Maple Leafs Season Countdown Clock Activated
Published July 13, 2009 @ 15:02 in Toronto Maple Leafs

If you click on over to http://www.torontomike.com/countdown.html you'll learn there are 80 days, 5 hours, 0 minutes, and 34 seconds left until the Maple Leafs opener against the Habs.

That countdown clock will track the seconds remaining until we drop the puck for real once more. I've done this every summer for seven years and there's always at least one fan who checks it daily.

I recommend checking it hourly.

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Monster Jonas Gustavsson Chooses Leafs
Published July 7, 2009 @ 09:39 in Toronto Maple Leafs

Jonas Gustavsson likes us, he really, really likes us! Sportsnet is reporting that the long awaited decision by Jonas Gustavsson is over as he's decided to start his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

An announcement is expected as early as today as "The Monster" signed off on a 1-year, $900,000 to start the 09-10 season backing up Vesa Toskola.

The Best Goaltender Outside the NHL™ will battle Vesa Toskala for the #1 job, even though MLSE will tell you he's backing up Tosky. Hopefully, he's worth the wait.

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Francois Beauchemin Signs With Maple Leafs
Published July 6, 2009 @ 15:29 in Toronto Maple Leafs

In the comments of this entry we were debating who would be our top six defencemen next season. We have a glut of worthy defenders, including Kaberle, Schenn, Komisarek, Finger, Van Ryn, Exelby, White and Oreskovic. Brian Burke decided that wasn't enough. He's just signed free agent defencemen Francois Beauchemin to a three-year deal believed to be in the range of $10 million.

I really like this signing at that price. Burke previously brought Beauchemin to the Ducks where he helped them win the cup in '07. Beauchemin eats a lot of minutes, plays a solid physical style and makes our team better.

Clearly, Kaberle has played his last game for the Leafs.

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The Monster Jonas Gustavsson Keeps Us Waiting
Published July 3, 2009 @ 12:26 in Toronto Maple Leafs

Who does Jonas Gustavsson think he is? Not only does he get the coolest nickname ever, but he's holding off on making his decision as to which NHL team he'll suit up for next season. All this from an undrafted goalie.

The Best Goaltender Outside the NHL™ will likely choose between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Dallas Stars. He might decide tomorrow, or he might keep us waiting Sundin-style.

I need The Monster here just so I can cheer on someone named The Monster. It's not only fun to say, it's fun to type, too.

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Pavel Kubina Traded to Thrashers for Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart
Published July 1, 2009 @ 18:20 in Toronto Maple Leafs

Damian Cox giveth, taketh away, and returneth the Kubina to Atlanta trade. But it's not the deal we were teased with, Kubina for Colby Armstrong, but instead it's Pavel Kubina and the rights to forward Tim Stapleton for defenceman Garnet Exelby and winger Colin Stuart.

This is clearly a move to make cap space. I'm not a fan of the bodies we're getting back for Kubina, but I understand the money we save will help land another free agent. Burke sure does love hard-nosed toughies who can't score to save their lives. We certainly won't be pushovers with guys like Schenn, Komisarek, Finger and Exelby on the blueline.

Let me close with a word about Tim Stapleton. I attended several Marlies games last season, and Tim Stapleton was consistently a standout. During the most exciting playoff clinching overtime win, it was Stapleton who scored the winner. I got an autographed picture of Stapleton that's pinned to my daughter's bulletin board right now. I'm sorry we won't have #17 to cheer on at Ricoh next season but I'm hopeful he'll get a chance to see more NHL ice in Atlanta.

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Mike Komisarek Signs With Maple Leafs
Published July 1, 2009 @ 18:06 in Toronto Maple Leafs

Hours after dipping his toes in the free agency pool by signing tough guy Colton Orr, Brian Burke has reeled in a bigger fish. No, it wasn't the Mike I wanted, Mike Cammalleri, but 27 year old Mike Komisarek. He signed a 5 year deal with the Leafs for $4.5 million per year.

That's right, $4.5 million a year over five years for a guy whose allergic to points. I understand that's not his game and that we're getting a hard-nosed defensive defenseman who will block shots and hit everybody in sight, but that's a lot of cabbage. Still, my Montreal-liking frenemies tell me I'll soon fall in love with the man they call Komi.

Orr and Komi promise to make us tougher, but will they combine to put up Brad Marsh-like offensive stats? We can only hope...

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Damien Cox Giveth the Kubina ~ Armstrong Trade, Then Taketh Away
Published July 1, 2009 @ 15:14 in Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Star sports writer Damien Cox writes a blog he calls The Spin on Sports and I subscribe to the RSS feed. Earlier this afternoon, here's the update I got in my Google Reader.

I also follow Damien Cox on Twitter, where he's @DamoSpin. Here's his tweet shortly thereafter.

The deal Damien Cox was reporting was Pavel Kubina going to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for Colby Armstrong. It's a deal I dig, but if you go to Cox's Spin blog now, there's no sign of that entry. It's been deleted.

The deal could still happen, but it hasn't happened yet. It's been one big Cox tease and quite premature.

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Colton Orr Joins Maple Leafs
Published July 1, 2009 @ 14:21 in Toronto Maple Leafs

Today is a big day for hockey fans. As of midnight, teams can sign free agents. I had my eye on a few, namely Cammalleri, Gaborik and Ohlund. Ohlund's already gone to the Lightning, so he's off the table, but I'm still hopeful Brian Burke can make a little noise and improve my team.

So far, he's signed one free agent, and that's Colton Orr. Burke has said he wants to make the Leafs tougher, and Colton Orr will do that. Colton Orr is an enforcer, and he comes cheap. He's signed to the blue and white for $4 million over four seasons.

Here's what he's known for:

With Colton Orr in the fold we can finally start planning that parade.

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Pogge Saved From Chopping Block
Published June 29, 2009 @ 20:06 in Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies

I really thought Justin Pogge was on his way out. Earlier this month, a Sportsnet report suggested the Justin Pogge era had indeed come to an end here in Toronto. It was time to move on, to get Jonas Gustavsson to compete with Vesa Toskala for the Leafs spot, to make James Reimer a Marlie.

Today it's been reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs have made a qualifying offer to goaltender Justin Pogge.

The move ensures that Pogge remains a restricted free agent after July 1st, allowing the Leafs to match any offer made to Pogge by other clubs. Had the Leafs not extended the offer and failed to sign him to a new contract by Wednesday, Pogge would have become an unrestricted free agent.

Drafted by the Leafs 90th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Pogge has failed to live up to expectations. The Fort McMurray, AB native has spent most of the last few seasons with the Marlies, Toronto's AHL affiliate, and has not impressed in call-ups to the big club. In seven appearances with the Leafs last season, Pogge was 1-4 with a 4.35 goals against average and 0.844 save percentage.

I've never been so happy to be so wrong. I really want Justin Pogge to succeed and I'm glad Burke is giving him another year with the Marlies. I know I'll be there, cheering him on with my kids from the front row.

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Maple Leafs Draft Blogger
Published June 27, 2009 @ 13:51 in Toronto Maple Leafs

No, it's not me, but the Toronto Maple Leafs have drafted a blogger. Despite the fact I recorded a hat trick in January, I remain undrafted, but the Leafs did select Eric Knodel of the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers with their 5th round pick today in Montreal.

Eric Knodel writes a hockey blog at http://ericknodel.blogspot.com/. Here's what he wrote for his "About Me" page:

Philadelphia Jr. Flyers Midget Major AAA - 6'6" 225# - Defense- Left Shot - NCAA Clearinghouse- #0810631814 NHL Central Scouting 2009 Final Ranking Flyers Cup Finalist- 2008 - Flyers Cup- 2008 First Team All Tournament Team- Defense - 2007-2008- All Southeast Pa.- Breakaway Magazine - 2007-2008-First Team All-Area- Defense - 2007-2008-First Team All League-ICHSL - 2007-First Team All League Ches-Mont Baseball - 2007 All Area Baseball - 2007- All Southeast Pa. - 2009 Flyers Cup Champion 2009 Flyers Cup All Tournament Team 2009 Pennsylvania State Champion 2006- Bronze Medalist- 16U USA Hockey National Tournament - 2005- Participant 14U USA Hockey National Tournament

I just blitzed his blog archives and it's pretty boring stuff. I hope he's a better hockey player than he is a blogger. Speaking of hockey bloggers, here's all the Maple Leafs picks, culled from Pension Plan Puppets.

• 7th Overall - 1st Round: Nazem Kadri, London Knights, OHL
• 50th overall - 2nd Round: Kenny Ryan, US National Team Development Program U18
• 58th Overall - 2nd Round: Jesses Blacker, Windsor Spitfires, OHL
• 68th Overall - 3rd Round: Jamie Devane, Plymouth Whalers, OHL
• 128th Overall - 5th Round: Eric Knodel, Philadelphia Jr. Flyers USMAAA
• 158th Overall - 6th Round: Jerry D'Amigo, US National Team Development Program U18
• 188th Overall - 7th Round: Barron Smith, Peterborough Petes, OHL

In other Leaf news, Tomas Kaberle remains a Maple Leaf and Brian Burke continues to favour North Americans. Eric Knodel, if you're reading this, hit me up for some blogosphere consulting.

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