Toronto Maple Leafs

A Monster They Can Fear

April 1, 2010

This isn't about the villain in an upcoming horror flick, but Leafs' netminder Jonas Gustavsson has lived up to his billing during the last stretch of the season. He won't get you in your dreams, but you better be wide awake if you want to have any success against this rejuvenated monster. It's almost as if since the trade that rocked this city, someone has hit the reset button on this kid. Unfortunately, there was no reset button on the Leafs' season. Speaking of horror flicks and nightmares, I'm back. I've had a nightmare of my own this past week with my laptop crashing. Life without Internet has been no life at all. But for now, I've set myself up on a temporary computer while my...

Spring Time Means Leafs Come Out

March 23, 2010

Patrick Storto

4 Comments

Prior to the NHL Lockout, Toronto was the only city where Leafs would fall in the spring. But post-lockout, the Leafs seem to have gone back to their roots and only begin to bud in spring. That would be great if the NHL season coincided with the spring and summer seasons, but unfortunately it doesn't. Well in typical post-lockout Leafs fashion, the boys are at it again. The late season surge never seems to fail. Well it does fail in the sense that it never gets them anywhere, but it never fails in frustrating fans. Well this year the jokes on them. We don't have a 1st round pick, so please, go ahead and move up the standings and save us the embarrassment of the Bruins picking eithe...

A New Attitude

March 16, 2010

Patrick Storto

3 Comments

Believe it or not, but it's been 43 days since the trades that rocked this city. 43 days ago, the face of this franchise underwent a big face lift, and in my opinion, they're better for it. I'll always remember jumping out of bed as my brain desperately tried to comprehend the text message I had received from TSN notifying me that Dion Phaneuf had been traded to the Maple Leafs. I was very excited and I still am. I've never seen a Leafs team this young, it's a nice change. A lot of things have changed with this team this season, but the most important change has been the attitude. One thing that this team has lacked since the departure of Mats Sundin is passion. Most of the players...

The Kids Need To Get It Done

March 10, 2010

Patrick Storto

3 Comments

The biggest change in this team over the last six years has been age. Six years ago, the Leafs were well on their way to what fans thought might be a successful post-season. By the end of the 2003-2004 season, the Leafs were deploying the likes of Mats Sundin, Gary Roberts, Alex Mogilny, Joe Nieuwendyk, Ron Francis, Brian Leetch, Owen Nolan and Ed Belfour. Six years later, times have changed. All of those seasons of going for it, with big splashes at the trade deadline have taken their toll on the Leafs the last few seasons, but that has never been more evident than it has been this season. With the team practically stripped down to its bones, it is evident that the Leafs cupboard of...

Ace In The Hole

March 3, 2010

Patrick Storto

0 Comments

There was a little excitement among Leaf fans today when Kaberle told the media that he and Brian Burke had an agreement in place, where Burke would bring any trade offers he received to Kaberle and he would give it consideration. But excitement soon turned to disappointment as Burke told members of the media that they had explored the very few avenues that Kaberle made available to them and there was nothing. The truth is, Burke wasn't trying and he was smart. Kaberle not providing a long list of teams was worse for Kaberle than it was for the Leafs. Given that the Leafs miss the playoffs, Kaberle's no-trade clause will expire this summer, giving Burke the option to trade Kaberle to 2...

Confirmed : Ponikarovski for Caputi and Skoula

March 2, 2010

George Prax

4 Comments

UPDATE: TSN and Bob McKenzie are reporting that Ponikarovski to the pens for Luca Caputi and Martin Skoula is a done deal pending the trade call to the NHL. Skoula might be flipped tomorrow before the deadline, and Caputi could play for the Leafs as soon as possible. Bob McKenzie and TSN are reporting that a deal could be in place between Toronto and Pittsburgh this evening. The deal with send Alexei Ponikarovski to the Pens in exchange for 21 year old forward Luca Caputi. The deal would be pending contract movement from the Penguins, who have to make cap space for Ponikarovski's $2.1 million yearly cap hit, as Caputi is in the minors. Stay tuned to this thread, which will be update...

Retain One, Or Trade Both?

March 2, 2010

Ron Guillet

2 Comments

With the National Hockey League's trade deadline looming, names like Alexei Ponikarovsky and Lee Stempniak are becoming increasingly popular in the Toronto Maple Leafs brass. Fans of the Blue & White have been playing armchair general manager and have formulated a number of trades since the Olympic break. But amidst the excitement of the yearly spectacle, I'm beginning to wonder if it's in the Leafs' best interest to trade both Ponikarovsky and Stempniak. After all, were they not serviceable players for the Leafs? Take a look at Ponikarovsky's statistics: - 19 goals (3rd on the Leafs) - 41 points (3rd) - +5 rating (1st) - 114 hits (2nd on team, 1st among forwards) Now Stemp...

Maple Leafs, Blackhawks talking swap of awful contracts?

March 2, 2010

Wally Brennan

13 Comments

Greg Brady of AM 640 in Toronto is reporting that rumors are swirling around the team that Toronto and Chicago may be talking about a deal that would send Jeff Finger to the Blackhawks for Cristobal Huet. He then speculates that the Leafs would flip Huet for something (though this blogger can't fathom who) and the Blackhawks would then target Florida goaltender Tomas Vokoun. Keep your eyes on TheCheckingLine throughout the day today and don't forget to join our live chat beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow for more details as they emerge.

Mikhail Grabovski arrested for street fighting

February 21, 2010

George Prax

3 Comments

According to Damien Cox, Mikhail Grabovski, center of the Toronto Maple Leafs and injured member of team Belarus at the Vancouver Olympics, spend the night in a Vancouver jail on Friday-Saturday. Grabovski was allegedly involved in a "street altercation" near a bar on Vancouver's Pacific Boulevard around 2AM late Friday night - early Saturday morning. Grabovski was released to his parents on Saturday morning, and was not charged. The details of the altercation are unclear, but it is said that Grabovski could have thrown at least one punch himself. The Belorussian could not compete for his country in Vancouver due to an injury suffered early in the new year, but chose to accompany his ...