Rigamarole # 8 - The Kid Line

In the new NHL, all of a sudden, slower, tough, grizzled veterans are not as beneficial to teams as they once were under the old rules. One week into the new ice age, we have seen a style of play that benefits younger, faster and quicker players. Skill not size, speed not toughness is the new way of the NHL and whether you like it or not, this is the way the game will stay for the foreseeable future. Teams are starting to realize that youth is the way to go not only for their speed and energy but also because new, young players coming into the league are much more cost effective for teams now burdened by the salary cap.

For years now, the Leafs have been a team preoccupied with buying a winner on the free agency market and in the process, have overlooked many young prospects that are certainly deserving of a chance. It was not always this way though with the Leafs. In the early days of the Leafs, before the NHL introduced the entry draft system, the Leafs held a monopoly on all young players coming into the league with their control of the two premier junior teams in Ontario: the St. Mike’s Majors and the Marlies. These teams pumped out some of the most well known players of that era: Keon, Mahovalich, and Baun all became Leafs because of their affiliation with those two junior teams. In fact one of the most famous lines in Leafs history was comprised of youngsters at the time, Joe Primeau, Charlie Chonacher, and Busher Jackson appropriately named the “Kid Line”.

Now, after being left with no other choice under the new economic system, the Leafs are finally being pushed toward a youth movement. Matt Stajan has a year of NHL hockey under his belt and looks to be ready to starting contributing at a high level. Alex Steen, son of the legendary Jets star Thomas Steen, has been a tremendous surprise since the beginning of training camp. And finally Kyle Wellwood seems to be getting an opportunity that he so richly deserves. Who knows, we may just be in for a second edition of The Kid Line. But hey, all that was rigamarole.

Rigamarole # 7 - The Great Visor Debate

Much like the issue of the unnecessary dangers associated with touch icings, the issue of mandating the use of visors is one that continues to loom over the NHL. It is difficult to understand how a problem with a solution so fundamentally simple can be ignored but for some reason, the league and its players seem to not want to acknowledge the proven fact that visors prevent serious eye injuries.

It is a site that is becoming all too familiar: a player sprawled on the ice, kicking his feet in agony as he desperately clutches his face. For the Maple Leafs, they have seen far too many examples of this. Over the past five seasons, Bryan Berard, Darcy Tucker, Owen Nolan, and Mats Sundin have suffered through eye injuries. When Sundin went down with just seven minutes played last night, it brought back some chilling memories and the seemingly ubiquitous visor debate that is recommenced after every similar eye injury.

Why is it that every part of the body is protected except for the part that you only get one chance with. The shoulder, knee, hip and elbow can all be healed far easier than an eye. More often than not, an injury to the eyeball results in permanent damage. For whatever reason, the notion exists in the NHL that if you wear a visor, you are pansy. Only the sissies wear visors. I guess it is manly to lose an eye. I don’t think there exists a more asinine, pigheaded and ignorant view toward any other issue in professional sports.

The time has come for the donning of visors to be mandatory. As far as I’m concerned, refusing to wear a visor is as absurd as a business person refusing to use a computer. For the players, playing the game is their profession and by not wearing a visor, they are not maximizing their efficiency as employees just as business people refusing to use computers are doing the same. For putting eyesight at risk, the players need to wake up and realize it just is not worth it anymore. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.

Rigamarole # 6 - Coach Gretzky

It’s a strange trend in sports but more often than not, great players rarely make great coaches. It is difficult to understand how a player that was so dominant cannot make the transition to coaching where, theoretically, he should be able to impart his gifted outlook toward the game on others. Although when players show their inability to carry out plays that came so easily to their coach, it frustrates these coaches leaving them unable to teach these skills. Many marginal players, though, have gone onto to become very successful coaches because they had to develop and maintain every skill they had during their playing days, thus making it much easier for them to teach these skills and relate to struggling players.

When Wayne Gretzky accepted the position as Head Coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, many simply asked the question, why? Why would someone who is as legendary as they come in any sport want to do this? Why would Gretzky want to put his winning reputation on the line for a franchise that even if they had some angels in the offensive zone, is not likely to come within a stone’s throw of the playoffs?

It’s simple. Gretzky loves the game. Great players usually do not really and truly love the game they play. They are unthinkably talented but more often then not you feel like they are doing you a favour by playing hard. It’s the competition and the thrill of being involved in the game that Gretzky loves and has missed so much since retiring. Coaching is as involved as you can get in the game without actually playing, so for Gretzky, that was what he had to do.

Don’t be shocked though if Phoenix surprises a few people this year. Despite a questionable lineup on paper, Gretzky’s mere presence seems to raise players to a whole new level. Knowing the Great One is looking on might make the Coyotes give just that little bit extra that could be the difference in their success this season. Gretzky has done some remarkable things over his career in hockey. We’ll see if he does it again in Phoenix. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.

Rigamarole # 5 - Steve Thomas

Virtually every kid who grows up in Canada has the dream of suiting up for a team in the National Hockey League. For many, this is a dream that never is met. For others, it seems they are groomed since their minor hockey days and grow up in the fanfare of being a highly touted prospect assured of making the league. But let’s not make that mistake; it doesn’t happen for many. Making the NHL is not easy and nobody knows it better than Steve Thomas.

After a successful junior career with the Toronto Marlboros, shockingly Thomas was not drafted by an NHL team. Instead he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as a walk on free agent and made the team in his first training camp. Now at age 42, Thomas faces the same situation he did some 21 years ago. Despite some wildly impressive credentials, this time with National Hockey League success on his track record, he still has to prove he can get it done.

Over his career, Thomas has been successful everywhere he has played. Along with his instinctive scoring touch, he has possessed excellent leadership abilities. In 2002, Thomas was a major contributor to the Mighty Ducks’ magical run to game 7 of the Cup finals before inevitably losing that deciding game. That may very well be the reason Thomas has kept himself in shape. Despite an arguably hall of fame career, the one empty space on Thomas’ resume is never having won a cup.

Ever since Mats Sundin has been a member of the Leafs, it seems there is always talk that he has never had a solid winger to play with. Well Sundin had some of his best years as a Leaf when Thomas played alongside him in the late ‘90s. Granted, Thomas had a few less miles under his belt at the time, he has yet to show a downturn in his production. If he can score 20 goals, great! But, it’s not only the offense he brings, it’s the leadership and the desire to win that never goes stale on a team. I think he has shown he is worth another shot. We will see if the Mighty Quinn sees it our way. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.

Rigamarole # 3 - Datsyuk Holding Out

In the new NHL, where dollars and cents cannot be thrown around as though there is an endless pot of money to pick from, unsigned players have to begin to realize that teams simply don’t have the ability to cave into contractual demands. With a budget, there is only so money to dole out.

Now this all leads us to the question: Who does Pavel Datsyuk think he is? The restricted free agent and the Detroit Red Wings have not been able to agree on a contract with the two sides well over a million dollars apart. The Wings offered him a deal worth $5 million per year yet Datsyuk is looking for one in the neighbourhood of $6 million plus. Datsyuk was quoted in the Russian media earlier in the week saying, "I think I am worth at least what (Dany) Heatley or (Joe) Thornton got from their deals."

Now here is guy who can certainly put the puck in the net scoring thirty goals in the most recent season. But in no way is he the kind of player a Dany Heatley or a Joe Thornton is. While Datsyuk and Thornton had similar scoring outputs last season, Thornton registered a plus 18 rating whereas Datsyuk managed a discouraging -2. Thornton is a big, tough strong guy who plays at both ends of the rink, while on some nights Datsyuk needs a program to find out who his netminder is as he certainly doesn’t get anywhere near close enough to read the name on his shirt. In the playoffs, Datsyuk’s scoring ability seems to disappear.

In years past, the wealthy Red Wings likely would have given him what he wanted and had done with it, but not anymore. The Wings still need to sign 3 or 4 more players as it is with Datsyuk notwithstanding and are faced with precious little room left under the cap. Datsyuk has since signed a deal with a Russian Club for his coveted $6 million but this deal as an escape clause allowing him to return to the NHL at any point. If he is using this as a negotiating ploy, well then he still hasn’t got the picture. Let’s hope he’s there to stay! But hey, all that was just rigamarole.

Rigamarole # 2 - Release of the Doctors

But what about those responsible for keeping the star athletes healthy enough to perform at elite levels. What about the doctors and trainers, who in the Maple Leafs case, had become almost as well known as the players themselves.

Dr. Michael Clarfield and head athletic therapist Chris Broadhurst each had well over a decade of service with the Toronto Maple Leafs with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ogilvie-Harris and athletic therapist Brent Smith themselves having tenures of considerable length before all being let go by the team earlier this summer.

Now I’m sure a lot of people are saying, “whatever who cares, it doesn’t matter,” but to be honest, this is a move that just rubs me the wrong way. Here are four men who have given their best effort to keep the Maple Leafs as healthy as possible and seriously, over the last few years with our aging team, that has been no easy feat. These guys are familiar with the majority of the players and the injuries they require continual treatment for. They know each of their personalities and the players are comfortable with them. Nothing is better than having a doctor you are comfortable with and for the most part, it seemed the players were always thrilled with the treatment they received.

Bringing in a whole new set of physicians and trainers will signify a whole new feeling out process for not only the players, but the doctors themselves. An official reason for their dismissal was never released but many have speculated John Ferguson wanted to hire his own people. If that’s the reason, it’s a pretty bad one. If it was due to contractual demands, don’t these guys deserve a raise? It’s not like it has been a cakewalk for the last few years. And honestly isn’t the best medical care worth it. Shame, shame, shame…That was a real poor decision. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.

Rigamarole # 1 - Dany Heatley - Marian Hossa Deal

In a new world where planning ahead with your dollars and cents is now so vital to your team’s success, the thought of blockbuster deals involving big name players and big time salaries is almost unthinkable. Even in the years before the NHL reinvented its self under the new collective bargaining agreement, trades involving anything more substantial than future considerations for fourth line mucker-type deals were of an extremely rare variety. Especially now, long gone are the days of blockbuster trades, or so we thought.

Earlier this week, the Ottawa Senators and the Atlanta Thrashers shocked the hockey world when Dany Heatley and Marian Hossa, two of the game’s brightest young stars were exchanged along with a very capable defenseman in Greg Devries. In Hossa and Devries, Atlanta receives a sniper who has scored more than 30 goals in each of the past three seasons and a much needed addition on the back end. In Heatley, Ottawa receives as good a scorer as they gave up but one who also brings some grit to their lineup which has sorely lacked in that department for years.

This deal is not a raw talent for talent deal as it may seem though. After the tragic crash involving Heatley and teammate Dan Snyder, Heatley has understandably had a difficult time dealing with its effects and had requested a trade in need of a change of scenery. Ottawa had been in contract negotiations with Hossa for the past few weeks and appeared eager to come to terms as soon as possible with Hossa. Almost assuredly, this deal had been in the works for some time and was contingent upon Ottawa signing Hossa to a deal that both Hossa and the Atlanta Thrashers would be happy with.

It was one of the most marquee deals in recent memory and there is still a lot to be seen from it. Can Marian Hossa bump Atlanta to the next level and help earn them their first playoff birth in franchise history? Will Dany Heatley regain the form he once knew and take Ottawa deep into the playoffs. We’ll find out soon enough in forty days when the season begins on October 5th.

Leafs Can’t Steal Crown From Kings

Ed Belfour will need a fourth attempt to move into second place on the all-time wins list after the Maple Leafs fell by a score of 2-1 to the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings made their only appearance in Toronto tonight looking to snap a three game win streak and were successful playing a strong team game, suffocating the Leafs as the game wore on. It was also the much anticipated debut of super pest Sean Avery and perhaps the swansong for Jeremy Roenick in Toronto. Both played minimal contributions in the game: Avery, relatively well behaved for his standards and Roenick was coming off a fairly intense bout of pneumonia.

The Leafs have fell victim of late to a disappearance of contributions from players who are looked upon for significant contributions, namely Eric Lindros and Jeff O’Neill. Darcy Tucker has found another gear during their absence, vaulting himself into the lead in team goal scoring. Despite Tucker’s new found scoring touch, the Leafs need to have more scoring come from their top players in order to be successful on a consistent basis.

After their heaviest stretch of the schedule which saw the Leafs play seven games in eleven days, it is followed up by perhaps their most quiet stretch with only four games in the next fourteen days. So far the Leafs have not fared to well. We will see if they can turn it around this Saturday against the Dallas Stars.