Toronto Marlies 2010-11 preview

How do the mighty Marlies stack up this year? Take a look:

The Marlies will look to bounce back from a poor, injury riddled 2009-10 season that saw them finish third last in the Western Conference. Key free-agent depth additions such as Joey Crabb, Mike Zigomanis, Marcel Mueller, Danny Richmond, Ben Scrivens and Jussi Rynnas should help the Marlies trend towards the playoffs in 2010-11.

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/12345/toronto_marlies201011_preview/

MacArthur signing, Hanson next?

When the Maple Leafs signed 25-year-old Clarke MacArthur it didn't exactly signal that their search for a top-six forward was finished. If anything, it seems like MacArthur was a back-up plan to not finding the player they wanted in a deal for Tomas Kaberle.

It's not a knock against MacArthur, it's just that a career-high 35-point forward doesn't scream 'answer' to a team desperate for a top-six left-winger.

Before they acquired MacArthur the Maple Leafs made a small deal which sent forwards Stefano Giliati and Alex Berry to Tampa Bay for defender Matt Lashoff. Lashoff is an interesting addition give the defensive dept the Maple Leafs have, but he'll be a positive addition to the Marlies (given that's where he ends up). The deal opened up a contract spot so the Maple Leafs could add MacArthur the following day.

To his credit, MacArthur has increased his point totals each season and has been a consistent goal scorer over the last two seasons with 17 and 16 goals respectively while playing third line minutes. It's not a stretch to see MacArthur hit 20-goals this year if he sees a top-six role and power-play time with the Maple Leafs.

On a one-year term, and for 1.1m it isn't a huge issue if MacArthur doesn't work out. If he does, well then the Maple Leafs have a choice to keep him around or move him at the deadline. Unfortunately for a player like Luca Caputi this likely means he'll likely start the year with the farm team which isn't a bad spot for a young power-forward to develop (even if he's already had two strong years in the AHL).

Hanson close to a deal?

James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail tweets:

Leafs GM Brian Burke says there has been some progress on a deal for Christian Hanson. He believes he will be signed before training camp.

Hanson seems like the ideal candidate to take a 4th line center spot this year. While he was a productive AHL forward, it doesn't seem as if Hanson has the natural ability to a be a top-six forward. With his size and skating ability he should be a good bottom-six banger. Although he may not be expected to score, he'll need to produce a bit more then he did last year scoring only 2 goals in 31 games.

D'Amigo signs three-year entry-level contract with Maple Leafs

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Wednesday that the club has agreed to terms on a three-year entry level contract with forward Jerry D’Amigo (pronounced dah-MEE-goh).

“We’ve been very pleased with Jerry’s progression over the past 12 months,” said Burke. “Seth Appert and the rest of the coaching staff at R.P.I. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) have done a really nice job of preparing Jerry for the next stage in his development. We look forward to having him at training camp.”

Link

This kid has been a standout, and one of the more recognizable prospects over the last hockey year.

While I'm not expecting him to make the Maple Leafs, heck I wasn't expecting him to leave RPI until next season, he should have a good chance of being a solid contributor with the Marlies. I don't think he'll light the league on fire, but there's no reason (with the added depth) that he can't be someone who scores in the 40pt range which to me would be very respectable from a 19-year-old in his first year playing vs. men.

He is eligible to play in the OHL, but given he's made it public that he has no intentions of playing for Kitchener, I think the Maple Leafs will leave him playing in either the AHL or NHL.

Can he make the NHL squad? I'm not sure, but there's a reason the Maple Leafs signed him this year and it's because they think he at least has some chance of making it. He's a player with a high hockey IQ, and now his skills seem to be catching up to his brains. He's added approximately 15lbs of muscle which should also aid in his transition to the NHL. I like to compare him to a Jamie Langenbrunner type of player - not flashy, but fast and a multi-purpose forward who's at his best when the games are on the line. Langenbrunner is a guy who in his prime was a 50-60 pt player for New Jersey, even last year he put up very good numbers at the ripe old age of 35.

If D'Amigo can have the career that Langenbrunner has had, I think the Maple Leafs are getting a player that will be vital to future success.

Maple Leafs Top 20, Fall 2010

The Maple Leafs Top 20 for Fall 2010 is now published over at Hockey's Future!

Nazem Kadri remains top prospect for Toronto Maple Leafs

In the fall edition of the Maple Leafs' top-20, Nazem Kadri remains the top prospect in a group that includes eight new faces. Jussi Rynnas and Ben Scrivens join Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer to form a solid group of goaltending prospects. The biggest change is perhaps at forward, where the Maple Leafs have continued to stockpile scoring wingers.


1. (1) Nazem Kadri – 8.0 C
2. (2) Jonas Gustavsson – 8.0 C
3. (3) Tyler Bozak – 7.0 B
4. (4) Carl Gunnarsson – 7.0 B
5. (NR) Jussi Rynnas – 7.5 C
6. (NR) Luca Caputi – 7.0 C
7. (NR) Brad Ross – 7.0 C
8. (11) Jerry D’Amigo – 7.0 C
9. (6) Keith Aulie – 7.0 C
10. (9) James Reimer – 7.0 C
11. (8) Jesse Blacker – 7.0 C
12. (NR) Greg McKegg – 7.0 C
13. (10) Christian Hanson – 6.5 B
14. (NR) Marcel Mueller – 6.5 C
15. (16) Juraj Mikus – 6.5 C
16. (17) Korbinian Holzer – 6.5 C
17. (NR) Ben Scrivens – 6.5 C
18. (15) Kenny Ryan – 6.5 C
19. (NR) Brayden Irwin – 6.5 C
20. (NR) Sondre Olden – 7.5 D

The rest of the article can be seen here

Maple Leafs Summer Moves To Date (July 31st)

It's been a very busy offseason, as it ususally is for the Toronto Maple Leafs. There have been a few surprising moves, and some expected but what moves will help this team move forward?

I want to examine Burke's moves through the months of June and July and give my thoughts on them. I've been gone in Europe for the month of July so I've been out of the loop a bit and haven't had the opporunity to share my opinions as much as I would have liked.

For good or bad, depending on the price, I think it's safe to say, on paper, this team is better then where it was when it finished the season. But was the price paid (to improve the team) worth it? Let's find out...

Kris Versteeg to Toronto

Most people expected Burke to be in on Chicago's cap clearance sale so when the Maple Leafs acquired Versteeg I wasn't exactly shocked. The first name I thought that was going to Chicago was actually Stalberg when I heard of the trade - just had that gut feeling. I like Stalberg, I think he's capable of more than he showed in his first year with the Maple Leafs. He's a late bloomer, and he should get the necessary development time behind the stars in Chicago.

I don't mind giving up Stalberg, but giving up Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis rids the Maple Leafs of two prospects who the Maple Leafs would have potentailly had at their disposal this season. I mean, they aren't 'high-end' prospects, but players every team needs when their building winners.

I was hoping that the Maple Leafs would of been able to land Andrew Ladd also in a deal with Chicago, but it seems Burke didn't have the assets needed to acquire him also. The Maple Leafs also recieved Billy Sweatt in the deal, but it's not looking likely that he'll sign an entry-level deal with Toronto which is unfortunate.

In Versteeg the Maple Leafs are getting a young skilled forward who the team is in desperate need of. Hopefully he continues building on his skill as the Maple Leafs need him to be more than just a 50pt player.

...

Armstrong for 3-years at a 3 million

Sure, it's a bit more then I would have liked, but Armstrong is capable of being a 20-20 player. He adds some gritt, and seems like a great guy off the ice. He also adds size to the top-nine, and can slot into a top-six spot if needed.

I think he's a solid addition, and hopefully he can live up to his contract.
...

Lebda for 2-years at 1.45 million

A bit of a head scratcher, I mean it's Brett Lebda? He had 8 points last year, and is suppose to be an offensive defender? Or at least, a puck-moving defender? To his credit, he did have 6 goals in 2008-09 and if he can produce those numbers on Toronto he'll be a solid addition.

He does bring some serious speed to the Maple Leafs defensive core, but he lacks creativity and isn't defesnively polished.

At the end of the day he adds depth and brings a bit of a different dynamic to the defensive core. It's a cheap contract, and not hampering.

...

Mueller for 2-years

Love this signing. Marcel Mueller is a player I was hoping the Maple Leafs would be able to cash in on. A very productive player in the DEL and had a good showing at the Olympics for Germany.

There's no harm in this signing and hopefully he can push for a spot out of camp.
...

Zigomanis, Crabb and Richmond join Maple Leafs

I actually really like all three of these signings. These signings are critical to success as they add quality depth.

All three of these guys have seen NHL time, and although they're likely to start on the Marlies they have potential to be injury call-ups through the season.

Zigomanis and Crabb should both be top-six scorers for the Marlies, and productive ones at that (PPG or close to it). Richmond is a solid depth defender who should also be a solid addition to the Marlies defense.

These three should create some competition for spots on the Marlies.

Potential Maple Leaf selections on Day 2?

If the Maple Leafs stay where they are on day 2, here are a list of potential picks that could fall to the Maple Leafs and that I wouldn't mind seeing them take:

FORWARDS:

Jared Knight
Tom Kuehnhackl
Devante Smith-Pelley
Max Gardiner
Dalton Smith
Connor Brickley
Greg McKegg
Joe Basaraba
Michael Bournival
Andrew Yogan
Christian Thomas
Brian Rust
Sondre Olden
Victor Ohman
Jonathan Johansson
Sam Carrick
Philip Lane
Mark MacMillian
Jason Clark
Alex Emond
Yasin Cisse
TJ Tynan
Brendan Gallagher
Zach Hyman
Christian Isackson

DEFENSE:

Danny Biega
Troy Rutkowski
Stephan Silas
John Ramage
Justin Holl
Austin Maidaisky
Daniel Gunnarsson
Radko Gudas
Joe Faust
Johan Alm
Geoffrey Schemitsch
Konrad Abeltschauser
Adam Polasek
Adam Janosik
Samuel Carrier
Jeremy Blaine
Luke Curadi
Mathieu Brission
Zach Trotman
Nate Schmidt

2010 First Round Mock Draft

Here's my interpretation of how the first round will play out. Enjoy!

1. Edmonton: Taylor Hall – Too much hype surrounding the kid for him not to be selected 1st overall. Although Edmonton could get away with drafting Seguin, Hall has to be the pick here I think.


2. Boston: Tyler Seguin – The logical choice in the number 2 spot. Boston has strength down the middle, but Krecji could be moved and Bergeron is a UFA after next season.


3. Florida: Erik Gudbrandson – A rock in which they can build around. Gudbrandson brings a different dynamic to a rebuilding Florida team.


4. Columbus: Brandon Gormley – can play in any situation and will provide good offensive contribution that Columbus needs on the D.


5. NYI: Cam Fowler – Will make a great addition to a building Islander group. The best available offensive-defender to a team that needs a blue-chip defender.


6. Tampa Bay: Nino Niederreiter– Yzerman adds some size in this U-20 power-forward sensation. Add's a serious power-forward to a team that requires quality wingers.


7. Carolina: Ryan Johansson – Best player available at this point. Adds more size up the middle, and while they’d like to add a defender they can’t pass up on Johansson.


8. Atlanta Thrashers: Jack Campbell – A surprise pick, but with Bogosian and Kane, a potential franchise goalie is needed going forward.


9. Minnesota Wild: Jeffrey Skinner – A pure offensive talent that hasn't been around since Gaborik.


10. New York Rangers: Brett Connolly – Rangers think they can afford to gamble on this talent who may be a steal at this point.


11. Dallas Stars: Derek Forbort - After selecting Glennie last season, Dallas looks to add a blue-chip defensive talent at 11th overall.


12. Anaheim Ducks: Austin Watson – A big forward who will be an NHL player someday. A safe pick and fits the style the Ducks play.


13. Phoenix Coyotes: Alex Burmistrov – Can’t pass up this top-end talent like Burmistrov. Russian factor is there, but not a concern for the developing Phoenix team. Plays a strong two-way game similar to Pavel Datsyuk.


14. St. Louis Blues: Mikeal Grandlund – Another top talent, although not big he’s worth the gamble to a team that is loaded with young talent.


15. Boston Bruins: Mark Pysyk – After selecting a forward with their 2nd overall pick, the Bruins take a safe selection in two-way defender Mark Pysyk.


16. Ottawa Senators: Nick Bjugstad – Adding Bjugstad gives Ottawa some needed size down the middle, and a potential for top-two center who can make a dangerous 1-2 with Spezza (if they don’t trade him).


17. Colorado Avalanche: Dylan McIlrath – One of the most intimidating presences in the draft, McIlrath with join a growing group of talent with the Avalanche.


18. Nashville Predators: Emerson Etem – A highly skilled, fast player who will be a welcomed addition to a Nashville team that lacks pure skill in their forward group.


19. Los Angeles Kings: Beau Bennett – Maybe a political choice, but there is no doubting that Bennett has top-end skill and could be a great choice as a future top-six winger.


20. Pittsburgh Penguins: Vladimir Tarasenko – Considered a draft wild-card the Penguins gamble on him and could win big. Top-ten skill.


21. Detroit Red Wings: Jared Tinordi – A big, character defender with leadership qualities. Adds a different, but welcomed element to the Detroit defensive core.


22. Phoenix Coyotes: Riley Sheehan – Big two-way center who may not develop into a top-six talent, but a safe selection to be an NHL player who fits the Phoenix style of game.


23. Buffalo Sabres: Tyler Pitlick - Look to add size to their center depth. Pitlick is a natural selection for a Sabres group looking to add size to their system.


24. Atlanta Thrashers: Quinton Howden – Sizable winger, who looks to be a safe selection late in the first. Can play in all situations.


25. Vancouver Canucks: Jonathan Merril – Best available defender at this point in the draft with top-four potential.


26. Washington Capitals: John McFarland – Washington gambles on this enigma in hopes that he'll pay off.


27. Montreal Canadiens: Brock Nelson - Montreal adds another NCAA bound forward with size. Nelson has second line potential, and plays on the edge.


28. San Jose Sharks: – Charlie Coyle – Adds a power forward to the San Jose system, fits the style of game the Sharks like to play.


29. Anaheim Ducks – Jayden Schwartz – Willing to gamble on a player who absolutely dominated the USHL although a bit small the skill is undeniable.


30. Chicago Blackhawks – Calvin Pickard – Need for goalie prospects, Pickard is the obvious choice at 30th for the cup winners.

...

Thoughts on the first round:

- Don't think either of the first selections will be moved. Edmonton needs a Hall player, Boston needs a prime forward so either Seguin or Hall will do.

- There could be movement between 3-8 as it seems pretty wide open after that.

- I think teams with more than one first round selection may move the second picks to acquire roster players - Atlanta, Boston and Anaheim specifically. Phoenix may hold onto both because their team is fairly solid as is.

- There always seems to be shuffling towards the end of the first round, so expect that to happen also.

Draft week! And other thoughts ...

Here we are a few days until the 2010 NHL Draft! Very excited to see where everyone goes both in the draft and through the trades that seem like they'll inevitably happen.

And as we approach the draft, here are a few general thoughts:

...

Horton to Boston?

I'd actually be surprised if this didn't happen. It just seems to make a lot of sense given both teams needs. It makes me jealous to know that Boston may be (will be?) adding a potential 30 goal scorer like Horton AND a top-pick in this years draft. I mean, Boston's not a bad team by any stretch so to add this type of talent to a playoff team is pretty dangerous.

Florida's going to explode?

I'm really interested in seeing the direction Tallon goes. He wants to rebuild/restock, but he doesn't want to bottom out. It should be interesting to see the type of return he gets seeing as he'll likely want roster players back for players such as Weiss and Horton.

Halak feeling Blue..

Like most, I was taken back by this deal. I thought for sure Halak would come to some sort of agreement with Montreal, but it just proves how crazy the NHL can be at times. The return wasn't amazing in respect to what Halak did for Montreal this past year, but it wasn't totally lopsided. Lars Eller is a good prospect in his own right, and Ian Shultz, if he develops, will be valuable to a club like Montreal who is seeking size. This move however is risky, very risky. It ultimately could be Gauthiers undoing if Price flops next season.

Deals with the Devils?

Had to say I was a bit surprised to see Lou Lamoriello shell out more future assets to acquire an old center like Jason Arnott. I mean, he didn't give a kings ransom, but Arnott's on the downside of his career and is starting to become more injury prone. This signals that the Devils want to make one last strong push for the playoffs ... Kaberle rumours anyone?

Kaberle could be dealt by the draft ... or he may not be.

Pierre LeBrun mentioned that he feels Kaberle will be dealt by Saturday, then Darren Dreger pointed out that he feels Burke won't set Saturday as a deadline. The truth of the matter is both of them are probably right, but you have to think Burke feels a little bit pressure to make a deal by Saturday. If Burke wants to play with fire, try and hold out for a deal that may never come, he may end up burning himself. If the offers aren't remotely close to what Burke would accept for Kaberle, I don't see how the price would dramatically increase given there's a bit of defensive depth on the free-agent market.

Draft Day direction?

If all else fails, it'll be interesting to see who the Maple Leafs select with their six picks. There's some good talent that is bound to slip out of the top-60 and hopefully the Maple Leafs are there to pick up the left overs. Does your teams direction change when you don't have a top-60 selection? Are you as a GM more persuaded to take a player who may have re-entered the draft? In a sense that you gain a year of development on the other 18-year-old's to try and compensate for the lack of a 1st? (Similar to how the Maple Leafs took Nikolai Kulemin as an over-age player in the draft). Either way, I'm excited to welcome new Maple Leafs into the fold.

Trade bait?

We all know Kaberle's name has been rumored on the block, but what other Maple Leafs will be on the way out? Here are some names I think may be involved in potential trades:

John Mitchell - Yeah, he had a bad year. But he did also have a strong rookie-year and that can't be ignored either. It's not impossible to believe that he suffered from a sophomore slump like so many have before him. He protects the puck well, isn't afraid to skate with the puck, and has decent offensive ability. In the long-run he probably doesn't fit in with the type of team Burke is trying to assemble. Would any team take a shot on him for a draft pick?

James Reimer - Burke bringing in Ben Scrivens and Jussi Rynnas makes James Reimer an odd man out I think. Not that he's a lock to be moved, but I think Burke wouldn't hesitate to include him in a deal now that he's added some depth to the position.

Mikhail Grabovski - Comes with a bit of a price-tag, but a team looking for cheap secondary offensive production may find him useful. On the other hand, he's still useful to the Maple Leafs, but he's another player I don't see as a long-term solution as the clubs second-line center. Opening up cap-space may be more important at this point if Burke has big dreams.

Those are just three players that I wouldn't be surprised to see leave by this time next week.

...

Hopefully we do see some action lead up to the draft. I'll be posting my draft favourites on Thursday for each Maple Leaf selection for the 2010 Draft.

Maple Leafs 2010 Draft Preview

GM Brian Burke has done a good job retooling the Maple Leafs, even though they finished 29th in the league. He’s brought in a ton of new faces, and some building blocks in all positions in which to work with. The 2010 draft in Los Angeles as well as summer free agency are two vital points in Burke’s plan for the upcoming season. Burke has made it known that the main priority is adding top-six scoring and additional toughness to the top-nine forward group.

Tomas Kaberle has been a subject of trade rumors for years, but it seems that his time as a Maple Leaf may finally be coming to an end. With Kaberle’s trade window opening June 25th, and the Maple Leafs 29th-place finish it seems he will be dealt to the highest bidder.

Another trade chip that Burke may work with is restricted free agent Nikolai Kulemin. Once an integral building block for the Maple Leaf forward group, Kulemin has priced himself out of Toronto’s plans at the moment and if contract talks continue to stall, Burke could opt to move him with Kaberle in order to maximize the return.

Without a first or second-round selection in the 2010 draft, the Maple Leafs scouting staff will have their work cut out for them. Make no mistake; Burke will do everything in his power to add a top-60 selection for his scouts if he can.

The rest of the article can be found here

Czech-mate?

After years, upon years of speculation it seems ... wait for it ... that Kaberle may in fact be on the way out. Yes, I know, we've heard this song and dance before only to be let down by Kaberle enforcing his NTC or the market 'drying up' on him. But make no mistake, all of Burke's moves to date signal the departure of Kaberle.

One could argue that dealing Kaberle has been in progress for a year, dating back to when Burke added Exelby, Komisarek and Beauchemin to a defensive core that, on paper at least, seemed well stocked. Add in Phaneuf, Aulie, and the emergence of Gunnarsson and (to a lesser extent) Olympian Korbinian Holzer it seems to make sense that Kaberle should be dealt for forward help.

Now, this isn't something to rejoice about .. far from it. Kaberle is a great puck-moving defender, and if he is moved he'll likely be missed as a key ingredient on the back end. But you can't help it, as a fan, to be excited to see what return he'll receive. I mean, even fans of other teams want to know what Kaberle will finally be able to fetch in a trade just so they can mock those crazy Maple Leaf fans who thought he'd bring in two first round picks and a top-line player.

Now, recent rumors floating around out there have targeted a handful of teams that have serious interest in acquiring the 32-year-old Tomas Kaberle. These teams include Buffalo, Anaheim, New Jersey, Columbus as the heavily interest. Other teams that are rumored to have interest are Tampa Bay and Florida, but both teams seem unlikely to give up youth/top-six forwards for Kaberle as both are in 'rebuilding' phases of their team.

I'll work backwards from the listed teams:

Columbus:
2010 Draft Picks: 4th, 34th, 58th, 94th, 124th, 154th, 184th 192nd

Columbus has been a rumored trade partner with the Maple Leafs for a long time, but what do they have that Burke would want and they would be willing to give up? To me, not much. They won't be moving the 4th overall selection, but the 34th selection has some value. Jakub Voracek has been linked as potential trade bait, but I don't see Columbus moving a young play-making forward as skilled as Voracek in a deal for Kaberle.

New Jersey:
2010 Draft Picks: 38th, 48th, 61st, 80th, 110th, 170th, 200th

Even though they've been rumored as 'front runners' for Kaberle, I find it unlikely given they lack what Burke wants in a deal for Kaberle. With no first round pick, and no true top-six wingers that fit in with the age requirement, on the surface it doesn't seem like it makes much sense.

David Clarkson would be of value to Burke, but as a centerpiece in a Kaberle deal? I don't think so, but it depends on how much value Burke places on him - not us fans. If he feels he could be a 20g - 50pt player next season on the 2nd line he may be valuable due to his intangibles. The 38th pick would be of value also, and after that a prospect like a Nick Palmieri or Adam Henrique would fit in with the team Burke wants to build. But is it worth trading Kaberle for a 3rd line winger (potential 2nd line if you want to be generous), a 38th overall and a B level prospect? If you were the Maple Leafs looking to trade for a top-pairing puck-moving defender do you think that would get it done? Unlikely. But what if there was a conditional 1st in 2011 based on Kaberle re-signing? That would be an interesting scenario...

Anaheim 2010 Draft Picks: 20th, 24th, 42nd, 50th, 102nd, 132nd

No, Kaberle will not be dealt for Bobby Ryan, don't be absurd. But if he can't land Ryan what does Anaheim have of value? Not much.

Anaheim makes sense as having a need for Kaberle. They stockpiled a bunch of youth with the Pronger deal, and they do have Visnovsky, but if Neidermayer retires they could use a legit top-pairing defender.

Anaheim could offer 24th overall, but they don't have much in the way to offer player wise unless Ryan is involved - which, if I'm a betting man, he won't be. Now, if Burke wanted to offer Kaberle + Schenn + another asset then maybe there will be some talk about Ryan (and Ryan alone). As absurd it may be to suggest Ryan to the Maple Leafs, there is some fit there. The Maple Leafs want a big top-six winger, Burke drafted him behind Crosby, Fletcher wanted him not to long ago, Toronto is in the East so Ryan is unlikely to come back and haunt Anaheim. These are just examples, but in the end the idea of Ryan is all pie in the sky.

If Anaheim wanted to offer up a package of future's, it would entice Burke. Like I said previously, the 24th overall is of interest, and I'm sure a player like Peter Holland would draw interest, but I think Burke is looking for something tangible. I'd be very, very surprised if Burke didn't get an NHL roster player back in a deal involving Kaberle.

Buffalo
2010 Draft Picks: 23rd overall, 68th, 75th, 83rd, 98th, 143rd, 173rd, 203rd, 208th

Now this is a team that makes sense to me as a potential trade partner. With two of their veteran defenders heading to free-agency in Henrick Tallinder and Toni Lydman, Buffalo may be in the market, or should be in the market to add a legit top-pairing defender into their fold. And really, the idea of a Tyler Myers/Tomas Kaberle pairing sounds pretty dominating.

But again, the question is what would Buffalo give up? Right away Jason Pominville is a player who comes to mind. He hasn't had the same type of season he had since he put up 80 points in 2007-08 but he is a good scorer, point producer, and is in the right age bracket (27) that would fit in well with the Maple Leafs. He does make a lot of money for his production at a 5.3m cap hit, but there is no doubting that the Maple Leafs could use his skill. Moving him also opens up some cap space for Buffalo, but would they want to move him for a player on a one-year deal?

I don't think Kaberle would have much of a problem re-signing in Buffalo. If his preference is to stay in the East, it seems ideal given the proximity to Toronto - thus not having to move his family too far. Pominville may seem like a high price to pay, but when dealing inter-division there is usually a high price to be paid.

Another player of interest would be Zack Kassian. With his legal troubles, and Buffalo putting negotiations with him on a hold, he may be more available now than ever. That's not to say he'd just be a throw in either. Buffalo wants to start developing some sizable forwards to compliment their top-six so moving Kassian won't be easy for them.

And what of Drew Stafford? His leash seems to be shortening each season with Buffalo management and he could be a target to be moved. Would Burke accept a Stafford + 1st round pick for Tomas Kaberle? I'd say probably not, but it is comparable to the return Brian Campbell received when he was dealt to San Jose. Steve Bernier, a player who had 2nd line potential (but needed a change of scenery) and a 1st round selection. The difference is Kaberle would be around for a full season before being a UFA, whereas Campbell was a two month rental.

In conclusion ...

It would seem Buffalo is the best destination for Kaberle. They seem to be the best 'fit' in terms of what Burke would want, Buffalo could offer, and where Kaberle would be most likely to sign long term. But on the other hand, would Burke want to send him to a division rival? Having to play Kaberle multiple times a year and have him haunt the Maple Leafs? This is another factor to consider.

Will he be dealt to Buffalo? No one knows, and Burke is on record saying Darcy Regier (Buffalo's GM) is one of the hardest to deal with. Either way, we're bound to find out in the coming weeks. Until then, all we can do is sit back and continue to speculate, trying not to let our imaginations don't run too wild just to be disappointed when the return is not what 'we' would have liked.

Leafs can't afford sophomore slumps next season

While the idea of 'going with youth' is a nice concept, the reality of the situation is that young players go through various highs and lows in the first few years of their development. Unless you have a superstar prospect on your hands, it's likely that there will be an adjustment period. The key when going through such a slump is that you work your way out of it and don't let it determine your career as a player.

Luke Schenn is a good example of a player who went through the dreaded 'sophomre slump' in his second season with the Maple Leafs, but instead of letting it consume his season he was able to work his way out of it and ended on a stronger note. Nikolai Kulemin is another player who started slow, but found his groove as the season went on.

On the opposite end of things, forwards John Mitchell and Mikhail Grabovski had serious lows on the season. Both players weren't able to elevate their games to the next level, both suffered injuries, and both tried to do too much with the puck.

Now next season the Maple Leafs will have as many as six sophomore players on their roster and for the Maple Leafs to be a playoff team they'll need to have those players avoid prolonged slumps.

It's unrealistic to assume that all six of the returning sophomores Carl Gunnarsson, Jonas Gustavsson, Tyler Bozak, Viktor Stalberg, Luca Caputi and Christian Hanson will be impervious to slumps, but it'll be very important for the Maple Leafs that Gustavsson, Bozak and Stalberg can continue to elevate their games.

Carl Gunnarsson, should he slump, is at least solidified by a number of capable defenders (at least on paper). Luca Caputi and Christian Hanson won't be relied on to put up big numbers, so they too can at least be shielded from major scrutiny. Caputi being 21, may not even make the club out of camp next season.

Tyler Bozak will be looked on to at least fill a second-line center spot, which means producing at around a 50pt clip, while also being reliable at both ends of the ice. Viktor Stalberg had an up and down season, but really turned it on in the last 20 games and was starting to become a more dominant player on the puck. He too will need to be a secondary scorer going into next season. With Jonas Gustavsson, its' no secret - the Maple Leafs need him to be at least a 1b goalie. Someone they can rely on to tandem with Giguere and push him to be a better goalie.

With a lack of high-end free agent forwards on the market the Maple Leafs will rely on those three players to be main contributors next season. While the roster isn't set for next season, and a lot could change between now and then, the importance of quality depth is key for any team to be successful. If Bozak, Stalberg and Gustavsson fail to raise their games, we may be pointing to them next season as reasons why the Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for a six straight year.

Maple Leafs poised to finish in the bottom two - but is there a silver lining going forward?

"I'd do the deal again tomorrow" is a common response from Brian Burke when asked about the Kessel deal, but just because he'd make the deal again that doesn't make it the right move for the Maple Leafs.

Regardless of what Burke would have you believe, it would make little sense for him to make such a deal had he known what he does today: the Maple Leafs will be finishing in the bottom two.

Sure, he's getting a bonafide first line talent in Kessel, a player who can score 30 goals and create plays on the rush, but what is he giving up? Kessel, in himself is a 5th overall selection from 2006, taken behind such players as Erik Johnson, Jordan Staal, Jonathan Towes, and Nicklas Backstrom. So Burke has given up a top-two selection in exchange for a fifth overall selection, but that's not all. He has also given up another top 32 selection, which could be just as good as another first round pick. Then there's the 2011 pick that was given up, and if the Maple Leafs finish in the bottom-three again ... oh boy.

Of course, this is all hindsight, but even at the time of the deal it drew huge criticism for giving up selections that were suppose to be apart of the rebuild here in Toronto. Even with all the wheeling and dealing, the depature of multiple players and multiple draft picks there may be a silver lining heading into next season.

The Maple Leafs have a few parts in place that, on paper (and I stress on paper) give more optimism for next season:

1. Phil Kessel, the high priced sniper who scored 30 goals this season even though he missed time this season with injury.

2. Young, tough, big shooting defender Dion Phaneuf to start the season. If Phaneuf can rebound to a 50pt type defender the Maple Leafs will be much better off for it.

3. It seems as if the Maple Leafs will go into next season with two capable goaltenders in Jonas Gustavsson and Jean-Sebastien Giguere. The key for next season will be how the goaltending holds up, they can't afford to have another Toskala like goaltending situation to start next season.

The defence seems solid enough to go into next season with (even if they've played poorly for 75% of this season), but the forwards will need a major addition to pull the Maple Leafs out of the basement, and a lot of that will come from adding one via trade or UFA and hoping Kadri can come in and be a strong secondary scorer.

So with these three pillars in place the Maple Leafs should be better to start next season even if they made small changes, but again most expected them to be a lot better than they have been this season also. Needless to say, Burke has a tough summer ahead of him if he wants to pull this team out of the basement.

The Kaberle dilemma

With the trade deadline over, and names such as Alexei Ponikarovsky and Lee Stempniak gone from trade rumours, the focus shifts to the never-ending story of Tomas Kaberle's future as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

News broke on trade deadline day when it was reported that Kaberle would entertain the ideas of a trade. This was the first time Kaberle expressed a desire to be anywhere else but Toronto. It's not to say Kaberle wanted out, far from it, but the clause in his contract opens up the possibility to Kaberle to be dealt in the summer time to any team in the league.

On deadline day, Kaberle submitted a list of three teams that he would be openly willing to go to. Those teams are rumoured to be Eastern Conference teams, and likely one of the top seeded clubs. Guesses on my end would be Buffalo Sabers due to proximity to Toronto: he doesn't sound as if he wants to travel far. Washington would be another guess, seeing as they have a great young team. Washington likely had interest in Kaberle also given that they picked up Joe Corvo after it was announced that Kaberle wouldn't be traded. My final guess would probably be Pittsburgh -- defending cup champions and they look to be perennial contenders.

The next question is why a deal didn't get completed? Well first off, deals take time to hammer out. Burke may well have known a month ago where Kaberle would like to go if a trade offer was presented to him, but for the sake of an argument let's figure Kaberle approached Burke on the deadline and said "OK, I'll waive if it's to these three teams".

The problem with Kaberle's list is that it's way too short, and the time frame was unrealistic to complete a deal of this magnitude. It's also likely that Burke wanted a player capable of stepping into his lineup, likely a young top-six forward and a first round selection. It's hard to imagine a cup contending team would want to give away a top-six scorer for defensive help because unless you have a surplus of offensive talent, you need that scorer. The rumoured deal a few years ago about Jeff Carter + a 1st for Kaberle made sense given Kaberle was under contract long-term, and Philly could afford to move a 50pt Jeff Carter (at the time) as they had other established scorers on their team (and lacked a strong puck-mover like Kaberle).

Washington probably could have spared a top-six forward, but then the question would be are they willing to part with the player Burke would be interested in? Would Burke want a Tomas Fleischman in a deal for Kaberle or someone else?

So the question from now until the draft will be the future of Tomas Kaberle. If you look at the assets the Maple Leafs have, they have arguably 10 NHL defenders for next season excluding Kaberle: Komisarek, Finger, Gunnarsson, Schenn, Phaneuf, Beauchemin, Oreskovic, Mikus, Aluie, Holzer. Some being veterans, some prospects -- but depth none the less. What they do not have, is elite talent or high draft selections.

What type of return would Burke be looking for? Burke attempted to peddle Kaberle at last seasons draft for a top-ten selection, but teams were not biting. Due to Kaberle's strong season, he may get someone to nab Kaberle, but it's unlikely he'll land a top-ten pick for a 30+ year old.

Burke knows Kaberle is one of the few chips he has to move to replenish talent in the top-six and draft picks in the system. The key for Burke will be to strike at the proper time. Burke could afford to sand bag a bit on deals because he knows he has Kaberle's NTC lifted in the summer -- he's not forced to make any deals if he doesn't want to - yet. But time is running out for Burke. He can make the claim that he would want to re-sign Kaberle, but I'm not buying it. He invested too much into defenders this summer, and acquired Phaneuf for a reason.

Although many fans are upset at the fact Kaberle wasn't dealt this past deadline, Burke may be better off holding onto him until the summer. Kaberle submitted a list of 3 teams at the deadline.. Burke will have a chance to deal with 29 in the summer. Not to mention there are teams who are looking to move cap space (i.e. Chicago) if they can, and teams desperate to make the playoffs (Atlanta).

At the end of the day, it should be interesting to see how it all plays out. There is no doubt that if Burke can land in the vicinity of a 1st, 2nd and a top-six forward for Kaberle that it will go a long way into easing the pain of giving up top selections to a division rival.

March 3rd trade deadline looms...

One of the most exciting times of the year for any NHL fan is the trade deadline. Expectations are at an all-time high and no one really knows exactly what is going to happen...unless you are a team that sits 15th place in your respective conference.

Ah yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs, without a first round selection (for the next two seasons) sit in that very lowly position. While Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin continue to build on stellar seasons in the OHL, and Peter Chiarelli waits in the shadows in anticipation of nabbing one of these two fine prospects at the draft, Burke and Nonis (along with the rest of the managerial squad) prepare for a very pivotal trade deadline.

It's pivotal for one simple reason really - future. Yes, Maple Leaf fans have been talking about 'building for the future' since Fletcher came on board, but with Burke assembling his team in the summer time and now it falling flat on it's face due to what appears to be a lack of high-quality talent (who would have known!?) he'll need to do what's best to position this team for future success by any means necessary.

Burke has no safety-net any longer in Leaf Land. He gambled on Kessel at the start of the year in favour of his draft picks. Had he not traded his first round picks, Maple Leafs fans would be more than willing to put their feet up and wait for the entry-draft to roll around. The only reason the mobs have died down in recent weeks is because Burke landed a potential corner stone defender in Dion Phaneuf for a relatively low price -- thank god for that. But Burke can not afford to let his own ego get in the way of doing what is necessary at the deadline.

The worst thing Burke can do at this deadline is worry about where that pick will end up, and try to acquire useless veteran talent at the expense of more future. Burke has already dealt away some pending UFA's in the Phaneuf deal, but he still has a few on the roster that he can parlay into draft choices that he currently does not have.

Alexei Ponikarovksy is their main chip in play, and as mentioned by Darren Dreger about a week ago, there have been offers of a 2nd round pick and a prospect. Who the prospect is could be anyone from a future career AHL'er to a top-line talent, realistically the prospect probably falls in between those two types of players.

Behind Ponikarovsky are Lee Stempniak, Wayne Primeau and Garnet Exelby who all should be able to bring back some sort of draft selection at the deadline ranging from a 3rd round picks to 6ths. And make no mistake about it, all three of those players should be dealt as they are all replaceable.

Other UFA's such as Rickard Wallin, Mike Van Ryn, and Jonas Frogren have minimal trade value at best. Wallin hasn't been impressive in any specific category, although his play was picking up towards the Olympic break, Van Ryn is on long-term injury reserve, and Frogren has been AHL bound all season.

But after the obvious main targets who else is left that would have any market value? Tomas Kaberle is a name well known in trade circles, but his NTC is in effect until he wants to lift it. Media reports state it won't be lifted, but others believe it just may be a case of him wanting to hold off until the Olympics are done, so that it doesn't cast a shadow over him and Burke until the games are finished (Czech's were already knocked out).

Mikhail Grabovski is another name that could be on the move at deadline time if the right deal presents itself. He showed last season he can produce in a 2nd line role at the NHL level. Likely, he tops out as a 20-25 goal, 50-60pt player maybe hitting 60pts with the right team. Burke has been adamant about having Bozak develop in a second line spot, so that may spell the end of Grabovski's tenure in Toronto if they can find a willing trade partner.

All of these are viable options at the deadline, with a few potential surprises possibly thrown into the mix. If Burke can move all of the UFA's for draft selections and/or prospects then I'd say it will be a successful trade deadline for him. Regardless of what does happen, it should be a very interesting March 3rd for the entire NHL, as teams load up their respective rosters for a long playoff run.

Aulie out with season ending surgery

As mentioned in a previous blog, it looks like defender Keith Aulie will miss the remainder of the season due to shoulder surgery.

Unfortunate end for his rookie season in the AHL.

Maple Leafs Top 20 prospects, Spring 2010

Nazem Kadri remains atop of the Maple Leafs prospects list and Carl Gunnarsson rockets up the charts in the 2010 spring update of the Maple Leafs Top 20 prospects. Newly acquired prospects Keith Aulie and Philippe Paradis also make their debut in the top 20.

The article can be found here

Prospect Information: D - Keith Aulie injured

Unfortunately, the 20-year-old's time with the Marlies, at least for this season, will be cut short due to an injury suffered Friday night.

Aulie fell into the boards after being tripped up by forward Michael Grabner of the Manitoba Moose, and subsequently injured his shoulder.

Aulie's shoulder will require surgery, and the time frame for recovery is uncertain at this point.

Maple Leafs claim Jamie Lundmark from Calgary

While the 'Olympic trade deadline' came and went with the Maple Leafs standing pat, they weren't entirely inactive.

On Saturday the Maple Leafs claimed forward Jamie Lundmark from the Calgary Flames. Lundmark is a 29-year-old forward who is in his 5 season in the NHL. Once a highly regarded prospect, taken 9th overall in the 1999 draft, Lundmark has been unable to establish himself as anything more than a reserve forward.

He has four goals and five assists in 21 games this season with the Flames.

On the surface, many question why a claim for Lundmark was made. But looking a bit deeper, it seems it could be a move to satisfy the roster once play resumes in the NHL. The trade deadline is March 3rd, and with the Maple Leafs having four pending UFA forwards, they could be short in capable NHL bodies after the deadline.

Lundmark's contract also expires at years end and unless he can provide the secondary offense he's been unable to provide so far in his career, he'll be a player that walks on July 1st.

What's next for the Maple Leafs?

New faces Dion Phaneuf and J-S Giguere are set to debut for the blue and white tonight against the New Jersey Devils. Christian Hanson has also been recalled and will play his first stint at the center position in the NHL.

But aside from the game action, the question of "what is next for the Maple Leafs" continues to swirl.

As I mentioned before, the Maple Leafs will have to decide on a few players who are free-agents this summer. Alexei Ponikarovsky, Wayne Primeau, Lee Stempniak, Rickard Wallin, and Garnet Exelby are all looking to find their place on the team long-term, but with the recent activity on the trade front it seems unlikely any of them will be on the team next season so expect all to be dealt between now and the deadline.

Burke also may be active on the "taking on salary" front, maybe before the Olympics. According to Darren Dreger he has 1.5m to play with, and has two extra contract spots open under the 50 player contract limit. That means the Maple Leafs will be able to take on an expiring contract in the 4m range, or two contracts in the 2m range (at least before he moves anyone else out).

What we could see if maybe a Jonas Frogren for a teams contract dump + a pick. Similar to when the Maple Leafs moved Richard Petiot last season to Tampa Bay in the Kolzig deal. Nothing crazy, but something along those lines.

Expect Burke to be active, but temper expectations that the forthcoming deals will not be as groundbreaking as the ones made on Sunday.

It should be an exciting few weeks until the Olympic break.

Blockbuster deals on Sunday have Maple Leafs hopefully pointed in new direction

After a day to really digest the latest Brian Burke move, Maple Leaf fans can't help but be ecstatic for what they possibly obtained.

In a seven player deal on Sunday that sent Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers and Ian White to Calgary for Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and prospect Keith Aulie, the Maple Leafs officially started selling off their major team assets. But this move wasn't just a sellers move, the Maple Leafs were able to acquire a top-pairing, young (24 years-old) talent in Dion Phaneuf, a young (26) serviceable defensive-forward in Fredrik Sjostrom, and a towering prospect in Keith Aulie.

Calgary was in the market to shake up their team, and Burke made the ideal trading partnet. Sutter wanted to take the cap space from Phaneuf (6.5 million) and try and disperse it among other holes on the team, mainly offensive forwards.

While the deal looks one-sided at first glance, it actually helps Calgary be a bit more rounded. They acquired two top-six forwards, a second-pairing defender, and a grinding forward. Not bad for a team who wants bodies and flexibility, and with three of the four players free agents (White being an RFA) it gives Sutter options on who he wants to keep.

The Maple Leafs on the other hand lost a ton of offensive punch, which they hope will be filled by the likes of Tyler Bozak, Viktor Stalberg, Christian Hanson, and Mikhail Grabovski (when he returns from injury in a few weeks). They are primed to lose even more offense with the likely departure of long-time Maple Leaf Alexei Ponikarovsky.

What the Maple Leafs get in Phaneuf is something they haven't had in a long time, a player with tremendous talent to build around on the back end. At only 24-years-old, Phaneuf is one of the most feared open-ice hitters in the game, and has great offensive prowess. He's big, and he's nasty. His short-comings are in his defensive game, which in time should round out.

As much of a cornerstone player Luke Schenn can be, he isn't that type of player right now. He's smart, but lacks the high offensive game that a Dion Phaneuf has.

Along with Phaneuf is under-appreciated defensive-forward Fredrik Sjostrom. He brings some size and speed to the bottom-six for the Maple Leafs, and likely takes over the role that Jamal Mayers was expected to bring when he was acquired from St. Louis. At only 26, he fits into the teams future and is under contract for one more season. He should assist on the teams dreadful penalty-kill.

The Maple Leafs also acquired towering rearguard Keith Aulie, who was apart of the WJs at the '09 games. At 6'6, he's a fridge on skates. He's already playing, and contributing in the AHL, and seems to be just a nice sprinkle on top of the trade for Maple Leaf fans.

While the Maple Leafs dipped into their team depth in this trade, they were all parts that were deemed expendable by fans and management alike. Jamal Mayers had asked for a trade, and Sjostrom should provide an equal or greater contribution to the team. Most Maple Leaf fans would have been happy to deal Matt Stajan for prospect Keith Aulie at the trade deadline if they could. And then it boils down to Niklas Hagman, who's been a productive yet streaky scorer for the Maple Leafs and Ian White the prize departure on the Maple Leafs side. What may be lost in all of this is the fact Hagman already makes 3m against the cap, and with White's contract running out at seasons end he's ready for a raise into the 3m range. Those two player salaries will likely equal or be close to Phaneuf's cap hit for the remained of his contract.

It's a risky trade for Toronto, but an easy one to make given the Maple Leafs traded depth players in exchange for a potential elite talent.

As for the other move of the day, the Maple Leafs shipped out goaltender Vesa Toskala and forward Jason Blake to Anaheim for the expensive Jean-Sebastien Giguere. A move that looked like pure genius on Burke's part, as most believed Blake and Toskala to have negative value. Giguere isn't all that valuable himself, but should be a much more stable goaltender then that of Vesa Toskala who's time in Toronto was a disappointment. Adding Jason Blake frees the Maple Leafs out of a terrible contract over the next two seasons. And while Giguere's cap hit is not cheap, the gamble on Giguere is much more worthy of taking on at this point than another two seasons of Blake.

No one knows how these moves will play out, but Maple Leafs can't help but feel excited for what these four players can bring to the organization.

Mayers and Exelby: If you can't make it here, you can't make it anywhere!

Jamal Mayers and Garnett Exelby made their desire to play elsewhere publicially known this past week.

To no surprise hockey message boards were flooded with negative comments about how they would bring in no value as they can't even crack a lowly Maple Leafs roster. Now, this may be true, but that doesn't mean these two players couldn't bring a draft pick in return at the deadline.

While the value of either player isn't high, these are the type of targets GMs go for when they are priming to make a push for the playoff run. Cheap veteran players aren't overlooked, and if the price for one is a late round pick, a GM is usually glad to add the warm body.

Take for example Steve Begin last season. Begin was a scratch on some nights for the Montreal Canadiens and they were able to peddle him for depth defender Doug Janik. Janik was later a throw in as part of the Scott Gomez trade.

Obviously not great value, but something (Janik) for nothing (Begin).

Onto Exelby, a guy who hasn't quite been the same player since he suffered a concussion in Atlanta. Again, not a flashy player or someone a team would play in their top-four, but an NHL depth defender.

A comparable 'value' may be that of last seasons deal or 'almost deal' involving the oft-injured veteran defender Kyle McLaren. McLaren spent most of the year recoving from injury and playing in the AHL, but the Flyers were prepared to send a 6th round pick for him had he passed his physical (which he didn't).

Now what does this all mean? It means no matter how poorly these two may have played this season, NHL bodies like Mayers and Exelby have some value at this point in the season. It may not be much, but it shouldn't come to a shock to anyone if these two are traded at some point for a draft pick.

I'd say if the Maple Leafs can come out with a couple of 5th round selections for them, then that would be a success given how much they've contributed to the team this year. And who's to say these two can't revive their careers in other markets under different systems? Sometimes it just takes the right circumstances for a player to find their groove.

What the Maple Leafs should do with their free agents

The Maple Leafs have 11 unrestricted free agents (UFA) going into this summer. But which of these players deserve to stay and who should go?

For this blogger, I think most, if not all the Maple Leafs free agents should be shipped out, but I'll explore each player and how they can benefit the team.

Alexei Ponikarovsky - He's a big forward who has produced for the Leafs the last few seasons. He's currently in the top-three for team scoring with 33pts (18g - 15a) in 51 games. For Burke, he's likely a player he would want to keep. The Maple Leafs lack a player like Ponikarovsky in their top-six, which is a big forward who can make it hard on opposing defenders. Inconsistent play has plagued him at times this season, but overall he's a second liner on most NHL teams.

I believe Burke has to ship one of Ponikarovsky or Niklas Hagman (30 years old, $3million dollar cap hit). It's my belief that Burke would prefer to keep Ponikarovsky because of the size and big shot element he can bring to the team. But, I think if Ponikarovsky looks for a 4m dollar contract similar to what Antropov went for, then Burke will move him out at deadline time.

Matt Stajan - He's played well in a top-six position for the Maple Leafs these past two seasons. With the Maple Leafs lacking a true number one center Stajan has split time with Mikhail Grabovski as 1a and 1b centers for the Maple Leafs. With the emergence of Tyler Bozak over the last few games, he may make one of Stajan or Grabovski expendable. While it's unfair to assume Bozak makes either player expendable, one can rest assured that Burke will want 'his' guy, highly sought after college free-agent Tyler Bozak on his roster next season in some capacity. With Bozak's cap hit at 3m, he'll need to make room for him to stick on the roster.

Lee Stempniak, Jamal Mayers, Wayne Primeau, Rickard Wallin: All three of these players are replaceable on the Maple Leafs roster. Stempniak hasn't proven himself to be a top-six forward, thus is expendable. Jamal Mayers is 35 years old and is a prime candidate to be moved at the deadline to a team looking for veteran leadership in a 4th line role. Similar to Mayers, Wayne Primeau will also be a strong candidate to be moved. While he's been good for the Maple Leafs and is a local player he just doesn't make sense to keep around due to his age and durability. The Maple Leafs are better off moving him for a draft pick, and going with a younger 4th line center on the free-agency market. Rickard Wallin has been a non-factor most of the season, and will likely stay with the Maple Leafs for the remainder of the season and leave for Europe in the summer.

Mike Van Ryn, Garnet Exelby, Jonas Frogren: Mike Van Ryn hasn't played all season, and will be let go at seasons end. Garnet Exelby may be a decent commodity at deadline time. At best, he's a bottom pairing, hard-nosed defender which is usually sought after come trade deadline. He won't garner much, but a mid-round draft selection isn't out of the question. He's also a replaceable player on the Maple Leafs. Frogren hasn't played with the Maple Leafs this season, but is a depth defender who likely isn't going to be re-signed by the Maple Leafs. Frogren likely won't command much, if anything on the trade market and may head back to Europe at seasons end.

Vesa Toskala, Joey MacDonald: Both goalies have played very poorly this season, but that doesn't mean there is zero interest in a goalie like Toskala. His cap hit will be approximately 1 million dollars by trade deadline, which will turn some teams off. But if the Maple Leafs are willing to take some salary in return, they may be able to unload Toskala to a team looking for a veteran goalie (i.e. Calgary). MacDonald will likely walk as a free-agent at seasons end.

It's that time again...

The rumour mills are starting to heat up as teams begin to position themselves for playoff success. There wouldn't be any good rumours without a few Maple Leaf player names being thrown around.

And as always, it's the usual trio of players who are rumoured to be on the way out for the Maple Leafs. Tomas Kaberle, Matt Stajan and Alexei Ponikarovsky just can't seem to shake themselves from the attention they receive at trade deadline time, but the question is are they worth moving?

The Maple Leafs currently sit 3rd last in the NHL with 43 points, which puts them ahead of Edmonton (38) and Carolina (35) by a few, important, points. Any other team in the Maple Leafs position would be in full out sell mode, but one key point can't be overlooked: the Maple Leafs do not own a 1st round pick! Forget a top-three selection, they don't have a pick in the entire top 30! Heck, they don't have a pick in the top 60! And while Phil Kessel is an excellent player, and the Maple Leafs can't really worry about what Boston does with their pick, they still need to build for the future instead of the now.

Phil Kessel was a move to compliment both the now, and the future. Whether or not the move was a good one or a bad one is irrelevant at this point. What Brian Burke has to do now is access what he has, and what he needs to obtain in the next few months because next season won't be as forgiving for Burke should he find himself in a similar situation.