NEWS OF MAPLE LEAFS
Last Update:
Sunday January 30, 2000 7:09PM EST
Sunday January 30, 2000 Leafs put Kris King on waivers
Forced to reduce their roster after signing free agent Gerald Diduck, the Toronto Maple Leafs placed gritty winger Kris King on waivers Saturday.
Teams have until Monday at noon EST to claim the 33-year-old King, who had one goal, four assists and 53 penalty minutes in 33 games this season.
Friday January 28, 2000 Markov hoping to be back on Saturday
Leafs defenceman Danny Markov, recovering from a bad ankle, hopes to return Saturday against the visiting Kings.
"It's possible," Leafs general manager/coach Pat Quinn told Toronto reporters. "I certainly hope that is the case.
"Danny's still in a lot of pain, and anyone who knows Danny knows he has a high threshold for it. That's something we still have to get by.
"It would be nice to get him back."
Friday January 28, 2000 Leafs sign Gerald Diduck
The Toronto Maple Leafs, looking for some toughness on the blue-line, signed free agent defenceman Gerald Diduck to a three-year deal Friday.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Diduck, 34, had two assists and 72 minutes in penalties in 44 games with the Phoenix Coyotes last season.
He has also played for the New York Islanders, Montreal, Vancouver, Chicago and the old Hartford Whalers.
This winter, he spent time with the Canadian national team, and saw action in the Spengler Cup and Baltic Cup.
To make room for the six-foot-two 217-pounder, the Leafs assigned defenceman Nathan Dempsey to St. John's of the AHL.
Monday January 24, 2000 Domi eyes Wednesday return
Tie Domi, who was out of the Toronto Leafs' lineup last week with a rib injury, is eyeing a Wednesday night return in Detroit.
"It is up to the coaches, but I would like to play Wednesday," said Domi.
Left-winger Sergei Berezin, out five games with a hamstring pull, also declared himself ready to play.
Thursday January 20, 2000 Baby Leafs keep supplying good talent
The St. John's Maple Leafs keep answering the bell.
Lonny Bohonos, Ladislav Kohn, Adam Mair and Kevyn Adams made significant contributions during the Toronto Maple Leafs' playoff run to the Eastern Conference final last season.
This season, Nik Antropov and Adams emerged from the under the Rock to earn spots on Toronto's roster. And now, Nathan Dempsey, is making his mark.
Since Dempsey was recalled last Friday, Leafs general manager/coach Pat Quinn has shown confidence in the quick six-foot, 190-pound defenceman.
In road games against the Oilers, Flames and Canucks, Dempsey saw ice times of 16:19, 16:20 and 16:02, respectively. The native of Spruce Grove, Alta., also had substantial time on the power play.
"I didn't know quite what to expect," Dempsey, promoted when Alexander Karpovtsev went down with a thumb injury Jan. 11, told the Toronto Sun. "I'm feeling pretty good about the way things have gone so far.
"The biggest thing for me was not to change my game when I was called up this time."
Tuesday January 18, 2000 Mr. Overtime does it again
The Maple Leafs' West Coast fishing trip almost ended as a tale of the big one that got away.
But a bold, last-ditch rush by Steve Thomas culminated in a wild 5-4 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks last night and further solidification in the NHL record-book for the Maple Leafs winger.
Thomas' 11th career overtime game-winner extended his league record in that category. He surpassed retired Penguins superstar Mario Lemieux's nine earlier this season.
"It may be the most (dramatic) of the 11 I've scored," Thomas said. "Things haven't been going well for me lately, but this is awesome."
If not for Thomas' heroics, the Leafs would have found themselves packing for home with a load of emotional baggage from their four-game trip.
Igor Korolev had staked the Leafs to a seemingly insurmountable 4-1 lead on the Canucks and goaltender Felix Potvin early in the third period.
Mark Messier scored to narrow the gap less than a minute later, but the game still appeared to be well in hand.
Then Todd Bertuzzi struck -- twice in 15 seconds -- from near the boards to the right of Curtis Joseph as time appeared to be running out on the Canucks.
He put a drive over Joseph's left shoulder at 14:48 to make it 4-3. Then, with the Mats Sundin line still on the ice, Bertuzzi caught Joseph napping again to tie it.
"We had a hiccup in our play there for a minute," said Wendel Clark, who played his third game in a row. "That team is not going to die or quit."
"A couple of (their goals) were tips," Joseph said. "And on (Bertuzzi's second) I whiffed. I was trying to bend my knees and direct it into the corner."
In fact, Cujo was beaten moments after Bertuzzi tied it, but Markus Naslund's drive clanged off the post.
That set the stage for Thomas' heroics.
"I've seen a lot of goals in 10 years and that was one of the best efforts ever," a relieved Sundin said. "He had two guys on him from the blue line in."
It was a big night for the first line -- Thomas, Sundin and Jonas Hoglund --who along with platooned winger Mike Johnson tallied 10 points. The line's recent struggles were part of the reason the Leafs are not completely comfortable after a 3-1 trip that started in Boston.
The Leafs come home three points out of top spot in the Eastern Conference, with a few days off to get some of their five injured regulars back.
For the seventh consecutive time since he became the Canucks' starter in a trade with the Islanders, Potvin allowed the first goal of the game.
Johnson, seeing duty on the first line, helped Sundin set up Hoglund's 21st of the season. It was a nice three-way pass, with Potvin not getting his stick lunge fast enough on the wide open Hoglund.
The Canucks tied it just after Chris McAllister got out of the box for cross-checking. Donald Brashear barged in front of the net to bury an Artem Chubarov rebound.
Sundin then restored the lead on a Leafs power play.
The Canucks gave the Leafs far too much room to operate and after Thomas juggled a couple of one-timers, he ended up assisting when Bryan Berard faked a point shot and spotted a wide-open Sundin at 12:52.
In a touching ceremony during a first-period TV timeout, former Canucks coach, player, general manager and president Pat Quinn was named one of the 30 greatest Canucks as part of the franchise's 30th anniversary celebrations.
Toronto and Vancouver fans rose in a minute-long standing ovation.
Sunday January 16, 2000 Familiar No. 17 on the ice for the Maple Leafs
Wendel Clark pulled on his old No. 17 blue jersey Friday night to help the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Mats Sundin's overtime goal.
Clark, 33, began his third stint with Toronto on the second line with Nik Antropov at centre and Steve Thomas on the right side.
"So far, so good, I guess," Clark said during a TSN first intermission interview. "I made it through the first period and, hopefully, I'll get better as the game goes along.
"After being out two months, I'm just trying to get a feel for the game."
Clark re-signed last weekend with the NHL team that drafted him first overall in 1985. General manager-head coach Pat Quinn had not expected to activate the veteran left winger so quickly, but injuries prompted the move.
On his second shift, Clark, No. 2 on Toronto's all-time penalty minutes list, and the Oilers' Sean Brown exchanged pushes and shoves in front of the Edmonton net and Clark was sent off for roughing -- the game's first penalty.
Clark was Toronto's captain from 1991 to 1994, when he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in a multi-player deal that brought current captain Sundin to the Leafs. His journey since: New York Islanders-Toronto-Tampa Bay-Detroit-Chicago-Toronto.
He had been idle since the Blackhawks, who signed him last summer, bought out his contract in November.
"I know Wendel's happy to be back," his father, Les Clark, said after driving seven hours from Kelvington, Sask., to be at the Skyreach Centre. "We appreciate Toronto taking him back. That means a lot."
Sunday January 16, 2000 Injured Domi has to come home
Maple Leafs right winger Tie Domi returned to Toronto yesterday morning with a rib-cartilage injury, but it's not known if he will be moved to the injured-reserve list.
Domi suffered the injury in the first period of Friday's 3-2 overtime win in Edmonton. X-rays were negative. Domi checked in with club therapist Chris Broadhurst late yesterday and will be checked by a team doctor today.
The Leafs were at the minimum 12 forwards for last night's game, but could dress the returning Danny Markov for tomorrow's game in Vancouver as a seventh defenceman. There were no plans to summon someone from St. John's as of last night.
Domi is the Leafs' principal enforcer and a lengthy absence would be a problem. However, the Leafs don't play after tomorrow until a home game Saturday against Washington.
Thursday January 13, 2000 Karpovtsev hurt, Dempsey called up
Leafs defenceman Alexander Karpovtsev is out indefinitely with a cracked bone in his hand.
The Russian was a key performer for Toronto, logging valuable ice time on the power-play and penalty-killing unites.
As a result, Toronto called up blue-liner Nathan Dempsey from St. John's of the AHL.
Thursday January 13, 2000 Leafs breaking up big line
Leafs coach Pat Quinn is breaking up his No. 1 line of Steve Thomas, Mats Sundin and Jonus Hoglund -- mostly due to the trio's lack of defensive play.
"I've made up my mind that I'm going to start switching things around," Quinn told Toronto reporters. "And we'll see if it does work."
The possible new lines: Mike Johnson replacing Thomas as a winger with Sundin and Hoglund; Thomas playing with Clark and Nik Antropov; two centres, Alyn McCauley and Kevyn Adams, with Kris King; and Igor Korolev flanked by Tie Domi and Dmitri Khristich.
Monday January 10, 2000 Leafs deny Sundin on the trading block
A Mats Sundin-for-Eric Lindros trade is pure fiction, says Pat Quinn, the Toronto Maple Leafs coach and general manager.
A Toronto radio station, using unnamed sources, reflated trade rumours it had previously aired, saying the Philadelphia Flyers were talking trade with the Leafs.
"There have been no discussions," Quinn said after the Leafs' practice this morning. "Zero. Nothing.
"I don't know where these things come from but there's no basis to it."
Sunday January 9, 2000 Clark returns to Leafs
Three times lucky?
The Toronto Maple Leafs hope so.
The Leafs are bringing back former captain Wendel Clark for a third tour of duty with the 33-year-old winger set to work out for the first time Sunday morning at Maple Leaf Gardens.
He'll be skating on his own, since the rest of the Leafs have the day off.
"That's the best way to start a new job, with a day off," Clark told SLAM! Sports. "I'm used to skating on my own. That's what I've been doing for the last few weeks. I'll feel at home in the Gardens."
Clark, the former top pick by the Leafs in the 1985 draft, started this season with the Chicago Blackhawks, but was dropped by the club and bought out of his contract in November.
He's been looking for work since.
The Leafs, who have been struggling on the road, can use Clark's feisty attitude and physical presence.
Clark played nine seasons for the Leafs and became captain and a crowd favourite before he was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques at the 1994 draft along with defenceman Sylvain Lefebvre, right wing Landon Wilson and a first round pick for current Leafs captain Mats Sundin, defenceman Garth Butcher, left winger Todd Warriner and a first round pick.
He was traded to the New York Islanders a year later for winger Claude Lemieux and started his second tour of duty with the Leafs when he was traded by the Islanders March 13, 1996 along with defencemen Mathieu Schneider and D.J. Smith for left winger Sean Haggerty, centre Darby Hendrickson, defenceman Kenny Jonsson and a 1997 first round pick that turned out to be goaltender Roberto Luongo.
Clark's second tour with the Leafs ended when he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning in July of 1998.
Clark told SLAM! Sports he's kept himself in good shape during his layoff.
"I'll be ready to play as soon as they want me," he said.
The Leafs next game is Tuesday night in Boston against the Bruins.
Saturday January 8, 2000 All-star Joseph voted starter for first time
Curtis Joseph had a night off at the Air Canada Centre Saturday night (compared to an off-night Friday) but he better be ready to work on a Sunday afternoon come February.
The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender was voted by fans as the starting netminder for the North American team for the 60th NHL All-Star Game at the ACC Feb. 6, which will, given the mistreatment goalies get at these games, likely be a case of the NHL's top dog being thrown to the wolves.
Not that will be much different than what he faces on many nights playing behind the likes of Leafs defenceman Bryan Berard.
"Nobody blames the goalies (in all-star games), so that's good," said Joseph, voted to start the game for the first time. He was a reserve last year, but couldn't play because of an injury and was replaced by Ottawa's Ron Tugnutt.
"It's a nice compliment to be voted in by the fans and it couldn't happen in a better place than Toronto where hockey means so much here."
The honour, announced Saturday afternoon before the Leafs went out and lost 5-3 to the New York Rangers at the ACC, is one of the surprisingly few individual accolades directed Joseph's way given he is neck-guard-to-neck-guard with Buffalo's Dominik Hasek as the game's best goaltender.
Hey, it's about time.
Joseph's star didn't really, really take off until his arrival here where his nightly heroics get the full attention in hockey's media capital. He never seemed to really grab much in the way of attention, certainly not when he came out of the University of Wisconsin as an undrafted 22-year-old after the 1988-89 season and signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues.
He earned a reputation as a money goaltender with his play in the post-season, particularly his early-round upsets with the Edmonton Oilers.
For a player so highly regarded now, Joseph's trophy case has got a lot of room in it. There was an appearance in the 1994 all-star game, a stint in front of Team Canada's goal in the 1996 World Cup and a reservist's role (he didn't see any action) with Team Canada at the Nagano Olympics.
No Vezina Trophies, the gold standard for NHL 'keepers, though he's the favourite this year.
No MVP Trophies, like Hasek has got, though Joseph should give Jaromir Jagr at least a little hot breath on the back of his neck.
Joseph is a low key guy. He isn't a gladhander or self promoter, is a rather dry interview and will never by described as colourful, so his play has had to speak for him.
It has, though it is going to be interesting to see how he handles the devolution of NHL crease rules which seem to be making his life miserable lately. The Pittsburgh Penguins made no secret of the fact their game plan in their 5-2 win over the Leafs and Joseph Friday night was "throwing little grenades" at Cujo, as Pens coach Herb Brooks put it.
That meant crowding him in the crease and taking advantage of the "no harm, no foul" rule (which is quickly becoming the "no broken limb, no foul rule") with Penguins superpest Matthew Barnaby getting up close and personal, including one incident which saw Joseph lose his stick, leading to the Penguins third goal of the night.
"The last three or four games there have been bumps I thought led to goals," said Joseph. "If I establish position, there should be no contact, but it's up to the referee's discretion. I had to actually let go of my stick to stay in the middle of crease.
"Maybe I have to play it differently this year. Sit back, not establish position and avoid contact...I can't make saves without a stick."
You can bet other teams will be taking note of the latitude given the Penguins by the officials and how Joseph was put off his game.
Opposing coaches are real quick to pick up on anything one club uses to exploit another.
Getting voted to the starting position on the all-star game is one indication Joseph has really arrived.
But perhaps the real evidence of a player's stature in the game is when he speaks up, the league listens.
Joseph has made known his unhappiness with the way the crease rule is being applied.
If you see referees start to call some goaltender interference penalties in games involving the Leafs, you'll know it really is the year of the dog.
Thursday January 6, 2000 Berard's slump has Leafs coach baffled
Bryan Berard quickly is falling from the penthouse to the outhouse in the eyes of Pat Quinn.
The Maple Leafs defenceman was on the ice for all three New York goals last night during the Rangers' 3-2 overtime win at Madison Square Garden. Five days ago, he was on the ice for five even-strength Buffalo goals in an 8-1 Sabres win.
Berard's sagging play has left Quinn so frustrated, the Leafs general manager/coach is contemplating having a one-on-one chat with him. Don't expect the topic of discussion to be the weather.
"I've certainly been thinking about it," Quinn said.
'TOO BIG A SWING'
"Two weeks ago he was playing good," Quinn said. "There has been too big of a swing."
Heading into the Sabres game at Marine Midland Arena on Saturday night, Berard led the Maple Leafs in plus/minus at plus-15. Three games later, that figure has plummeted to a plus-8.
Particularly frustrating to Quinn was Berard's decision-making last night that led to New York's winning goal.
In the final minute of overtime, Berard led a three-on-one rush into the Rangers zone. But, instead of shooting, Berard took too much time thinking about passing to Sergei Berezin and allowed New York defenceman Kevin Hatcher to poke the puck off his stick.
The Rangers quickly grabbed the puck and headed the other way to convert Berard's turnover into the winning goal. Adam Graves was the hero, one-timing a Theo Fleury feed past Leafs goalkeeper Curtis Joseph.
"He must have had 10 turnovers tonight in that same situation," Quinn said.
"I don't know why he always tries to make that extra deke when he is in good shooting position."
Berard simply shrugged off last night's adversity.
"I actually tried to make a pass and the puck hopped," he said. "Maybe I should have shot.
"We already had the single point in regulation time. We want to go for the win in that situation."
Tuesday January 4, 2000 Quinn, Bowman to coach NHL All-Star teams
Pat Quinn of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Scotty Bowman of the Detroit Red Wings will coach the teams in the 50th NHL All-Star Game on Feb. 6 at Toronto.
The North America All-Stars, comprised of players from Canada and the United States, will face the World All-Star team, with top NHL players from the rest of the world.
Quinn will be the coach and Roger Neilson of Philadelphia will be the assistant for the North America All-Stars because their teams have the best points percentages in the Eastern Conference through games of Jan. 3.
Quinn's Maple Leafs have a points percentage of .675 after posting 54 points in 40 games (24-12-4-2) to lead the Eastern Conference. Neilson's Flyers have a points percentage of .654 with 51 points in 39 games (22-11-6-1). The Flyers were placed ahead of the New Jersey Devils, who also recorded a .654 points percentage, based on superior goal differential.
Bowman's Red Wings lead the Western Conference with a points percentage of .705, based on their 55 points in 39 games (25-10-4-1). Assisting him behind the World All-Stars' bench will be Joel Quenneville, whose St. Louis Blues are at .654 after recording 51 points in 39 games (23-11-5-0).
Bowman will be participating in his 12th All-Star Game, the most All-Star Game coaching appearances in NHL history. He last participated in the 1996 All-Star Game as coach of the Western Conference.
Quinn will be coaching in his second All-Star Game, last appearing behind the bench of the Campbell Conference in 1981. The opposing coach in 1981 was Bowman, whose Wales Conference team lost 4-1.
Neilson will be making his first All-Star Game appearance since 1983, when he directed the Campbell Conference to a 9-3 victory. Quenneville will be making his All-Star Game debut.
The starting lineups for the North America and World All-Stars will be announced Saturday.