Toronto Maple Leafs

[Kopitar57]

Re: Toronto Maple Leafs



BREAKING NEWS: Toronto Acquires Byfuglien from Chicago

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Left Winger Dustin Byfuglien from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Center Matt Stajan and Left Winger Mark Bell, a source told TSN.

The deal is expected to be finalized tomorrow. Byfuglien's agent confirmed the report to TSN after it was announced.

The 23-Year Old Bufuglien was moved from defense to forward, with good results. He scored 19 goals and added 17 assists in 67 games for an up-and-coming Blackhawks organization. He is expected to play a key role in the Maple Leafs chances for the playoffs this season.

Stajan, 23, scored 16 times and added 17 assists in 82 games last season. He was the Leafs 2nd round pick in the 2002 draft. Bell, 28, returns to the Blackhawks after being traded away from them to San Jose after the 2005-06 season. He wasn't what the Leafs expected, with 10 points in 35 games.

[Kopitar57]

Re: Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs

It hasn't been the easiest of times to be a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Coming out of the lockout, the Leafs, one of the most storied franchises in NHL history, have missed the playoffs all three seasons. It's also going to be one different environment entering the Air Canada Centre this season. Mats Sundin, who has played with the Maple Leafs since the 1994-1995 season, is gone. There is no clear-cut superstar to replace him.

It will be difficult to reproduce the 231 goals that were scored last season. The player expected to Centre the first line, Mikhail Grabovski, has only played in 27 NHL games. He has shown flashes of brilliance in Hamilton, but his attitude got him ran out of Montreal. He'll be expected to carry a heavy load.

The team is also expected a big season out of Jiri Tlusty. The first round pick in the 2006 draft had a slow first season, scoring only 10 goals in 58 games. The team is hoping with more playing time, he can increase those goal totals to around 20.

Nikolai Antropov will be expected to be a scorer. And since Jason Blake is the new public enemy number one, he should be able to focus more on his ability. However, his best seasons were riding shotgun next to Sundin, so a drop-off is expected.

Two interesting new players are on the offense: Francois Methot and Artem Kryukov. Methot played in North America with the Rochester Americans for a few seasons before bolting for Germany. He has returned and will center the third line for the team. Kryukov was the Buffalo Sabres first round selection in the 2000 draft. Signed as a free agent, Kryukov hopefully will be motivated from all the negative feelings coming from the Sabres brass.

The defence has slightly improved. Jeff Finger signed a big deal to shore up the core, and Bryan McCabe is no longer a Maple Leaf. Mike Van Ryn needs to remain healthy. Staffan Kronwall won the job out of camp. Overall, all thats expected is to at least pass it up and keep the team in games.

The goaltending crops are solid. Vesa Toskala should improve after an up and down season in his first year as a starter. The return of Curtis Joseph will allow Toskala to be spelled here and there.

Overall, the team hasn't improved much, and will be on the outside looking in. Unless they can surprise, I expect them to be near the bottom of the conference.

[hr]

Maple Leaf Lines:

Byfuglien- Grabovski- Antropov
Blake- Tlusty- Kryukov
Steen- Mayers- Hagman
Stortini- Moore- Methot

Van Ryn- Kaberle
Kubina- White
Kronwall- Finger

Toskala
Joseph

PP Lines

Byfuglien- Grabovski- Antropov
Kaberle- Kubina

Blake- Tlusty- Mayers
Van Ryn- White

Grabovski- Antropov
Kaberle- Kubina

Tlusty- Blake
Van Ryn- White

PK Lines

Moore- Mayers
Finger- Kronwall

Methot- Hagman
Kaberle- Van Ryn

Moore
Finger- Kronwall

Methot
Kaberle-Van Ryn

Shootout

Byfuglein
Steen
Grabovski
Tlusty
Blake

Extra Attackers

Stortini
Kryukov

I promise a better looking effort later. I'm tired as hell. Cya.

[thrashman]

Re: Toronto Maple Leafs

Sweet dynasty dude. Always enjoy yours. (btw this is KovalchukFan17 from LT.)

Did you manually update the rosters with the McCabe trade or is there a roster update I've missed?

[GoldenJet]

Re: Toronto Maple Leafs

Thrashman what NHL dynasty you doing next for 08. P.S do an Eastern team.

[Kopitar57]

Re: Toronto Maple Leafs

Sweet dynasty dude. Always enjoy yours. (btw this is KovalchukFan17 from LT.)

Did you manually update the rosters with the McCabe trade or is there a roster update I've missed?

If you go to the game selection online, you can update it there.

[thrashman]

Re: Toronto Maple Leafs

If you go to the game selection online, you can update it there.

Alright, cool. Are the rookies on the update?

GJ, I'm thinking I'll do my 09 dynasty with Florida, but I was also considering the Islanders and Predators.

[Kopitar57]

Re: Toronto Maple Leafs



Maple Leafs Schedule For The Month Of October

Listed Below is the schedule for the month of October for the Toronto Maple Leafs. All games will be broad casted in High-Definition and will be streamed on Leafs.TV for a fee. All games are subject to blackout and may not be available in local areas.

DATE	          VISITOR	   HOME	        TIME (EST)  TV		
Thu Oct 9, 2008	  Maple Leafs	   Red Wings    7:00 PM     CBC			  
Sat Oct 11, 2008  Canadiens	   Maple Leafs  7:00 PM	    CBC			  
Mon Oct 13, 2008  Blues            Maple Leafs  1:00 PM	    LEAFS TV	  
Fri Oct 17, 2008  Maple Leafs	   Rangers      7:00 PM	    SNET-O		  
Sat Oct 18, 2008  Maple Leafs	   Penguins     7:00 PM	    CBC			  
Tue Oct 21, 2008  Ducks	           Maple Leafs	7:00 PM	    TSN 		  
Thu Oct 23, 2008  Maple Leafs	   Bruins	7:00 PM	    TSN 			  
Sat Oct 25, 2008  Senators	   Maple Leafs	7:00 PM	    CBC			  
Tue Oct 28, 2008  Lightning	   Maple Leafs	7:30 PM	    TSN 			  
Wed Oct 29, 2008  Maple Leafs	   Devils       7:30 PM	    TSN

Note- Game Updates will be five game updates. This means I play 5, then post results.

[Kopitar57]

Re: Toronto Maple Leafs

Alright, cool. Are the rookies on the update?

GJ, I'm thinking I'll do my 09 dynasty with Florida, but I was also considering the Islanders and Predators.

Not until October.

Do A Islanders Dynasty!

[Kopitar57]

Re: Toronto Maple Leafs



Report: Leafs Have Roller Coaster Start To The Season

By Nick Allen
TML Reporter

It really has been an interesting start to the Regular Season by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Pegged by many as one team that would finish in the basement of the conference, the team has shows flashes of being a team that has the potential to be playoff contenders.

So far, the team is over .500, abet at 3-2 with one game going into overtime to seal a win. The team has received a consisted effort out of Jiri Tlusty, who has 3 goals and 2 assists to begin the year. Tied with him is Nikolai Antropov, but he scored a hat trick in a 7-4 victory over the Penguins, one being an empty netter.

Vesa Toskala has started all five games for the Leafs, but has struggled. His 3.16 G.AA and .842 Save Percentage has raised red flags from the fans. Coach Ron Wilson doesn't pin the blame on Toskala's shoulders.

"The defence must do a better job clearing the front of the net, because that is why he [Toskala] has allowed over 3 goals per contest" said Wilson during a recent press conference.

Starting Goalie wise, their are eight netminders with a worst G.AA then Toskala. The New York Islanders, seeing franchise netminder Rick DiPietro struggle in three contests, signed goaltending prospect Sabrina Ladha to challange DiPietro for playing time.

Wilson hasn't been impressed with Mikhail Grabovski's effort either. His 2 assists and -4 aren't what the Leafs hoped for after picking him up from the Montreal Canadiens. Dustin Byfuglien is another. His lone goal, an empty netter, has already generated negative vibes in Toronto.

Overall, the team looks to perform better in the next section of the schedule. The game that interests many will be the October 30th contest against the New Jersey Devils, who are currently 5-0.

Minors Report: The Marlies are 0-2-1 to begin the AHL season, but it's expected with this young cast. John Mitchell and Peter Ferraro are tied for the point lead at 2 apiece, and Justin Pogge is 0-3 with a 2.62 G.AA and .881 Save Percentage.

Maple Leafs Leaders

Goals:

Tlusty- 3
Antropov- 3
11 Tied With- 1

Assists:

Kaberle- 3
Blake- 3
7 Tied With- 2

+/-:

Tlusty- 4
Kubina- 4
5 Tied With- 3

FO%:

Tlusty- 66.7%
Mayers- 61.1%
Grabovski- 56.8%
Moore- 53.3%

Hits:

Van Ryn- 23
Grabovski- 22
Kaberle- 14

Toskala: 5 GP, 3-2, 3.16 G.AA, .842 SV%

[SabresKings3623]

Re: Toronto Maple Leafs

nice updates man, decent start to the season. I'll have my NHL '09 Sabres Dynasty up pretty soon as well.