Kukla's Korner (Free subscription) | 11/22/2009
from Darren Dreger of TSN, On July 1st, the Toronto Maple Leafs may have as many as 17 free agents to contend with, and 11 of those players will be unrestricted. For many teams this would be considered a horrendous challenge. The Leafs look at it as a great opportunity. The corps of the 11 unrestricted free agents includes Alexei Ponikarovsky, Lee Stempniak, Matt Stajan, Vesa Toskala, Garnet Exelby,...
Kukla's Korner (Free subscription) | 11/20/2009
On Thursday night, the Hurricanes hosted the Maple Leafs with a good chance to stretch their points streak to four games. Although things didn’t go well early on, they battled back. Although they gave up a would-be game winning goal with 30 seconds remaining in the third, they never gave up. Erik Cole scored with two seconds remaining, and then the Finns took care of business in the shootout....
Pension Plan Puppets (Free subscription) | 11/14/2009
More photos » by John Smierciak - AP about 6 hours ago: Toronto Maple Leafs' Lee Stempniak (12) and teammate Niklas Hagman (9) step over Chicago Blackhawks' Hawks' Kris Versteeg, bottom, and pin Blackhawks' Andres Ebbett, left, in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago, Ill., on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/John Smierciak) Browse more photos » Air your grievances here.
Kukla's Korner (Free subscription) | 10/30/2009
from Gary Loewen of the Toronto Sun, Vesa Toskala: Don’t you get the feeling this guy would be really good at dodgeball? Lee Stempniak: A capable point man on the power play ... who knew? The Frat Pack: A sharp-looking line during pre-season, Viktor Stalberg, Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson have been reunited ... with the Marlies. For now they’re the Drat Pack, but they’re in the...
Pension Plan Puppets (Free subscription) | 10/29/2009
More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP As noted by Greg Brady: That's 3 points in 3 games with Gustavsson and 1 point in 7 games with the other bum and Joey Mac. Browse more photos » Well, that didn't quite end the way in which we would have liked. The Leafs were unable to shut the door after they picked up the lead with seven minutes left in the game. Also, Gustavsson's save percentage wasn't...
Pension Plan Puppets (Free subscription) | 10/29/2009
More photos » by RICHARD LAM - AP Dear Hockey Gods, Please do not let this happen to Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson. Love, Terrified Leafs Fans Browse more photos » The Leafs' defensive play has been spectacular for the most part right up until Francois Beauchemin passed the puck to the open left wing. Sure, Lee Stempniak is a ninja but that doesn't mean that because there is...
Pension Plan Puppets (Free subscription) | 10/28/2009
More photos » by Lori Shepler - AP Another game from this guy? Giggity. Browse more photos » The Leafs are on a roll. They have yet to lose a game since playing in Anaheim on Monday. Admittedly, they've yet to play a game since Monday, but that changes nothing, in the big picture. The Barilkosphere is a-buzz with even more game re-caps. I can understand the delay. I myself was fairly convinced...
Toronto Mike's Blog (Free subscription) | 10/27/2009
The Leafs win a game! The Leafs win a game! And of course, sleepy old man Mike fell asleep when it was 3-1 and missed the celebration. It's worth noting the only period of Leafs hockey I've missed this season is the third period of our only victory. Coincidence? Tomas Kaberle had five points, Lee Stempniak had four points, Matt Stajan had three points and Niklas Hagman scored three of our five power-play...
St. Louis Game Time (Free subscription) | 10/27/2009
I'm tired. I got like two hours of sleep Saturday night and was up early Monday. I haven't done this since college and I gotta say, it's nice to get eight hours of sleep on a regular basis. Anyway, links? Links. Blues news Fragile D.J. King is going to be out 8-to-10 weeks with a broken hand. Yan Stastny will be up from the Peoria. [Belleville News-Democrat] The Blues got physical at practice today,...
Pension Plan Puppets (Free subscription) | 10/26/2009
More photos » by Richard Lam - AP Lee Stempniak sees you. Do you see Lee Stempniak? Browse more photos » Look, it's Sunday and I've actually had to work today. It's late, and I love you all, but I need my sleep... Dr. Steve thinks the Leafs may not be a "Brian Burke team." TSM doesn't think the Leafs are 0-81-1 bad. They just may not be all that good either... Leafs247 has a few...
Pension Plan Puppets (Free subscription) | 10/09/2009
Leafs Practice Lineup - Oct 9 Check this out: Here were the lines from Friday's practice: Alexei Ponikarovsky - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin Niklas Hagman - Matt Stajan - Lee Stempniak Jason Blake - John Mitchell - Jamal Mayers Jay Rosehill - Rickard Wallin - Colton Orr Francois Beauchemin - Tomas Kaberle Mike Komisarek - Ian White Luke Schenn - Jeff Finger Garnet Exelby Vesa Toskala - Joey...
Kukla's Korner (Free subscription) | 10/05/2009
from Damien Cox of the Toronto Star, So what we think we might know about the Leafs after two games – Lee Stempniak looks much improved, added toughness doesn’t mean much if the other team won’t engage, Viktor Stalberg clearly does belong – really doesn’t mean much. Nothing, you see, can be known until the goaltending is sorted out. When you allow only 51 shots in two...
The Peerless Prognosticator (Free subscription) | 10/04/2009
Well, tonight we saw the complete “Capitals” – the sublime and the confounding – all in one 60 minute segment. For those of you who keep score, the game ended in a 6-4 Capitals win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. For those of you who prefer Olympic scoring, it was probably a 9.3 under the old Olympic gymnastics scoring scheme. For 40 minutes, the Caps were their dominating, intimidating,...
Hockey Leaks (Free subscription) | 10/03/2009
The season is three days old and I couldn't be happier. It's been great being able to watch several games since Thursday, and if you've been missing out on great action, today is the day to catch up. 15 games on today, including Florida and Chicago, which is on right now. Chicago leads 2-0 thanks to goals by Brian Campbell and Patrick Kane, who has four points already in just one and a half games....
atHome Top Story (Free subscription) | 10/02/2009
There were good moments for the Leafs on opening night and good performances, including those by Lee Stempniak, Matt Stajan and Viktor Stalberg. But the NHL's worst defensive team last year, it would seem, still has lots of work to do.
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