By HOWARD BERGER
LOS ANGELES (Aug. 12) – While lounging around the in-laws’ house late Monday afternoon, I received an unexpected phone call from a scout I’ve known for many years – a fellow that scours the Western Hockey League junior circuit for a club in the NHL. This was a man I talk with on the blower probably a dozen times during the course of the long season, and we often find ourselves chatting about subjects other than hockey. When we do converse about the game, the topic almost always gets around to the Maple Leafs – as it did in this gabfest.
I didn’t anticipate hearing from him during the summer, as we are both on vacation. But, my friend offered some opinions about the Leafs that I found rather intriguing. For the purpose of this blog – and so I don’t have to keep referring to him as “the scout”, “the man”, etc., we’ll call my pal “Dave”.
As with any discussion about the Blue & White these days, the Mats Sundin and Bryan McCabe situations were paramount. Like the rest of us, Dave has no idea what Sundin is thinking, though his hunch is the long-time captain will not return to the Leafs. “There are no more mysteries about the Toronto situation as it pertains to next season,” Dave said. “During the Stanley Cup playoffs, I heard and read [agent] J.P. Barry say that Mats wanted to know the direction the Leafs were going – who will manage and coach the team, etc. – before deciding if he might return. Well, these issues are no longer in question. Ron [Wilson] is the coach, and Cliff [Fletcher] will either stick around, or yield to Brian Burke, if Anaheim makes [Burke] available before his contract expires.
“It has to be as obvious to Mats as it is to all of us that the Leafs are going down a different path, with very few of the core players in recent years… guys that he went to war with. So, Mats knows pretty much everything he has to about the Toronto situation – as J.P. was requesting a few months ago. The fact he hasn’t yet re-signed with the Leafs indicates to me that he has no real enthusiasm to go back. And, I believe he still wants to play. Plus, I think he knows the Leafs cannot change much if he does return. But, that’s just my opinion – I have no indication, either way, what’s on his mind.”
Dave and I are on the same page in the McCabe saga. “I know what Cliff is trying to do, because it falls in line with his entire plan – re-shaping the meat of the roster,” Dave said. “But, I’m not sure [Fletcher] is making the right decision by letting Bryan go. I still think he’s a very talented player… maybe the best on the current Leafs’ team. And, like you, I think he makes [Tomas] Kaberle a better defenseman. But, it’s obvious that Cliff feels he has to move forward without McCabe.”
Where Dave and I disagree is over the general merit of the Leafs’ line-up as it stands today. I’m of the opinion that Fletcher isn’t particularly concerned about where the club places in the standings next season. He seems to understand the team must break its recent pattern of striving for one of the low playoff positions, and he is mainly interested in icing a younger, cheaper dynamic. If the Leafs bottom out, so be it – better days will soon arrive on the heels of prime draft selections. But, Dave feels the 2008-09 version of the Blue & White has more promise.
“I think the Leafs are going to be better than you are predicting,” he told me. “In fact, they could surprise a lot of people. I know the roster doesn’t jump off the page at you, but if teams performed as they appear on paper all the time, every [pre-season] forecast would be accurate. It’s obviously hard to say what the new guys – like [Niklas] Hagman, [Mikhail] Grabovski, [Jeff] Finger and [Nikolai] Kulemin – will do, and how they’ll mesh. I, for one, think the Leafs will get their money’s worth with Finger. I saw him play a lot last season. He’s a bit unheralded, but I have a hunch he’ll respond to a bigger role in a more intense hockey environment than in Colorado.
“The guys that I believe will step forward are the returnees – players like [Alexei] Ponikarovsky, [Nik] Antropov, [Alex] Steen and [Jason] Blake. I think they’ll respond to knowing that the team is finally interested in trying something different… they probably felt there was a stale atmosphere last season.
“I’m really fond of Paul Maurice – as a person and a coach – and I believe he’ll get back in to the NHL. But, it was clear in talking to my Toronto counterparts that there was no connection last season between [Maurice] and Blake. For whatever reason, they just didn’t click. And, I don’t think Steen was going anywhere with Paul either. I’m not sure how these guys will react to Wilson, but at least there will be a different voice behind the bench. That could provide more of a spark than many people are willing to believe.
“I also think Jamal Mayers will play an important role. I know his acquisition sort of goes against the youth movement, but the Leafs obviously need some veteran players and he sure isn’t afraid to mix it up. The fans will like him.”
Dave was adamant about one prediction, though he clearly has a bias. “I don’t know how many games he’ll play next season, but I guarantee you the Leafs will give Luke Schenn a chance at some point,” Dave said. “I just loved watching that kid play in the [WHL], and I think the Leafs got the best defenseman in the entire draft. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he showed a great deal of poise in his first NHL shot. If he pans out the way I’m anticipating, he’ll be an extremely popular player in Toronto.”
What could be the worst-case scenario for the 2008-09 Leafs? “If Vesa Toskala gets worn out,” Dave said. “As much as I respect [Curtis] Joseph, I don’t think he’ll see more than 15 games in relief. Toskala is an excellent goalie and he understands how much the Leafs will be counting on him for respectability. If there are too many long nights, and he starts to feel the heat, maybe the team will be as bad as you are predicting.
“But, I think you’ll be surprised.”
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Noooo! Howard, no! Even though this is obviously a very respectable and knowledgeable indiviual, you, Mr. Berger, should have never printed this. Shame on you! Do you know what you “gone done ‘n did”??? There are already people in this town thinking this team will be the next 1993 Leafs. With great power comes great responsibility, you can’t just throw this kind of hope propaganda around! Not in this town!
- PeterJokes aside, intelligent, informative and insightful as usual, a very good read.
I agree with Peter. After 40 years the “Real” Nation finally seemed to have convinced the fairweather masses that being bad is good, in fact the only way to ever get better, and now you go and print some guy’s opinion who feels this team may not be that bad. Here we go again “if we can just squeeze into the playoffs….blah-blah-blah!!” Listen to me Leaf fans: Forget everything you just read in Howard’s latest blog. We will be bad this year. We will NOT make the playoffs. In fact, we may hopefully even end up in last place. But when all is said and done it will all have been worth it. This year will be remembered as the year that started the end of the 41 year drought.
- Paul(I hope!)
Still haven’t heard a word about Kubina. Is his “window” up? Is he a Leaf again for another year? Are we going to be complaining in three months when we realize we missed the boat again? Maybe Howard won’t/can’t comment on this but does anyone else have any idea?
This McCabe nonsense is overshadowing the player we CAN do something about, big Pavel. Kubina is a nice man but there is absolutely no sense in keeping him on this team.
- EricThe name I hear back for McCabe is Freddy Meyer from the Islanders along with a 4th round pick.
- Don McMullenAt that return, why not keep McCabe and attempt to do better than that when injuries abound for another team looking for a D man?
Leafs will make the playoffs without Sundin, McCabe or Tucker. Ottawa will not.
- estoHi Howard,
Enjoy reading your column.
In a future piece, would you please write on likely Leaf captains and assistants for this year, assuming that Sundin does not return and there are other openings,
Thank you.
RL
- Rick LibmanWheither they sneek into a bottom playoff spot or finish last, the thing that excites me is that the faces and attitudes are different. Bring on the season. I’m hurtin’ for hockey.
- rogerPeter and Paul,
- Ric MoreThe hype will fire up in earnest when the Leafs pull an upset against Detroit in the opener in Oct. After all, the Wings will be hosting the SC Banner at home; the emotion will cause them to come out flat and the Leafs will win, same as the Habs did when the Wings hung the nanner in Oct 02!
Well if every one likes watching NewJersey devil’s hockey you might be in for a treat this year…..The leafs with new coach/and players will be playing a very boring brand of hockey this year….alot of 2-1 1-0 games seem to be on the menu for this season..i guess with the lack of scoring and decent goaltending….we will be playing devil’s hockey…..the only problem is the leafs will be losing all those close games…….non the less. it will be refreshing to see the Pat Quin…..and j.fj. era finally be put to rest…….go leafs go…..
- Al L.please can the season just start all ready im dieing here in toronto
- jasonThis team needs to rid itself of both Macabe and Kubina. We need to be at or near the lower threshold of the salary cap. That way if a trade is available for a quality player the Leafs can be in the mix.
- JamesHoward where are you? Things are starting to heat up and our allstar reporer is nowhere to be heard of. I value your opinion more than anyone’s. Has McCabe really waived it? The window for Kubina has almost closed. Going anywhere is he? Who can Leaf’s get for either one? C’mon Howard . Weigh in.
- JimYou know what, come last. I am just happy that at least they are doing SOMETHING. New coach and out with the old in with the new is something to be excited about.
Even if they lose all the games this year at least there will be something to build from - not a bunch of old, almost retired, wondering if they’re going to play again, players.
About time someone came in and cleaned house. I’m happy to be a leaf fan again.
Cheers.
- MBThis scenario sounds like another 9th place finish. Trade Toskala and Kubina now and persuade Kaberle to accept a trade at the deadline. I want the #1 or #2 pick this year and next. Enough mediocre hockey !
- KBI agree with Peter 100%
- vinmanHey, don t listen or believe anything from hockeybuzz…that website is nothing but a joke….
- pass_the_kegi agree with you perter, 100%
- vinmanHey Howard,
The optimism of your source is the worst Leafs news I have heard all summer. The next two years should only be about high draft picks and trying out players like Steen and Antropov for slots on the top two lines.
- ScoAs for McCabe, trade him now, for pucks, goats, whatever, having people say they should keep him because of the apparent return value is just wrong. He’s not a bad player, but not worth keeping, he had one good season on the power play, and that had nothing to do with him or Sundin or Kaberle, it was Jason Allison feeding him the puck in the slot.
As for Maurice, what has he done as a coach to command the respect he receives? He rode Irbe in Carolina to the finals, and watching him force-feed a game plan to the Leafs that they were unable to perform with was just painful. Bring on the losses and then bring on the future.
I just realized that the Leafs’ free pre-season game is being sponsored by Coca-Cola ‘Zero’, which is perfect because that is the odds of the Leafs making the Playoffs this year!
- DilenoTrading Toskala is ridiculous. I think the Leaf brass is hoping (justifiably so, in my opinion) that he’ll be the guy when the Leafs become competitive again in a few years. We have a relatively inexpensive, elite netminder who’s only 31. And more importantly, we have no one who could step up and play 65+ games. He’s one of the few bright spots on the roster, and you need to ice a somewhat entertaining team. I think Ves should be and is the only untouchable player on the roster (along with one of Kabby or Kubina).
- TomMy problem with this blog Howard is that I believe it is accurate. We will threaten for a playoff spot, which will be a testament to the effort of the players and coach, but we will miss out on a shot at the franchise player we so desperately need.
- DavidKaberle can be traded next off season if the leafs fail to make the playoffs this season. And he will fetch the most of any one on this team. They need to have one more bad year to rid them selfs of the dead weight on this roster.
- JamesMe thinks that scout is hitting the Jack Daniels a bit too often.
- Juke Joint JimMoving McCabe is of paramount importance to this team going forward. What the Leafs should be targeting is a player like Steven Weiss. It would be nice, if they could put a package together and get Nathan Horton, but that may be too much to ask. If the Leafs do indeed sink to the bottom, moving Toskala and Kaberle become the most important task at the trade deadline. With Pogge getting close and Stralman having the same skill set, as Kaberle, we could free up cap space, as well as add draft picks and you players for next year. The future does not start this year, but next year.
- PrinceLHHow can Leafs be better losing 3 of their top 5-6 players - Sundin, McCabe, Tucker- and replacing them with journeymen ? Wilson is a fine coach but so was Maurice .
- Chas CalzHoward,I agree with your scout friend. people will be shocked at what the Leafs will do this year. Will they make the playoffs? No, but many teams will take Toronto for granted.
- BKHWho do you see on the existing roster who will be chosen to be the captain?
- Mike M.the leafs will do fine this season2008/2009 year with the new youth and a better defence core in goal they are as good as the other 14 teams in the east
- gerry