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Top 10 Leaf Season Predictions

10. Mike Komisarek becomes Captain. After getting the snuff, Kaberle gives up Dmitri Mironov’s #15 and changes to #1 to sleep better at night.Tim Hunter fights Komisarek in practice and the team opts to give Hunter the C making the first time in NHL history that an Assistant Coach has worn it.

9. Vesa Toskala actually has a good start to the season but gets injured. The Monster and Joseph MacDonald take over and finish the job. Toskala stays in touch with fans during his rehab and gets a job on the ACC grounds. According to the sign, things are “Nipperlicious”.

8. Stalberg  starts off strong but finishes his rookie year with under 20 goals. Wendel Clark’s leaf rookie record of 34 goals remains in tact and untouchable.

7. Lee Stempniak, and Jamal Mayers get traded for draft picks to help make up for what was lost for Kessel. Mayers and Stempniak both go back to St. Louis.

6. Brian Burkie opts to remove his name from Burkie’s Dog House and in an odd twist, Martha Stewart steps in and offers the first hot dog that feeds an entire row at the ACC.

5. Maple Leafs set a new record for the number of opposing players hospitalized throughout the season. Most teams begin to carry defibrillators on the bench when visiting the ACC.

4. The Monster plays in +40 games and proves to be the real deal and only occasionally using the aforementioned defibrillators to keep it real. His second heart surgery of the season administered through his urethra is deemed a success.

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3. Hagman has a career year and scores +30 goals. Also begins a promising career in his spare time as a tuxedo catalogue model for Tip Top Taylors.

2. Mats Sundin trains all season, plays in the Olympics and signs with the Leafs for one final shot at the cup. After realizing that he’s still got love for the leafs and things outside the rink didn’t really turn out, he makes his bid to become a part of leafs history, returning to the buds to drive them to a second round exit from the playoffs.

1. Jason Blake gets some sleep.

Maple Leaf Gardens: Past, Present, Future

Yes, Mats Sundin officially retired today. As most are saying, about a year overdue, but as the rest of Leaf world reflects on his past, I wanted to take a look at the place where his career as a leaf started, Maple Leaf Gardens.

I attended my first NHL hockey game at the Gardens (Leafs vs. Blackhawks) when I was about 8 years old. I got autographs from my favorite players at that very same game in a side corridor where most of the players came to the rink through (Clark, Leeman, and a few others that I can’t recall). I remember going to the last game between the Leafs and Canadiens that was ever played at MLG too. Rocket Richard dropped the puck. Mats was on a line with Steve Thomas, Cujo was on his game, and no disrespect to Burkie’s Dog House, but the dogs were second to none. I was at an age where I was very embarrassed when my dad sang the anthem out loud but back then it seemed like there was still an air of respect and history in attending a leaf game. It was old school.

Inspired by an article that my sister sent me today from the Toronto Star showcasing some old pictures of Maple Leaf Gardens, I did some digging. Here is a limited MOLSTAR communications video called “The Passion Returns” featuring the 92-93 Leafs. Very epic. Even has credits at the beginning, “Starring: Cliff Fletcher, Pat Burns, Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark (the beard of a god), Felix Potvin, and the ‘rest of the Leafs’”. As well, I found some pics from the past, present and future.

Great shots of MLG at the start and end of this clip

Built in 1931 – Notice the lack of downtown…..

Andre the Giant at MLG

Wendel Clark killing people (Notice Marty McSorely getting beaten as an Oiler. Wendel went on to beat Marty mercilessly on every team that Marty ever played for. Marty had nowhere to run.)

After the last game was played but before they ripped out the seats

Present

MLG Escalator

Harrold Ballard's Box

Lights that used to illuminate the rink

More from the Toronto Star

The Future – Loblaws planning to build a facility with Ryerson University that is part sports complex and part grocery store….classy.

Shitty Leafs from the Past: Andrew Raycroft

Awww. Why so sad?

Again, I’m not a mean person so I do feel bad in calling these players ‘shitty’ but if you asked 100 leaf fans, I would be really impressed if a single one thought Raycroft was worthy of wearing a howling wolf t-shirt let alone a Leafs jersey.

There’s no question that at one point Raycroft was a solid NHL goaltender. But after that one good year in Boston (he won a nice shiny trophy, 29 / 57 games and had a good save percentage) everything went downhill pretty steadily .

Check out his cat-like reflexes here when he’s caught on camera having a nap on the bench.

Do I need to continue?

Despite having the record for most wins during a regular season by a leafs goalie (37 in 72 games), Raycroft was super frustrating to watch. Some nights you got a decent goalie. Other nights, you’d be better of heating up hot pans in the oven and seeing what temperature you could handle removing them from the oven without mitts.

How about that ‘must win’ game a few years back against Montreal where J.S Aubin had to relieve him of duties and he was basically in tears on the bench? Thanks for showing up to the big game.

Best of luck Vancouver. Robert Louis (Roberto Luongo) will probably play 80 / 82 games so if you’re looking for a really expensive practice goalie, congrats. Here’s a video of him in practice taking 6 shots from the slot (because that’s a skill all goalies need) and collapsing into a coma. Amazing.

Good Hustle Discusses Bacon Wrapped, Cheddar Hot Dogs with Brian Burke. Not Even Joking.

This weekend worked out pretty well for Good Hustle in trying to get some fresh Leafs content rather than re-hashing the previous nights game or joining the debate on which Leaf rookies should make the team (ahem…Stalberg).

Instead, I kept my ear to the ground and learned that Brian Burke would be hosting a Meet n Greet at Future Shop and that there was also an online interactive webcast component to it. Props to Future Shop.

Was very cool to be watching by video stream and then have the moderator ask Burke some questions and callout Good Hustle. I knew the hot dog topic would get some traction as most people would be asking about Kadri etc. but I also was pretty skeptical that any of my questions would get used (hence the ridiculousness and trying to break through the clutter). Glad I was wrong. Here were my questions:

(All Brian Burke quotes summarized)

Q: Hi Brian, what’s the deal with your players and Twitter. Are you cool with them using it?

BB: Basically doesn’t use Twitter. Says that’s for his kids to use. Does acknowledge that it’s the wave of the future and is working with MLSE to develop a policy for the players (Leafs and Raptors) to abide by. He does admit to being addicted to his handheld device and even using it on the subway where there is no service. 

 

Q: Hi Brian, if “Dancing with the Stars” gave you the callup, would you report to camp?

BB: Not answered. Dancing and pugnacity don’t mix well. 

 

Q: Hi Brian, good hustle in revamping the Leafs <manly bum tap>. What’s your favorite hot dog at Burkie’s Hot Dog House?

BB: After a long winded answer, BB concedes that he wishes he was never a part of the Burkie’s Dog House hot dog stand at the ACC. Says other GM’s make fun of him. Finally admits that his favorite is the bacon wrapped , cheddar doggie. He concedes that this may not be a healthy choice and I’d have to agree.  

Q: Hi Brian, what’s the difference between plasma & LCD? Should I stick with a veteran brand or go no-name?

BB: Despite being at Future Shop, BB did not answer this question. I thought this was a clever tongue-in-cheek poke at how veterans and rookies might fare at Leaf camp but alas, no love. 

 

Q: Hi Brian, great game last night. Can you please comment on the rumors of inviting Wendel Clark to camp?

BB: Not answered. It was mentioned that Wendel and Ian White were at the store previously promoting NHL 10 and the Magnum P.I dvd series. Some guy in the crowd asks about Felix Potvin at one point and there is a strange awkward silence from everyone. Burke goes on to explain his respect for Potvin but holds his cards close and does not address the Clark rumors. Wise. 

 

Q: Hi Brian, Just finished watching seasons 1 – 5 of Felicity. Straight. I recommend picking them up in FS today if u have time.

BB: No answer from BB here. A little surprised that this was not acknowledged as I would’ve been curious to know whom he liked better, Noel or Ben? (Damn you Ben, stop playing with Felicity’s emotions!)

 

Q: Bacon cheddar wrap sounds good. Out west I haven’t heard much about Allison. How’s he look?

BB: Not answered and not surprised. Saying Allison has no chance in hell and is slow as shit probably wouldn’t have gone over well. 

 

Q: We hear the term “depth chart” in camp, what factors make up a persons ranking?

BB: After a long winded answer BB equated a gorgeous female singer in concert getting all the attention from the audience but said that the show can never start until the tuba player in the back takes his seat. Epic. In all seriousness, I was actually keen to hear how a player is ranked on the depth chart but I didn’t quite get the details I was looking for. I think Ian White is our tuba player though. The music just wouldn’t be the same without him. 

 

Q: Will you be involved in the team building experience up to Huntsville?

BB: Not answered. BB doesn’t go to parties because he is the party. 

 

Q; If Sundin trained all year, would u consider looking at him as a playoff booster?

BB: Not answered. I think Burke may have enough Swedes to worry about at this point although I’ll stick to my prediction that Mats will play this year for Toronto in the playoffs. You laugh now, but just wait.

Good Hustle Talks with Official Maple Leafs Blogger Mike Ulmer.

Today Good Hustle participated in a live online chat with Mike Ulmer (official Blogger for the Toronto Maple Leafs). Fasten your seatbelts, because here is a breakdown of our chat.

2:47	[Comment From Good Hustle] Think all the positive talk from Wilson about Stempniak is to drive his stock up to unload him?

2:48	Would make sense.

Aaaaaand cut.

Questions that were not answered by Mr. Ulmer today in case you were curious:

- Agree or disagree, Wendel Clark was the toughest son of a bitch to ever lace up the skates?

- Why is there no love for Ian White? He improves every year, can play forward and D, stepped up for Kaberle when he was hurt, and has a great little Wendel Clark stache? Where is the love Mike? Where the fuck is it?

- Dr. Ulmer, regarding Gustavsson, can you explain how a heart ‘ablation’ requires surgery in the groin? Does Gustavsson have a super wide urethra or what?

Komisarek Slays Staal and Eyes a Checklist for How to be Loved by Leaf Fans.

Last night when Mike Komisarek attempted to murder two Penguins at once, it brought back memories of who else, the toughest man ever to lace up skates, Wendel Clark. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though. Komisarek has a long way to go but through 13 periods of preseason hockey last night, the leafs had 13 fights. Not bad. Wendel routinely did that on his own during the late 80′s but I don’t judge.

Notice how Komisarek picks up Staal’s broken body from the ice and begins to start the meat grinder on his face? This is pretty vintage Clark stuff.

Mike Komisarek has yet to play a regular season game with the leafs but I like the cut of his jib. If you’re listening Mike, here are some things that will help you gain the respect of leaf fans.

- Purchase a 1980′s Pontiac. Maybe something like this:

- Then go hit something with it and keep driving. Make sure the front left quarter panel is mangled to shit. Never change the oil in it or attempt to wear a seatbelt.

- Always chew an extra thick toothpick.

- Power mullet, mandatory.

- Contact Bryan Adams and get him to write a hockey anthem for you.

- Head to toe denim, mandatory.

- Proceed to destroy opponents (looks like you’re on track in that department).

- Don’t bother with the handlebar moustache though. You’ll just look like a poser.