Latest news with #JakeMcCabe
National Post
8 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
LEAFS NOTES: Toronto not feeling a first round draft as picking starts
The Maple Leafs weren't out to quench any thirst for a first in Friday night's first round of the National Hockey League draft. Article content Having made their bed, trading the 25th pick to Chicago for Jake McCabe two years ago, they seemed ready to sleep through the opening chapter versus trading up and get back to work Saturday morning. They will have six picks in the ensuing six rounds, starting at 64th overall. Article content Article content General manager Brad Treliving was suggesting this week there was an equal chance the Leafs move further down the order, not higher, if another team liked a player at 64th and perhaps offers them two picks in return. Article content It's not unheard of for Toronto to find a diamond in the rough at 64, with 1990s forward Frederik Modin and current defence prospect Topi Niemela, but any choices at that position are usually long-term projects. Article content 'I'm just interested in the best available talent and the guy who competes and works hard,' amateur scouting director Mark Leach told reporters on Thursday of what he would seek at that spot. Article content TAVARES SEEING RED Article content When we asked newly re-signed John Tavares where his game is at in his mid-30s, he threw his name in the ring for another shot with Team Canada at the 2026 Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Article content Tavares has played on various national sides in his career and it was a huge letdown for him not to be invited to the 4 Nations Face-Off last February. But it will have been 12 years since he won Olympic gold in 2014 at Sochi and this time he'd be nearing age 36. Article content Article content 'I really take a lot of pride in how I try to get better, approach the game and my craft,' he said. 'There's a tremendous amount of belief in who I am and what I can do. Article content 'I have always stated my desire to give it every opportunity to play for Team Canada on the biggest stage at the biggest events. You hope you can earn that, There's tremendous amount of belief I have to play at an elite level and continue to evolve. Article content The Canadiens announced this week that their Prospect Showdown returns to the Bell Centre, Sept. 13-14. The best young Habs and Leafs will be joined by the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets. Toronto plays the Sens at 1 p.m. on Sat. Sept. 13 and Montreal at 3 p.m. next day.
National Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
LEAFS NOTES: Experiencing a long-distance draft, and a new job for Rick Vaive
The Maple Leafs' first 2025 draft pick, whoever he is and which day of the draft he is announced, likely will be 4,000 kilometres away from his new team when chosen. Article content But Toronto's hockey department, working out of their Ford Performance Centre office this Friday and Saturday, won't be alone with any separation anxiety in this de-centralized draft. Most other teams will be at home bases, while 100 or so prospects are gathered with commissioner Gary Bettman at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Article content Article content While Leafs amateur scouting director Mark Leach told the Toronto Sun last week that things should go smoothly, given 'COVID' drafts in 2020 and 2021 had to be virtual, all teams and the viewing public will have to manage some technical challenges of being scattered across the continent. Article content 'We thought this would be simpler, and it's actually become way more complicated,' Steve Mayer, league president of content and events, told the Associated Press this week as he monitored the L.A. set. 'Everything has to be spot on. It was so much easier when you can look at (draft) table No. 6 and they were making their pick.' Article content The first 32 players will be chosen Friday night. Toronto's first-round pick is owned by Chicago from the Jake McCabe trade two years ago, meaning it won't pick Friday unless trading up, and is currently up 64th at the end of Saturday's second round. Article content SAINTLY REVIVAL FOR RICK Article content In the 1980s, Rick Vaive and other Leafs were familiar with coach John Brophy's stark description of being sent down the QEW in St. Catharines with the American Hockey League Saints. Article content 'It's 75 miles to get there and 75,000 miles back,' the late Brophy would direly warn the players, hoping to motivate them to fight harder for jobs with the parent team. Article content Now it's the 66-year-old Vaive who will be coaching where Brophy once did in St. Kitts, with the newly created senior Saints of the Allan Cup Hockey League. This will be a more player-friendly, a five-team league with roster ages in the late 20s and early 30s. Article content Vaive has been bitten by the coaching bug again. After AHL and ECHL jobs, the one-time Leafs captain last ran a bench in 2001 with the OHL's Mississauga IceDogs. Article content 'This just came up and I remembered how I loved doing it,' Vaive said. 'I'm starting from scratch, but I still love working with players. They have day jobs and we'll practice just once a week. And it could lead to something else for me, who knows.' Article content Vaive was impressed with St. Catharines owner Pat Smith's plans to renovate Bill Burgoyne Arena, which currently holds close to 1,000 spectators, and his plans to recruit local Niagara Peninsula hockey talent at October's training camp. Vaive, who lives in the area, agrees his NHL fame won't hurt in attracting other free agents.
National Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Trading first-round picks yet to reverse the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup curse
They're forever known as 'the ones that got away' from the Maple Leafs. Article content There have been 10 drafts between 1991-2022 in which Toronto traded its first-round pick in search of help in regular season, playoffs or both, though it has yet to help end a 58-year Stanley Cup jinx. Article content Article content Barring a reverse mortgage by Friday night, the Leafs again will sit out the opening round, its selection at 25th owned by the Chicago Blackhawks from 2023's acquisition of defenceman Jake McCabe. Neither do the Leafs currently possess a first through 2027. Article content Per the chart below, they've had motive for trading the pick — and a few more in subsequent rounds. Such moves always carry a risk the traded choice ends up raising the Cup as happened again last week. Article content In other cases, the pick turned out a bust for the swap partner and Toronto came out ahead. Here are the yearly draft details, including the player Leafs eventually chose first. Article content Article content 2022 Article content FIRST PICK DEPARTED: 25th to Chicago, which selected 6-foot-4 defenceman Sam Rinzel. After leaving the University of Minnesota to join the Hawks last season, he had five assists in nine NHL games. Article content TRADE DETAILS: Leafs sent goalie Petr Mrazek and this pick to the Hawks for a second-rounder. GM Kyle Dubas was trying to undo an excessive three-year Mrazek contract, while the Hawks had cap room, a rebuild mindset and didn't mind finishing low enough to win the Connor Bedard lottery in 2023. Article content NEXT LEAF UP: Toronto chose WHL centre Fraser Minten at 38th overall. He excelled in his first training camp, made the team and played a total of 19 games for Toronto, but was traded for defenceman Brandon Carlo at the past March deadline. Article content Article content Article content 2019 Article content FIRST PICK DEPARTED; 22nd, Los Angles selected defenceman Tobias Bjornfot. You might have caught Bjornfot raising the Cup late in the Panthers' celebration on Tuesday. The Swede played 100-plus games for the Kings, but slipped through both L.A. and the Vegas Golden Knights, being claimed by the Panthers just as playoffs started.
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Trading first-round picks yet to reverse the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup curse
Article content They're forever known as 'the ones that got away' from the Maple Leafs. There have been 10 drafts between 1991-2022 in which Toronto traded its first-round pick in search of help in regular season, playoffs or both, though it has yet to help end a 58-year Stanley Cup jinx. Article content Barring a reverse mortgage by Friday night, the Leafs again will sit out the opening round, its selection at 25th owned by the Chicago Blackhawks from 2023's acquisition of defenceman Jake McCabe. Neither do the Leafs currently possess a first through 2027. Article content Per the chart below, they've had motive for trading the pick — and a few more in subsequent rounds. Such moves always carry a risk the traded choice ends up raising the Cup as happened again last week. In other cases, the pick turned out a bust for the swap partner and Toronto came out ahead. Here are the yearly draft details, including the player Leafs eventually chose first. 2022 FIRST PICK DEPARTED: 25th to Chicago, which selected 6-foot-4 defenceman Sam Rinzel. After leaving the University of Minnesota to join the Hawks last season, he had five assists in nine NHL games. TRADE DETAILS: Leafs sent goalie Petr Mrazek and this pick to the Hawks for a second-rounder. GM Kyle Dubas was trying to undo an excessive three-year Mrazek contract, while the Hawks had cap room, a rebuild mindset and didn't mind finishing low enough to win the Connor Bedard lottery in 2023. Article content NEXT LEAF UP: Toronto chose WHL centre Fraser Minten at 38th overall. He excelled in his first training camp, made the team and played a total of 19 games for Toronto, but was traded for defenceman Brandon Carlo at the past March deadline. 2021 FIRST PICK DEPARTED: 25th, Columbus selected defenceman Corson Ceulemans. The 6-foot-2 Alberta Jr. League prospect spent two years at the University of Wisconsin and has since played 80 games in the AHL for the Cleveland Monsters. TRADE DETAILS: A three-way deal that involved the San Jose Sharks and also gave the Leafs temporary possession of Stefan Noesen, now an effective forward with New Jersey. But the excitement of landing the son of 1990s playoff hero Mike Foligno didn't last long. Nick was injured after the deadline deal and played just four of seven playoff games against Montreal before signing with Boston the following season. Article content NEXT LEAF UP: The Foligno episode and the lost pick faded from memory when Matthew Knies was chosen 57th and jumped from the University of Minnesota within two years to become a first-line Leafs left winger. 2019 FIRST PICK DEPARTED; 22nd, Los Angles selected defenceman Tobias Bjornfot. You might have caught Bjornfot raising the Cup late in the Panthers' celebration on Tuesday. The Swede played 100-plus games for the Kings, but slipped through both L.A. and the Vegas Golden Knights, being claimed by the Panthers just as playoffs started. TRADE DETAILS: Dubas tried to get ahead of other teams' deadline deals by obtaining Cup-champion defenceman Jake Muzzin from the Kings at midseason, though the price included this pick and second-rounders Sean Durzi and Carl Grundstrom. A neck-related injury ended Muzzin's playing days prematurely, but he remains on the Leafs' development staff. Article content 2010 FIRST PICK DEPARTED: Second overall, Boston selected forward Tyler Seguin. Whether it was losing their Seguin ticket or Taylor Hall, who went first overall to Edmonton, the Leafs had some buyers' remorse about the deal to land Phil Kessel. They'd struggle another few years to make the playoffs, while local lad Seguin won a Cup with the Bruins his first year and is coming up on 1,000 NHL games. TRADE DETAILS: Kessel led the Leafs in scoring the next six years, but was ill-suited for the Toronto spotlight and a challenge for his coaches before being traded and winning two Cups with Pittsburgh. Toronto also sent its 2011 first-rounder to Boston in this deal, who turned into solid defenceman Dougie Hamilton. Leafs later recovered two top selections, though forward Tyler Biggs and defenceman Stu Percy didn't blossom. NEXT LEAF UP: WHL forward Brad Ross was chosen 43rd, splitting his time with the Marlies and ECHL Orlando. His notoriety included a 20-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. 2007 FIRST PICK DEPARTED: Lars Eller, selected 13th overall by St. Louis. This ageless winger just came off another strong season in Washington, having spent almost his entire career in the Leafs' face with Montreal, Pittsburgh and the Caps, where he and Alex Ovechkin shared the 2018 Cup. TRADE DETAILS: GM John Ferguson had attempted to upgrade goaltending and toughness, acquiring Vesa Toskala and Mark Bell from San Jose, which flipped this pick to the Blues. NEXT LEAF UP: Undersized Oshawa General forward Dale Mitchell went 74th, didn't get past the Marlies, though had a prolific career in Denmark. 2004 FIRST PICK DEPARTED: 24th overall, winger Kris Chucko selected by the Calgary Flames. The B.C. native, via the University of Minnesota, played two NHL games before concussions cut short his career. Article content TRADE DETAILS: GM/coach Pat Quinn went on a deadline trading spree that included future Hall of Famers Brian Leetch for this pick and forward Ron Francis. Leetch enjoyed his brief Leafs time and considered re-signing, but after the lockout year chose to play in Boston. NEXT LEAF UP: After their longest wait to date to make their first selection at a draft, the Leafs took WHL goalie Justin Pogge 90th. A couple of years later, in the belief they were set in net with Pogge and Andrew Raycroft, they dealt '05 first pick Tuukka Rask to Boston. 2003 FIRST PICK DEPARTED: Boston selected defenceman Mark Stuart 21st overall. The 6-foot-2 product of Colorado College put in close to 700 NHL games with the B's, then came to Canada via the Atlanta Thrashers transfer to Winnipeg. TRADE DETAILS: Quinn coveted physical former first-overall forward Owen Nolan from the Sharks, but had to give up this pick, plus popular Leafs centre Alyn McCauley and young Brad Boyes. Boston dealt with the Sharks to move into the first round. Article content NEXT LEAF UP: Massachusetts high schooler John Doherty didn't get on the NHL radar at 57th and the Leafs missed out on the draft's strong second round that year, which included Patrice Bergeron to Boston at 45th. 1997 FIRST PICK DEPARTED: Fourth overall, goalie Roberto Luongo, selected by the New York Islanders. His Hall of Fame career was later built in great seasons with Vancouver and Florida. TRADE DETAILS: Higher-ups in Leafs ownership wanted GM Cliff Fletcher to bring back Wendel Clark after trading the one-time captain for Mats Sundin three years earlier. The expensive reunion also cost Toronto defenceman Kenny Jonsson, later an Isles' captain. NEXT LEAF UP: Boston College centre Jeff Farkas played eight games for Toronto, catching on with Atlanta for a bit before early retirement due to a spinal injury. 1996 FIRST PICK DEPARTED: It was 15th overall, centre Dainius Zubrus, selected by Philadelphia. The Flyers launched Zubrus to nearly 1,400 NHL games, the most of any first-rounder taken that year. Latest National Stories
National Post
15-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
How the Maple Leafs can win Game 6 and force deciding game back in Toronto
Article content Stop overthinking. Just go play. Article content If only it was that easy with the season on the line in Game 6 on Friday night against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, eh? Article content The defending Stanley Cup champions have pounced and are ready to send the Leafs to another early start to the summer in grasping a 3-2 stranglehold in the best-of-seven second-round series. Article content Article content After taking some time to absorb what the Leafs did in their worst game of the season — given the circumstances and complete failure, there's no other way to describe it — we would argue that Toronto can't be that bad again in the looming must-win. Article content Article content As difficult as it may be, try to forget the previous years of post-season failure and boil your thoughts down to how the Leafs have played under coach Craig Berube. What happened on Wednesday isn't the way the Leafs have gone about their business in Berube's first year behind the Toronto bench. Article content The Leafs excelled in adopting Berube's north-south system during the regular season — they wouldn't have won the Atlantic Division otherwise. Article content They've stuck to it, for the most part, during the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. In Game 5, the Leafs became unglued. Article content It wasn't similar to what went down in Game 4, when the Leafs were shut out 2-0. Florida scored a power-play goal and another off a rare mistake on the part of defencemen Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev. The Panthers didn't necessarily step up the intensity in Game 5. It wasn't as though coach Paul Maurice devised a new forecheck and as a result the Leafs couldn't respond. Article content Article content Toronto, displaying little-to-no confidence, couldn't get out of its own way in the defensive zone and goalie Joseph Woll couldn't gloss over his teammates' erratic play. Article content The Leafs, who are in danger of losing four games in a row for the first time this season, didn't skate on Thursday at the Ford Performance Centre before flying to Florida in the afternoon. Article content 'You have to skate and you have to compete,' Berube said. 'It's going to be physical. We know that. It's tight. Article content 'And take the thinking out, go play, be aggressive. You can't not be aggressive. You have to be aggressive. You have to get numbers in there and the system and the structure takes care of the thinking. Article content 'That's what I want them to do. Go out and play hockey. Play with structure, but be aggressive.'
