NHL cancels part of October schedule, other Leaflets
Cam Charron
October 04 2012 03:54PM
This isn't the first time that the NHL has cancelled the schedule, but it's the first time that they've cancelled regular season games in 2012. Last season, the NBA cancelled games, not the schedule, but the actual, legitimate games, 34 days in advance. The NHL is about a fortnight behind.
According to the NBA last season, it would take about 30 days to get everything ready between agreement and the start of the season. The NHL, presumably, will need 20 days to get everything in order, which includes creating a new schedule. Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy notes that the NHL has only cancelled the schedule, so the chance of an 82-game season is theoretically possible, but the dates on the calendar that you may have circled beforehand can go in the trash now. Even if there is a season, the schedule will have to be re-done.
Don Cherry's rant at Leafs' handling of Nazem Kadri is misguided
Cam Charron
October 03 2012 01:36PM
If the Brian Burke feud with Don Cherry from late January has any spillover victims, it's Dallas Eakins of the Toronto Marlites.
That's Cherry's scope in this town. He's not just a media figure, he's a cult, and Eakins, a coach of an American Hockey League team, had to answer questions raised by Cherry on Twitter.
So let's recap the things Cherry has said in 2012 about the Maple Leafs' organization. In three mediums now, he has criticized the team for the way they treat American college players in relation to good Southern Ontario kids.
Cody Franson REAX, Shootout math problems, other Leaflets
Cam Charron
October 01 2012 04:21PM
The big news from today is obviously the Cody Franson signing, but these stories from both James Mirtle and Terry Koshan indicate that I was a bit quick in jumping the gun suggesting that Franson wouldn't be able to return to the Leafs for a lockout-shortened season.
“We would have two hurdles to clear — the lockout first and the Leafs would have to sign him,” Franson’s agent, Gerry Johannson, said on Monday afternoon.
“If those two things happen, he can return.” [Toronto Sun]
Cody Franson signs in SEL with Brynas IF
Cam Charron
October 01 2012 12:36PM
Another puzzle piece could be out of the mix for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Cody Franson, the 25-year old defenceman with three years of NHL experience, has jettisoned and signed with Brynäs IF of the Swedish Elite League for the full 2012-13 season, the club announced Monday afternoon.
The SEL doesn't necessarily want lockout-protected contracts, and the full-season contract is indicative of something or other. Franson went, of course, un-signed by the Maple Leafs this past summer as a restricted free agent coming off a 2-year contract worth $800K per season. Presumably, he was looking for a sizeable raise, that the Leafs didn't necessarily want to give to him.
Paul Ranger places #1 on Dallas Eakins' fitness test
Cam Charron
September 29 2012 03:21PM
Congratulations to Paul Ranger for ranking number 1 overall in @torontomarlies fitness tests. Impressive on so many levels.
— Dallas Eakins (@dallaseakins) September 29, 2012
No, I don't particularly know what this means, anything other than Paul Ranger spent the majority of his time off from hockey getting jacked.
Whatever happened for Ranger when he was off from hockey, or why he left, is elementary at this point, but it's the sort of story that a storytelling media will eat up—Ranger is a Good Ontario Boy™ with roots in the GTHL and has even coached in his hometown Whitby. His departure from the NHL was strange, and mainly because he was really, really good.
