Mike Van Ryn News

Written By: Mark a oeThe Hard Hittera Ritter Was he really recovering from off-season rotator cuff surgery, or was Phil Kessela s debut delayed because he was finishing off his classes at the Vatican? After all, the way Leaf fans are talking, Kessel is Torontoa s Savior, a Savior that has great expectations.

Injuries are like babies: The minute they happen, everybody thinks theirs is special.

D Mike Van Ryn LW Phil Kessel G Vesa Toskala G Jonas Gustavsson RANGER INJURIES None LUKE'S TROOPS Petty Officer First Class Alex Simpson will be recognized during the game Saturday as a member of Luke's Troops, a program in which defenceman Luke Schenn donates two tickets to Leaf games to the Canadian military.

The New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs are going in opposite directions. Brandon Dubinsky had a goal and an assist for the streaking Rangers, who handed Toronto yet another loss by beating the Maple Leafs 4-1 in front of a disgruntled home crowd Saturday night.

Mike Van Ryn, right, has played just 27 games in Toronto. Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Van Ryn said on Friday he will undergo realignment surgery on his left knee.

Van Ryn's season over before it starts Mike Van Ryn, seen during an October 2008 game chasing Andrei Kostitsyn of the Montreal Canadiens, needs to have knee surgery that will likely end his 2009-10 season.

For now, Brian Burke will not react. The key words being: For now. He won't trade from a position of weakness.

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke is starting to get frustrated with his club. Photosource: National Hockey League general managers rarely talk turkey about trades until U.S. Thanksgiving, when they've had about 20 games to assess their teams.

PENGUINS VS. LEAFS AIR CANADA CENTRE FACEOFF: 7 p.m. TV: CBC RADIO: AM 640 LEAF INJURIES LW Viktor Stalberg , out D Mike Van Ryn , indefinite PENGUINS INJURIES D Kris Letang , questionable C Maxime Talbot , out RW Pascal Dupuis , questionable NOTES a The Leafs shuffled lines in practice yesterday.

D Mike Van Ryn LW Phil Kessel C Wayne Primeau SENATOR INJURIES C Jesse Winchester C Ryan Shannon NOTES Coach Ron Wilson said centre Wayne Primeau "is a little banged up" after Saturday's 6-4 loss at Washington and won't play.

The National Hockey League's policy on bad hits is a bit like the criminal justice system.

Opener means more to Komisarek Mike Komisarek, seen during an NHL pre-season game against Philadelphia, missed Tuesday's practice in Huntsville, Ont., with a groin injury.

With a team that was destined to be a sinking ship anyway, there probably was no point in naming a Toronto Maple Leafs captain a year ago.

Signs are everywhere that this could be the year. The goaltending is improved. The defence is bigger and meaner.

Tonight, the two philosophies will clash when Gainey's new-look Montreal Canadiens visit Burke's refurbished Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre to open the 2009-10 regular season.

David Shoalts Brain trust pronounces Leafs ready to roll Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson watches from the bench during their NHL preseason exhibition hockey game against Philadelphia Flyers in London, Ontario, September 17, 2009.

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally released their lineup for tonight's tilt against the Detroit Red Wings , who plan on icing two NHL-level forward lines and their regular-season defensive corps, and appears that the Leafs are saving their "A team" for Saturday night: September 25, TorontoMapleLeafs.com : FORWARDS Jiri Tlusty - Mikhail Grabovski - ...

Nazim Kadri's day will come with the Maple Leafs, just not this season. The exciting 2009 first round draft pick, who dominated the early part of training camp and had five points in six games overall, was sent back to the OHL London Knights this morning as expected, part of reducing the roster by four as the NHL season opener looms on Thursday.

Jonas Gustavsson will make his long-awaited NHL exhibition debut when the Toronto Maple Leafs face the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.

Jonas Gustavsson will get his first taste of the NHL tonight in Detroit. Jonas Gustavsson will not have to wait long tonight to make his NHL debut.