Another Lindros Story: Apparently Mr. B. Clarke of Philadelphia is ready to kiss and make up with the entire Lindros clan … its very doubtful, though, that a proud man like Bobby would be willing to kiss the particular part of Eric’s anatomy needed to bring that marriage back off the rocks … there is a prevailing opinion out there that the Flyers still effectively control Lindros’ destiny but I’m not really buying into this view … Eric has no financial concerns (based on past earnings and potential insurance income) and can basically refuse any trade engineered by Clarke that is not to his liking … in the interim, he can wait on the sidelines and regain his full health, knowing that unrestricted free agency is now only approximately 1 ½ seasons away … the law of diminishing returns is quickly coming into play here for his former team … by the way, Eric is said to be still intent on playing for the Maple Leafs and, given the situation outlined above, he’ll likely get his wish if he simply remains patient and sticks to his guns … incidently, I was very interested to note that the Flyers let Mark Recchi play last week following a serious head injury … I suppose that some things never change …
Keep The Faith: I have it on very good authority (and there is not a greater Leafs’ expert in the world that my very good friend, Nadios) that the Maple Leafs will soon emerge from their early season funk … be assured that it is only a matter of time until the club (with so many new players) will begin to develop the cohesion that will lead to serious improvement … by the way, get well soon Nat – we’re all pulling hard for you …
Leafs Trivia I: In 1972, Bobby Orr broke this Maple Leaf rearguard’s record for most points in a single play-off year … name the Toronto defender who had previously held this record (answer below Whatever happened to) …
Antropov Cleared to Practice: Less than a week after Yanic Perreault returned to the Maple Leafs lineup, another injured pivot is following close behind him on the comeback trail … Nik Antropov, the hulking 20-year-old from Kazakhstan, has begun to skate with his teammates for the first time since injuring his right knee against the Ottawa Senators six months ago … Antropov spent much of the off-season strengthening the knee and is now in outstanding physical condition … when the team was on their three-game western swing, Leafs’ Development Coach Paul Dennis stayed behind to help Antropov with his recovery … now Nik has taken the next step by joining team practices … he is expected to return to the lineup in another four to six weeks …
Crowded Cage in St. John’s: Last season’s starter. Jimmy Waite, has returned to the Baby Leafs’ lineup following a rather severe round of vertigo … St. John’s will evidently carry three netminders on their roster (Mike Minard and Jamie Hodson are the others) until it is certain that Waite has fully recovered … eventually, however, one goalie will probably be moved out … Hodson, who has struggled badly of late, may be the unlucky one as he can be returned to Brandon of the WHL as an overage player …
Leafs Trivia II: Complete this deal … Dmitri Mironov and a draft choice to Pittsburgh on July 8, 1995 in exchange for (answer below Trivia I answer) …
Another ex-Leaf to Chicago: The recent hiring of Al MacAdam as an Assistant Coach in Chicago brings the total of Mike Smith-era Maple Leafs now with the Hawks to eight … they are Smith, MacAdam, Nick Beverley, Alpo Suhonen, Joe Yannetti, Phil Walker, Steve Sullivan, Kris King and Alexander Karpovtsev for those keeping score at home … at press time, we were unable to confirm unsubstantiated stories that representatives for both Teeder Kennedy and Howie Meeker are now working out lucrative long-term deals with the Black Hawks …
Prospect news: At the conclusion of the Rookie Camp in September, we stated that Mirko Murovic had shown well but needed to develop his scoring chops this year with Acadie-Bathurst of the LHMJQ … Mirko is indeed finding the scoreboard more regularly with 16 points (3 goals and 13 assists) in the team’s first 13 games … Murovic also continues to play a rugged game as evidenced by 24 PIM … so far so good – but that puny goal total is still a source of concern … by the way, Erie’s Brad Boyes has now jumped up to 2nd spot in the OHL scoring race with 27 points (14 goals and 13 assists) in 15 games played …
Who am I: I am the only player originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs who has recorded 100 points or more during a single NHL season (answer below Trivia II answer) …
“Minnie’s Munchkins”: St. John’s Maple Leafs goaltender Mike Minard is off to a fine start this season, both on and off the ice … in addition to some stellar performances as Jimmy Waite’s stand-in, Minard is earning kudos from the St. John’s community for attempting to revive “Minnie’s Munchkins”, a charitable initiative he started last season in Hamilton aimed at giving hospitalized children a chance to attend home games and meet their ice heroes … Curtis Joseph sponsors a similar program in the Toronto area … in an era too often dominated by the wrong kind of sporting headline, stories like this one are far too rare …
Tellqvist Shines Again: On October 24th a sold-out Globe Arena (13,850) watched Stockholm rivals AIK vs. Djurgarden (and top SEL goaltenders Thomas vs. Tellqvist) … the game itself was a thriller and Tellqvist played a key role in a 3-2 Djurgardens victory … in the final 5 minutes of play, with the big crowd cheering wildly for both teams, Mikael came through with huge saves on Ahlstrom and Danielsson … in the latter case, the save can only be described as “Hasek-like” – no goal stick, his defence hopelessly out of position and AIK attackers seemingly everywhere, but Tellqvist somehow managed to prevail … in the end Mikael stopped 26 of 28 shots and Thomas 28 of 31 … the victory secured 1st place for Djurgarden in the Swedish Elite League and allowed Tellqvist to claim top spot amongst Swedish goaltenders with a sparkling GAA of 2.14 … this week Anders Hedberg, GM of Swedish National Team (and a name that Toronto hockey fans might recall), released the roster for the upcoming Karjala Cup Tournament to be played in Finland from November 9th to 12th (Russia, Finland and the Czech Republic will also take part) and Tellqvist has again been chosen to backstop Sweden …
Prospect thumbnail – Michal Travnicek (RW): No prospect in the Toronto organization carries as much personal baggage as this young Czech winger does … previously banished by the International Ice Hockey Federation on 2 separate occasions for spitting and high sticking incidents, Travnicek’s performance at the Rookie Camp in September and more recently in St. John’s leaves little doubt as to his preferred playing style … he hits everything that moves and seems genuinely intent on inflicting grievous injury whenever possible … Michal plays an extremely gritty (read dirty) game very reminiscent of the Sabres’ Vaclav Varada … Travnicek also demonstrates ample skill and hockey sense but must continue to work on improving these areas in order to advance … it will be interesting to see how he will react when finally called to task for his actions, as all big hitters inevitably are … most agree that he seems like a solid prospect (if he survives) …
Whatever happened to: Sean Haggerty …
Trivia I answer: Toronto’s legendary Tim Horton had established the previous mark with 16 points (3 goals and 13 assists) during the 1962 Stanley Cup playoffs …
Trivia II answer: Larry Murphy joined the Blue and White amid much expectation in this key trade engineered by Cliff Fletcher … Murphy did kick in 61 points (12 goals and 49 assists) for the Maple Leafs in 1995/96 but was never really accepted by the Maple Leafs’ faithful (perhaps because he didn’t skate like Toller Cranston) and was subsequently traded to the Red Wings in 1997 … although supposedly almost finished at the time of his transfer from Toronto to Detroit, this Hall of Fame defender has accumulated another 150 points since moving to the Motor City and has combined with Nik Lidstrom to form one of the better defensive tandems in the NHL, clearly proving that his detractors in Toronto were incorrect … in my humble opinion, the Maple Leafs could still use his talents on their somewhat less than awe inspiring power-play unit …
Who am I answer: Maple Leafs’ great Darryl Sittler, recorded 100 points during the 1975/76 season and then another 117 points during the 1977 /78 campaign …
Thanks again to Jan Buben for the update on Toronto prospects playing in Europe.
Visit us often at Hockey’s Future for all important news pertaining to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ organization.
