Toronto Maple Leafs

May 13, 2013; Boston, MA USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81), defenseman Cody Franson (4), center Nazem Kadri (43) and defenseman Jake Gardiner (51) celebrate a goal during the third period in game seven of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports It’s been almost a week now since the Toronto Maple Leafs made a disastrous exit from the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. Although the wounds have surely not yet healed for fans, hopefully the sting is at least not quite as bad. As difficult as blowing a three-goal lead with just over 10 minutes to play was to handle, that small stretch shouldn’t define the entire season for Toronto. Now that we have had a little time to digest everything that has transpired in this lockout shortened season, let’s look at what we’ve learned. Can we please stop worrying about James Reimer now? If Reimer didn’t silence his critics after his first round performance against the Boston Bruins, he probably never will. He just about won games 5 and 6 on his own, and was spectacular through most of the series. Sure his rebound control was suspect at times, but that means he’s at least making the first save more often than not. Reimer had a .924 save percentage this season and has a career record of 53-32-14. For some reason the expectations for Leaf goalies seems to be astronomical these days, but based on the play between the pipes in recent years, fans and everyone in the organization should gladly take Reimer’s numbers any day. Kessel, Lupul, and JVR are bona fide point producers Phil Kessel finished in the top 10 in National Hockey League scoring for the second straight season and showed he is more than just a scorer. He had 32 assists in 48 games and proved he has some slick passing ability. After a strong playoff against his former team, the Tyler Seguin nonsense and comparisons should be a non-issue. Joffrey Lupul proved he can be a consistent producer and emotional leader if he could only stay healthy. His 18 points in 16 games would have equated to a 92-campaign over 82 contests, which would have led the squad. Not only did Lupul put up points, but he was able to score on some great individual rushes that changed the momentum in games. As for James van Riemsdyk, his 18 goals made just about everybody forget about Luke Schenn. With JVR’s skill set and hands, something tells me that trade is just going to get better over time. Leafs have found a solid top four on the blue line If the last few games of the Bruins series taught us anything, it’s that Dion Phaneuf, Carl Gunnarsson, Jake Gardiner, and Cody Franson make up a solid top four. Phaneuf has his critics and one of them has been me on a regular basis, but there aren’t too many defenders who could have done what he did this season. He and Franson both finished in the top 10 in defensive scoring, and Phaneuf averaged over 25 minutes a game playing against the opponent’s best forward group every night. Everyone remembers that bad pinch that cost Toronto Game 4, but overall his play had more of an impact in 2013. If only he wasn’t making $6.5M a year. Gardiner showed what he can do with increased playing time during the playoffs, so hopefully Randy Carlyle sees that once and for all. Then again it is Carlyle, and it felt like he thought Mike Kostka was the second coming of Chris Pronger this season. Who knows what he will have up his sleeve next year. Nazem Kadri has a chance to be great Kadri had a breakout year with 44 points and showed signs that he can be one of the NHL’s best, but he isn’t there yet. He has the skill set to be a top 10 player in this league and if he keeps on developing at this pace, he soon will be. What was perhaps more impressive than his points in 2013, was they way he improved his defensive game. He averaged less than a giveaway per game this year and finished second on the Leafs with a rating of plus-15. These are

The Marlies are on the ropes against Grand Rapids after a 4-1 loss last night in Michigan. They’re down 3-1 in their series headed into tonight. If they can take Game 5, the series would come back to Toronto for Games 6 and 7, so you never know. Also on the upside, Carter Ashton has [more…]

May 12, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Joe Colborne (32) controls the puck against the Boston Bruins during game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Bruins 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports The Toronto Marlies will attempt to tie their series at 2-2 when they take on the Griffins tonight in Grand Rapids. The Marlies dropped a close 5-4 decision on Wednesday night to fall behind in the series. The next two games will be played in Grand Rapids, so if the Marlies want to send the series back to Toronto they have to win at least one of those. The Marlies had some additional help for Game 3 as Joe Colborne and Ryan Hamilton returned from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Colborne was held off the score sheet, but Hamilton was able to find the back of the net in a losing cause. Spencer Abbott also returned from an injury he suffered in the opening round. He chipped in with a goal and an assist. The rest of the series could very well come down to special teams and in that area the Marlies would seem to have the edge. As we have been accustomed to seeing under coach Dallas Eakins, Toronto’s penalty kill leads the AHL in the post-season with a rate of over 90%. The Griffins on the other hand are operating with a power play at just 16.2%. If the Marlies can exploit this matchup, look for them to get back in the series.

Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue ========================= Is this a real team Is this just fantasy Caught in bad slide, no escape from mediocrity Open your eyes, look down to the ice and seeeee... It's just a bad team They need no sympathy Because they're Maple Leafs, Toronto, shooting high, shooting low Anywhere you shoot it doesn't really matter Kadri, Kadr-iii Burkie, you blew it man. Had a deal for Lu all done, didn't pull the trigger: now you're gone. Phaneuf, playoffs just begun But now you've gone and thrown your youth away. Kessel, boo-hoo-ooooo Didn't mean to make you cry If the Bruins don't win this game tomorrow They'll try again, with Seguin...(as if nothing really matters) Brian...your time was done All you did was whine, team kept losing all the time Good-bye Burkie buddy, you had to go. If you're feeling all maligned then launch lawsuits. Momma, oo-oo-oooo (everywhere the Leafs blow) I don't wanna watch Sometimes I wish they never were on at all I see a little Hall of Famer of a man Pierre Larouche, Pierre Larouche, where did all the damn fans go? Hurricanes and Lighting very very frightening teams Hall of Fame-o (Hall of Fame-o) Hall of Fame-o (Hall of Fame-o) Hall of Fame-o no Grabo (I don't think so-oh-oh-oh) "I'm not a poor boy, got lots of money." (He's not a poor boy, but new contract means Spend his career in this mediocrity) "Shooting high, shooting low, will I get to go?" We still laugh: No, he will not get to go (Let him go!) We still laugh: You will not get to go (Let him go!) We still laugh: You will not get to go ("Let me go!") Will not get to go ("Let me go!") (Never, never...) Never let you go, never let you go-oh-oh-oh Oh Paul Karyia, Paul Karyia (Paul Karyia gets to go) The CBC are the ones who did this to me, to me, to meeeeee... Leaf fans think they'll win it all before I die And I think it's funny but they can try No way-ay, it's not even a maybe Just gonna wind up Just gonna wind up playin' golf You don't have to worry Anyone can see You don't have to worry You don't have to worry, Stanleyyyyy (everywhere the Leafs blow....) Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue ========================= Is this a real team Is this just fantasy Caught in bad slide, no escape from mediocrity Open your eyes, look down to the ice and seeeee... It's just a bad team They need no sympathy Because they're Maple Leafs, Toronto, shooting high, shooting low Anywhere you shoot it doesn't really matter Kadri, Kadr-iii Burkie, you blew it man. Had a deal for Lu all done, didn't pull the trigger: now you're gone. Phaneuf, playoffs just begun But now you've gone and thrown your youth away. Kessel, boo-hoo-ooooo Didn't mean to make you cry If the Bruins don't win this game tomorrow They'll try again, with Seguin...(as if nothing really matters) Brian...your time was done All you did was whine, team kept losing all the time Good-bye Burkie buddy, you had to go. If you're feeling all maligned then launch lawsuits. Momma, oo-oo-oooo (everywhere the Leafs blow) I don't wanna watch Sometimes I wish they never were on at all I see a little Hall of Famer of a man Pierre Larouche, Pierre Larouche, where did all the damn fans go? Hurricanes and Lighting very very frightening teams Hall of Fame-o (Hall of Fame-o) Hall of Fame-o (Hall of Fame-o) Hall of Fame-o no Grabo (I don't think so-oh-oh-oh) "I'm not a poor boy, got lots of money." (He's not a poor boy, but new contract means Spend his career in this mediocrity) "Shooting high, shooting low, will I get to go?" We still laugh: No, he will not get to go (Let him go!) We still laugh: You will not get to go (Let him go!) We still laugh: You will not get to go ("Let me go!") Will not get to go ("Let me go!") (Never, never...) Never let you go, never let you go-oh-oh-oh Oh Paul Karyia, Paul Karyia (Paul Karyia gets to go) Th

TORONTO -- Three days after the Leafs' historic playoff collapse in Boston, the wound was still raw. Did it hurt less this morning when you woke up, goalie James Reimer was asked at the Leafs' wrapup session Thursday. "Not really," he answer...

Nearly the weekend links Thoughts From Dave Nonis' Presser This raises a lot of questions about Nonis being at the helm. What Went Wrong? DGB with excuses from NHL's losers. US Routs Russia to Reach WC Semis USABestHockey Backhand Shelf Podcast Talking playoffs and stuff. Sure is quiet now. Too quiet.

I’m finding the playoffs much harder to enjoy now that I’ve been reminded what it’s like with the Leafs in them. Links after the jump. - From yesterday’s media day: End of Year Address: Randy Carlyle and Dave Nonis Locker Clean out Interviews: Mark Fraser, James Reimer, Nazem Kadri, Dion Phaneuf. - Game 4 goes [more…]

The Leafs made the playoffs for the first time in nine years and I almost missed it. With how the series came crashing down catastrophically at the end, maybe that would have been for the best. But even after enduring insanely improbable heartbreak, the Leafs at least had a chance. And after nearly a decade lost in the bleak wilderness of apathy, I wouldn't trade this season, ending and all, for another lottery finish. I almost missed the most relevant Leafs hockey in nine years because I was invited to a destination wedding in Punta Cana that inconveniently coincided with games 3-6. Tip for anyone thinking about getting married: Book it before or after the playoffs, even if you're an Oilers fan and the chances of your wedding interfering with the playoffs is nil (Hey! I can make fun of other teams that don't make the playoffs now and it feels great). Otherwise, make accommodations for your insane hockey friends. For example, I went to a Stag and Doe on the night of Game 2 and one of the groomsmen brought his satellite dish from home and hooked it up so no one had to miss the game (or, more likely, the Stag and Doe). If you're having your wedding this might interfere with things like speeches, but just crank up the volume during intermission and it'll be like Don Cherry is giving you a personal wedding toast. "Keep your stick on the ice, even in the bedroom." Bringing a satellite dish to Punta Cana probably wasn't going to happen, not that I was worried when I was first invited. I've had my plane tickets booked since last Autumn, well before the NHL lockout even ended, so I initially didn't think my trip south would be anything other than blissful. I wasn't overly optimistic about Toronto's chances heading into the season either, so even when the lockout ended I didn't think a trip in early May would be an issue. There are 10-year-old children who didn't even know the Leafs were allowed to play hockey in May. But as the season crept along, and the Leafs continued to pile on wins, I began to slowly realize that this trip was going to prove challenging. For normal people, taking a trip to an all-inclusive resort with beautiful sunny weather would wash away any thoughts about a hockey game. Unfortunately, as a Leafs fan, I'm far from normal, and I was in a slight panic. Where was I going to watch the game? Was there an ESPN5 that would at least show some highlights, albeit after three hours of football and basketball coverage? How could I argue with bartenders about the merits of Jake Gardiner over Mike Kostka if I couldn't speak a lick of Spanish (other than "dos cervezas por favor"). After a win in Game 2, it became even more imperative that I watch this series. It was actually going to be a series, not a one-sided beating like many predicted. Luckily, there was a good contingent of Leafs fans going to the wedding, so I wouldn't be alone on my quest to find hockey. And a quest it was. Here is how my (possibly hazy) memory recalls the week. Game 3 The second night of the trip and there is a good contingent ready to bolt out of dinner early to track down the Leafs by any means necessary. There is a sports bar at the resort, so the matter should be simple. Not really the any-means-necessary solution I expected. I've already seen plenty of people wearing Toronto Blue Jays hats, so I can only assume this resort gets a lot of Canadians. And we Canadians, although polite and mild-mannered by nature, are demanding and pushy when it comes to hockey. Give us hockey or give us death, as our founding fathers once said. Accordingly, this resort must have some extensive satellite package that has all sorts of different flavours of CBC, maybe even some off-brand ESPN that carries hockey illegally, for no other reason than some drunken group of Canadians threatened to commandeer the resort if they didn't get to wat

Mark Fraser interviews on locker clean out day. Google+

James Reimer interviews on locker clean out day. Google+