Mark Zwolinski from the treeware division just called in this bit of breaking news from the Leafs dressing room at Ricoh. The first cuts are in, and they are:
Drew Kivell, defenceman, will return to Lakehead University.
Derek LeBlanc, forward, goes back to Brandon Juniors.
Pat Sutton, defenceman, late of Belleville OHL, going now to Pensacola of the East Coast Hockey League.
Brent Aubin, forward, returns to Rouyn-Noranda of the Quebec Major Leagues.
CY - any word on the Making the Cut winner Dominic Noel? I was expecting to see his name up there on the first day of cuts. Or is the feeling more or less, he won a competition but really, do you actually expect MLSE to take a serious look at him?
Posted by: mm | September 16, 2005 at 01:43 PM
MM, Noel is playing on a line with Jan Steber and any of a number of centres, including Jason Allison. Like you, I didn't think he'd be around much past today, but he is. His absolute best-case scenario would be a place in the AHL, but even that's a longshot. For what it's worth, the Leafs do like the kid.
Posted by: cy | September 16, 2005 at 02:00 PM
First off. . . . . the guys I would put up for a shootout is Sundin, Steen, Thomas, McCabe, and Sundin. . . after we put a new jersey and wig on the swede.
My question for Chris is does enough room exist to put Thomas, Stajan, and Steen on the opening day roster?
Thanks
Dan
Posted by: Conin79 | September 16, 2005 at 07:09 PM
Watching the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp sessions, puts me in mind of an Echo & the Bunnymen concert circa 1980. A bunch of guys with nice haircuts, three-day growth of beards, attitude, star treatment and boring as heck.
Real excitement is watching Bob Gainey, one of the most emotional people you will ever meet welcoming Youppi! to les glorieux with a hug that would surely make Carlo Colaiacovo feel like he belonged. Mike Keene must be pining for the days when he was a member of the vaunted bleu, blanc et rouge. Besides there are more places to go after a practice on Maisonneuve than the whole of Toronto.
Dave Keon was the greatest Hab there never was!
Posted by: Abnormal Hab Fan | September 17, 2005 at 05:37 PM
No matter what they say about about the guy from "Making the Cut", which I never saw one episode or screenshot of; he is (1) still there, and (2) occupying tons of positive news. Even if he makes the AHL, or even the ECHL, he has still done more than most people who chose media over actual attempt. Media is important, media now pays for everything, but all media should always drop the hint that the people they are writing and talking about sacrificed their lives and their heart to be a member of the centre of attention, not the periphery. God bless the Leafs for how they are treating him, and I'm a Habs fan.
Posted by: Angus Lang | September 18, 2005 at 03:03 PM
Dan, I don't see how the Leafs could keep all three of these guys you mention on the big team. Stajan and Steen are guys who could go up and down from the minors. And as I've said before, I don't see Thomas, if he makes this club, getting a fringe spot. Not sure if that completely answers your question, but it's early days yet. Sorry for the tardiness in replying.
Posted by: cy | September 19, 2005 at 11:01 AM