Author Archive for Ron Guillet
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger, Journalism Student and Sports Editor at Cambrian College, Hockey Fan, Air Guitarist, Tim Thomas-like Road Hockey Goaltender
What To Expect: Tim Connolly
The acquisition of Tim Connolly to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top-six unit will, on the surface, add depth to the team’s forward ranks. But the hopes of playoff hockey in Toronto could well rest on the shoulders of the injury-prone centerman next season. Not because Connolly is capable of vaulting the Leafs to new heights [...]
Leafs’ Third Line Key to Success
Whether the Toronto Maple Leafs’ depth chart remains unchanged until the opening day of the regular season shouldn’t deter from the fact that, on paper, its third-line may be the best it’s been in years. While the need for a number-one center ultimately remains the Leafs’ target to solidify a berth in the post-season, the [...]
Are the Leafs a Playoff Team?
The Toronto Maple Leafs will not be acquiring any more assets in the off-season… at least for now. In an interview with the National Post’s Michael Traikos, general manager Brian Burke said his team is going to sit back and let the players compete for spots at training camp. This is good news for the [...]
What’s Next For The Leafs?
With general manager Brian Burke acquiring John-Michael Liles, Tim Connolly, Matthew Lombardi and Cody Franson this off-season, there’s little doubt the Toronto Maple Leafs have improved heading into the 2011-12 season. But with a logjam on defense and cap space left to improve some of the Leafs’ needs, it’s unlikely Burke is content with the [...]
Puck-Moving Defenseman Off The Checklist
The Toronto Maple Leafs no longer require a puck-moving defenseman this off-season with the acquisition of John-Michael Liles for the second-round pick in 2012 the Leafs previously acquired from the Boston Bruins. The 30-year-old offensive defenseman has one year remaining on his contract with a cap-hit of $4.2-million. While he is a one-dimensional player, it’s worth [...]
Should the Leafs Target Stastny?
With the National Hockey League Entry Draft under 48 hours away, general manager Brian Burke’s cellphone bill will continue to feed small countries as he contemplates how to effectively use his first-round draft picks. Whether Burke decides to import two first-round prospects to the Toronto Maple Leafs or package them, along with other assets, for [...]
Limited Options For Burke
While the buzz in Leafs Nation is whether the Toronto Maple Leafs will acquire Brad Richards on July 1, general manager Brian Burke will still have options to improve his hockey team via free agency if he fails to acquire the coveted centerman. The problem, however, is that those options would not improve the Leafs up the middle, [...]
Leafs’ Top Priority: Offense
The turmoil that surrounds the opening day of free agency can often leave teams with immovable contracts for the forseeable future. The allure of acquiring impact players without relinquising assets can blur the line between a conservative and aggressive approach to remedy team needs. And, as often the case, it could make or break a [...]
The Summer of Burke
As the National Hockey League Entry Draft draws closer, many in Leafs Nation have begun to speculate if general manager Brian Burke will pursue an external asset in the form of a number-one center. The need for such an asset has been abundantly clear since Mats Sundin fled for a certain team that shall not be named. Many have auditioned [...]
Gustavsson: The Forgotten Man
With goaltender James Reimer signed on for another three years in Toronto, the fate of Jonas Gustavsson’s National Hockey League career hangs in the balance. As the opening day of free agency inches ever closer, general manager Brian Burke will soon have to decide whether to retain Gustavsson as the team’s back-up goaltender. If Burke opts [...]
Reimer: Goaltender of the Present and Future
Whether the Toronto Maple Leafs successfully execute the impossible and put itself in the playoff picture by April 10 is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. And that is due to several positive stories that have emerged since the all-star break. Despite the departures of Tomas Kaberle, Francois Beauchemin and Kris Versteeg, the Leafs [...]
The Resurgence of Phaneuf?
When Dion Phaneuf was anointed the next captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, many wondered if the once purported Norris candidate would manage to handle the expectations of being the Leafs’ captain while also attempting to get his career back on track. With nine games until the 2010-11 season comes to a close, Phaneuf’s first campaign [...]
The Impact of Kessel
Many analysts credit the Toronto Maple Leafs’ run for a playoff spot to the goaltending of James Reimer. While he has no doubt been a key contributor, much of the credit has to be distributed to Phil Kessel, who is suddenly tied for the team lead in points and ranks first in goals with 27. Yes, [...]
Leafs v. Pens Postgame Thoughts
The Toronto Maple Leafs are now four points removed from eight place and five points from seventh in the Eastern Conference. Here’s some quick thoughts on tonight’s tilt against the Penguins: – The Leafs’ need for a powerplay quarterback was once again apparent tonight (0-5 on the PP). They failed to sustain any sort of pressure on [...]
Critical Times For Burke
As rumors swirl regarding Tomas Kaberle’s future in Toronto, the blueprint general manager Brian Burke has imprinted for the Toronto Maple Leafs is anything but definitive—but that doesn’t make it any less effective. With the departures of Francois Beauchemin and Kris Versteeg, Burke has managed to not only add some prospects to the cupboard, but [...]
Why Trade Versteeg?
As the February 28 trade deadline approaches, the yearly tradition of pondering Tomas Kaberle’s future with the Toronto Maple Leafs has been a hot topic in the rumor mill, but there’s another dilemma facing general manager Brian Burke. And that’s whether to retain the services of 24-year-old forward, Kris Versteeg. Versteeg—currently playing on the third-line [...]
Random Thoughts: Goaltending and Defense
Attention Leafs fans: Frantically waving your arms up and down and yelling at the television screen while writing Ron Wilson hate mail will not help the Toronto Maple Leafs. Considering the Leafs have an all-time record of 25-56-6-2 in Buffalo, it’s not exactly earth-shattering that the club struggled to contain its Northeast rivals on the [...]
The Expendables
As I sit here enjoying a cool, crisp, glacier fresh beer after a 9-3 Maple Leafs victory, the February 28 Trade Deadline enters my mind as I ponder how Brian Burke will fast-track Toronto to the playoffs. He has once again cemented his stance to acquire players that will help the team immediately, rather than [...]
Desperate Times…
The decision to call-up Nazem Kadri from the American Hockey League may provide short-term stability on offence, but it speaks volumes of the state of peril of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I can’t help but cringe at Brian Burke’s reasoning for the call-up:
Question Period – Leafs Edition
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue its descent to the Eastern Conference basement. Now one loss shy from matching its eight-game losing steak of last season, which resulted in a 29th place finish, the Leafs are a carcass for the hockey world to tear apart. Fire this guy, trade this guy, call-up this guy, demote this [...]
