Before I get started with my blog, I would like to comment on something stated in my JN 229 class. There are very important issues out there, I could have started a blog on the swine flu, the War in Iraq, the possible upcoming election...but why did I choose sports? I will admit, sports is a "distraction" from everything going on in the world, but that does not mean that people should not enjoy it.
I chose to write blogs about something I'm passionate about. Sure, there are terrible things going on out there in the world, and I do think those are important issues that we should be paying attention to, but I'm very passionate about the Leafs. Like I said, sports are a pleasant distraction from all the crap in the world, the best feeling is when you're having a crappy day, so you flip on the TV to catch the game, and your team wins. For those 2 and a half hours or so the game is on, your problems don't matter, and without those mild distractions, we'd all be angry and depressed all the time! My blogs are dedicated to those people.
That being said, it has come to my attention that former, Leafs captain Mats Sundin has announced retirement, so I would like to dedicate this blog to Sundin and his influence on myself as I Leafs fan.
When Mats Sundin was traded to the Leafs organization, it was about a month and a half before my 5th birthday. I can remember watching few games as a child...seeing as the Leafs were in the Western Conference, and a few of their games weren't on until 10:00...I couldn't watch too many as 10:00 was "past my bedtime" at that age.
As I grew older, many players came and left the Leafs organization, but Mats was always there. Mats became my favourite player. I can remember going to my first game at Maple Leaf Gardens, in 1998, later in that season they would move to the ACC. I can't remember who they were playing, but I can remember cheering for Sundin, and I can also remember that they won.
Every year the Leafs made the playoffs, you could depend on "Captain Clutch" to pull through when he needed. Remember that game against Carolina, 30 seconds left...and who pops it into the net to tie it up? Listening to that call by Bonesy (Joe Bowen, Leafs play-be-play commentator) today still gives me chills up my spine.
One of my favourite Sundin memories is "When Mats Sundin beat Daryl Sitler's Goals and Points record as a Leaf. I remember where I was when that happened...in the car on my way to Guelph from Brampton, listening to AM 640, with Dennis Beyak calling it "Mats Sundin is now the leader in points and goals!" The standing ovation by the crowd, and fellow Leafers, it was unbelievable...needless to say, I watched it on Youtube again and again.
When Sundin signed with Vancouver, it kind of broke my heart...I mean you saw it coming that he wouldn't be a Leaf again, but it still hurt a little. However, I had the pleasure of going to Mats' homecoming last year when the Leafs played Vancouver. I was part of that historical standing ovation, and I will never forget it. That is one memory I will keep with me for the rest of my life.
So today, as Mats Sundin hangs up his skates, I would like to thank him for all the memories he has given to me and the rest of us Leafs fans. My question to you though is, how will you remember Mats? Statisticly speaking, Mats was the greatest captain ever, but will his legacy be the same as Sitler's or Gilmour's in years to come? Will the Leafs hire him on to the front office? Will his number be honoured at the ACC? (His number won't be retired because the Toronto Maple Leafs organization has a strict criteria about retiring numbers, the player needs to have sustained an injury which ended his career while playing for the Leafs. Therefore the Leafs only have two numbers retired: Bill Barilko's #5 and "Ace" Bailey's #6). I know I will remember Sundin as having a huge influence on my Leafs fandom, and I remember him as a Leaf, not as a Canuck.
Further Reading/viewing:
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Mats-Sundin-retires-allows-us-to-get-on-with-ou?urn=nhl,193065 - Sundin's Retirement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ZZU6-30Qo - Standing Ovation for Sundin at his "homecoming" (video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyx55PNKEo0 - Sundin breaks Daryl Sitler's record (video)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Broad Street, Meet Bay Street
After tonight, the Leafs will be at the halfway mark of the preseason. So far they are 3-1-0. After losing 3-2 against Boston in their opening game, but the Leafs rallied back to win 3 games in a row, the longest winning streak they had all of last year.
In the first three games of the preseason, one player had Leafs Nation's eyes on him: Nazem Kadri. Kadri scored his first pro goal in his home arena in London, Ontario versus the Philadelphia Flyers. During that game, the Leafs blanked the Flyers 4-0, with James Reimer and Joey McDonald sharing the shutout.
In that particular game with the Flyers, although it was preseason, it looked as though the Leafs-Flyers rivalry of the 70s was rejuvinated. Fight after fight after fight, even Luke Schenn got involved in the dances. There were three of the four fights in the game were in the first period alone: a testament to Burke wanting to make this team bigger and tougher.
On Friday night, the Leafs faced the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, minus Sidney Crosby, however Evgeni Malkin was dressed and in the lineup. The Leafs fell early, 2-0, however, due to a major penalty for elbowing, the Leafs rallied back with three goals and eventually won that game 4-3. Showing the Leafs have more scoring ability than they did last year.
On Saturday night was the re-match between the Leafs and Flyers. Within the first 2 periods, there were 80 minutes in penalties! 16 of the 18 Leafs penalties were for fighting or roughing after the whistle. That game went into overtime with Niklas Hagman showing flair and netting 2 goals including the overtime winner.
The Leafs are definitely bigger and tougher than they have been since the departure of former Leafs tough guy Tie Domi. However, Bryan Burke did not feel that his team was strong enough up front, he traded and signed former Boston Bruin Phil Kessel for a 1st round draft pick in 2010, 2nd round pick in 2010, and a first round pick in 2011. The trades of not just one, but two first round draft choices shows Burke's faith in his team.
Last season, Kessel had 36 goals (Blake lead Leafs scoring last year with only 25 goals) with the Boston Bruins, and he is only 21 turning 22 years old! This move has some Leafs fans worrying about the future of the Leafs, if they really tank it this year, Toronto will be in trouble in the future, however others praise Burke's move as genius. Remember, Cliff Fletcher traded the Leafs first round pick, along with several other players for Mats Sundin, many people criticized Fletcher for trading so much away for him, then he became the Captain.
However, it's too early to criticize or praise Burke's trade, Kessel won't be in the lineup until mid-November do to surgery to repair his rotator cuff. This trade will either leave Burke looking like a genius and the GM this team has needed all these year, or leave Burke being booed out of Toronto like John Ferguson Jr.
Nicholas Porretta
In the first three games of the preseason, one player had Leafs Nation's eyes on him: Nazem Kadri. Kadri scored his first pro goal in his home arena in London, Ontario versus the Philadelphia Flyers. During that game, the Leafs blanked the Flyers 4-0, with James Reimer and Joey McDonald sharing the shutout.
In that particular game with the Flyers, although it was preseason, it looked as though the Leafs-Flyers rivalry of the 70s was rejuvinated. Fight after fight after fight, even Luke Schenn got involved in the dances. There were three of the four fights in the game were in the first period alone: a testament to Burke wanting to make this team bigger and tougher.
On Friday night, the Leafs faced the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, minus Sidney Crosby, however Evgeni Malkin was dressed and in the lineup. The Leafs fell early, 2-0, however, due to a major penalty for elbowing, the Leafs rallied back with three goals and eventually won that game 4-3. Showing the Leafs have more scoring ability than they did last year.
On Saturday night was the re-match between the Leafs and Flyers. Within the first 2 periods, there were 80 minutes in penalties! 16 of the 18 Leafs penalties were for fighting or roughing after the whistle. That game went into overtime with Niklas Hagman showing flair and netting 2 goals including the overtime winner.
The Leafs are definitely bigger and tougher than they have been since the departure of former Leafs tough guy Tie Domi. However, Bryan Burke did not feel that his team was strong enough up front, he traded and signed former Boston Bruin Phil Kessel for a 1st round draft pick in 2010, 2nd round pick in 2010, and a first round pick in 2011. The trades of not just one, but two first round draft choices shows Burke's faith in his team.
Last season, Kessel had 36 goals (Blake lead Leafs scoring last year with only 25 goals) with the Boston Bruins, and he is only 21 turning 22 years old! This move has some Leafs fans worrying about the future of the Leafs, if they really tank it this year, Toronto will be in trouble in the future, however others praise Burke's move as genius. Remember, Cliff Fletcher traded the Leafs first round pick, along with several other players for Mats Sundin, many people criticized Fletcher for trading so much away for him, then he became the Captain.
However, it's too early to criticize or praise Burke's trade, Kessel won't be in the lineup until mid-November do to surgery to repair his rotator cuff. This trade will either leave Burke looking like a genius and the GM this team has needed all these year, or leave Burke being booed out of Toronto like John Ferguson Jr.
Nicholas Porretta
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Rebuild Starts Today
Leafs Nation has been without playoff hockey for 4 straight years, the longest drought in Toronto Maple Leafs history...yes including with Harold Ballard. Last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired former Sharks coach, Ron Wilson to be the bench boss. Wilson has a reputation, he brought the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time back in 1997-1998.
November of 2008, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Brian Burke as General Manager and President, replacing interim GM Cliff Fletcher. Burke also has a reputation, he won a cup with Anaheim in 2007. He is also remembered for bringing the Sedin twins together in Vancouver.
After a failed 2008-2009 season, Brian Burke was none to pleased with the results."Our goal is to make the playoffs next year; we're going to have to make some changes to do it. We're going to be a different team," Burke said this summer. "I like a lot of hitting. I like a lot of fighting. We have a passive group. All year long, when a trainer was on the ice -- it was always our trainer -- that really bothered me." As for being tougher, Burke did not let down, he signed the likes of Francois Beauchemin, a big part of the Ducks Stanley Cup victory; Garnet Exelby, a tough-guy traded from Atlanta for Pavel Kubina and Tim Stapleton; Mike Komisarek, a tough, stay-at-home defenseman signed as a free agent from Montreal; Colton Orr, your typical "goon" signed at free agency from the New York Rangers; Wayne Primeau, a valuable two-way forward from Calgary for Anton Stralman and Colin Stuart.
Along with all the "tough guys" the Toronto Maple Leafs added a solid back-up defender in Jonas Gustavsson. Gustavsson led Farjestads of the Sweedish Elite League to a championship. Many speculate that he will take the starter role from Vesa Toskala.
Let's not forget about the Leafs 1st round pick from 2008, Luke Schenn. Schenn was selected 5th overall, and was asked to stay in Toronto to play for the season rather than go back to the WHL and play for the Kelowna Rockets. He did not have amazing numbers (2G 12A 14P), but he proved he can play against the likes of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. One of his highlights last season was when he drilled Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin into the boards, only to get into a fight with Tyler Kennedy who jumped off the bench in between plays, Schenn handle Kennedy with no problem to the plasure of the Leafs fans raining down with their cheers of "LUUUUUUUUUUUKE." He has been called the future of this team, and with his play last season, you can see why.
Finally, in the 2009 draft, the Leafs selected 7th overall, Nazem Kadri. Kadri comes to Toronto from the London Knights of the OHL. He is a smallish sniper, it is unlikely he will make the roster this year, but Burke has high hopes for him.
Tonight is the first preseason game for the Toronto Maple Leafs, they will be playing the Boston Bruins. Puck drop is at 7:00 on TSN 2. The rebuild starts today!
Nicholas Porretta
Final Note:
For further reading go to:
http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=490621
November of 2008, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Brian Burke as General Manager and President, replacing interim GM Cliff Fletcher. Burke also has a reputation, he won a cup with Anaheim in 2007. He is also remembered for bringing the Sedin twins together in Vancouver.
After a failed 2008-2009 season, Brian Burke was none to pleased with the results."Our goal is to make the playoffs next year; we're going to have to make some changes to do it. We're going to be a different team," Burke said this summer. "I like a lot of hitting. I like a lot of fighting. We have a passive group. All year long, when a trainer was on the ice -- it was always our trainer -- that really bothered me." As for being tougher, Burke did not let down, he signed the likes of Francois Beauchemin, a big part of the Ducks Stanley Cup victory; Garnet Exelby, a tough-guy traded from Atlanta for Pavel Kubina and Tim Stapleton; Mike Komisarek, a tough, stay-at-home defenseman signed as a free agent from Montreal; Colton Orr, your typical "goon" signed at free agency from the New York Rangers; Wayne Primeau, a valuable two-way forward from Calgary for Anton Stralman and Colin Stuart.
Along with all the "tough guys" the Toronto Maple Leafs added a solid back-up defender in Jonas Gustavsson. Gustavsson led Farjestads of the Sweedish Elite League to a championship. Many speculate that he will take the starter role from Vesa Toskala.
Let's not forget about the Leafs 1st round pick from 2008, Luke Schenn. Schenn was selected 5th overall, and was asked to stay in Toronto to play for the season rather than go back to the WHL and play for the Kelowna Rockets. He did not have amazing numbers (2G 12A 14P), but he proved he can play against the likes of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. One of his highlights last season was when he drilled Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin into the boards, only to get into a fight with Tyler Kennedy who jumped off the bench in between plays, Schenn handle Kennedy with no problem to the plasure of the Leafs fans raining down with their cheers of "LUUUUUUUUUUUKE." He has been called the future of this team, and with his play last season, you can see why.
Finally, in the 2009 draft, the Leafs selected 7th overall, Nazem Kadri. Kadri comes to Toronto from the London Knights of the OHL. He is a smallish sniper, it is unlikely he will make the roster this year, but Burke has high hopes for him.
Tonight is the first preseason game for the Toronto Maple Leafs, they will be playing the Boston Bruins. Puck drop is at 7:00 on TSN 2. The rebuild starts today!
Nicholas Porretta
Final Note:
For further reading go to:
http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=490621
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