Full Panic Mode - Pogge to the Rescue

LOS ANGELES-With the club having all but quit on head coach Paul Maurice after two one-sided losses in California, the Maple Leafs are in full panic mode today.

As first reported by The Star, the Leafs summoned blue-chip goaltending prospect Justin Pogge from the minors after last night's appalling 5-2 loss to Los Angeles, possibly setting Pogge up to start tomorrow night in San Jose. No. 1 netminder Vesa Toskala has suffered a relapse in his ongoing battle with groin problems after being recklessly forced into action for the final two periods of the embarrassing loss to the Kings.

The Leafs have also claimed Domenic Moore, brother of Steve Moore, on waivers from Minnesota. Moore is an energetic checker who could add some pizzazz to the team's fourth line.

Meanwhile, confusion reigned this morning in the Leaf camp. Practice was cancelled, which was a surprise to some of the most senior members of the team, including captain Mats Sundin.

There is growing speculation head coach Paul Maurice could be in jeopardy after desultory way in which the club responded to a critical game against the Kings, as well as the manner in which Toskala was rushed back into service last night after the Leafs were already down 4-0.

Toskala was expecting to have the night off, but played after former starter Andrew Raycroft surrendered four goals on 11 shots in the first period against the Kings.

If that happens, it will be a difficult task indeed for Pogge, with all evidence suggesting the club is no longer responding to the direction of Maurice after 10 losses in the past 12 games. All political antennae are on high, and even the Leaf players are aware team president Richard Peddie is hovering over the club in what is turning out to be a disastrous California road trip.

A smarter decision would be to bring back veteran Scott Clemmensen, who left the club on Thursday and returned to the Marlies. But with the entire hockey organization expecting major changes because of the dreadful results of late, recalling Pogge is likely to make a bigger splash, perhaps the last ditch effort of the Ferguson regime to put the club into a playoff position.

The Leafs were nightmarishly bad Thursday night, managing only seven shots on the L.A. net in the opening 27 minutes of action as the Kings cruised to a 5-0 lead. It was only after the game was decided that the Leafs got busy, putting 43 shots on Jason Labarbara in the Kings net after the game was already decided.

Maurice denied that his team has quit on him.

"If they'd quit you'd have seen three periods like the first period," said the Leaf coach.

Truth was, the lazy, disinterested manner in which the Leafs played the opening 27 minutes was much more reflective of their attitude towards their coach than the final half of the game.

"Trust me, we're under a lot of pressure," said centre Matt Stajan. "We know what's going on."

Comments

[Steve Sanyal]

I think bringing Pogge up for a looksy at the big leagues could be good exposure for him after his first few years in the minors.

At the same time they could put Raycroft down in the farm for a reconditioning stint. If he doesn't clear waivers that's a bonus, though I don't think any other team would take him.

[charade]

I would fire someone for rushing Toskala, never mind any other funny business, if that's indeed what happened.

[Paul Lo Presti]

Damian,

Playing Pogge - with that porous defence - would be the worst thing for him; the sensible thing would be to recall Clemenson (or to have left Raycroft in to suffer the abuse he partly brought upon himself).

It's not just a matter of firing Ferguson and/or Maurice; it's also a matter of firing that number crunching, non-hockey clown Peddie as well. Peddie simply has no business being involved with the team - he has no experience with hockey management or drafting experience that could in any qualify him to then hire the GM. What a sad ship of fools.

[Chris Smith]

Damian;

As always, your blog is a great read. As a Leafs fan, I can't help but laugh at MLSE's mgmt decisions in the last few weeks. Its as if they want to see just how sour the milk can go. I say start seeing what the farm team is worth by calling up some of our "prospects" (we DO have prospects, right?) and sending down under performers.... obviously the savvy (pointless) move of sitting Wellwood proved nothing. It looks like these boys need a shot across the bow, not a tap on the stern.

[FRT]

WHAT A JOKE! Hey...I've got an idea? Why don't they put that stooge Peddie in net? Have a few pucks bounce of off his noggin. Maybe it would knock some sense into that pea brain of his. Oh yea...that is smart hockey...throw young Pogge to the Lions! I mean I'm sure the kid is a competitor and wants to show his stuff in the NHL...as his great play with the Marlies has proven...but the main problem is that the Laughs have nothing but A BAD AHL DEFENSE AT BEST IN FRONT OF HIM! Why ruin another "blue-chip" prospects confidence...??? The season is done...FIRE EVERYONE AND LET'S NOT RUIN MORE YOUNG PLAYERS CAREERS! Oh and wasn't it nice to see Brad Boyes pop in a couple more markers for the Blues last night! FERGIE IS OUT OF HIS LEAGUE HE MUST BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE HE SCREWS THINGS UP MORE!

[Leaf Dust]

The Laffs are just plain awful...they're boring to watch, they lose almost all the time, they're 2nd last in the E-A-S-T-E-R-N conference and got blown out by the worst team in the league -- heck, they even let that retread Kyle Calder score, and every fan of a team in the Northeast is laughing at them, including me! LOL!! they've now been outscored 18-3 by teams in the Pacific this year alone and have yet to play the Sharks, just Sharky! Thank goodness the last 2 games have been on Leafs TV, this way we didn't have to be bored out our collective Leaf-hating minds...boring!

With all of the articulating by the media in Leafville (stop already with the 'Leaf nation', it dissolved more than 40 years ago) about doing this, that, and the other, why not just call a spade, a spade, and call for somneone's head, they just plain well are not turning the corner. Time for change, time for change, time for change!

Call up Pogge, start the march to a better future now and forget the 'win now' mentality because they have a 'lose now' mentality anyways! Afterall, someone has to be the sacrificial lamb!

Let Sundin go...who cares about loyalty, he hasn't won anything for you guys lately, he simply scores meaningless goals in games that you are losing, he might be a good player in all, but he ain't winning, never has, never will! Wanna hear the joke of the year: Fisher for Sundin! I laugh everytime I hear that one!

Do you want the Cup or the 'Pride that unites us all!'...what pride? near a damn disgrace to a hockey league where the Laffs are the highest grosing team and the third lowest point producing team!

C'mon stop crying, they stink, you all know it, and we are all laughing at them...Go on, put on your 'Puke and White' and listen to Cherry cheer for them from 'Leafs Corner' during every HNIC...fact is they are funny to watch and they are really a poor excuse for a pro hockey team....hahahaha, watch tucker get the 'Leaf' punched out of him by Avery, a real pest, everytime they play and then watch Avery embarrass them by scoring goals, something Tucker forgot how to do now that there are no powerplays for him to cherry pick on at the other teams net. 'Blake' = 'try and shoot and try and score', boy has he ever done a lot that this year and that was the best signing you could come up with? FUNNY, HAHA!

Ferguson goes around wincing and mincing his words, not because he is trying to hide the truth, but because he actually has no idea what he is talking about and can't even express himself correctly...Ferguson = (Raycroft, Blake, McCabe, Gill, Kubina), the core of your team...watch McCabe sign a big deal and not even remember which net to score on in Buffalo, a nice shot really, he had position, and he one timed it, kind of like the old days before teams figured the Leafs PP, 'twas the best goal of the year! Pay Kaberle millions with the addendum 'No shoot clause' in the contract, what a treat to watch this fiasco because we all know he won't shoot anyways! Stajan, Steen, Wellwood, as they have been called by the media, nice players, but only for the 1st 10 games every year, you actually like these guys because they are nice players or simply because they put on the 'Puke and White' or because of the 'Pride that unites us all'? When were you planning to see these 'Nice players' lift the cup? Easy 5 letter prediction on that one, N-E-V-E-R!

Ray-sieve ('Croft' is actually another word for 'Sieve') goes in net and you know it's gonna be a good night as a Leaf hater -- here's one for you from times past adapted to 2008, 'Red Light Raycroft'! What could you get for this guy right now? Not even a bag of pucks because they're all in the net behind him anyways!

WHAT A JOKE!

[smokey]

I have followed the Leafs for 50 plus years and do not ever recall such a bad situation. I do think though that Peddie is doing a first rate job for doing what he has been hired to do....maximize profits. The problem of course is that there needs to be someone much more skilled at making hockey decisions as to who to hire etc. I also feel for Fergy as he has had a tough time delivering what he and Leaf fans want,a winner. As for Maurice, I could not fathom why he was hired or what he brings....how many succesful seasons did he erally have with the Hurricanes.

For me, maybe as an interim arrangement, I would like to see Sittler, Gilmour and Clark take over the GM and Coaching responsibilities for the remainder of the season. I am sure they would inspire a maximum effort by the players and restore some calm and hopefully confidence. This would allow the club to do a thourough search for a GM and Coach for next year.

Bottom line for me....I am still a Leaf fan and always will be....do feel very sorry for our big Swede...what a classy and loyal player he is!!!

[Bruno Diaz]

I am amazed how some people are still thinking about the play-off. This team is going nowhere and even if they miraculously make it, how far they can go without embarrasing themselves? It is time to start playing with a younger team and give them the experience they need. As for the coach, he never should have been this year behind the bench. The team is a good team, but with no direction, like Fergurson, and that is the coach job in situations like this. Since last year, he showed no influence in the team and no strategies, that is why MP didn’t make the post season. Mayor changes need to be done from the upper level. The major damage to the team will be the loss of Sundin, who I think will be traded to a contender team.

[Angelo]

It is so disturbing to see this franchise sink and sink and sink, yet there is no sense of urgency coming from any where, when you hear that dummy Peddie speak, it's always "we'll be reviewing this at such and such date" or "we're not going to make an immediate decision" Why?!?!? What the hell are they waiting for?!! 3 straight years of no progress and no playoffs hasn't proved that this team is crap?! I can bet a billion dollars not 1 other franchise would let this happen this long without responding, not even the rich ones like Detroit or Montreal. Changes have to be made asap!! JFjr has to go, he can not save his job so why keep him? Peddie must resign as president, stick to the non-hockey issues!

[mark]

I'm praying for the day a new franchise arrives in Southern Ontario. If you are a fan of NHL hockey and you live here the Leafs dominate the airwaves. We need a choice so our wallets can do the walking. Jim from RIM please save us!

[Dave]

Hi Damien
The Leafs appear to be sinking to the level of the Ballard years. The same type of decisions are being made out of desperation. One, rush a top prospect into playing at the NHL level (Justin Pogge) and, two, acquire players that the team doesn't need (Dominic Moore). And if the Leafs are like those teams of the Ballard era, who does that make Richard Peddie?

[James Ellis]

As both a Habs fan and the husband of a retired teacher, the situation in Toroto couldn't be causing me much more glee. Hopefully the Leafs will improve, keep Sundin and finish 9th in the east so that fans still prop up my wife's pension and the Loafs continue to stumble!

[Hugh]

It's all well and good to talk about whether it be the Gm, the coach or the players. But what the selfdeclared "Leaf Nation" (stolen idea behind Raider Nation btw), must sit back and think who would want to step into the top roles? C'mon be practical... As to trading players, in this cap age it's very difficult, and one would have to convince some teams to take some players off their hands...as San Jose did for Mark Bell sound familiar? It's too difficult to trade big contracts, unfortuntely what they have to do is put some of these players on waivers and the release them. They will not get anything/anyone for them but they will clear some space under the cap for next year. Speaking of next year How much money do they have comitted already? If you were a free agent would you want to play for the Leafs??? Sorry folks not every player wants to wear the blue & white! If I was a player and had a choice between Montreal and toronto, I know where I'd be practicing my french!

[King Leary]

2 words...

FIRE SALE!!!

[Gareth Meagher]

Just curious, is there an NHL record for a goalie being pulled in a season or even over the course of his career? Seriously? If there is, how close is "Red Light" Raycroft to breaking it?

[Ken]

Actually the more the newspapers and fans sensationalize the Leafs losses, the more chance the management will do something stupid and rash. best thing is just to play it cool and not change anything but start answering calls from other teams looking for players such as Sundin, McCabe, Gill, Kubina, TUCKER, etc.
I am actually glad that finally they will get a top-5 pick this year but at the same time, with all these news stories going on, I am scared they are going to make some stupid trade just to TRY to get into the playoffs.

[rh]

As a Bruins fan I can honestly say that Raycroft is now your problem not ours. I knew he was lousy when we had him. Ferguson should be fired for this trade alone. Then again as a Bruins fan we actually hope that you keep Ferguson and Maurice and the rest of the lot. It guarantees us not to finish last.

[Hillar]

There should be absolutely no confusion in what to do with this team. We need the team sold and/or get a real hockey man running the management team and we need to do it now before the present group totally ruins the team. JFJ should have no say on trades and Maurice needs to go. He has had all year to teach these pros how to play the power play and still can't do it. That says it all. Leafs need to rebuild and it begins but does not end with Sundin being traded.

[Paul L]

Truth is this team quit on Maurice when it was determined to keep Raycroft around and even start him on openning night. Maurice suggested publicly that there was a battle for the number one goaltending spot. This was after Raycroft merely destroyed any chance the team had in the previous year. During the 06/07 campaign the Leafs actually had a pretty good season with the exception of Raycroft. Toronto finished one point out of the playoffs because of Raycrofts .886 save percentage. After last year Toronto was second only to Detroit in the league in shot differential. Toronto's defencemen finished tied for first for most points. All this was done with alot of injuries compared to other teams. However it seemed that the team had to play a perfect game to win.
When Toronto played its best last year it was with strong pressure forward from there defencemen. They abondoned that style early this year when they started out with goaltending problems. Allowing the defence to push forward in the attack and pressure play into the other teams end would seem to be the best way for Toronto to play. Last year they dominated some very good teams that way. They clearly have a good goaltender in Toskala and should have been able to ride that but Maurice has undermined the teams confidence in him and his decisions. The worst decisions have been putting Raycroft in net again and again and again. Maurice must take the blame for this decision first and foremost. Solution: coaching change. Secondly it has clearly been the company line to support Raycroft no matter what. Leafs TV hopelessly makes excuses for him. Ferguson brought Raycroft in for Tuuka Rask. This blunder was not bad because of how good Rask will be or because of how bad Raycroft is but simply because Raycroft could have been had for next to nothing. Boston didn't want him or his salary. What a terrible trade! Fergusons trade for Toskala was a good one. Kubina was a good signing. Blake has been a bust. McCabes signing was a good one, although it may make sense to deal McCabe along with Sundin for the future. Might as well bring in a new GM too.

[Goddard]

The first step is to fire Ferguson and the coach.

Hire an interim GM and let him pick an interim coach (i.e. Muckler, Blake.)

Make sure the interim team is competent or better at judging talent.

Work out a handshake deal with Sundin that he can come back as many years as he wants, on the condition he is a rental this year.

Put every other player on the team on the market?

Start putting together a new team based on prospects and first round draft picks.

Pick a new GM at the end of the year and let him choose a new coach.

Sign another one or more year contract with Sundin.

[cam]

I don't know why they're calling up Pogge. I say bring back Peter Ing!

[Claudio]

Get rid of Ferguson right away and hire a solid GM who can get some cap room by trading McCabe and Kubina... possibly for some pucks. Maurice shouldn't take the fall for this, but unfortunately he is...

[Dick Duff]

What bothers me most is not so much that Leafs aren't doing so well ( that's been the case since I was a kid - Darryl Sittler was MY idol ) - it's seeing all the suits and rich folk at the ACC. Why is it that the seats closest to rink level are always empty long after intermission? Too busy buying popcorn and pizza?? What bothers me almost equally the same is LEAFS TV.
Give me a break. I would never PAY for that either.

I say head on down the QEW and check out Ivor Wynne on a Saturday Night in the summer. The Cats haven't been doing so well either but at least it is REAL. I live for the day when the Hammer gets an NHL team!!!

Dick Duff

[Peter]

It's good news that Peddie on the trip. I saw a movie once called Slapshot and the useless old GM went on a road trip with the team. By the time the trip was over he has rescued the team's fortunes by trading for a trio of outstanding young talent. I think they were brothers. The Chiefs when on to win the championship. It could happen here.

[Shaun S]

Peddie has to go too. He has to be accountable for his "mistake".