Joel Ward - An up and down playoff

Joel Ward will be fine.

He handled the racist tweets that were fired in his direction after eliminating Boston in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

And he will bounce back after taking a careless penalty that cost his team from going up 3-2 in the series against the New York Rangers.

Full disclosure here: I've known Joel since 1997. He was the 260th overall pick of the Ontario Hockey League draft that season.

I was doing some work for the Owen Sound Platers at the time, and when the Platers announced they had picked Joel I figured there was NOOOOO way he would still be at a nearly empty Maple Leafs Gardens.

But moments after his name was called, here came this rather thin young man. He introduced himself and I couldn't believe he was still at the draft.

I gave him his shirt and cap and figured I would never see him again.

Wrong.

Ward has overcome several hurdles in his life: His father passing away when Joel was 11 years old forcing his mother working several jobs so Joel could stay in hockey.

So making the OHL as the longest of long shots was no surprise. The fact that played 4 years in the league and was a productive player was again no surprise.

It also came as no shock when Joel wasn't drafted into the NHL. No big deal. Joel went to UPEI and carved out a successful 4 year career in CIS hockey.

A few years in the minors didn't deter Joel from his NHL dream, so you see the latest stuff won't bother Joel who really made his mark in the playoffs last season with Nashville.

So again it did not surprise me at all that after the heart breaking loss to the Rangers, Ward was in the dressing room waiting to talk to the media. No ducking or hiding with Joel Ward.

“It’s definitely a letdown,” Ward told reporters. “I definitely let the squad down and cost us a game with a terrible play. And it happened pretty quick.”

The 31-year-old from Toronto was sent to the penalty box after his stick caught Rangers forward Carl Hagelin in the face after a defensive zone draw. It drew blood, and the extra penalty.

Brad Richards tied the game with 6.6 seconds left and with Ward still in the box, Marc Staal scored the game winner in OT.

It comes as no surprise that the Capitals defended Ward after the game.

Capitals forward Matt Hendricks told reporters: “It was a tough play. He’s doing everything he can to box that guy out like he’s supposed to, doing his job. Unfortunately, those things happen, with high sticks and a penalty. Joel’s done an outstanding job. There’s nothing you can do there.”

“It’s a tough break for Joel," said Mike Knuble. "We all feel terrible for him. It was a shot. It was the moment they needed, and they took advantage of it.”

Capitals defenceman Karl Alzner added “That’s the way with any sport. One time, you do something great, and the next time, you don’t. It’s happened to me a number of times, where I’ve tipped pucks into my own net or done something stupid. I mean, I know a game where I’ve had a goal and an assist in the first period, and two goals against my own net in one period. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

I would expect Joel and his Capital teammates to respond with a strong effort in game 6. After all, Ward has surprised before. Don't bet against him doing so again.

Colby Armstrong out with a concussion

Was Colby Armstrong wrong in not telling anyone he was feeling light headed after he collided with Vancouver's Ryan Kesler in a game Saturday?

It's a question that is being asked now that Armstrong has been sidelined indefinitely with a concussion.

On the collision with Kesler, Armstrong suffered a cracked toe. But he also felt dizzy and lightheaded.

Remember, he missed 2 months with an ankle injury, and was playing in his 4th game since his return when he suffered the toe/concussion.

Armstrong has suffered pretty much every injury you can think off while he's been a Leaf: hand, knee, groin and eye injuries have meant Armstrong has played in 50 % of the games while he's been in Toronto.

That frustration - and the culture of hockey - played a large role in Armstrong deciding to try and hide his symptoms for a couple of days.

"If a guy doesn't tell you he has any symptoms, it's no different than 90 % of men who never go in for a checkup," said coach Ron Wilson. "We have all of these issues and that's just the way a lot of us were brought up: Unless you think you're dying you don't say anything, you don't see the doctor, you don't tell anybody."

It is a mindset that Wilson admits should change, but in a sport where competition is fierce and there are always people looking to take your job away, it's understandable in the eyes of the coach.

"Colby I think was trying to be noble," said Wilson. "He’s had a lot of injuries and he doesn't want to be known as fragile or injury prone so he didn't alert anybody until he felt really bad."

Armstrong skipped practise on Sunday because of his toe injury. He took part in the morning skate ahead of Monday's game vs. the Kings. It was early in the afternoon when he felt quite ill and was then diagnosed with a concussion.

"I talked to him after that game on the phone for quite a while and he never had a concussion before and he thought it was one of those things that he could shake off the next day," said defenseman Luke Schenn. "He probably thought a good night’s rest and hopefully it would go away."

It didn't and now the Leafs have lost Armstrong once again, and his hockey future may be in doubt. He has one more year on his $3 million a year contract.

"From talking with him that's what it sounded like, he didn't really know he had a concussion," said defenseman John-Michael Liles. "I don't think he was hiding anything from anybody. It’s not exactly something that jumps out a lot of times."

Whether he was hiding anything or not can be debated and discussed. But there is no doubt Armstrong knew he wasn't right and didn't respond to the situation immediately.

“If you don’t feel right, then you’re probably not right,” Keith Primeau told the National Post. Primeau's career was cut short by repeated concussions. “And that’s one of the most powerful messages in the education process: It’s imperative that you listen to your body.”

"From his point of view it's a normal reaction," Wilson said of Armstrong's decision to not say anything right away. "That's old school right there where you don't tell anybody and you hope you can fight through it. At least he realized even if it was late in the day he couldn't fake his way through the feelings he had."

Darryl Sutter: Right fit for underachieving Kings?

The LA Kings are set to name Darryl Sutter head coach in the next few days.

“He’s going to bring character, an attitude I think we need in here,” said Kings forward Jarret Stoll this morning ahead of the game against the Leafs on Monday. “Our attitude some games is right, some games it’s not.”

Sounds like a team that hasn’t played with much heart, passion or grit this season, doesn’t it?

“I heard he’s a bit of a yeller and that’s a good thing,” added defenceman Drew Doughty. “We need someone who is going to push us, to get the best out of us every night. He’s going to be a great fit for our team.”

We need someone who is going to push us? Really?

He brings an attitude we need in here? What?

This LA Kings team seems to have plenty of young talent, but it also seems to be missing something that can’t be measured in goals, or wins. 

The Kings sit 10th in the Western conference, having scored just 69 goals on the season. They find themselves 5 points out of the last playoff spot in the Western conference. 

Is this a team that is much like the southern California lifestyle itself: laid back, easy going, care free?

“We are going to be lot harder team to play against under Darryl,” said Stoll.

“We need to take control, every single one of us,” said Doughty. “Right now we are so down emotionally that things aren’t going well. Everyone has to look at the mirror.”

The Kings have scored just 68 goals on the year. They haven’t scored more than 2 goals in any of the last 11 games they have played. They are coming off an 8-2 beating in Detroit.

Darryl Sutter last coached in the NHL in 2006. His record behind an NHL bench: 409-320-131.

Can his no nonsense approach work with a young team that is apparently craving that type of leadership?

We should have a good idea soon enough.

Jake Gardiner playing well for the Maple Leafs

It's hard not to be impressed by the way Jake Gardiner has played this season.

At 21 years of age, the University of Wisconsin product has not only surprised many by being a mainstay on the Toronto Maple Leafs blueline, but by the way he has shown no problems adjusting to the pro game.

He has averaged more than 23 minutes of ice a game this month, and in the last 7 games has played at least 20 minutes each and every time.

For a kid you hasn't played more than 41 games in a season, you would think he would be hitting the proverbial rookie wall. Not so.

"Hes one of those types of kids who is never going to get tired," said his coach Ron Wilson. "I haven't seen him have an off day even in practice. He's out there flying around- even in practice, and he's gong to get better with experience."

"I just try to keep playing my game and playing the way I have been," said Gardiner, who has 8 assists on the season. "I can get better each day. Right now I feel pretty good."

Give an assist here to his roommate Matt Frattin for helping - in part - make sure Gardiner is eating right.

You see Frattin's father ran an Italian bakery so Frattin knows his way around a kitchen.

"I gave him a couple of opportunities early," said Frattin. "But it wasn't up to par so I decided to take the reins in the kitchen."

Good thing cause Frattin is able to cook up steak, pasta and chicken - all staples for any young hockey player. Gardiner's speciality? Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

The smooth skating defenceman was a 1st round pick of the Anaheim Ducks. But with Cam Fowler playing so well, the Ducks felt they could make a move and dealt Gardiner last February to Toronto for Francois Beauchemin. The Leafs also got Joffrey Lupul in the transaction. Let's call this a win for the Leafs shall we.

It really has been quite a year for Gardiner who a year ago at this time was a junior in college playing hockey and wondering when he would make the jump to the pro ranks.

Still property of the Ducks at that time, the team sent up Scott Neidermayer to Wisconsin to meet up with Gardiner. The two talked about all things hockey - with Neidermayer telling Gardiner to keep working hard and he would be in the NHL sooner rather than later.

That meeting helped Gardiner realize he could make the jump to the pros.

"In my sophomore year in college I would let things get to me and get inside my head and I realized I couldn't play like that," said Gardiner. "I would be down the rest of the game. the only time I played well is when I got off to a good start. Now I try to let things go."

And that attitude has served Gardiner well.

Ask Frattin if he's surprised by Gardiner's early season success, and the answer is quite bluntly "no."

"He carries himself well with a lot of confidence and if he does that he plays to his best potential," said Frattin.

That has been good news for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Matthew Lombardi expects to return to the NHL this season

Matthew Lombardi realizes he has come a long way in his attempt to return to the NHL. But he has a long way to go and remains determined to play in the NHL again this season.

"That's my goal," Lombardi said as he wrapped up his 3rd on -ice session with his new Toronto Maple Leafs teammates. "I want to keep getting better and be in there as soon as I can."

The 29 year-old Lombardi last played in the NHL October 13th of last year for the Nashville Predators. He suffered a concussion in that game. He was just recently cleared and while he is still not taking part in contact drills, Lombardi is progressing.

"I wish I could have a date and that in mind," said Lombardi. "We'll see how I progress over the next few days and go from there. "

"I want to keep getting better and be in there as soon as I can. "
"The last time I played was the second game of (last) year, and since then I haven't felt as good as I am now. It's looking real good."

The Toronto Maple Leafs will open training camp on Friday before exhibition games start next week. Lombardi was acquired by the Leafs this summer.
"The worst thing is you are sitting on the sidelines and watching your teammates and seeing how much fun they are having. Little things - going for a walk I couldn't really do that. it wasn't really a matter of getting back to exercise. I just wanted to get back to my everyday life and being healthy again. Here I am now and I'm out there with the guys and it's a great feeling."

"You definitely have too much time to think about things and a lot of negative things get into your head. I have a great family and they are there for me every day. It keeps things in perspective and we don't have it to bad."

In seventy-eight games with Phoenix two seasons ago, Lombardi picked up a career-high 53 points along with 19 goals.

If he is healthy - and that is a big if - Lombardi would help the Leafs up the middle. The Leafs acquired Tim Connolly as well this off-season.

Memorial Cup - May 25, 2011

Joey Hishon will not play tonight when the Owen Sound Attack face Mississauga with the winner going to the semi final at the Mastercard Memorial cup.

The Attack's leading scorer during the regular season is still suffering from concussion like symptoms according to GM Dale DeGray.
"Joey is still a little foggy. He passed his baseline test," DeGray said this morning. "Right now we have to go day to day with him. It's a game - yeah these are important games and he would love to be in them, but until he's ready to go we have to worry about Joey. He has a great career in front of him, he's still day to day, still has some symptoms and needs to be symptom free before."

Hishon took an elbow to his head from Brayden McNabb of Kootenay when the two teams met on Saturday. DeGray vented when asked about the situation with Patrick King of Sportsnet.ca

"Joey Hishon is not enjoying this experience," DeGray said. "Is McNabb? You tell me. Damn right he is. Is that the way it should be? I don't know."

McNabb was given a one game suspension and missed the Ice loss to Mississauga.

"I would have rathered (McNabb) play the other day against Mississauga and help beat Mississauga and not play maybe tomorrow night if we play them," he said. "Maybe that's more of a fair penalty."

"He's feeling better," head coach Mark Reeds said. "It's about the athlete and as a 19-year-old, 20-year-old kid; we're not going to put him in a situation that's going to threaten his livelihood."

Reeds said not having Hishon "messes up your power play and penalty kill" but the Attack missed Hishon for 18 regular season games and managed to play well without him.

"He's been out before and other guys picked up the slack," said goalie Jordan Binnington.

The Attack will need that again tonight.

The loser will have to play in a tiebreaker Thursday against Kootenay.
　
　
　
　　
　

Biran Burke's year end address

Leave it to Brian Burke to sum up the Toronto Maple Leafs season – a 7^th straight without the playoffs – this way: “When you miss the playoffs it’s a failure.”

Yet you ask Burke about his coach Ron Wilson – who is the only Leafs coach to miss the playoffs 3 years in a row – the GM will tell you Wilson will be back for the final year of his contract. This despite what seems to be a large group of fans who would rather see Wilson replaced.

“We don’t run this team by consensus. I don’t give a rat’s ass what the consensus is.”

“I don’t have to justify why the coach is staying,” said Burke in his end of season address. “He did it with the job he did in the 2^nd half of the season. There are people who disagree. They are confusing me with someone who cares about their opinion.”

General Manager Brian Burke said special teams cost his team a spot in the playoffs, but he didn’t pin the blame on that on his coaches. He said the players are to blame for that.

The power play was ranked 22^nd, the penalty kill finished 28^th in the 30 team NHL this season. In fact under Wilson’s watch special teams have been anything but special.

“We might have to address it with player personnel acquisitions,” said Burke. “I felt the first time I gave Ron a competitive team to work with was the second half of this season. It’s too easy to pin it on the coaches. When you watch our players execute you think the plan works. Maybe we have to address that by getting people who are better at those jobs.”

Burke sang the praises of Dion Phaneuf saying his second half was “terrific”; he called Phil Kessel a player whose all around game has improved.

He expects James Reimer to handle the workload in goal next season, and he isn’t about to give up on Jonas Gustavsson. But he insists his number 1 priority is a top-line centre.

"I believe in this group," Burke said. "I think the building blocks we put in place in terms of the defence, the way the top-six (forwards) rounded out, I do think we're close with a few additions.

“Our top priority is a centre, no question about it," he said.

“I would like a bigger group, I would like a more hostile group,” said Burke. “This is my team now it’s my group now and I believe this group has what it we need to win but we have to add to this group in the summer time.”

“This group of athletes doesn’t have to defend 7 years,” said Burke. “This group of athletes doesn’t have to talk about 1967.”

“I was in the playoffs 7 straight years before I got here,” added Burke. “This has been a long, slow torturous process for me. I don’t like it. I don’t like being out of the playoffs. I take it personally especially when we actually got close this year and made a push. I’m sour about it. I’m not happy.”

In his year end address, Ron Wilson said he felt his team was 2 or 3 pieces away from being a Stanley Cup contender. Burke was asked if he agreed.

"I know some people are having fun with that but what team isn’t a contender if you add the right 3 players. I don't think Ron was wrong with that at all, but the question is can we add three guys who could have that impact through trade or free agency?" said Burke. "That's a harder question."

Burke promises to be busy in free agency as his team has lots of cap space and money to spend. He also plans to negotiate with his restricted free agents (Tyler Bozak, Clarke MacArthur, Luke Schenn and James Reimer among them) after the world hockey championships.

Toronto Maple Leafs are optimistic about future

 

As the Toronto Maple Leafs cleaned out their lockers after missing the playoffs for a 7^th straight year, there was a sense of optimisms for next year.

While that may be a familiar tune, everyone insists it’s different this time for the 2^nd youngest team in the NHL.

“This year we piled up a bunch of experience at the end,” said Ron Wilson. “We’re probably 2 or 3 pieces from being a true contender. I’m talking contender for the Stanley Cup.”

A cynic might argue those pieces are Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos and Shea Weber.

But there is no doubt a team that went 18-9 and 6 after the all-star break believes they are ready to make the next step and advance to the playoffs.

“Night in night out we were playing in big games that were playoff like and for next year it’s really going to help us,” said captain Dion Phaneuf. “We are going to use that experience and it’s going to help us.”

“First couple of years for me everyone was saying next year should be better, next year should be better, but it was more hoping that it would be better,” said Luke Schenn. “Now there is a belief that we are on the right track.”

“I’m comfortable in this group more than any I’ve had in a long time because they are growing together, improving together and believing together,” added Wilson.

“Compared to my first year here, it’s a whole different culture here, a whole different team” said Phil Kessel. “We have a great group of guys here. Everybody plays for each other.”

The Leafs have a number of restricted free agents this off season: Tyler Bozak, James Reimer, Luke Schenn, Darryl Boyce, Jay Rosehill, Carl Gunnarsson, Matt Lashoff and Clarke MacArthur.

MacArthur led the Leafs in assists and made it clear he wants to remain in Toronto.

“I’ve never once said that I’m trying to hit one out of the park here,” said MacArthur. “I feel like sometimes it’s better to be happy than greedy. I’d like to stay here.”

Wilson feels the team needs a front line centre and a defenceman to work the point on the power play. He is confident James Reimer – who played a big role in the club going 18-9-6 after the all-star break - can handle the goaltending duties next season targeting him for 50 to 60 games.

“If that’s what he wants me to do I’ll be ready,” said Reimer. “He told me to focus and prepare myself to have the possibility to play a lot of games next season. I am going to work real hard this summer to focus and prepare and be in the best shape possible so I can handle it.”

“Reims I’m sure is going to continue where he left off,” said Wilson. “He seems immune to all the attention. He stayed focused pretty much all the way through it.”

“There will be more expectations from everyone and you just have to find a way either to let it motivate you or not think about it at all,” said Reimer. “For myself I’ll probably go the not think about it at all route.”

Ron Wilson has 1 year left on his deal and Brian Burke says he will be back.

Wilson expects to retain his entire coaching staff. When asked if he would like a contract extension before the season, Wilson said that was a decision Brian Burke would have to make.

“Sixty percent of my questions are about always my future, as soon we lose 3 games it’s about my future,” said Wilson. “I don’t even want to go there. I’m confident in my abilities. That’s between Brian and I at the end of the day. It’s nobody else’s business.”

That may be but Wilson is the only coach in Maple Leafs history to have missed the playoffs three straight years and not lose his job.