The Leafs And Free Agency: My Take

By HOWARD BERGER

TORONTO (June 30) - There is good news for the half-dozen or so fans of the Maple Leafs that approach the NHL's open market pragmatically: the hysteria endemic to these few days will hardly be noticeable next year.

If you think there are slim pickings in free agency this summer, get a load of the potential list for 2012 - headed by none other than Mr. January, himself, Alex Semin of the Washington Capitals. It's difficult to imagine teams clearing cap space and waging all-out war for the league's playoff equivalent of Sodium Pentathol (those that have experienced general anesthesia may recognize the so-called "truth serum" - an agent for inducing loss of consciousness).

If Semin isn't your cup of tea, you may get a shot at 35-year-old Shane Doan; perhaps Philadelphia defenseman Braydon Coburn, or maybe even Toronto's own Mikhail Grabovski. Also on the market could be Patrick Sharp (Chicago), Ryan Suter (Nashville) and Barret Jackman (St. Louis). You can fully expect Pekka Rinne to be swallowed up, long-term, by the Predators many weeks before the advent of free agency next summer.

This should serve - minimally - as an interlude to the multi-color dreaming that becomes epidemic in these parts during the latter half of June. Rick Nash was a sure bet to land in Toronto two years ago. Last summer, it was Ilya Kovalchuk weighing all offers against his insatiable desire to play for the Blue & White. This year, Brad Richards is undoubtedly clamoring for the hockey mania in our city. Failing that, we all know Tampa Bay will never come to terms with that bum, Steven Stamkos, and the offer sheet is already sitting in the main FAX machine at Leaf headquarters (apparently, Kevin Lowe has arranged a media conference-call for the moment after Brian Burke hits the SEND button). All that remains to be determined is whether Burke can preserve enough cap space to lure a salivating Drew Doughty away from Los Angeles.

Look, folks, in spite of my teasing, one of these years the dream is going to become reality. The Maple Leafs, as I've written several times since April, are smartly building toward a return to prominence - not only competitively; also as a preferred destination for top-level free agents. But, they aren't there yet. Even if Burke was predisposed to offering a "wonky" deal (as he put it last week in Minneapolis), Brad Richards would almost certainly find an equivalent package with a team that is closer to Stanley Cup contention; in a city in which he prefers to live, or both. Given those likely circumstances, why would Richards choose to join the Maple Leafs (because you want him to isn't good enough)?


BRAD RICHARDS MAY EYE THE LEAFS FOR A MOMENT OR TWO, BUT IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO WIND UP ELSEWHERE - WITH A TEAM CLOSER TO CONTENTION.

Of course, if there's a GM in the NHL capable of talking a thirsty man into the desert, it's Burke - so I'm not entirely ruling out the unimaginable on Friday. But, neither would I bet a plug-nickel of your money on it, let alone mine. 

My hunch is that Richards will either end up back in Tampa Bay, where his Conn Smythe Trophy performance helped the Lightning win the 2004 championship; with his Cup-winning coach, John Tortorella, in New York, or perhaps among contenders in Philadelphia or Detroit. The Sabres are also a decent bet to throw silly money at the Prince Edward Island native, but I think he'll look elsewhere for the same reason he wouldn't sign with the Leafs.

It is hardly coincidental that only one marquee name has landed here since the advent of unrestricted free agency after the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season; moreover, that lone signing was happenstance. Curtis Joseph left Edmonton and joined the Leafs in mid-July 1998 several days after his agent, Don Meehan, ran into the club's president and GM, Ken Dryden, at the Hasty Depot convenience outlet on Davenport Road - both men clamoring for ice cream on a hot, muggy night. Under the ownership of Steve Stavro, the Leafs were in frugality mode at the time and Meehan recognized an opportunity when he saw it; the agent understood a) how the club was taking a pounding in the media for its lack of activity and commitment on the open market, and b) that it required a substantial upgrade in goal (as with the team in front of him, Felix Potvin had foundered the previous two campaigns). It was the "perfect storm" for Dryden, who instructed associate GM Mike Smith to feverishly pursue Joseph.


CURTIS JOSEPH REMAINS THE LONE MARQUEE NAME TO HAVE SIGNED WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS SINCE THE ADVENT OF UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENCY IN 1995.

Otherwise, the Leafs have cornered the market on second and third-tier free agents. In the years of unrestricted movement prior to the lost season of 2004-05 - when the club often found itself in contention under Pat Quinn - it chose not to spent with the "big boys". In the post-lockout NHL, when it has elected to spend toward the cap figure, the team has been in playoff oblivion. What the rabid fans in this city need is a combination of the two: a legitimately upward-moving team that is willing to dole out whatever it takes to land a big fish on July 1. Given the Leafs performance in the final third of the 2010-11 season (and providing James Reimer is as competent as he appeared) that day is coming. It just isn't here yet.

The good news for Leaf fans is that Burke no longer has to overhaul the roster. Once Luke Schenn is re-signed as an RFA (and that will happen very soon), the club will move forward with an enviable trio of defense towers: Schenn, Dion Phaneuf and Keith Aulie. Reimer will be given every opportunity in 2011-12 to show that his excellent rookie performance was no fluke, and he'll likely be supported by a veteran figure acquired in free agency or via trade. Barring the unthinkable (Richards choosing the Leafs over multiple other offers), the club's chief deficit - a front-line centre - will have to be dealt for, and there's no guarantee it will happen before training camp in September. On the plus-side in that endeavor, Burke should have between $11 and $15 million to dangle on the trade market after his restricted free agents are signed.

Though other teams have to spent just to attain the cap floor, there is always the chance (heaven forbid) of an actual hockey trade being consummated, and that's why I still believe Burke will hotly pursue the likes of Paul Stastny (Colorado) and Stephen Weiss (Florida) to shore up the No. 1 pivot role (Stastny would fill the requirement; Weiss provide a decent upgrade). Colorado, in particular, will find that a $6.6-million No. 2 centre is hardly a worthwhile investment after Matt Duchene comes off entry-level restriction next summer, and given how other areas of the non-playoff team require attention. Avs' GM Greg Sherman may wait until then to move Stastny, but he should be listening to all offers in the meantime. If Burke comes up with something worthwhile, Sherman could bite.


IT WOULD BE NO LAUGHING MATTER IF BRIAN BURKE COULD LAND PAUL STASTNY (LEFT) IN A TRADE WITH COLORADO; HIS SEARCH FOR A FRONT-LINE CENTRE WOULD COME TO AN IMPRESSIVE END.

Beyond such a circumstance, the Leafs will again try to upgrade second and third-level needs in free agency. As mentioned the other day, look for Burke to replace one of Tim Brent, Darryl Boyce or Joey Crabb in his bottom-six forward arrangement with a bigger body such as Mike Rupp. He could also be looking at Islanders' roughneck Zenon Konopka. A decent stop-gap in the top-six brigade (depending on cost) could be lanky veteran Michal Handzus of the Kings; the 6-foot-5 centre had a mediocre 2010-11 campaign with 12 goals and 30 points but he did score 20 goals for L.A. two years ago. Another example of same is Jason Arnott - 36 years of age - but with tons of savvy and size. Burke may also be eyeing Tomas Fleischmann of the Avalanche but he'll likely have to over-pay for a forward that missed a huge chunk of last season with a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung). Fleischmann did have 31 points in 45 games after returning, but his age (27) will inflate his value on the market.

Burke will venture to add a defenseman for depth. If he wants to spend a bit more on the position, he might vie for veteran Ed Jovanovski, who would contribute even more poise and leadership to the blue-line. After trading for John-Michael Liles at the draft last week, it's unlikely Burke will pursue the top offensive rearguard still available - James Wisniewski - whose negotiating rights were traded by Montreal to Columbus. A player I kind of like in the unheralded category is Jack Hillen of the Islanders, a restricted free agent. If Hillen isn't re-signed, Burke could make a minor trade for his rights.

On the sentimental side, would Burke take a short-term run at one of his favorite all-time players - Teemu Selanne - a major contributor to his 2007 Stanley Cup team in Anaheim? Selanne is older than Moses, but he's coming off a superb season with the Ducks (31 goals, 80 points in 73 games) and has the perfect temperament and disposition for any club.

Many of these questions will be answered starting tomorrow. Have fun, as always, Leafers.


WHO WOULDN'T LOVE THIS GUY FOR A YEAR OR TWO? TEEMU SELANNE, AT 40, IS COMING OFF A SPLENDID SEASON IN ANAHEIM.

The 1993 Doug Gilmour Scrapbook

By HOWARD BERGER

TORONTO (June 29) - What a trip it's going to be at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday, November 12th. Forget, for a moment, that the Ottawa Senators are in town that night to face the Maple Leafs, which is always an emotional affair. The real emotion will occur during the pre-game ceremony the Leafs always hold on Hall of Fame Weekend. It will be a celebration bathed in blue and white as three former members of the team take their bows at centre ice: Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk and Ed Belfour. That trio, along with Mark Howe, will be inducted into the hockey hall two nights later... the announcement from the selection committee coming Tuesday afternoon to the delight of Leaf supporters.

In the end, and with no disrespect to the others, the pre-game ceremony; in fact, the entire weekend, will belong to Gilmour. Those not in attendance at the ACC will be waiting a good five minutes for the ovation to die down when No. 93 is introduced by public-address announcer Andy Frost. You don't necessarily have to be in your mid-20s or older to understand why the audience will react so warmly to Gilmour, though there is no substitute for first-hand recollection of the magical spring in these parts 18 years ago. Gilmour led a Toronto team with very modest expectation to within three minutes of the 1993 Stanley Cup final by enjoying the greatest individual season in the history of the hockey club.

His crowning moment actually occurred four years earlier, when he scored what proved to be the Cup-winning goal for Calgary in the '89 championship against the Canadiens. The Flames thus became the only visiting team to ever parade the silver mug in the hallowed Montreal Forum.

But, it was Gilmour's magnificence in a Maple Leafs uniform during the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons that truly earned him his rightful place in the hall of fame. He may well have been chosen for the hall even if he'd remained in Calgary during those peak seasons. The spotlight and reverence he earned in this crazed hockey market, however, assured his immortality as a player. Incredibly for those who recall the Gilmour era in this city, nearly two decades have passed since he established team records for assists (95) and points (127) in a season (1992-93). He fell off only slightly in '93-94 with 84 assists and 111 points.

The months of April and May in 1993 were utterly euphoric for Leaf fans. The club had missed the playoffs the two previous years but had caught fire under coach Pat Burns in the latter half  of '92-93: the acquisition of hot-shooting Dave Andreychuk from Buffalo, and his brilliant assimilation with Gilmour, providing the spark. A 26-8-4 run between Jan. 8 and Apr. 3 had the city all excited heading into the post-season. That excitement quickly went "pfffft" when the playoffs began with consecutive poundings at Joe Louis Arena and it appeared the upstart Leafs would be quick fodder for the Red Wings. But, Gilmour, Andreychuk, Wendel Clark, Mike Foligno, Felix Potvin et al clawed back to take four of the remaining five encounters and won the series, dramatically, in Game 7 at Detroit when Russian forward Nikolai Borschevsky re-directed a shot by Bob Rouse past Tim Cheveldae in overtime; Gilmour having tied the match with less than three minutes remaining in regulation.

Gilmour's epic moment as a Leaf occurred two nights later in the opener of a Conference semifinal with St. Louis at Maple Leaf Gardens. The Leafs threw everything in the arena except urinals and concession stands at Blues' goalie Curtis Joseph but could not subdue the visitors in regulation. Despite outgunning St. Louis, 64-34, it wasn't until 3:16 of the second overtime that Gilmour - appearing confused - dipsy-doodled back and forth behind the Blues' net and stuffed a backhand wrap-around past the exhausted Joseph. It remains, arguably, the most memorable goal in the post-1967 era for the Leafs, who knocked off St. Louis with a 6-0 rout in the deciding seventh game at the Gardens.


Then came the Conference final against Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings. Gilmour may have had the best 30 minutes of his career in the latter half of Game 1 at the Gardens, as the Leafs broke a 1-1 tie and breezed to a 4-1 victory. Most fans remember that game for the crunching hit Gilmour absorbed from Marty McSorley of the Kings in the third period as he cut across the L.A. blue-line. Wendel Clark interceded and engaged in a dandy scrap with McSorley. The Leafs and Kings split the first four matches and then Gretzky's former Edmonton teammate, Glenn Anderson, won the pivotal fifth game at the Gardens by swatting the puck out of mid-air and between Kelly Hrudey's pads at 19:20 of overtime.


With the Canadiens having eliminated the New York Islanders in five games to win the Eastern Conference title, the Leafs were one victory away from a Toronto-Montreal Stanley Cup final. That win could have - maybe should have - occurred in Game 6 at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. and because it didn't, the name Kerry Fraser will be historically reviled by Leaf zealots. If you're a Toronto hockey fan of any voracity, you probably don't need to be reminded of what happened in Los Angeles on May 27, 1993.


A quick refresher of what remains, all these years later, the most electrifying Leafs game I've covered: Toronto battled back from a 4-2 deficit with Clark finishing off a hat-trick in the dying moments of regulation time and Potvin on the bench for an extra attacker. It was Clark, in fact, who became that extra man - leaping off the bench and making a bee-line for the L.A. zone. Gilmour locked on him the whole way from the corner to the right of the Kings' net and fed the puck to No. 17. Clark whipped one of his laser wrist-shots past a helpless Hrudey, engendering what I have often described as the most unique sound I've ever heard in a hockey arena: more than 16,000 people sucking air and settling back into their seats as one. The only noise at that moment in the Forum was the visitors screaming like wild banshees as they pored off the bench to mob Clark.


Sadly for the Leafs, both Fraser and Glenn Anderson snuffed out their momentum. First, it was Anderson taking a ridiculous boarding penalty in the final minute of regulation, running defenseman Rob Blake into the end-glass from behind. The ensuing Los Angeles powerplay carried into overtime and Gretzky - accidentally, though without question - nicked Gilmour with the follow-through of a shot from inside the point. Gilmour fell to the ice, then regained his feet and snarled at Fraser while wiping blood from the gash beneath his chin. Fraser, to this day, claims he never actually saw the Gretzky follow-through, though he seemed to harbor some regret, on reflection, in his excellent book The Final Call published last year. Instead of being banished from the game (and possibly the season), Gretzky - as per his usual timing - flipped a rebound over Potvin with Anderson still in the penalty box, setting up a deciding Game 7 at the Gardens.


The Great One then enjoyed what he still calls his best-ever playoff performance (quite a claim given his prior heroics in Edmonton), scoring three goals in the Kings 5-4 victory two nights later.


But, it was Gilmour who carried the Leafs through that improbable spring, with 10 goals and 25 assists in the 21 playoff matches: his 35 points still easily a club standard. For a trip through time, please enjoy these images from the Berger scrapbook collection, as I look back at the remarkable two months that cemented Gilmour's place in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

AMONG THE GREAT MOMENTS FOR THE MAPLE LEAFS IN THE PLAYOFF DRIVE OF '93 WAS AN OVERTIME GOAL BY MIKE FOLIGNO THAT WON THE PIVOTAL FIFTH GAME OF THE OPENING ROUND IN DETROIT, BREAKING A 2-2 SERIES DRAW. THE FRONT COVER OF THE TORONTO SUN (ABOVE) ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE EMOTION OF BOTH TEAMS AFTER FOLIGNO'S SHOT FROM 30 FEET CLEANLY FOOLED GOALIE TIM CHEVELDAE.

MIKE FOLIGNO (LEFT) IS ABOUT TO BE HUGGED BY AN EXULTANT WENDEL CLARK AFTER SCORING THE OVERTIME WINNER IN GAME 5 AT DETROIT, APR. 27, 1993. THIS WAS FRONT OF THE TORONTO SUN SPORTS SECTION: GAME STORY BY DAVE FULLER.

FRONT PAGE OF THE TORONTO STAR SPORTS SECTION (ABOVE) SHOWS (CLOCKWISE) DOUG GILMOUR, DAVE ELLETT, DAVE ANDREYCHUK, TODD GILL AND GLENN ANDERSON CELEBRATING A GAME 5 GOAL AGAINST THE RED WINGS, WITH ACCOMPANYING STORY BY DAMIEN COX.

ROSIE DiMANNO'S FRONT-PAGE STORY (ABOVE) IN THE SUNDAY TORONTO STAR (MAY 2, 1993) SITS BENEATH AN EXCITABLE HEADLINE AND NEXT TO A PHOTO OF THE JUBILANT MAPLE LEAFS CELEBRATING NIKOLAI BORSCHEVSKY'S SERIES-WINNING OVERTIME GOAL IN GAME 7 OF FIRST PLAYOFF ROUND AT JOE LOUIS ARENA.

GLENN ANDERSON (LEFT) AND DOUG GILMOUR ARE ABOUT TO EMBRACE ON FRONT SPORTS-PAGE OF TORONTO STAR THE MORNING AFTER THE UPSET WIN AT DETROIT.

 

FRONT COVER OF SUNDAY TORONTO SUN (MAY 2, 1993) HAS PHOTO OF GLENN ANDERSON'S OPENING GOAL IN GAME 7 AT 7:25 OF THE FIRST PERIOD, A WRIST-SHOT THAT CLEANLY BEAT TIM CHEVELDAE.

TWO NIGHTS AFTER BORSCHEVSKY'S BIG GOAL IN DETROIT CAME GILMOUR'S CROWNING MOMENT AS A LEAF: HIS DIPSY-DOODLE BACKHAND WRAP-AROUND IN THE SECOND OVERTIME PERIOD THAT WON THE OPENER OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL AGAINST ST. LOUIS AT THE GARDENS. THE STORY (ABOVE) BY ROSIE DiMANNO AND PHOTO APPEARED ON THE FRONT OF THE TORONTO STAR THE NEXT MORNING, MAY 4, 1993.

FRONT SPORTS PAGE OF THE STAR (ABOVE) SHOWS GILMOUR BEING HUGGED BY TODD GILL AND FANS CELEBRATING HIS UNORTHODOX GOAL AGAINST CURTIS JOSEPH.

THE SCORING AND STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF GAME 1 VS. ST. LOUIS (ABOVE) SHOWS THE GILMOUR OVERTIME GOAL AND JUST HOW BUSY CUJO WAS THAT NIGHT.

"KILLER" HAD THE WAVE DOO BACK IN THE SPRING OF '93 (ABOVE) AND THE HOCKEY FANS OF THIS CITY ABSOLUTELY ADORED HIM.

FRONT SPORTS PAGE OF THE TORONTO STAR (ABOVE) ON MAY 24, 1993 DESCRIBES AND ILLUSTRATES HOW THE LEAFS BEAT THE KINGS, 4-2, A DAY EARLIER IN GAME 4 OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL AT THE FORUM IN INGLEWOOD, CALIF. - TORONTO DEADLOCKING THE SERIES AT 2-2. PHOTO SHOWS WENDEL CLARK PESTERING KINGS' GOALTENDER KELLY HRUDEY.

GILMOUR LOOKS ON (ABOVE) AS GLENN ANDERSON HUGS FELIX POTVIN SECONDS AFTER SCORING THE OVERTIME WINNER AGAINST LOS ANGELES IN GAME 5 AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS, MAY 25, 1993 (FRONT PAGE OF TORONTO STAR SPORTS). ANDERSON BATTED THE PUCK OUT OF MID-AIR AT 19:20 OF THE FIRST EXTRA FRAME TO PUT THE LEAFS WITHIN A VICTORY OF ADVANCING TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL.

HEADLINE WRITER IN SPORTS DEPARTMENT OF THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS (ABOVE) WASN'T PARTICULARLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THE KINGS WOULD REBOUND FROM LOSING GAME 5 AT THE GARDENS. IN PHOTO, WARREN RYCHEL OF L.A. COLLIDES WITH JAMIE MACOUN OF THE LEAFS. RYCHEL WOULD PLAY FOR THE LEAFS IN THE LOCKOUT-SHORTENED 1994-95 SEASON THEN LATER BE GM OF THE WINDSOR SPITFIRES BACK-TO-BACK MEMORIAL CUP TEAMS IN 2009 and 2010.

THIS WAS QUITE THE DELICIOUS HEADLINE FOR LEAF FANS ON MAY 27, 1993 - FRONT SPORTS PAGE OF TORONTO STAR (ABOVE) PRIOR TO GAME 6 OF THE LEAFS-KINGS SERIES SHOWING GILMOUR (LEFT) AND A SMILING GRETZKY (MAYBE THE GREAT ONE HAD A PREMONITION). ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN: AT NO OTHER TIME SINCE 1967 HAS A LOCAL NEWSPAPER BEEN ABLE TO PRINT SUCH A HEADLINE.

FRONT SPORTS PAGE OF THE TORONTO STAR ON MAY 28, 1993 (ABOVE) SHOWS WAYNE GRETZKY CELEBRATING HIS OVERTIME GOAL THE PREVIOUS NIGHT AT THE FORUM - IN THE SO-CALLED KERRY FRASER GAME. THE VETERAN REFEREE MAY HAVE MISSED GRETZKY'S HIGH-STICK ON GILMOUR IN OVERTIME, BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THE LEAFS WOULD HAVE WON THE MATCH EVEN IF THE GREAT ONE HAD BEEN BANISHED (CLEARLY, SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE SCORED THE WINNING GOAL), AND FRASER HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH GRETZKY'S VIRTUOSO PERFORMANCE IN THE DECIDING GAME TWO NIGHTS LATER.

VETERAN TORONTO STAR COLUMNIST JIM PROUDFOOT (ABOVE) SENSED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN LATER THAT SATURDAY NIGHT IN GAME 7 OF THE LEAFS-KINGS CONFERENCE FINAL AT THE GARDENS, MAY 29, 1993. PAT CONACHER AND GRETZKY SCORED LATE GOALS TO BREAK A 3-3 TIE BEFORE DAVE ELLETT BROUGHT THE LEAFS BACK TO WITHIN ONE, BUT LOS ANGELES PREVAILED, 5-4, TO ADVANCE AGAINST MONTREAL IN THE STANLEY CUP FINAL. PHOTO ABOVE SHOWS WENDEL CLARK EXULTING AFTER HIS GAME-TYING GOAL (WHICH COMPLETED A HAT-TRICK) IN L.A. TWO NIGHTS EARLIER.

MAGAZINE STORY (ABOVE) JUST PRIOR TO THE 1992-93 SEASON ACCURATELY FORESHADOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE DOUG GILMOUR-LED MAPLE LEAFS. THE "KILLER" IS SEEN JAWING WITH OPPONENT LATE IN HIS FIRST SEASON WITH THE BLUE & WHITE, 1991-92.

 

PRIOR TO THE 1993-94 SEASON - COMING OFF HIS MONSTER 32-GOAL, 95-ASSIST PERFORMANCE WITH THE LEAFS - GILMOUR IS RATED THE NO. 3 PLAYER IN THE NHL (ABOVE) BY THE HOCKEY NEWS (BEHIND MARIO LEMIEUX AND ERIC LINDROS). GRETZKY, DESPITE HIS MAGICAL PLAYOFF EFFORT THE PREVIOUS SPRING, RANKED 8th AFTER AN INJURY-PLAGUED '92-93 REGULAR SEASON.

IN GILMOUR'S FIRST HALF-SEASON WITH THE LEAFS (HE WAS ACQUIRED FROM CALGARY AS PART OF A RECORD 10-PLAYER DEAL ON JAN. 2, 1992), THE CLUB STILL WORE THE UNIFORM IT DEBUTED IN 1970-71 (ABOVE). THE PATCH ON GILMOUR'S JERSEY COMMEMORATES THE 75th ANNIVERSARY SEASON OF THE NHL IN '91-92. LEAFS WOULD SWITCH TO THEIR CURRENT DESIGN IN '92-93.

ONLY 48 GAMES WOULD BE PLAYED BY EACH CLUB DURING THE 1994-95 NHL SEASON, AS AN OWNERS' LOCKOUT DELAYED THE SCHEDULE UNTIL THE THIRD WEEK OF JANUARY. BUT, THE PREVIEW MAGAZINES KNEW WHO TO FEATURE ON THE COVER IN THESE PARTS (ABOVE).

FRONT COVER OF THE MAPLE LEAFS MEDIA GUIDES (ABOVE) IN 1992-93 AND 1993-94, THE SEASONS DOUG GILMOUR COMBINED FOR 59 GOALS AND 238 POINTS IN THE REGULAR SEASON; 16 GOALS AND 63 POINTS IN 39 PLAYOFF GAMES. I'D SAY THE MAN IS A HALL OF FAMER.

Mike Rupp on Leafs Radar

By HOWARD BERGER

TORONTO (June 28) - He isn't the big name fans of the Maple Leafs are salivating over in free agency, but he is big in every other way.

Veteran centre/left-winger Mike Rupp of the Pittsburgh Penguins is a player the Leafs are reportedly interested in to fill out the bottom-six grouping in general manager Brian Burke's forward alignment. Forever on the hunt for large bodies, Burke won't find one much bigger in the NHL than Rupp, who is a strapping 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. The 30-year-old native of Cleveland has missed only one game per season the past two years in Pittsburgh while scoring 22 goals and accumulating 244 penalty minutes.

BIG MIKE RUPP OF THE PENGUINS FENDS OFF TEEMU SELANNE OF ANAHEIM IN THIS PHOTO FROM PITTSBURGH. THE LEAFS COULD SIGN RUPP AS A FREE AGENT.

Rupp is among the few NHLers that has twice gone through the draft. A decent scorer in junior with the Onatrio Hockey League Erie Otters, he was selected ninth overall by the New York Islanders in 1998, but did not sign with the team. He was available again as a 20-year-old in 2000 and New Jersey picked him 76th overall. He helped the Devils win the 2003 Stanley Cup, scoring the final goal in a 3-0 Game 7 victory over Anaheim at Continental Airlines Arena.

After brief stops in Phoenix and Columbus, Rupp found himself back with the Devils for three seasons beginning in 2006-07. He signed as a free agent with Pittsburgh (two years, $1.65-million) on July 1, 2009.

Rupp plays with an underlying heart condition known as Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome - an arrhythmia similar in nature to that which affects Leafs' goalie Jonas Gustavsson. The condition was diagnosed in 1998 and has been kept well under control.

Leafs 2011-12 Schedule Rather Insane

By HOWARD BERGER

TORONTO (June 26) - Brian Burke is famous for a number of things, but silence isn't among them. That's why the general manager of the Maple Leafs drew a collective chuckle from reporters in Minneapolis the other day when he offered a decidedly anti-Burke response to his feelings about the Leafs' schedule for next season. "Ah, the schedule's fine," Burke said, followed by an eye-rolling grin that spoke volumes. "There are people at the league who watch these telecasts... so, the schedule's fine."


LEAFS GM BRIAN BURKE GOT A CHUCKLE FROM REPORTERS IN THIS SCRUM AT MINNEAPOLIS WHEN HE PRETENDED TO HE HAPPY WITH THE CLUB'S 2011-12 SCHEDULE

As one that isn't subjected to the NHL's disciplinary arm - financially, anyway - perhaps I can speak on behalf of the Maple Leafs' boss: the club's 2011-12 schedule is a friggin' disaster. That said, it is neither appropriate nor justifiable to solely pound away at the league for the outcome. All teams are asked by the NHL to submit date preferences long before the final calendar is released. These preferences, of course, are hugely impacted by multi-use facilities (a number of arenas - Air Canada Centre among them - are home to NHL and NBA teams along with multiple varieties of entertainment) as well as coast-to-coast travel. Back in the day - when the league was comprised of six and 12 teams - the schedule was the domain of an individual who had a giant grid in front of him and moved around pieces like one does on a chess board. This hapless soul, as you might imagine, absorbed incalculable abuse from the league's owners and managers each year. Today, with 30 teams, the schedule is well beyond the capacity of a human being; the variables are fed into a computer which spits out the final version in late-June.

After a busy few days in Minnesota, I finally got a chance to take a detailed look at the Leafs' sked upon arriving home last night. Having had copious, first-hand experience with the club's travel pattern since 1994, I'm in a fairly good position to offer a comparative viewpoint. This one is bizarre, as evidenced at the very top. For example, the 2011-12 NHL season opens Thu. Oct. 6. The Leafs do not play a road game until Thu. Oct. 20. That alone isn't terribly unusual; many U.S. teams in popular football markets (Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Miami) prefer to avoid a bulk of home games during the teeth of the NFL schedule in October and November (of course, we have no guarantee, at this point, of any games being played in the NFL this season). The Leafs have no-such concern and are often accorded a home-heavy slate in the early weeks. Never once, however, in the history of the hockey club, dating to 1926, has it begun a season with five consecutive games on home-ice, as it will this October (the Leafs opened with four matches at home in 1941-42, 1942-43, 1996-97 and 2000-01).


EVEN IN THEIR STANLEY CUP DYNASTY OF THE 1960s, THE MAPLE LEAFS NEVER BEGAN A NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE SEASON WITH FIVE CONSECUTIVE HOME GAMES, AS THEY DO THIS OCTOBER

If that isn't strange enough, how about the one-week hiatus between Games 2 and 3 on the schedule? That's right, the Leafs host Ottawa on the first Saturday of the season (Oct. 8), and then don't play again until Calgary comes to town seven nights later. The first road trip is also kind of wacky, given the Leafs have to hop between countries four separate times. Almost never in the years I've covered the team, home and away, has it crossed the border and back on the same trip. Yet, the Leafs begin their road schedule this season at Boston (Oct. 20); come back to play at Montreal (Oct. 22), then go to Philadelphia (Oct. 24) and New York (Oct. 27).

The same thing happens as part of a season-long five-game road trip, Mar. 11-19. Leafs play at Washington (Mar. 11), Florida (Mar. 13) and Tampa (Mar. 15), then fly all the way up to Ottawa for a Saturday-night game (Mar. 17). Before returning home, however, they go to Boston on Mar. 19. 

During their years in the Eastern Conference (since 1998-99), the Leafs have almost always played at St. Louis or Nashville as part of a multi-game road trip. This season, they go to each city separately - one week apart (Nov. 10 at the Blues; Nov. 17 at the Predators).



LEAFS VISIT CENTRAL TIME-ZONE CITIES ST. LOUIS (TOP) AND NASHVILLE (BOTTOM) ON THURSDAY NIGHTS, ONE WEEK APART, IN NOVEMBER



Back in the '60s and '70s, it was common for the Leafs to play at home on Saturday night and on the road Sunday night. Nowadays, it is almost unheard of. This season, the Leafs do it three times, including twice in that silly rotation of a 7 p.m. start Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday (Washington at home Nov. 19, then at Carolina 22 hours later; Philadelphia at home Mar. 10, then at Washington 5 p.m. on Mar. 11). The first-such instance is more conventional: Leafs host Pittsburgh on Sat. Oct. 29 then play at Ottawa on Sunday at 7:30.

The relatively-late transfer of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg has also played havoc with the Leafs schedule, as the two games originally slated for Philips Arena have simply been re-located to Manitoba - geography and long travel be damned. A logical three-game trip after Christmas had the Leafs going to  Florida (Dec. 27), Carolina (Dec. 29) and Atlanta (Dec. 31). Now, the club will travel from Raleigh to Winnipeg for its New Year's Eve game. The second visit to the Jets (Feb. 7) occurs one night after a home game against Edmonton (consecutive-night encounters are almost never scheduled between cities requiring a two-and-a-half hour flight). Leafs then fly from Winnipeg all the way back to Philadelphia to conclude that two-game-jaunt on Feb. 9.

When the Leafs have played in the state of Florida, they've almost always visited Sunrise and Tampa on the same trip. Of course, that isn't the case in 2011-12. The club will play at Tampa in late-November as part of a long, four-game trek that begins with that 5 p.m. match in Carolina, 22 hours after hosting the Capitals. From Raleigh (Nov. 20), the Leafs go to Tampa (Nov. 22), Dallas (Nov. 25) and Anaheim (Nov. 27). The latter two games are on Friday and Sunday nights, marking the first of two occasions in a three-week span that the club will not be traditionally seen on Saturday night. It happens again when the Leafs visit Washington (Fri. Dec. 9), then do not play until Dec. 13 (home to Carolina).



LEAFS PLAY AT THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER IN DALLAS (TOP) ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25 AND THE HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM (BOTTOM) ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, MARKING THE FIRST OF TWO OCCASIONS THE CLUB WILL NOT BE SEEN ON ITS TRADITIONAL SATURDAY NIGHT



Consecutive-night games in different cities are the scourge of the schedule and they impact all teams. The Leafs are involved in a phenomenal 17-such occasions next season, including the pair of 7 p.m./5 p.m. starts. As well, Toronto begins its annual journey through western-Canada with Tuesday/Wednesday-night games in Calgary and Edmonton (Feb. 14/15) before a Saturday late-afternoon visit to Vancouver (4 p.m. local, 7 p.m. in the East). Leafs host Carolina on Tue. Feb. 28 and then make a leap-year visit to Chicago the following night (Feb. 29).

All in all, it's enough to quiet someone as verbose as Brian Burke.

Photo Diary of 2011 NHL Draft

By HOWARD BERGER

ST. PAUL, Minn. (June 25) - The opening round of the 2011 National Hockey League draft was a bit less eventful than observers predicted. "I thought there would be more trades," admitted Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, who pulled off a couple of deals. "There was a heck of a lot of chatter leading up to tonight, but not much happened."


Indeed, there were only four moves involving established players. Burke kicked things off by acquiring defenseman John-Michael Liles from Colorado for a second-round pick in next year's NHL draft. The biggest trade of the night involved the host Minnesota Wild and the San Jose Sharks: Minnesota sending all-star defenseman Brent Burns to northern California for winger Devin Setoguchi, who scored 31 goals for the Sharks in 2008-09. Word came shortly after the proceedings that defenseman Robyn Regehr had agreed to waive his no-movement clause in Calgary for a trade to Buffalo that will send he and Ales Kotalik to the Sabres for defenseman Chris Butler. Another veteran rearguard - Brian Campbell - will help Florida reach the salary cap minimum with his gargantuan contract... he goes from Chicago to the Panthers for fellow blue-liner Rostislav Olesz.


The Leafs pulled off one other deal - trading the 30th and 39th picks in the draft to Anaheim to move up three spots and select (at No. 22) U.S. under-18 forward Tyler Biggs, a rugged sort that Burke prefers. Leafs then drafted St. Mike's defenseman Stuart Percy 25th overall.


TYLER BIGGS PULLS ON MAPLE LEAFS JERSEY NEXT TO GM BRIAN BURKE AFTER BEING CHOSEN 22nd OVERALL IN 2011 NHL ENTRY DRAFT; BIGGS IS TYPE OF RUGGED FORWARD BURKE FAVORS.

TYLER BIGGS POSES WITH LEAFS' GM BRIAN BURKE (LEFT) AND SCOUTING DIRECTOR DAVE MORRISON ON DRAFT PODIUM AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER HERE IN ST. PAUL MN.

Attending the NHL draft is always enjoyable; it's the only event that gathers every prominent face and name in the hockey world in the same arena. The photos below were taken by yours truly on Friday night. I hope you enjoy this visual review:

THE SCENE TWO HOURS BEFORE THE DRAFT OUTSIDE THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER, HOME OF THE MINNESOTA WILD. I'VE COVERED TWO LEAFS-WILD GAMES AND THE 2004 NHL ALL-STAR GAME HERE; TO ME, IT'S THE BEST ARENA IN THE LEAGUE.

WELCOMING SIGNS ARE POSTED ALL THROUGH DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL FOR THE NHL DRAFT, INCLUDING ABOVE THE ARENA SIDEWALK; XCEL ENERGY CENTER IS BUILT ON SAME SITE AS THE OLD ST. PAUL CIVIC CENTER, HOME OF THE WHA'S MINNESOTA FIGHTING SAINTS IN THE 1970s.

THE ARENA WASN'T FILLED TO CAPACITY FOR OPENING ROUND OF THE DRAFT, AS MANY GOOD SEATS WERE UNOCCUPIED; BUT, THOSE WHO SHOWED UP SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, PARTICULARLY A ROWDY GROUP FROM WINNIPEG THAT FILLED AN ENTIRE SECTION OF THE UPPER DECK, TO THE LEFT OF THE DRAFT PODIUM... THE 'PEGGERS MADE NOISE ALL NIGHT LONG.

THE DRAFT FLOOR FEATURES 30 TEAM TABLES, AND A PODIUM ON WHICH FIRST-ROUND SELECTIONS POSE WITH CLUB OFFICIALS. THE OPENING ROUND TAKES MORE THAN THREE HOURS TO COMPLETE. ROUNDS 2 THROUGH 10 ON SATURDAY WILL BE DONE IN LESS TIME.

IN THE MEDIA INTERVIEW AREA, FIRST OVERALL PICK RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS OF THE EDMONTON OILERS PREPARES TO SPEAK WITH ROGERS SPORTSNET REPORTER TONY AMBROGGIO.

SECOND PICK IN THE DRAFT, SWEDISH FORWARD GABRIEL LANDESKOG OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE, TAKES PART IN AN INTERVIEW WITH NHL RADIO.

THIS MAN OBVIOUSLY HAS REASON TO SMILE: CLAUDE JULIEN, COACH OF THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPION BOSTON BRUINS, CHATS WITH REPORTER AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER.

A COUPLE OF OLD NHL PLAYING RIVALS FROM THE 1970s CATCH UP: EX-MINNESOTA NORTH STARS FORWARD LOU NANNE (LEFT) INTERVIEWS FLORIDA PANTHERS GM DALE TALLON, WHO PLAYED FOR THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS AND CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS.

THE NHL'S NEWEST OWNER - MARK CHIPMAN OF THE WINNIPEG JETS - IS INTERVIEWED AFTER CONFIRMING THAT THE FORMER ATLANTA THRASHERS WILL MAINTAIN THE LONG-TIME HOCKEY MONIKER IN WINNIPEG, WHICH DATES TO 1972 AND THE WHA. 

THIS IS THE WELL-WORN PATH BETWEEN THE MEDIA RISER ON THE DRAFT FLOOR AND THE INTERVIEW AREA AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER. THE HOST WILD DID A TERRIFIC JOB, AS PER USUAL.

BIG FORWARD SEAN COUTURIER WAS PROJECTED AT ONE TIME AS THE BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE IN THE DRAFT, BUT HE DROPPED TO NO. 8 OVERALL AND WAS SELECTED BY PHILADELPHIA; HERE, COUTURIER IS INTERVIEWED BY FRENCH RADIO IN MONTREAL.

SAN JOSE GM DOUG WILSON TALKS WITH REPORTERS AFTER ACQUIRING ALL-STAR DEFENSEMAN BRENT BURNS FROM THE MINNESOTA WILD FOR WINGER DEVIN SETOGUCHI; IT WAS THE BIGGEST TRADE ON AN OTHERWISE QUIET NIGHT OF ACTIVITY.

MAPLE LEAFS FIRST DRAFT CHOICE TYLER BIGGS IS ALL SMILES AS HE MEETS WITH REPORTERS IN INTERVIEW AREA; GM BRIAN BURKE TRADED WITH ANAHEIM TO MOVE UP THREE SPOTS AND TAKE  THE RUGGED AMERICAN FORWARD 22nd OVERALL.

TORONTO'S SECOND DRAFT PICK - DEFENSEMAN STUART PERCY OF THE MISSISSAUGA ST. MICHAEL'S MAJORS - IS INTERVIEWED BY PAUL HENDRICK OF LEAFS TV AFTER BEING CHOSEN 25th OVERALL.

LOCAL MEDIA MADE A BIG FUSS OVER THE MINNESOTA WILD DRAFT PICKS; HERE, ZACK PHILLIPS OF THE ST. JOHN SEA DOGS IS FOLLOWED BY CAMERAS AND MICROPHONES WHILE DOING AN INTERVIEW WITH NHL RADIO.

LEAFS GM BRIAN BURKE HAD A COMPARATIVELY BUSY DAY, ACQUIRING JOHN-MICHAEL LILES FROM COLORADO AND TRADING WITH HIS FORMER TEAM IN ANAHEIM SO HE COULD MOVE UP THREE SPOTS AND DRAFT TYLER BIGGS 22nd OVERALL; HERE, BURKE CHATS AFTER THE OPENING ROUND WITH ROB LONGLEY OF THE TORONTO SUN.

THE FIRST ROUND COMPLETED AFTER MORE THAN THREE HOURS OF ACTIVITY, TEAM TABLES ARE VACATED ON DRAFT FLOOR.