Blogs | Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey News and Views

Jesse Blacker: The evolution of a hockey player

Feb. 25, 2012 by S-Mo

Jesse Blacker, taken in the 2nd round of the 2009 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, is making a case for himself as a pro and appears to be on the verge of taking the next step to the big league.

The 6’1”, 195 lb native of Toronto has been enjoying top minutes with one of the best defensive teams in the AHL, the Toronto Marlies, under the tutelege of coach Dallas Eakins and Gord Dineen among others. Whether applying his craft to sound positional play, learning the ropes in after hour sessions on the ice, reviewing tape or building his conditioning in the gym, Jesse is truly soaking up his experience and has little time for anything not hockey related.

Speaking with Jesse today we discussed some of his earlier triumphs, notably with the OHL champion Owen Sound Attack last year, and the learning curves and inspirations on the road to pro hockey.
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Leafs blog: One player away?

February 19, 2012 in Blogs 2

(Should a young player like Frattin be packaged for a star?)

Leafs Blog: One Player Away? – Kevin Striukas, TMLFans McLeaf

Trade rumours have been swirling Leafs nation under the preconceived notion that the team is one superstar away from being a top tier team in the east. In the Leafs current position would trading for a Rick Nash or Ryan Getzlaf turn the 8th place Leafs into a top contender?

Blue And White Beat: My favourite Mats moment

When Sundin scored his 500th goal his countryman Alex Steen was displayed on the game ticket.

In my capacity as a writer, I have the opportunity to cover several Leafs games from the press box. But I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve watched a game from the seats at Air Canada Centre as a fan.

The most recent time was over 5 years ago. I remember the outing for a couple of reasons. It was my first opportunity to take my then-10-year-old nephew to a game.

Also, it was the night that Mats Sundin put on a clinic against the Calgary Flames.
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Reading Royals Review

The Royals Review

(February 3)

READING, Pa. – Though the names have changed , the scoreboard results of the Reading Royals, the ECHL affiliate of the Maple Leafs and Marlies, have stayed very much the same for most of the season.

During January, hopes were raised in Reading after Toronto welcomed back an influx of newly healthy NHL and AHL players. The Royals reaped some manpower rewards as a result of those moves but have continued to have mediocre results.

Other players on the Reading roster are shifting. too. Co-affiliate Boston is moving players back and forth and Royals’ coach Larry Courville continues to trade and tinker with his lineup in hopes of finding the right combination that can get on a roll and earn a playoff berth.
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Blue And White Beat: What if the All-Star Game always had a draft?

(Kessel joins Lupul and Phaneuf on Chara’s team)

Phil Kessel insists that he doesn’t care, but the Leafs winger has to be ecstatic at having shaken the label of the last NHL All-Star draft pick that he involuntarily inherited a year ago.

Based on his play this season, combined with having an ally in Toronto teammate and Team Chara assistant captain Joffrey Lupul , there was virtually no chance that he’d regain the title, which was passed to Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

This is only the second All-Star game that has used the draft format. But suppose the pond hockey-like format had always been used to establish both teams’ rosters. Which Leafs would have suffered the ignominy of being the last pick?
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Lupul named All-Star assistant captain

(Leafs winger given “A” on Team Chara)

Take a breath, Phil Kessel.

The embarrassment of a last-pick selection in the NHL All-Star Draft wasn’t likely to repeat itself for Kessel this year, given his 25-goal output so far which is good for a third-place tie in the league.

But now that his long-time linemate (until last Thursday) Joffrey Lupul has been named an assistant captain to Team (Zdeno) Chara, it’s all but a certainty that Kessel won’t be the butt-end of an Alex Ovechkin cell phone photo.

“It’ll be fun, and we’ll try and make it as fun as possible for the fans,” said Lupul at the Leafs’ game-day morning skate at Air Canada Centre where the team will host the Montreal Canadiens tonight.