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Maple Leafs Make Some Big Moves posted on 01/31/2010
It seems that Leafs' GM Brian Burke has not needed sleep this weekend.

Burke announced on Sunday morning that the team had made two blockbuster moves that will see all-star defenseman Dion Phaneuf and all-star goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere in Maple Leaf jerseys.  Burke shipped forwards Jamal Mayers, Matt Stajan, and Nick Hagman with defenseman Ian White to the Flames for Phaneuf, forward Fredrik Sjostrom and prospect Keith Aulie.  The second trade involved Giguere heading to Toronto from Anaheim for forward Jason Blake and goaltender Vesa Toskala.

The trade comes the morning after a loss to Vancouver on Saturday, sending the Leafs on a six-game winless skid.  But Burke denies that the trades have anything to do with the losses.  He says that “these pieces were in place prior to yesterday.”

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Weighing in on Blues – Canucks Rumors posted on 01/26/2010
Is it just me, or is it that Canucks media is making it seem that David Backes will ultimately end up in Vancouver?

Canucks GM Mike Gillis attempted to sign Blues forward and restricted free-agent David Backes to an offer sheet worth $7.5 million over three years.  With Backes as a fan-favorite and a valuable asset to the Blues' rebuilding phase, St. Louis GM Larry Pleau had no choice but to match the offer and reclaim his player. 

But now the rumor mill is filled with Backes going to Vancouver yet again.  It was reported by The Globe and Mail that the Vancouver GM was spotted at the Bell Centre last Wednesday in a game that featured the St. Louis Blues and the Montreal Canadiens.  What exactly would draw him to that game?

Backes will earn another $2.5 million next season.  The 25-year old scored a career-high 31 goals in the first year of his new contract, but has trailed off since that time.  After scoring one goal in the Canucks' four-game sweep of the Blues in the post-season, Backes has added just ten goals in 2009-10.  His production has slipped, but still has tremendous respect from around the league.  Former Blues head coach Andy Murray once said that David gives the Blues “a triple threat down low in the corners and in front of the net – a big body that can pass, score goals and be a presence down low.”

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The NHL Could Learn from the NFL posted on 01/20/2010
Did you see that crazy backhand goal by Michael Del Zotto of the Rangers that snuck its way through Boston's Tim Thomas a few weeks ago?  Of course you did, it was the only afternoon game on that Saturday.

Well how about that exciting shootout between Colorado and Buffalo that went through 22 skaters?  Or that great defensive win by the Panthers over the Senators where Tomas Vokoun had an 18-save shutout?  No, you probably missed those because you were watching your favorite team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, get shelled by Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-1 on home ice.

The Rangers-Bruins game was broadcasted at 1:00 EST on January 9, making it the only game on between the hours of 1:00 and 7:00.  But that is when the NHL flood started; six games were played at 7:00, three games at 8:00 and three more at 10:00 or after.

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Is This the Right Team USA? posted on 01/11/2010
Brian Burke had to find a way to have his team compete in a tough Olympic tournament in February.

Not long after Canada, Russia, Finland and Sweden announced their Olympic rosters, Brian Burke took center stage to announce his team.  At the Winter Classic on January 1, Team USA was unveiled after a thrilling game between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park.  Burke decided to go with youth to try and capture the Gold.

"We've been watching these kids," Burke said after the team announcement. "I think we have a good base. We tried to pick the team based on a body of work, rather than how a player has played at this particular time. A player who had a slow start should not be penalized if he's done good things in the past.”

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Murray Out; Payne In posted on 01/02/2010
I guess Blues management frequents NHL Hockey Online.

Blues President John Davidson announced that the club has relieved Head Coach Andy Murray of his coaching duties (something I eluded to just three days ago).  The team has in turn named Davis Payne the interim head coach. 

“I would like to thank Andy Murray for the job he has done here the past four seasons,” Davidson stated Saturday morning. “He was an integral part in turning the St. Louis Blues around. He is a true professional and I wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Murray registered a 118-102-38 record as leader of the Blues, including one playoff berth for the better part of four seasons.  The Blues' best time behind Murray came last season, when the club catapulted from the NHL cellar all the way to the sixth seed in the playoffs.  In that stretch, the team went 27-10-7, which put them as one of the hottest teams in the league before losing to the Vancouver Canucks in four games in the opening round of the playoffs. 

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