http://www.niagarathisweek.com/sports-story/5573897-marlies-sign-nichols/

I saw him play a bit but don't know much about him

https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/579038851378733057

don't know anything about him yet

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=169556
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=94676

https://twitter.com/GMillerTSN/status/572499637346693120

https://twitter.com/icemancometh/status/572509456698880000

https://twitter.com/Real_ESPNLeBrun/status/572477967173099520

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/blues-acquire-zbynek-michalek-coyotes/

Coyotes retain 50 percent of Michalek's salary in trade with Blues

I don't know what the condition is yet ... probably related to his health (recovering from a concussion)

Trade was announced about an hour ago but lacked details

https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/572422545493778433

Jean Béliveau, beloved Canadiens hockey legend, dead at 83
CBC link

             

If there was a Hall of Fame within the Hall of Fame, he'd be there.

Of the 24 Cups the Habs have won, his name is on the Cup 17 times (a record) - 10 as a player, 7 as executive .

He won the Art Ross, Hart & Conn Smythe.

He played in 14 NHL All-Star Games, 6 as 1st team, 4 as 2nd team All Star

Career 507 goals, 1219 points in 1125 games
Playoffs 79 goals, 176 points in 162 playoff games
(and that was mostly done during an original six era when scoring was significantly down/contained against original six competition)

Longest serving captain in Habs history (tied with Koivu)

2nd all-time in Canadiens history in points and assists, 3rd in goals and games played

In 1998, he was ranked 7th on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players

In those original six years, opposing players from other teams were forbidden from fraternizing or eating with players from other teams. Each Saturday was supposed to be a grudge match of two teams that absolutely hated each other. Beliveau transcended that. He was such a classy gentleman and clean but very talented, smart player, everyone couldn't help themselves from having the utmost respect for him.

He was made a Grand Officer (top honour) in the National Order of Quebec in 2010. In 1998, he was named  a Companion of the Order of Canada (top civilian honour).

He personally responded to every single fan letter ever written to him.

If he wasn't hockey's greatest ambassador, he was right up there with the best the game has ever seen.

The accolades are going the pour in and he probably deserves every one of them. A truly wonderful, amazing and great Canadian.

From Mr. T's daughter:
Dear cw

I am writing because over the past years you have occasionally sent several emails to my father, who you knew as "MrT", to say that his friends at TMLfans were thinking of him (I obtained your e-mail address from one of those mails on his computer...I hope that's okay). It is with great regret that I must inform you that he passed away in mid July after an extended battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Perhaps you could convey this sad news to any of the other members there who knew and have enquired about him.


I know that dad greatly enjoyed reading and participating in discussions at TMLfans and that for some time it was one of the few things he truly looked forward to each day. It provided him with the ability to communicate with others (I believe he was already house-bound at the time he became a member), share his longtime passion for the hockey and the Leafs, and was a wonderful distraction from the increasing difficulties he experienced in everyday life. Dad found it extremely frustrating when his condition worsened to the point where he could no longer participate on the forums, although for the next year or two I (or sometimes mom) would occasionally read a few threads to him when he felt up to it since he remained keenly interested in both the team and the exchange of your members' opinions and ideas (I've even started to read TMLfans occasionally myself...I guess some latent hockey genes combined with having spent a few years watching games with him has awoken an appreciation for the game). I know he was deeply touched when I told him I'd seen that the "Man of the Match" thread bore his name this past year. While his Leafs didn't manage to win another Stanley Cup in his lifetime, he was aware that they finally returned to the playoffs this spring and expressed the hope that perhaps they are now on the right track again. Who knows...perhaps they are?


On behalf of my mother and I, thank you for the enjoyment you and the other TMLfans members brought to him during his time there, and for remembering him fondly after his departure.


Most sincerely,


Daughter of "MrT"

This was her followup granting me permission to post her email:
Thank you cw, and you may certainly post my email if you feel it the best way to let the members know. Dad, while unrelentingly outspoken on subjects about which he was passionate, was also very quiet and almost reclusive when it came to his own situation. He disliked it when people made a fuss over his condition or, worse, treated him differently because of it. As you say, I've seen a number of posts where people have mentioned him (many of which I read to him) and I did urge him some time ago to allow me to pass along a message to explain why he was no longer able to participate on the site. While at that time he adamantly refused, I think he would understand and agree with my decision to do so now (and my mother concurs).


Thank you for your well-wishes, and I will pass them along to mom as well.

Daughter of "MrT"

Personally, I am crushed by this news even though I knew for some time this was the likely eventual outcome. Like MrT, I've followed the Leafs for a long time - long enough to recall them winning four Cups when I was a little kid. Of all those from that time to this who wrote about the Leafs, MrT was the best in my opinion and my favorite. He provided wonderful, well thought out, meticulously prepared and unique, original insights. He was also a great asset behind the scenes for helping this site as RickC can attest. I regard him as a dear internet friend and will really miss him as I think many will and have already on this site.

I do smile at the notion that he might be somewhere up in heaven making his thorough case to God on why Leafs fans deserve a parade soon. If true, Leafs fans couldn't ask for a better advocate in that role.

My deepest condolences go out to his daughter, wife and family along with gratitude for their efforts in extending his stay with us that I treasured.

I will email a link to this thread to MrT's daughter.

Worked with new head coach Dallas Eakins in Toronto
link

I thought he was a pretty good coach for the Leafs. Wish him well.

http://www.capgeek.com/player/310

kuklaskorner link

Periodically, I look at where past Leafs wound up.

Here's an informal listing of names I looked up:

NHL (a couple of notables among many still in the NHL)
Joey Crabb playing for Washinton
Keith Aulie playing for Tampa

AHL
Christian Hanson with Bruins
Luca Caputi - was in ECHL and now back up to AHL with Ducks
Jay Rosehill
Kris Newbury - has played a bit in NHL

ECHL
Ben Ondrus
Phil Oreskovic

Europe
Niklas Hagman in KHL
Mark Bell in Germany
Matt Lashoff in Swiss league
Marcel Mueller in SEL
Justin Pogge in Italy
Jeremy Williams - Austria and elsewhere last year and this
Tim Stapleton - KHL
Martin Gerber - SEL
Ryan Hollweg - Czech
Jaime Sifers - DEL
Andy Wozniewski - playing 3rd season in Swiss league
Brendan Bell in SEL
Mikael Tellqvist in KHL
Alexander Suglobov - has bounced around KHL

Not with any team per hockeydb.com
Pavel Kubina - reportedly looking at three UFA offers
Jeff Finger
Jason Blake
Brett Lebda - recently cut from AHL team
Jonas Frogren - looks like he was cut from two KHL teams
Chad Kilger - never played again after he left Leafs
Bates Battaglia - competed with brother in "The Amazing Race"

fyi

Sorry if they are any dupes with threads below. I didn't want to create a thread for each one.

Yahoo Sports link
"Matthew got injured last night and may be out for a significant amount of time," Maloney said

FOX Sports link
a news release from the team said Lombardi suffered an upper-body injury and will be out "indefinitely."

Coyotes fans on forums are suspicious it's another concussion.

Tough luck. All the best to him. Seemed like a good guy.

https://twitter.com/TSNScottyMac/status/292771286407598080
Scott MacArthur
‏@TSNScottyMac
Just told by @DarrenDreger #Leafs are speaking to Joffrey Lupul's people about contract extension. How close is unclear. @TSN1050Radio #NHL

Wild:Palmieri, Veilleux, Dowell on waivers
http://www.startribune.com/sports/187312611.html

Calgary Flames Roster Moves: Karlsson & Irving Placed On Waivers
http://flameforthought.com/2013/01/17/calgary-flames-roster-moves-karlsson-irving-placed-on-waivers/

Sabres place Adam Pardy, Nick Tarnasky and Kevin Porter on waivers
http://www.fox44abc22yourvoice.com/story/20614315/sabres-place-3-on-waivers-including-d-pardy

Tampa Bay has placed forwards Kyle Wilson, Mike Angelidis, J.T. Wyman and defenseman Matt Taormina on waivers
http://www.rawcharge.com/2013/1/17/3887126/tampa-bay-lightning-2013-opening-night-roster-likely-set-cory-conacher-keith-aulie-p-C-Labrie

Smith, Holzapfel, Peters, Reese, Grant, Phil Dupuis, Strait, Ferriero (PIT).
http://www.pensburgh.com/2013/1/17/3887110/pens-demote-bennett-put-strait-on-waivers
(notable ex-Leaf Dupuis waived)

Didn't see a thread going on this. Fyi

[In Toronto, I know the people that are running the team, so I cheer for them and hope that things go well]

Ottawa Citizen: Hockey heart beats on for the Mighty Quinn
...
Quinn will be back in Ottawa this weekend as part of the Hockey Night In Canada coaching symposium and minor hockey clinic at Ray Friel Arena. While Quinn hosts the coaching symposium...
....
Speaking of coaches, Quinn should wait by his phone for another opportunity at the rate NHL coaches are being let go. Hitchcock scooped one of four jobs that have come open since the start of the season, not that Quinn takes much joy in the development.

"Having been in the profession, you don't like to see it, you know how hard these men work," Quinn says. A former head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers, Quinn blames tight races and high expectations for the added pressure on modern coaches.

At age 68, would he leap back into the fray?

You bet.

"When it's your life and suddenly it's not there, it's a big hole," says Quinn, who watches at least a game per night on television. "I'd love to be involved with some team some place. I think I still have something to offer. I don't know what level ... coaching always appealed to me, but I'm experienced in other areas, too."

He'd be great as an organizational mentor, or assistant general manager. Quinn finished off his duties in Edmonton last year as a consultant and would think about a similar opportunity elsewhere.

Not surprisingly, he keeps a close eye on his former teams.

"When you put your own sweat and blood in there, then you feel something about the organization and the city and the fans," Quinn says.

"In Toronto, I know the people that are running the team, so I cheer for them and hope that things go well."

Tough to find a NHL head coaching gig at 68 but he could certainly help on the management side.

Always liked the guy. Wish he'd write a book on coaching. Hopefully, someone puts him back to work.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=382178

I sense a plea bargain. Thought he got off too light last time.

[Reimer starting tonight!!]

          Reimer starting tonight!!
In four career starts against the Bruins, Reimer holds
a 3-1-0 record with a 2.46 GAA and .930 SV%

                         


                         Forward Lines                               
Joffrey Lupul         Tyler Bozak          Phil Kessel
Clarke MacArthur    Tim Connolly        Matt Frattin
Nikolai Kulemin      Mikhail Grabovski  Joey Crabb
Joe Colborne         Dave Steckel         Philippe Dupuis

                        Defensive Parings           
           Carl Gunnarsson     Dion Phaneuf
           Jake Gardiner        Luke Schenn
           John-Michael Liles  Cody Franson

                             Goalies             
                    James Reimer - starting
                    Jonas Gustavsson

* Based upon best info to date
Scratched: Orr, Rosehill, Scrivens (not sent down yet..)
Injured: Armstrong, Brown, Komisarek, Lombardi,
   
                         

                        Forward Lines                         
Brad Marchand      Patrice Bergeron   Tyler Seguin
Milan Lucic           David Krejci         Nathan Horton
Benoit Pouliot       Chris Kelly           Rich Peverley
Daniel Paille         Gregory Campbell  Shawn Thornton


                       Defensive Parings             
           Zdeno Chara           Johnny Boychuk
           Dennis Seidenberg   Joe Corvo
           Andrew Ference       Adam McQuaid


                           Goalies             
                    Tuukka Rask - starting
                    Tim Thomas

Injured: Marc Savard

NHL Preview Link

Matchup Comparison Link

On Line Streaming Links to Try
CBC link
FirstRow link
OurLeafs link
HockeyWebcasts link
NHL Snipers link
AM640 Radio Broadcast link

Globe & Mail link
The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan has decided not to sell its stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., according to sources.

The pension plan has wrapped up an eight-month process during which it explored its options and has concluded that it wants to hold onto its 79.5-per-cent stake in MLSE.
...
Teachers' received and considered numerous offers for the sports franchise, sources said. But the pension fund is excited about the prospects for both the teams and the company. And it believes it can take actions that will help the Toronto Maple Leafs perform better, sources suggested.
..
Teachers' decided to put its stake on the block in March of this year to see how much it might fetch, after the pension plan received expressions of interest from potential acquirers. But Teachers' had always said that it would simply hold onto its stake if the ultimate bids didn't live up to its expectations.

Not a big surprise.

If & when the economy improves and the new CBA is signed, that might be a better time to sell to maximize their return.

They could always turn around and buy a sports media company or two to further exploit that financial synergy.

Hockey's Future Organization Rankings, Fall 2011 1-10

I don't think prospect rankings are that precise but the Leafs falling in the top third strikes me as about right.

Reimer and Gardiner will very likely 'graduate' from consideration by HF next season, so the Leafs may be hard pressed to stay up in those rankings when that happens.

The key comment I've seen and one many would acknowledge is that (maybe beyond Reimer/Gardiner), their pipeline is light in true/safe blue chippers - guys that have a good shot to be elite.

Regardless, the ranking is a credit to Burke.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/10/05/stajan-accepts-role-with-flames

He was never a true 1st or 2nd line center anyway in my mind. And he may get bumped to the press box when Morrison returns from his knee injury.

Not good news for a 27yr old NHLer.

Dennis Beyak Bolts For Winnipeg? Ralph Gone Too?
http://torontosportsmedia.com/toronto-maple-leafs-hockey/dennis-beyak-bolts-for-winnipeg-ralph-gone-too/11258
Dennis Bayak is said to be bolting Toronto where he did some 50+ radio games on 640 Toronto for greener, okay maybe not greener pastures but for Winnipeg.

I'm told this will be both radio and tv for Beyak who probably saw the writing on the wall with 640′s contract for Leafs games coming up after this season. If 640 were going to be in bidding for leafs radio I can't imagine Beyak bolts.

So, the Marlies and the Maple Leafs are in the market for radio voices.

I am also told this could be the end of Jim Ralph on Leafs games too. After losing his gig as the co-host for the now extinct Bill Watters Show, it seems like Ralphs days are also numbered.

I liked Dennis & Jim.

Team 990 picks John Bartlett as voice of the Canadiens
http://www.digitalhome.ca/2011/08/team-990-picks-john-bartlett-as-voice-of-the-canadiens/

For those who weren't familiar, Bartlett mainly did the Marlies games and some stuff for LeafsTV

[Important emphasis: this ban is only for the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association league.]

link
Old-timers might grumble — we can hear Don Cherry gearing up for a rant now — but the decision to ban bodychecking in Island house leagues is good for players and the game.

The Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association league representatives have voted to extend the ban, which had just applied to players under 13.

Now, except for players on rep teams, the top level, checking will be banned all through minor hockey until players graduate at 18.

A ban was inevitable. Researchers have increasingly turned their attention to injuries — particularly concussions — in sport. And the evidence is overwhelming that bodychecking in minor hockey substantially increases the number of concussions and the threat of permanent damage to young brains.

University of Alberta professor Martin Mrazik tracked two peewee hockey teams — 11- and 12-year-olds — through the 2009-10 season. Ten per cent of the players suffered concussions serious enough that they missed games or practices. A University of Calgary study tracked more than 2,000 peewee players in Alberta, where checking was allowed, and in Quebec, where it was banned.

There were 241 injuries among 1,108 Alberta players, and 78 concussions. In Quebec, with the checking ban, there were only 91 injuries and 23 concussions.

It would be negligent — both morally and legally — to allow checking to continue given those statistics.

Concussions, especially, are not just another sports injury. A concussion is a brain injury and the effects, particularly of multiple concussions, can be devastating and lifelong, including memory loss, depression and increased risk of Alzheimer's.

Not everyone agrees. The vote to ban checking passed 10 to seven.
....

Important emphasis: this ban is only for the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association league.

Can't say I'm surprised except by the timing. Didn't expect it to change as quickly as it seems to be progressing. I do believe it is a trend and that trend will lead right up to the NHL eventually - beyond pressures already there now. I'm not saying the NHL will become a hitless league - just that there will be increasing pressure to minimize concussions more than they have. The medical evidence is piling up. Ten to twenty years from now, a guy like Lombardi may have a real problem trying to find a doctor who would clear him to resume his career.

Medically, we know now that concussions are effectively a cumulative brain injury - the more you get in quantity or severity, the worse off you are long term. People are living longer so the brain injury is more likely to show up as the player ages into their later years.

One silver lining might be that if they significantly reduce concussions in the peewee and minor leagues, the players arriving at the NHL level may have a longer concussion wick for their pro careers. In that respect, it may be a positive thing. Whether they can quickly learn to take a hit later in their careers remains to be seen but the positive probably outweighs the negative. That may also apply to other susceptible areas like knees, backs and shoulders.

Having said that, sports like boxing and football have a much more serious problem in the face of that growing medical evidence that is much more substantial and higher risk for multiple concussions in those sports. As long as there is big money, people will continue to play those sports though. I don't know what the answer is for them but I suspect the NHL will probably hunker down behind that rationale for their own survival.

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/15/nhl-looking-for-ways-to-create-more-offence
TORONTO - Doug Armstrong won't dismiss such radical concepts as shallow nets, liberal hand passes or panting penalty killers who defend for the full two minutes of a power play.
....
This year, the hockey-operations boys are highlighting special teams and faceoffs.

Two teams of 2012 draft propects must skate through a penalty killing minefield. Getting puck possession on a delayed call won't be enough to stop play, the penalized team must also exit the zone, possibly down six skaters to five. During the penalty, they'll be charged with icing (sans substitutions) and the man in the box is stuck there the whole 120 seconds, no matter how many goals against.

"I'm not sure if it's the bigger equipment or good (PK) strategy, but everyone's blocking shots and filling up the middle of the ice," Armstrong noted. "These ideas could put the advantage back in the power play's hands or cut down on penalties."

Armstrong is also keen on seeing consistency returned to the faceoff circle. The same linesman will be dropping the puck during camp, with the dots cut from nine to the five with defined outer circles and hashmarks. When a centre is waved out, the other team can pick the replacement on the draw and there'll be another look at leaving the puck on the dot and whistling play in.

"It's just looking for fairness," Armstrong said. "There are a lot of 'Ts' and 'Ls' marked out there (where players are supposed to set up), but it could be tidier."

Toronto general manager Brian Burke will get to see his pet project, the bear-hug rule, where a player can steer another into the boards while briefly wrapping him to lessen impact.

"I think it can reduce and/or eliminate the 'billiard ball' hits we see now five or six feet from the boards," Burke said. "Especially in light of the widespread tactic used by forwards protecting the puck while exposing the numbers on their backs. And I believe our officials can handle this without the bear hug itself turning into a tactic."

I don't mind experimentation and being open to new ideas but my hope would be that the PP doesn't dictate results the way it did in '06. It ruined the game substantially for me. The refs got more sensible after that and I haven't minded it as much in recent years. More five on five scoring is much more preferable to me if they feel the need to increase scoring.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110815/SPORTS0103/108150388/1361/Wings-giving-former-phenom-Fabian-Brunnstrom-a-tryout
"He's in the same boat that Mikael Samuelsson or Danny Cleary were, guys coming in on pro tryouts. It worked out for those guys."
Brunnstrom likely won't make the Wings, but could give the organization some valuable depth The Wings already have 13 forwards on one-way contracts and Cory Emmerton is out of minor league options and would have to be exposed to waivers if he were to be sent down.
Nill said there has been no discussion as to the possibility of Brunnstrom playing in Grand Rapids if he doesn't make the Wings.

After his first couple of games with the Marlies, he largely disappeared so I don't see this as a hand wringer.