News Item: : Leafs enjoy reversal of fortunes
(Category: News)
Posted by admin
24 Nov - 10:34:36
Almost one-quarter of the way into the 2009-10 NAIHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are enjoying a much different view. After two years in the outhouse, where they missed the playoffs, the Leafs are now in the penthouse - sitting in first-place overall.
"Nobody believes it," said longtime hockey scribe Al Strachan. "The Leafs in first? Impossible." Indeed it seems impossible in the NHL, where the Leafs namesake sits in last place overall. But the NHL is Bizarro-world to the NAIHL, where the Leafs have rolled to a record of 14-3-1 for 29 points and a winning percentage of .806.
One key to the Leafs resurgence has been veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson. He was acquired in a trade deadline deal with the Oilerrs last season in an effort to lift the Leafs into the eighth and final playoff spot. That attempt failed, but the trade has paid big dividends for the Leafs this season. Roloson has posted a 13-1-1 record with a save percentage of .926 and a goals against average of 1.67 - leading the league in all three categories.
"Rolo's on a roll," said Leafs president Don Cherry. "That was one sweet deal I pulled off to get him," said Cherry, ignoring the fact that it was general manager Alan White who made the trade for Roloson. The vetaran goaltender has benefited from a much stronger Leafs blueline in front of him. General manager White ended his spendthrift ways in free agency this season and paid big bucks - too big some would say - to land blueliners Jay McKee and Dmitri Kalinin.
The Leafs blueline also improved thanks to some shrewd roster moves late last season when White claimed Karlins Skrastins on waivers from the Oilers and Mark Eaton on waivers from Buffalo. Skrastins has two goals, 11 points and is plus 5 on the Leafs blueline.
"It feels great to play for a team that has confidence in you," he said. The same applies to Lee Stempniak. He was picked up late last season from the Predators in a deal involving some minor league talent and a fifth-round pick.
Stempniak is now the Leafs leading scorer with eight goals and 18 points through 18 games.
"Watch out baby, this is our year," said Cherry. But general manager White is not planning the route for any Cup parades yet. "it's a long, long season and a lot can happen," said White. "We're happy with the start we've had. But it's just the start. What's more important is how we finish."
Submitted by Leafs
This news item is from North American Internet Hockey League
( http://naihl.net/news.php?extend.367 )
(Category: News)
Posted by admin
24 Nov - 10:34:36
Almost one-quarter of the way into the 2009-10 NAIHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are enjoying a much different view. After two years in the outhouse, where they missed the playoffs, the Leafs are now in the penthouse - sitting in first-place overall.
"Nobody believes it," said longtime hockey scribe Al Strachan. "The Leafs in first? Impossible." Indeed it seems impossible in the NHL, where the Leafs namesake sits in last place overall. But the NHL is Bizarro-world to the NAIHL, where the Leafs have rolled to a record of 14-3-1 for 29 points and a winning percentage of .806.
One key to the Leafs resurgence has been veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson. He was acquired in a trade deadline deal with the Oilerrs last season in an effort to lift the Leafs into the eighth and final playoff spot. That attempt failed, but the trade has paid big dividends for the Leafs this season. Roloson has posted a 13-1-1 record with a save percentage of .926 and a goals against average of 1.67 - leading the league in all three categories.
"Rolo's on a roll," said Leafs president Don Cherry. "That was one sweet deal I pulled off to get him," said Cherry, ignoring the fact that it was general manager Alan White who made the trade for Roloson. The vetaran goaltender has benefited from a much stronger Leafs blueline in front of him. General manager White ended his spendthrift ways in free agency this season and paid big bucks - too big some would say - to land blueliners Jay McKee and Dmitri Kalinin.
The Leafs blueline also improved thanks to some shrewd roster moves late last season when White claimed Karlins Skrastins on waivers from the Oilers and Mark Eaton on waivers from Buffalo. Skrastins has two goals, 11 points and is plus 5 on the Leafs blueline.
"It feels great to play for a team that has confidence in you," he said. The same applies to Lee Stempniak. He was picked up late last season from the Predators in a deal involving some minor league talent and a fifth-round pick.
Stempniak is now the Leafs leading scorer with eight goals and 18 points through 18 games.
"Watch out baby, this is our year," said Cherry. But general manager White is not planning the route for any Cup parades yet. "it's a long, long season and a lot can happen," said White. "We're happy with the start we've had. But it's just the start. What's more important is how we finish."
Submitted by Leafs
This news item is from North American Internet Hockey League
( http://naihl.net/news.php?extend.367 )