the rest of us….what should we think?

TSM

Not that there is much left to read, but the story can be found here.