In: Bobby Ryan RW (entry level contract), Nikolai Kulemin RW/LW (entry level contract), James Neal LW (entry level contract), Luke Schenn D (entry level contract), Michal Handzus C (free agent Phx), Matt Cullen (trade with Atl), Mark Streit D (free agent NYR), Johan Hedberg G (free agent Phi), Josh Gorges D (from AsHL)
Out: Jarkko Immonen C (to minors), Jozef Stumpel C/LW (released), Darcy Tucker RW (trade with Atl), Ales Kotalik RW (trade with Ott), Patrice Brisebois D (retired), Staffan Kronwall D (to minors), Mikael Tellqvist G (released)
It has been an offseason of renewal for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The club dispatched its two top right wingers in trades, had a veteran defenseman retire, released a center and backup goalie, and sent a center and defenseman to the minors. It's all in the name of progress. Will the Leafs be better this year? They will be younger, faster, and far better defensively, but their inexperience is expected to cost them on some nights.
The Leafs will be relying heavily on youngsters to man the right side. Bobby Ryan will start the season on the first line, while second year players Steve Downie, Blake Comeau, and Nikolai Kulemin are expected to battle for the other three spots on a nightly basis. "All three can play and bring a different element. Blake Comeau is expected to be the defensive conscience on the second line most nights, but when they need more feistiness and a better scoring touch Steve Downie will likely move into that position. Kulemin is expected to play on the third line most nights as he is considered by the team management to be a defensive forward with some good counter attack skills. This means that when Comeau or Downie are not playing on the third line, they will play on an energy line with Chad Kilger and the left winger of the night.
On the left wing Sergei Samsonov, the team captain, is a lock for the first line, but the other three lines will also see some rotation. Most nights Jochen Hecht will play on the second line, where he had some chemistry with Michal Handzus early in the preseason. This means that Alexei Ponikarovsky will most likely be the third liner, with James Neal on the fourth line. Neal is expected to get regular time on the second power play unit on those nights when he plays on the fourth line, but will also move up to the second line when he is hot.
The only thing that appears set in stone at this point is at center, where Matt Stajan is expected to lead the first line, Handzus the second, Matt Cullen the third line, and Chad Kilger the fourth. This is a huge change for Kilger, who was the team's second line center most of last season. He played well in that role, so it will be interesting to see how he will respond to a diminished role. It is believed that the Leafs would move him to a team that would give him a more prominent role.
On the blueline two of the most significant changes were made last season, but are expected to have a big impact this year. Denis Grebeshkov was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins for center Kyle Wellwood and a third round pick in the middle of the year. He was a huge disappointment in Toronto, prompting the Leafs to try putting him in the minors at one point, but deciding against it when the NsHLPA protested. The message seems to have gotten through as Grebeshkov came into camp in great shape and was so impressive that he was named an assistant captain. He will join Mark Streit, a free agent acquired mainly to resurrect the powerplay, and veteran Mike Rathje in trying to create some offense from the back end. Josh Gorges, who was acquired just before the trade deadline from Carolina and spent most of his time after that with the Marlies, is expected to play in one of the two top pairings and kill penalties. Rookie Luke Schenn will play along side Carlo Colaiacovo on the third pairing, and both are expected to log significant minutes on the penalty kill.
In net Miikka Kiprusoff was often overworked last season because then head coach had no confidence in Mikael Tellqvist who looked shaky behind a porous defense. This season Johan Hedberg is expected to play about 20 games. The hope is that he will win a few games and help Kipper stay fresh enough to take a serious run at the playoffs in a vastly improved conference.
Coach Ron Wilson has said that he expects players to work hard and they will be rewarded with extra time on special teams for their effort. He hopes to have a more balanced attack, with the secondary lines taking some pressure off the first line, which did not happen on many nights last season. Whether or not that takes place remains to be seen.
Season Five under Graber Regime - February 2013
Toronto, ON - The Toronto Maple Leafs are excited to get the new season under way. The club is expecting big things out of newcomers Jiri Tlusty, Adam Henrique, Trent Hunter, Scott Clemmensen, and Jay Harrison. Tlusty and Harrison have worked their way up from the AsHL and will provide support roles on the 4th line and bottom pairing respectively, while Clemmensen should provide quality relief when starter Miikka Kiprusoff needs a rest. Henrique and Hunter are expected to log plenty of minutes on the third line and helping out with the penalty kill.
The rest of the lineup remains the same as the end of last year, with Jason Spezza, James Neal and Bobby Ryan expected to lead the charge offensively, and Denis Grebeshkov expected to bring some key offense from the back end. Luke Schenn, Ryan McDonagh and Josh Gorges are expected to round out the top 4 and give the Leafs a mobile group that provide an excellent transition game. As always, Miikka Kiprusoff will handle the bulk of the goaltending.
Leafs Deal Two Prior to FA Period - Nov. 12, 2012
Toronto, ON - As the Leafs get ready for the upcoming season changes appear to be happening already. In the past two days they have traded away two veteran players. Long-time Leaf Alexei Ponikarovsky was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche for youngster Aaron Palushaj on Saturday. Palushaj is expected to play in the top six for the Toronto Marlies. On Sunday the Leafs then dealt steady defenseman Aaron Rome to the Vancouver Canucks for a third round pick in the 2014 draft. Rome was expected to compete to be the regular defenseman in the bottom pairing, but the Leafs appear to have different plans there. Rome was acquired two seasons ago from the Detroit Red Wings. The Leafs wish both players well with their new teams.
Leafs Busy on Draft Weekend - July 22, 2012
Beaver Falls, PA - Most of the legwork had been done ahead of time as the Leafs came into the Draft weekend. They had already accumulated two extra first round picks through in-season deals, and in the week leading up to the draft dealt a third and a fourth round pick to Colorado for prospect Reid Boucher and a fourth rounder. During the draft the club dealt that fourth rounder to Dallas for a pair of fifth rounders. The key pieces added to the Leafs prospect list were first round centers Zemgus Girgensons and Scott Laughlin as well as goalie Andrei Vasilevski. The club then added two right wingers, three more centers, and a defenseman. Profiles of these youngsters can be found on the Draft History page.
Leafs Busy on Draft Weekend - July 10, 2011
Beaver Falls, PA - The Toronto Maple Leafs were very busy at the draft table this weekend making three trades involving draft picks, drafting 12 players, and acquiring a player that they barely missed out on during the fourth round. The team moved the first round pick (27th overall) acquired from Pittsburgh eariler in the week for a second round pick (35th overall) and a fourth round pick (100th overall) in a deal with Ottawa. They then flipped the 100th overall pick to Columbus for a later fourth (113th) and a seventh round pick. (183rd). The club had hoped to select Shane McColgan with the 113th pick, but Carolina grabbed him at 112th. The two teams then worked out a deal in which the Leafs sent a 6th round pick (168th) and prospect Sergei Shirokov to Carolina for McColgan.
Leafs Deal AsHL Star Bobrovsky to Penguins - July 7, 2011
Toronto, ON - The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they have dealt goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to the Pittsburgh Penguins today in return for a first round pick this year and a third round pick next year. The first rounder is the 27th pick overall.December 31, 2010 - Leafs make two deals to end year
The Leafs traded Tomas Homstrom and a 7th round pick to San Jose for winger Chris Higgins and a 5th round pick. The team then send Mike Mottau and Konstantin Pushkarev to Carolina for Brett Sterling, Brett Carson, Paul Szczechura, and a 5th round pick.
November 1, 2010 - Leafs sign RWs Daniel Alfredsson and Arron Asham
The Leafs announced the signings on the first official day of free agency. "We targetted Daniel, and are not ashamed to say we probably overpaid him a bit to make sure he would be a Leaf," said GM Graber. Asham was brought in for his toughness, and to bring a veteran presence to the bottom six.
October 26, 2010 - Leafs deal Callahan for Eminger and a pick.
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded young right winger Ryan Callahan to the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Steve Eminger and a 3rd round draft pick in 2012. Eminger is expected to punish opposing forwards with some big hits, and to get the puck out of the zone. Callahan's stay in Toronto was short-lived and he appeared to be moved to make room in advance of the free agent season.
July 19, 2010 - Leafs deal Stajan; acquire Tomas Holmstrom
The Toronto Maple Leafs re-acquired their 2010 second round draft pick that had been sent to the Nashville Predators in the Jason Spezza deal in return for Matt Stajan. The Leafs also added Nashville's 4th rounder in 2011 and New Jersey's 5th rounder in 2010. The Leafs then sent their fourth rounder in 2010 to the Atlanta Thrashers for veteran winger Tomas Holmstrom.
March 15, 2010 - Jason Spezza added as deadline ends
With just minutes left in the trading deadline, GM Graber dealt prospect James Van Riemsdyk, AsHL defenseman Cody Franson, prospect goalie Jeremy Smith, and a first (Montreal), second (Toronto), and third (Nashville) round pick to Nashville for center Jason Spezza. The deal capped off a weekend in which Sergei Samsonov and Blake Comeau were dealt to Calgary for wingers Ryan Callahan, Christian Hanson, prospect defenseman John Moore, and Montreal's first round pick (later traded to Nashville). The Leafs also dealt Matt Cullen and a third round pick (Ottawa) to Los Angeles for prospects Sergei Shirokov, Derek Grant, and AsHL winger Yan Stastny.
February 3, 2010 - Leafs acquired Milan Jurcina
The Toronto Maple Leafs dealt minor league defenseman Dustin Kohn to the Pittsburgh Penguins in return for veteran defenseman Milan Jurcina.
January 12, 2010 - Miikka Kiprusoff signs 4 year extension
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Miikka Kiprusoff has resigned with the club. It is a five year deal, which includes the current season. The deal does not include a no-trade clause, but Kiprusoff and the team fully expect that he will remain with the club for the full five years. The deal is worth $4.9 million dollars per season and a $2 million signing bonus. The deal represents a raise of $1 million per season. "We are thrilled to lock up Miikka and solidify our goaltending for the next four years. We are a team on the rise and fully expect Miikka to be one of the main reasons for our future success," said GM Jade Graber during the press conference to announce the move.
December 21, 2009 - Kilger sent to Capitals for Draft Pick
The Maple Leafs announced today that center Chad Kilger along with AsHL center Shaun Landolt and defenseman Staffan Kronwall were sent to the Washinton Capitals for a fifth round draft pick. The deal was made mainly to bring the Leafs below the NsHL limit of 50 pro players signed.
November 28, 2009 - Major Changes to Opening Day Roster
November 28, 2009
The NsHL Toronto Maple Leafs and AsHL Toronto Marlies launched their new website today. Training camp rosters and a prospects page have been added. A transaction history under the current management has also been added. Stay tuned for more to come!
