NEWS OF MAPLE LEAFS
Last Update: Wednesday April 29, 1998 1:18AM EST
Friday April 24, 1998 Clark has abdomen surgery
Wendel Clark underwent surgery on his lower abdomen Thursday.
"Things went very well," Clark said from the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre in Worcester, Mass. "They found a small tear, which may be the source of a lot of problems this season."
Clark, 31, an unrestricted free agent, had 12 goals and seven assists in 47 games last season.
Tuesday April 21, 1998 U.S. ambassador: Canadian teams need break
OTTAWA -- Canadian NHL cities should consider giving the same tax and financial breaks that United States municipalities provide to keep their professional sports teams, in the view of the United States ambassador to Canada.
Speaking to the Ottawa Citizen editorial board Monday, Gordon Giffin said, "The immediate answer might be to sit back and say whether there ought to be similar inducements in Canada."
Giffin was echoing comments by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in a Toronto speech last week.
Two financially troubled Canadian NHL franchises have moved in recent years to the U.S. Of the six remaining teams in Canada, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa are often thought to be in long- or short-term jeopardy.
Professional sports franchises are good for cities economically and thus should get municipal subsidies, Giffin said.
"It's our view that it is good public policy. It is demonstrably in the interests of the community," he said.
Giffin's hometown of Atlanta is building a new facility for its NBA Hawks and its new NHL team, the Thrashers.
"As a community we are convinced that the location of the Atlanta Hawks and the new Atlanta hockey team in the heart of our city is immensely important to the economy and the psychology of our community," Giffin said. "As a consequence, we are prepared to devote some sorts of guaranteed financing and probably some tax consideration."
Canadian franchises have long decried the level of support U.S. teams get from their cities. The incredible competition between U.S. cities for professional sports franchises results in clubs getting municipally built stadiums, rental deals, tax breaks or help with financing.
In contrast, most Canadian NHL teams not only don't get that kind of aid, they often operate in small markets; have difficulty paying and keeping star players due to sky-rocketing U.S. salaries; and suffer from the weakness of the Canadian dollar.
Giffin said giving financial breaks to NHL franchises is not confined to the U.S., noting the Alberta government is holding the debt of the Oilers.
Sunday April 19, 1998 Air Canada opener still in question
President Ken Dryden has spoken with NHL officials twice about when to schedule the Leafs first game at the new Air Canada Centre when it opens in February.
"The league and television are willing to accommodate us, but now we have to go back and be sure of our construction deadlines," Dryden said. "We want to be sure that when we schedule the opponent we want, that the building is ready."
Friday April 17, 1998 Sundin to captain Team Sweden
Mats Sundin was named captain of Team Sweden in next month's world hockey championship in Zurich, Switzerland.
Teammate Fredrik Modin also accepted an invitation to play for the team.
"Ending another season in April doesn't feel right," said Sundin. "This is the time when you want to play for a championship. Last year not being in the playoffs made for a long summer."
Thursday April 16, 1998 Hawks' Russell injured in fight with Domi
TORONTO -- Chicago defenseman Cam Russell was sent to a hospital after a fight with Tie Domi in a game Wednesday night between the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs.Russell lost his helmet early in the fight, which began 4:51 into the game. Domi pulled Russell's sweater over his head, connected with a punch, swung Russell to the ice and the Chicago player hit his head.
The 29-year-old Russell was seen moving his arms and legs while being removed on a stretcher. The Blackhawks later said that tests conducted in hospital were clear and confirmed that Russell would join the club for the trip home.
Domi and Russell were handed fighting majors. Domi also received an instigation minor and a misconduct, moving him past Toronto's single-season record of 351 penalty minutes, set by Dave (Tiger) Williams in 1977-78.
Domi, a noted fighter, has been the feature of a local television ad in which he brags about how much time he spends in the penalty box.
"I really don't want to talk about it," Domi said. "It's not something I'm proud of.
"You never want that to happen. It was a scary incident. That could've been me. Every time you drop your gloves that can happen. I feel bad for him and his family. His wife and kids were probably watching the game (on television)."
The fighting didn't stop.
The Domi-Russell incident was followed by a fight between Toronto's Kris King and Chicago's Reid Simpson. Both received fighting majors.
Domi then padded his stats when he stepped onto the ice after finishing his penalty and fought Chicago's Bob Probert. Both were given fighting majors.
For his career, Domi now has 2,258 penalty minutes in 484 NHL games, an average of 4.8 minutes per game. At that pace, Domi would need to play another 346 games to eclipse Williams' career mark of 3,966 minutes.
Thursday April 16, 1998 Canada not receptive to call for tax breaks
TORONTO -- The NHL's Canadian teams won't be getting any tax breaks, at least for now.
That's the word from a government official in response to remarks Wednesday by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman that the six teams in Canada -- Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver -- face financial hardships.
Ernie Eves, Ontario's finance minister, sat at the head table as Bettman made his plea for a tax break at a Canadian Club luncheon. Afterwards, Eves, whose government has been closing hospitals and reducing education budgets, said it would be difficult to justify reducing taxes paid by professional hockey teams.
"We're all hockey fans, we all grew up that way, but it's a business just like any other business," Eves said. "There are other taxpayers besides hockey fans."
In his main address, Bettman reiterated how important it is to him and to NHL owners that no more teams leave Canada. The Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets left Canada for the United States in recent years.
"If we can't be strong here, we can't be strong anywhere," Bettman said.
Bettman said the tax burden is the most crippling problem for Canadian teams -- more so than the weak dollar that can add to Canadian payrolls.
His speech was made following a tour with Steve Stavro, principal owner of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and the NBA's Toronto Raptors, of the new downtown arena in which the teams will play beginning next February.
"Canadian teams start each season at a disadvantage compared to their U.S. counterparts," Bettman said. "I don't want them to merely survive. I want them to be competitive."
Bettman cited taxes as a major problem, saying the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators each pay more in municipal taxes than all 20 U.S. teams combined. The tax bill for each Canadian team averages four times that of a U.S. team, he said.
Arena construction is another problem, Bettman said. He said the new Nashville team will move into a publicly financed arena, while arenas recently opened or under construction in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto relied on private financing. The Senators even had to pay for construction of a highway exit ramp, Bettman said.
Bettman will return to Canada on April 28 to testify before a parliamentary subcommittee that plans hearings on the health of the sports industry -- particularly hockey -- in Canada.
Bettman said he hoped his comments Wednesday would start a public debate on whether more should be done by public officials to support NHL franchises.
"This industry is not getting even close to as favorable treatment as other industries," he said.
Bettman said he would be "extremely unhappy and disappointed" if another Canadian club relocated to the United States. But he said owners of the 20 U.S. teams would be unlikely to subsidize Canadian teams out of their own pockets, especially if tax policies are viewed as a major part of the problem.
Bettman stressed that the NHL would remain loyal to Canada, which supplies the league with 60 percent of its players.
"The NHL does not and cannot take hockey in Canada for granted," he said. "I assure you of our diligence."
Wednesday April 15, 1998 Bettman: Canada teams face financial burdens
TORONTO -- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman issued a blunt warning Wednesday to Canadian fans: Their six NHL teams will have trouble competing with United States franchises unless public officials change fiscal policies.
Bettman came to Canada seeking to ease doubts about his league's commitment to preserving big-league hockey in the land that gave birth to the sport. Anxiety has been deep since teams in Quebec City and Winnipeg moved to U.S. cities.
In a speech to business executives and a subsequent news conference, Bettman outlined the NHL's efforts to boost television revenue for the six Canadian clubs and cushion the impact of the weak Canadian dollar.
But he suggested that the six franchises -- Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver -- will not thrive unless Canadian politicians offer more help in the form of tax breaks and subsidies for new facilities.
"Canadian teams start each season at a disadvantage compared to their U.S. counterparts," he said. "I don't want them to merely survive. I want them to be competitive."
Bettman cited taxes as a major problem, saying the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators each pay more in municipal taxes than all 20 U.S. teams combined. The total tax bill for each Canadian team averages four times that of a U.S. team, he said.
Arena construction is another problem, Bettman said. He noted that the new Nashville team will move into a publicly financed arena, while arenas recently opened or under construction in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto relied on private financing.
The Senators even had to pay for construction of a highway exit ramp, Bettman said.
Bettman will return to Canada on April 28 to testify before a parliamentary subcommittee that plans hearings on the health of the sports industry -- particularly hockey -- in Canada.
Fans nationwide have been jarred by several recent developments, ranging from a sex-abuse case involving a prominent junior-league coach to the failure of the men's team to win a medal at the Nagano Olympics.
Soccer has recently surpassed hockey for the first time as the sport played by the most Canadian youths. And one of the country's leading newspapers -- the Globe and Mail -- currently is running a 12-part series on why the sport is in crisis.
Bettman, well-briefed on these problems, said he hoped his comments Wednesday would start a public debate on whether more should be done by public officials to support NHL franchises.
At the news briefing, skeptical reporters questioned whether Canadians would be willing to support tax breaks for pro teams at a time when budget cuts were causing hospitals to close and doctors to stage walkouts.
Bettman responded that the Canadian government already provides financial support for other industries and should look at pro hockey in the same light.
"This industry is not getting even close to as favorable treatment as other industries," he said.
Bettman said he would be "extremely unhappy and disappointed" if another Canadian club relocated to the United States. But he said owners of the 20 U.S. teams would be unlikely to subsidize Canadian teams out of their own pockets, especially if tax policies are viewed as a major part of the problem.
Bettman stressed that the NHL would remain loyal to Canada, which supplies the league with 60 percent of its players.
"The NHL does not and cannot take hockey in Canada for granted," he said. "I assure you of our diligence."
Tuesday April 14, 1998 Markov wins a full-time job
Defenseman Daniil Markov has impressed the coaching staff to the point where he's basically earned a job on the blue line next season.
However Markov likely will rejoin the St. John's Baby Leafs once Toronto's season ends Sunday in Vancouver, since he's eligible to help the AHL club.
"From (my) point of view he has made the team ... we've used him every game he's been here," Murphy said. "Next year when he comes to camp, I'd expect him to make the team. He's already one of our top six defensemen."
Monday April 13, 1998 Youth, deep pockets will revive franchise
The Maple Leafs have one of the more promising core of young players in the league, but signing a big-time free agent will ultimately determine if the Leafs will have clinched a playoff spot this time a year from now.
"I don't think you have to clean out the team we have here. I think we have some good building blocks," said coach Mike Murphy. "We have some good young players and some players who are committed to defensive hockey. I think with the right selection of pieces to the puzzle, this team can be significantly improved."
"I've been here four years now and they have all the support from the city and the fans they need to put a contender on the ice," Mats Sundin said. "Sure it looks good to have all these young guys, and the talent they have is really good. But I still think we have to be deeper to have a strong team for next year. There are people out there, especially this off-season, who can help."
Monday April 13, 1998 Slap shots ...
The Maple Leafs snapped a six-game winless streak against the Hurricanes franchise Saturday with a 5-1 victory over Carolina. ... Center Mats Sundin tallied his 32nd goal of the season. He added two assists, giving him four goals and seven assists in his last eight games. "Playing at home on a Saturday night helped and in the future we have to aim to be a top-four club and not just make the playoffs," Sundin said.
Monday April 13, 1998 Murphy to know of fate soon
Toronto dealt a serious blow to one of the hottest teams in the league Saturday, but its 5-1 victory over the Hurricanes might not be able to save Mike Murphy's job as Leafs head coach. The Toronto Sun reported Saturday that Murphy will know well before the June 27 NHL entry draft in Buffalo if he'll be behind the Maple Leafs bench next season.
Associate general manager Mike Smith told the Sun that the status of the coaching staff will be addressed early next month. The Sun said Smith is expected to push for a new coach, but Leafs president/general manager Ken Dryden might be hesitant "to fire an employee as classy and earnest as Murphy."
"Everyone is accountable when you don't make the playoffs and usually the coach is held the most accountable of all," Murphy told the Sun. "No one has control over his future, so I can't comment (on whether I'll be back)."
Friday April 10, 1998 Clark to have groin injury repaired
With the Maple Leafs eliminated from playoff contention, left wing Wendel Clark will skip the final four games of the season to undergo surgery to repair a groin injury.
"I might as well get healthy," Clark said. "I was doing surgery whether it was now or the end of the year, anyway. I can play the rest of the year, but in a back-to-back situations, it is tough to play. It's not progressively getting better. The quicker we can get the procedure done, the healthier I will be."
Clark, 31, who returned to the Maple Leafs on April 4 after missing 29 games, has 12 goals and seven assists in 47 games this season. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Thursday April 9th, 1998 Murphy not concerned with his future
Head coach Mike Murphy remains confident he will be behind the bench for the Maple Leafs next season despite missing the playoffs again.
"My future is fine," Murphy said. "Speculation is part of the business.
"The players have been respectful of me; most do all I ask. Most days, it's a fun experience. Yes, we haven't won a lot of games, but you have to walk before you can run."
Wednesday April 8, 1998 Yushkevich in unfamiliar territory
Defenseman Dimitri Yushkevich was a healthy scratch in Miami Tuesday night for the first time this season.
"After the warmup, the coach told me, 'That's enough,'" Yushkevich said. "I'm disappointed, I'm angry, but I'm mad at myself. I know I haven't played well."
Yushkevich has struggled since being paired with countryman Daniil Markov.
"When I played with Mathieu (Schneider), he knew his job and I knew mine," Yushkevich said. "With Daniil, I do too much."
Tuesday April 7, 1998 Slap shots ...
The Maple Leafs dropped their fourth straight game for the second time this season with a 4-2 setback in Dallas on Monday. ... Center Mats Sundin scored his 30th goal of the season marking the sixth time in eight seasons he has reached that figure. ... Rookie Lonny Bohonos scored his fourth goal. ... The Maple Leafs dropped four of six against the Stars this season. Starting in 1998-99, the Toronto will shift to the Northeast Division and will be replaced in the Central by the Nashville Predators.
Monday April 6, 1998 Zettler signs new deal
The Maple Leafs agreed to terms with impending
Group V free agent defenseman Rob Zettler on a
new contract. No terms were disclosed.
The 30-year-old Zettler, a stay-at-home
defenseman, has played in 52 games with
Toronto this season and recorded no goals and
six assists with 75 penalty minutes.
A 10-year NHL veteran in his third season with
Toronto, the 6-3, 199-pounder has four goals and 54 assists in 470 career games.
Monday April 6, 1998: Leafs watch
EMERGENCY RECALL: The Maple Leafs yesterday recalled
offensive defenceman David Cooper from St. John's as an emergency
fill-in for Mathieu Schneider.
Schneider suffered a mild abdominal pull Saturday against San Jose
and likely won't play before Thursday's game in Carolina.
Cooper ranks third in Baby Leafs scoring with 19 goals and 42
points. He and Mike Murphy aren't exactly close, though. Cooper
ripped the Leafs coach in early November for sending him to St.
John's.
"I was the one who called him up (Saturday night). I don't have any
resentment," Murphy said yesterday.
"I didn't want to go into the trip without a left-handed shot on the
power play and he has played very well down there. He deserves to
come up."
BREAKING EVEN: Newcomer Lonny Bohonos played 15:40 in his
first game with the Leafs, mustered two shots on goal and scored
once. He also was guilty of a giveaway that resulted in Murray Craven
scoring with 0.8 seconds left in the first for a 3-2 San Jose lead.
"I thought he played pretty well in the first and second," Murphy said.
"There was a little dropoff in the third, but it was such an emotional
game for him. I kind of expected that."
Murphy said he plans to play Bohonos with Mats Sundin and Derek
King against Dallas tonight.
STARS SLUMP: Dallas is 1-5-1 in its past seven games. The Stars'
most recent win was a 3-1 decision over New Jersey in a showdown
between the conference leaders last week.
They've lost three in row: 3-1 in Calgary, 4-1 in Edmonton and 5-3 in
Vancouver.
"I'm really concerned," said Ken Hitchcock, who coached in his
200th NHL game Saturday in Vancouver. "We are giving up too many
chances. We are pressing and getting caught or we are not making the
save at the right time."
FANS SEE STARS: The state of Texas has hockey fever again, with
tickets going quickly for the Stars' first two playoff rounds.
The club has sold 16,000 tickets each for Games 1 and 2 of the
opening round. For the other six possible games of the early rounds,
about 14,000 tickets per game have been snapped up.
Last season the club failed to sell out its first two playoff matches
against Edmonton, which upset the Stars in the opening round.
Monday April 6, 1998: McCauley adjusts to 'drastic change'
The honeymoon between rookie Alyn McCauley and at least one
disgruntled Maple Leafs fan expired about 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
"I was skating up the boards behind Wendel Clark when I heard this
fan yell out, 'Let's go Wendel,' McCauley said yesterday.
"But when I skated by the same fan, he said something -- well, you
couldn't print what he said. I guess he wanted me to 'pick it up.' "
With only five goals and 15 points in 52 games, the former Ottawa
junior has far to go before he becomes the impact player the Leafs
believe he can be.
"We kind of walked Alyn through his first year," coach Mike Murphy
said. "Next season, we envision him having a much more important
role with our club."
McCauley's ascension, in fact, has begun. After averaging about 14
minutes a game for most of the season, the 5-foot-11 centre played
nearly 20 minutes Saturday against the San Jose Sharks. Mats Sundin
was on the ice only 11 seconds longer.
And, for the second consecutive game, McCauley and his new
linemates -- Wendel Clark and Mike Johnson -- were the Leafs' most
dangerous combo.
Not that it matters much now. A 2-7-1 slump in their past 10 games
has dispelled any notion that the offensively anemic Leafs might reach
the playoffs. The goal now is to avoid finishing with fewer points than
last season.
The Leafs enter tonight's game in Dallas with 61 points through 75
games. They must play .500 for their remaining seven to equal last
year's paltry 68-point campaign.
McCauley, who last season won a world championship gold with
Canada's junior team and whose Ottawa 67's lost only 11 games, isn't
used to chasing such humble goals.
"It's a drastic change," the 20-year-old said. "I think the guys are
taking (missing the playoffs) pretty hard."
While a year ago former GM Cliff Fletcher was being drawn and
quartered in the media virtually every day, this year's Leafs have
managed to avoid controversy.
McCauley figures the reporters understood the Leafs weren't
world-beaters going into the season.
"Being from the Kingston area, I read the (Toronto) papers a lot
(when I was playing junior)," McCauley said. "I thought last year was
one of the worst. There was a lot of criticism and scandal.
"I think the reporters have been very fair with us this year. When
we've played poorly it ends up in the paper. When we play well, it's
reported, too."
In fact, playing for a loser -- even in hockey-mad Toronto -- hasn't
been the grind he might have imagined.
Still, McCauley recognizes Murphy will be in tough to keep his job.
"Sometimes it's easier to fire one guy than 25 players, even though it's
the players who ultimately determine how well a team does in a
season," McCauley said.
Sunday April 5, 1998: Murphy has players' support
While Maple Leaf president Ken Dryden won't
comment on coach Mike Murphy, players are
speaking in support of their coach. Any rift
between the coach and upper management isn't
being felt in the dressing room.
"I think he has the respect of the majority of the
guys in the dressing room," Kris King said.
"When you look at this year and the people he
had to work with here, the group we had, I think he's done a good job," captain
Mats Sundin said. "I think he's done everything in his power to make this team win."
Thursday April 2, 1998: Hull willing to turn over new Leaf
If the Leafs want to make him an offer, St. Louis sniper Brett Hull said he would
"definitely consider" signing with Toronto as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
"No question. Are you kidding me," Hull told the Toronto Star. "With the storied
tradition of this franchise? No question."
Hull, who is earning $4.7 million this season, said St. Louis is his home and he'd be
willing to sign with the Blues for less than he might make on the open market. But, he
didn't accept a recent three-year, $15 million offer from the Blues because it did not
include a no-trade clause.
Thursday March 26, 1998: Cote finally getting over original "shock"
Defenseman Sylvain Cote admitted he was originally shocked when he learned that
he'd been traded to the Maple Leafs, but he feels it may help him in the long run.
"When I got traded the first time (Hartford to Washington in September 1991) it
was the best move of my career," Cote said. "Maybe this will be the second best.
"To have the feeling that you're wanted somewhere ... that there is a demand for you
... is a great thing."