Twenty-nine teams had a shot a a top-tier goaltender, who won the Stanley Cup no less than 4 seasons ago, and every single one passed on him. Now that doesn’t mean the twenty-nine teams thought they wouldn’t improve if they took Nikolai Khabibulin, there are about 5 teams I can name off the top of my head that would benefit greatly from the addition of Khabibulin (*cough Nashville,Ottawa,Detroit,Boston,Colorado *cough*). Sure, if you force the Blackhawks to release Khabibulin then you can reduce the hefty price tag of 6.75 Million, but then he’ll be free to sign anywhere he wants. If you’re a struggling team, then don’t bet on him coming your way.

My explantion is that General Managers are afraid of taking risks. Mis-managing the cap can lead to tough decisions, and may cost them their job.

Although the addition of Khabibulin may boost the club’s talent level, GMs aren’t willing to sacrifice that much money under the cap. They would rather take the risk and sign him on an open market, or trade for him, dumping some salary in return. We’ve seen this time and time again, with both big and small name players.

Where will Khabby end up? That’s yet to be seen. Hopefully it’s somewhere where they need him, as it was clear he wasn’t needed in Chicago. I’m just hoping the place doesn’t end up being Russia. He is far too talented to let go. He left once before during a salary dispute, in the 1999-2000 season, so I’m sure he wouldn’t hesitate leaving now.

To the twenty-nine General Managers in the league who can get Khabibulin, do it! Get him! He’s well worth the risk!

Tags: blackhawks, chicago, goaltending, khabibulin, waivers

It’s time for Ponikarovsky to step up.

No more excuses. The now-Canadian citizen is going to have display his talent and prove to the Leafs why he should rejoin them in the long-term. The six-foot-four, 220 pound sniper has shown glimpses of being top-six forward quality, but that’s as far as he goes before falling back into inconsistency.

In Ponikarovsky, the Leafs have a solid two-way player who has above average skating abilities and can snipe the puck with deadly precision. While he has a big frame, ‘Poni’ tends to be a little soft at times, taking his size for granted. If he’d be able to finish his scoring chances more often (he misses a lot), he could potentially become a 30-goal scorer.

While he was no stranger to the first line, Ponikarovsky only averaged 15:57 of ice-time last season. If he could find chemistry with Antropov again, he could spend a lot of time on the first-line and PP. In order to become a legitimate threat though, he’ll have to find the consistency he’s been lacking in his NHL career so far.

Much like teammate Alexander Steen, Ponikarovsky is often discussed in terms of potential. Now 28, it’s time for him to realize his upside and become a staple on the Leafs’ offensive attack. On a rebuilding club like the Leafs, it’ll be up to players like him to lead the charge and set an example. He’s had time on the top-line before so it’s not as if he’s new to the pressure that resides with Toronto. However, he hasn’t posted dominant numbers in his past few years with the Leafs.

Ponikarovsky’s last three seasons in the NHL:

2005-06: 81 21 17 38 68 +15

2006-07: 71 21 24 45 63 +8

2007-08: 66 18 17 35 36 +3

For a player who has often been called upon for playing with former-Leaf Mats Sundin (notice the “former”, I refuse to bring bad vibes and make him re-sign here), these point totals are simply not good enough. If he improves on finishing plays, however, Ponikarovsky could find his niche as a 25-goal, 50-point player who can contribute to the PK, but Wilson has some work ahead of him in order for this to happen. In any case, that’s the kind of player you want on a rebuilding team (or any team for that matter).

Of course, Ponikarovsky is not alone in this boat. In fact, nearly half of the Leafs’ current roster are underachievers who are being depended on to step it up in a big way.

Some work is in order, but if they can find their drive, the Leafs could surprise. There’s no time like the present, make your stamp or suffer (enjoy) the fate that players like Tucker and Wellwood shared.

As always, it’ll be an interesting season in Leaf Nation.

Fearless prediction: Ponikarovsky posts career numbers and finishes with 23 goals and 53 points.

Schenn will play for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

I’m as sure of this as I am that Carlo Calaiacovo will get injured. While there is an abundance of defensemen competing for the two available positions (Kaberle, Kubina, Finger and Frogren will form the Leafs’ top 4), Schenn will, at some point, stand-out from the majority of the group. Whether it’s in training camp or mid-way through the season, as soon he joins the team he’ll stay there for the remainder.

Before Schenn arrived, Anton Stralman was the Leafs’ best defensive prospect. Now, however, things have changed. While Stralman is still shaping up to be a premium offensive defenseman, the Leafs haven’t had a franchise caliber defender in quite some time.

I get the feeling that Fletcher, despite his claim that Schenn will have to “overwhelm”, is going to have a tough time not including the six-foot-three, 215-pound Saskatoon native to the line-up. Schenn brings elements to the table that is comparable to the Canadiens’ Mike Komisarek. He’s mean, hits hard, clears the front of the net, and uses his huge frame to its fullest. While the Leafs have displayed solid defensemen in these past few years of mediocrity, Schenn’s character, poise and style of play is exactly what they’ve been lacking. Not to mention someone on the blueline who is feared on the ice, making offenders think twice before crashing the net.

An aspect of Schenn’s game that is overlooked are his offensive abilities. Schenn has progressively gotten better in the WHL, garnering a better PPG each season:

2005-06 WHL Season Kelowna Rockets 60 3 8 11 1 86

2006-07 WHL Season Kelowna Rockets 72 2 27 29 -10 139

2007-08 Regular Season Kelowna Rockets 57 7 21 28 5 100

If you look at his ‘07-08 season, he played 15 fewer games, scored one less point, but scored 5 more goals compared to his ‘06-07 campaign.

Schenn was dynamite in the WJC as well, being touted as the team’s MVP by some. While he registered no points, his defensive play was exceptional (finished with a team-high +5 rating), showing why many scouts are projecting him as an “all-star defenseman”.

When Schenn finds his way to the Leafs, placing him on the 2nd PP unit would be beneficial to his offensive development, and it wouldn’t add to much pressure to the 18-year-old.

Looking at the Leafs’ defensive core next season, it’s not unrealistic for Schenn to find a prominent role with the club. While the Leafs have many defensemen at their disposal, the skill level is not exactly top notch, so if Schenn can find his groove in the NHL, he can place himself as the No.5 or No.6 defenseman. He won’t have a lot of ice-time, but considering Fletcher doesn’t want to rush him (that method hasn’t proved successful for the Leafs), it would be logical to gradually merge him to the top 4. Another thing to consider is that the pressure on the Leafs is as low as ever this season -€“ many fans are gunning for John Tavares -€“ so Schenn shouldn’t feel overwhelmed by the usual pressure that resides with Leafs Nation.

While I would enjoy nothing more than seeing him play all 82 games in the NHL, a more realistic scenario would see him joining the club in relief of injuries. If he plays to his level, it’ll be difficult for Fletcher to send a player of his repertoire back down.

It will be an interesting story to follow this season, and for this particular Leafs fan, I think it’ll end well.

What do you folks think?

[email]ronguillet@gmail.com[/email]

The NHL’s rookie camps open this week, and is anyone else as excited as I am? Every season has tingly sensation to it for every hockey fan, but after witnessing the 07-08 playoffs, I think we’re in for something special. Every team starts on the same level, so many surprises and unexpected events are sure to occur.

I love reading the previews like The Hockey News Yearbook and The Score Forecaster, not to take any of the predictions to heart or for the fantastic articles, but just so I can look back and see how wrong they were! Sure they may get a few things right, but it’s the unexpected twists that we as hockey fans live for. Definitely pick up one of the magazines I mentioned above if you want a quick refresher on what to expect for the upcoming year, or if you just want a head-start for your fantasy pool.

If you’re like me and you need something to hold you over until the season starts, I suggest you pick up a copy of NHL 09. It was rated 9.0/10 by IGN, making it not only one of the best hockey games ever made, but also one of the best sports games ever made. Take that, Madden! It’s extremely addicting, with great new features building on NHL 08’s success. I really enjoy the new custom soundtrack feature that’s on the Xbox 360 version. It lets you choose songs for goals, breaks in play, penalties, the whole bit. It makes the game much more realistic hearing “Vertigo” blasted after the Habs score a goal.

So there you go ladies and gentlemen. The pre-season is just around the corner believe it or not. I can’t wait for this season to get started! How about you?

(PS: Mats Sundin, hurry the f**k up already!)

(PSS: Podcast is still being worked on! I’m swamped with work for college. Please be patient!)

Tags: 08-09 Season, NHL, NHL 09, The Hockey News, The Score Forecaster

Rebuild.

That was the game plan going in to the off-season after another abysmal season from our boys in Blue and White.

Given this arduous task was veteran GM Cliff Fletcher. I mean, it’s not every day that MLSE realize their failure and place this kind of responsibility on their GM (or… is it?).

Fletcher got to work right away, trading a 3rd round selection in the 2008 draft for Jamal Mayers. While this received mixed reception, the presence of Mayers to the Leafs’ now young line-up is going to add some leadership to a team sorely lacking it.

Next on the list was buying out the contracts of veteran-Leaf Darcy Tucker, and the incumbent Andrew Raycroft — Kyle Wellwood was also left to pursue his career elsewhere. The loss of Raycroft is an obvious plus to the Leafs, but the subtraction of Tucker is a puzzling one. He’s proven he can score goals, be a threat on the PP, drop the gloves, and bring some leadership. It was a bumpy ride last season, and Tucker is one the decline, but he can still contribute in the NHL. Holding on to a player of his caliber seems more logical then simply wasting 3-million dollars on nothing.

Before I bring up the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, let’s view how many draft picks Fletcher has brought in and out this off-season:

Picks Acquired

2008 - 2nd (PIT for Gill)
2008 - 3rd (FLA for Kilger)
2008 - 5th (FLA for Belak)
2008 - 5th (PIT for Gill)

Picks Traded

2008 - 3rd (TOR) to NYI for Schenn
2008 - 3rd (FLA) to STL for Mayers
2008 - 5th (TOR) to MTL for Grabovski
2009 - 2nd (TOR) to NYI for Schenn
2009 - 5th (PIT) to NYR for Hollweg
2010 - 2nd (TOR) to MTL for Grabovski
2010 - 4th (TOR) to FLA for Mike Van Ryn

Draft Picks Remaining

2009 NHL Draft

1st (TOR)
2nd NO PICK: (NYI for Schenn)
3rd (TOR)
4th NO PICK: (SJ for Toskala, JFJ)
5th (TOR)
6th (TOR)
7th (TOR)

2010 NHL Draft

1st (TOR)
2nd NO PICK: (MTL for Grabovski)
3rd (TOR)
4th NO PICK: (FLA for Van Ryn)
5th (TOR)
6th (TOR)
7th (TOR)

Looking at that, the draft doesn’t seem to be the chosen route to build upon our weak prospect pool. With that said, however, Fletcher did manage to attain Luke Schenn (The Human Eraser) and that alone impacts our prospect cupboard to quite a degree (quite sadly I might add). Fletcher’s feelings on building through the draft have long been long summarized by his infamous quote, ”Draft shmaft”. With that in mind, one could hope John Tavares is a Leaf at next years draft to atleast make up for the two quality picks we’ll be lacking.

Going into the UFA frenzy period, the Leafs, for once, didn’t throw ridiculous amounts of money at players for the purpose of reaching their mediocre 8th place goal… but they were given the Finger, quite stiffly I might add. Yes, Jeff Finger and his new 3.5-million dollar contract stole the show — completely putting Niklas Hagman and co. in the shadows and perhaps for the better. While Finger’s presence should help the Leafs’ defensive woes, Fletcher should have known better than to give a player with 94 games of NHL experience, at 28, a four year 14-million dollar contract. On top of that, Fletcher has created quite the log jam on the back-end, hurting the chances of the Leafs’ young defensemen at cracking the line-up. To further the problem, he then signed defenseman Jonas Frogren, from the SEL (Swedish Elite League), to play in one of top 6 positions. And when the Leafs were finally granted permission to trade the struggling veteran and longtime-Leaf Bryan McCabe, they brought in Mike Van Ryn, an offensive defenseman who is essentially a lesser-version of McCabe but comes with a smaller price tag. Excuse me, but is cap space really all that important for a team that is rebuilding anyway? If you ask me, this will be another transaction that Fletcher will be regretting when McCabe is back in form.

On a more positive note, the best move by Fletcher may be the acquisition of head coach Ron Wilson. Wilson is under the belief that this team will only turn it around when a stronger defensive game is in place. ”Do you care if you win 2-1 or lose 6-5? How do you protect a smaller defense? You forecheck like mad men.” Explained Wilson, ”Look at Detroit. It’s no fun to play against them when you never have the puck.” Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Wilson though is that he understands good things take time, ”I think the last few years it’s been ‘We need to make the playoffs, we need to do this, we need to do that. And you start start cutting corners to satisfy all these other people’s needs and you end up not doing the right thing.” The Leafs will be a lot more interesting –€“ and promising –€“ with him behind the bench.

All in all, this was a rather perplexing rebuilding plan from Fletcher. We’ve lost more draft picks then gained, and we’re forced to put our hopes in cloudy prospects such as Mikhail Grabovski. While parting ways with Sundin was crucial, the Leafs can acquire many assets if they were to trade their remaining veterans - Vesa Toskala’s name comes to mind.

Fletcher’s Grade: C (Ironically, that forms a sad face if you look sideways)

While Fletcher has done some questionable trades this off-season, the addition of Grabovski to the Leafs’ line-up is an intriguing one – one that is going to cost Toronto a 2nd round selection in 2010.

Grabovski is a bit of an unknown commodity. Having just 27 games of experience in his NHL career, (played 24 last season) he has shown strong offensive potential considering he’s been caught behind so many players on the Habs’ depth chart. The Belarusian was a victim of the numbers game, only averaging 11 minutes and 12 seconds of ice-time last season — he also registered a feeble 26 seconds per game on the PP. With that said, he garnered 3 goals and 9 points in the 24 games played.

At 24 years of age, Grabovski is still considered a rookie by NHL standards (25 games or over in one season classifies a rookie season) and could potentially surprise a lot of people. He turned some heads with his impressive AHL performance, scoring a total of 25 goals and 74 points in 78 career AHL games.

In Grabovski, the Leafs own an incredibly fast skater. He’s not afraid to skate through traffic, but he does have trouble staying on his feet when there’s physical play involved. Possessing strong puck handling abilities, Grabovski is effective 1-on-1 and is imaginative with the puck. While he knows his way to the back of the net, he’s primarily known as a playmaker, having the skill to perform tape-to-tape passes with his remarkable vision of the ice.

Many are under the belief that he’s a one-dimensional player, but Grabovski is fairly decent in his own end. He often returns to help out in his own zone and at times is even deeper in the defensive zone than some of the defensemen. His 5′11, 180 pound frame limits him when digging in the corners, but he works hard to harass the opposition.

When looking at the Leafs’ line-up, it’s possible that Grabovski may start the season on the third-line, but his talent suggests he can overtake the #2 center position if he finds some chemistry with his linemates (Nikolai Kulemin perhaps?)

Leafs fans are not expecting a ton from him, so if he produces somewhere in the 40-point vicinity it will be deemed a successful season. With increased ice-time and more responsibility on the PP he could potentially score over 50+ points. Anything is possible.

My projection for Grabovski:

80 GP
13 G
48 PTS

Here’s a tribute video for #84:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvb_F9mBpzE

At the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins decided to make Marc-Andre Fleury the second goalie ever to be drafted first overall. The first, of course, being Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders. Both of those goaltenders had something else in common at the beginning of the 2007-2008 season. They had not lived up to the hype of a first overall pick, unlike other first round picks like Ilya Kovalchuk and Rick Nash (despite injuries).

That changed once last season came to an end. Fleury was around to see the last game, and although it probably didn’t end the way he wanted it to, he gained valuable experience. It all started when he came back from a somewhat severe ankle injury sustained in early December. He came back with a renewed attitude, and noticeably whiter pads. Ty Conklin shined in his absence, but Fleury wasn’t about to let the starting role get away from him.

In the games prior to the injury, Fleury was 9-8-1. Hardly impressive, right? When he came back, he posted a 10-2-1 record, then followed that with a 14-6 playoff run. Was it his rehab from the ankle injury that caused such a dramatic change? Maybe. Was it because he stopped wearing those God-awful bright yellow pads? Believe it or not, it probably had something to do with it. While rehabbing from his ankle injury, Fleury received a letter from an Ottawa-area optometrist telling him that his yellow pads were more than just an eyesore, they were costing him goals. In the letter she told him that yellow is one of the easiest colours for the human eye to pick up. Players whizzing down the wing will catch a small glimpse of yellow in the corner of their eye, and immediately know where the net is. A switch to white would allow him to blend into the ice, possibly making him look bigger as well. Fleury took her advice, made the switch, and went on to sweep the optometrist’s beloved Senators in the first round of the playoffs.

This year Fleury hopes to build on the success of last year. Having guys like Malkin and Crosby shooting in the other direction sure helps. Ty Conklin moved on and signed with Detroit, so that allows Dany Sabourin to sneak into the backup role. This upcoming season for Marc-Andre Fleury is an exciting one. He has complete confidence from his coaches and teammates for the first time in a while, and now has confidence in himself. A strong playoff experience can work wonders on players, especially young goaltenders like Fleury.

Tags: fleury, goaltending, marc-andre, penguins, pittsburgh, sabourin

While Steven Stamkos’ name is being mentioned frequently when speaking of the Calder Trophy, it would be a mistake not to consider the likes of Patrik Berglund, Kyle Okposo, Shawn Matthias, Bobby Ryan, Fabian Brunnstrom and Kyle Turris, among others.

Turris, drafted third overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by Phoenix, is coming off a remarkable season with the Wisconsin Badgers from the WHCA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association). In 38 games, he garnered 11 goals and 35 points which were high enough to lead his team in scoring. He also played in the 2007 Super Series, an eight-game challenge series between Russia and Canada’s national under-20 teams. He went on to lead the series in goal scoring with 7 as Canada won the series 7-0-1. He finished the series in his hometown of Vancouver where he scored 2 goals and was named MVP. Turris also led Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic, placing as the team’s top point producer after successfully capturing the gold medal.

Turris is said to be a dynamic player with offensive skills matched by few in his age category. He’s fast on his feet, has a very accurate shot and can handle the puck very well. A balanced offensive player, Turris has the ability to either take the shot himself or set-up a teammate. All this combined with his defensive awareness and ability to find holes are surfacing comparisons of a young Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic.

While he’s not an overly physical player, his endurance and hockey sense allow him to avoid being rattled by the opposition. His 6-1, 170 pound frame will help him adjust to the NHL game in a smoother transition too.

At age 19, there are concerns he may start slow with the Coyotes, but Turris will be moved as the teams #2 center — moving teammate and possible linemate Peter Mueller to the wing — so playing behind Olli Jokinen should help his confidence.

Turris is no stranger to success either, accumulating many awards and honors throughout his short hockey career:

• 2006 BCHL Coastal Division Rookie of the Year
• 2006 World Junior A Challenge Most Valuable Player Award
• 2006 World Junior A Challenge All-Star Team
• 2006 World Junior A Challenge Scoring Champion
• 2007 RBC Financial Group Canadian Junior A Player of the Year
• 2007 BCHL Player of the Year
• 2007 WCHA Preseason Freshman of the Year
• 2008 All-WCHA Third Team All-star
• 2008 WCHA All-Rookie Team

All in consideration, it will be an interesting competition for the Calder Trophy. While there are candidates who might break-out and surprise, this year’s crop is expected to be led by Stamkos and Turris.

I choose Turris.

Predicted stats for Kyle Turris:

GP 80

G 24

PTS 66

Tags: NHL, rookies, Turris