TORONTO GETS BURNED IN FLORIDA

Evaluating the loss to the Florida Panthers, Reimer was not ready and team defense was lacking again.

The first goal was a point shot that Reimer should have saved but clearly was not out far enough in the crease.

Puck turned over and moved to the point.  A slap shot from the blueline on net.

Reimer is playing deep and not square enough to the shooter.  Puck squeaks in on left side.  

TORONTO 0 - FLORIDA 1

COMMENT: Reimer needs to challege shooters by moving out of the crease on shots from blueline.

A young defense will make more mistakes than an older group.  Here Jake Gardiner pinches in and Kulemin did not read play fast enought and was never able to cover defensively.  As the play develops, Franson was not able to block the pass attempt (priority #1) and the ensuing breakaway unfolds.  Lucky goal for Thomas.

Gardiner makes bad decision to pinch.

Kulemin caught behind play.

Franson now defending a 2 on 1.

Missed pass block attempt by Franson.

Breakaway for Thomas

TORONTO 1 - FLORIDA 2

COMMENT:  Defense need to make better decisions on when to attack in offensive zone.

Reimer had a tough night overall.  Your best penalty killer is your goaltender and on this goal Reime was not ready for the shot.

Slap shot being taken and Reimer does not know where the puck is.

TORONTO 1 - FLORIDA 3

COMMENT: Tough night for Reimer.  Good coaching move to pull him out of game.

On the fifth Florida goal, the play started with Schenn skating the puck into the offensive zone.  Schenn would lose the puck.  The mistake that cost the goal was NOT the turnover in the offensive end.

Schenn with puck going for skate.

Line changes for both sides.

Schenn taking puck into zone.

Schenn gets stripped off puck.  Should have dumped puck in deep to avoid turnover.

Leafs caught going wrong way and Florida with puck.

The turnover results in a 1 on 1.

Gunnarsson did everything correct except use the stick to attempt a shot block.

TORONTO 3 - FLORIDA 5

COMMENT:  Sticks are used for passing and the body is used for blockings pucks.  Stop trying to block the shot with the stick, it only make the save harder for the goaltender.

Bell Canada Accused Of Anticompetition

The CRTC has found that Bell gave itself a significant competitive advantage by giving their mobile customers exclusive rights to popular broadcast content.  This CRTC bans carriers from giving access to TV programming exclusively to their own subscribers.


Considering how Bell owns many television networks, it is alarming that exclusive rights to subscribers was permitted.  The practice as been going on for many years now and would lead many in Canada to believe the CRTC has done too little too late.  Is it possible that Rogers had a role in this CRTC decision?

http://openmedia.ca/news/crtc-calls-bell-out-anticompetitive-practices

PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT INDICATE FUTURE TRENDS

The Colorado Avalanche for two years in a row had great starts to the season.  The Achilles heel for the Avs is the games after the All-Star break.  To start the 2011 season, the Avs are off to a great start again.  The Leafs typically play poorly before the All-Star break, and then over-achieve the rest of the season.  One thing is for certain, past performances do not indicate future trends.  The Maple Leafs have revamped the roster and coaching staff so it would be unfair to suggest the Leafs will repeat the failures of last season.  The Avs have bolstered the goaltending and roster and could sustain the momentum till the end of the season.  It appears that both teams evenly match each other with the marginal advantage given to Toronto.  The season is still early and two young fast skating teams should make for an entertaining hockey game.  If you watch both teams, the key to the game will be the goaltending / defense.  Ultimately, mistakes will cost one team the game.  Which goaltender will start the game for Colorado and Toronto?  Will we see Giguere against Gustavsson?

NHL SEASON 2010 VS 2011, WHAT HAS CHANGED?

On paper, the Leafs look like they could contend for a playoff spot right?  Isn't that what most people said last year?

Let me list a few points about what the critics said before the 2010 season.

• Forwards need to help Phil Kessel
• Defense needs to play better.
• Need solid goaltending.

Last season, it was predicted Kessel would score 35 goals if he stays healthy.  In fact he scored 32 with no NHL center.  The team had plenty of grinders and tough guys and by committee scored plenty of goals.  The big free agent signing was Colby Armstrong penciled in to play the third line checking role.  Versteeg was synonymous with "key signing" and "big contributions".  Bozak was considered a wildcard and people had faith in his abilities to deliver.  The Kulemin, Grabovski and MacArthur line was strong in preseason and looked like worthy secondary scoring unit.  The bottom six were a mash of pluggers but not many questions existed.

The critics were applauding the Maple Leaf defense corps as one of the better in the East on paper.  In preseaon they performed admirably but as the season progressed, it was clear the team lacked toughness and leadership on the back-end.  This was further magnified when Dion Phaneuf was removed from the lineup due to injury.

Recall:

Dion Phanuef - Francois Beauchemin

Tomas Kaberle - Mike Komisarek

Luke Schenn - Carl Gunnarsson

Jeff Finger

Lebda and Lashoff were injured to start the season.  Komisarek was healthy and predicted to be a big part of the resurgence with the Leafs.  Kaberle would produce at his usual pace.  Schenn & Gunnarsson would try to shut-down other teams.  The biggest concern the critics have known was where the offense would come from and would the defense be tougher to play against.

Giguere was the all-around model player for the Maple Leafs.  He showed leadership and had the hardware to prove he can compete in the playoffs.  The biggest concern was if Gustavsson would live up to his potential.  Giguere played surprisingly well and not many questioned his durability.  Critics believed if the defense faltered, the goaltending would be strong enough to make up the difference.

After another disappointing end to the season, many critics were wondering why the coach did not shoulder more blame from the GM.

The start of the 2011 season has not altered the thinking of what needs to improve.  The scoring, defense, and goaltending all need to improve.  Preseason will give fans and critics a chance to evaluate if the team has made strides to improve in key areas.

Schennsational

I was not surprised with the final negotiations between Luke Schenn / Agent and Maple Leafs and the five year $3.6M cap hit.  Some readers will think that Leafs tried to low-ball the negotiations but I believe Schenn was compensated fairly considering Pavel Kubina $3.85M, Dennis Wideman $3.937M, Christian Erhoff $4M to name a few.

Former Kelona Rockets teammate and Buffalo Sabre Tyler Myers negotiated a contract $5.5M cap hit recently.  The contract awarded to Myers appears high for a relatively unproven player but I could be wrong.  Myers has shown plenty of upside but in my opinion has not proven he deserves a salary in the $5.5M cap hit range.

Drew Doughty and the LA Kings are having difficulties in negotiations since it appears the Kings have offered around $6M cap hit but agent is asking around $7M.  Doughty has played spectacularly well in the Olympics and NHL so awarding him anywhere above $5M is not undeserved.

Chris Campoli Turns Page In Hockey Career

Last year, the Maple Leafs were fortunate enough to land Clarke MacArthur when the Thrashers walked away from the bargaining table.  At the time, captain Dion helped convinced Clarke to sign with Toronto and having very little competition for ice time helped solidify that decision.  Recently, the Blackhawks also walked away from Chris Campoli at the bargaining table because they could not agree on a new contract.

Campoli is an offensive defenseman who like all players of this calibre are prone to defensive errors.

This game seven overtime turnover may have left Campoli out of any future plans in Chicago.

The Mississauga native will surely be interested in playing closer to home and many teams have enquired about the free agent and will most likely start a bidding war for his services.  The arbitration award was $2.5M, which the Blackhawks walked away from.

With the logjam on the blueline for the Maple Leafs, does it make sense to try and sign Chris Campoli?  Burke has claimed many times having depth on defense is important for teams in the playoffs.

14 Reasons Why Steven Stamkos Will Remain In Tampa

Given the quality type player Steven Stamkos is, you would expect many teams would rush to get in an offer sheet for the restricted free agent.  Teams could begin the bidding July 1st, but they also know Tampa Bay had the right to match any offer.

• Any team that submits an offer sheet must have the salary cap space to sign him.  
• A team can only go over $64.3M by 10 percent but only until the start of the regular season.
• A team must have the required draft picks to surrender for compensation (four first-round draft picks)

Essentially, a team is allowed to have their salary cap go as high as $70.73M and then try and get under the salary cap before the start of the regular season.  Saying it and doing it are two very different matters.

Teams currently rumored to be in the hunt for Stamkos include Toronto, New York Rangers, and Calgary.

Toronto will not present an offer sheet to Stamkos because 

• Burke will explore trade options first.
• Leafs do not have the assets to trade for Stamkos.
• Phil Kessel is already on the team, you only have one puck
• $5.8M in cap space with RFA Luke Schenn still waiting for an offer.

New York will not present an offer sheet to Stamkos because 

• Sather tried to acquire Stamkos and admits now the opportunity is lost.
• New York has Richards and Stepan, they need help in other areas.
• Brad Richards is already on the team, you only have one puck
• $12.86M in remaining cap space with RFA Callahan, Boyle and Dubinsky still waiting for an offer.

Calgary will not present an offer sheet to Stamkos because 

• Feaster will explore trade options first.
• Calgary does not have any assets Tampa would accept in a trade.
• Will not be able to convince any team to take Calgary's expensive player contracts. 
• $3.816M in remaining cap space.

The biggest reason teams will not present an offer sheet to Stamkos is

• Tampa can match any offer!  Tampa has $14.8M in cap space left and already have 20 players signed.
• why would ownership want to see him move elsewhere since he is big attraction for the fans?

Can we put the Stamkos offer sheet / trade rumors to rest now?