283 replies to this topic

[ahtikullervo]

1 Andrew RAYCROFT 1.800.000
32 Mikael TELLQVIST 589.000
30 Jean-Sebastien AUBIN 525.000

24 Brian McCABE 7.150.000
31 Pavel KUBINA 5.000.000
15 Tomas KABERLE 4.250.000
25 Hal GILL 2.050.000
45 Carlo COLAIACOVO 901.740
3 Wade BELAK 675.000
Chris HARRINGTON 515.000
56 Andrew WOZNIEWSKI 475.000

13 Mats SUNDIN 7.600.000
27 Michael PECA 2.500.000
16 Darcy TUCKER 1.596.000
92 Jeff O'NEILL 1.500.000
18 Chad KILGER 1.200.000
80 Nikolai ANTROPOV 1.007.000
42 Kyle WELLWOOD 800.000
10 Alexander STEEN 770.180
23 Aleksey PONIKAROVSKY 725.000
19 Aleksandr SUGLUBOV 646.000
53 John POHL 450.000
46 Ben ONDRUS 450.000

RFA:

Matt STAJAN

[DropThePuck]

Maple Leafs general manager John Ferguson installed Greg Gilbert as the new head coach of the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Thursday and continued to mull over possible additions to the big club's roster.
...
Ferguson confirmed that he'd talked to Andy Murray, the former head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, about the Marlies job, but he was happy to get Gilbert.
...
He'd like to add a scorer up front. He's talked with the agent for free agent Anson Carter but the price probably is too steep given the team's closeness to the $44-million US salary cap.

<link>

[Dark Knight]

Wallpaper from the Leafs website

[Dark Knight]

Here's another one, also from the Leafs site:

[Mortar]

heres a joke...

"Toronto Reporter"
Two boys are playing hockey on a pond in a park in Toronto, when one is attacked by a rabid Rottweiler. Thinking quickly, the other boy takes his stick, wedges it down the dogs collar and twists,breaking the dogs neck. A reporter who was strolling by sees the incident,and rushes over to interview the boy. "Young Leafs Fan Saves Friend From Vicious Animal," he starts writing in his notebook. "But I'm not a Leafs fan," the little hero replied. "Sorry, since we are in Toronto, I just assumed you were." said the reporter and starts again. "Little Jays Fan Rescues Friend From Horrific Attack" hecontinued writing in his notebook. "I'm not a Jays fan either," the boy said. "I assumed everyone in Toronto was either for the Leafs or Jays fan."What team do you root for?" the reporter asked. "I'm a Montreal Canadiens fan." the child said. The reporter starts a new sheet in his notebook and writes, "Little French Bastard from Montreal Kills Beloved Family Pet.

btw, great pic DK

[Dark Knight]

Quinn Takes Shot at Leafs

"What is success today?" Quinn said on CKNW radio over the weekend. "Is it just winning the (Stanley) Cup, or being a team that makes money? ... I don't know who defines success today. We have a lot of those middle managers, so to speak, the presidents that don't have a clue what is going on but might be able to build the logo. But you know what builds the logo? Winning hockey games.

Read More >>

[wildcat48]

Pat Quinn will be on AM640 at 1pm.

[DropThePuck]

Hap Day, Red Kelly and Borje Salming will have banners raised in their honour prior to the Toronto Maple Leafs' home opener Oct. 4, the NHL club announced Tuesday.

Banners previously raised feature Syl Apps, Ted Kennedy, Turk Broda, Johnny Bower, King Clancy, Tim Horton, George Armstrong, Charlie Conacher, Frank Mahovlich and Darryl Sittler.

Other banners hanging high above Air Canada Centre ice honour the contributions to the team by Ace Bailey and Bill Barilko, who are the only players who have had their numbers retired - Bailey's 6 and Barilko's 5.

<link>

[DropThePuck]

MLSE and Rogers form marketing partnership

Mats Sundin scores a goal, your cellphone rings and, if you're a Rogers subscriber, you can watch an instant replay from the Toronto Maple Leafs game wherever you happen to be.

It could happen within six to 12 months as part of the new six-year partnership announced Tuesday that makes Rogers Communications Inc. the “preferred communications supplier” to Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

<link>

[DropThePuck]

Maurice inheriting a tough season ahead
Lack of depth not his fault, just his problem

Thus, Toronto goes into the second post-lockout training camp with the same number of legitimate first-line forwards that it had going into last season. That number is one, and his name is Mats Sundin.
...
Just because your scouts haven't produced any first-line forwards in two decades however, doesn't mean you do not have to ice a first line each night. So he'll run, among others, players like Alex Steen, Kyle Wellwood, Matt Stajan and Alexei Ponikarovsky through on Sundin's flanks, a plan he admits should be, "More effective at the end of the year than at the start of the year, very probably."

<link>

[Dark Knight]

Maurice: Leafs will struggle for playoffs

"It's a dogfight now for everybody to get into the playoffs," he said. "My biggest concern outside of hockey is controlling the emotional rollercoaster our team will go on based on the interest in the team.

Read More >>

[DropThePuck]

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Paul Maurice smiles as he answers questions from the media on the first day of Leafs hockey training camp in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2006.
(AP Photo/Frank Gunn, CP)


Toronto Maple Leafs' Michael Peca smiles after answering questions for the media on the first day of Leafs training camp in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2006.
(AP Photo/Frank Gunn, CP)

[DropThePuck]

On a day when 8,021 fans packed the Ricoh Coliseum to cheer on Mats Sundin in a glorified scrimmage, it was a pair of relative unknowns — centre Erik Westrum and rookie linemate Jiri Tlusty — who stole the show.

Westrum scored twice and Tlusty once, each showing skill and patience that belie their experience, as the pair of long shots did their best to shorten the odds.

<link>

[Dark Knight]

Tie Domi announces retirement, joins TSN

The announcement was made official moments ago during a press conference at the Air Canada Centre as the respected NHL veteran formally announced his retirement. He's the latest addition to the TSN family following recent signings this year of Brian Williams, James Cybulski and Darren Dreger.

Read More >>

I guess my wishes that'd join the youth movement in Detroit won't come to pass

[DropThePuck]

Tie Domi announces his retirement from professional hockey during a news conference in Toronto Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006. Domi, one of the team's most popular players for a decade, played 1,020 games in the league with the Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets and is fourth all-time in penalty minutes with just over 3,500.
(AP PHOTO/CP, Adrian Wyld)


Toronto Maple Leafs' Tie Domi bites his lip as he announces his retirement from professional hockey during a news conference in Toronto Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006.
(AP PHOTO/CP, Adrian Wyld)

[goavsgo]

Colaiacovo gets clearance; won't be rushed

After exhaustive medical testing which concluded yesterday, Carlo Colaiacovo has been given medical clearance to return to practice.

Link

[Dark Knight]

Kubina faces suspension for crosscheck

As the Toronto Maple Leafs struggle to deal with an injury-depleted blueline, it is quite likely they will be without defenceman Pavel Kubina for opening against the Ottawa Senators.

Read More >>

[DropThePuck]

Toronto set to celebrate the end of an era

The 1967 Maple Leafs were not only the last Toronto squad to hoist the Stanley Cup, they were the last champions from an era celebrated by all hockey purists. The 1966-67 season was the last of the "Original Six" as the NHL would expand to 12 teams.

So when Toronto welcomes back members of that legendary team this Saturday at the Air Canada Centre, including Conn Smythe winner Dave Keon whose presence will end a 31-year feud with the organization, Leafs fans and the NHL will be celebrating not only the 40th anniversary of that team, but the end of an era.

[DropThePuck]

Toronto Maple Leafs' Darcy Tucker, foreground, and Travis Green, left, are shown in blowing snow during practice at a newly refurbished outdoor hockey rink in Toronto, Monday, March 5, 2007.
(AP PHOTO/CP, Aaron Harris)


Toronto Maple Leafs' Travis Green takes a hot drink during practice at a newly refurbished outdoor hockey rink in Toronto, Monday, March 5, 2007. A glaring sun, wind gusts and a chill factor in the minus 20s cut short the Toronto Maple Leafs’ outdoor practice to 45 minutes Monday.
(AP PHOTO/CP, Aaron Harris)


Toronto Maple Leafs' Mats Sundin takes to the ice during practice at a newly refurbished outdoor hockey rink in Toronto, Monday, March 5, 2007. A glaring sun, wind gusts and a chill factor in the minus 20s cut short the Toronto Maple Leafs’ outdoor practice to 45 minutes Monday.
(AP PHOTO/CP, Aaron Harris)


Toronto Maple Leafs' Wade Belak stretches during practice at a newly refurbished outdoor hockey rink in Toronto, Monday, March 5, 2007. A glaring sun, wind gusts and a chill factor in the minus 20s cut short the Leafs’ outdoor practice to 45 minutes Monday.
(AP PHOTO/CP, Aaron Harris)

[DropThePuck]

Darcy Tucker had an unusual complaint after the Maple Leafs practised Monday.

"It was too bright out there," said the rambunctious right-winger. The NHL team's annual outdoor practice was held amid difficult conditions with gusting winds driving the chill factor into the -20s, a brief snow squall and a glaring sun. Head coach Paul Maurice ordered his men off the ice after 45 minutes.

The 250 children who got an hour out of school to bundle up against the cold loved every minute of it, and the players did, too. It was a refreshing break from routine for the Leafs before they resume their pursuit of the eighth and final NHL playoff berth with a home game against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.

<link>



Toronto Maple Leafs' Mats Sundin is bundled up during practice at a newly refurbished outdoor hockey rink in Toronto, Monday, March 5, 2007. A glaring sun, wind gusts and a chill factor in the minus 20s cut short the Toronto Maple Leafs’ outdoor practice to 45 minutes Monday.
(AP PHOTO/CP, Aaron Harris)


Toronto Maple Leafs' Bryan McCabe, left, looks on as Mats Sundin adjusts his balaclava during practice at a newly refurbished outdoor hockey rink in Toronto, Monday, March 5, 2007. A glaring sun, wind gusts and a chill factor in the minus 20s cut short the Leafs’ outdoor practice to 45 minutes Monday.
(AP PHOTO/CP, Aaron Harris)


Toronto Maple Leafs' Yanic Perreault hands out pucks to kids during practice at a newly refurbished outdoor hockey rink in Toronto, Monday, March 5, 2007. A glaring sun, wind gusts and a chill factor in the minus 20s cut short the Leafs’ outdoor practice to 45 minutes Monday.
(AP PHOTO/CP, Aaron Harris)


Toronto Maple Leafs' Nik Antropov skates during practice at a newly refurbished outdoor hockey rink in Toronto, Monday, March 5, 2007. A glaring sun, wind gusts and a chill factor in the minus 20s cut short the Leafs’ outdoor practice to 45 minutes Monday.
(AP PHOTO/CP, Aaron Harris)

[DropThePuck]

"I'm sure for the fans it was pretty exciting," said Leafs forward Kyle Wellwood, attending Sunday night's Raptors NBA game. "When New Jersey scored at the end, it was unbelievable. With 15 seconds left, it looked like the Islanders were going to the clear the puck.

"When Jersey scored, we figured things might go our way."

Ferguson fought to control tears during a media scrum in the Leafs dressing room held moments after the Isles' victory.

"It's going to take a little while to collect my thoughts here," said a visibly emotional Ferguson. "Disappointing. A lot of good things happened for us this year. Some great play from a lot of the younger players. But all that's lost on us at this point."

<link>

[Dark Knight]

Jail time tolls for new Leaf Bell

Bell pleaded guilty in a San Jose courtroom Tuesday to charges of drunk driving causing injury and hit and run.

The Leaf forward, picked up in the Vesa Toskala trade with San Jose in June, will be sentenced to six months in a Santa Clara ,California county jail to be served at the end of this upcoming season.

Read More >>

[Loz]

Oh god, why trade him then? Didn't he know this?

[Duck304]

What a jackass.

[Duckbill]

Well he plays for the leafs, so the mathematical end of the season for Toronto could come as early as January.

[Duck304]

I think the Leafs are going all the way next year - or get close. Definately will be a successful year I think.

[GLOVESAVE35]

Some amusing stuff to pass the time:

Veteran Globe & Mail columnist Allan Maki -- who just happens to be about the nicest fellow one could meet -- ran afoul of Leafs Nation with his column on Wednesday aptly entitled "FLASH! LEAFS SCRIMMAGE! NATION ATWITTER!" In the piece, Maki poked fun at the absurd level of coverage accorded the Leafs' first group scrimmage of the summer -- a workout at Lakeshore Lions Arena that pre-dated training camp by a full month.

Read more here

[Dark Knight]

[Loz]

HAHA!

A Kings jersey needs to go over that and everything will be perfect then

[DropThePuck]

Bower feared 'Rocket' the most

"Everywhere I go, everybody wants to know when Toronto will win another Cup," he said. "I don't know what to say anymore. There are 30 teams today and it's not as easy. I think you have to go with the young legs. Look at (head coach) Randy Carlyle and the Anaheim Ducks (2007 Stanley Cup champs). They were fantastic with their young kids."
...
And, he's not too crazy about new NHL regulations that limit the dimensions of goalie pads.

"The way they shoot the puck today I'd be cheating too," he said. "I don't know if I could play today. We had a defensive hockey club and I might get 25 or 30 shots a game. Today, they get 30 or 40 since they took the red line out."

During regular duty in 15 NHL seasons, Bower never posted anything higher than a 2.85 GAA. He was a stand-up goalie who played the angles and perfected the pokecheck.

"I learned that from Charlie Rayner in New York," he said. "It's so effective. Goalies today don't realize you add another 53 inches when you dive. It's all timing.

"And, if you miss the puck, you can trip the guy."

<link>