Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Rumors

Kaberle looks like a keeper: Leafs likely to keep star defender
Comment
March 14
Toronto Sun
 
"Tomas Kaberle is a wanted man. But will it remain that way through the summer? On Friday, general manager Brian Burke, during a radio interview in Toronto, said he "expected" the veteran defenceman return to the Maple Leafs next season. On Saturday, coach Ron Wilson echoed the sentiments of his GM. "Hopefully, he will be back," Wilson said. "He has a role carrying the puck and on the power play. We have (other guys) who concentrate on the defensive aspect of the game on our blue line." Kaberle has one more season remaining on his contract, which pays him a cap-friendly annual salary of $4.25 million US. He does have a no-trade clause, of course, one that becomes moot from the June draft ..."
Kaberle open to a new deal...
Comment
March 5
Toronto Sun
 
"In a perfect world, Tomas Kaberle would want to remain a Maple Leaf for life. And yes, he admits he was "happy to hear" general manager Brian Burke state Wednesday that the team was open to discussing a contract extension for the veteran defenceman. At the same time, Kaberle no longer appears so stubbornly steadfast to stay in Toronto if the right opportunity comes along elsewhere. That was evident Wednesday when Kaberle's handlers told Burke there were three destinations, known to be in the Eastern Conference, that he would be open to going to. Burke, in the end, could not complete a deal by Wednesday's 3 p.m. trade deadline. But a swap might very well happen over the summer, when the ..."
Ducks acquire MacDonald from Leafs
Comment
March 3
TSN.ca
 
"The Anaheim Ducks continue to restructure their goaltending as they have acquired Joey MacDonald from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 7th round draft pick in 2011. Earlier in the day the Ducks shipped Vesa Toskala to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Curtis McElhinney and Justin Pogge to the Carolina Hurricans for Aaron Ward."
Leafs send Stempniak to Coyotes
Comment
March 3
TSN.ca
 
"The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded forward Lee Stempniak to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for a fourth and seventh round draft picks. The 27-year-old Stempniak will be joining his third team in five NHL seasons. In 61 games with the blue and white, Stempniak has 14 goals and 15 assists with a minus- 10 rating."
Leafs not alone in seeking changes
Comment
March 2
Toronto Star
 
"This time, it's a seller's market. By the time the NHL's trade deadline arrives Wednesday afternoon, the teams with players to move should have enjoyed what is expected to be a bonanza of interest in their assets. Whether interest translates into a flurry of deals remains to be seen. In fact, the market was kick started by Leaf GM Brian Burke Jan. 31 when he engineered two head line making deals. Since those moves, and including them, there have been nine trades involving 34 players and 11 draft picks – a rash of activity that may have taken some of the steam out of Wednesday's deadline."
Will Leafs' Pony ride out of town at trade deadline?
Comment
March 1
Toronto Star
 
"Almost 6,000 fans crammed into the GM Centre in Oshawa to watch the Maple Leafs practice on Sunday in another testament to the undying popularity of the team and its players. For a few Leafs, though, the practice that charmed local hockey fans and raised $10,000 for the Eastview Boys and Girls Club could have been their last hurrah in Toronto. It's expected that at some point over the next three days leading up to the March 3 NHL trade deadline, at least one, and probably more, Leafs could be dealt to new clubs. For Leafs like Alex Ponikarovsky and Lee Stempniak –who have the highest trade value on the team – the Olympic roster freeze lifted at midnight Sunday night, and they might not ..."
The ball's in Kaberle's court
Comment
February 27
Toronto Sun
 
"When Brian Burke was asked about the status of defenceman Tomas Kaberle earlier this month, he was quite abrupt with his response. "This is the last time I will answer this - I am not going to ask Tomas Kaberle to waive his no-trade clause," Burke said at the time. That hasn't stopped the internet from being flooded with reports that Kaberle, in fact, might be willing to waive it in order to go to a number of pre-determined eastern conference teams. Until Kaberle himself squashes the speculation, the talk will continue up to Wednesday's trade deadline. Of course, these rumours have been going on for more than two years - and he's still a Leaf."
Pony shrugs off trade talk
Comment
February 26
Toronto Star
 
"If Alexei Ponikarovsky is dealt before the NHL trade deadline next Wednesday – and there's a strong possibility he will be – the Leafs will be losing more than a faithful soldier from the past nine seasons. A link to the past decade, and to a dying tradition in the NHL, will be all but extinguished if the familiar No. 23 is moved. Ponikarovsky represents – along with Tomas Kaberle – a dwindling breed of NHLer, one who spends his entire career with one team. The 30-year-old broke into the NHL with the Leafs in the 2000-01 season. His name has been mentioned frequently in the run-up to several previous trade deadlines. Ponikarovsky is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He ..."
Busy deadline ahead for Leafs
Comment
February 26
Toronto Sun
 
"With the help of some carefully placed scaffolds and ladders, workers were busy hanging blue-and-white Stanley Cup banners around the MasterCard Centre on Thursday, sprinkling some colourful flair and a touch of history to the Maple Leafs new practice facility. In the coming days, expect the facelift to extend into the Leafs dressing room as well. General manager Brian Burke admitted as much to a national radio audience during the first intermission of the Canada-Russia Olympic quarter-final Wednesday, using words like "significant" and "busy" to describe the potential trade activity involving his Leafs leading up to the March 3 trade deadline. Burke noted that the Leafs would be both ..."
Leafs prepared for anything as deadline approaches
Comment
February 25
Toronto Star
 
"It seems the Maple Leafs' roster changes almost every time they hit the ice, and the makeover may not be over yet. Twenty Leafs returned to practice on Wednesday, their first workout since the NHL went on Olympic hiatus 10 days ago. It gave the team its first glimpse at Jamie Lundmark, picked up on waivers from Calgary Feb. 13."
Leaf dressing room becomes revitalized by trades
Comment
February 5
Toronto Star
 
"The Leafs dressing room has changed, both figuratively and literally. Not only new faces, but new seating arrangements at their practice facility. Jean-Sebastien Giguere sits in one corner, where Vesa Toskala used to sit. Beside him is Jonas Gustavsson, his protege. Gustavsson previously had been at the other end of the room, away from loner Toskala. That necessitated a switch for Phil Kessel, who took over Jason Blake's centre stall beside rookie Christian Hanson. Dion Phaneuf is on defence-row, just a couple stalls from Luke Schenn."
Komisarek will visit with doctors today
Comment
February 3
Toronto Star
 
"With the arrival of Dion Phaneuf and J.S. Giguere, the Leafs got a shot in the arm and renewed interest from their fans. But for Mike Komisarek, there is still some anxiety. The big defenceman visits with doctors Wednesday and the resulting assessment of his injured shoulder should determine whether or not he can play with the Leafs on Friday and get his preparations for the Olympics under way."
Leafs get Phaneuf, Giguere in multi-team blockbuster
Comment
January 31
Toronto Star
 
"GM Brian Burke has shaken up his struggling squad in a blockbuster multi-team trade with the Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks. From the Flames, the Leafs ended up star Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf, as well as forward Fredrik Sjostrom and defenceman Keith Aulie. They gave up forwards Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman and Jamal Mayers, and defenceman Ian White. Burke called Phaneuf "an elite player.""
Report: J.S. Giguere traded to Leafs
Comment
January 31
ESPN.com
 (scroll down)
"The Leafs were also on the verge of acquiring veteran goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere from the Anaheim Ducks, pending his waiving a no-trade clause, a source told ESPN.com. Goalie Vesa Toskala would be headed from Toronto to Anaheim as part of the deal and there may be other parts to this trade as well, the source said."
Calgary Flames trade Dion Phaneuf to Toronto Maple Leafs
Comment
January 31
Calgary Herald
 
"The Toronto Maple Leafs have aquired Dion Phaneuf in a trade with the Calgary Flames according to a reports. The 24-year-old defenceman has 22 points this season and is earning US$6.5 million. Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke said he would be making an annoucement today that would make changes to his current roster."
Mayers' agent given permission to seek trade
Comment
January 27
TSN.ca
 
"Rugged Maple Leafs forward Jamal Mayers believes he has at least a few good years left him in, but doesn't see Toronto in his future. Leafs general manager Brian Burke granted Mayers agent, Pat Brisson, permission to speak to teams in an effort to generate trade interest."
Trade speculation surrounds Leafs
Comment
January 26
Toronto Sun
 
"The future of Mike Komisarek and several of his Maple Leafs teammates is about as clear as the bleak January skies. As Komisarek works to return from a suspected shoulder injury, several Leafs are pondering their future, unsure whether they still be in Toronto hours after the NHL trade deadline passes on March 3. Komisarek can rest easy knowing it's nearly a certainty he will not be dealt prior to the deadline. Not so for a group of players heading for unrestricted free agency, including goalie Vesa Toskala and forwards Lee Stempniak, Matt Stajan and Alexei Ponikarovsky. General manager Brian Burke has said he would not be adverse to taking on salary in a trade, and if it meant sending a ..."
Komisarek sets sights on Leafs, Games
Comment
January 26
Toronto Star
 
"Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Komisarek was selected to the U.S. Olympic team based on his talent, size and leadership. Now, it appears his ability to tolerate pain could be a factor as well. Komisarek practised with the Leafs yesterday, his first full workout since Jan. 2 when he was sidelined with an "upper-body injury.""
Deadline deals bug Leafs GM Burke
Comment
January 23
Toronto Star
 columnist Damien Cox
"So far, the Maple Leafs have avoided making a desperate trade to try and salvage their season. By now, regardless of what happens Saturday against the Florida Panthers and beyond, it's probably too late anyway. But GM Brian Burke and his management group could surely have pulled the trigger on some noisy deal over the past few months to quiet their critics and make it appear they were actively trying to fix their broken hockey club. That is how to make a bad situation worse. The much-discussed Phil Kessel trade with Boston was made before the season started. Otherwise, other than peddling prospect Jiri Tlusty to Carolina for prospect Philippe Paradis, Burke has held his fire."
Defensive help on the way for Maple Leafs
Comment
January 18
Toronto Star
 
"With team defence being an issue, the struggling Maple Leafs will be getting some help from the sick bay, with both shutdown centre Wayne Primeau and stay-at-home blueliner Mike Komisarek expected to return to the lineup at some point during this week's four-game road trip. Primeau practised for the first time on his sore knee and accompanied the team on its flight Sunday night to Nashville, although he's doubtful for Monday's game. "It took a while to get going," Primeau said of his skate. "But once I got up to speed it was good.""
Talking trades or the lack thereof: No deal to Neidermayer or Kaberle moves
Comment
January 16
NHL.com
 
"You never say never in this business and anyone who disputes that notion can look back on Aug. 9, 1988 -- the day Wayne Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles. In this case, Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray says he isn't trading Scott Niedermayer enough that you believe him. After all, the Ducks have gotten on a hot streak and reintroduced themselves into the Western Conference playoff race. So, why would you trade Niedermayer now? Sure, his contract is up at the end of the season, but the Ducks are better with the veteran defenseman, so not surprisingly, Murray is scoffing at the speculation you see all over the internet. "That's another one that seems to circulate," Murray told Helene Elliott of ..."
Leafs GM Burke unloads
Comment
January 14
Toronto Sun
 
"With his Maple Leafs continuing to be in a tailspin, a riled-up Brian Burke wants to make a number of things clear: •He will not approach defenceman Tomas Kaberle about waiving his no-trade clause. •Reiterating a point he stressed to colleague Steve Simmons in Thursday's Toronto Sun, Burke said he would not dismiss Ron Wilson, adding that those who say his friendship with Wilson would keep him from firing the coach are "idiots." •He is "very disappointed" in the performance of his Leafs, who sit in 28th spot heading into their game against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at the Air Canada Centre. Addressing a packed room of reporters this morning, the outspoken Leafs GM addressed a number ..."
Leafs Kaberle says trade rumours are false
Comment
January 14
Toronto Sun
 
"If Tomas Kaberle were involved in as many scoring plays as trade rumours, he would have won the Art Ross Trophy by now. Peppered yesterday with queries about his potential willingness to be dealt from the Maple Leafs, a defiant Kaberle insisted he has not been approached by general manager Brian Burke about being moved. That has not stopped speculation about Kaberle's, including suggestions that the veteran is poised to resubmit a list of potential teams he would accept being moved to. Kaberle said those reports are wrong. "(Burke) got the list last year," Kaberle said. "Besides, he has not come to me about being traded. Nothing has changed. "I love to play for the Leafs. I want to win a ..."
No rush for Monster
Comment
January 7
Toronto Sun
 
"The Maple Leafs are in no rush to begin negotiating a new deal with rookie goaltender Jonas Gustavsson. To date, the Leafs have yet to hold preliminary discussions with Gustavsson, who looked shaky in a 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers last night at the Wachovia Center. While the two sides could not hold talks under league rules until Jan. 1, the Leafs do not feel any pressure or urgency to get an extension completed in the immediate future. Gustavsson has had an eventful rookie season, undergoing a pair of surgical procedures on his heart. And while he has played well at times, he still lacks the consistency needed to be a successful everyday NHL goaltender. Because he is a restricted ..."
Leafs' John Mitchell back just in time
Comment
January 4
Toronto Star
 
"Leafs centre John Mitchell says he's ready to play, which is a good thing because the Leafs have lost two centres – Mikhail Grabovski and Wayne Primeau – to long-term injuries. Grabovski, whose participation for Belarus at the Winter Olympics is now in jeopardy, will be out six weeks due to a fractured wrist suffered early in the first period on Saturday against Calgary. The Winter Games begin mid-February, right around the time Grabovski's injury is expected to heal. Primeau is out two-to-four weeks after suffering a knee injury in the third period. "I should be playing on Tuesday against Florida," said Mitchell. "I've got to take the next few days to get ready.""
Leafs' free agents to be trade bait for Brian Burke
Comment
January 4
Toronto Star
 
"With the trade deadline approaching, a number of pending free agents to be dealt with and a team making a series of starts and stops at the bottom of the standings, Leafs GM Brian Burke wants stability for his players. But he doesn't promise it. "You prefer to not have a lot of movement," said Burke. "The more stable your lineup is the better chances you have. We'll have to see how it goes. It's a fluid situation as far as I'm concerned." The Maple Leafs have nine pending unrestricted and four restricted free agents, and their future with the team depends mostly on the club's fortunes, their willingness to stay and Burke's willingness to keep them."
Wayne Primeau suffers knee injury, could be out four to six weeks
Comment
January 4
Toronto Sun
 
"Primeau, who was hampered by an ankle injury during his previous two seasons in Calgary, suffered a knee injury in the third period and is expected to be gone for two to four weeks. While the losses are significant — Grabovski was most often on the top two lines and Primeau was one of the Leafs' stronger players over the past few weeks — at least the club has options. John Mitchell, who has missed the past 20 games with a knee injury, is due to return for tomorrow's game against the Florida Panthers. Rickard Wallin, who was a healthy scratch in Calgary, could also step back into the lineup. "I've just got to take the next couple of days to prepare and make sure I'm ready," said Mitchell, ..."
Grabovski breaks wrist, out for six weeks
Comment
January 4
Toronto Sun
 
"Mikhail Grabovski was looking forward to his first trip to the Olympics as part of Team Belarus. Wayne Primeau was starting to think the injury woes that had slowed his career were a thing of the past. That all changed over one night at the Calgary Saddledome when both Maple Leafs centres were injured in Saturday night's 3-1 loss to the Flames. Grabovski suffered a broken wrist on his second shift of the game when he collided with Calgary's Nigel Dawes and is expected to be out of the lineup for six weeks, which obviously puts his participation in the Vancouver Olympics in serious doubt. Primeau, who was hampered by an ankle injury during his previous two seasons in Calgary, suffered a ..."
A Classic for Rogers Centre?
Comment
December 31
Toronto Sun
 columnist Mike Zeisberger
"The prospect of an outdoor game being played at BMO Field seems to be as bleak as the soggy weather forecast for tomorrow's Winter Classic at rustic Fenway Park. Despite the best efforts by the power brokers at Maple Leaf Sports"
Could Ian White 'C' Leafs' future?
Comment
December 29
Toronto Star
 
"As the Maple Leafs' long unanswered question lingers – who will be the next captain? – there are candidates emerging. The latest could be Ian White, who seems to be gaining supporters, at least judging by the unscientific standards of fan support and email. And it doesn't hurt that he scored the game winner in Pittsburgh on Sunday. White's resume has certainly blossomed steadily ever since he was thought to be the odd man out on the Leafs blue line once the Brian Burke era took full effect. Even before that, White was considered a sixth or seventh defenceman whose value to the Leafs was more as a tradable commodity than a good-guy player who never complained and admirably filled a periodic ..."
Leafs get second chance as Schenn & Gustavsson could return to lineup
Comment
December 18
Toronto Star
 
"Coach Ron Wilson still needs some serious convincing, but young Leafs Luke Schenn and Viktor Stalberg, each viewed as a key piece of the team's future, have the chance to reclaim a spot in the lineup. Both will dress in an important divisional matchup at Buffalo on Friday night; Schenn after three games as a healthy scratch and Stalberg as a surprise callup from the Marlies. Wilson would not say who will sit to make room, but Jeff Finger, who finished Wednesday's 6-3 loss to Phoenix as a minus-3, is a blueline candidate. Stalberg subbed in on the fourth line at Thursday's practice but it seems unlikely he'll start there."
Stalberg rejoins Leafs
Comment
December 17
Toronto Sun
 
"The Maple Leafs have called up winger Viktor Stalberg from the Marlies. The 23-year Swede will dress tomorrow when the Leafs face the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena. Stalberg, a rookie, leads the Marlies in scoring this with eight goals and 21 points in 19 games. Also dressing tomorow will be goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, who has not played since Dec. 1 because of a heart ablation procedure, and second-year defenceman Luke Schenn, a healthy scratch the past three games."
New look for Leafs blue line?
Comment
December 12
Toronto Sun
 
"The Maple Leafs could have a different look on the blue line tonight. Could sophomore Luke Schenn, who has played in every game this season, be the odd man out? It could happen. Both Jeff Finger, who has been a healthy scratch the past three games, and Garnet Exelby, who also has been in out of the lineup, told Sun Media they will be in uniform against the Washington Capitals at the Air Canada Centre. Schenn said he had not heard that he would not play. When asked if there would be a change in the defence corps, Leafs coach Ron Wilson would only say "Possibly." Finger has not played since he was minus-3 against the Boston Bruins last Saturday. In all, Finger has been scratched 16 times ..."
Wilson mulls response to Capital attack
Comment
December 12
Toronto Star
 
"There's a potential – once again – that Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn will be a healthy scratch for a game. Schenn, who was suspect on two goals in Thursday's loss in Boston, may be scratched from the lineup tonight when the Leafs meet the Capitals at the Air Canada Centre. That prospect – a seat in the press box as a healthy scratch – has been hinted at on two other occasions this season for Schenn. But the Leafs and coach Ron Wilson have refrained, largely because Schenn has been given slack as a second-year player to make mistakes without a daily fear of losing his spot on the blueline."
Monster concerns himself with groin issues, not Heart
Comment
December 12
Toronto Star
 
"Jonas Gustavsson has drawn rave reviews in Leafland for his goaltending performance and the calm and class he has shown in hustling back from two heart surgeries. But listening to the 24-year-old talk Friday about his problematic heart led observers to think there's more to the rookie than all that. He spoke calmly about how his main concern is not the heart issues, but rather healing the muscles in his groin area, where the incision was made to facilitate the heart operations, known as ablations."
Gustavsson returns to training following heart procedure
Comment
December 8
TSN.ca
 
"Maple Leafs' netminder Jonas Gustavsson spoke to the media Monday for the first time after undergoing his second heart procedure since the beginning of training camp. "It will be a couple days," Gustavsson told reporters Monday. "I feel good now. It feels like I have more power after this procedure than after the last one." The man known as the 'Monster' also believes that his heart problems are now a thing of the past. "The doctors were pretty happy with the result," he said. "They said they can't guarantee anything, but they think it should be gone now. I can't think about if it will happen again. It should be alright now. I have to trust them." The Swedish rookie was forced to leave ..."
Leafs send F Tlutsty to Canes for prospect Paradis
Comment
December 4
TSN.ca
 
"The Toronto Maple Leafs have shipped forward Jiri Tlusty to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the rights to center Philippe Paradis. Tlusty will report to Carolina's American Hockey League affiliate, the Albany River Rats. ''This trade gives us an opportunity to pick up a young, skilled forward who is further along in his development, albeit still in the development phase,'' president and general manager Jim Rutherford said. ''We feel that Jiri has a chance to be with the Hurricanes sooner than Philippe, who is a good, but still very young prospect.''"
Goalie Gustavsson gives Leafs scare
Comment
December 2
Toronto Star
 
"For the second time in less than three months, Jonas Gustavsson has been forced to seek emergency medical attention for his heart. Anyway you cut it, that's scary stuff, a situation that no pro sports team dares trifle with. So as soon as Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson heard that the prize rookie goaltender's heart was racing after playing an outstanding first period Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens, he didn't wait to find out if Gustavsson could continue."
A clean slate for Komisarek
Comment
November 30
Toronto Star
 
"A small tear in one of his quadriceps muscles is not the only part of Mike Komisarek that healed over the last three weeks. The forced hiatus, one that will end with his return to the Maple Leafs' lineup Monday night against Buffalo, was also a salve for the veteran defenceman's psyche. It was a chance for him to step back and take advantage of a rare thing in the Toronto market – perspective. Komisarek was off to a brutal start to the season after signing a five-year, $22.5 million (all figures U.S.) deal with the Leafs in the summer."
Leafs scrap at practice; Komisarek may return Monday
Comment
November 30
TSN.ca
 
"The Toronto Maple Leafs had an eventful practice on Sunday, mixing in a small disagreement with some good news about Mike Komisarek. Mikhail Grabovski and Francois Beauchemin were involved in a scuffle and had to be separated, reports AM640 in Toronto. The radio station is reporting the pair was involved in an argument and Grabovski tried to punch Beauchemin. Jason Blake and assistant coach Tim Hunter got between them. Komisarek returned to the ice Sunday and head coach Ron Wilson told AM640 he expects the veteran defenceman to play against the Bufflao Sabres on Monday. The 27-year-old has been out since sustaining a tear in his quad against the Minnesota Wild on November 10."
Hawks are hovering
Comment
November 23
Toronto Sun
 
"Saturday's win over Washington -- and even another tonight against the New York Islanders -- won't likely be enough to alter the course of change with the Maple Leafs. General manager Brian Burke is working hard to recover the first- or second- round pick sacrificed in the Phil Kessel deal, while the NHL's unofficial trade window of U.S. Thanksgiving is here and cap-strapped teams such as the Chicago Blackhawks are looking to deal. The Hawks and Leafs were linked earlier this month, but the pending multi-year extensions for Chicago pillars Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and defenceman Duncan Keith have put its management under the gun to create some $2 million US in "tag room" to accommodate ..."
Hawks exec sparks Leaf trade rumours
Comment
November 23
Toronto Star
 
"The buzz around the Air Canada Centre Saturday night was not entirely centred on the Leafs snapping a five-game losing streak with a shootout win over Washington. There was also a strong sense there could be some changes coming soon – a sense helped by the presence in the press box of Chicago Blackhawks assistant GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. The Hawks are mulling new contracts for three of their potential free agents – Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith. The club, like any other, has cap considerations, and economics dictate the Hawks can't sign all three without shedding at least one of their existing, big dollar contracts. Among those contracts are Patrick Sharp (over $4 million ..."
Leafs moves coming, just matter of how
Comment
November 21
Toronto Star
 
"A Maple Leafs roster shakeup is in the works. It's just unclear whether it will come through a trade or a demotion. On the heels of their most disappointing loss of the season and with fans and media clamouring for change, general manager Brian Burke is trying to rework his squad. But there'll be no new faces in the lineup against Washington on Saturday. Burke said Friday he has "some irons in the fire" as he tries to work out a deal, but if he can't move bodies that way, he will jettison deadwood to the minors. "If I can't make a trade, that's going to happen soon," said Burke of a dramatic demotion. "At some point our lack of success would dictate that move, but you want an element of ..."
Clock ticking on Leaf coach Wilson
Comment
November 21
Toronto Star
 columnist Damien Cox
"It is honourable and right for Brian Burke to stand by his coach, even more because he didn't hire Ron Wilson to guide the Maple Leafs. Too many times coaches get dumped for no particular reason other than because it's an easy thing to do and the supply of able coaches outstrips the demand. So if Burke wants to swim upstream against that particular current, good for him. But Leaf fans, he has to understand, are not seeing it quite that way. Perception is everything in politics and sports, and in this case, there is a growing perception that Wilson would be safe even if the Leafs had zero victories because he has already by tabbed by Burke to coach the American Olympic team in February."
Leafs aim for Winter Classic
Comment
November 11
Toronto Star
 
"No matter how the local teams perform, Toronto could host some big games in the next few seasons. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has made a pitch to the NHL for Toronto to hold the annual Winter Classic at BMO Field, a pair of entry drafts, as well as all-star games for both the NHL and Major League Soccer. "Over the next four years we hope to have four major events," Richard Peddie, president and chief executive officer of MLSE, said in an interview Tuesday after addressing a sports management conference."
Mitchell gets shot at centring Kessel, Blake
Comment
November 5
Toronto Sun
 
"Come to Maple Leafs practice today and you might see Rickard Wallin, Wayne Primeau or even Darryl Sittler centring Phil Kessel. That seems to be the coach Ron Wilson's state of mind about trying new people with the talented right winger, whose career 10-shot night in Tuesday's impressive debut opens up a world of possibilities for the goal-starved club. A day after saying he'd be patient with Matt Stajan in the role, giving he and Kessel some time to create sparks, Wilson put John Mitchell with Kessel and left winger Jason Blake. Wilson saw something in the closing minutes when Mitchell and Kessel were paired. "I like the way Mitchy played last night ... his speed matches up," Wilson ..."
Habs sniper Cammalleri could have been a Leaf
Comment
October 31
Toronto Star
 
"Mike Cammalleri was almost a Maple Leaf. Twice. The mere thought of the first time Cammalleri slipped through Leaf fingers makes the Richmond Hill native – who grew up a Leaf fan – chuckle. "Aki Berg," Cammalleri said over the phone from Chicago where the Habs played Friday night. The Leafs traded a second-round pick in 2001 to the Los Angeles Kings for Berg, a middling defenceman at best. With the pick, the Kings chose Cammalleri, a 5-foot-9 centre who emerged as a point-a-game player. "It said on the draft board, `L.A. from Toronto,'" Cammalleri recalled. "It was just the draft, so it's not like I was ever (Toronto) property, but obviously there was a lot that appealed to me about ..."
No Kessel tonight, but Tlusty is pumped
Comment
October 30
Toronto Sun
 
"While the Maple Leafs wait for their most talented player to make his Toronto debut, Jiri Tlusty will have to do. There were rumours during the morning at HSBC Arena that Phil Kessel wanted to play against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night, but Leafs coach Ron Wilson shot those down. "There is no truth to that," Wilson said. "I don't know where rumblings like that would come from." The plan remains for Kessel to get into the lineup next week, likely at home on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kessel is almost recovered from off-season surgery on his left shoulder. Versus the Sabres, Tlusty will skate on a line with centre Matt Stajan and winger Lee Stempniak. The Leafs hope Tlusty ..."
Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa
Comment
October 30
Toronto Sun
 
"The Maple Leafs could get a large offensive boost on Tuesday night. Phil Kessel is almost done recovering from shoulder surgery and could make his Leafs debut against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Air Canada Centre. "(There's) a good chance of it, yeah," Leafs coach Ron Wilson said on Thursday afternoon after the Leafs practised at a suburban Buffalo arena. Kessel didn't say much as he was hustled to the team bus by a Leafs staff member, but acknowledged he has been cleared for physical play in practice. As for suiting up versus Tampa, the 22-year-old took a wait-and-see approach. "It's a few days away," Kessel said. "I'll see how it feels. I don't know yet.""