Leafs Update Central – March 23, 2010

It’s Tuesday again, and you know what that means, another Leafs Update Central for you folks.

This week I thought I’d take a look at a few different things. Kessel’s recent success (which was touched upon in last week’s L.U.C. about the top-line’s contributions) and contract details for the UFAs and RFAs this off-season

Everyone who was bashing the Phil Kessel trade has suddenly fallen silent with Kessel’s breakout.  Some think he finally broke through his slump, while others will point say it’s because the pressure to make the playoffs is off.

Those with half a brain will look no further than to the Jan. 31 trades. The moves allowed promising rookie Tyler Bozak and workhorse Nikolai Kulemin (and briefly the newly acquired Luca Caputi) a chance to play with the elite winger, and the line shuffle payed off. Between the Jan. 31 trade and the March 4 trade deadline Kessel had 4 goals, 4 assists for 8 points in just 6 games. After shipping out linemate Alexai Ponikarovsky, Kessel has registered 7 goals, 3 assists for 10 points in those 10 games, prompting a surge from the Leafs offense.

A week away and… Kaberle waiving?

With the hockey world squarely focused on the Olympic tournament going on in Vancouver, another huge hockey event is just over the horizon. A week today is the trade deadline, which is always an exiting time for hockey fans and could be especially exciting this year for antsy Leaf fans, eagerly awaiting the next step in the rebuild plan being orchestrated by Brian Burke, Dave Nonis and company.

I for one am relieved that this is an Olympic year as it’s taken a lot of the focus off the deadline and the usual rumours that drive avid fans in to a tizzy this time of year. No matter what countries are in the Gold medal game Sunday afternoon, we will awake on Monday knowing that the big day is only 48 hours away and for people such as myself, who have a hard time controlling their patience, that’s a lot easier to handle than the weeks and weeks of speculation we usually have to endure this time of year.

Late Update – The Price for Poni

With the trade deadline 11 days away and rumours swirling around several Maple Leaf players, I thought I would add this late night post to let everyone know of a rumour coming from someone who has some credibility in the business.

From Dallas Dave via Hendricks Hockey:

According to Dallas Dave, he reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators appear to be the frontrunners for landing Alexei Ponikarovsky from the Toronto Maple Leafs. It appears Burke wants Ryan Ellis from the Predators but Poile doesn’t want to part with Ellis. From the Penguins, the name Eric Tangradi keeps popping up. Dave notes that Tangradi won’t be enough, but is a start to a deal.

The Hendricks site also added this:

Hendricks Says: Dave gets some great scoops and here is another one. You can find him on twitter with the username Dallas_Dave. Anyway, it seems that the Penguins and Predators are the leaders of the pack but Dave mentioned up to six more teams could be interested in the Poni. The market for him should net Brian Burke a good return come March 3rd.

March 3rd is going to be a very interesting day in Leaf Nation.

Leafs Update Central – Feb. 9, 2010

With the high of the Giguere and Phaneuf trades finally wearing off the season can continue the way it should have started, with a movement towards youth.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, now the NHL’s youngest team, has been displaying the kind of play we expected from them coming out of training camp. The only problem is, the team we have been watching is only getting a chance to play now, in early February. While people may be quick to judge Brian Burke for not having gone with this lineup earlier, it’s not fair to place blame on a man who had his hands tied by previous regimes.

Burke, as he has stated many times discussing Tomas Kaberle’s no-trade clause, has always billed himself as a player’s GM. This includes not asking players to waive their clauses and honouring contracts. If he can’t honour them by giving them every opportunity, he’ll find them a new place to play or put them on waivers.

He did just that.

Leafs Update Central – Feb. 2, 2010

I’d like to welcome you all back to Leafs Update Central. I apologize for my absence last week and I’d like to thank Keon for filling in admirably for my weekly round-up piece.

As you are all well aware, Brian Burke made two very big moves this past Sunday and tonight we will get our first glimpse of that return in Blue and White. I hope you’ll join me and the rest of the Leafs 4 Life crew in the Live Chat at puck drop.

Now, down to business.

Call me crazy, but the math works

Now, before I get started I just want to say one thing. This is strictly a hypothetical exercise, so name calling… lol.

The topic was broached last night by Burn on the rumour thread based on comments made by Doug MacLean yesterday on the Fan 590. On his show, MacLean said he has talked to people close to the Leafs and he gets out of it that Burke will buy out Jason Blake and Jeff Finger at the end of the year, saving the Leafs $4.333 M in cap space. Do I believe anything that MacLean says? Rarely, but I thought it would make for interesting conversation. So if you really want to blame someone for all this blame Burn, or phone the Fan and yell at MacLean. All I am attempting to do is show that, if the right moves are made, the numbers do indeed make sense, as crazy as it seems.