NEWS OF MAPLE LEAFS
Last Update: Saturday August 29, 1998 10:48AM EST
Saturday August 29, 1998 Panthers ponder 2-for-2
As a kid growing up in the outskirts of Montreal, Felix Potvin idolized New York Islanders goalie Billy Smith.
By this time next week, Potvin and Smith could be working for the same team -- the Florida Panthers.
The Toronto Sun has learned that the Leafs have offered Potvin to the Panthers plus their pick of one of five players for centre Rob Niedermayer and defenceman Rhett Warrener.
The list of five available Leafs presumably includes Todd Warriner, Steve Sullivan, Derek King, Kris King and Darby Hendrickson.
It is known that Alyn McCauley, Sergei Berezin and Igor Korolev were not part of the bait.
The Panthers brains trust held a conference call Thursday night to discuss the potential blockbuster. However, a decision isn't expected until after the weekend.
Smith, who backstopped the Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cups in the early '80s recently was promoted to the position of full-time assistant coach with the Panthers.
Potvin, who became expendable when Toronto signed Curtis Joseph, likely would welcome a chance to play under Smith.
Niedermayer, 24, is a 6-foot-3 centre with unlimited potential. However, he has missed 71 games during the past two years because of knee and head injuries. He appeared in only 33 games last year after suffering several concussions. He finished with eight goals and 15 points.
Warrener, 22, was a key contributor when the surprising Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup final against Colorado two years ago.
But the 6-foot-1 defenceman was a major disappointment last season, gaining a meagre four assists in 79 games.
The Vancouver Canucks and New York Islanders are also trying to piece together deals for Potvin while the Montreal Canadiens might enter the bidding at the 11th hour.
The Leafs hope to move Potvin before they open training camp Sept. 12 in Hamilton.
Friday August 28, 1998 Leafs have central need: POTVIN COULD BRING HELP UP FRONT
A Felix Potvin parting gift to the Maple Leafs could be the No. 2 centre they've been craving since Doug Gilmour disappeared into a New Jersey swamp 19 months ago.
Toronto associate general manager Mike Smith said yesterday that of the seven teams that inquired about his goaltender, three have entered serious negotiations. Two of those teams -- the Florida Panthers and the New York Islanders -- may be willing to part with a quality offensive centre in exchange for Potvin.
The other serious bidder, the Vancouver Canucks, would have to entice a third team into the negotiations to satisfy Toronto's greatest need.
"That was clear last year, that we needed another centre," Smith said. "There are some teams that don't have one (available). But our most central need is a second centre so we can get a little more offence."
Smith said discussions have heated up and he hoped to have a deal for Potvin before the Leafs open training camp Sept. 12 in Hamilton.
"We would prefer to have a trade done before camp. But having said that, we're still waiting for the right deal," Smith said.
TRADE TALKS
Trade talks with the Panthers have focused on 24-year-old centre Rob Niedermayer, who has missed 71 games in the past two seasons with knee and concussion problems. But the Leafs might be forced to add a player to the mix to convince the Panthers to part with him.
The Panthers would rather swap defenceman Rhett Warrener for Potvin, which would address another Leafs need, but not the big one.
"Playing centre is a special job," Leafs coach Pat Quinn said.
"The centre is the key to your offence and your defence. If your centres are not strong, teams tend to play the trap against you."
The Islanders, who can't be thrilled with starting the season with a goaltending tandem of Tommy Salo and Wade Flaherty, would have no difficulty moving centre Bryan Smolinski to Toronto, but the Leafs would want a defenceman or draft pick, too. Islanders defencemen Bryan Berard or Kenny Jonsson could become involved if the deal is expanded.
If the Leafs don't acquire a No. 2 centre, Quinn said he would give Alyn McCauley, Darby Hendrickson or Igor Korolev a chance to challenge for the position.
The Leafs plan to take 50-54 players to their main camp including a handful of graduates from their rookie camp, which opens Sept. 8 in Kitchener.
While Smith said the club has removed itself from the free agent market the Leafs intend to offer tryouts to a couple of out-of-work veteran players.
Korolev accepted a similar invitation last September and wound up making the team.
Thursday August 27, 1998 Potvin trade finally in sight?
Shunned Maple Leafs goalie Felix Potvin could have a new address as early as next week.
Florida Panthers general manager Bryan Murray and his Vancouver Canucks counterpart Brian Burke are both trying to land Potvin, who became expendable after Toronto signed free-agent Curtis Joseph in July.
An auction is brewing for Potvin's services, as the Montreal Canadiens also may enter a bid, although their needs aren't as urgent.
Murray yesterday said he would know in a week if he had a deal with the Leafs. The Panthers apparently are willing to move Rhett Warrener, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound defenceman who foundered last year after two decent seasons in Florida.
But 6-foot-2 centre Rob Niedermayer may interest the Leafs more than the 22-year-old Warrener.
Toronto desperately needs a second-line centre to ease Mats Sundin's workload and Niedermayer, 24, would seem a perfect fit.
But he also is injury-prone, having missed 71 games during the past two seasons with knee and concussion problems.
"Sometimes you have to pay a price to improve your team," said Murray, who was forced to focus on Potvin after failing to work out a deal for Chicago starter Jeff Hackett.
The Blackhawks decided to keep Hackett and traded his backup, Chris Terreri, to New Jersey for a draft pick.
If Florida can't make a deal with Toronto, Murray will consider signing free-agent Sean Burke, who last year bounced from Carolina to Vancouver to Philadelphia.
Burke's agent, Mike Liut, admitted his client is waiting for the Potvin situation to sort itself out.
"Sean has been down this (waiting) road before (Burke sat out the 1991-92 season)," Liut said. "It's something you don't want to do, but sometimes you have to."
Liut said concerns about Burke's health were unfounded. Burke, 31, missed a handful of games with back spasms.
"There has been a certain slandering of Sean in various reports this year," Liut said. "We've had him checked out by top orthopedic surgeons and there's not a problem. Everybody experiences some wear and tear in their career. Even Felix has had some wear and tear."
While the Panthers already have two goalies under contract -- Kirk McLean, 32, and Kevin Weekes, 23 -- the Canucks have only Garth Snow, who was a dubious 3-6-0 after being acquired from Philadelphia in a deal for Burke.
Vancouver has little interest in re-signing its own free agent, Arturs Irbe, who was 14-11-6 last season.
"We're not negotiating with (Irbe)," Brian Burke said. "But we told him if nothing else comes up to get back to us."
Burke spoke Monday with Leafs coach Pat Quinn and will be in touch with associate general manager Mike Smith later this week.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens aren't really shopping for a goalie, but there is concern Jocelyn Thibault and Jose Theodore might not be able to handle the duties by themselves.
Burke, who played for Montreal assistant coach Dave King in Olympic and world tournaments, eventually could end up there.
Thursday August 27, 1998 Gartner quits but he Leafs the door open
The National Hockey League has lost a great player -- or maybe not.
Although Mike Gartner, one of the most prolific goal-scorers in history, announced his retirement yesterday, he didn't completely rule out a comeback should the Maple Leafs become interested again.
"I know you should never say never but in my mind I don't think that would ever happen," said Gartner, whose agent, Rick Curran, checked out the Leafs' interest this summer.
But Gartner, who is raising his family in Toronto, told Curran not to press the issue.
Gartner, 38, last season became just the fifth player in league history to score 700 goals. He's the only player to score 30 goals in 15 consecutive seasons.
Ironically, the streak came to an end in 1995 as a result of an NHL lockout which saw the season shortened to 48 games. Gartner was the president of the players' union at the time.
Wednesday August 26, 1998 Suhonen named Leafs' assistant
Finnish coach Alpo Suhonen has been added to the Toronto Maple Leafs' staff as an assistant, along with Rick Ley, to Pat Quinn.
Suhonen, 50, coached HPK Hameenlinna in Finland's elite league last winter. He coached the IHL's Chicago Wolves in 1996-97.
Suhonen also coached the Finnish national team (1982-86), the AHL club in Moncton (1989), and was an assistant with the NHL's Winnipeg Jets in 1989-90 and during the 1992-93 season.
Wednesday August 26, 1998 Better trade offers starting to stir the Pot
Trade offers for Felix Potvin are apparently improving. But general manager Mike Smith wants to make the right deal.
"We're trying to help the team now and help the team later," Smith told the Toronto Star. "That rules out an older, proven guy who can only play for a year or two. We're looking for a guy 25 and under who we know we can have as a player for at least four or five years."
The Leafs are rumored to be interested in defensemen Bryan Berard of the Islanders or Rhett Warrener of Florida.
Wednesday August 26, 1998 Ducks in flap with Leafs
The Maple Leafs are still waiting for the NHL to decide whether they must pay the Mighty Ducks for signing scout Thommie Bergman, after a hearing was held in New York.
Anaheim claims that Toronto tampered with Bergman by initiating contract talks before his contract expired on June 30.
Wednesday August 26, 1998 Canucks eye Potvin trade
The Vancouver Canucks' pursuit of Maple Leafs goaltender Felix Potvin could heat up again.
But disgruntled Canucks winger Pavel Bure will not be part of any deal with Toronto.
Canucks general manager Brian Burke yesterday said he planned to speak to the Leafs again about Potvin after failing to lure 38-year-old Andy Moog out of retirement.
Moog, who was 18-17-5 with the Montreal Canadiens last season, retired in June despite having a year left on his contract.
"Andy played pretty well last year and being a B.C. boy we thought he might be interested," Burke said. "We got permission from Montreal to talk to him and we had some discussions about him playing another year but he said he wasn't interested."
Burke, who played golf with Leafs coach Pat Quinn on Monday, refused to discuss with the media Potvin's situation.
Burke did say the Leafs have no interest in Bure.
Quinn concurred, telling the Vancouver Province: "Pavel Bure's an awesome talent. He's a one of a kind but he's not what we're looking for necessarily. His position (right wing) isn't the position we need help in."
The Leafs' right wingers include Mike Johnson, Fred Modin, Tie Domi and Lonny Bohonos, a group which contributed a total of 38 goals last season.
Bure scored 51 in 82 games with Vancouver.
Tuesday August 25, 1998 Quinn crew moving in: New coach faces same old problems
It's moving day at Fawlty Towers, otherwise known as Maple Leaf Gardens.
Later today, Pat Quinn and his two assistants -- Rick Ley and Alpo Suhonen -- officially will take up residence in the cramped coaching quarters across the hall from the Leafs dressing room.
Shortly after, Quinn is expected to confirm the hiring of Suhonen, the former Winnipeg Jets assistant coach, who split last season as a color commentator and interim head coach in his native Finland.
Then the real work begins. It could be argued that the battered Canadian buck is in better shape than the talent-poor and peculiarly managed Leafs, who open training camp on Sept. 12 in Hamilton.
Some 41/2 months after the punchless Leafs were eliminated from last season's playoff hunt, the club still lacks a second-line centre as well as a first-rate winger to complement Mats Sundin.
The Leafs, 30-43-9 last year, have done nothing to improve their spotty defence, either. They are, in fact, down a man after Nashville grabbed Rob Zettler in the expansion draft.
While Curtis Joseph may be a slight improvement over Felix Potvin in goal, attempts to trade the Cat for a scorer have been unsuccessful.
What Quinn, 55, is left with is essentially the same feeble cast that got former coach Mike Murphy fired. The challenges facing Quinn and his staff are pretty much the same, too.
They include:
* Making more efficient use of Sundin, who for two consecutive seasons has shown signs of fatigue during the stretch run.
* Limiting risk-taking defenceman Mathieu Schneider's dangerous forays while still managing to take advantage of his superior speed.
* Convincing winger Derek King that it's not entirely a coincidence he has missed the playoffs seven times during his 11-year career.
* Ensuring that Joseph's confidence doesn't slip like Potvin's did because of the mediocre talent in front of him.
* Squeezing better performances out of chronic underachievers Sergei Berezin, Todd Warriner and Igor Korolev.
Murphy couldn't handle the assignment and, without more help up front and on the blue line, Quinn could have a problem with it, too.
Then, every day at Fawlty Towers is bound to be a struggle.
BRIEFLY: Should Potvin make good on a threat to skip training camp, it will cost the goalie $9,091 in salary for every day he misses ... Leafs winger Nick Kypreos retired yesterday rather than risk further injury resulting from a serious concussion he suffered during a pre-season fight last September. Kypreos has joined the fledgling CTV Sportsnet as a hockey analyst.
Monday August 24, 1998 Concussion pushes Kypreos into retirement, joins CTV Sportsnet
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Nick Kypreos announced his retirement Monday and his intention to enter the broadcast booth.
Kypreos, 32, missed the entire 1997-98 season because of a concussion he sustained in a preseason game against the New York Rangers on Sept. 15, 1997. Kypreos' decision to retire came at the advice of Chicago neurosurgeon Dr. James Kelly.
Kypreos' retirement follows that of Rangers center Pat LaFontaine, who suffered several concussions late in his career.
Kypreos, who was an analyst on Stanley Cup playoff coverage for different news networks in recent years, will become a studio hockey analyst for CTV Sportsnet, a new cable channel that begins broadcasting Oct. 9.
Kypreos had 46 goals, 44 assists and 1,210 penalty minutes in 442 games and 34 playoff games with the Washington Capitals, Hartford Whalers, Rangers and Maple Leafs. He won a Stanley Cup in 1994 with the Rangers.
"Winning the Stanley Cup in 1994 with the Rangers was certainly a big thrill, yet playing for my home town team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, was a dream come true," Kypreos said in a statement.
Friday August 21, 1998 Ducks mighty miffed at Leafs: NHL TO HEAR TAMPERING CHARGE TODAY
The Maple Leafs will face the long arm of the National Hockey League law today.
Assistant general manager Anders Hedberg and the Leafs face tampering charges levied by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and a hearing will be held at the NHL office in New York.
The Mighty Ducks claim the Leafs negotiated a deal with European scout Thommie Bergman, who was under contract with Anaheim. The Leafs failed to ask for permission from the Mighty Ducks to speak to Bergman.
The Leafs claim they signed Bergman -- a native of Sweden who played for the Red Wings for seven seasons in the 1970s -- in early July. His contract with Anaheim expired on June 30.
Still, the league has stringent bylaws regarding talking to employees from other clubs. These new bylaws were put in place following the Mike Keenan controversy when he bolted Broadway for the St. Louis Blues shortly after the Rangers captured the 1994 Stanley Cup.
If the Mighty Ducks are successful in their charge, the Leafs could face a fine or even the loss of a draft pick.
A decision on the matter is expected to be announced later this month.
A cynic might suggest that the Ducks are well aware of the league's tampering bylaws.
After all, Pierre Gauthier managed to get out of the final two years of his contract as the Ottawa Senators general manager, saying he wanted to move back to Anaheim to be with his family but wasn't making the change to return to the Mighty Ducks organization.
Two weeks later, Gauthier was introduced as Anaheim's new president. Another two weeks later, he added the general manager's duties to his portfolio.
REPLACE HEDBERG
Senators president Roy Mlakar did not seek compensation from the Ducks.
The Leafs want Bergman to replace Hedberg in Europe. Last fall, Hedberg moved to Toronto because he was elevated from chief European scout to assistant general manager and director of professional player development.
Bergman, 50, is regarded as the first European-trained player to compete in the NHL. He broke in with the Red Wings in 1972, a year before Borje Salming and Inge Hammarstrom made their debuts with the Leafs.
Bergman, who lives in Tyrso, Sweden, has scouted the past five years with Anaheim. Bergman was a teammate of Hedberg's with the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA.
This isn't the first hot-water situation the Leafs have found themselves in this summer. Last month, the NHL Players' Association filed a grievance against the Leafs, claiming Toronto improperly tried to buy out injured defenceman Craig Wolanin's contract. This dispute also is expected to be settled by month's end.
Thursday August 20, 1998 Baby Leafs staying put until 2005
The Toronto Maple Leafs brought out star players past and present Thursday for a deal-signing that will secure the team's AHL affiliate in the Newfoundland capital through the 2004-05 season.
Key to the contract extension is a commitment by all three levels of government to build a $36-million, 6,000-seat arena and convention centre by the end of 2000.
"We're very pleased this day has arrived," said Leafs president Ken Dryden. "It has been a long road."
It has been no secret that the hockey team's future in St. John's was bleak without a bigger arena, an issue that has been hotly debated by city council for years.
Dryden admitted Toronto eventually would have had no choice but to pull the team out of St. John's when its current contract expired next spring because the ice surface is smaller than NHL standards and more seating was needed to off-set expenses.
"We looked at different potential routes to follow but where we wanted to return to was here," said Dryden.
Few details of the agreement were released.
The basic franchise fee will increase 10 per cent, but there will be attendance and profit-sharing incentives that will be split between the Maple Leafs and the Civic Centre Corp..
The new civic centre will be managed by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the same company that operates Maple Leaf Gardens and the new Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Bob Hunter, general manager of the two facilities, will help oversee construction of the civic centre and keep its schedule full of other entertainment events.
The involvement of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment was one of the main selling points of the deal for Mayor Andy Wells, a long-time holdout on the project.
"I was concerned with the effect on the city's bottom line," said Wells, sporting a blue-and-white jersey presented to him by Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler.
Newly signed goaltender Curtis Joseph was also on hand for photos and to present a jersey to Premier Brian Tobin.
"The situation now is that we will have a debt-free building and a comfort level that there will be no reduction in municipal services to finance it," said Wells.
But the mayor admits the city is far from home-free.
While the provincial government has committed its share of $12 million, the federal government must follow through with an additional $8 million in funding for convention facilities.
The city plans to raise the bulk of its share through the $600,000 a year it currently spends to operate the existing stadium, said Wells. He said he hopes the rest of the money can be raised through a city lottery and a hotel tax.
"I'm confident we can capitalize on the existing funding opportunities," said Wells.
Thursday August 20, 1998 Smith in control: One year later, Leafs deal-maker confident he is on the right track
In 365 days, the Maple Leafs' management team has gone from a Gang of Four to plain Mr. Smith.
Mike Smith, who has been running the struggling club since coach Pat Quinn was hired on June 26, was announced as the Leafs associate general manager a year ago today.
Since then, Smith has made eight trades and signed nine significant players, including unrestricted free-agent netminder Curtis Joseph. But Smith will be judged on his next major move -- trading Felix Potvin.
"We're going to be patient in that area," Smith said. "We're in no hurry. We will take our time."
That has been the Leafs' party line since the Joseph signing July 15.
The Leafs have been fielding offers from a half-dozen teams. Down the road, the serious offers likely will come from Florida and Vancouver.
The Canadiens have been active in pursuing Potvin, but the Leafs are believed to be targeting Florida centre Rob Niedermayer as part of a possible trade or hitting the home run with the Canucks and landing Pavel Bure.
Nevertheless, Smith feels that up to this point, his first year "has gone pretty well."
HOPEFUL
Smith hopes that with Quinn behind the bench, the signings of Joseph, winger Steve Thomas and an influx of youngsters such as Jason Podollan and Ladislav Kohn, his team will make the playoffs this season.
"Our final roster isn't set yet," Smith said. "We have a chance to be a better team than last year."
Smith has enjoyed the past year, his first full-time hockey job since being fired as the Winnipeg Jets general manager in 1994.
"Like any job there is an up side and down side," Smith said. "The up side is working with hockey people in a very competitive business. The down side, well, there are times when this business is not a lot of fun."
The up side included selecting Nikolai Antropov of Kazakhstan with the 10th overall pick at the NHL entry draft. Two months later, the risky move quietly has been heralded by many of the league's general managers and scouts.
The down side was missing the playoffs, not trading for a second-line centre and being criticized for his introverted personality by players, fans and reporters.
Smith was blasted by forward Mike Kennedy the day after Smith traded Kennedy to Dallas.
"They have this (associate) GM named Mike Smith who's kind of a cuckoo guy," Kennedy said.
"He never talks to the players, and I don't think he liked me."
As the Jets general manager (1988-94), Smith made 70 trades and drafted smartly with the likes of Keith Tkachuk, Teemu Selanne, Alexei Zhamnov and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. But he also hyped defenceman Sergei Bautin, who was a flop, and gave away Kris Draper to the Red Wings for a buck.
So, as Smith begins his second year with the Leafs, he has trading Potvin on his mind.
The Leafs hope he displays the touch he showed in landing Selanne and not the judgment he displayed in dishing off Draper.
MIKE'S MOVES
A glance at moves made by Leafs associate GM Mike Smith:
Sept. 28 -- C/LW Igor Korolev signed to a one-year $475,000 US contract.
Sept. 30 -- Dealt RW Kelly Chase to St. Louis for future considerations.
Jan. 2 -- Acquired D Jeff Brown from Carolina for a conditional 1999 fourth-round pick.
March 7 -- Acquired C/RW Lonny Bohonos from Vancouver in exchange for C Brandon Convery.
March 17 -- Traded D Per Gustafsson to Ottawa for a 1998 eighth-round selection.
March 24 -- Acquired D Sylvain Cote from Washington for Brown.
March 24 -- Dealt D Jamie Macoun to Detroit for a 1998 fourth-round pick.
March 24 -- Traded RW Mike Kennedy to Dallas for a 1998 eighth-round draft choice.
July 1 -- Announced RW Martin Prochazka and LW Wendel Clark would not be re-signed.
July 2 -- Acquired RW Ladislav Kohn from Calgary for D David Cooper.
July 3 -- Re-signed LW Todd Warriner to a one-year $635,000 Cdn deal.
July 12 -- Signed unrestricted free agent RW Steve Thomas to a two-year deal at $2.5 million US a season plus a club option for a third season.
July 14 -- Signed unrestricted free agent D/LW Dallas Eakins to a one-year $400,000 US deal.
July 15 -- Signed unrestricted free agent G Curtis Joseph to a four-year, $24-million US deal.
July 15 -- Signed 1998 first-round pick Nikolai Antropov to a three-year $2.925-million US deal.
Aug. 4 -- Re-signed C Darby Hendrickson to a two-year, $1.45-million US deal.
Aug. 17 -- Re-signed Korolev to a three-year, $2.6-million US deal.
Aug. 18 -- Re-signed LW Scott Pearson to a one-year $460,000 US deal.
Wednesday August 19, 1998 Leafs pick on top of his game
By nature, Adam Mair, a 1997 fourth-round draft choice of the Maple Leafs, is a hard worker.
He also is a natural leader. He doesn't stomp around the dressing room nor strut around the ice with a big ego. His "let's go do it" attitude wins him jobs.
On Monday, Mair and 40 other juniors departed Winnipeg after six gruelling days at the Canadian junior hockey team's summer evaluation camp.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Mair impressed.
"I can't see him not being invited back for the selection camp (beginning Dec. 13 in Winnipeg) unless his play drops off dramatically or he suffers a major injury during the fall," Canadian junior team director of scouting Barry Trapp said.
"I'm not going to say he was a pleasant surprise because we wouldn't have invited him if we didn't think he could play. He was one of the better forwards in camp."
Mair, 19, had one goal and five assists in four intrasquad games.
The Hamilton-raised Mair has been a solid prospect since his minor hockey days. At age 9, he once scored 16 goals in a game. The Owen Sound Platers centre captained the Ontario under-17 team to the gold medal at the world junior hockey challenge in Moncton. Last season with the Platers, he contributed 25 goals and 52 points in 56 games.
"I was told at the Canadian junior camp to play my game," Mair said.
"My game is taking the body and showing responsibility in both ends of the rink. One thing I have going for me is that I can play all three forward positions."
Mair reports to the Platers' training camp on Sept. 3 and then will play for the Maple Leafs at the four-team NHL rookie tournament in Kitchener on Sept. 7. Last fall, Mair attended the Leafs' training camp and got a contract last December.
"It gave me confidence when they signed me," Mair said. "I didn't have to worry about who was in the stands watching me. I just went out and did my job."
Mair left the junior evaluation camp injury free, something seven juniors failed to do.
Tuesday August 18, 1998 Pearson capitalizes on strong IHL season
After he rediscovered his scoring touch in the minor leagues, left wing Scott Pearson signed a contract with the Maple Leafs. Terms were not disclosed.
The 28-year-old Pearson, who was the Maple Leafs' first pick (sixth overall) in the 1988 draft, had 34 goals and 17 assists in 78 regular-season games with the IHL's Chicago Wolves in 1997-98.
In his nine-year NHL career with Toronto, Quebec, Edmonton and Buffalo, Pearson has 56 goals and 41 assists. His best NHL season came in 1993-94 when he had 19 goals and 18 assists in 72 games with the Oilers.
Tuesday August 18, 1998 Bure would love reunion with Quinn
Pulling on a Maple Leafs sweater would suit Pavel Bure just fine.
The disgruntled Vancouver Canucks forward told a friend, who also plays in the NHL, that he would "love" to play for Leafs coach Pat Quinn again.
This wish, however, goes against Bure's desire to play in a city in which he can get lost.
While Toronto is a big city, it remains a hockey town, so Bure would be as recognizable as he is in Vancouver. The Russian is trying to escape the feeling he has in Vancouver, of being a prisoner in his apartment.
Still, Bure's player agent, Michael Gillis, confirmed Bure would like to play for Quinn. The ex-Canucks GM drafted Bure in 1989 and was his coach when the Canucks made it to the Stanley Cup final in 1994.
"That is the case," Gillis said yesterday. "Pavel had a very good relationship with Pat Quinn and would like to play for him again."
But Gillis pointed out that when Bure went public with his trade demand on Aug. 2, he didn't submit a list of approved destinations to the Canucks. After all, Bure doesn't control his fate.
Is Toronto in the picture? Absolutely.
Can the Maple Leafs afford Bure's $8-million-plus US contract? Sure, given the Leafs ownership already has raised the bar on the salary budget with the signing of free agent Curtis Joseph.
Ideally, the Canucks would want Mats Sundin in return. Realistically, goaltender Felix Potvin and a couple of other regular contributors would do. The Canucks, however, are not interested in defenceman Mathieu Schneider.
Sounds simple, but trading or acquiring a star is a tricky task. Just ask Leafs associate general manager Mike Smith how trade talks for Potvin are going.
For the Leafs, landing Bure is a long shot. The big-buck New York Rangers are the favorites, with the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders not far behind.
But the Leafs have talked with the Canucks. Presumably serious discussions about Potvin have taken place and not-so-serious talks involving Bure.
"Our team really has no stance on Pavel Bure," Smith said. "He's under contract with the Vancouver Canucks."
Gillis, who coincidentally has been in New York recently, believes a deal will be worked out before the season.
"Yeah, there has to be a resolution," Gillis said. "You can't have any players on a team that refuse to be there. We're approaching this with a positive outlook.
"I'm optimistic the trade will happen. But it's just tough to predict when it will happen."
Monday August 17, 1998 Leafs re-sign Igor Korolev
The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed right-winger Igor Korolev.
Korolev, 27, earned $475,000 US last season, when he scored 17 goals and assisted on 22, and he'll get about $700,000 US in each of the next two seasons.
Previously with St. Louis, Winnipeg and Phoenix, the Russian was a free agent when Toronto took him on last September. His numbers declined during the second half last season although he led the Leafs in short-handed goals (3) and shooting percentage (17.5). In 384 career NHL games, he has 60 goals and 113 assists.
Saturday August 15, 1998 Tight spot:
Leafs may be in trouble with Potvin
Leafs may be in a jam
THE LEAFS MAY HAVE PAINTED THEMSELVES INTO A CORNER IN THE FELIX POTVIN SITUATION. GOALTENDERS DO NOT GENERALLY REAP BIG REWARDS ON THE MARKET.
However the Felix Potvin saga plays itself out, Maple Leafs associate general manager Mike Smith is in a tough spot.
If history means anything, it's doubtful Smith will be able to get as much in return as Leafs fans are expecting for their talented goalie.
Very seldom is a goaltender traded for something other than a package that features another goaltender, which the Leafs don't presently need. More importantly, seldom does a goaltender fetch what you might consider extraordinary value.
For whatever reason, it is hard to move a goalie, even one as obviously desirable as Potvin.
And now that rival general managers know that Smith more or less has to trade Potvin, they will be attempting to squeeze him just a little bit more. In wake of Potvin's suggestion that he might forgo the Leafs' training camp and just wait things out, whatever leverage Smith had in this matter has been diminished.
And, as Smith has no doubt discovered and probably knew going in, it's highly unlikely there will be a huge pot of gold at the end of the Potvin rainbow.
For whatever reason, historically speaking, goalies just don't seem to be a popular trade item. For some reason, GMs find it uncomfortable to trade a skater for a goalie, straight up, even when they have a matching need and surplus.
When Patrick Roy and the Montreal Canadiens parted ways Dec. 6, 1995, Roy was at the top of his game and considered among the top three goalies in the world. Despite his value, especially to a team like Colorado which needed just one last puzzle piece to challenge for the Stanley Cup, the Canadiens did not get a windfall in return. Martin Rucinsky and Andrei Kovalenko were both considered under-achievers. Jocelyn Thibault was the key to the deal, but his value was all in his potential to become the next great French-Canadian netminder. And don't forget, Montreal also threw in their captain Mike Keane, who was a stalwart member of the 1996 Stanley Cup champs in Colorado.
When Grant Fuhr came to the Maple Leafs from Edmonton in 1991, he was accompanied by Glenn Anderson and Craig Berube, in exchange for Vincent Damphousse, Scott Thornton and Luke Richardson, none of whom had realized his potential.
When he left Toronto, Fuhr went to Buffalo in February 1993 in a rare deal that saw a big shooter -- Dave Andreychuk -- coming back, along with goalie Daren Puppa. But you have to remember that Andreychuk seriously was out of favor in Buffalo at the time. It was only after being united with Doug Gilmour that Andreychuk regained his scoring touch.
So, Smith has his hands full trying to get some value for Potvin unless the goalie turns out to be part of a larger package, involving some proven skaters.
There are 24 million reasons Curtis Joseph is already the No. 1 Leafs goaltender, one for every dollar he will earn the next four years.
Which leads us to wonder if Toronto management didn't err on the optimistic side in their assessment of how easy it would be to move Potvin and get some key building blocks in return.
Between now and the start of training camps in about a month's time, Potvin's value will do nothing but erode. Only after camps open and teams have a chance to get a reality check about their own netminding is there the chance that Felix's value will begin to ascend. But any increased demand for his services will be more than offset by the fact that Potvin's absence from camp will force Smith's hand.
Unless something happens very soon, it's not at all difficult to see this situation stagnating until October at the earliest and, if it gets ugly, it could stretch on until the new year, with Potvin holding out.
In truth, there are probably only a handful of realistic destinations for Potvin. Florida, which has Kirk McLean as its current No. 1, is probably the most logical match. The Panthers also have a larger stockpile of desirable young talent than most other clubs.
Vancouver is another obvious team that could use a goalie of Potvin's stature, given the fact that their best is Garth Snow. And then there is Montreal, which has Thibault and a couple of excellent, but very young, prospects.
Most other teams are at least satisfied with their goaltending .
Beyond that, when push comes to shove, Smith probably is going to have to settle for something less than he hoped for in the beginning. Obviously, it all would have worked out better if he had been able to move Potvin before he signed Joseph.
But, of course, that wasn't possible. What if he wasn't able to sign Joseph? So, now he's caught in his own catch-22 situation, with no apparent resolution in sight.
Thursday August 13, 1998 Lindros for Sundin makes no sense
It's a rumor that just won't die, no matter how hard everyone tries to make it go away.
Eric Lindros for Mats Sundin.
Whether there is any real will by either or both the Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers even to explore such a transaction is moot. Fact is, it's out there on the coconut telegraph, your star for our star, the sexiest kind of trade in sports.
Denials aside, is there really anything to be gained by the Leafs in such a deal? Not much, it says here.
What such a comparison might reveal is just how valuable Sundin has become to the Maple Leafs and any hope they have for the future.
In one year since he was named captain, he has demonstrated all the qualities -- real or perceived -- that are necessary in a team leader, especially of a storied franchise like the Leafs.
On the ice, Sundin was the team's best player by far. While that says something about his own talent, it says a great deal more about how much the rest of the lineup needs to be upgraded.
Off the ice, Sundin was immediately an articulate and available lightning rod for a lousy hockey team in a city that lives and breathes the game. He is clearly sensitive to the tradition and importance of the C and more than willing to fulfil his part of the bargain with respect, class and grace.
While the Leafs have been criticized roundly, from the owner right down to the assistant coaches, and most points in between, Sundin has remained admired universally, despite the chaos around him.
Sundin almost always says and does the right thing without being extraordinarily guarded or pre-programmed. Seldom will you ever find Sundin with his foot in his mouth.
As a player, he has size, speed, strength and finesse at a time when the NHL apparently is going to try to showcase its pure talent. He is tied up contractually for the next four years in a deal that looks good from both sides, paying him an average of $7 million a season. In short, it's hard to find any reason not to want Mats Sundin on your hockey club.
On the other side, you have Lindros, a home-town boy who was once spoken of in the same breath with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, though less often these days.
The fact he is one of the great players of his generation goes without saying but, as Philadelphia GM Bobby Clarke's public frustration indicates, there are questions about the whole package that Lindros brings.
Lindros has tried to buck the system ever since we can remember. First, he and his family wanted to dictate where he would play junior hockey. Then, once he was drafted into the NHL, he wanted to dictate his employer once again.
Once he settled in with the Flyers, he was to be the centrepiece on a team that could be a dynasty. Philadelphia was to be the Team of the '90s but now, little more than a year away from the next century, the Lindros-led Flyers still are looking for their first title.
This morning, Clarke is scheduled to sit down with Carl Lindros, Eric's dad and agent, to try to begin the process anew toward a long-term deal. Clarke says he will try to get the Lindros clan to agree to a negotiation deadline, believed to be Sept. 11, the first day of training camp.
Last year, Lindros' contract negotiations became a distraction before he settled on a deal that increased his salary to $8.5 million from $3.7 million and, if no long-term settlement is reached, the same salary will apply for this year. Clarke, who is on record as saying that if Lindros wants to be the highest-paid player, then he had better be the best player, is angling toward a deal that is laden heavily with incentives. Which is to say, if Lindros plays like the best player, he will be paid like the best player.
Clarke has also said that if a multi-year contract can't be negotiated before training camp, then he will trade Lindros rather than risk losing him as a free agent next summer.
But with all the public statements Clarke has made about Lindros this summer, you have to wonder if he himself really still sees Lindros as the messiah he once believed him to be.
Clarke publicly questioned his captain's leadership and demeanor and these are issues that Carl Lindros has told the Philadelphia media that he wants to explore in today's meeting.
It hardly sounds like the makings for a happy round of negotiations.
So, given your druthers, would you want a guy like Sundin, at the peak of his career, already wrapped up for four years, with his head screwed on straight and his priorities intact? Or would you want Lindros who can't even convince the guy who staked his career on him that he's the real deal?
Thursday August 13, 1998 Leafs play Cat-and-mouse with trade rumors
TORONTO -- Much of the NHL's official business takes place in Toronto, but this summer so has much of the unofficial business.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are at the center of most of the good gossip that lingers into late summer. With one too many starting goalies under contract, a veritable Felix Potvin sweepstakes is developing. And though everybody involved continues to deny, deny, deny, nobody can kill the rumors that have captain Mats Sundin going to Philadelphia for Eric Lindros.
The Toronto Sun reported Thursday that at least five teams have contacted the Leafs about Potvin, the 27-year-old goalie who finds himself the odd man out after the team inked Curtis Joseph to a long-term deal. Potvin, 27, has won at least 25 games in each of the five non-lockout seasons he has played with Toronto.
As of last month, Leafs associate GM Mike Smith was insulted at the quality of offers coming in for Potvin, calling them "an embarrassment."
But lately, he has been hearing improvements ... including almost daily contact from Montreal Canadiens' GM Rejean Houle, who could be trying to deal either Mark Recchi or Vincent Damphousse in the inter-province trade.
"Yes, I have been talking to Rejean quite a bit this summer," Smith told The Sun. "But he's just checking on my health and asking about the weather in Toronto."
Both Recchi ($4.5 million via arbitration) and Damphousse ($3.275 million) have recently signed one-year deals with Montreal, and both are slated to be unrestricted free agents next summer. Damphousse could probably be talked into signing a long-term deal with Toronto, but Recchi has been pretty clear about his intentions to test the market next year.
The Florida Panthers, who were used and abused in their failed attempts to sign Mike Richter, may also be entering the Potvin picture. Almost any talks with Bryan Murray in Miami would have to include either defenseman Ed Jovanovski or center Rob Niedermayer, who is coming off an injury-filled and otherwise disappointing 97-98 season.
As far as Lindros is concerned, Flyers GM Bob Clarke was scheduled to meet with Carl Lindros -- Eric's father and agent -- in regard to a long-term extension. Eric Lindros is scheduled to make $8.5 million this season, but wants to work out a multi-year deal before the season starts. The Flyers have grown increasingly impatient with the former league MVP, culminating in a flat-out challenge from Clarke via the media earlier this summer.
Presumably, the Flyers would be more interested in some kind of swap involving Lindros and Sundin, who is locked up for four years at $7 million per. Likely, Lindros would have to agree to a multi-year deal before Toronto would take the chance on a one-year relationship with the Ontario native.
Lindros also has been mentioned in connection with deals with Phoenix for Keith Tkachuk and with Vancouver for Pavel Bure.
Tuesday August 11, 1998 Smith checking his list
After a three-week absence, Maple Leafs associate GM Mike Smith has returned to his office in an effort to start reducing his to-do list.
The Leafs training camp opens in Hamilton in 32 days and Smith still has hopes of making a couple of trades, including a deal to move goalie Felix Potvin. Smith also would like to hire another assistant coach, sign the Leafs' six remaining restricted free agents and possibly lock up another unrestricted free agent or two.
There have been whispers around the league that the Leafs are poised to make a deal that doesn't involve Potvin. But Smith, who spent the past three weeks vacationing, with a brief interlude at the NHL annual meetings, said no trades are imminent.
As far as unrestricted free agents go, Smith said no such signings are in the works.
"We won't sign any more unrestricted free agents until we explore some trades," Smith said.
The Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks remain the favorites to land Potvin before the season starts. But the Leafs are taking their time listening to offers.
Smith said no trades involving Potvin are close to being completed, although it is believed the Leafs could make a trade right now if they were in a hurry.
Instead, Smith and the management team will be busy trying to lock up the remaining restricted free agents: Mike Johnson, Mathieu Schneider, Igor Korolev, Steve Sullivan, Ladislav Kohn and Scott Pearson.
Pearson, 28, is the closest to agreeing to a deal. The veteran of 290 NHL games has an outside shot at cracking the Leafs lineup this fall. He was loaned to the Chicago Wolves last season and was a big contributor to the IHL champions, scoring 34 times in 79 games.
On the coaching front, Smith said the Leafs' second assistant coach will be hired this week. Alpo Suhonen is expected to become Pat Quinn's second assistant along with the previously hired Rick Ley.
"We won't know who (the new assistant coach) is until he is signed and in place," Smith said coyly.
In other coaching developments, former Leafs assistant Terry Simpson has taken over as head coach and director of hockey operations with the WHL's Red Deer Raiders. Simpson co-owns the franchise with his brother, Wayne. Mike Murphy, meanwhile, is mulling over a decision to become an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators.
Saturday August 8, 1998 Quinn goes one-on-one:
LEAFS PUMPED AFTER MEETING NEW COACH
His college degree is in law, but Pat Quinn is brushing up on
chemistry this summer.
Almost halfway through his one-on-one interviews with the Maple
Leafs, the new coach is finding out what his team is made of -- and
why its explosive properties were so weak last year. Since he was
hired in June, Quinn consistently has talked about identifying "which
players in the room are ready to go to war with you."
These interviews are the first step.
"It has been a chance to reflect for them and to get to know me as
much as for me to know them," Quinn said. "I think it's accomplishing
its purpose."
Training camp is five weeks away, but many Leafs are already itching
to get on the ice after meeting Quinn.
"We've been a fragile team, but I really like the fact he cares about the
team chemistry," winger Tie Domi said. "We would get down a goal
and it was like something disastrous happened. It's something that
won't change overnight, but you know a guy like Pat is going to have
his ways of dealing with it, his proven methods."
Winger Kris King was told by Peterboro junior teammate Kay
Whitmore, a goaltender with the Canucks under Quinn, that the new
coach would be a good fit for the Leafs and for King. His meeting with
Quinn confirmed that.
"We agreed we were a close team last year, but could we be closer?
Absolutely," King said. "A few times last year, we gave away points
where we had worked hard for 55 minutes in a game. That adds up
and makes a difference in a playoff race."
The Leafs had 69 points last year, but will need 80 to 90 next April to
make the playoffs, based on last year's Eastern Conference final
standings. Most expect Quinn to make the Leafs a bit more
adventurous on offence when camp opens next month. The Leafs
reduced their goals-against last year, but their inability to score,
especially early in games, made catch-up situations hard with such a
conservative attack.
As a slow defenceman, Quinn scored just 18 goals in his 606 NHL
games, but in his past three years in a dual role as president and coach
of the Canucks, his team averaged about 300 goals en route to three
40-win seasons.
"You know what he has accomplished and your first impressions of
him are of a very big and powerful man," backup goaltender Glenn
Healy said. "But whatever style we play, Pat knows it's going to take
every one of us, giving everything we did last year and more."
The Leafs are revisiting the concept of a rookie camp this year, to
include about 24 youngsters, newcomers and tryouts who will be
participating in a freshman tournament against Carolina, Buffalo and
Montreal, Sept. 9-12 in Kitchener. A few standouts will join the main
body of 50-55 when the main camp opens a few days later.
Wednesday August 5, 1998 Leafs turn towards McCammon
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Pat Quinn may have made his first '`Cagey'' move yesterday, announcing Rick Ley as an assistant and moving Terry Simpson out.
But how will the move affect current Edmonton Oilers staffer Bob (Cagey) McCammon?
With Simpson now out of the picture, and said to be heading back to the WHL's Red Deer Rebels where he is a part-owner, that may leave a job open for McCammon.
"There may be some new direction," a sheepish McCammon said yesterday before Quinn's announcement was made official. "I'll know more (today)."
McCammon was removed as assistant coach in Edmonton last week with the announcement of Kevin Lowe's retirement as a player and subsequent rise to the coaching ranks.
McCammon was offered a scouting job with the Oilers and is expected to make his decision regarding the position today.
A Sun source says Quinn was looking for a younger assistant coach, but adds McCammon - who has a very laid-back personality - may just be the perfect fit between Quinn and Ley, who are both more high strung.
Finn Alpo Suhonen, a former assistant in Winnipeg, and ex-Leaf John Anderson are also candidates to join Quinn and Ley.
McCammon worked with Quinn when they were with the Vancouver Canucks.
Wednesday August 5, 1998 Leafs cool on dealing for Bure
Any rumors regarding disgruntled Pavel Bure's arrival on the Maple Leafs' doorstep are pure speculation at this point.
"We haven't talked to any teams about trades yet," associate GM Mike Smith said yesterday.
Last weekend, Bure's agent Michael Gillis said his client has demanded to be traded by the Vancouver Canucks.
While Smith wouldn't comment specifically on the Leafs' interest in Bure, one Leaf insider said Bure's salary, in excess of $8 million US, would be too expensive.
But, obviously, the Leafs would listen if Canucks GM Brian Burke rings.
Although Bure doesn't control his destination, he prefers to go to a big-city team in which hockey is not the No. 1 hot ticket, a profile Toronto doesn't fit.
Tuesday August 4, 1998 Hendrickson re-signed; Ley named assistant
The Maple Leafs completed a busy day of transactions by re-signing free agent center Darby Hendrickson to a multi-year contract and hiring Rick Ley as the team's new assistant coach.
Hendrickson, a group II free agent, recorded eight goals and four assists in a career-high 80 games last season. He has appeared in 214 career NHL contests over five years with Toronto and the New York Islanders, totaling 26 goals and 21 assists.
Rick Ley has been hired as an assistant coach to Pat Quinn, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced Tuesday.
The Leafs also announced that Terry Simpson, an assistant coach with Toronto the past two seasons, will not be back.
Mike Kitchen and Rick Wamsley, two other assistant coaches with Leafs under head coach Mike Murphy last season, have already been let go or reassigned. Kitchen left and Wamsley shifted to scout after Murphy was fired.
Ley, 49, served as an assistant coach to Quinn in Vancouver from 1991 to 1994, before taking over as head coach for the 1994-95 season. He spent the last two seasons as a scout with the Canucks.
In 284 games as head coach of the Canucks and Hartford Whalers, he had a record of 116-121-47.
Ley, a native of Orillia, Ont., was a Maple Leaf draft pick in 1966 and played in 229 games with the Leafs, scoring eight goals and adding 54 assists. He played 13 seasons in the NHL and WHA with the Leafs and Hartford, spending six as the Whalers captain. His No. 2 was retired by the Whalers.