GetItNext Hockey - The Red Line - All Hockey All The Time

Burke Maple Leaf Deal Done - Announcement Saturday

According to TSN Brian Burke's contract is finalized and will be signed on Friday with an official announcement on Saturday.  The deal is rumored to be this season plus 5 more and he will be paid 18 million.  One of the sticking points that was finally agreed to, is a clause that the Leafs give Burke full autonomy over all decisions until 2014.  Burke will become the 13th GM in the 97 year history of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

4 NHL Rule Changes For 2008-2009 Season

The NHL is introducing 4 new rule changes for the 2008-2009 season.  I am not always in agreement with changes that are introduced by the league but I have to say that 3 of the 4 new tweaks should help the game.  I think that #2 could be a good rule but it is very subjective and the refs will not enforce it properly.

1. A change to Rule 76.2 ("Face-Offs") will place the first face-off of a power play in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul.
2. A change to Rule 81.1 ("Icing") states that "Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player."
3. A change to Rule 85.5 ("Face-Off Location") provides that if a puck is shot off the goal frame, goal post or crossbar, the subsequent face-off will remain in the end zone where the puck went out of play.
4. I can't find the official wording for this one but I've heard that its approved.  When a puck is iced intentionally the game will NOT be delayed but a tv timeout even if one was scheduled.  This is a great rule change as coaches really started to abuse this last year and take advantage of the ability to ice the puck when they knew a tv timeout was coming.  Bravo NHL.

Now next year, slim down the goalie equipment.

Toronto Turns Leaf on McCabe and Deal Him To Panthers

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally dumped Bryan McCabe and sent him packing south to the Florida Panthers in exchanges for Mike Van Ryn.  This is clearly a salary dump, the Leafs get younger and save some cap dough.  It will be interesting to see how McCabe turns out for the Panthers and if a change of scenery will do him some good.

Mats Sundin To Sign With Toronto Maple Leafs

Alright people, I just don't think Mats Sundin is going to the Vancouver Canucks, i just don't see it happening.  I know all the latest rumors suggest that he will sign with the Nucks but I just don't think so.  I think based on the teams left with enough cap room, Mats is going to decide to re-sign with the Maple Leafs in the end.  His agent is pushing him hard to go elsewhere, but I think Mats will return and end his career as a Leaf. 

Toronto Maple Leafs Fans Given The Finger!

Alright I know, this is not news and I'm sure the blog title is not creative but I couldn't resist.  By now I'm sure that everyone knows that the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Jeff Finger for $14 million bucks.  Alot of dough for a finger if you ask me, but a lot saner than the NY Rangers signing Wade Redden to that idiotic long term deal.  Also I highly doubt Jeff will be flipping the Maple Leafs "the bird" which is something the Stars might be receiving from Sean Avery.

Maple Leafs Move Up Swap Pick With Isles in Draft

The Toronto Maple Leafs just moved up in the draft and sent their 7th overall pick plus a a pair of conditional futures to the Islanders in exchange for the Icelanders 5th overall pick.

With that pick the Leafs selected defenseman Luke Schenn of the Kelowna Rockets.

Schenn is a physically punishing defensive defenseman who should help create some snarl on the Leafs soft blue line.

This is the 2nd move in as many days as Toronto acquired forward Jamal Mayers from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a third round pick last night.

Wilson to Lead Leafs Back to Respectability

The Toronto Maple Leafs have offered Ron Wilson the head coaching position of the once prestigious franchise.  As of this moment Wilson has yet to accept but is expected to announce his decision to take over the reins after the weekend.  Media sources are reporting that Wilson has returned home and will think the offer over and chat some more with Leafs management over the weekend.

Should Wilson accept this position he will have a big challenge restoring glory and will become the 36th head coach in Leafs history.  Wilson is a safe bet for the Leafs and is another hockey coach retread, compiling a record of 518 wins and 446 losses across 2 decades and 3 teams.  He also has experience at the international level having served as head coach for Team USA in the Olympics and World Cup.

As you all know Wilson was recently fired from the San Jose Sharks in the spring after again failing to meet expectations and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.  Wilson will need to develop a thicker skin if he is to prosper and survive the daily media onslaught in the hockey mecca that is Toronto.

Stanley Cup Game 5 - Bad Timing

Yesterday I watched most of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals.  When I say most I watched until Detroit scored to make it 3 to 2 and then I headed off to bed secure in the knowledge that Detroit had just won the Cup.  I woke up this morning totally shocked to hear that the Pens won in triple overtime.  Oooops!  This sets up a truly pivital game tomorrow.  Not because the Cup is on the line once again but because Pittsburgh might finally be getting into this series.  The Red Wings looked extremely nervous for the first half of the game and now Pittsburgh has a ton of momentum going back home for Game 5. 

If the Wings don't manage to clinch the series tomorrow night I believe the Pens will win it back in Detroit.  If the Wings were nervous before Game 4 they'll be turning their sticks into splinters in Game 7 they'll be gripping them so tight.  It would be the biggest modern day choke in the NHL.  A team hasn't lost the Stanley Cup after already winning 3 games since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs beat the (you guessed it) Detroit Red Wings.  Now that's one piece of history the Wings have no desire to repeat.  For history buffs, the 1945 Red Wings almost returned the favor (coming back to win the Cup after losing 3 games) against the Leafs but lost in Game 7.

Kubina Oks Trade Than Changes Mind and Burns Leafs

Cliff Fletcher had a lot going on in Leaf land this week. First Mats Sundin refuses to be traded and leaves the Leafs with few tradeable assets. Brian McCabe was rumored to go all week but either was not willing to waive his no trade or teams didn’t think adding the winger oops I mean defensemen would help them. Then Pavel Kubina (I’m still laughing about his contract) agreed to a be traded to the Edmonton Oilers or the San Jose Sharks. Cliff then proceeded to continue discussions with both teams only to find out after the Maple Leafs beat the Ottawa Senators that Kubina changed his mind. I guess there is a silver lining as Fletcher hijacked the pens for Hal Gil, see my Hal Gil Blog.

Toronto Maple Leafs Rob Penguins in Hal Gil Trade

I’ve been out of reach the past couple of days but need to weigh in on a couple of the trades that occurred on the NHL trade deadline day. One of the biggest shockers is the hijacking Cliff Fletcher of the Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off when he dealt Hal Gil to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2^nd AND a 5^th round draft choice.  For HAL GIL???? Lets put things in perspective.  If my beloved New York Rangers gave up a 5^th for Gil I probably would’ve been upset. But a second rounder and a 5th in a deep draft? Omigod Fletcher should be in jail for robbery. The Penguins are definitely going for it, we’ll see if the fleet footed Gil helps them win Lord Stanley.