The Hockey Business Heats Up

The hockey business has its rhythms, its natural ebbs and flows. Usually there's a break in the action, at least the visible activity, between the end of the Stanley Cup final and the draft, which then leads into the free agent market July 1st.

Thanks to Jim Balsillie, however, there really was no break. The frenetic speculation about the possibility of the NHL going to a real hockey market - Hamilton - rather than trying to force its product down the throats of more unsuspecting Americans made last week busy indeed.

Now we return to our regularly scheduled programming, namely rumours and conjecture about various teams and their plans, including:

What in the world is going on in Ottawa? It seems John Muckler is out as GM, but a little foggy as to why that is the case. Some suggest it's the clubs revolving goaltending door, others the inability to pick up Gary Roberts at the trade deadline and still others link the possible Muckler ouster to front office movement in Boston, where GM Peter Chiarelli may have been inclined to chase Ottawa assistant John Paddock as head coach, thus forcing the Sens to look at having Paddock take over behind the bench from Bryan Murray.

It sure seems, however, as though the euphoria of qualifying for the Stanley Cup final has faded in a hurry.

Speculation won't die that Anaheim defenceman Scott Niedermayer is eying retirement, having won everything there is to win, sometimes more than once. That could leave the Ducks without Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne, who is also looking at calling it quits, and would then in turn make the Ducks big players on the free agent scene.

The trick for GM Brian Burke, however, is that he needs to know soon, but at the same time doesn't want to rush either player.

Mike Milbury has popped up as a candidate for the Boston coaching position. But what about Pat Quinn? Given the number of people who believe Quinn is a terrific coach - not this space, by the way - you have to believe that he's going to get the call sooner or later. Its even been suggested he could fill New Jersey's opening, but given that Quinn once called Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello a coach-killer, the waters seem to poisoned for that.

An outside name? Don't forget the possibility of Terry Murray with the Bruins. (Ed. note: All speculation on the Bruins job came to and abrupt halt early Monday evening when it was confirmed Claude Julien, the former Montreal and New Jersey coach, will succeed Dave Lewis behind the Boston bench)

Don't know about you, but there's three names in this week's NHL draft that are both interesting in and of themselves, but could also be pivotal juniors in terms of the way in which the first round breaks down, particularly for Leaf fans.

The first two are Angelo Esposito of the Quebec Remparts and Sam Gagner of the London Knights. Esposito was touted last season as a potential first overall pick and Gagner was once seen as a top five selection, but the stock of both has fallen a bit, possibly to the point both could be available when the Leafs pick at No. 13.

Rated anywhere from a top 10 pick to a late first rounder, on the other hand, is Brandon Sutter of the Red Deer Rebels, and given the success of the grinding, scrapping Ducks, you can bet a few GMs would like to add that type of element - or family tree - to their organization.

The Leafs haven't taken a Canadian born and trained forward in the first round since Brad Boyes in 2000. Maybe this is the year.

Comments

[Brad McNulty]

So the Ottawa Senators are going to punish their GM for getting the team to their first Stanley Cup finals, but not winning. However, the Leafs are are going to ice basically the same team that's missed the playoffs two years in a row and MLSE concludes that this should translate into a contract extension for their GM. Wow. I'm a Leafs fan and this a loud signal about the differences in philosophy of the two organizations.

[JPZ]

Of course, it would make sense for the Leafs to draft a Cdn this year, especially since it's been proven over and over again that you need a good mix of players to win in the NHL. (Are you listening, Team Ikea of Motown?)

Which is why JFJ will assuredly use the 13-spot to select Titus Tlusty, less talented brother of Jiri. Apparently, he's a good guitarist, though.

[Stephen]

Glad to see you comment on Ottawa, Damien, because I was going there anyway. This move simply makes no sense. If anyone was to blame for the Sens bowing out so sadly in the final it's Murray, not Muckler, so why is the guy who screwed up getting a promotion? Is it Muckler's fault that Heatley and Spezza stopped producing, or that the Sens weren't busting their butts to beat Anaheim? I don't think so. Yes, Muckler erred in the goaltending department and by keeping Redden and letting Chara walk, but he made some great moves to shore up his blueline afterwards and made a great early grab for Comrie who was horrendously used by Murray. All things considered, Muckler built a team that made it to the finals and Murray couldn't get them to play.

[Keiyan Sy]

I don't understand whats the big deal with Leafs drafting a Canadian or not, why should they care what nationality the player is? Shouldn't they draft the best player? And shouldn't people like the player cause he is a good player instead of whether he is Canadian or not?? Or are we turning into Americans who only care about and cheer American atheletes??

[JPZ]

Keiyan Sy, the Leafs need Cdn players right now--look at the makeup of their squad, particularly the forwards. They desperately need some grittiness that Cdn players are known for providing. Yes, take the best player available in the draft, but it's a thin crop this year and teams are always looking at their mix of nationalities so that they don't have all their eggs in one basket, so to speak. It's got nothing to do with cheerleading.

Having said that, scouts also have a tendency to wax overenthusiastic about Euro talents *at the expense of Cdn players.* This is a sad statement about the nature of player evaluation among NHL scouts and front-office people. This country produces very, very good players.

[A. T. in Toronto]

Thank you for trying to help Canada's stupidest, most incompetent, Canadian NHL team ownership with the 1st round.
Do this once-proud city a favour and compile a secret list of the other rounds picks so that next year you can publish them.
Dollars to Hortons, GM-deer-in-the-headlamps loses, and the 3 Stooges will feel less love.
Fellow Leaf fans : you deserve, and our team deserves nothing but the best ie: a Stanley Cup consistent winner, and if you want this to happen, forget about defending the clue-less moves
of the current ownership, but rather scream at the top of your lungs for more accountability, top management [ like Lou Lameirelo,
Darcy Regierre, Brian Burke - where are you now Sam Pollock?],
and less preening [ your grand-mother could sell out condos next to the ACC]

[Adam C]

The Leafs are full of grittiness; they need some *talent*. If any of Kilger, Tucker, Pohl, Ponikarovsky, Antropov, Battaglia, Peca or O'Neill aren't supplying grit, they need to be cut, because they aren't supplying anything else.

[JPZ]

Adam C, I think you just answered your own question re grittiness--out of that list you gave, there's a bit from Tucker, Kilger, and Pohl, without much else. I would agree that the Leafs need talent, too. My point was that it's time to stop waiting around for the corner-shy, slow-footed, cement-handed Twin Towers of "talent." (You could make the argument that it was time to stop waiting in, say, 2003 or '04.) This team really needs some Cdn players who can skate, throw real hits, and, yes, score goals--that's what will succeed in the current NHL climate. (I'm hoping Robbie Earl has a good training camp next fall.)

[Adam C]

Ah, I get what you mean. Someone like Peter Forsberg or Keith Tkachuk. Good plan.