I went two for two in my Conference finals predictions taking Detroit and Pittsburgh. But virtually all writers took those two teams. Now they're on again for a Stanley Cup rematch which is sure to be filled with excitement.
Without further ado, my final prediction for this years Stanley Cup Finals...Pittsburgh in seven games.
I know not many people are taking the Penguins in this matchup, but I've just got a feeling. They're a good team that can beat anyone on a good day. And as long as the Red Wings are ailing, that's what I'd call a 'good day'. Penguins will win, but they'll do so with a bit of luck on the way. They're surely going to need it, and I'm sure many Red Wings fans will refer to this finals as 'the Cup that got away'.
DRAFT APPROACHING
Just under a month now until the NHL entry draft. Just like all Leafs fans, I'm filled with excitement over what Brian Burke might do on draft day.
However, there is still the distinct possibility that Burke doesn't move up. Today he spoke with the National Post, telling them that he's keen on Brayden Schenn and may be targeting him too. I suppose when you've given yourself a massive task in trying to get John Tavares, you may as well have a decent backup plan.
"We like [Schenn] irrespective of his lineage," he said. "But the fact that he's Luke's brother has some appeal." That's what many Leafs fans are saying too.
When the Stanley Cup finals conclude, I will make my predictions for the results of the first round of the entry draft. It's going to be a fun four weeks.
Don't forget to make your own predictions in my Top Fifteen draft competition.
Brayden Schenn on Leafs Radar; Final Predictions
Bam. Three for Four on the Round Two Predictions.
My second round predictions were as follows: Chicago in six, Penguins in seven, Red Wings in five, Boston in six.
Well, I got the first two perfect. Woo for me.
Red Wings? It wasn't as easy as I imagined, but they still got the job done.
Boston just fell short of an amazing recovery after going down 3-1 in the series. This series showed that both teams involved have a lot of faults to them. Unfortunately for the Penguins, that doesn't include goaltending. No more feasting on rookie netminders in the third round.
So now we turn the page, and head right into round three. Here are the predictions.
Penguins and Hurricanes match up in what will be a very exciting series. Two disciplined teams with similar makeups. Both teams can win this series, but only one can advance. I'm going to say Penguins in six.
Looking West, we have the vets versus the kids. Can you guess what my prediction is going to be? Yes, the Red Wings. But don't be surprised if next season the Blackhawks are the better team. I have to think experience wins out, and hence I will take Red Wings in six.
Man oh man, that would mean Red Wings versus Penguins in the finals. What a poor sap Hossa would look like if the Penguins won.
The Leafs are the Best!
You heard me right.
Credit to Jeffler from the Leafs forum for bagging this gem.
Trade Rumours Asunder!
After a relatively slow week or two it appears that the Leafs rumours front has picked right up.
Elliotte Friedman was heard on the radio saying that the rumour going around right now among GMs is that Toronto would trade their #7 to the Lightning, recieving back Ryan Malone and the #2 pick. Malone is a financial burden that the Lightning would like to have off their hands as he is under contract for 4.25 million a season until 2013.
Friedman claims that a large handful of GMs believe that this deal will go down. Interesting.
Brian Burke spoke to the media this morning and denied that such a proposal had been considered, at least by the Leafs. However, he did confirm that the Lightning have asked for Schenn and Kaberle to be included in the deal for the #2 pick.
Howard Berger said last night that 'nothing on the roster' should get in Burke's way for dealing up to try to get Tavares. Once again, he needs to be reminded that having the second pick probably doesn't affect the Islanders plans to draft Tavares. Hey, I could be wrong about that, but until I hear they want Hedman, I'm convinced they're fixed on Tavvy.
Link Ticker
- MLHS discusses the trade talk between Tampa and Toronto.
- Howard Berger gushes over Kane and Tavares.
- Pension Plan Puppets discusses the trade talk as well.
- Bleacher Report discusses the recipe for success in the Burke era.
- Toronto's Mayor may want three teams in the GTA.
Tavares Tire Kicking
Last night Howard Berger wrote on his blog that the asking price for the 2nd overall pick is our first rounder, Schenn and Kaberle. However, he described this as a 'loud whispering', likely meaning it hasn't come from any official source.
This is also the case with the speculation that Victor Hedman is the favourite of the Islanders brass. In fact, once Pierre LeBrun mentioned it on Hockey Night in Canada, publications started to spin it that LeBrun's claims were more than just speculation.
Unfortunately, the information we get online is tailored in specific ways and is shot around the internet in lightbeams, ending up twisted and garbled when it reaches its destination. But such is the reality with Tavares speculation, because like a game of telephone, everyone is part of a long chain of information sharing.
So Schenn, Kaberle and our 7th for Tampa Bay's 2nd overall pick? How does that sound?
Give me a break.
While the price will be high for the second overall pick, its hard to imagine anyone, even Burke, making a ridiculous trade like that for a player who hasn't played a single game in the NHL.
It's even more ridiculous that these two rumours, firstly that the Islanders want Hedman and secondly that Tampa Bay have set a price for the #2 pick, have been connected as one in a sort of Grand Strategy of Burke's.
I don't know how anyone can say Garth Snow is leaning towards Hedman. Especially since, as I wrote last week, the Islanders are hosting a first overall pick promotion. This clearly stands as evidence that the Islanders management are on the same page as its fans: Tavares would be the best selection in this years draft.
I'm in no position to say whether or not Brian Lawton has set an asking price for the #2 pick. I can tell you this though: Schenn is going nowhere. Kaberle perhaps. Our #7, certainly.
But as the Leafs management has said, you can't fill one hole by creating others. Certainly not when you don't even know if Tavares or Hedman will be left on the board at the second pick.
Link Ticker
- Read the Howard Berger post I'm referring to.
- Hockey Analysis chips into the discussion regarding the Leafs and Tavares.
Luke on the Pine; Other Stuff
If you're tuned into the world of hockey then you'll be watching the Canada-Russia Gold Medal game at the World Championships. As I write this the first period is coming to a close. Tune in.
Once again, our boy Luke Schenn is riding the bench. Since the additions of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brayden Cobourn, Schenn has been the odd man out. Apparently he's just trying to 'soak it all in'. Well I don't know if he's really soaking any more in than the equipment managers would, because he's not on the ice. Oh well, who would've expect him to be there in the first place?
Link Ticker
- Hockey Analysis looks at the potential UFAs that Brian Burke might be looking at.
- And also looks at the Chris DiDomenico injury situation. Ouch.
- Yahoo delivers their Leafs team report.
Isles to Hold First Overall Pick Contest
GM Garth Snow and the New York Islanders announced today that the Islanders will be holding a contest to ask fans what they would do with the No. 1 pick overall.
Whatever the strategic purpose of this is, the main pull is promotion. My inclination is that if Snow is willing to hold a contest, it means that the first overall pick isn't going to be traded. I suppose that puts a damper on Burke's Tavares Quest.
But wait, what if Snow takes Hedman? Well, if he does he's going to be upsetting more than a few fans who stepped up to buy season tickets. The Islanders sales department has seen a "300-percent increase in phone calls and e-mail inquiries over last year at this time" and on pace to see 90 percent of its season tickets renewed. In other words, the first overall pick sells. And it sells well.
And for the Isles fans, its not Victor Hedman who sells, its John Tavares. A Newsday poll conducted showed that Tavares was favoured 10-1 over Hedman. So really, this competition is going to be a reaffirmation of that support.
So it becomes a lot clearer now why Snow refused to say who he was leaning towards for this year's draft. Not for trade leverage. Not to buy more time to make a decision. Rather, for promotion.
Link Ticker
- Betcha didn't know the Leafs own Carl Gunnarson and Leo Komarov, who are both playing in this World Championships.
- Down Goes Brown has gotten a hold of the transcript of the Minnesota Wild's interviews with John Ferguson, Pierre McGuire and Pat Quinn.
Second Round Preview and Predictions
I didn't make any predictions for the first round, but I'll have to begin in the second round because of all of the interesting matchups that have come about.
Boston Bruins vs Carolina Hurricanes: The Bruins have to be the the favourite in the conference. They're the Red Wings of the East. For the Penguins and Capitals, that means they'll only be able to beat them when they're on their top form. I say Bruins in six.
Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins: The series to watch for round two. Begins Saturday - keep in mind that it's at 1 pm ET. The playoffs are about defense, so you have to give the Penguins the edge here. When you think of the Penguins offense, you only need to look towards the opposition's defense and goaltending to see if the other team has a chance. Vharlamov, you better be ready for this one. Penguins in seven.
Detroit Red Wings vs Anaheim Ducks: A re-match of the 2007 Western Conference finals. Ducks and Wings both know how to get it done in the postseason, and goaltending will be put to the test. Osgood vs Hiller? You have to give the edge to Hiller right now. The Ducks will have to keep up their scoring if they want to beat a very good Red Wings team, and I think they'll be pressed to do that on a nightly basis. Red Wings in five.
Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks are doing an amazing job in all aspects of the game this playoffs, and it paid off with a first series victory over the Flames. They outhustled and outchanced the Flames, and proved that they can play beyond their years. Led by the 20 year old Toews, the Blackhawks are already proving why they will be a force in the West for years to come. Blackhawks in six.
Burke, Wilson and Nonis All Smiling
San Jose out in the first round. Vancouver blasting into the second. Anaheim showing shades of their Stanley Cup champion form.
All three occurences are to the surprise of the naysayers, and the delight of our very own Brian Burke, Dave Nonis and Ron Wilson.
Wilson was labelled as a coach that could develop players well but couldn't lead them to the later rounds of the playoffs. Todd McLellan was brought in to help lead the Sharks to a longer postseason, but it didn't happen this year. Hey, at least they didn't give us any false signs, dropping the first two games of their opening round series against the Ducks.
Those Ducks were built in part by Brian Burke, and though he isn't responsible for the drafting of Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, his other moves have panned out well. Current Ducks starter Jonas Hiller is proving his reliability as an NHL starter, while Bobby Ryan is emerging as one of the future 'Big Three' on the Ducks, playing with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. Chris Pronger, a free agent signing by Burke, has been a rock for the team.
Burke didn't build the Ducks, but he put them over the edge, and contributed to a solid foundation for the future. So much for his supposed departure from the organization while it was 'in shambles'. To think that people were calling for the Ducks to retool and send Niedermayer or Pronger elsewhere on the trade deadline, and they've knocked off the President's Trophy winner.
Our V.P. of Hockey Operations and ex-Canuck GM Dave Nonis, can be credited with luring Roberto Luongo to Vancouver in lopsided trade with the Panthers that sent Todd Bertuzzi the other way. Nonis also hired Vancouver's benchboss Alain Vigneault, who won the Jack Adams trophy for top regular season coach in 2007.
While Wilson may have been a part of the choking problem in San Jose, he certainly wasn't it's central feature, as demonstrated by this year's first round collapse.
Burke and Nonis certainly take pride in the work they've done with their past clubs, and they can crack a grin as the monsters they created take on a life of their own.
Quick Hits and Hearing the Crickets
Hey all, not much going on in Leafland at the moment. I wake up each morning hoping to read that Burke has done or said something of interest, but he's kept quiet after shocking the hockey world with his Tavares Manifesto.
For now, we bandwagon and cheer for other teams. Who's everyone backing this offseason? I'm half-heartedly supporting the Penguins, but I'm also a huge fan of the Capitals and this year's edition of the Bruins. That might have something to do with the shellacking they handed the Canadiens.
Link Ticker:
- New England Hockey Journal has an article on the long and winding road of Jaime Sifers' hockey career.
- Newsday discusses Garth Snow's Draft Day plan.
- Mike Augello argues that the Sedins wouldn't be in Toronto's interests. You have to wonder whether the poor economy will tear the Sedins apart.
- Hockey Trade Rumours mulls the possibility of grabbing the Thrashers' first round pick.
- Mike Ulmer reflects on the Marlies season.
- Ian White gets moved up to forward in the Ice Hockey World Championship.
Burke Openly States He's Fixed on Tavares; What Now?
The New York Islanders won the draft lottery tonight, giving them rights to select first overall in this year's entry draft.
I've said all along that the Islanders haven't made up their mind on whether they want Tavares or Hedman. If they're really fixed on Tavares, which might be the case as an Islanders representative has been spending a lot of time in London with Tavares and the Knights, then I'm not sure Burke can do anything to wrestle the top pick from Garth Snow's hands.
Then again, Burke has been through this before. In Hartford, he was able to move up to the 2nd spot to grab Chris Pronger, and with Vancouver he moved up to get both of the Sedin twins. As Jim Kelley reports, Burke is not blowing hot air when he says he wants Tavares.
It's hard to imagine what it's going to take to land him, but believe me Burke will mount one hell of a campaign.
Leafs fans, be ready to see Burke overpay for Tavares. Keep in mind, if you want to see this team being led by a top end offensive talent for years to come, then you should be cheering Burke all the way along.
Tavares Tuesday: When the Finalists Cash Their Coins
Note from Goose: Today we are joined by Bradley Garton who will be discussing the Leafs bleak Tavares hopes. I found him on the street and got him to write this post on a piece of paper. This is what he said.
Afternoon folks. With all the draft draw mayhem Goose has been out tracking the final seconds in the race for the Tavares Cup. That being said, I've been drafted to fill in the void between postings; I figure it's the least I can do, the best being my incarceration for the alleged tampering of bingo machines.
So, at long last, Toronto's race for the Tavares Cup has come to a statistical, if not definite, close. It's at this point where, looking back, I think we may all have pressed our imaginations a little too hard against the cold, hard wall of reality; that Tavares is about as likely to become a Leaf as Evgeni Malkin is to be nominated into the House of Commons. This isn't to say we were wrong for dreaming, just that those bright, puffy clouds bearing the number 61 paved the way to much sadder, smaller figures.
Feeling obligated to do what I can to help the fans, I've been doing my best to keep the dream going. Investigating the rules for the draft lottery I learned there are 1001 possible draw combinations and that only 1000 of these are assigned to the bottom 14 teams. So, I called up the big guy Gary Bettman with the hopes that if that one extra number is drawn, John will be evenly distributed between all 30 teams for the 2009-2010 season.
So far he hasn't returned my calls, but my hopes are high.
So keep your chins up folks, and to John: I hope you're looking forward to the 8 periods you may just be spending with us next year.
Would Burke Trade Up in the Draft?
Interesting article from the Toronto Sun. They like to stir things up, and there's probably not a lot to it, but for what it's worth it's an interesting notion.
They're claiming that Burke "is expected to take a run at the top overall pick (and John Tavares) by attempting to trade up. His trump card? The organization has the monetary resources to spice up a deal, especially with a financially strapped team."
I highly doubt that Burke would be able to wrestle the top pick from the Islanders, who are in dire need of a superstar like Tavares. I think the first pick this year is untouchable, and certainly out of the price range Burke would consider.
Nevertheless, if Burke believes that the player he wants will be gone before 7th, he might have to move. It's unfortunate that this situation might cost us something big, when we could have easily fallen a few spots in the draft by just losing a bit more.
Nonetheless, we are where we are. I say we just stay 7th. We'll get someone good.
I'm going to do a full first round preview, but if you look at the rankings, we're sure to get a very good player at the seventh pick. He'res my projecting of the first seven picks, assuming that the Islanders win the lottery.
1. John Tavares - NYI
2. Victor Hedman - TBL
3. Matt Duchene - COL
4. Magnus Paajarvi-Svennson - ATL
5. Evander Kane - LAK
6. Jared Cowen - PHX
7. ? - TOR
Who will the Leafs select?
There are certainly a few names that Toronto could consider, including Brayden Schenn, Jordan Schroeder, Nazem Kadri, Dmitri Kulikov, Ryan Ellis, Simon Despres and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Out of those, the most likely to be considered are Schenn, Schroeder and Kadri, all forwards.
Of the teams in the top seven, the most likely to trade their pick for stars in their prime is probably either the LA Kings or Tampa Bay Lightning.
If either of those teams were to win the lottery, thus giving them the first pick, they would consider moving it for the right price.
Leafs Settle for Seventh Pick
The Leafs played their last game of the season against their provincial and divisional rivals, the Ottawa Senators. What should have been a satisfying way to finish the season turned out to be a large headache for some hoping the Leafs would move up in the draft.
Last night, the team just needed to lose against the Seantors and have Pheonix and Los Angeles win, in order to find ourselves slipping into the 5th overall pick in the entry draft. That would have then given us a marginal, 8% chance at winning the first overall pick. While the two other teams won their games against much better opponents, the Leafs found a way to win theirs, negating the other two team's advances in the standings.
So the Leafs will enter the draft with all likelihood the 7th overall pick, unless we win the draft lottery with a 4% chance of getting moved up to the 3rd pick.
Last night's win should have been a vindication to most Leafs fans. We have a nack for beating the Senators when the teams meet up last, whether it's in the regular season on playoffs. It was a storybook finish to an otherwise meaningless season. Boyd Deveraux capped his poor season off with a hattrick effort to push the Leafs over the Senators one more time, and just like that it's golfing season for both clubs.
Many people are upset that we don't get that 8% shot at Tavares, a better chance at a franchise player than winning a doughnut with your next Roll Up The Rim To Win coffee.
Let's be realistic, though. Is Burke's rebuilding plan going to rely on the luck of a bingo-style lottery draw? Or is he, like many GMs before him, going to build a contender by taking the situation that's presented to him?
Leafs Basically Eliminated, Pogge Project Sputtering?
With the Leafs loss against the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night, the team became as close as it's possible to being eliminated from the playoffs. Essentially, the Leafs need to go 6-0 in their last six games, and Florida and Montreal need to lose all of their games for us to make the cut. There were a few calls for a playoff run not so long ago, but the longer the season progressed, the more clear the team's fate became.
It was unfortunate, again on Saturday, to watch Justin Pogge struggle so mightily. He let in six goals and was pulled in the second period. Curtis Joseph swapped in, a reversal of the previous evening in which Joseph was yanked for Pogge. In both cases, the relief netminder shut the door fairly well and let in only one goal.
It sucks to see Pogge fail so miserably, but it's not as if this loss told us anything we didn't know already - he's not ready for the NHL. Some, including Howard Berger, believe that Pogge's try with the Leafs may be coming to an end, with Burke likely opting to sign a proven goalie and move forward from there. I can see that happening, but I also don't think they're throwing the towel in on Pogge by any means.
Pogge was sent down to the minors, but will likely return to back up Joseph in Wednesday night's tilt against the Flyers. Or maybe the management is going to take their chances starting Olaf Kolzig, perhaps?
To quote Pension Plan Puppets, referring to a picture of Joseph coming on for Pogge, "Is that a has been going in for a never was? God I hope not."
Same Picture, Different Caption for Leafs
As usual, our Leafs are going on a late-season charge and find themselves failing to be a playoff team or a top five draft picker. Here is a picture depiction of our team's winning and losing in relation to the .500 mark:
For the three seasons previous to the current one, the message from the Leafs organization was one of ambiguity. The team being ran by GM Ferguson appeared to be trying to make the playoffs, yet you'll hardly find a fan who was confident in the job he was doing or the idea that a plan for the future was in place.
But this year, to hell with it. I have more faith in Burke than I ever did with Ferguson. Sure, we probably won't be grabbing a franchise player this year, but Burke isn't going to rely on one pick when it comes to rebuilding this team. Everyone knows this, but sometimes we all get caught up in our draft positioning, myself included.
The bright side of this team winning, as many reporters have already noted, is that it puffs some confidence into our young guys.
And though this team is going on a late season charge, it's not for the same reason as the years past. The scenario looks the same, but you're not thinking clearly if you want to say it's for the same kind of reasons. First of all, Ron Wilson has been telling his team to work on a nightly basis, all three periods. He has not fully accomplished this yet, but he's doing well so far. Secondly, the reason we are jumping around in the standings is not because our veterans decided to show up - it's because of our young players. And you can hardly predict when youngsters are going to find their game. It's not their fault it was at this time of year, when the Leaf's playoff hopes are null. That's just the way it goes.
If we have any sort of expectation for Burke, it should be to build this team in whatever means he has available - and if that means he doesn't get to be one of the first pickers in the 2009 draft, so be it. Good GMs like New Jersey's Lou Lamirello or Detroits Ken Holland have proven that you don't need those picks to win long term. And likewise, GMs past like Mike Milbury of the New York Islanders have proven that you can do a whole lot of nothing with them too.
Leafs Only Play One Day a Week, Sign Didomenico
Our Leafs once again go out and blast the opposing team on a Saturday night. Let me remind you of several past blastings this season:
| NY Rangers | W 5-2 |
| Montreal | W 6-3 |
| Chicago | L 4-5 OT |
| Philadelphia | W 4-2 |
| @ Pittsburgh | W 7-3 |
| Pittsburgh | W 5-4 |
| @ Montreal | W 5-2 |
| Pittsburgh | W 6-2 |
| @ Ottawa | W 4-3 OT |
Get my point? And now we beat Calgary 8-6, again on Saturday, to top it off. This team is so random.
DIDOMENICO DETAINED
The Leafs have signed Chris Didomenico to a three-year entry level contract. He will likely report to the Toronto Marlies at some point this year or the next, as the Leafs begin to assess Chris and mold him into a true NHLer.
Undrafted in the OHL, Didomenico tried his luck in the QMJHL, trying out and making the Saint John Seadogs. He continued to surprise by putting up great numbers in his sophomore year, and then was traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs. He was selected for the 2009 Canada U20 World Junior squad, much to the surprise and delight of Leafs fans.
Didomenico's journey to this contract was one filled with surprises. As a smallish player who stands at 5'10, there will still be doubters of his NHL potential. The Leafs took a chance on Didomenico by drafting him in the 6th round in 2007, and until we see him suit up in the big leagues once and for all, the doubting will probably continue.
Here's hoping he can prove the doubters wrong yet again.
One Source Claiming that Schenn is Available
I apologize in advance. I couldn't let this one just slide.
eBay is claiming that Luke Schenn is now available.
Current price is set at 10 dollars. The Coyotes might just be able to scrounge up the funds.
Critical Juncture in Leaf's Tavares Hopes Has Arrived
John Tavares broke the record for most career goals in the OHL tonight, a record previously held by Peter Lee at 213. John came into the game tonight against the Windsor Spitfires with just two games remaining and one goal behind Peter Lee's total. He tied that marker early in the game. He then broke the record, and added another one for good measure.
Once again Leafs fans are reminded how poor our draft positioning is at the moment - that is, because we really want the first pick to secure Tavares. Sure, every team in the league would like John. But the Leafs really have nobody to turn to on offense to be that go-to guy. Sooner or later, John Tavares will be a that kind of player for an NHL franchise.
And this is why it's important that we lose, at least, our next three games. You see, the next three times the Leafs play will be against teams who are surefire top 10 draft pickers in this year's draft. At least two of these teams will be in the top five, and good money has all three of them in that prestigious group. Those teams being the Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning. If we can somehow lose to all three of these dreadful teams, we will be closing the gap on that last place spot.
Here's the rest of Toronto's Tavares Cup faceoffs:
March 9 - @ Ottawa
March 10 - vs. New York Islanders
March 12 - vs. Tampa Bay
March 17 - @ Tampa Bay
April 11 - Ottawa
Not a whole lot of opportunity left for us set up other Tavares Cuppers to leap-frog us.
We might have to do it ourselves. We're surely poised to do it, seeing how depleted our defensive core is looking, and the challenging matchups we face down the stretch.
We can hope to lose to the following teams:
Calgary (1 game)
Florida (1 game)
Montreal (2 games)
Buffalo (2 games)
Washington (1 game)
Philadelphia (2 games)
Boston (1 game)
New Jersey (1 game)
A good solid 11 losses in total. Should help the cause.
So in the best case scenario, with us losing all TC matchups as well, we go 0-16 from here on in. If we did that, the last place Islanders would need to go 7-7-1 to catch us.
There's a small margin for error, and we also have to keep in mind that the other bottom dwellers could take the 30th too, but there's always hope.
If you don't like seeing the Leafs lose, I'm sorry to break your heart. It's true that it's nice to see the Leafs get rewarded for their efforts.
But I'd much rather the Leafs draft a franchise forward and put this futile season behind them, right now.