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• Names You've (Likely) Never Heard Of

  Never one to not take up a challenge, I’ve been tasked with providing some insight into the roster the Leafs released to the media for their Rookie tournament that begins on September 13th. Ask and thou shalt receive (time and energy permitting of course). I’m not going to bother analyzing the games of Luke Schenn, [...]

• Pickles in the Shark Tank for Long Term

  Breaking news today when the Sharks announced the contract extension of pending RFA and now poster boy for the Sharks young defensive core, Marc-Eduoard Vlasic. With exact contract terms of his four year deal not released by the Sharks and no info to be found at my usual sources, but if I had to guess [...]

• 2010 Canadian Redeem Team - Part 2

  Yesterday I put together some forward lines that I feel would be ideal for a Canadian ‘Redeem Team’ to bring home the gold at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.  Sticking with that theme, let’s take a look at defensive pairings as well as some goaltending options. With Scott Neidermayer almost assuredly retiring at the end [...]

• Same New Song and Dance

  More on Mats Sundin. The endless carousel goes ’round and ’round, with still no end in sight. “This is the song that never ends, As it goes on and on my friends. Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was, And they’ll continue singing it forever just because…” While Sundin sits on his sofa and mulls over [...]

• DOH 10

  New episode here.  This time, in true middle-of-the-summer fashion, we steal someone else’s idea- Wyshynshi’s “5 Things I’d Change About the NHL”.  Oh yeah, and we make fun of the idea of bringing Jeff Friesen to camp.

• Cliff Is In Control

  While I think it should be obvious that the Leafs don’t seriously think drafting 2 players in the top 5 picks is the key to reaching the promised land, Cliff Fletcher spoke to the media and made it more explicitly clear that there’s a bit more of a plan in place going forward on Tuesday. “Trying [...]

• It Takes A Lot More Than 2

  Ok so I was listening to Howard Berger’s ranting on Hockey Central today at noon, while driving around town, and I couldn’t help but pick up some points of contention. Howard talks a good game, but his facts are a bit out of whack. “The feeling I get from many Leafs fans is that they [...]

• Be a Pro

  Being Stefan Legein isn’t easy - his decision to retire is still unconfirmed, but most theorists have suggested that the rigors of the hockey life is too much. However, what if you had the same opportunity? EA’s NHL 09 hits stores early September, and along with their revamped game engine that was first introduced in [...]

• My Turn

  says, Joe Sakic, who will be holding a press conference before his annual charity golf tournament on Thursday. While it’s not unusual for such a high-profile athlete to have a press conference/media junket for a charity golf tournament, you can bet that questions will be asked about Sakic’s decision on whether to return or not [...]

• 2010 Canadian Redeem Team

  Over the past two week, basketball fans in the United States cheered on what was dubbed the ‘Redeem Team’, a team of NBA stars that was built to bring the once mighty US side back to the top of the podium. After a 7th place finish in Torino, Canada will be looking to do the [...]

• Tavares vs. Hedman: Will History Repeat Itself?

    Two draft prospects, the first a flashy, 6’0 180 lbs junior superstar, known to fill the net and has been in the spotlight since the age of 14. The other an imposing 6’6, 220lbs defenseman, with little flash and a lot of grit.  When have we seen this before? Oh yeah, that’s right, it was [...]

• Canuck hopeful is working it OUT

  The ‘in-and-tangible’ of young Cody Hodgson can get Vancouver fans all excited as of now. Well, that is if you were not convinced at the draft. THe article at www.faceoff.com by Jim Jamieson from The Province goes on to provide you with some wee nuggets on Hodgson’s summer training. Mike Gillis was indeed wise to bring [...]

• Howard Berger's Analysis Is Pretty Bad

  Ok, I’m getting to this very belatedly, but I couldn’t resist posting something regarding the last article Howard Berger threw at the wall in the hopes of having some grain of “truth” stick. “The Maple Leafs are perennially, and justifiably, measured against the franchise’s last Stanley Cup winner – in 1967 – and there are precious [...]

• Can Mark Bell Regain His Form?

  The two players drafted 8th and 10th overall in the 1998 NHL entry draft have had very distinct roads leading up to their next season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite a well earned reputation as a quality dressing room presence, and his behaviour as a solid role model and citizen for the Leafs, Antropov has [...]

• Rumour Quick Hits

  Rather slow news day, but a couple quick rumours: Andrej Meszaros has yet to sign, and could still be given an offer sheet. Meszaros reportedly has a standing offer from the KHL for $4m/year, but is still willing to negotiate with the Sens, in the hopes of reaching an agreement before camp. It’s a little odd [...]

• Is Matt Stajan Paying People To Write This Stuff?

  Ok, so we know this much, if it were up to the media in and around Toronto, Matt Stajan’s “veteran savvy” would be leading him into the position of next Maple Leafs captain. Now Mike Zeisberger is in on the fix to replace Mats with Matt. I’m beginning to wonder who else is [...]

• centres….

  The Canucks, while waiting for the Mats Sundin saga to be addressed, must look at the depth of the centre position and think to themselves, “Who will be taking the majority of the draws?” True, Pavol Demitra has been a contributor points-wise during his career but has never been a guy you can bank on to [...]

• More on Moore

  “Vicarious liability.” That’s the technical term for the liability that is imposed on the employer for the conduct of his/her employee, on the grounds that the employer should be held accountable for third party losses. Bruce Dowbiggin at the Calgary Herald argues that the recent turn of events in the Steve Moore case could set [...]

• Pacific Preseason Preview 2: Do the Kings pass the laugh test?

  No, no they don’t.  In the second part of a 4 part series, I’m breaking down the Kings in a post that’s one part information, five parts snark.  In an (infinitesimally small) way, I wish the Kings were better, because the S.F. - L.A. rivalry is a good one.  But like other rivalries that fell [...]

• Lee(n) on me.

  I don’t know about all of you out there, and the recent stats show there are A LOT of you out there reading this blog, from all around the world, including the US, NEL, LAT, AUS, MEX, CHN, and of course CAN, but I’m dying for some hockey. The Olympics are great, but I’m [...]

• Condolences to…

  Ron MacLean’s family, whose mother passed away last night from pancreatic cancer. MacLean will return to Oakville to be with his family and has left the anchor position for CBC’s Olympic broadcasts. He has covered every single Olympics since 1988, and has been on Hockey Night in Canada for the past 18 years. We, at [...]

• Some VERY interesting reading.

  I’ve been intrigued while following the Blog of Nikulin, a RUS prospect who has committed to making his dream of playing the NHL, even if through the AHL, come true. His reflection on playing in NA, the AHL vs RSL, the NHL, and life as a young immigrant is illuminating. I’ve had the privilege of getting [...]

• McBait

  Bryan McCabe’s move to the sunshine state is generating a lot of buzz lately, and the Palm Beach Post has suggested that McCabe’s acquisition is Jacques Martin’s way of saying “we’re serious about winning” in the hopes that Jay Bouwmeester would bite. I say that’s wishful thinking, Jacques. I say the only way they can [...]

• Shock Value

  19-year old Stefan Legein’s sudden retirement shocked everyone. The Columbus draft pick’s decision to quit hockey not only came as a surprise to the hockey world, but to his parents as well. His mother did not know the news until it was reported in the news, while his father has denied any reports about Legein’s [...]

• DOH 9

  Here it is.  Took some emails, talked about what movement we might see in the east, and some more Sharks trivia. Also, I’m on deck to do a Kings preview sometime this week, so stick around for that.  If you want us to talk about something specific on the show, or you have feedback, email us.

• Rogue Agent

  Todd Bertuzzi has yet to find a home. Since his Vancouver days, the burly winger has never spent more than a full year with any team. First, he was traded to Florida for Roberto Luongo, but promptly shipped to Detroit at the deadline. He wasn’t as effective as Ken Holland had hoped for, despite putting [...]

• Is Grapes Running the CHL?

  In the past few weeks, each of the three CHL leagues have discussed in their summer meetings the idea of abolishing the European draft. The idea stems from the fact that over the last couple of years, it has become increasingly difficult for Canadian Junior teams to bring over the top ranked Europeans players. Since [...]

• Pissing Dogs

  The NHL and KHL are in a war and marking clear their territories. Bill Daly, the NHL’s second-in-command, recently commented that the NHL is not interested in compensation from the KHL for signing players under NHL contracts, referring to Nashville’s Alexander Radulov, who recently signed a lucrative deal with Ufa in the KHL even though [...]

• Gaborik Makes Wild Push

  Losing Pavol Demitra and Brian Rolston hurt. Doug Risebrough was obviously disappointed that both chose to leave for greener pastures, after being optimistic that Rolston, or possibly both, would be back in Minnesota next year. While Demitra’s in Vancouver wondering when Mats Sundin will be his linemate and Rolston’s in Jersey wondering if he could [...]

• Welcome Outside the Crease

  My earliest memory of hockey comes from an old grainy picture of me holding a hockey stick before I could even stand up. Growing up in Southern Ontario hockey has been a part of my family for generations. Raised by an Islanders following father and a Habs crazed mother, with a grandfather obsessed with the OHL, [...]