Phil Kessel News Archives

Komisarek gets rude Montreal welcome Toronto Maple Leafs Mike Komisarek grabs Montreal Canadiens Maxim Lapierre during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal, October 31, 2009.

Written By: Mark "The Hard Hitter" Ritter The offseason saw Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke make plenty of changes.

Stalberg, 23, had one assist and two penalty minutes with the Leafs. Called up from the Marlies was Jiri Tlusty, 21.

It would be an egregious understatement to say that things have not gone well for the Toronto Maple Leafs so far this season.

Most times we'd start with something profound. Perhaps a quote, or a line weighed down by cliches, alliteration, or metaphors.

Though many in Leafland are expecting the addition of "savior in waiting" Phil Kessel to the lineup will turn Toronto's season around, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has decided to take action now.

1 of this NHL season Saturday night. They have, after all, lots of bodies on this western road trip.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had plenty of time to dissect exactly what's gone wrong during their dreadful start to the season.

To the list of expensive film flops such as Heaven's Gate, Waterworld and The Adventures of Pluto Nash, you can include the badly directed and poorly acted first three weeks of the Maple Leafs season.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Brian Burke, the man with the plan, was introduced to Toronto fans midway through last season as the general manager who would mastermind the franchise back into Stanley Cup contention.

Whenever a team stumbles out of the gate, the popular thing to do is to pick on them.

This is an embarrassing time to be a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It is bad enough that the team has not won a Stanley Cup since 1967.

Peter Laviolette has a Stanley Cup ring. Now, he's just waiting for his phone to ring.

A bold statement but let me remind you that the Leafs are the worst team in the NHL right now and don't look to improve on that standing anytime this season.

Although the Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a poor start, general manager Brian Burke is not planning to fire his head coach or make any roster moves.

Regina-born Tyler Bozak registered an assist Tuesday in his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Viktor Stalberg is close to returning to the Maple Leafs lineup. The rookie winger suffered some memory loss after sustaining a hard check from Ottawa's Anton Volchenkov last week, but has suffered no ill effects since.

Stan Bowman could end up being his own worst enemy. The Blackhawks GM did Maple Leafs counterpart Brian Burke a favour by giving him back his second-round pick in 2010 to make the trade for restricted free-agent centre Phil Kessel.

The Boston Bruins GM, all but bullied into trading young sniper Phil Kessel to the Maple Leafs last month, can't help but hope the Leafs have a lousy season a ' or two a ' since he and the Bruins own Toronto's first-round pick for each of the next two years.

With Phil Kessel due back from shoulder surgery in about six weeks, an informal audition has begun amongst the Toronto Maple Leafs forwards to see who will play with the dynamic goal-scorer. So far, Matt Stajan and Viktor Stalberg appear to be the leading candidates.

But Linseman's point was entirely valid: What matters in the NHL is the playoffs.

Coach: Claude Julien, 3rd season with Bruins Season opener: Tonight vs. Capitals, 7 p.m., Versus Last season: 53-19-4-6, 116 points.

The Boston Bruins on Wednesday signed assistant general manager Jim Benning to a multi-year contract extension.

The fear is that the natural talent the Boston Bruins always seem to be missing when they get close to the Stanley Cup may be the one that just got away.

The Boston Bruins won't sneak up on anyone this year, not after a surprising 116-point regular season in 2008-09. How good? They won't match last season's 53 wins, but they'll finish atop the Northeast Division and comfortably in the top four in the Eastern Conference.