Leafs obtain Kris Versteeg
June 30, 2010 by RobDM
Filed under Latest Leafs Updates
Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced a multi-player trade with the Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday evening.
The Maple Leafs have obtained right-winger Kris Versteeg and the rights to left-winger Bill Sweatt. In exchange, the Blackhawks will receive forwards Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis.
Versteeg, 24, appeared in 79 regular season games in 2009-10 and recorded 20 goals and 24 assists to place sixth in Blackhawks’ team scoring. Versteeg registered six goals and eight assists in 22 postseason games on route to Chicago’s Stanley Cup win. The Lethbridge, Alberta native was a nominee for the Calder Trophy in 2008-09 as the league’s top rookie (award won by Steve Mason).
Sweatt, 21, was Chicago’s second choice, 38th overall, in the 2007 Entry Draft. He has registered 109 points in 143 career NCAA games (Colorado College).
Link: Discussion boards
Stay tuned to TMLfans.ca for all your trade and free agency coverage on July 1.
Maple Leafs 2010 Entry Draft selections
June 26, 2010 by RobDM
Filed under Latest Leafs Updates
The following players were selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2010 NHL Entry draft, (listed by round – overall pick).
With thanks to TMLfans.ca member ‘Randall’, for his detailed scouting reports.
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2 – 43. Bradley Ross: Born – Lethbridge AB, Canada… Age – 18… Position – Left Wing… Size – 6’1” / 175… 2009/10 Club – Portland (WHL)… 2009/10 Statistics – 71GM / 27G / 41A / 68PT / 203PM
Scouting report – Combined with 1st round selections Nino Niederreiter and Ryan Johansen to form one of the most dangerous forward lines in the WHL last season… solid skater handled much of the heavy lifting for his talented linemates and did it very well by most accounts… worked hard on his shooting and subsequently tripled his 2008/09 goal total… described by scouts as being “aggressive, disruptive and chippy without being stupid”, so it’s not difficult to see why the Leafs moved up into the 2nd round to grab this Steve Ott clone… also said to be pretty handy with the fists as witnessed by his league leading penalty totals… younger brother of 2007 Phoenix 1st rounder Nick Ross… Projection – First rate “agitator” who might occasionally be able to play on the 2nd line.
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3 – 62. Greg McKegg: Born – St. Thomas ON, Canada… Age – 18… Position – Centre… Size – 6’0” / 190… 2009/10 Club – Erie (OHL)… 2009/10 Statistics – 67GM / 37G / 48A / 85PT / 32PM
HockeyDb.com | HockeysFuture.com
Scouting report – Increased production from 18 to 85 points in his second season in Erie… possesses good size but is not overly aggressive… owns elite scoring and play making skills but needs to work on improving skating speed and agility… must pay more attention to his defensive assignments in order to win ice time at the next level… will need to prove that scoring numbers were not overly inflated by being part of a strong Otter’s power-play… was a member of Canada’s 2010 U-18 team… Projection – 2nd line scoring pivot.
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3 – 79. Sondre Olden: Born – Oslo, Norway… Age – 18… Position – Left Wing… Size – 6’3” / 175… 2009/10 Club – MODO (SEL J20)… 2009/10 Statistics – 32GM / 7G / 20A / 27PT / 22PM
Scouting report – Former Norwegian U18 star who played last season in Sweden… possesses excellent size but will need to add 20 – 30 pounds during the next year or two… fortunately seems to have the frame to do so fairly easily… magnificent skater for a player of his size… has an abundant set of offensive skills, but will need to adapt his game to the smaller North American ice surfaces… that education may start as soon as next season as Olden is said to be coveted by several teams in the upcoming CHL import draft… Projection – Top 6 winger with 2-way ability.
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4 – 116. Petter Granberg: Born – Gallivare, Sweden… Age – 18… Position – Defence… Size – 6’2” / 202… 2009/10 Club – Skelleftea (SEL J20)… 2009/10 Statistics – 40GM / 2G / 7A / 9PT / 39PM
HockeyDb.com | HockeysFuture.com
Scouting report – Expected to graduate to the senior club at Skelleftea in the SEL next season… solid all around defender with projectable size, levelheaded aggressiveness and advanced puck handling skills… represented Sweden at the 2010 U18 tournament and played well… was subsequently ranked as the second best draft eligible Swedish defenceman by Central Scouting… Toronto has had good success in leaving their Swedish defenders in the SEL for 2 or 3 years after drafting them and this is likely to be the plan for Granberg as well… Projection – NHL caliber defenceman… another 2 or 3 years away from joining the Leafs.
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5 – 144. Sam Carrick: Born – Stouffville ON, Canada… Age – 18… Position – Centre… Size – 6’0” / 190… 2009/10 Club – Brampton (OHL)… 2009/10 Statistics – 66GM / 21G / 21A / 42PT / 96PM
HockeyDb.com | Brampton Battalion
Scouting report – Carrick was the second leading scorer on the Battalion last season and will be expected to become a team leader next year… smooth skater who releases his shot quickly and with some accuracy… solid ice vision and play making abilities round out the young pivot’s impressive package of offensive skills… although not overly big, Carrick has a real edge to his game and can be very annoying to play against… he’ll need to add weight and upper body strength in order to continue this practice at the next level… Projection – Developing skilled centreman (with a nasty disposition).
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5 – 146. Daniel Brodin: Born – Stockholm, Sweden… Age – 20… Position – Left Wing… Size – 6’1” / 175… 2009/10 Club – Djurgardens (SEL)… 2009/10 Statistics – 30GM / 2G / 3A / 5PT / 26PM
HockeyDb.com | HockeysFuture.com
Scouting report – Brodin is a mature player, having been passed over in the 2008 and 2009 Entry Drafts… Swedish reports describe Brodin as a talented winger who works extremely hard on every shift… in some ways, Brodin is a very typical Swedish winger in that he skates and shoots with great skill… perhaps not quite so typical in that he enjoys taking the body and does so at every opportunity… Brodin may be destined to play in Toronto (whether with the Leafs or the AHL Marlies) as early as next season… Projection – Depth winger capable of filling several roles.
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7 – 182. Josh Nicholls: Born – Tsawwassen BC, Canada … Age – 18… Position – Right Wing… Size – 6’2” / 175… 2009/10 Club – Saskatoon (WHL)… 2009/10 Statistics – 71GM / 18G / 30A / 48PT / 55PM
Scouting report – Nicholls has a big frame and projects to be well over 200 lbs when he finally reaches maturity… his skating (like many gangly youngsters) needs considerable work… nevertheless, Nicholls has interesting stick skills and certainly represents an intriguing project for Toronto’s player development staff… in the end, this player’s future will be determined (or limited) by how effectively he can improve his agility as he grows into his body… Projection – 2nd / 3rd line winger… in time.
Blue And White Beat: New captain Phaneuf leads by example
June 14, 2010 by RobDM
Filed under Blogs, Blue And White Beat
New captain Phaneuf leads by example
The Good Ship Maple Leaf has been drifting aimlessly for several years.
Treacherous waters have resulted in five seasons mired in a playoff drought; and 43 years removed from a Stanley Cup.
But at least the vessel now has a captain.
To no one’s surprise, defenceman Dion Phaneuf whom the Leafs acquired from Calgary on January 31, was named the 18th captain in team history on Monday. The promotion of the 25-year-old Alberta native ends a period of two full seasons in which Toronto trainers did not stitch a “C” on any Leaf player’s sweater.
Over the course of Toronto’s final twenty-six games of the season following Phaneuf’s acquisition, head coach Ron Wilson made frequent references to the one-time Norris Trophy nominee’s impact in the dressing room. The youngest roster in the NHL that employs the likes of Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak and Luke Schenn – all 24 years of age or younger – fed off Phaneuf’s enthusiasm and energy.
“I’m very vocal. I think that’s no secret with anyone,” Phaneuf told a gathering of reporters. “I like to talk whether it’s on the ice or off the ice, and that’s a big part of who I am as a person.
Being captain is a huge honour. It’s a very special day for me to be given the opportunity.”
Wilson, who spent several years coaching in the Western Conference with Phaneuf as his nemesis, indicated that Phaneuf’s appointment was all but automatic. “When we saw how Dion affected positively the attitude of the room and the attitude of the practice facility, how he integrated himself into the community, and did all the little detailed things that you would expect from a captain, to me it was a no-brainer,” said the Leafs bench boss. “He has the respect of every player in our dressing room, but more importantly he has the respect of coaches and management.”
Leafs president Brian Burke was quick to provide an estimate of the amount of time it took for Phaneuf to put a stamp on the team.
“About 30 seconds in, when he fought Colin White (in Phaneuf’s first Leafs game, against New Jersey).”
Burke lauded the rearguard’s tenacity in challenging anyone from fellow teammates to management. “He’s barked at me a couple of times since he’s been here, about things we need. I love that. Not too many guys have enough jam to yell at the GM.”
Phaneuf’s ascension as the team’s official leader hardly comes without liabilities. Like his predecessors Mats Sundin, Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark, he will automatically be the lightning rod of criticism for any of the club’s misfortunes. His own performance will be placed under the microscope, particularly on the scoresheet, where he registered a mere two goals in the final two games of the Leafs season after playing his first 24 games in Toronto without finding the net.
With a hefty $6.5 million annual contract, Phaneuf will be expected to elevate his production to at least the standard he set for himself after scoring 39 power-play goals in his first three seasons in the league.
The challenge is there for the taking, and Phaneuf appears to be up to the task.
“I look forward to the responsibility that (the captaincy) brings. I’m going to take pride in working day in and day out and doing whatever it takes to help our team win.”
Rob Del Mundo is the author of Blue And White Beat, and is a regular columnist at TMLfans.ca
Follow TMLfans.ca on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tmlfansrob
Blue And White Beat: Suitors undeterred by Kaberle’s post-Olympic slump
June 6, 2010 by RobDM
Filed under Blogs, Blue And White Beat
Suitors undeterred by Kaberle’s post-Olympic slump
It’s a rare occurrence for NHL teams to engage in a bidding war for an offensive defenceman that scored just once in the final two months of the season.
But when the trade window for Leafs veteran blueliner Tomas Kaberle opens on June 25, the first day of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, general manager Brian Burke is expected to be working double overtime listening to offers.
“Based on the interest already, I’d say there is significant interest in Tomas Kaberle,” Burke told the media earlier this week. As many as six teams have reportedly expressed interest in the Leafs’ power-play quarterback, with two clubs said to have made ‘significant’ offers.
The buzz surrounding Kaberle indicates that general managers have all but ignored the 32-year-old’s struggles that were evident following the Czech defenceman’s appearance at the Olympic Games where he collected a goal and two assists in 5 games playing for his native country.
Kaberle had just a single tally after the Games in Vancouver and actually wound up with only one goal and 4 assists in 24 games after February 5. The horrific slump came after he posted a respectable 44 points in 58 games to begin the season.
In mid-March Kaberle admitted that the grind of the compressed schedule of Olympic and NHL games had taken a noticeable toll. Frustrated onlookers at Air Canada Centre ran out of patience waiting for the supposed chemistry between Kaberle and Dion Phaneuf – acquired on January 31 – to materialize on the power-play.
Nevertheless, despite the offensive drought, Kaberle still finished the season with the eighth-best point total (49) out of all NHL defencemen, while ending up tied for 13th place among all skaters with 22 power-play assists – which was no small accomplishment playing on the worst power-play team in the league.
Kaberle’s contract appears very lucrative price to potential suitors, with one year remaining on a deal priced at a reasonable $4.25 million.
The classy veteran of 11 NHL seasons who has played each of his 820 career regular season games in a Leafs uniform has been involved in numerous trade proposals throughout his tenure in Toronto, many of which have included stars such as Eric Lindros, Jeff Carter and Chris Pronger.
Should a deal eventually come to fruition between draft day and August 15 – the day before his no-trade clause comes back into effect – it’s not unrealistic to expect Kaberle to regain his scoring touch.
Former Leafs like Alex Steen and Lee Stempniak appeared to benefit from a change of scenery.
Perhaps it’s what Kaberle needs as well.
Rob Del Mundo is the author of Blue And White Beat, and is a regular columnist at TMLfans.ca
Follow TMLfans.ca on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tmlfansrob