Barb Underhill is working hard to improve the skating stride of the Toronto Maple Leafs

She doesn’t stand behind the bench and is rarely around during games.

But Barb Underhill’s impact on the Toronto Maple Leafs this upcoming season should not be forgotten.

Underhill is a former world figure skating champion (1984 pairs) and has been the Leafs skating instructor since April of 2012.

It isn’t unusual to see Underhill working with the likes of Joffrey Lupul, Carter Ashton and Nazem Kadri before practise.

“In figure skating, we had private lessons, probably several a week,” Underhill told Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday. “They never do that in hockey. You don’t learn the technique off the bat.”

Underhill is working to change that. Her coaching efforts have helped turn a number of skaters into better and more efficient skaters.

Carter Ashton is one of those players.

Underhill has Ashton skating with a more upright and efficient stride. In part due to his improved skating, the 22 year-old Ashton will start the season with the Leafs.

Joffrey Lupul has also become a better skater working with Underhill. (In fact working out with Underhill at the start of training camp- and working out a little too hard - led to the back spasms he suffered.)

Underhill said the key for Lupul was to get him not to skate so much on the front of the blade but more on “the sweet spot.”

“He’s got lightning speed when he hits that part of the blade,” said Underhill on Hockey Night in Canada.

She worked with Nazem Kadri twice a week during the summer, in the hopes of improving Kadri’s straightaway speed.

“I still feel there’s a lot of upside with him,” Underhill said on Saturday. “He’s always a great skater — great lateral mobility — but he still has an extra gear, and we’re working on that.”

“Before I started working with her, I would kind of coast my leg out when I pushed on the stride, and my leg would stay there for a split second,” Kadri explained to the Toronto Star. “That’s the kind of stuff that’s hard to see at full speed, but it’s amazing what you can learn with video. But by working on snapping my leg back to normal position ... I’ve become one or 2 ½ strides quicker skating (the full length of) the ice. It makes a difference.”

When she starts with her “students” Underhill will conduct a video analysis. It works for golf so why not a skating stride, she figured.

Her goal is to have the players try – as closely as possible – to emulate the stride of  Mike Gartner, one of the fastest and smoothest skaters in NHL history.

Gartner played 19 NHL seasons and in 2001 was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“I looked at all the elements of Mike’s stride — his recovery, his extension, where his weight is, where his shoulders are,” Underhill told the Toronto Star in July of 2013. “And then I just worked on pulling everything apart. The bend of his knees, the angle of his body. I wanted to figure out, ‘Why is he so good? Why is he known as one of the best skaters ever?”’

Among the things she discovered was that Gartner bent his front knee by an average of about 83.5 degrees. His torso tilted forward at around 45 degrees.

Those numbers may not mean much to the average person but to Barb Underhill they mean plenty.

“She looks at players and she says, ‘I can make this guy 2 per cent better.’ Or, ‘I can make this guy 10 per cent better.’ But whatever that number is, she’s relentless in trying to reach that number,” said Dave Nonis, the Leafs general manager, to the Toronto Star. “She feels even the best skater can improve. And I think you look at the results she’s had — not just with our players, but with other players around the league — and I think she’s right.”

Underhill also works with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“At this level, it’s about getting there a millionth of a second before the other guy,” Underhill told the Toronto Star. “It’s getting into the really fine details and finding that little extra, whether it’s the way they turn, the way they stop, the way they start. Whatever it is, it’s pulling apart their game and making it more efficient. What most players find after working over several sessions over the summer is that the game gets easier. When I hear that word — ‘easier’ — I know I’ve got ’em.”

John-Michael Liles placed on waivers; Morgan Rielly to start with the Maple Leafs

It’s a lengthy list: Mikhail Grabovski, Mike Komisarek, and now John-Michael Liles.

Lengthy contracts handed out by former Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke that did not work out.

Liles is the latest one – still with 3 years and a cap hit of $3.875 M.

The team has placed the likeable Liles on waivers. If he isn’t claimed (or traded) the 32 year-old defenceman will join the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies and save the Leafs $925,000 on the cap.

“It’s not something you control as a player whether it’s me or the young guys,” said Liles, hours before he was placed on waivers. “That’s the nature of the game we’re in. The business side is the business side and my job is to take care of playing.”

This must be a tough pill to swallow for Liles, who signed a 4-year contract extension with Burke (while Ron Wilson coached the team) in January of 2012. He took less money than he could have received elsewhere.

He did so because he loved playing in Toronto and wanted to be a part of the future.

At the time he signed his deal said, “I’m not looking at it like I’m taking a pay cut. I look at it like I’m taking a salary to stay where I want to be. It is the centre of the hockey universe. It’s a place where I’ve really enjoyed playing. It’s going to be a sellout every night. Hockey is going to be covered. For me, it’s been fantastic.”

How quickly things change for Liles and the Leafs. Liles never seemed to find a spot in the lineup with Coach Randy Carlyle.

At the end of the day, this is a move that was made for business reasons as much as for hockey decisions.

With John Michael-Liles out of the picture, the Leafs will give 19 year-old Morgan Rielly a chance to start the year with the NHL team.

Because of his age, his options are limited: either the Wetsern Hockey League or the NHL.

Carter Ashton will start the season with the Leafs. The young forward impressed during camp, making the Joe Colborne trade to Calgary possible.

The Leafs will start with 7 defencemen, 14 forwards and 2 goalies on the opening night roster.

The 22 players on the roster and means Toronto has about $65,000 in cap space. That’s cutting it close and explains why Liles was placed on waivers.

Toronto’s opening night roster and cap hit:

13 forwards:

Phil Kessel ($5.4M)

Joffrey Lupul ($5.25M)

David Clarkson ($5.25M)

James van Riemsdyk ($4.25M)

Tyler Bozak ($4.2M)

David Bolland ($3.375M)

Nazem Kadri ($2.9M)

Nikolai Kulemin ($2.8M)

Jay McClement ($1.5M)

Carter Ashton ($1.04M)

Mason Raymond ($1M)

Colton Orr ($925,000)

Frazer McLaren ($700,000)

7 defencemen:

Dion Phaneuf ($6.5M)

Carl Gunnarsson ($3.15M)

Cody Franson ($2M)

Morgan Rielly ($1.74M)

Mark Fraser ($1.25M)

Jake Gardiner ($1.116M)

Paul Ranger ($1M)

2 goalies:

Jonathan Bernier ($2.9M)

James Reimer ($1.8M)

Franson signs - blueline looks set for this season

Give Dave Nonis credit for signing Cody Franson, Mason Raymond and Nazem Kadri for a total of $5.9M this season.

But you are going to have to wish the Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager luck, in trying to keep the bulk of his defensemen signed next season.

First of all, in signing Franson (1 year/$2M), Raymond (1 year/$1M), and Kadri (2 years/$5.8M) Nonis was able to sign players who will help this Leafs this year and in doing so he did it at a reasonable dollar amount.

Right now the Leafs are over the cap by about $1M (unless Morgan Rielly doesn’t start the year in Toronto). So the team has little to play with this year. They may try and trade (or send to the minors) John-Michael Liles and his contract ($3.875M a year for 3 more years) which will give them even more cap space. (A trade is unlikely at that dollar amount)

Franson was determined to sign only a one-year deal, after he saw the kind of dollars the Leafs were willing to pay. The team wanted at least a 2-year deal because they have many blueliners coming off the books next season.

The defensemen and the club agreed to the deal early this morning.

“It’s a pretty gruelling process and you don’t recommend it to anybody,” said Franson who was hoping for a higher pay out than what the restricted free agent defenseman eventually agreed to. “I’m glad it’s done and happy to move forward here.”

Things are set for this season.

But looking ahead, it gets interesting.  Right now the Leafs have 10 players signed next season.

Forwards: Joffrey Lupul ($5.25M), David Clarkson ($5.25M), James vanRiemsdyk ($4.25M), Tyler Bozak ($4.2M), Nazem Kadri, ($2.9M), Colton Orr ($925,000) and Frazer McLaren ($700,000).

Just 2 defensemen: Liles ($3.875M) and Carl Gunnarsson ($3.15M).

Goalie Jonathan Bernier ($2.9M) is also under contract for next season.

In total, the Maple Leafs have about $36.9M under contract for next season.

Nonis has put himself in a pretty good spot considering the salary cap likely will go up to $70M or so.

But he does have some issues to consider moving forward:

·        Phil Kessel will want a hefty raise from the $5.4M he is making now. What’s he worth? $8M a year? Will the Leafs pay that?

·        Dion Phaneuf - like Kessel- will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. He is making $6.5M this season.

·        In fact the Leafs blueline looks uncertain. Franson and Jake Gardiner are RFA’s, while Phaneuf, Fraser and Ranger are UFA’s. These guys are all playing for contracts next season – either with the Leafs or somewhere else.

·        And if Dave Bolland plays well what kind of money will he – as an Unrestricted Free Agent – get on the market? He is set to make $3.375M this year.

If Nonis can somehow shed the Liles contract (a class guy who just doesn’t seem to fit in with Coach Randy Carlyle) that would open up some money for him.

If reports are true, look for Nonis to try and sign Phil Kessel to a long-term deal before the season starts.

After that, he must determine the future of the Captain, Dion Phaneuf. How much money are the Leafs willing to spend on him?

Then he will likely try to address the blueline. Gardiner, Fraser, Ranger and Franson will be in line for raises (especially if they can impress this season).

The Leafs have youngsters like Rielly, Jesse Blacker, Stuart Percy, Korbinian Holzer and Andrew MacWilliam in the system. Their development this year will go a long way in determining what shape Toronto’s blueline takes next season.

It is an interesting time for the Leafs – and the puck hasn’t even dropped yet to start the season.

Kessel not to miss any regular season games

Phil Kessel comments on his stick swinging incident with John Scott of the Buffalo Sabres

Phil Kessel won't miss any regular season games for his part in line-brawl

Phil Kessel admits he went overboard during his stick swinging incident with Buffalo’s John Scott during Sunday’s line-brawl.

“Things happen so quick out there. You can slow it down and it makes it look worse,” Kessel said Wednesday morning. “Obviously you can’t two hand people. The 2^nd slash when looking at it was uncalled for.”

A day after learning he will be suspended for the rest of the pre- season, Kessel fired back at those who criticized his actions.

“Put them in that situation and see what they do,” said Kessel, who scored 20 goals in 48 games last season. “A lot of people criticize that, and see what they would do against a guy like that. I think they would be in trouble.”

Kessel used the word “happy” to describe how he felt about not losing any regular season games due to suspension.

While surprisingly in Buffalo, Scott didn’t seem too bothered by the fact Kessel will be available for the Leafs season opener.

“Im fine with it,” Scott said Wednesday morning. “It’s one of those things he was protecting himself.  I didn’t want to see anyone suspended in the 1^st place. I’m ok with it.”

“If I was in his position and I saw someone coming after me, I would have been a little hesitant too to drop his gloves,” added the 6-foot-8 Scott.

Kessel has never had more than 28 penalty minutes in a season. But he’s been rather feisty during the pre-season, although he insists he isn’t a dirty player.

“I played 7 years now and averaged under 20 penalty minutes a year,” said Kessel. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”

Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle said Kessel will “really practice hard” ahead of the season opener. Kessel isn’t looking forward to that, but his best friend and linemate, Tyler Bozak is.

“I think he’d rather play the games,” smiled Bozak. “I will likely go up against the glass and watch him bag-skate a few days.”

“When he says that it will be hard, I’m not looking forward to his bag skates,” said Kessel.

It’s a price he is willing to take to play in the Leafs season opener.

Randy Carlyle: "Obviously, I made a mistake."

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle was disappointed with what happened Sunday. He also accepted responsibility.

“Obviously, I made a mistake.”

It is a mistake that could hurt Carlyle and the Toronto Maple Leafs in so many ways.

A day after “the brawl” the Maple Leafs head coach was still trying to figure out what happened.

“I never believed in my wildest dreams the attack would come directed at that type of player from the opposition, but I was wrong,” said Carlyle.

When David Clarkson left the bench to defend Phil Kessel from 6-foot-8 giant John Scott, he created a plethora of issues for the team.

Clarkson has been suspended for the first 10 games of the season, Phil Kessel will likely be suspended for his stick work on Scott, and the Leafs will feel this on the salary cap.

You see, the cap hits of suspended players remain on the team’s books.

The Leafs did sign Mason Raymond to a 1-year, $1M deal. But that leaves them with little wiggle room to get to the cap by opening night.

This incident could be a benefit for the likes of Carter Ashton ($1.04 M), Troy Bodie ($600,000) and TJ Brennan ($550,000). They make little money and could start the year with the Leafs in the short term.

“It (the salary cap) is awfully tight and it is close. It just makes other situations more difficult to complete,” said Carlyle.

That it does. In fact, the Leafs may decide to start the year with a 21 man roster – not the usual 23 – in a way to stay under the $64.3 M cap.

What does this mean for hold-out Cody Franson? Let’s just say it’s not good and this doesn’t help his cause.

All of this the result of a brawl – in a pre-season game.

This brawl started after Buffalo’s Corey Tropp fought Jamie Devane. Tropp initiated the fight – but lost.

Devane fell on Tropp and the Sabres forward hit his head on the ice. That prompted the Scott incident.

Carlyle  – who had last line change – didn’t replace Kessel with one of his tough guys because he felt with a skilled player on the ice, that would “defuse the situation.”

“I would have went after whoever they lined up next to me,” said Scott.  “I don’t know what their coach had in mind. I was’t going to hurt him, I was just trying to send a message.”

“All night long he matched up with what he wanted the whole night,” said Sabres coach Ron Rolston. “He had last line change, he had the matchups.”

The one-time Carlyle didn’t match lines, it cost his team – and will cost his team – for the first month of the season.

Joffrey Lupul knows he must find a way to stay healthy

Joffrey Lupul has had his share of injuries. You name it he’s suffered it.

Broken forearm? Check. Sprained ankle? You bet. Concussions, abdominal strain and of course a couple of back surgeries are also part of the injury history for Lupul.

So when the Maple Leafs forward suffered back spasms the day before on-ice activities were to start at training camp, the Leafs alternate captain decided to wait it out before joining his teammates.

“I felt great all summer,” said Lupul, after skating for an hour during practice on Wednesday. “I haven’t had any issues. It hasn’t been something that’s been bothering me all summer. It just kind of came one day.”

Blame Leafs skating coach Barb Underhill if you must. She had a couple of the Leafs on the ice before training camp for some work and that’s when Lupul starting feeling his back act up.

“I had some tightness in there and ended up going into spasm which is a painful thing for a couple of days,” said Lupul.

Lupul has had his share of injuries during his NHL career. But his most serious ailment occurred in 2009 when he suffered back spasms. That led to a pair of back surgeries. The second one led to him developing a blood infection that almost threatened his career.

“It was a bit of a concern because I have a history with the lower back,” said Lupul. “I believe since the surgery this is the first time I’ve missed time with it (back spasms). There is still plenty of time until opening day, so I’m feeling confident.”

Next week, Lupul turns 30 years-old – the prime of his career. He played just 16 games last season, and wants to have a bigger role on the Leafs this year. For that to happen, he must stay healthy.

So I asked him if he will change the way he plays the game in an effort to cut prevent injuries?

“No, not really,” Lupul told me. “Obviously you want to stay healthy but you have to stick with what got you there and what makes you successful. It would be a mistake not to go in front of the net, or can’t get in the way of pucks or anything like that. I’m just hoping to have a little more luck.”

His coach, Randy Carlyle, had this response when I asked him the same question.

“I think there’s probably some merit to that,” said the head Coach. “He has to pick and choose a little bit more cautiously in some situations. I think what happened with him was more the fact that he was frustrated with his injuries and then trying to come back and make an impact right away.”

“I feel like I’ve improved every year since I’ve been here,” said Lupul. “I’ve put in a lot of work this summer and different aspects of my game. I would expect to be a better player than I was last year. I don’t know if it will translate exactly to the stats sheet or whatever, but I’m constantly trying to improve and add elements to my game.”

In his last 82 regular season games, Joffrey Lupul has scored 36 goals. But it took him 2 NHL seasons (the 82 game season and the 48 game season of the lock-out shortened season) to reach that mark. He has missed 52 games over the course of those campaigns.

Lupul expects more from himself. In order to do that, he needs to spend more time playing and less time on the trainer’s table.

*
Below is a list of injuries Joffrey Lupul has suffered since 2008.

Lupul has missed time for the following ailments [from most recent to 2008]:

- concussion (5 games)
- forearm (25 games)
- separated shoulder (16 games)
- back surgery #1 (52 games)
- back surgery #2 (28 games)
- back (7 games)
- abdominal strain (3 games)
- sprained right ankle (12 games)
- concussion (14 games)

Since Lupul entered the NHL in the 2003-04 season, he has averaged only 64 regular season games [**this number does NOT include last year's lockout shortened season - last year Lupul played in only 16 of the Leafs 48 regular season games]