A large and strong winger who is also a good skater. Controls the puck well and has a good technique. Has a good shot and is a reliable goal scorer. Plays aggressively. (Matias Strozyk)

Translated

Hi everyone this is not a rumor, it is confirmed.

Yesterday was the golf tournament Simon Gagnefor Leucan. To Ammassa the most profit possible for sick children, Mr. Simon Gagne to give the scoop on all the world in exchange for donation for his foundation. Indeed, it sold the last vest worn by Simon Gagne in a game, $ 20,000. Following this sale comfirm that he was traded, but said he could not give its destination because the market is 99%. So, Monday we’ll know it the city will honor to be a leading player in the likes of Simon Gagne. Iit’ll be a trade with Montreal, Toronto or Los Angeles. Monday we will know the answer and we are allowed to dream.

I am sure that everyone was waiting to hear the final outcome of the Ilya Kovalchuk signing and it never came about. Logically, it says that once Kovalchuk signs, the Flyers will pull the trigger and make a trade involving Gagne. LA being the first domino.

If a team puts a specific player on waivers, that player has to first clear waivers “on the way down”, typically, for NHL players, in the American Hockey League (AHL).

What makes a player “waiver eligible”?

In order for a player to be put on waivers he or she must first played three seasons since his or her first NHL contract or has played 180 NHL games.

How long do teams have to claim the player?

After player has been placed on waivers any team has 48 hours to put a claim in for that player.

If more than one team claims the player, how is it decided which team “gets” the player?

If a player has been claimed by multiple teams, then the team the fewest amount of points will receive that player. After November 1, the current season’s standings indicates which team has the fewest amount of points, whereas, before November 1, the previous seasons standings indicate the team with the fewest amount of points.

How much of a player’s salary does the team have to pay?

If the player is being put on waivers and is claimed, the team acquiring the player is responsible for the entire term and value of the contract. If the player has cleared waivers and is on re-entry waivers, is claimed by another team—the team that is acquiring him is responsible for half of his salary and his now former team would be required for the other half of his salary. This is for the full duration of their contract.

Brett Lebda Scouting Report

Brian Burke Talks Trades with Doug Farraway

Marc Savard to the Toronto Maple Leafs is something that Brian Burke and company will be mulling over at the start of this week.

As reported by multiple sources, including sportsnet.ca’s Nick Kypreos and TSN.ca’s Bob McKenzie, Marc Savard has waived his no trade clause for two teams including: the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators. Also confirmed, is that Tomas Kaberle and Luke Schenn will not be part of this package. Names being bandied about include: Mikhail Grabovski and RFA Nikolai Kulemin.

Also well documented is the fact that the Boston Bruins are in a tight bind in terms of cap space. Based on the proposed player swap, the Boston Bruins are essentially giving the player up to alleviate salary from their roster and will not get true market value for him based on the fact that there are only two teams that are in the hunt (Toronto Maple leafs, Ottawa Senators) and the Ottawa Senators are tight up against the salary cap. Should Boston be able to move disgruntled center man Jason Spezza then they would be able to make an offer on Mark Savard. As it stands right now, the Ottawa Senators are unable to move Jason Spezza and his $7 million contract. Talks continue with the Columbus Blue Jackets regarding Jason Spezza but as the Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray says, “there are no offers at this time”.

The Boston Bruins are current very strong at the center postion with: Marc Savard, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and now newly minted Boston Bruin, Tyler Seguin, whom they acquired as the second overall pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft. While unlikely to unsurp the strong lineup of centreman the Boston Bruins have, Tyler Seguin has immediately made redundancies in the Boston Bruins lineup.

Marc Savard has had a number of concussions over his career and this has also lowered his trade value having just come over a serious concussion at the end of the regular season where he missed  the last 18 games, as well as six playoff games. The Toronto Maple leafs will likely have medical assessments done on Savard before the trade is completed to make sure that concussion problems are not career threatening.With regards to Mark Savard’s cap hit, his salary breakdown is as follows:

2010/2011 — 7 million
2011/2012 — 7 million
2012/2013 — 6.5 million
2013/2014 — 5 million
2014/2015 — 1.5 million
2015/2016 — 525,000
2016/2017 — 525,000

This makes his annual cap hit: $4,007,000 per year.

While there is a certain amount of risk involved in this trade for the Toronto Maple Leafs, acquiring this player in the off-season allows for full recovery from  postconcussion syndrome and to acclimatize himself with a new environment.

Mark Savard would clearly solve the problem the Toronto Maple Leafs have with regards to the unfilled position of a number one centerman. Also, Mark Savard will be reunited with one of the league’s premier  pure snipers in Phil Kessel. The two had great chemistry in Boston even with Phil Kessel’s well-documented battle with testicular cancer and mononucleosis. With Phil Kessel seemingly healthy and coming into the season in shape (which was not the case in the 2009/2010 season), goal outputs in the 35 or 40 goal range would be easily attainable extrapolating his shortened season totals previously. While Phil Kessel and Mark Savard would be the number one and number two players offensively on the team, the Toronto Maple leafs still require another topline winger. One would think that attracting free-agent wingers will be a much easier prospect than was previously the case where Toronto may have a history of overpaying free agents.

Brian Burke has repeatedly said that Ilya Kovalchuk is not on the Toronto Maple Leafs radar screen due to his salary demands and the length/term that is being suggested that he wants. Perhaps now with a top-flight centreman and an equally gifted sniper lining up on the other side of the ice, he would be willing to play on hockey’s biggest stage for a lesser amount and for a shorter-term. Without being unrealistic, this is a common practice in the NHL if a player like Ilya Kovalchuk who has been starved of playoff success (even regular-season success) and would perhaps be willing to be reunited with his centreman from when Mark Savard played down the middle for the Atlanta thrashers. Ilya Kovalchuk had a career-high 52 goals and 92 points while playing on a line with Marc Savard.

Alternatively, multiple sources have indicated that the San Jose Sharks have offered power forward Ryane Clowe in exchange for Tomas Kaberle. The two sides have apparently not come to terms due to Toronto’s insistence that a prospect included in the trade. However, should the two sides be able to come to terms, it is easy to imagine Toronto’s first line taking shape.

The other positive aspect to this trade would be the alleviation of pressure on second-year centerman, Tyler Bozak. The 2010 unrestricted free agent pool is thin at best. The prospects of Toronto acquiring a number one centerman looked bleak and the prospects of Toronto’s number one and number two pairing of Tyler Bozak and Nazim Kadri were not good with undue pressure and expectations being heaped upon them. This trade will allow them to grow under a much smaller microscope and without the media picking apart their every mistake. This also gives Toronto a legitimate second line with what would appear to be: Victor Stolberg, Tyler Bosak and Christian Hansen as second line, reuniting the three roommates that was successful in the preseason of 2009/2010 and later in the year down the stretch. Should Nazem Kadri make the Toronto Maple Leafs it would likely be on the third line where he would be insulated with stronger more “forceful” players and would be able to play the creative game that is the accustomed to without the fear of being head hunted. The other option for him would be then to play as the number one centerman on the Toronto Marlies, which is probably the best environment for him to play in with top level playing time, as well as being put into high-pressure situations that he likely would not have been able to get into on the Leafs with the improved depth chart.

Should the trade happen, this would Make the Toronto Maple Leafs a much harder team to play against, and surely solidify their spot as a playoff team.

Marc Savard Scouting Report

Assets
Is very shifty  and has great vision on the ice. Marc has outstanding offensive instincts and is a top-level playmaker. Marc distributes the puck with laserlike precision. This play without the puck has improved and despite his small stature, he is known as an agitator.

Flaws
Despite being 5’10″ and being fiery he can still be out battled the puck on occasion in the dirty areas of the hockey rink. Marc It is not a tremendously fast skater and has been known to be in the coaches doghouse because of a lack of discipline taking penalties on occasion.

Career potential
Excellent playmaking center.

Marc Savard Full Career Stats

History
2007-08: Chosen second overall by the Erie Otters at the 2008 OHL Priority Selection.

2008-09: In his OHL rookie year for the Erie Otters, McKegg scored 8 goals and added 10 assists for 18 points in 64 games. Appeared in 5 playoff games for the Otters, picking up 2 goals and 1 assist. Played for Team Canada at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge where he earned a gold medal.

2009-10: McKegg had a breakout season for the Otters. Appearing in 67 games for that club, he scored 37 goals and assisted on 48 others for 85 points. Went from a -13 rating in 2008-09 to a +18 rating in 2009-10. Suffered knee strain in preseason and spent the rest of the year working to get his speed back. Played on top line with Zack Torquato and Mike Cazzola. Played in four playoff games for the Otters, picking up 2 goals and 1 assist.

Talent Analysis
Goal scorer with breakaway speed. Very slippery. Defensively responsible.

Future
Top-six scorer. He’ll need to gain strength for the pro game.

In 2009, a lot of people underestimated the draft-eligible Ryan O’Reilly. He played on the Erie Otters, a low-profile team. But he went on to stick in the NHL as an 18-year-old for the Colorado Avalanche and make some pundits and scouts look a bit foolish.

A very similar thing seems to be happening again this year, this time with goal scorer Greg McKegg He has 30 goals and 37 assists in 56 games, but he’s not well known and not considered a top prospect for the 2010 draft. He’s rated just 94th among North American Skaters by Central Scouting, and to add insult to injury, his name was spelled wrong on the list.

McKegg looks a bit slight on the ice, though he’s 6’0, 190 pounds. And he didn’t help himself to get on radar screens last season, with just 18 points in 64 games as a rookie for Erie.

But McKegg is slippery, can get up ice in a hurry and can put the puck in the net. He plays for a tough coach who stresses the little things, and McKegg passes muster. His +12 is an indicator of his defensive ability. Robbie Ftorek is happy to sing McKegg’s praises.

“Kegger came into camp and he was in great shape and then he hurt himself,” Ftorek said in early February. “He’s still not skating as well as he did in training camp. I wish the scouts could have seen him in training camp because they would have been drooling. I’m sure he’s going to find that [speed] again, but it might take through the summer to get that back. But he’s playing very, very well. He’s confident, scoring major-league goals — a roof and a backhand-forehand tonight. He’s really playing well and his teammates are helping him along.”

McKegg recently participated in the OHL All-Star Game, replacing Greg Nemisz of the Windsor Spitfires due to injury. He had two assists in the game.

The Ontario native won’t be 18 until a week before the 2010 NHL draft, making him one of the younger members of his draft class.

Hockey’s Future spoke to the very humble McKegg at his home rink in Erie.

HF: You’re having quite a breakout year offensively. How would you explain it?
GM: The second year in the league you definitely have more confidence. You know what to expect. I’m playing with Zack Torquato and Mike Cazzola and they’re two great guys to play with. They communicate so well and I always know where they are. They always seem to find me. It’s been working out really well so far.

HF: You’ve been with them pretty much all year, right?
GM: The first 17 games we were mish-mashed. We’re all centermen. About the 18th game, we played together and have stayed together ever since and it’s worked out great. Hopefully we can keep it up.

HF: Had you played left wing before?
GM: Yeah, I’d flip-flopped around. I was mostly a centerman growing up, but wing’s not too hard to adjust to really. Wherever, it doesn’t really matter. The first guy back takes the down-low spot, so it’s not a big deal either way.

HF: Did you feel like it was important to have a good year because it’s your draft year?
GM: Yeah, for sure. I definitely didn’t have a great season last year, so it was important to get off to a good start here and I did kind of have a slow start. The first quarter I was a bit nervous and wasn’t producing like I thought I could. The last about 40 games have been awesome. I feel like I’ve found my groove and my linemates have helped me out a lot.

HF: Do you feel like people are finally giving you some credit too?
GM: Um, I think maybe people are noticing a bit more now because I’m doing more offensively. When the credit’s there it’s nice to see, but I try not to think about it too much and play my game.

HF: You got to go to the OHL All-Star Game recently.
GM: Yeah, that was an awesome experience to get to play with those top-notch guys. There’s a ton of skill there and I learned a lot. It was great just being around those guys.

HF: Did you feel better about yourself that you were able to fit in?
GM: Yeah, for sure. You kind of realize what it takes to be in that position. The skill level was unbelievable there and it was just great to be a part of.

HF: Do you still feel like you have something to prove — a little bit of an underdog?
GM: Oh yeah. Definitely. I think I’ve got a lot to prove. There’s a lot of season left and hopefully I can keep improving on my game and go far in the playoffs.

HF: What do you think is your best asset?
GM: I’d have to say my shot I think. They’ve been putting the puck on my stick this year and I’ve seemed to find the net. Tough question, but I think that’s what I’d say right now.

HF: On your line, who does what?
GM: I think Cazzola is probably the best in the defensive zone and he’s pretty smart, you always know where he’s going to be. He gets the puck to me and Torqs. Torqs is the set-up guy, he usually can find anyone out there. I like to stick around the high slot, hopefully they can find me.

HF: What’s been the hardest time in your hockey career?
GM: I think last year for sure. I had a slow start. For about 45 games there I was bouncing around, not getting much ice, just like three or four shifts a game. For a young guy coming into the league, you tend to put too much pressure on yourself and seet your standards too high. I definitely got set back a notch there, but I tried to come into this season a lot more confident.

HF: Have you ever had a major injury?
GM: Not yet, luckily. My biggest injury has probably been a separated shoulder in I think my minor bantam year. I had a knee injury this year, but other than that I’ve been pretty healthy.

HF: Was that just a strain?
GM: Yeah, I think it was an ACL strain. It kept me out two weeks (during preseason).

HF: Which defenseman do you think is the hardest to beat in this league?
GM: I would say Cam Fowler. He’s such a smart player and a big body. He can skate.

HF: Have you talked to any NHL teams yet this year?
GM: I’ve talked to a few, but they mostly talk to your agent, it’s not like the OHL draft when they’re always around, calling your house. You never know if they’re there or not. In minor hockey I could see them. You try not to think about it too much and play your game.

HF: Have they told you any things to work on?
GM: They tell my agent and he reports it back to me. I think the biggest thing I need to work on, from what they say, is playing away from the puck. It’s so important. It’s tough to do and tough to learn.

HF: Who’s your agent?
GM: John Thornton, Top Shelf Sports Management. He’s Joe’s brother. He’s from my hometown, so we kind of have that connection.

HF: Do you work with a skating coach in the summer?
GM: Yeah I have. I worked with Dwayne Blais and he’s awesome. He tried to tighten the base of my stride up because I was a little bowlegged. He’s a perfect example to watch because he’s a great skater, so powerful. I try to be a sponge and learn as much information as I can. I’ve known him since I was young, but last year was the first time working on the ice with him.

HF: Did you feel like you maintained that stride all year?
GM: I was skating well in camp and then I got that knee injury and I kind of ‘winded it out’ Robbie said. I need to work on getting it tighter. It’s not back to what I was doing, but I’m still working on it.

HF: Robbie said your speed isn’t quite back either.
GM: That and I’m crossing over when I’m stopping instead of just turning my foot. It’s coming along. It’s tough to get it back after an injury like that. This summer I’ll work on it again with the skating coach.

@JeffMarek: Brad Ross playy on line with Johansen + Niederreiter w/Portland. leafs just drafted Steve Ott essentially.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=2294&cmpid=nhl-twt-nhl

• A strong second year in the Western Hockey League saw Ross contribute 27 goals (27-41–68) and 203 penalty minutes for the Winterhawks in 71 games. He added another nine points (2-7–9) in 13 playoff games to finish the season.

• His brother, Nick, was selected 30th overall in 2007 by the Phoenix Coyotes and he played 47 games in the American Hockey League in 2009-10 for the San Antonio Rampage.

• For most of the 2009-10 season, Ross played on a line with 2010 draft prospects Ryan Johansen (No. 10 ranked) and Nino Niederreiter (No. 12 ranked). In total, the Portland Winterhawks have five draft-eligible players ranked in the top 90 North American skaters.

• He was named Portland’s Rookie of the Year 2008-2009 and won a gold medal with Canada at the 2009 Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial.

FAVORITES

NHL team: Montreal Canadiens
NHL player: Marian Gaborik
Shootout move: “Backhand, top shelf”
Goal celebration: “Fist pump”
Video game: Call of Duty
Movie: 300
TV show: Family Guy
Actress: Eva Longoria
Music artist: Eminem
Website: nhl.com
Home-cooked meal: Steak
Activity away from the rink: Hanging out with the boys

Fantastic Dion Phaneuf video from KesselySnipes.

Off-Season Game Plan examines what the Leafs could do this summer, as they continue the re-modeling process that they have undergone since Brian Burke took over as General Manager.

As is the case with every GM, there have been hits and misses on Burke’s record, but he has managed to bring in a couple of cornerstone pieces around which to build, with goal-scoring winger Phil Kessel and hard-rock defenceman Dion Phaneuf the most obvious infusions of talent.

As the rebuilding process goes, the Leafs do have young players making progress. Carl Gunnarsson, Luke Schenn and Tyler Bozak, most notably, showed real promise in the second half of the season and will be counted on to play bigger roles going forward.

Even so, there are still several variables at work when looking at next season’s potential roster. Forwards like Viktor Stalberg and Luca Caputi, for example, had an opportunity to play top-six forward roles down the stretch and, while that’s where they ultimately figure to land if they are NHL regulars, it might be a reach to suggest that a team harbouring playoff aspirations would start next season with both of them in the lineup.

Even throw top prospect Nazem Kadri into that mix. If one of Kadri, Stalberg or Caputi is among the top six forwards out of the gate next season, that’s enough risk to take if the team really believes it’s competing for a playoff spot.

That likely means internal improvement won’t be nearly enough and the Leafs will have to look elsewhere for help. While many rebuilding franchises play the waiting game, willing to wait through years of high draft picks, that doesn’t appear to fit with Burke’s impatience to move this team to the next stage of its development — the playoffs — even if the team needs to be dragged there.

As such, it seems likely that Burke would make another blockbuster trade if he felt it would make the Maple Leafs a playoff team in short order.

A Tomas Kaberle deal figures to be on the table at some point this summer, and Toronto does have the financial wherewithal to bury a salary in the minors if it means getting an impact player, but glitz and glamour isn’t the only need for this team.

This is just throwing names out there, but if the Sharks faltered in the postseason again, it would seem reasonable that the Leafs would inquire about the services of Joe Thornton, or maybe the for-sale Dallas Stars wouldn’t mind shedding Brad Richards’ $7.8-million contract, which expires at the end of next season.

The point isn’t that the Leafs will specifically be after Thornton or Richards, but that, based on their transactions and financial situation, they can remain open to possibilities that will bring an obvious upgrade in talent to a team that needs it if they are going to be a playoff contender.

“We don’t have the split we need,” Burke told the Toronto Sun, referring to his oft-stated preference of having six skilled forwards at the top of the depth chart and six hard-boiled checkers, grinders, scrappers filling out the lower half. “I don’t know if we’re 8-4 or 9-3. Some guys are going to have to define their roles here or play somewhere else.”

So, in addition to doing what they can to upgrade the skill level from a team that finished with one 20-goal scorer (Phil Kessel) after dealing away Alexei Ponikarovsky, Niklas Hagman, Lee Stempniak and 19-goal man Matt Stajan during the season, the Leafs are going to need more bottom-six forwards.

Even if some of those bottom-six forwards, that bring the physical element and toughness Burke desires, have some offensive upside, that’s probably a trade-off worth exploring at this stage of the team’s development. After tying Montreal for 25th in goals for 2.56 per game), it’s not prudent for the Leafs to be turning down offensive potential.

With a passionate fan base and an outspoken general manager, who has a history of making big deals, it at least promises to be an interesting summer for the Maple Leafs.

GM/COACH
Brian Burke/Ron Wilson

RETURNING FORWARDS
Player Rating Cap Hit
Phil Kessel 78.14 $5.4M
Mikhail Grabovski 72.94 $2.9M
Tyler Bozak 71.49 $3.725M
Viktor Stalberg 65.63 $850K
Luca Caputi 63.92 $833K
Fredrik Sjostrom 61.14 $750K
Colton Orr 56.79 $1.0M
FREE AGENT FORWARDS
Player Rating Class ’09-’10 Cap Hit
Nikolai Kulemin 73.46 RFA $850K
John Mitchell 64.23 RFA $500K
Jamie Lundmark 62.12 UFA $600K
Christian Hanson 61.83 RFA $975K
Wayne Primeau 59.66 UFA $1.4M
Rickard Wallin 58.58 UFA $800K
Not only is Phil Kessel going to face a certain amount of pressure being the only proven scorer in the Maple Leafs lineup, but there are inevitably going to be comparisons between the career of Kessel and that of the No. 2 pick in tthe upcoming draft — just one of the picks that the Leafs gave up last summer to get Kessel.

For his part, 22-year-old Kessel has put up back-to-back 30-goal seasons, so the Leafs already have some idea what they have in hand. Thirty goals should be the base expectation for Kessel, but if his linemates improve, 40 isn’t out of the question at some point.

Mikhail Grabovski has offensive talent, but is a long way from being a consistent point producer. In an ideal world, Grabovski could anchor a secondary scoring line for the Leafs, but expecting that next season does require a certain leap of faith.

Several Leafs forwards have promise, though caution needs to be exercised when placing long-term expectations on unproven players.

Tyler Bozak, the 24-year-old who emerged as the Maple Leafs’ number one centre in the second half of the season, appears to be the most promising of those who spent significant time with the Leafs last season.

Bozak has good speed and is a savvy puck distributor with fine offensive instincts, but can still improve his all-around game as he grows into a prominent role in the league.

Toronto’s rebuilding plan is going to require development of some of their other young forwards. One of those is Viktor Stalberg, a 24-year-old who ripped it up in preseason last year before stalling and going down to the AHL for a spell.

Stalberg has size and can finish but, as it goes with young players, who knows if he’s good for 20 goals or is going to land in the AHL next year?

Another challenger for position as a scoring winger is Luca Caputi, the 21-year-old picked up from the Penguins in the Alexei Ponikarovsky trade.

Caputi is lanky and talented and while 47 points in 54 AHL games last year suggests he’s a legit prospect, two goals in 23 NHL games indicates he may not yet be ready for the scoring line duty that will ultimately be expected of him.

The less-heralded part of the trade with Calgary, Fredrik Sjostrom, doesn’t provide much offensively, yet his size and speed makes him an effective penalty killer and fourth-line checking forward.

Sjostrom doesn’t necessarily provide the kind of pugnacity that Burke prefers in his fourth-line forwards, but that’s not an issue with Colton Orr.

Orr did manage a career-high six points last season but, more importantly, he fought 23 times and racked up a career-high 239 penalty minutes. How much that helps the Leafs win is debatable, but Burke wants a heavyweight enforcer and Orr fits the bill.

One of the more underrated players in the league, though maybe not for long, is Nikolai Kulemin. The Russian winger plays a good two-way game and can be a factor on the forecheck, but his impact was elevated later in the season once he started getting prime ice time.

Kulemin scored a career-high 36 points last season, so counting on him for first-line productivity could be a reach, but he’s certainly worth a top-six role once he agrees to a new contract.

Toronto has been patient with 25-year-old John Mitchell, waiting for him to develop. Mitchell hasn’t broken through offensively and his defensive game is still a work-in-progress, so he might be worth a third-line role or could merely be a fringe forward, depending on the level of competition up front.

Christian Hanson has enough size (6-foot-4, 228 pounds) that he ought to be able to contribute in a checking role if his offensive game doesn’t pan out. The 24-year-old had 31 points in 38 AHL games, but had zero goals in 30 NHL games before tallying a pair in the final game of the season.

Even with a number of holes in the forward ranks, there doesn’t appear to be much reason for the Leafs to bring back unrestricted free agents Jamie Lundmark, Wayne Primeau and Rickard Wallin.

In need of a serious upgrade of forward talent, the Leafs will likely hope that 2009 first-round pick Nazem Kadri can make the jump from the Ontario Hockey League. Of the No. 7 picks selected since the lockout (Jack Skille, Kyle Okposo, Jakub Voracek and Colin Wilson), Skille and Okposo didn’t see a lot of NHL time a year after being drafted, while Voracek and Wilson both saw significant NHL time, so it’s not unreasonable to expect Kadri to play, but it’s hardly a sure thing.

Kadri has the skills to potentially be a top-line scoring forward, but expectations have to be tempered, even if he’s playing with the Leafs as a 20-year-old next season.

While a Tomas Kaberle trade would ideally bring a scoring forward in return, the Leafs could also dip into the free agent pool, as players like Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Frolov would figure to provide the kind of scoring that the Leafs need, though neither one seems to have the style of game that appeals to Burke.

Given Burke’s reputation for loyalty to “his” guys, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that the Leafs could consider someone like Todd Bertuzzi.

He’s no longer an elite power forward, but Bertuzzi’s settled in the 15-to-20 goal range in recent seasons and, with those expectations, he could help bridge the gap while the Leafs wait to find out whether Stalberg and Caputi will sink or swim.

Toronto could also use an upgrade in the checking forward department. Depending on the money available after addressing scoring needs, the Leafs could look to free agent checkers like Colby Armstrong, Christopher Higgins or perhaps Zenon Konopka — a tough guy who can win some draws.

RETURNING DEFENCEMEN
Player Rating Cap Hit
Dion Phaneuf 74.72 $6.5M
Tomas Kaberle 70.18 $4.25M
Carl Gunnarsson 68.35 $800K
Luke Schenn 67.39 $2.975M
Francois Beauchemin 66.46 $3.8M
Jeff Finger 62.59 $3.5M
Mike Komisarek 56.87 $4.5M
FREE AGENT DEFENCEMEN
Player Rating Class ’09-’10 Cap Hit
Mike Van Ryn N/A UFA $3.35M
Garnet Exelby 56.00 UFA $1.725M
Set to become the Leafs’ captain, Dion Phaneuf is touted as an impact player, but wasn’t particularly productive after arriving in Toronto (two goals, ten points in 26 games). If the Leafs improve their forward talent, that could help free up Phaneuf, particularly on the power play, where his heavy shot should be an asset.

Tomas Kaberle has played 820 games with the Leafs since 1998-1999 and last season’s minus-16 was the worst mark of his career. He finished the season with only six points in his last 26 games. With his no-trade clause voided by the Leafs missing the postseason, Kaberle is a logical candidate to be moved, provided the Leafs can get something significant in return.

Given the Leafs’ depth on the blueline, it would make sense for the Leafs to deal Kaberle in an effort to upgrade their offence. With only one year remaining on his current contract, Kaberle isn’t quite as desirable as he’s been in the past, but his ability to quarterback a power play will make him an attractive commodity.

One reason Toronto has such depth on the blueline is the development of Carl Gunnarsson, the 23-year-old Swede who seamlessly handled a top-four role in the second half of the season. Gunnarsson is smart in his own end and makes good passes. If Kaberle is moved, Gunnarsson’s puck skills will be even more valuable on the Leafs’ back end.

After a relatively slow start to his second NHL season, Luke Schenn emerged in the second half of the season (effectively after the Phaneuf trade) as a much stronger defensive presence, handling nearly 20 minutes per game from February through the end of the season.

Francois Beauchemin struggled at times defensively, but didn’t back down from a heavy workload that saw him play more than 25 minutes a night while playing all 82 games. His versatility allows Beauchemin to play in any situation — he handles and shoots the puck well enough to work the PP, while he’s tough and durable enough to play a defensive role.

Perhaps with the Leafs’ improved depth along the blueline, Beauchemin could be more effective while logging fewer minutes on a night-in, night-out basis.

In part because of his hefty salary, Jeff Finger is the most maligned of Maple Leafs defencemen. While he’s still a capable penalty killer, Finger struggled early in the season and fell out of the defensive rotation before playing in a limited role late in the year.

Finger is the kind of player that could be demoted to the AHL if the Maple Leafs need cap room in order to make a significant acquisition, but he could still be a serviceable third-pair defenceman; maybe not worth $3.5-million a season, but useful nonetheless.

The Leafs’ prized acquisition last summer, Mike Komisarek, endured a forgettable first season in Toronto. Among other things, he tried to fight more than he had in the past, and the result was not at all what the Leafs were hoping for. Komisarek’s season ended after 34 games as he underwent shoulder surgery, yet he still managed a career-low minus-9 rating while also struggling on the penalty kill.

A healthy and focused Komisarek will be an important part for the Leafs going forward and now, with Phaneuf, Gunnarsson and an improved Schenn, he has plenty of support.

If the Maple Leafs make any additions on defence, and presuming that Garnet Exelby will look for a fresh start elsewhere, it will likely be of the depth variety, as there aren’t a lot of NHL-ready options in the system if injuries or subpar play affect the regulars.

RETURNING GOALTENDER
Player Rating Cap Hit
Jean-Sebastien Giguere 66.33 $7.0M
Jonas Gustavsson 63.63 $1.35M
Jean-Sebastien Giguere lost his job in Anaheim to Jonas Hiller with a year-and-a-half of mediocre (.900 save percentage) play, but the veteran improved with his move to Toronto, posting a .916 save percentage in 15 games with the Leafs. Going into the final season of his contract, and facing an opportunity to start again, Giguere ought to be motivated.

Backing up Giguere is The Monster, Jonas Gustavsson, the highly-touted Swede who had an up-and-down rookie season, but played well down the stretch to provide more hope for the future. The 25-year-old already inked a two-year deal in off-season, giving him an opportunity to prove he’s worthy of a long-term starter’s role.

Goaltending is one reason to hold some optimism for the Maple Leafs. After Vesa Toskala posted an .874 save percentage in 26 games with the Maple Leafs last season, there is a good chance that the Leafs will improve simply based on better goaltending.

For example, Giguere and Gustavsson combined to post a .906 save percentage with the Leafs. By replacing Toskala’s .874 save percentage (on 676 shots) with a .906 save percentage (and, given Gustavsson’s finish, it would be fair to expect even better), the Maple Leafs would give up approximately 22 fewer goals over the course of the season.

That doesn’t entirely close the gap (Toronto allowed 53 more goals than they scored last season) enough to make the Leafs a playoff team, but it’s definitely a move in the right direction.

TOP PROSPECTS
Player Position Team/League Stats
Nazem Kadri C London (OHL) 35-58-93,+26, 56 GP
Keith Aulie D Toronto (AHL) 2-4-6,+2, 48 GP
Brayden Irwin RW Vermont (HE) 15-19-34,+6, 39 GP
Jussi Rynnas G Assat Pori (FHL) 2.50 GAA, .929 SVPCT, 31 GP
Juraj Mikus D Toronto (AHL) 5-18-23,-13, 68 GP
Philippe Paradis C Shawinigan (QMJHL) 24-20-44,-4, 63 GP
James Reimer G Toronto (AHL) 14-8-2, 2.25 GAA, .925 SVPCT, 25 GP
Korbinian Holzer D DEG Metro Stars (DEL) 6-16-22,+12, 52 GP
Christopher DiDomenico RW Drummondville (QMJHL) 7-15-22,+18, 12 GP
Mikhail Stefanovich C Quebec (QMJHL) 25-43-68,+10, 53 GP
Nazem Kadri is the shining offensive hope of Maple Leafs prospects. He steadily improved in each of his four OHL seasons and has the creativity to be a point producer, but he’ll need to improve his conditioning — getting stronger and faster — to withstand the grind of being a scorer in the NHL.

Included as part of the blockbuster trade with Calgary, Keith Aulie is a 6-foot-6 stay-at-home defenceman who can skate well for his size. He also suffered a shoulder injury not long after joining the Marlies, so another year of seasoning in the AHL should help Aulie’s development.

Toronto native Brayden Irwin was signed as a free agent out of the University of Vermont, with Burke stating that the Leafs expect Irwin to be a scoring forward after he put up 34 points in 39 games. Given his marginal offensive numbers (including 48 points in 105 games in his first three years with the Catamounts), Irwin may need to trade on his 6-foot-5 frame for more of a grinding role in the pros.

Finnish goaltender Jussi Rynnas elected to sign with the Leafs, over other suitors, reportedly in part because of goaltending coach Francois Allaire, who is a guru for a big netminder like Rynnas, who stands 6-foot-5.

Lanky blueliner Juraj Mikus adjusted to the North American game with the Marlies last season and his ability to move the puck offers some promise. He’ll need to get stronger and improve in his own end if he’s going to challenge for an NHL job.

Acquired in exchange for Jiri Tlusty, Philippe Paradis was a first-round pick in 2009. He didn’t score enough in junior to think that he’ll make an impact like that at the next level, but Paradis does play with some grit and could eventually earn a role as a checker.

James Reimer has worked his way up from the ECHL and put up strong numbers in a backup role with the Marlies in 2009-2010. With Rynnas in the fold, Reimer may not be a top priority, but if he keeps stopping pucks, he can’t be forgotten.

German blueliner Korbinian Holzer has been improving since he was drafted in 2006 and the 22-year-old played in the Olympics and is set to play in the upcoming World Championships. Perhaps he’ll be ready to spend next season with the Marlies, just to see how his progress compares to other prospects.

Chris DiDomenico played only a dozen regular season games as he returned from a broken femur, but he has shown that his scoring touch wasn’t lost with all that time off. A chance to prove himself in the American Hockey League awaits.

Same goes for Mikhail Stefanovich, a big and skilled winger who saw his production dip from 49 goals in 2008-2009 to 25 last season. If one or two of the Leafs’ fringe forwards joins some of these younger players in the AHL, there is likely a chance that the Marlies can develop some offensive talent.

More long-range prospects include Ontario Hockey League defenceman Jesse Blacker, a second-round pick in 2009, as well as collegians Jimmy Hayes and Jerry d’Amigo, both of whom had productive seasons; Hayes with national champion Boston College and d’Amigo, who plays at R.P.I., was a standout for the gold-medal winning U.S. team at the World Junior Championships.

DRAFT
No first-round pick.

FREE AGENCY
According to www.capgeek.com, the Maple Leafs have approximately $50.1M committed to the 2010-2011 salary cap for 16 players.

Needs: Two top six forwards, two top nine forwards.

What I said the Maple Leafs needed last year: Three first line forwards, backup goaltender.

Who did they add? Phil Kessel, Colton Orr, Francois Beauchemin, Mike Komisarek, Jonas Gustavsson.

TRADE MARKET Mikhail Grabovski, Tomas Kaberle.

2006-07: With Mississauga IceDogs recorded 27 goals and 38 points while playing in 68 games. Luca Caputi added two goals and an assist in five playoff contests.

2007-08: Luca Caputi almost doubled his previous season’s total of 27 goals and 65 points with 51 goals and 60 assists in 2007-08, good for first on the team, fourth in the OHL, and more points than highly touted prospects like Steve Stamkos and Cody Hodgson. The young forward also added an element of nasty to his play with 107 penalty minutes, fourth overall on his team.

Luca Caputi Talent Analysis

Luca Caputi has all of the physical tools to develop into a power forward at the NHL level. At 6-2, 184 pounds, Luca Caputi’s game is based upon paying a price physically. He scores a lot of his goals from in front of the net, and is more than willing to muck it up in the corners. One area where Luca Caputi must improve is his skating, where his initial stride is not as quick as it needs to be.

Luca Caputi Scouting Report

Assets
Has a nose for the net, solid offensive instincts, grit and versatility. Does his best work around the net.
Flaws
Needs to fill out his 6-2 frame in order to add the strength needed to win battles with consistency. Isn’t a great defensive winger.

Career Potential
Scoring winger.
Follow Luca Caputi on Twitter.

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The trade is pending Kessel agreeing to a contract with Toronto.

A process the Leafs are working on right now.

The deal would end a saga that began during the lead-up to NHL draft when Kessel originally appeared to be headed to Toronto in exchange for defenceman Tomas Kaberle and a draft pick. However the deal was scuttled at the last moment due to a miscommunication over the pick.

The Bruins had been unable to re-sign the 21-year old Kessel and the two sides were miles apart on a new contract. A restricted free agent, Kessel was reportedly looking for a deal in the neighbourhood of $4-5 million a season, while the Bruins, who are right up against the league mandated $56.8 million salary cap, could not afford to sign the Madison, Wisconsin native to the terms he desired.

Kessel informed the team through his agent last week that he was through negotiating and intended to sign an offer sheet with one of the league’s other 29 clubs.

While both the Nashville Predators and New York Rangers had shown interest, Leafs’ general manager Brian Burke’s persistence has finally paid off.

Kessel, who is sidelined until at least November following rotator cuff surgery, overcame a battle with testicular cancer in 2006 and captured the Masterton Trophy in 2007 for perseverance and dedication to hockey. He enjoyed a career season with the Bruins last year, leading the team with 36 goals in 70 games while adding 24 assists to finish with a career high 60 points. He was selected in the first round, fifth overall by the Bruins in the 2006 NHL Entry draft.

The final straw for Hartsburg might have been Sunday’s 7-4 loss to the Washington Capitals. After the game, Hartsburg called his team out for not playing hard.

“The thing for us right now is that we have to play the game with a lot more pride than what we started this game with,” Hartsburg told the National Post. “You know what? [Washington] is a great team, and they exposed some things in us, but we have to take a lot more pride in ourselves as a team right from the start of hockey games.”

Hartsburg signed a three-year contract in June of 2008, taking over for current general manager Bryan Murray. His 17-27-7 record has left Ottawa with 41 points, which is the third worst point total in the league.

Prior to his stint with the Senators, the 49-year-old Hartsburg spent five seasons as head coach of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. During that period, he was also assistant coach to Brent Sutter for Team Canada’s 2006 World Junior championship win, before going on to lead Canada to two more junior gold medals as head coach in 2007 and 2008.

Previously, Hartsburg had been at the helm of the Chicago Blackhawks (1995-98) and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (1998-2000).

Hartsburg, a former NHL defenceman, was picked sixth overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1979 NHL draft. The native of Stratford, Ont. had 413 career points in 570 games over 10 seasons with the team.

With a number of players available in Toronto, the Maple Leafs could be inching closer towards pulling the trigger on another trade this season.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, the Lightning is thin on the blueline and has had interest in Maple Leafs defenseman Ian White.

Leafs GM Brian Burke has been working the phones and is in constant talk with several of his counterparts.

White is among several players available for trade, including the likes of forwards Nik Antropov, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Jason Blake, defensemen Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina, and goalie Vesa Toskala.

Nonis would be brought in to handle the Leafs’ managing duties through next season, with speculation suggesting the Maple Leafs would then approach Brian Burke at the conclusion of the season, with designs on Burke overseeing the entire hockey operation with Nonis continuing to occupy a management role as well.

Dave Nonis has been the GM in Vancouver since Brian Burke left to Anaheim and was his Assistant GM and this is suggesting the Leafs are still after Brian Burke next season, which he would have his protégé working under him, possibly in the role of President of The Maple Leafs, moving Richard Peddie out of the way. Having someone that knows hockey as your President, would be a move in the right direction for the Leafs.

This is also a move that will be done to also help lure Fabian Brunnstrom to Toronto. It is said that there was a deal done in Vancouver. Nonis had a deal in principal with the young internet hockey star and this fell through with his firing. With Toronto still in the hunt and a repoire with Nonis already, this may work out very well for the Leafs should he help persuade Brunnstrom back Toronto’s way.

Ultimately, the Leafs still want Brian Burke. Nonis is said to be “Burke Jr.” and was the person that was able to unload a problematic and troubled power forward Todd Burtuzzi, from Vancouver and stole the best goaltender in the league from Florida on the way back.

His firing was seen as very strange and impulsive on the part of the ownership. The fact that the report coming from TSN could also be interesting. Please click here for some interesting information regarding that.

You are welcome to post your revisions in the comments section.

Nik Antropov

B+

One of the only bright spots on a horrible Leaf team this year, was Nik Antropov. Starting the season off at a strong point-per-game production, Nik looked like all the trades that the Leafs had held off on, started to make sense…until he got injured …again. Why he wasn’t traded at the deadline is beyond me. Cliff Fletcher said he was “untouchable”.

Boyd Devereaux

B

Another bright spot on the hopelessly bad Toronto squad, was Boyd Devereaux. Every shift was played conscientiously, with a strong work ethic and sound defensive play. A solid role player.

Dominic Moore

B-

A smart waiver pick-up by JFJ, Moore, in the same vein as Devereaux, plays a strong checking game and plays hard every shift. He lacks puck smarts and good vision but is a good deal at close to the league minimum.

Kris Newbury

C+

While not the prettiest skater, when he was given a role on the Leafs team he immediately added some grit to a team that lacked emotion or any sign of toughness. He demonstrated that he was a very good player at the AHL level and deserves another shot at a full time slot on the Leafs with his workman like attitude, he is a strong commodity.

Matt Stajan

D

After another disappointing season that started with high hopes and promise, Stajan has managed to disappoint in every department. Once being touted as blue-chip prospect, the 24 year old and 4 season NHL veteran has proven not: Offensively gifted, a defensively minded, a “body checker”, a faceoff specialist, a powerplay specialist, a penalty kill specialist. At best a top four center Stajan has proven soft with little imagination or desire to drive to the net and generally gets beat man-on-man in puck battles along the board or behind the net. The touted future captain, he is not.

Mats Sundin

A

Consistency. One word to sum up the Leaf captain. Sundin produces at a point a game and hasn’t dipped off that pace his whole career. Highlighted with big-time clutch goals and overtime heroics. Sundin’s fitness has been getting better and better with age. A common sight used to be a winded Sundin gasping for breath on the bench. He seems to be skating as good, or better than he has his whole career – this year in particular. Unfortunately, Sundin has been flanked by players that are not up to his caliber and this has affected his output. The question remains if he will retire or play another season with the Leafs.

Jiri Tlusty

N/A

Embarrassing pictures aside Tlusty’s first season in the NHL was a disappointment. leafsnews.com has not entirely closed the book on this Czech import but due to mismanagement by the coaching staff it is impossible to say if he will live up to his high draft billing. Tlusty, touted as a future star capable of putting up quality offensive numbers was used very poorly by the team. On a team that should be focused on rebuilding he received limited minutes and when he did see the ice he did so in a checking capacity. Though he did show flashes of offense he was never given very much powerplay time and only rarely was he put into a scoring role on the team. At the end of the season, he did see more ice time and more responsibility and put up some numbers to show for it.

Kyle Wellwood

D

While the season started with high hopes for Wellwood, he just never seemed right the whole season. His hernia injury seemed to hamper the entire season and he never really got it together to produce at his projected rate. With grumblings of little or no fitness training, Wellwood’s commitment is being called into question. An enigma that has the tools to be a powerplay specialist or a good second line center will never come to fruition if he can’t sort out his fitness issues.

Mark Bell

N/A

One of the few Leafs that would hit on a shift-by-shift basis, Bell could never shake the black cloud that seemed to hanging over his head. Didn’t display the timing that you would expect from an NHL caliber player, but that can be expect due to suspensions, a lack practice and an injury that put him out for a good portion of the season.

Jason Blake

D+

Medical issues aside, Jason Blake’s first year in the blue and white has been a major disappointment. Not only has he proven not to be the scoring winger management had hoped for he has actually hindered this clubs offensive production by taking too many meaningless perimeter shots, not passing the puck, making too many solo rushes up the ice and making timely give aways. Though he does play a high energy game and drives hard to the net – rarely do his efforts create results. Furthermore his role on the power play created confusion between his and Darcy Tuckers roles within the team.

Alexei Ponikarovsky

C

While being thrust into a 1st line role and often seen playing with Antropov and Sundin, he is not a 1st line player. A good skater and a strong forechecker, he often lacks finish and can squander great scoring chances. At 6’4 and 220, he is a valuable big player for the Leafs, but only if he uses his size.

Alexander Steen

C-

Steen has been the one piece of many Leaf trades that never happened. Chris Pronger to Toronto for Tomas Kaberle was supposed to be a deal that was in the works. The Leafs would not offer up Steen . Time after time they held onto him and in his rookie campaign, he was one of the most complete players – even given his young age. Finished his checks (always), back-checked effectively and showed some amazing offensive creativity, if lacking a little bit in the finishing department. Since then, it has been a steady downward spiral. Perhaps it was Pat Quinn’s run and gun style of hockey that suited Steen better and Maurice being a more defensively minded coach is playing too heavily on the mind of a player that is already defensively conscience. His physical play has dropped off to nothing and he is a gifted 3rd line center at his current pace.

Darcy Tucker

D

Darcy Tucker was invisible in most games this year. A huge disappointment, considering his big production last season at almost 30 goals

Jeremy Williams

C+

After scoring in a three NHL games he was called up for (over three years) Jeremy Williams showed some speed, smarts and a little bit of grit to earn him some more looks for next season.

Carlo Colaiacovo

B-

Another season, more injuries. More frustration…both for Carlo and for the fans. Just when he looks like a top 3 defenseman, Carlo seems to get injured. WHEN healthy, Carlo hits hard, rushes the puck, makes a good first pass, is strong on the puck and pinches (sometimes too much). He makes mistakes, but has the wheels and smarts to cover up (most of the time). Everyone seems to be rooting for Carlo and we all hope he has a good offseason to recover and train. On occasion, Carlo was the Toronto Maple Leafs’ best defenseman.

Tomas Kaberle

C-

A low point producing affair for Tomas who looked a little lost when McCabe started to tank this season. Towards the end of the season he started to play well with Kubina, but it was too little too late. Another player that seems to bring frustration to leafs nation, Tomas wins the accuracy competition at the all-star game but refuses to shoot the puck. His low points performance makes his 1-on-1 work all the more glaring.

Staffan Kronwall

N/A

Staffan did not have a enough ice-time to warrant a fair assessment. He fit in well at the end of the season and played a ‘steady-eddie’ style game and a played physical shut down style of defence. His footwork is still a little slow and he’ll have his work cut out for him at training camp.

Pavel Kubina

B-

The much maligned Kubina really came into his own on the stretch run for the Leafs this year. With more confidence and added ice-time, Kubina showed why he was one of the pieces to Tampa Bay’s cup run in 2004. More (good) shots to the net and rushing the puck in areas that he normally wouldn’t, allowed Kubina to shine. Lets hope for continued improvement for next season.

Bryan McCabe

D

I think this sums up McCabe’s season.

Anton Stralman

C+

Stralman was a highly touted rookie coming into the season and after he was called up and stayed up on the big team, he scored some big goals at the end of the season and showed he has the touch and skating ability, not unlike his teammate Tomas Kaberle. He needs to be get stronger, and improve his defensive play. He looks to be a star in the making.

Ian White

D
Ian White has taken many steps back since originally making the team in 2006. His work in his own zone -specifically the corners- is shoddy at best. He has not proven to be the rushing defensman the leafs hoped for and although he boasts a hard shot he is ineffective on the powerplay and rarely hits the net. Ian White is not an NHL caliber defenseman.

Andrew Raycroft

F-

Vesa Toskala

A-

After he frustratingly had to earn the starting goaltending role in Toronto, Vesa never looked back. He was considered to be one of the best goalies on the eastern conference in the latter half of the season and with good reason. He had the odd night off, but for the most part he was excellent.

It has taken an impressive run without their top two scorers to even keep the Toronto Maple Leafs’ longshot bid for a playoff spot alive. Even Steven Harper is on the bandwagon.

With two more wins this week, the prospects for postseason in Toronto could become a whole lot more likely.

The Leafs will seek to win their fourth straight game while handing the eighth-place Boston Bruins their fourth straight loss as the teams begin a home-and-home series in Toronto on Tuesday.

Toronto’s recent run of five wins in six games may not have been as relevant if it hadn’t been accompanied by continued struggles by the Bruins, whose grip on the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference has loosened after losses in six of their last seven and nine of 11.

“We’re showing what keeping the faith can do for a team,” Toronto’s Alex Steen said. “We don’t quit.”

The Maple Leafs (35-31-10) are still in 12th place in the East, and must pass Florida, Buffalo, Washington and the Bruins to earn a playoff berth, but they’re only four points behind Boston (37-28-10). They’ve played one more game than the Bruins, but can tie their Northeast Division rivals with a pair of regulation wins over them this week.

They may have to continue to do it without both Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov, however. Sundin, who leads the team with 77 points, has missed the last four games with a groin injury, while Antropov – second on the squad with 52 points – has been out for three games with a knee problem.

Toronto has won three straight anyway – all on the road – including wins in the last two games at Buffalo and Ottawa. The Leafs beat the Senators 5-4 on Saturday, erasing a 4-2 deficit with three straight goals, including the winner in the final period by Matt Stajan.

“This was a big win for us,” Stajan said. “We’re battling for our lives, and with the injuries we have we’re showing what kind of guys we have. We’re not going to give up.”

A win over the Bruins would be even bigger. Boston appeared all but assured of a playoff spot a few weeks ago, but has seen its lead shrink to just two points over Washington.

The Bruins, already on their third three-game losing streak this month, have only managed more than two goals in a game once in March. In its last 12 games, Boston has only 18 goals.

The Bruins earned a point for the first time in eight games this season against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, but still lost 3-2 in a shootout.

“It’s kind of like a broken record, but we have a hard time finishing and scoring goals and it always seems to come back and bite us,” Bruins coach Claude Julien told the team’s official Web site. “We’re going to have to find ways to put pucks in.”

Defense was the problem against Toronto on March 6, when the Leafs won 8-2 in Boston. Antropov and Sundin combined for three goals and two assists in that game.

Leafs scored 4 powerplay goals.McCabe had a goal and an assist while captain Mats Sundin had 3 points. Antropov scored 2 goals and Jason Blake had a couple of points to kill the bruins.

GAME RE-CAP(NHL.COM):

BOSTON (AP) -The Toronto Maple Leafs might have been the only ones thinking they were in a playoff chase a month ago. Now, the rest of the Eastern Conference better pay attention.

Bryan McCabe had a goal and an assist during a four-goal second period to lead the resurgent Maple Leafs to an 8-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt Stajan and Nik Antropov also scored in the second as Toronto turned a tight game into a rout. Antropov finished with two goals.

Toronto, which looked to be buried outside the conference’s tight playoff chase three weeks ago, won for the seventh time in 10 games. The Maple Leafs are six points behind Philadelphia for the final playoff spot.

“I think it’s something all of us believed in clearly,” left wing Alex Steen said. “We’ve certainly kept the faith and believed we can make the playoffs. The last five weeks or so we’ve played pretty solid hockey.”

Toronto scored four power-play goals.

“Were going to have to stay in the fight in the games were not playing those guys and then do what we did tonight,” Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice said. “We’ve got to win those games against the teams were trying to catch.”

Boston has had big problems lately. The Bruins, who won six straight before a current three-game losing streak, have lost a pair of lopsided games this week, also dropping a 10-2 decision against Washington on Monday.

“I don’t think it’s time to panic,” Boston coach Claude Julien said. “It’s certainly time to make the adjustments and address. I don’t know if it’s we’re totally out of sync or the pressure. We’ve just got to take a step back.”

Peter Schaefer and Phil Kessel had the goals for Boston.

“I’m not going to take any credit away from Toronto. They played a good game, too. They’re fighting for their lives,” Bruins center Marc Savard said. “It’s like weve got to get back to doing that for us.”

Maple Leafs center Mats Sundin played his 1,300th career game, becoming the NHL’s 46th player to reach that mark, and scored his team-leading 30th goal. He has 553 in his career.

The game was tied 1-1 after one period before the Maple Leafs chased Boston goaltender Tim Thomas in the second.

“We’re just a little fragile right now,” Thomas said. “We haven’t really been that all year.”

Ponikarovsky scored when his shot caromed in off the right post, making it 2-1 at 1:17. McCabe’s wrister from the left circle ricocheted off Boston forward Chuck Kobasew’s skate and past Thomas just 3:31 later.

The Bruins’ goaltender then allowed a pair of weak goals before being pulled with 8:10 left in the period.

Stajan scored on a tough angle, slipping a shot between Thomas’ pads from along the goal line outside the right post, to make it 4-1.

Antropov’s 25th of the season, a wrist shot from the right circle, made it 5-1. Thomas came out and slid kind of awkwardly to his side as the puck slipped under his body.

After Thomas was replaced by Alex Auld, he headed straight for the runway and down the ramp that leads to the dressing room before returning to the bench late in the period.

Darcy Tucker had a power-play goal in the third, Antropov added his second, and Sundin scored with 4:55 to play.

Boston grabbed a 1-0 lead on Schaefer’s goal 11:40 into the game, but Toronto tied it on Jason Blake’s power-play score 3:02 later.

Notes: The Maple Leafs entered with the league’s 24th ranked power play. … It was the teams’ sixth meeting, with Boston winning the first three. … Thomas was also pulled in his last start at Washington on Monday. … Sundin has six goals and seven assists in his last seven games.

Toronto has won three straight against the Bruins after dropping the first three meetings this season.

Some might argue that unless another NHL GM loses his sanity and overwhelms Anaheim’s Brian Burke with a trade offer nobody in their right mind would reject, there’s not a hope in hell Burke trades the first round pick he received from Edmonton in exchange for Dustin Penner.

After all, those arguers argue, what could be better for the Ducks GM than to see the look on arch-enemy/Oilers counterpart Kevin Lowe’s face as Burke strides to the podium in Montreal this summer and takes a top-five – or better – prospect out of Edmonton’s hands?

Funny thing is, Burke doesn’t feel that way. At all.

“That (No. 1) pick is in play,” Burke told The Hockey News Wednesday. “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t listen to any team that expressed interest in it.”

Hear that, Leafs GM John Ferguson? Get on your horse already and deliver Mats Sundin to Burke post-haste. Or at least leave a reminder note for your successor.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were expected to add another elite prospect to their increasingly impressive stable this past summer, but they dealt their first and second round picks to San Jose in the Vesa Toskala trade. The Toronto system is very top heavy with goaltender Justin Pogge, center Jiri Tlusty, winger Nikolai Kulemin, and defenseman Anton Stralman all blue-chip prospects who could start contributing in the next year or two. After that it gets dicey with every prospect having major question marks. Toronto Marlies winger and former NCAA standout Robbie Earl has a chance to provide the Leafs with a dynamic, goal-scoring winger but needs to improve on his inconsistent first AHL season.

A lot of the organization’s defensive depth has graduated in the past two seasons with Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo now NHL regulars and Staffan Kronwall and Jay Harrison now in their mid-20s and no longer considered prospects. Of the Leafs’ top 20 prospects, only four are defensemen.

The NCAA and the Marlies will be the places to watch for Leafs prospects this year as they will have four playing in the NCAA and could have up to eight players from this list playing with the top farm club.

Top 20 at a glance

1. Justin Pogge, G
2. Jiri Tlusty, C
3. Nikolai Kulemin, RW
4. Robbie Earl, LW
5. Anton Stralman, D
6. Jeremy Williams, RW
7. Dmitri Vorobiev, D
8. Dale Mitchell, RW
9. Tyler Ruegsegger, C
10. James Reimer, G
11. Matt Frattin, LW
12. Ben Winnett, LW
13. Phil Oreskovic, D
14. Brent Aubin, RW
15. Leo Komarov, C
16. Chad Rau, C
17. John Mitchell, C
18. Konstantin Volkov, RW
19. Juraj Mikus, D
20. Chris DiDomenico, C

1. Justin Pogge, G, 21

Acquired: 2004, third round, 90th overall

Pogge began his pro career last season splitting time with minor league veteran J.F. Racine. Like many young netminders, Pogge struggled to adjust to the pro ranks, posting a 5-9 record with a 3.23 GAA in 15 games before Jan. 1. Pogge would improve as he garnered more playing time as the season went on. While the Marlies team finished below .500, they did play better down the stretch and Pogge was a big reason why. The tall, lanky goaltender posted an 8-8-1 record in the last two months of the season, including a sparkling 2.13 GAA in six games in the month of April. After playing in 48 games a year ago, 2007-08 will be a big development season for Pogge with him likely seeing action in 55-plus games.

2. (2) Jiri Tlusty, C, 19

Acquired: 2006, first round, 13th overall

If there was a true indication of the kind of talent Tlusty brings to a team, it was shown at the very beginning and the very end of his 2006-07 season. Playing in six games with the Marlies to begin the season while Leafs’ brass decided what to do with their prized first rounder, Tlusty scored three goals in six games. When the Leafs finally decided to send him to Craig Hartsburg’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League to learn not only the North American game, but the culture, as well, Tlusty had the misfortune of suffering an ankle injury that hurt his development throughout the regular season. The Czech pivot still managed to post 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points in 37 OHL regular-season games, but it was the playoffs where he really shined. With the ankle injury behind him, Tlusty moved his game to a different level. He brought his whole arsenal of skills in a six-game upset of the Saginaw Spirit and nearly led them to another upset of the London Knights. Tlusty was all over the ice, winning faceoffs, scoring goals and, more importantly, playing a physical brand of North American hockey. He finished the playoffs with 17 points in only 13 games. The sky is the limit for Tlusty this season as he could challenge for a spot with the Leafs or play top-six forward minutes with the Marlies.

3. (5) Nikolai Kulemin, RW, 21

Acquired: 2006, second round, 44th overall

The debate rages over who is the better prospect – Tlusty or Kulemin. Only time will tell, but there is no doubt that Kulemin is a world-class talent and was a second-round steal. As a 20-year-old Kulemin led his Russian league team in goal scoring with 27 goals and, really, it wasn’t even close as the next player had only 17 tallies. He also added 41 penalty minutes in his 51 games played. He then proceeded to add 10 more goals in 15 playoff games. Just for the sake of comparison, Alexander Ovechkin’s best season in the same league was a 13-goal season – which he did twice — albeit at the ages of 18 and 19 years old. Kulemin possesses a rare package of speed, power and hands that has Leaf fans drooling, but he is not expected to make the trek overseas until 2008. He signed a new one-year deal with Magnitogorsk Mettalurg for the 2007-08 season, but is expected to attend Leafs training camp this fall. Listed as No. 3 on this list, Pogge, Tlusty and Kulemin could easily be seen as 1a, 1b, and 1c.

4. (3) Robbie Earl, LW, 22

Acquired: 2004, sixth round, 187th overall

While at first glance, Earl’s 2006-07 season could be considered a disappointment, digging a bit deeper reveals a solid first pro season for the Marlies. The shifty winger played in 67 games and posted 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points. He also held a respectable minus-6 rating on a team filled with minus players. Earl’s situation dictated his season more than his talent, as he was forced to play middling minutes on a team devoid of offensive talent. Earl brings a dynamic offensive game to the table and the ability to change the game on every shift. This season is seen as a big year for Earl development-wise, as a solid season would likely give him a look with the big club this season when the inevitable injury bug strikes.

5. (16) Anton Stralman, D, 21

Acquired: 2005, seventh round, 216th overall

Stralman’s ascension into the ranks of the world’s top prospects has been swift and virtually unforeseen. After going from a late-round afterthought, to logging heavy minutes on the Swedish National Team, Stralman has proved he is the real deal on a world stage. Armed with a hard, accurate point shot and playing a game similar to Leafs stalwart Tomas Kaberle – smart, puck-mover who takes good angles defensively – Stralman is expected to challenge for a spot on the Leafs crowded blueline this fall. The big question is whether Stralman would be better served being worked into the lineup after a stint with the Marlies or playing immediately as Kaberle did back in 1998. Although 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 53 Swedish Elite League games may suggest he is ready to play in the NHL right away, a roster move may have to be made to accommodate the phenom, which suggests a likely AHL debut this season.

6. (6) Jeremy Williams, RW, 23

Acquired: 2003 seventh round 220th overall

Not much can be said about Williams’ 2006-07 season. After starting the season in the AHL, Williams suffered a leg injury in a Nov. 17 game and did not return until Feb. 10. He finished the season with six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 23 games. In an ironic twist, Williams also got the call to the big club for one game, and as he did in 2005-06, played one game and tallied one goal on one shot. While Williams has produced for the Leafs when called upon, it is unclear why he has not been given an extended look. Whether the Leafs are waiting for him to produce and stay injury-free with the Marlies for an extended period of time, or they just don’t see him having a future with the team, is uncertain. Williams’ skill-set is that of a top-six forward. He has produced at every stop in his hockey career; however, he is of no use on the third or fourth lines when he is expected to play a grinding role. Williams will be given a long look this fall, and he could be one injury away from securing a regular spot with the Leafs.

7. (7) Dmitri Vorobiev, D, 21

Acquired: 2004 fifth round 157th overall

Vorobiev broke out in his third full season with Tolyatti Lada of the Russian Super League. First and foremost thought of as a reliable, stay-at-home defenseman, Vorobiev scored 10 goals and added seven assists for 17 points in 54 games. At 6’2 and over 200 pounds, he relies on his size in the defensive zone to play a sound positional game. As has become chic in today’s NHL, Vorobiev is a solid puck-mover who tends to make the right decision with the puck. After adding a little offense to his repertoire last season he could be ready sooner, rather than later.

8. (NR) Dale Mitchell, RW, 18

Acquired: 2007, third round, 74th overall

Mitchell makes his debut in the Leafs top 10 after being selected with the team’s first pick this summer. Mitchell is a bulldog on skates, using his stocky 5’8 210-pound frame to drive the net and do a tremendous job on the cycle. Mitchell did not have the good fortune of playing with OHL phenom John Tavares this past season, as he spent most of his time toiling on the Oshawa Generals second line. It is a testament to Mitchell’s skills that he was able to bury 43 pucks and add 37 assists, playing on the second unit. Mitchell is a good skater, who, based on his production and work ethic, would have gone much higher in the draft if he had an extra few inches. Mitchell will continue to develop with the Generals this season and there is no telling the kind of numbers he could put up if he were to secure first-line duty. Nonetheless, there will be many eyes on him this season as the scouts continue to closely monitor Tavares’ progress.

9. (8) Tyler Ruegsegger, C, 19

Acquired: 2006 sixth round 166th overall

The Leafs didn’t quite know what to expect when they selected Ruegsegger late in the 2006 draft. They knew he could be a dynamic offensive player but there were obvious shortcomings. His skating checks in as just average and there are the size drawbacks at 5’11 and 175 pounds. But after one NCAA season, one in which he did nothing but impress, the Leafs may have found a gem. Playing in 40 games as a freshman at the University of Denver, Ruegsegger scored 15 goals and added 19 assists for 34 points, playing on a young team. He finished fourth in team scoring and was third in goals. He will likely spend four full years in Colorado, desperately trying to add strength and improve his skating. His skating is becoming less of a hindrance as he translates his terrific hockey sense and playmaking ability to each level.

10. (11) James Reimer, G, 19

Acquired: 2006 fourth round 99th overall

Playing for Brent Sutter’s Red Deer Rebels, Reimer snatched the starting job early in the season and ran with it. A year after splitting time in the Rebels crease, Reimer played in 60 games, resulting in a 26-23-7 record and a solid 2.66 GAA and .912 save percentage. However, the Rebels were ousted in a first-round seven-game series, which featured some spotty play by Reimer. When he is on his game, the lanky netminder uses his size to cut down angles and plays a controlled game. At 6’3 and over 200 pounds, he is able to take away a lot of the net when he is focused. He also displays decent puckhandling skills. There is no telling how Sutter’s departure to the New Jersey Devils will change the Rebels philosophy or mindset going into the season. With the severe lack of depth in the organization at the goaltending position, Reimer is expected to take another big step this season into the upper echelon of goaltenders in the Western Hockey League.

11. (NR) Matt Frattin, RW, 19

Acquired: 2007 fourth round 99th overall

Frattin is committed to attending the University of North Dakota in the fall after winning AJHL rookie-of-the-year honors with 49 goals and 34 assists for 83 points in 58 games. Frattin spurned many WHL teams last year after indicating that he wanted to go the NCAA route and ended up playing the season with the Fort Saskatchewan Traders of the Alberta Junior “A” Hockey League. Born in Edmonton, AB, Frattin uses his excellent shot to back defenders off down the wing and shows good hands when opportunities arise in close. He had a squatty build at 5’11 and 185 pounds. He is not afraid to do the dirty work in the corner but is at his best when posted up in the slot. He needs to work on his skating, which is considered just average. Frattin will spend at least two seasons toiling with what could be a very young North Dakota squad.

12. (NR) Ben Winnett, LW, 18

Acquired: 2007 fourth round 104th overall

Another of the Leafs 2007 picks who will toil in the NCAA ranks this year, as Winnett will attend the University of Michigan. Drafted out of the same league that produced third overall pick Kyle Turris, the BCHL, Winnett’s game is based on speed. At 6’0 and 175 pounds, Winnett will need to get stronger over his college tenure in order to better adapt to a more physical game. He managed quite well in his second season in British Columbia’s top Junior A league. After posting 18 goals and 31 assists for 49 points in 60 games in 2005-06, Winnett progressed as most scouts hoped by scoring 27 goals and 30 assists for 57 points in only 39 games last year. He also had 58 minutes in penalties. Winnett plays a well-rounded game in that he can finish, as well as set up, in addition to playing a gritty game when the need arises. Winnett’s goal will be to become consistent and take time to add strength and bulk to his wispy frame. He could become a steal over time.

13. (12) Phil Oreskovic, D, 20

Acquired: 2005 third round 82nd overall

Oreskovic posted his best offensive totals of his OHL career last year in his final kick at the OHL can. He split the year between the Brampton Battalion, the team which he spent his first three OHL seasons with, and the Owen Sound Attack. In 62 games he scored three goals and added 19 assists for 22 points. He also continued to add to his healthy penalty minute resume with 179 minutes in the box. The towering rearguard is an exceptional stay-at-home defenseman, and an outstanding bodychecker but does not provide much else. The 6’4 220-pound blueliner excels at clearing the front of the net, playing a punishing corner game, and is able to lay a devastating bodycheck every couple of games. He struggles when he is forced to carry the puck but is capable of making the first pass out of the defensive zone. He is destined to play second fiddle to an offensive defenseman, providing the defensive conscience. He will suit up for the Marlies this year and should play a regular role in first AHL season.

14. (13) Brent Aubin, RW, 21

Acquired: Signed as free agent in 2006

Aubin was plucked out of the free-agent pool by Ferguson after impressing during a camp invite last year. The shifty winger has scored over 40 goals the past three seasons, including over 50 in the past two. Although a little on the small side at 5’9 and 180 pounds, Aubin uses his intelligence and knack for being in the right place at the right time to post big numbers. Skating is the one aspect that has always been the knock on the Aubin, and was probably the reason he went undrafted. There is no doubt Aubin has natural goal-scoring instincts and he will put them to the test this season on a revamped Marlies squad. In an eight-game audition late last year he garnered two assists. This will be a telltale year as to whether or not Aubin is a legitimate prospect or will spend the majority of his career in the AHL.

15. (NR) Leo Komarov, C, 20

Acquired: 2006 sixth round 180th overall

Chosen late in the 2006 draft, everyone in Finland knows what the 5’10 190-pound center is all about and that is getting under the opponent’s skin. Komarov does not have the offensive upside of a lot of the prospects on this list, but he does provide a critical ingredient to any winning hockey club. His ability to kills penalties, backcheck and play an Esa Tikkanen-esque role, minus the offense, cannot be understated. His skating is above average, as well as his defensive game. He also loves to play the body on the forecheck. His offensive game is severely limited as evidenced by his totals of three goals and six assists in 49 games in Finland this past season. He was able to chalk up 108 penalty minutes though. If Komarov can cut down on the foolish penalties and stick to working on his defensive game, he could have a career in North America.

16. (14) Chad Rau, C, 20

Acquired: 2005 seventh round 228th overall

A dominant scorer in the USHL, Rau has continued that success at Colorado College in the NCAA. Two years ago he posted 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in his freshman season and he followed that up last year with 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points in 39 games, three less than his freshman season. Rau’s biggest knock is his skating. He is listed at 5’11 and 187 pounds but handles himself well in traffic and has great hockey sense. He led Colorado College in faceoff win percentage last season and led the team with 18 power play points. A very heady player, Rau has great makeup and gets the most out of his physical skills. He should spend another two full years in college before making the adjustment to the pro game. His ability to step up at critical times in the game is his best attribute, as evidenced by the fact that he factored in on eight game-winning goals (one goal, seven assists).

17. (15) John Mitchell, C, 22

Acquired: 2003 fifth round 158th overall

Mitchell progressed nicely in his second full AHL season. He improved his point total by 19 points – from 17 in 2005-06 to 36 last season. He played a checking role on the offense-starved Marlies and while that may be his calling, he also has the ability to chip in with 15-20 goals a year. His biggest asset is his good size down the middle at 6’1 and 195 pounds. He is also adept on faceoffs and is reliable in his own end. He has all the makings of a NHL third-line center, but whether or not he will ever live up to that is another question. He skates well, has good size, can take faceoffs, plays well in his own end, but he never seems to put all of those skill sets together on a consistent basis. Mitchell will again patrol the third line for what should be a much-improved Marlies team this year and may post career-best numbers with more talented players around him.

18. (20) Konstantin Volkov, RW, 22

Acquired: 2003 fourth round 125th overall

Volkov played last season as one of the youngest players with Chekhov Vityaz of the Russian League. His teammates included former NHLers Alexander Korolyuk and Oleg Kvasha. In 30 games, Volkov scored seven goals and three assists for 10 points. In comparison, former New York Islander Kvasha scored seven goals in 27 games. The 5’11 Russian is a versatile forward as he plays right wing as well as center. He has some offensive flair but rarely shows much more. He isn’t a physical player and is very streaky. He has the potential to be a goal scorer at every level he plays, but he never seems to bring the intensity and consistency needed to do it on a nightly basis. He will continue to be a project and is signed through this season in Russia.

19. (NR) Juraj Mikus, D, 18

Acquired: 2007 fifth round 134th overall

A big, imposing rearguard with all-around skills, Mikus could prove to be a steal for the Leafs if he hits his big-time upside. With an impressive reach and good puck skills for a man his size, Mikus will have to fill out his 6’4 185-pound frame in order to have any chance of success at the next level. He dominated the Czech Junior league with nine goals and 24 points in 42 games, including an impressive +32 rating with 72 penalty minutes. His all-around upside alone warrants a spot on this list, but it may be a few years before any of the results are seen. The native of Slovakia will continue to develop overseas but with good vision to play a puck-moving game and a good point shot, it may not be long before he is more well-regarded in prospect circles.

20. (NR) Chris DiDomenico, C, 18

Acquired: 2007 sixth round 164th overall

The third-leading rookie scorer in the QMJHL this past season – behind Jakub Voracek and David Perron – DiDomenico was a surprise for the expansion Saint John Sea Dogs from the get-go. The Toronto native went unselected in the OHL draft, but received a call from the Sea Dogs, who were desperately searching for talent, and never looked back. Playing a full 70-game slate, the feisty center scored 25 goals and added 50 assists for 75 points in his rookie season. On a team devoid of any scoring whatsoever – the next leading scorer had 53 points – this was quite a feat. DiDomenico is on the small side at 5’11 and only 165 pounds but has overcome his size deficiencies so far with excellent hockey sense. Though his skating is only average, he is excellent on faceoffs and is a good penalty killer. If he is able to add muscle to his frame and continue to play a smart, two-way game he could surprise. In the meantime, he will continue to guide the Sea Dogs through their expansion years.

The Pittsburgh Penguins faced questions about their goaltending even before starter Marc-Andre Fleury was injured. Unheralded Ty Conklin is providing all the answers right now.

Conklin tries to lead the Penguins to their season-high fifth straight victory Thursday night when they conclude their season series against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pittsburgh (21-16-2) appeared to be in trouble after learning that Fleury would be sidelined into February after sustaining a high ankle sprain Dec. 6. With no veteran backup available, the starting job was left to Dany Sabourin, who had made 10 NHL starts before this season.

Sabourin went 2-4-0 with a 3.32 goals-against average in six starts before coach Michel Therrien called on Conklin, who was recalled from the minors Dec. 7, to start against Boston on Dec. 20.

Conklin stopped 37 of 41 shots in that game, a 5-4 shootout victory. He has been even better in his last four starts, going 4-0-0 with one shutout and a 1.46 GAA.

Conklin, who has allowed 13 goals in six appearances this season, was outstanding in Pittsburgh’s 2-1 shootout victory in the NHL Winter Classic outdoor game Tuesday. He stopped 36 of 37 shots, including all seven in overtime.

“We were pretty discouraged when we lost Fleury,” Therrien said. “Certainly, (Conklin’s) playing at a level that gives us a chance to win. … He made some key saves in overtime.”

Conklin’s goaltending and Sidney Crosby’s memorable shootout goal helped the Penguins match their longest win streak of the season.

Crosby assisted on Colby Armstrong’s first-period goal for his 53rd point, putting him five behind Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier for the league lead. Crosby has one goal and nine assists during a six-game point streak, but hasn’t scored a non-shootout goal in five straight contests.

He has six goals and nine assists during an eight-game point streak against Toronto (16-16-8).

The outdoor victory gave Pittsburgh a sweep of its home-and-home series with the Sabres that started with a 2-0 home win Saturday.

Conklin’s strong play has at least temporarily solidified Pittsburgh’s goaltending. Fleury, the top overall pick in the 2003 draft, has yet to establish himself as an elite player at the position, and the Pens had little depth behind him before Conklin arrived.

The Maple Leafs are also missing their No. 1 goalie, playing the last four games without Vesa Toskala, who has a groin injury.

Andrew Raycroft went 0-2-1 with a 5.03 GAA in three games as Toskala’s replacement, so Scott Clemmensen was given his first start of the season Tuesday against Tampa Bay.

Clemmensen made 30 saves in regulation and overtime, then stopped Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards in the shootout as Toronto ended a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory.

“My whole career I’ve had to fight and work hard to get where I’m at,” Clemmensen said. “If I get the start in Pittsburgh that’s great. If I don’t, I’m going to be happy with the way I played tonight.”

Captain Mats Sundin, Jason Blake and Hal Gill scored in regulation for the Leafs, 1-3-2 in their last six road games.

Sundin – the team leader with 44 points – has 13 goals and 18 assists in his last 18 games against Pittsburgh. His 38 goals versus the Penguins are his most against any opponent, while his 79 points are tied for his most.

The Maple Leafs have won two of three meetings this season, including a 5-2 road win Oct. 25. Toronto is 8-2-0 in its last 10 visits to Pittsburgh.

Brett McLean’s return to the ice is helping the Florida Panthers string together wins and gain confidence.

The Panthers look to match their season-high winning streak at four Saturday night when they host the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs.

McLean has two goals and an assist during the Panthers’ three-game run after missing 15 games with a broken hand. He scored the eventual winner with 6:54 to go in regulation as Florida beat Southeast Division-leading Carolina 5-4 on Thursday.

“It just feels good to contribute,” said McLean, who has a goal and two assists in four career games against Toronto. “It’s hard when you’re out. You feel out of touch. It’s nice to get back here and pitch in.”

McLean’s contributions have Florida (17-16-2) in position to equal its four-game winning streak from Nov. 19-28. The Panthers’ last two victories have come by one-goal margins after beating Chicago 3-1 on Sunday.

“We’re a confident group right now,” captain Olli Jokinen said. “There’s no reason to stop now.”

Jokinen, Florida’s leader with 18 goals and 36 points, has seven goals and five assists in the last 10 games. He had a goal and an assist Thursday, giving him six goals and three assists in his last six home contests.

Jokinen has been held pointless in the last two games against the Maple Leafs (14-14-7), including a 3-2 loss at Air Canada Centre on Oct. 18. However, he has two goals in the last three meetings at Sunrise, Fla.

Tomas Vokoun, who missed the last meeting with Toronto with a sprained ankle, has a 2.34 goals-against average during Florida’s win streak. He is 2-1-0 with a 2.01 GAA in three career starts against the Leafs.

Florida has won only two of the last 10 meetings with Toronto and one of the last four at home.

The Leafs have stumbled after opening a season-high seven-game road trip with a 4-0 victory at Atlanta on Dec. 14. They’ve followed that up with three consecutive losses, including a 2-1 defeat to Tampa Bay on Thursday as Tomas Vokoun allowed the deciding goal to Vincent Lecavalier with 42 seconds to play.

Toronto lost a season-high four in a row from Nov. 20-27.”We are playing well enough to do better, but at the end of the day it’s not happening for us,” Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice said. “Our goaltending has been real good. It’s just tight when you’re not scoring.”

Toronto has been outscored 9-4 during the slide after holding a 10-1 advantage in its previous two games. The Leafs’ 105 goals are among the most in the Eastern Conference, but their 109 allowed are among the most given up in the NHL.

Toskala has started all three games of the losing streak after opening the trip with a 24-save performance against the Thrashers. He is having a difficult first season in Toronto after being acquired from San Jose in a draft-day trade, going 12-11-4 with a 2.69 GAA after posting a 26-10-1 record and a 2.35 GAA with the Sharks last season.

Mats Sundin, the Leafs’ top scorer with 16 goals and 40 points, hasn’t recorded a point during the three-game slide. Toronto’s captain had two assists in the last meeting with Florida, giving him 42 points in 46 career matchups.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (last 10 games: 6-2-2) take on the Tampa Bay Lighting (last 10 games: 4-5-1) marking the halfway point in the Maple Leafs longest road trip of the season.

A meeting against the Tampa Bay Lightning may be just what the Toronto Maple Leafs need to bounce back from one of their most disappointing losses this season.

The Maple Leafs continue their season-high seven-game road trip on Thursday looking to win their seventh straight game over the Lightning.

Toronto (14-13-7) had a 2-0 lead over Carolina on Tuesday, before allowing two goals in the final 1:25 of regulation. The Leafs lost 3-2 in overtime.

“It’s a tough loss for us because we played a solid game except for the last two minutes,” defenseman Pavel Kubina said. “With two minutes I thought it was game over.”

Toronto is 1-1-1 so far on its road trip, and it tries to rebound at Tampa Bay, where it is 18-4-1 with one tie all-time.

The Leafs beat the Lightning 6-1 at home on Dec. 10. Toronto is outscoring Tampa Bay 27-12 during the winning streak in the series.

Leafs captain Mats Sundin had a goal and an assist in the win over the Lightning last week, giving him three goals and seven assists during a seven-game point streak against them. Sundin leads the Leafs with 16 goals and 24 assists this season, but has been held without a point in each of his last two games.

Sundin, the franchise leader in goals (404) and assists (545), hasn’t gone without a point in three straight games since March 19-23, 2006.

Nik Antropov is second on Toronto with 15 goals and 20 assists, and has recorded a goal and an assist in each of his last three games against Tampa Bay.

The Leafs’ Vesa Toskala made 26 saves in last week’s win over the Lightning to improve to 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average in two career games against them. Toskala, though, has allowed seven goals in losing his last two games after giving up just six goals in his previous five

Tampa Bay (14-17-3) fell to Atlanta 6-2 on Tuesday to drop its third straight and fifth in its last six. The Lightning have allowed the third-most goals in the league (113), and have given up 18 during their three-game skid.

“We have to keep on trying. We just have to find a way to grind through this,” Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said.

Johan Holmqvist yielded three goals on nine shots against the Thrashers before being replaced by Marc Denis.

Holmqvist is 0-3-0 with a 6.64 GAA in his last four starts and has been pulled from three of them. In his first career game against Toronto last week, he gave up four goals on 22 shots before being replaced midway through the second period by Denis, stopped five of seven shots.

Denis is just 1-5-0 with a 4.05 GAA in 10 games this season, and 1-4-0 with a 2.95 GAA in seven career games against Toronto.

Vincent Lecavalier, who leads league in scoring with 51 points, was held scoreless on Tuesday after recording three goals and three assists in his last three games. Lecavalier looks get back on track at the St. Pete Times Forum, where he has six goals and eight assists during a seven-game points streak.

The Lightning have dropped three straight games at home following an 11-3-1 start.

Life without Bryan McCabe for the next six weeks begins Tuesday for the Maple Leafs, who continue their season-high, seven-game road trip against the Carolina Hurricanes.

McCabe, who had four goals and 12 points in 27 games, underwent surgery Monday to repair three broken bones in his left hand and will miss at least six weeks. The injury occurred midway through the third period of Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Montreal, when Canadiens left wing Andrei Kostitsyn checked McCabe awkwardly into the boards. Two days later, Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice was still livid.

“Yeah. It wasn’t dirty like spear you in the chin dirty, like a two-hander over the head dirty, but he reached from behind and pulled him back and he broke three bones in his hand,” Maurice told the Maple Leafs’ official Web site. “It’s not a clean play.”

McCabe had missed just 29 games total in his six-plus seasons with the Leafs (14-13-6) prior to the injury. One of the game’s best offensive defensemen, McCabe had 34 goals and 125 points in the first two seasons after the lockout, and was logging more than 26 minutes of ice time per game.

“There aren’t many 30-minute players around,” said Tomas Kaberle, McCabe’s partner on the blue line.

To fill McCabe’s spot on the roster, the Maple Leafs recalled Anton Stralman from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. He played seven games with the Maple Leafs earlier this season before being sent down, and the 21-year-old likely will be paired with Pavel Kubina until Carlo Colaiacovo is healthy enough to return to the team.

Colaiacovo is recovering from knee surgery and has just begun skating with the Leafs. Maurice isn’t optimistic he will rejoin the team before the end of the road trip, which also makes stops at Tampa Bay, Florida, the New York Islanders and Philadelphia.

Carolina (17-14-3) ended a three-game losing streak with a 6-5 shootout victory over Philadelphia on Saturday and is now trying to win consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 10 and 12 at Atlanta and Florida, respectively. Former Flyer Rod Brind’Amour scored the winning goal in the shootout, banking a shot off Flyers goaltender Martin Biron and the crossbar.

“It’s a good win, period, no matter who you’re playing,” said Brind’Amour, who had just one goal and one assist his previous eight games. “We need wins desperately. We’ll take them any way we can.”

Despite their recent slump, the Hurricanes lead the Southeast Division by five points. Center Eric Staal, who tied Corey Stillman for the team lead with his 16th goal in Saturday’s victory, has seven goals and eight assists in 13 career games versus Toronto.

Staal had a goal and an assist in Carolina’s 7-1 rout at Toronto on Oct. 9. The Hurricanes reeled off seven unanswered goals after McCabe had staked the Maple Leafs to a lead 4:21 into the game.

The Maple Leafs may turn to goaltender Andrew Raycroft for this game since Vesa Toskala, who allowed all seven goals in the first meeting between the teams, is 0-3-0 with a 4.53 goals-against average and .842 save percentage lifetime versus the Hurricanes. Raycroft, though, is not much better with a 3-5-1 record and 2.73 GAA.