z_The Hockey Page - Toronto Star

A rush of stanchions to the head

A game! At last! Sort of. At least, it looked that way. Including a delay to fix a seam in the glass, and a kid in the stands – one of those pancake-stuffed season ticket-holder kids, and correct me if it doesn’t apply, but isn’t school back in? – trying to start up some officially licensed clapping.

Memo to Ricoh: Those seams, or stanchions, as Star hockey guy Ken Campbell insists they are called, are as flimsy as a Tom Jakobek story. Eric Lindros throws a check and clank! Another one falls. Dominic D’Amour – good name, that one – did the same. A shot, a bodycheck, it didn’t matter. Six times there were clanks and another seam/stanchion was falling to the ice.

Ah well, it’s just September. It’s all good. We’re still looking for our first two-line pass, but hey. We got time.

You’re wondering about the line combinations. So am I.

On this first morning scrimmage, let’s just say everyone played with everyone. Eric Lindros started with Chad Kilger on his left and Tie Domi on his right, a grouping that got some time together later on. Camp invitee Steve Thomas skated alongside No. 88 too, and the trio clicked for a goal by left winger Kris Newbury. Lindros and Kilger were joined by Mike Hoffman, a unit that together amounts to over 700 pounds of pure hoss.

As for Jeff O’Neill in the white jersey opposite, he showed some pretty good forechecking, a couple nice moves and a quick snapshot and was rewarded with a goal for it. A line of O’Neill, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Matt Stajan was reunited from time to time. The new Leaf also played with some of the fringers here, including Making the Cut guy Dominic Noel.

And in the department of pitchers being ahead of the hitters, goalies Mikael Tellqvist and Jean-Francois Racine looked sharp.

Carlo Colaiacovo, looking for a big-league job, spent most of his time paired with Ian White, and didn’t particularly distinguish himself. Didn’t do anything to hurt himself either.

Looking good? Kilger, Racine in goal and especially O’Neill caught our eye.

Worried? Well, Jason Allison skated with the white team in their pregame practice, but wasn’t around once the scrimmage began. (UPDATE: Allison later explained that he has a mild hip flexor strain, and took himself out "even though I felt great. I'll be ready come October 5").

Big Swede Staffan Kronvall got one in on Lindros, putting the star on his backside with a solid check. Afterward the poor fellow didn't know whether to smile or run for cover:

"I knew it was him – I actually tried to hold back a bit. I could’ve hit him harder. I definitely felt it wasn’t the right guy to hit.

"You gotta respect these guys, definitely. Hopefully he’s going to be my teammate one day. We’ll see what he says after this."

Lindros had a few things to say after the hit, actually.

And this sort-of game ended in a shootout, after going 2-2 tie in 60 minutes (straight time) of regulation. O’Neill potted the only goal in the decider. You read it here first. And probably last.

Officially licensed pancakes

An 8 a.m. wakeup call at the Ricoh Coliseum. Smog on the Gardiner outside. Fog on the plexiglass inside.

"Are you here for the season ticket-holders event?" asks the Leafs employee in the lobby.

This ain’t summer camp anymore.

It began with Pat Quinn, the Leafs assistants, 16 skaters and two goalies taking to the ice for drills. Oh yeah, and two or three dozen season ticket holders with a lot of time on their hands and a hunger for officially licensed pancakes.

The remainder of the training-camp group waited until later in the morning for their chance. Most of it was routine stuff, including a goodly amount of 2-on-2 work.

Here’s your opening-morning lines – make sure you write ‘em down in pencil: Sundin-Tucker-Antropov in the dark blue jerseys, Alexander Steen-Czerkawski-Shaun Landolt in grey, and Clark Wilm-Brad Leeb-Derek LeBlanc in baby blue, or as Jerry Howarth would say, powder-blue.

Ouch note: An Antropov snapshot during a half-ice game of 2-on-2 ended up hitting Darcy Tucker’s ankle, putting him over on the bench in pain. After a short break, he returned.

Defence was a matter of mixing and matching from a group of seven: Newcomers Alexei Khavanov and Brad Brown looked at home, and were joined by Tomas Kaberle, Marc Moro, Steven Later, Phil Oreskovic and Jay Harrison.

In net, Ed Belfour and Todd Ford.

Instant impressions: Steen looked particularly lively. And only an hour into the season, Sundin still needs a winger. And if you’re looking for anything more conclusive at this ungodly hour, ask the season ticket holders.

Camping trip

Quick hit this morning before we head out to Ricoh Coliseum -- eager to check out some actual Maple Leafs hockey. Yup, it's starting to feel like the NHL is back (finally! says Rosie DiManno this morning) - we'll get you some updates from the ice today. Like who made that slick pass to Mariusz Czerkawski (and did he finish?), is Steve Thomas really in shape and we do want to make sure Lindros is keeping his head up. Check back later and we'll let you know.

Keeping our files in order, we see Peter Bondra landing in Atlanta where the salary cap is still an issue with Ilya Kovalchuk still unsigned. Hello? Thrashers? Should prolly lock this kid up before you sign those 37-year-olds.

Eyes on Wayne Gretzky this morning, taking the Coyotes under his influence. The Great One has his own expectations.

Habs fans welcome back Michael Ryder.

And just 'cause we've been pestering you with Pavel Datsyuk updates.

Off to camp.

Some last-minute notes

Tomorrow we'll be posting these through the morning and early afternoon from the Ricoh Coliseum, as the Leafs start the first day of training camp.

This morning, though, it was one more helping of talking, sandwiched around team medicals, physicals and comparing tanlines. First quote of the day honours went to Pat Quinn, when asked if he'd be complaining any more than usual to referees this year: "Complain is the wrong word. I try to help them."

Okay, maybe it wasn't so honourworthy. But it's early days yet. When about four dozen media are hanging around on every word, you're going to hear so much of this stuff it ought to come with a Health Canada advisory.

Anyway, here's the plan: Tuesday through Friday at the Ricoh has the Leafs split into three groups, two of which will play against each other while the other group does drills in a day that will begin with the drills-only side at 8 a.m.

Pat Quinn: "That's the quickest way to get the rust off, is actually being out there competing. So we'll have four days of good scrimmage that should help them move along. ... We saw at Team Canada's training camp -- the players that didn't play last year showed a lot more rust, or slowness in their thinking and play. Some of the players that did not play here might take a little bit longer, but as I said we're going to try and go for high-tempo, high-pace to our practices and do a lot of fundamental work early."

And of course you want to know who's playing with who. Here's how the teams are split up (The Leafs' official web$ite has a training-map roster):

Team A: Tucker, Sundin, Antropov, Williams, Steen, Belak, LeBlanc, Wim, Landolt, Mitchell, Leeb; Khavanov, Kaberle, Moro, Harrison, Later, Oreskovic; Belfour, Ford.

Team B: Ponikarovsky, Engelhardt, Steber, Sagat, Allison, Stajan, Pohl, Kukumberg, O'Neill, Perrott, Noel; McCabe, Wozniewski, Berg, Kronwall, Marsh, Kivel; Tellqvist, Pogge.

Team C: Kilger, Murphy, Fulghum, Lindros, Wellwood, St. Jacques, Domi, Aubin, Hoffman, Ondrus;   Colaiacovo, Bell, D'Amour, Klee, White; Racine, Aubin.

I dunno, I like the look of that Team A. Just a hunch.

Oh, and one other tidbit: Leafs are considering going with as small as a 20-man NHL roster, which probably doesn't bode well for non-roster players getting a camp invite. Yup, that would mean Steve Thomas and Bryan Marchment.

So let the speculation begin! Add a little bit of the usual pre-camp optimism from Ferguson on the Leafs' off-season additions -- "We think we've extracted real good value in different areas and put together a club here that at this point has come together. We like the pieces we've got in place. We think we can get more out of some (players) than others might" -- and it's time to get this thing started.

Cough please

Happy team medicals day. Always a special time of year, this.

Before we switch our gaze to the ice (finally!), there's one lockout wound still raw -- the disintegration management of the players' association. The Star's Rick Westhead has been leading the way on this one. Dissident Wayne Roloson put it this way to Westhead: "This is supposed to be a democratic union and it's become communist." Damien Cox figures Ted Saskin should step down. And do it quickly and with a minimum of fuss, because as it is this one is already turning into an eye-glazer for the rest of us:

"Hockey fans probably don't care what happens to this union, a group many learned to despise as salaries went through the roof over the past decade."

Memo to Damien: Drop the word "probably". Fans don't care about sports labour issues until they turn toxic. Then they regard both sides with contempt.

Elsewhere, John Ferguson Jr. is talking. He's not saying much, but he is talking:

"I think we can be a contender, but we have a long way to go before we prove that."

New Leaf Jeff O'Neill's tragic summer has given way to a new fall outlook: "It's great to be here. But not five seconds goes by without me thinking of my brother," he says in this fine piece.

Poolies alert: Ryan Getzlaf. (registration required).

Yeah, another Yanic Perreault touch down. Won't be here, though.

The latest newzzzzzz out of Pavel Datzyuk's world is confusing, but apparently the end is nigh. We hope.

And finally, it's good to hear that Peter Forsberg is recovering from surgery.

 

I'm no Giant Neotropical Toad

CP/TOM  HANSON

Jimmy Bonneau of the baby Habs lands a baby punch on the baby face of the baby Leafs' Dominic D'Amour.

Farewell, Al McInnis. If there ever was a point man who looked to have a heavier shot than Big Al -- imagine standing in front of it, brrr -- I'm too young to have seen 'em. And I'm not exactly a spring chicken. (speaking of which, who else comes to mind when you think of 'heaviest shot'? Lidstrom for one, I guess. Gordie Howe had one of those too. I'll stop there, before any more of my grey roots are showing).

Speaking of roots, the latest missives on the Leafs' mooted additions are in. Like Mike Keane. Like Jason York, perhaps. Keep it up, and come Monday morning, that could be these bozos out there at the Ricoh looking for work as shock troops.

It's pretty slim pickings around here, meantime, waiting with toes curled for news of Marius Czerkawski's physical. Nothing like a photo of two Leafs and Habs duking it out to get the blood pumping on such a day. Leafs and Habs rookies, mind you, two guys named D'Amour and Bonneau locked in grimacing glory. Habs. Leafs. Fight. Yay.

Elsewhere, Ilya Kovalchuk has already started his season, and it's not here.

Kris Draper doesn't like the trap (hey, who does? Other than egghead coaches with too much time on their hands, yokul expansion fans who don't know the difference, and TV analysts, that is.) 

The Devils are overloaded, and have to toss $5 million of contract over the side.

The Penguins will announce the Sid Crosby signing today.

And if anybody's got any ideas about streaking the preseason opener, I urge you to read this first.

And geez, I almost forgot -- Leafs are apparently ready to re-sign Nathan Perrott. The victory parade awaits.

Pay up

So, would you pay to watch the Leafs on TV? This year's schedule has 13 games on the Leafs' house TV organ, available only on digital cable, and so we have The Star website's question of the day, where you can register your displeasure -- and that's where we're at early on, at 9 a.m., with 95 per cent of 200 respondents saying NO.

So at least we know those respondents are not going to buy it. But you know the way it works. If people are willing to pay to fill the ACC up to standing-room only year after year, the Leafs make a lot of money but have little real impetus to change. And now, in this latest "brand extension," if enough people are dumb enough willing to pay for a digital box that brings them 13 games on pay-TV not available on cable or networks, it will only mean more of this in the future.

So there's the solution: If you don't like it, don't buy it. Meantime, Leafs execs are feeling pretty good about themselves. You'd think they'd won a Stanley Cup or something, the way Leafs broadcasting boss John Shannon put it:

"This is a watershed day for us. We've been trumpeting this for four years and everybody thought we were full of it."

Hmmm. Wonder what they're thinking of them today.

What are the Leafs getting with your money? Well, Alexei Ponikarovsky has re-signed and Marius Czerkawski says he's in too. Don't count on Peter Bondra -- the Washington Post (registration required) reports he's back talking with the Caps about a one-year deal worth between $1.5 million and $2 mil. -- but check here for who's left in the NHL's remainder bin, with less than a week till training camp.

Elsewhere, it's another busy morning. There's a bit of confusion in Detroit regarding the Pavel Datsyuk deal and whether he might be able to return to the NHL this year. Matt Cooke is chillin'. And check here for Sid Crosby's possible contract details.

   

Questions, questions

Yanic Perreault?

Yeah, that's the latest "Will work for minimum" type apparently sniffing around the Leafs tree, according to the Fan 590's Howard Berger.

Perreault ... Thomas ... Marchment ... Marius Czerkawski. We must be getting close to the start of training camp, because we've almost got a starting five there, sans the walkers and ear trumpets. Oh wait, here comes Nik Antropov -- still underwhelming. The Leafs' very own default setting, that funny ol' Nik.

Are any of these guys serviceable? How do they fit? -- especially Czerkawski, who appears to be the most serious candidate for a job here in the centre of the hockey universe. (Sorry. Last time you'll see that bromide here, promise.)

The Star's Damien Cox turns his gaze toward that very future here in the CoHU (okay, that's our acronym from now on), given the new rules and all, and it's not a pretty picture:

"If this latest crackdown on obstruction actually holds and if the removal of the red line for two-line passes does open up a new degree of movement and flow, there is likely to be a premium on quick, nimble players. And the Leafs don't have a lot of those."

Hey, Damien, what about Perreault? I mean, Gil Perreault, of course. He's available.

In yesterday's comments, regular poster Denial likened "an inanimate carbon rod" as an adequate replacement for Islanders architect Mike Milbury. Which brings us to today's question: What animal, vegetable or mineral would do the best job in lieu of John Ferguson Jr.? Hypothetically speaking, of course.

Elsewhere on a busy morning -- full of technical difficulties at this end, so apologies for the late posting -- there's lots going on: The Devils, poor lads, are wondering about life without Scott Stevens; the Rangers figure Mark Messier will be following Stevens into the golden sunset; Vinny Damphousse has hung it up; Steve Yzerman figures the year off has helped his body (and watch for that to be a recurring pattern early and perhaps even later on in the season).

And oh yeah, Mario Lemieux may be shifting back to centre. If he signs. Himself, that is.

Some talking points

Couple of things in this double post day: Scott Stevens is retiring. Meantime, the NHL’s new rulebook has players wondering – with a good deal of understandable skepticism -- how it will play out once the season begins.

Here’s some highlights from a conference call the league held today with Northeast and Atlantic Division players:

Dany Heatley, Ottawa, on whether allowing two-line passes into the neutral zone will open play up, or merely set the trap further back:

“It could work – and it could get worse. You just got to try it out and see what happens. I think if they call the obstruction and all that stuff like they say they will, it’ll open it up and it’ll help. I mean, even if get that one breakaway every period or every game I think it’s worth it.”

Daniel Briere, Buffalo:

“I have doubts, like everybody else. But it just seems that there’s more people talking about it ... They’ve tried it before, and it didn’t work. That’s why it makes me believe they might stick with it this time.”

More Heatley:

“If it’s not going to be this year, it’s never going to happen. I think with the lockout like Danny says there’s a lot of talk. I think it’s now or never for everybody. We want to get the game growing and I think this is a big part of it.”

Glen Murray, Boston:

“They say it’s zero tolerance. Hopefully they really mean that zero tolerance for the hooking and holding and all that stuff. Personally I think 10 or 15 games into the season you’re going to see a lot of breakaways, because the d-men will be – the D aren’t that smart anyway, sometimes – they will be way up by centre ice. By the time they realize we get more room with those two-line passes it’ll be trapped up again.”

Sheldon Souray, Montreal, gives a defenceman’s perspective:

“The clutching and the grabbing in your own zone, some of that … instead of running into guys, just playing your position a little better and try not to take penalties – I think (defencemen) will have little more of an adjustment period to that. … I think it’s going to affect teams that have great puck-playing goalies, like Dallas or New Jersey, there are some goalies who really play the puck a lot and make it easier for their guys – I think those teams will struggle with it, as opposed to those teams who are not maybe having their goalie play the puck a lot.”

Mats Sundin, Leafs:

“When you played New Jersey before it’s been really tough to forecheck them because Martin (Brodeur) is out there playing the puck every time you dump it in -- it doesn’t matter if you put it on the glass or where you put it.  … Hopefully we can put a little more pressure on him.”

Here's Brodeur, with his none-too-joyful take on that part of his game being taken away:

"I'm not really thrilled about it, that's for sure. ... You could sit here and complain about all the change, but I think we're here to work with the league in trying to make this a better game and if they think this is one way to go, I'll agree. As far as for (I am)concerned, I think it's a skill that I worked all my life (on), a lot of goalies have been working a lot at it, and it's been taken away from us. Definitely, that's kind of tough to take -- but on the other hand, we're going to have to adjust and the better goalies will be able to make it work for themselves. I know there will be no more red line, so we're going to make passes all the way back to the other blue line. So that's a positive. Definitely there will be an effect, not just on goalies but on defencemen ... I think you'll see a lot more banging and maybe your top defencemen getting hurt because the goalies can't interfere in the play and make plays for their own team."

 

Mark Recchi, Pittsburgh:

"You're going to have teams that are just trying to survive and stay close in games and they are going to stay back, but the successful teams are going to be the teams that forecheck, and forecheck extremely hard, and create those offensive plays. I know (Flyers coach Ken) Hitchcock has talked a lot about that with Keith (Primeau)."

Okay, last word to Primeau:

"I don't necessarily believe you're going to trap a little deeper into your own zone. Just watching the Canadian Olympic camp two weeks ago there was a slight adjustment you began to see by the end of the week players starting to cheat outside the blueline. There's that part of risk that now enters into the game, while the gap of the defensive falling back is greater between the forwards and the defence which wasn't there before. So it is going to change the dynamic."

Meantime, Sundin offers these sweet nothings on this year’s Leafs:

“I think we did lose some key players during the offseason, but I think we’ve made some great additions to our roster. Obviously you’d like to see the guys that we added healthy, or all of us on the team. I like the way our roster looks. It looks great on paper, but you have to do it out on the ice. I think the key for us is we do have some new faces, and we want to make sure that we get the right chemistry and get a good atmosphere in our dressing room. We’ll have to start that on Monday – make sure that we get the same strong dressing room we’ve had, I think, the past five or six years, and if we do that, I think we’ll do fine.”

A job for life, almost

Imagine a sports world where 15-year contracts were the norm, along the lines of the one pitched by the Islanders at Rick DiPietro. Imagine if the deals a team makes today reverberated more than a decade down the line. In other words, imagine a world where the Leafs would just be preparing for life without Yanic Perreault.

Is there any case where signing a pro athlete for 15 years could be considered a wise move? Discuss.

Hey, it was a long weekend and we were far, far away. You might have seen this DiPietro yarn already. In any case, it was the most way-out-there item of the holiday, unless you count Mark Messier coming back as an Oiler.

Other stuff to mull over (check in later for other breaking stuff, we'll be keeping our eyes turned on): Here's some NHL futures and a commentary courtesy of a poster over on the TML fansite's boards; Ryan Smyth to the Flyers? Check it out; With Pavel Datsyuk signed to play in Russia, the Wings are looking at other options including Peter Bondra; Count Bryan McCabe as one guy (among who knows how many, but it's more than a few) who figures the Ted Saskin deal smells a bit ripe.