Three Questions

Multiple matters in the world of sports confuse and surprise yours truly every day, opening up a variety of questions that only occasionally are resolved. Today would be no exception, and here are three queries begging for answers. Feel free to help.

1. Are the Tiger-Cats preparing to trade Jesse Lumsden?
A year ago, two months ago, this would have been unthinkable, as the young Canadian back was at the centre of everything the rebuilding Tabbies were trying to do. Sadly, he just can't stay healthy, and for a team in desperate need of reliable assets, that's a tough thing to carry on the roster.
Signing Kenton Keith doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a team that was already leading the CFL in rushing unless there's another shoe to drop. This is a team that didn't need another running back. It needed offensive line help, and assistance at every position on defence, particulary experienced assistance.
After missing completely on Jason Maas and being frustrated with the play of Casey Printers, the Cats don't exactly have a great record at bringing in high-priced talent, and one does wonder where the CFL's salary cap goes at times like this.
But after trading star linebacker Zeke Moreno to Winnipeg last week for a first round pick in next year's Canadian college draft and the rights to non-import defensive lineman Corey Mace, currently on Buffalo's practice roster, it's clear Hamilton GM Bob O'Billovich views no Ticat as untouchable and wants to add depth to his roster.
Lumsden, as a Canadian back, could bring a solid price in return, particularly from a team who sees opportunity in being able to tweak its lineup by using a homebrew in the backfield.
When this kid plays, he's terrific. Sadly, he just hasn't been able to play enough to help the sad-sack operation in Steeltown.

2. Will the Argos turn back to Kerry Joseph against Calgary this weekend?
After being pummelled for a third consecutive week, the Argos took the day off yesterday. Today around noon, head coach Don Matthews will deliver his latest thoughts, including whether Joseph, the reigning league MVP, will sit again this week in favour of backup Cody Pickett. Pickett was ineffective in the one-sided loss to the Stampeders last weekend, and Matthews painted him as the "victim" of teammates errors in the same way he said Joseph was victimized by teammates' mistakes when he sent him to the bench.
The guess here? The Argos know they'll have to turn back to Joseph soon, but Matthews might start Pickett again this week in case there's any lingering doubt as to who is in charge of this football team now. Either way, Matthews will soon have little choice to start examining the work of his good pal, offensive co-ordinator Steve Burrato, if the Argo offence continues to go nowhere.

3. Would the Leafs ever seriously consider keeping Luke Schenn in the NHL this fall?
The answer should be no, a thousand times no, and certainly both GM Cliff Fletcher and coach Ron Wilson have been upfront with their sentiments that Schenn would have to play out of his mind to stick with the big club this season.
But then, we've heard that before. The Leafs, historically, have not been very good at either identifying young defencemen through the draft or carefully sculpting those that they do take into quality NHL players. The best two defence draftees in Leaf history were probably Ian Turnbull and Tomas Kaberle (Borje Salming was never drafted). Turnbull came to the NHL after four full seasons in junior hockey, while Kaberle arrived at the age of 20 after playing two full seasons with Kladno in the Czech elite league.
To maximize Schenn's chances of being full value for being drafted fifth overall, he needs to go back to junior for a fourth and final year and play on the national junior team, then needs two full seasons in the AHL. That would have him ready for full-time NHL work for the 2011-12 season. He would still only be 21.
If he dazzles before then, you could get him to the NHL for the 2010-11 season. But no matter how good he looks this fall or next fall, putting him in the NHL before 2010 at the earliest will be rushing him. It's been proven time and time again.
The biggest challenge for Leaf management is to set a course and stick with it, and ignore the inevitable suggestions that if Schenn isn't in the NHL soon, he's a bust. They're already saying that about 22-year-old Justin Pogge, who still has a chance but needs more grooming and more patience.
So the answer is no, there's no chance the Leafs will keep Schenn this fall. But the pressure on this franchise to prove it has a future by getting kids to the bigs fast is unrelenting, and has only rarely been resisted for very long.

Comments

[Clark Aitken]

Crosby, Malkin & Ovechkin have put the whole development system out of whack. Their instant success has become the benchmark by which all other new rookies are measured against, rather than being identified for what they are, anomalies of the system because they are such talented, special players.

Defence and goalies historically take longer to develop, and are more likely to have their development stunted by rushing them to the bigs. Luke Schenn needs ice time and lots of it, to work on developing his game. He should be back in the W, and if his team falls out of contention, signed after the season to play the playoffs with the Marlies.

[Guido]

Schenn should play the first 6-8 games with the Leafs and then go back to Junior. Let him get his feet wet at this level and make him hungray to get back.

If the Leafs we were weak in the backend and were expecting to make the playoffs then maybe he should stick around. But they already have too many NHL defencemen on the roster (granted only 2-3 top 4 d-men), and he's better off winning and playing for team canada again.

[Reej Uvenated]

Schenn could be the second coming of Fred Boimistruck!

[Roberto]

I agree there is no reason to rush Schenn to the NHL, to play on a team that will likely have a losing record.
Ideally I would like to see him play 20 mins a night in the AHL, but I understand that is not possible this year.
I don't think being the big fish in the junior pond would help him as much as learning how to be a pro without the scrutiny of Leaf nation.

[Johnny Thunder]

Cox, buddy, 18 year old defensemen are few and far between man. You ragged on him draft day, you've said the buds brass can do no right, yet you're now saying how despite him being a good pick he shouldn't make it, which thereby disagrees with him being a bad pick as you said draft day, and the press box is right not to even consider him for a top 6 job. I know youre cut and paste journalism is consistent, so i'll help you with this one for cut day: "Leaf management is awesome for doing what they said they'd do by sending Schenn back to Jr, [go to the vault for a 1967 reference...now], and it shows a clear change from their past [I know you'll find something from maybe the irrelevent wartime era] of inserting 18 year olds into the lineup on the point, but [getting rid of mccabe or tucker] shows clearly that [richard peddie/cliff fletcher/the plan] is only toying with the mindless fans of leaf nation.

I'll leave it up to you to put draft shmaft in there.

[Bill Hunt]

The Leafs say no and you agree...so why go in circles on your own argument on the premise that "they say they won't, but we've heard that before?" From whom in this management team have you heard that?
Surely you don't have to win an argument on which you all agree just to fill space.

[J Phair]

You guys can rag on Cox all you but to not be cynical is completely naive. This organization has ruined many a young talent.

The Leafs are a lot more predictable than most things in life. Give the Leafs something good and they will find a way to screw it up. The thought of putting this kid in the NHL this year makes me nauseous.

Some of you haters seem like you are waiting to take shots at Cox for the sake it. If you really are a Leaf fan love him or hate him you should thank this reporter for asking the organization tough questions and holding them accountable. So few others including the fans really do...

[The Meatriarchy]

Damian:

It is my sincere hope as a Leaf fan that the organization does exactly what you suggest with Schenn.

My fear is that Cliff is going to use Schenn and the Leafs first round pick from this coming year to pull off some sort of blockbuster deal like trying to pry Rick Nash out of Columbus.

Fletcher has already stated that he doesn't think there is a franchise player in this year's draft.

If he really means this it presents two possible scenarios: He thinks the Leafs won't finish in the bottom three this year and wants to mitigate the fan/media ire at not getting a chance at either Jon Tavares or Victor Hedman.

Or he is planning on trading the first round pick and again is trying to mitigate fan/media reaction by planting this seed that there are no franchise players in this year's draft.

Cliff has so far acted very much like he did during his first time around. He has hired a big name defensive specialist as a coach and has already made two fairly significant trades. He has assembled what looks to be a deep (if unspectacular) defense core (remember the defense group during the Burns years was considered to be one of the best in the league - they just didn't have a legitimate stud defenseman) and the only thing he hasn't done yet is make a big splashy trade for a top notch forward (like Gilmour or Sundin).

I get a real sense that Cliff is likely here for the long haul and this trade might be closer than we think and involve Schenn
or next years first round pick (or both).

[Dean]

Damien,
Do you remember a Leaf draftee named Randy Carlyle?
He actually was awarded the Norris Trophy for one season.

What about Al Iafrate, another defenseman the Leafs drafted?

Turnbull on the other hand never made an all-star team, despite occassional flashes of brilliance never won a trophy or made an end of season all-star team.

Among Leaf draftees over the past 30 years, I believe that only Carlyle and Rick Kehoe have won individual league trophies and they both won these while playing for teams other than the Leafs.

[Drew]

well said J Phair!
people like Bill Hunt and Johnny Thunder are the type who can only be happy if finding fault with others ... if they so hate Mr Cox's writing, then why on earth read his column, never mind take the time to write a "note"??? I am also betting that these are the kinds of weenies who - if they ever came face to face with Mr Cox - would not have the ability to hold an intelligent conversation with him, nor the guts to say what they do in print ...
or maybe they simply need to find someone to blame for supporting a crap team that treats their fans with such distain ...and Mr Cox is simply an easy target ...
do us all a favour ... read the Leaf's web site, watch Leaf's TV and listen to the many shills the Leafs have on the radio and in print ... you will find all support you seem to need ... and you won't have to deal with any of the idiots who would dare to find any fault with that model sports franchise known as the Leafs