Two days 'till new ice age. And while Chris gets ready to celebrate the end of the CBC lockout in his own way over in his JABS forum, we have to feel good about a promising weekend with a couple of wins over the Red Wings and the headline on Ken Campbell's story says it best: Leafs are gathering Steen.
The auditions are over, so we move on without our beloved Stumpy -- despite our best efforts (read: Stumpython)
We caught Steve Thomas on the radio this morning, saying the door could still be open in Toronto, if only a little. Thomas said has been told to stay in shape - a call could still come, despite his admission to having just an average training camp. Fans did their part to contribute to one of the best pre-season stories - Thomas singled out a moment last week when he skated to centre ice for his turn during a shootout against the Sabres. The crowd's reaction was electric.
But you have to feel good after watching Alex Steen and Matt Stajan work together scoring goals, killing (so many) penalties. And this from Jlo (?) in the comments section of this forum from the weekend:
"In a straight-up trade, blockbuster-style, would you take O'Neill, Lindros, Allison, Kavhanov and Czerkawski for Nolan, Roberts, Niewendyk, Mogilny and Leetch? The Leafs are younger and stronger. Get rid of Aki Berg, and we're in business."
So it all starts this week. I think we're actually excited. The penalty parade is one to worry about, but there are signs of the wide-open game we're all seeking.
"Now, you've got Harlem Globetrotter hockey," says Boston Bruin Tom Fitzgerald.
Like that idea. Helluva segue to the links:
If the goal is Globetrotter hockey, are the Detroit Pistons the red flags?
"The referees have been using a couple of key red flags," Predators Coach Barry Trotz says. "One is if your stick is parallel to the ice, that's a red flag because you're probably going to put it in someone's side and hook someone. Or if there's just one hand on your stick and you're in a battle for the puck, that's another red flag."
New rules and red flags were brought in to make this game fly, but could the real future of the NHL lie in Carolina? Maybe so. Let's just hope we're not counting on fans in Washington.
Harlem Globetrotter hockey. So who's Wilt Chamberlain? Maybe this guy.
"To be honest, when I was younger, I kind of set my goal and I went for it," says Jaromir Jagr. "I had it in my head -- if I'm going to help this team, I have to win the scoring title. That's what I always said when I was in Pittsburgh and that's the only way I can help this team. This is the thing I know the best."
Taking a step off the ice, today Steve Moore is in court to testify for his suit against Todd Bertuzzi and others. Good read from Denver Post columnist Terry Frei:
"How bizarre is this? At noon today the Avalanche introduces its remade roster, including Brad May. Minutes later, a few blocks away, former Avalanche winger Steve Moore will be testifying at a hearing in Denver District Court, hoping the judge will allow his lawsuit to proceed in Colorado. He is suing, among others, Brad May."
The Calgary Flames make their picks for best team in the league. (Sorry, no Leaf references here)
Finally Brett Hull, on the Great One behind the bench:
"I think everyone has underestimated how intimidated players are reacting to Wayne being there (behind the bench)," says Hull. "Their expectations of themselves have risen, and I think they're having trouble grasping that within themselves. They're nervous and they're playing tight. I think that's going to take some time to wear off."
The Leafs not only had a good 2002 draft, as noted in the article on Alex Steen, they also picked up a lot of good young talent in 2001 when they drafted Carlo Colaiacovo (17th), Karel Pilar (39th), Kyle Wellwood (134th) and Maxim Kondratiev (168th). They also picked up Brendan Bell and Jay Harrison in 2001 but while they were highly rated, they don't appear to be destined for NHL careers.
Posted by: Carmen Bellissimo | October 03, 2005 at 10:01 AM
Carmen, you're right. Brendan Bell and Jay Harrison don't appear to be destined for the NHL because they had the great misfortune of being drafted by Toronto. A kiss of death for a young hockey player. There's not enough space here to list past examples. J'ai digress.
Ha! So it has been confirmed that Steve Thomas is too old and too insignificant in light of younger, better players to make the Leafs. Nothing against Thomas (except for his stupid nickname), but if he and Marchment made the big club, the Leafs would be in far greater trouble. The amount of time and energy the Star committed to hyping Thomas is yet another shining example of all that ails pro hockey in this town. Where the hell was the Star when Neidermayer was available? Strangely silent then weren't you? And you guys know hockey eh? Riiight (Damien Cox excluded).
The Leafs should be grateful they don't have the Washington Capitals' problems. If about 10 US based teams went belly up, it'd make the game that much better. Call me old fashioned, but in my books, if you're selling a certain product you ought to go where the maximum amount of your customers would be.
Sure, Toronto looked good against Detroit this weekend past, but that bubble will burst come Wednesday night when the Ottawa Senators arrive. Kids, the Leafs will manhandle the subpar teams this year, squeak into the playoffs, and be humbled in the first round. Most likely by Ottawa. Too bad too, because I was enjoying watching the Sens lose year after year to the Leafs. And yet another hockey tradition soon to be vanquished.
Posted by: FlamFlim | October 03, 2005 at 12:43 PM
The maximum amount of customers are probably in the USA. There are ten times as many people there, and as denial pointed out the other day, it is the casual fans (bandwagon fans I think he said) that make the money, not the hardcore types like us who post on hockey blogs. I won't make any predictions except that I am going to enjoy watching hockey again this year.
Posted by: Jlo | October 03, 2005 at 10:31 PM
I really wish people would stop acting like the Leafs have to replace Brian Leetch.. the guy was a trade-deadline transaction that only appeared in just over a dozen regular season games -- he had no part in the 16-game point streak in the middle of the season. If anything, it's (ironically) O'Neill, Lindros, Allison, Kavhanov and Czerkawski for Nolan, Roberts, Niewendyk, Mogilny and Marchment.
Just something to put into perspective.
Posted by: VanderSwag | October 04, 2005 at 12:29 AM