Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 3.25

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Mats Sundin has spent thirteen years with the Maple Leafs organization and in the process, has become one of the best if not THE best player in franchise history. During that time, Sundin became the highest scoring Maple Leaf in goals and points in franchise history all without a top level winger save for Alex Mogilny for a brief time. He’s handled the media day in day out very stoically, never once cracking under the immense pressure of playing in one of hockey’s biggest markets. Last summer, Sundin signed a one year deal instead of a longer term contract because he did not want to burden the Maple Leafs if he could not or did not want to play past this season.

Now with the possibility of missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year – a potential first in franchise history – Sundin is once again being looked at as the man to fix the Leafs problems. The solution this time: agreeing to leave the team he has so obviously fallen in love with. While I do believe it would be in the best interest of the Maple Leafs to trade Sundin, accumulate prospects and picks and then sign him back in the off season, if there is any one player who deserves to decide where he wants to play, it’s Sundin. For a player who has given the majority of his legendary career to a rarely competitive team, it’s wrong for fans and media to put him in an uncomfortable position pressuring him to leave.

So many times in Toronto, our superstar athletes couldn’t wait to leave: see Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Carlos Delgado. Now finally there is a superstar athlete who so desperately wants to stay…and what do we as a city do, badger him constantly and suggest he must not be too smart or else he’d want to leave. Sundin obviously loves the city, but keep at it people, you just might drive him away yet. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.

Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 3.24 - Featuring Wade Belak

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Call it the calm before the storm. With the NHL’s trade deadline just over a week away, general managers seem to be lying low in advance of the bell tolling at 3pm on February 26th. In recent years, we have started to see a myriad of deals consummated in the days leading up to the deadline. Last year a total of twenty four trades occurred in the month of February not including the twenty five alone on deadline day. This season throughout the month of February, a mere four trades have been agreed to. So why all the trepidation from the men in charge of each of the thirty teams?

Well for at least two reasons, all of them hailing from Scandinavia. Firstly Peter Forsberg. Arguably the biggest impact player available and you don’t even need to give up players or draft picks to get him. All it will take is a cheque. Forsberg though has yet to decide, one where he wants to play, and two if his ankle is even strong enough to play this season. He is likely the keystone to opening the floodgates of the marketplaces. Why, because he can add the most to a team while posing the least risk for the future. Once Forsberg makes a decision, teams that lost the Forsberg sweepstakes will scramble to improve before the deadline.

Secondly Mats Sundin. Still a franchise player at age 37 and by far the player who could have the strongest impact of those available at the deadline currently under contract. Sundin, though holds all the power with a no trade clause and continues to insist he does not want to move. Don’t think though that GM’s won’t be calling Cliff Fletcher to see if there is anything he can do to convince Sundin otherwise.

The best moves are usually the ones made in advance of deadline day. The ones on deadline day are usually last ditch efforts to improve with little attention given to the future. Strangely enough, few of those moves ever result in championships. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.

Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 3.23 Featuring Louie Caporusso

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The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s annual celebration of hockey hit the air Saturday from the little known hamlet of Winkler, Manitoba. The theme for the eighth annual Hockey Day In Canada was “The Journey” with interviews and features throughout the thirteen and a half hours of coverage detailing the many paths followed by Canadians in pursuit of our passion for the game of hockey. A select few found and will find the National Hockey League at the end of their path, but for most, their journey ends up on backyard rinks, in late night pick up games and in minor hockey arenas giving back to the game that gave so much to us as youngsters.

CBC did a fantastic job of recognizing some of the lesser known stars, those whose names we have never heard and likely won’t hear again; however, their contributions to hockey are felt all throughout the country. Saturday, thanks to Hockey Day in Canada, they too were national stars with their names alongside the likes of Sundin, Iginla, Spezza and others.

So quick to criticize, many people suggested thirteen and a half hours of “pat your own country on the back” coverage is simply too much to bear but with all the negative and troubling stories the media constantly focuses on, it’s refreshing to see a day’s worth of inspirational and feel good stories centered around an activity that continues to bring Canadians together like nothing else.

Hockey Day in Canada has taken on a life of its own since the tradition began eight years ago, especially in the small towns it has visited in recent years. So much more than just a broadcast now, Hockey Day brings with it hockey clinics, banquets, and former NHLers that help to recognize the work of so many people whose work otherwise goes unnoticed. With all the good this event does, really what is the purpose of complaining about it. If you don’t like it, don’t watch. Certainly nobody is forcing you. But hey, all that is just rigamarole.

Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 3.22

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On last week’s show we indicated that repositioning the roster before the trade deadline would be a paramount task for interim GM Cliff Fletcher heading toward the NHL Entry Draft in June. Also of utmost importance for Fletcher over the next few months will be the assessment of the quality prospects, if any, the Maple Leafs currently have within their system to work with going forward. Recently, with the sudden rash of injuries to befall Maple Leaf regulars, Fletcher’s job of evaluating prospects has involved a lot less travel as several youngsters have been called on to dress for the big club at Air Canada Centre.

Kris Newbury and Ben Ondrus have been seen off and on now for the past two seasons in Leaf uniforms. While both are decent depth and energy players, neither could be considered cornerstone pieces. Anton Stralman seems to have overtaken Andy Wozniewski on the depth chart remaining in the lineup when Carlo Colaiacovo returned on Tuesday, due in large part to his steady progression at the NHL level. This kid is keeper. Saturday night gave Leaf fans their first look at the much talked about Robbie Earl. Playing over fifteen minutes, Earl was hardly eased into the lineup. He played well and showed some potential but then again, it’s easy to impress in your first NHL game. It’s far more difficult to keep impressing throughout a career.

Jeremy Williams was thought to be a blue chip goal scorer; however, he has regressed this season with the Toronto Marlies with only twenty two points in thirty nine games. Nikolai Kulemin looks to be tearing things up while playing in Russia but until he comes to North America, it will be difficult to get an accurate reading on him. All things considered, Kulemin seems to hold the most promise, although that could simply be a function of imaginations running wild on a player only heard about but rarely seen. The cupboard isn’t bare but it certainly isn’t far from it. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.