Desperate Times Require. . .Pogge?

It's a little early for a "last stand." And certainly, the Maple Leaf management and coaching staff are trying hard to downplay suggestions the team is in desperation mode.

But understand this. There was serious, lengthy internal debate as to whether to give blue-chip goaltending prospect Justin Pogge the start last Saturday night against Philadelphia.

In the end, the choice was made to go with Andrew Raycroft, who responded well, albeit in a 3-2 defeat.

But putting Pogge in after consecutive starts by No. 3 goalie Scott Clemmensen would surely have been a statement about how Leaf management views the club's current plight.

Now, with the team sitting at 13th in the Eastern Conference, it heads into arguably the most challenging road trip of the season starting tomorrow, a three-games-in-four-nights slate that includes games against the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks, to many a Cup contender this season.

A last stand? Maybe.

It's Toronto's first trip to California since the season before the lockout, strange, really, considering the Leafs used to be out on the west coast all the time when they were part of the Western Conference. The Leafs might have Vesa Toskala for some or all of these games, but have both Raycroft and Clemmensen on the trip just in case. But starting with tomorrow night's game against the surging Ducks, if the Leafs are simply hoping the Finnish goaltender will solve all their problems, they're going to get whacked and good.

Anaheim may be the toughest team in hockey right now. The Ducks are likely to physically challenge the Leafs in the same way the Flyers did on Saturday night. There will be a call for the Leafs to dress Wade Belak, which means he'll have to fight George Parros, who was beaten by Nashville's Darcy Hordichuk Tuesday night at the Honda Centre.

But the Leafs will need more than Belak to respond. They need their entire lineup to play with some group toughness, something that wasn't apparent last Thursday in Pittsburgh when Darcy Tucker was speed-bagged by Jarkko Ruutu and Mark Bell had his orbital bone fractured by Ryan Malone. Anaheim, meanwhile, is starting to roll with Scott Niedermayer back, and last night against the Preds potted four goals in 8:07 after going into the game having scored fewer goals than every other team other than Edmonton.

Twenty-four hours after the Ducks, the Leafs get the L.A. Kings. The Kings are the NHL's worst team this season, but they can score and have a bunch of talented young forwards, including Anze Kopitar. So after having to be willing to get their noses dirty in Anaheim, the Leafs have to turn around and be ready to play a solid, simple game up the road in L.A. if they hope to get a win.

Two nights after that, it'll be a jaunt to Silicon Valley and a date with a Sharks team that has been lousy at home this season but is a very good defensive team that won't give up much. So the Leafs will have to play a tight game and hope to win a squeaker.

That's three games in four nights, but three very different assignments. The club took the day off yesterday and will return to the practice rink today.

A last stand? Well, they'd better come up with at least one win, particularly with team president Richard Peddie along to watch.

Or Pogge's first NHL start may not be far away.

Comments

[D.J. Lund]

Hi Damien,

Really like reading your honest comments about the leafs and if more of the media did the same maybe they would have done something by now. Even though I am not a leaf fan it baffles me that mangement attempts to twist the numbers and say we are only 2 points below 500 when they have only won 16 of 42 games, the funny thing is most of the sheep(leaf fans)listen. Also we are only 4 points out of a playoff spot. Like yeah! with only 5 teams between us and and 8th and with the majority of 2nd half games played within your conference somebody will be getting points every night, take a look at tonights schedule there are 5 all east match ups with 9 of 10 teams ahead of the leafs. Anyway if Leaf fans were are smart as they say they are, they would stop showing up. But oops! I guess they couldn't get their tax right offs for there sushi!

[OddyOh]

So when the Leafs go 0-3 on this trip, Peddie will see first hand how wonderfully inept his team has become, not that he can't see that in town every Saturday night. The worst case would be for the Leafs to win all three (laugh), thus creating an even more uncertain picture. If you're going to fail, then fail. And I'm a Leafs fan, have been for years, but you can only take so much. I hope there's a shred of truth to that Russian billionaire buying the team...a shimmer of hope in an otherwise dark time.

Perhaps they'll leave JFJ in California, he can manage a street hockey team out there without interference from MLSE 'bored members'. I can't believe it's come time to discuss trading Sundin...but with a team of 4th liners, what did we expect really?

[Guido]

Why did Belak not dress against the Flyers? What did the Leafs miss all the suspensions and figure the Flyers would be a quiet team to play against?

[Matthew]

I think it is time for the Pogge. Raycroft has done nothing to guarantee himself a job at the NHL level. They should send him down to AHL to figure things out in a slower paced setting. I say bring up Pogge to back up Toskala.

What have they got to lose? Also, this could turn into a Carey Price scenario, like in Montreal.

As usual, the leafs put WAY too much pressure on their goalies. Give Clemmenson consecutive starts after he hasn't played an NHL game in like a year - suddenly he's the impromptu #1??

The leafs are in dire straits. Please just trade Sundin and rebuild. This team is such crap. You need to get rid of at least half the team and get some players with a positive, nothing to lose attitude.

[Newton]

Even if the Leafs were to qualify for the playoffs they'd be cannon fodder.

I think most Leaf fans are very willing to waive the white flag at this point in the season as it is in the club's long term interest to do so.

Presenting the appearance that we're still interested in making the playoffs might help maximize our return on Sundin at the deadline however as some teams might believe JFJ is just stupid enough to hang onto him and try to make the playoffs and increase their bids.

I think we'd be pleasantly surprised at the competitiveness of a streamlined youthful club next season and would hopefully benefit from an impact draft pick this off-season.

[Hillar]

I was a little disappointed when you suggested that one of the options for the Leafs is to sign Sundin. That type of thinking is what has kept the Leafs out of any meaningful games for some time. Stick to your guns and don't let this management team and ownership off the hook that easily.

[nick chalaturnyk]

The Leafs are in a mess because of Peddie. He is just as much to blame as Ferguson, these are the clowns (along with Taunabaum) that has put this whole mess together. A new owner would be a breath of fresh air, as long as they would be willing to clean house - especially at the top. The Leafs will never win as long as those 3 are running the Leafs. Pogge may be ready for the NHL, but he should stay in the minors for the rest of this year, and be allowed to compete for a job next year. Bringing him in now, could do more damage than good.
The first step is to find a "hockey" guy to run the Leafs - look at the Raptors ever since the went out and got a "basketball" guy to run their team. The owners of the Leafs are making money, they haven't shown the least bit of interest in getting better, a first step would be to clean house - starting with John Ferguson.

[Mats Sundin]

A last stand? Maybe

Maybe Damien? I thought the Leafs 7 game road trip last year was the make-it-or-break-it point of the season.

Face it, this season is a right off - trade Sundin and see what you can get for Tucker and Antropov. Let's aim for a high pick in this year's upcoming draft.

[smokey]

Its not a lot of fun watching the Leafs right now but for sure the first priority needs to be the management side of the club. They are the ones that have to develop the best stragedy for the direction of the Team. Personally, I am not convinced trading Sundin is really an answer unless the return is very good. What worries me the most is someone pulling the trigger just to satisfy the media. There is not a major difference in the talent level amongst a bunch of teams other than probaly the Senators. The Leafs are only a good winning streak away...just like ateam like the Devils or Canadiens have only any prolonged losing streak to be where TO are.

I don't think radical changes make any sense and that too many fans panic.

[Jason]

Sundin will not go. If MLSE gets a whiff of playoff revenue, the Leafs will be forced to stick with him - for better or for worse. The board, and therefore JFJ, is accountable to MLSE's investors. Hockey is second to profit.

[R. McManus]

Finally. I don't see why it's taken so long to get the young in the mix he will be better than any of the other stiffs and includes the Finn. Give the kid the ball and let him run with it.

[kenny d]

The Leafs get the snot beat out of them in fights and the snot beat out of them in games. What a sad state of affairs this team is. Someone said on the weekend TV the Leafs are the NHL'S crown jewel. The jewels must be made out of glass or plastic. Some might even say the Leafs have no jewels. Anyway, as long as this organization is run by commitee don't expect any changes. The organization needs one boss. One boss where the buck stops. Remember the old saying 'too many cooks ruin the broth', no better example than this organization. Before anyone feedsback about Ballard being one boss, Ballard wasn't a boss he was a cartoon character. So as long as this Leaf juggernaut keeps making 18 precent profit each year don't expect any changes. They might replace some lights now and again but there will still be nobody home.

[Earl Nelville]

I agree with the previous writer, with regards to the one boss concept and his caution not to consider Harold Ballard in the mix of one boss examples. Ballard would act as a good illustration of what the current MLSE team might be like if it were to take on an individual persona. The two are actually interestingly similar. Both Harold and the current braintrust at MLSE focus(ed) on the almighty buck. show(ed) terrific indifference to the fan and made little effort to put a Stanley Cup contender, let alone winner, on the ice. And here we are yet again Leaf fans, in mid season with no hope of seeing our beloved losers do anything. I'm talking about the MLSE management. The players are doing the best that they can, given the lack of chemistry, talent and skill. No Leaf player has collected any harware at the end of the season since when? The team has gone no where near a cup in 40 years and the price of a ticket for the chance to watch this mess, live, is pathetic. Is there another professional sports organization that produces so little and yet retains such a faithful fan base and rakes in millions of dollars year after year? I was 8 years old the last time the Leafs won the cup. Don't call me a leaf basher. After that many years I am two things; knowledgable about this team and a self admitted moron for watching them. Maybe next year leafs fans....maybe next year.

[Mr. Coyle]

Want to get a winner in Toronto ? Its easy, start supporting Ottawa. I know it will be hard at first, it was for me but I get to see great hockey ! They pass, shoot, skate, hit and defend better than the leafs and the tickets are peanuts compared to Toronto.

I still love those guys that wore the blue and white proudly in the sixties and Gilmour's heroic 1993 season but this group isnt worth it. Take away Mats and TO is dead last !

Im not suggesting you abandon them completely, just until they are prepared to ice a competitive team... until then try watching an Ottawa game. Winning is good ! See you in the playoffs

[Sam]

This used to be fun - now it's just tiresome. Ownership won't change until fans stop giving the organization their money, and that's not going to happen.

Please, please, PLEASE just fire JFJ already. The drafting hasn't been bad when the org. actually had picks, so let Penney be an interim GM with the understanding that he can be the front runner if he handles the Sundin trade well.

[Jason D.]

Leafs are the knicks of the hockeyworld. Horrible team, horrible gm, owner(s) who don't care, overpaying for mediocore players, both have not won a championship since when yet the stands are filled game in and game out.

[HC]

This is what the Leafs need to do:

Trade Sundin (he deserves to be on a good team)
Trade Tucker
Trade McCabe (just give him away if any team is stupid enough to pick up his contract)
Trade Kaberle if the returns our good
Trade Kubina
Trade Raycroft
Trade Antropov (he's having a decent year, maybe they can get something for him)

Fire management/owners

Start from scratch :)

[FRT]

Leafs will get POUNDED on their west coast road swing. Can you say 18 goals against and 5 for! Especially with the Kings getting drubbed 7-0 last night by the Preds...it will be the bottom of rock bottom when they pummel the "Laughs" 6-2 on Thursday night! It won't only be the "last stand"...it will be the "last post"...time to start playing the bugle as the team comes home marching to a funeral procession! You can’t win hockey games in the NHL Damien with a AHL defense!

[smokey]

Why do people think Sundin would fetch so much if his current contract expires at the end of the season. Other teams are not that dumb and what is the sense of doing so if the return is marginal. Now doing somehting with Kaberle would fetch some good returns but do Leafs really want to get rid of such a guy.

[Padre in New Jersey]

Damien,
As usual, with every article, thanks for your outstanding and honest work.
I am the biggest Leaf fan in New Jersey, maybe the entire country south of the border and a great fan of the Captain both as a player and as a person. But, if the Leafs don't dump JFJ and trade Sundin for what he is sure to be worth, I will be going in for psychotherapy, hypnotism and shock treatments in order try to have someone coerce me into becoming a Devils fan because it will mean that ownership has intentionally doomed the Leafs for perpetual mediocrity and Leaf Nation into permanent hopelessness.
ps. Who would take Tucker and his salary at this point???
I think a new year, new manager (and coach?) and new team will bring him back next year. He won't be worth anything (read his real value) in a trade right now. I would however listen to offers for Kaberle-2 very hot prospects and 2 first rounders and lots of cap space(read ppps. below). If you could find anyone to take Ponikarovsky for at least a 2nd round choice, I'd do that. I think he is a big talented player who shows no heart and no guts.
pps. Does this make any sense to anyone for 2008-9?
-Peddie out-anyone else as Bowman type Hockey top gun.
-St. Sittler as Manager (hey if Clarke or Holmgren those bags of dirt can do it...)
-Vaive and Gilmour as Coach and Assistant Coach or vice versa
-Sundin back as Captain free agent at $3 million/yr
-Stamkos as heir apparent
-Zach Bogosian (from one of the draft picks taken for Sundin) as the first Armenian drafted into the NHL anchoring the Marlies defence until he is ready for the Meat!
ppps. -cap room--to sign Stamkos and Tavares long term(Tavares our 2009 first pick--oh how i wish!)

[PatsFan]

Fletcher Follies last time around:

- Labeled Benoit Hogue, after acquiring the offensive-mined forward, "the best 3rd-line center in the league," thereby sealing his fate as a Leaf. Incidentally, Hogue turned out to be a solid 3rd liner later on with Stars (and win the cup).

- Labeled the erratic Mathieu Schneider as "a top eight defenseman" in the league. Unlike Schneider, Kenny Jonsson turned out to be a solid if not spectacular player, anchoring the Isles defense that got decimated by Mad Mike. Schneider is still in the league, however.

- "We got submarined." This after failing to draft Bret Lindros in the first-round -- Isles swooped in, for the better -- having previously failed to trade for Eric Lindros. Everybody knew Bret Lindros was going to be a bust who had spotty minor-league career at best, where he was known to be nothing more than a goon. The consequent reaction, the paralysis and the sheer unpreparedness to draft someone else -- anyone but Eric Fichaud -- was simply comical. in fact, all the Fletcher 1st-round draft selections -- Convery, Ware, Fichaud -- were comical at best.

- "The Kingston Trio." Well, Let's not re-visit that episode.

- His endless search for a 2nd-line center, which he tried to plug with old, slow, expensive vets with rapidly declining skills: Mueller, Cullen, Gagner, Ridley ..

- Including Sylvain Lefebvre in the Sundin trade, whom Fletcher stole for a fourth-rounder, I believe. Clark was a 40-game player by then, so his loss wasn't as acute. Leafs D was never the same (Butcher was a liability). A visibly distraught Burns tried to find some solace in the fact that "we also picked up a good defensive center in Ridley [from the Capitals]." (Lefebvre would eventually win the cup with Colorado.)

- Trading away Larry Murphy. Acquiring Murphy, arguably the most underrated player of his generation, for Mironov was a steal. Murphy, like Ron Francis, was always slow-footed but smart, played night in and night out for a Leafs team in decline, heard the boos, never complained and he never wanted out. Trading him away because the stupid Leafs fan bood him every night was just dumb, though the trade was well deserved for Murphy. (Murphy would be instrumental for the cup-winning Wings, eventually joined by Macoun.)

- "We get an extra year [out of Mike Gartner]." This after the trading away Glen Anderson at the trade line, thereby prematurely sealing the Leafs playoffs fate. Atrocious! Mother of it all! You trade away Mr. Playoffs going into the playoffs because Gartner, who'd never won anything, was under contract for one extra year! This was particularly bad because the Leafs went from a team with two effective Gilmour-centered lines to one effective line (as long as Clark was healthy). Gartner couldn't pass, worse he couldn't take a pass, never commanded the respect and fear that a stick-swinging Anderson had and, most importantly, failed to provide the room that Anderson would always create for Gilmour (to set up Andreychuk and Borchevsky). Anderson, "Messier's winger," would ring in another cup with the Rangers. Brian Marchement, with one (clean) check, would almost put Gartner out of his misery as well all those who had to put up with his 700+ tip-ins.