Sundin waits for club to get its act together

Mats Sundin and Cliff Fletcher had a "good meeting" Thursday, but the real question regarding Sundin's return to the Leafs could centre on what transpires with the club's executive search the next few weeks.

It was a good meeting," Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry, said yesterday.

"Cliff wanted to check in on Mats and his timetable for making a decision on whether he will play next year and, if so, whether he will negotiate with Toronto prior to July 1. Mats hasn't made any decisions yet about playing next year and will inform Cliff as soon as he decides what he wants to do."

The two sides have not set up another meeting, but it's believed that could happen prior to the NHL draft in Ottawa June 20-21.

While Fletcher and the Leafs are not revealing any details about their meeting with Sundin or their coaching and executive search, sources say Fletcher laid out what the club expects its coaching and executive portfolios to look like.

Sundin, an unrestricted free agent July 1, is believed to be returning to Sweden to review his options. And he likely will be waiting to see if any of the Leafs' plans come to fruition.

The veteran can't be blamed for wanting clarification on the club's murky management situation.

Talk around the Maple Leafs is mounting with regards to Fletcher hiring a new coach, a development which would signal him as the team's general manager through next season.
Fletcher currently is on a 19-month contract, seven months as the GM with the final year as a consultant. The Leafs dismissed coach Paul Maurice on May 7.

The Leafs have attempted to build a super-management team over the past two weeks, but the candidates interviewed have been for support roles to the new GM.

At least one of those candidates, Doug Armstrong, opted for a more attractive post with St. Louis, while former Vancouver GM Dave Nonis's decision has yet to be made public.

Leafs looking at Wilson?

The Maple Leafs probably won't have a new general manager in the near future, but the same likely can't be said about a new head coach.

Interim GM Cliff Fletcher made it clear earlier this week that time is of the essence in getting the team in order and, to that end, Sportsnet reported last night that Fletcher has made contact with Ron Wilson, who was fired by the San Jose Sharks earlier this month.

The belief is that the Leafs want a coach in place before the NHL entry draft in Ottawa in three weeks.

Wilson, who spent parts of three season as a Leafs forward in the late 1970s, was a midseason replacement behind the Sharks bench in 2002-03, then averaged 46 wins a year in his three full seasons in San Jose.

Many signs point to Fletcher staying on as GM into the 2008-09 season, which means that the interim label probably can be dropped for the time being. Speculation persists that the Leafs want to put together a management team of sorts until Brian Burke is done with the Anaheim Ducks. Then, Burke would be hired to run the show.

The Leafs have talked to Dave Nonis about coming aboard in a management position, and were about to do the same with Doug Armstrong before he was hired as vice-president of player personnel by the St. Louis Blues.

Meanwhile, sources say captain Mats Sundin, who becomes a free agent July 1, left Fletcher "on pins and needles" after their face-to-face meeting late Thursday night, in which he failed to commit to another season with Toronto.

NOT IMPRESSED

The talk among some NHL executives is that Sundin isn't impressed with the fact the Leafs don't have a full-time GM in place, that there's no urgency to hire a coach and nobody is sure what direction the club might take next season.

One has to wonder if the Wilson report and Sundin's sentiments were related.

If Sundin does decide to test the free-agent waters, the belief is he'll be seeking a two-year contract in the $16 million to $18 million US range.

And reports indicate that former Leafs coach Paul Maurice, who was fired 31/2 weeks ago, either has met with Florida Panthers GM Jacques Martin or will do so at the NHL scouting combine in Toronto this weekend, regarding the Panthers' coaching vacancy.

Clark says Sundin always a Leaf, even if he leaves

KETTLEBY, Ont. -- Wendel Clark chose his words carefully yesterday when he was asked about the fate of Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin, who hinted this week that he may not be back in the blue and white next season.

But Clark, who was traded by the Leafs in 1994 to get Sundin from the Quebec Nordiques, said it definitely looks like the big Swede's 14-year career as a Leaf may be over.

"If in his heart he doesn't want to be (in Toronto) and play here, then I think, like any player, he might want to move on," Clark said yesterday while taking part in the national PACE Polo for Heart campaign at the Gormley Polo Centre. "Your heart has to be (in Toronto)."

Clark, a 41-year-old native of Kelvington, Sask., said that being a Leafs captain is a position that has a lot of pressures attached to it and that not all players are suited for the job.

But he said he is not in a position to be offering Sundin advice of what his next career move should be.

"Mats has a fine life. I'm certainly not going to be telling him anything," Clark said. "He's still playing. Mats was a great player and is a great player. It has to be up to him to decide what he wants to do."

Clark admitted, however, that if Sundin has second thoughts about finishing his career in Toronto, maybe it's time for a change.

"You can't make a player play where he doesn't want to," Clark said. "But that doesn't take away from what Mats has accomplished in Toronto. He still holds most of the scoring records for the team and he has been a great leader here.

"No matter what happens he always will be a Leaf, whether he retires here or goes on to some other team."

Clark also said yesterday that there may not be as much urgency in selecting a new general manager for the club as it seems from the outside, especially with Cliff Fletcher now making the hockey decisions as interim GM.

"He knows the game and he has a lot of good young guys around him," Clark said. "I think he's doing the job right now. I only know what I read in the papers."

However, as Clark was climbing on a polo pony as part of the program founded by Colonel Michael Sifton to raise funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, he did say the Leafs GM job may be bigger than any one person.

"It's not just one guy, it has to be a group of guys, whether they're ex-players or number crunchers," he said.

Clark said, though, that he thought former players should be an integral part of the mix.
"A player knows what players need and players know more about the game as it's being played right now," he said.

Strategy may hurt Leafs

The Leafs' plans to assemble a super management team could have an undesired impact on the current interview process the club is conducting for its new president and general manager.

It appears for now the club is interviewing candidates for support staff positions to the new GM, with hopes that names like Dave Nonis and Doug Armstrong will form key pieces of that team.
The club's interview committee - made up of MLSE president Richard Peddie and Toronto sports lawyer Gord Kirke - remains silent about the candidates and the details of what posts they are being interviewed for.

Nonis and Armstrong, though, have other solid GM options in St. Louis and Atlanta, and could find those situations more attractive if they are being interviewed for a supporting role in Toronto.

"We're building a deeper, more experienced Leafs management team for the ages," said Peddie.

"All of these people (on the management team) will be proven. If some are chosen before (the president and GM) is hired, they'll be people that the new person will find as experienced, proven people ... there could be pieces in place (before the new GM arrives)."

According to sources, the Blues are definitely battling the Leafs to land Armstrong.

Radio stations in St. Louis reported throughout yesterday that the Blues have a deal on the table for Armstrong to become the club's GM-in-waiting. Armstrong - or whomever the Blues hire - would take over full GM duties when incumbent Larry Pleau retires or leaves the club for personal reasons. Pleau's wife is battling cancer.

Armstrong may not even be interviewed in Toronto for the full-time GM job, a post that is continually tied to Anaheim's Brian Burke despite the fact Burke has a year remaining on his contract.

Armstrong, though, is high on the Leafs' plans for the management team. So far, the targeted names for the team include Armstrong, Nonis, Joe Nieuwendyk and current assistant GM Jeff Jackson.

Nonis concluded his interview process and has yet to give an answer to the interview committee (although that answer is expected as early as today or tomorrow).

Fletcher will stay with the team as a consultant when a new GM is hired, but Peddie also said the club is comfortable with building that team with Fletcher as the GM.

The long-standing belief is that Burke is the Leafs' target for president and GM, but they will go through proper channels to land him, even if it takes a year, or a month. Until then, Fletcher remains in control, and will guide the club through the draft, trades, buyouts, free agency and the hiring of a new coach if need be.

Sundin's status Messy

PITTSBURGH -- Mats Sundin has opened the door to his departure from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

And among those waiting for that door to be shut tight are the soon-to-be Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings, and the Montreal Canadiens.

Sundin, who became a centre of controversy when he refused to waive the no-trade clause in his contract with the Leafs because of his apparent loyalty to the franchise, suddenly does not appear to be oh so loyal.

After accepting the Mark Messier Leadership Award yesterday at a Stanley Cup luncheon, Sundin maintained he has not made a decision about whether to play next year, but did not rule out playing outside of Toronto, and in doing so clearly placed the onus on the Maple Leafs to keep him with the franchise.

"I don't have everything in my control," said Sundin, talking about the Toronto situation. "This has to be mutual."

Sundin did say the Leafs "have to show they really want me to come back."

And as with everything Maple Leafs these days, there is some slight confusion. Interim general manager Cliff Fletcher has told people he will meet with Sundin next week to outline plans the Leafs have for the team's future and the player's future.

The problem is, Fletcher's schedule and Sundin's schedule appear to be in conflict.
Sundin plans to return to Sweden on Sunday, which would prevent him from meeting with Fletcher next week. Fletcher is on his way to Pittsburgh for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final. Sundin, in Pittsburgh yesterday to pick up the Messier Award -- his first NHL award -- is heading back to Toronto before leaving for his home in Sweden.

Sundin said he had no scheduled plans to meet with Fletcher in the coming days.
But what seems clear is that Sundin has a departure plan for leaving the Leafs without necessarily playing the part of bad guy. By saying the Leafs have to show "they really want me back," what Sundin is basically saying is he wants free-agent market money to return to the Leafs. And with a rebuilding team that won't be competitive next season, it may not be in the Leafs' best interest to pay in the $8-plus-million range for their aging captain.

When asked if he could see himself wearing another uniform -- a stance he has objected to in the past with sincerity -- Sundin said he "didn't know ... I do think I have different options I can explore."

Sundin also has said he wants to know who is in charge and what plans are in place for the future before returning to Toronto.

All that needs to be addressed before the free agency date of July 1, but it's pretty clear that Fletcher still will be the general manager on that date, the Leafs likely will not have a coach by then, and may have less of a roster then, via buyouts, than they currently have.

In other words, it may not be in the Leafs' or in Sundin's best interest for him to re-sign in Toronto.

Meanwhile, the level of curiosity in Sundin in the open market already is immense. Already, the Red Wings and Canadiens quietly have expressed interest and have the salary cap space necessary to make the deal. The Wings may be close to winning the Stanley Cup this year but they don't appear to be satisfied by winning just one Cup.

With Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on one line and the possibility of Sundin and Johan Franzen on another line, it is easy to see why the Wings so covet the Leafs captain.

The interest in Montreal was apparent prior to the trade deadline, when the Habs offered up winger Christopher Higgins, another prospect and a bevy of draft choices to try to pry Sundin from the Leafs. Fletcher would have accepted that trade.

Now should Sundin leave on July 1, the Leafs will get nothing in return for him.

Funny, what attracted Messier to Sundin this season was how he waded his way through a difficult and controversial season in Toronto. Messier, with the help of a few friends, picks the winner of the award in his name.

"This year," said Messier, "was one of his most defining moments as captain and as leader."
And it will get even more defining should Sundin choose to wear a uniform other than that of the Leafs next season

Kulemin key in welcoming Captain Mats back: Fletch

When Cliff Fletcher sits down with Mats Sundin next week to convince him to return to the Maple Leafs, one of the selling points will be Nikolai Kulemin.

The Leafs have high hopes for their second rounder from 2006 and former linemate of Evgeni Malkin in the Russian League, to the extent he and his wife are in Toronto this week finalizing visas and looking for a home. And Fletcher doesn't mean an address near Ricoh Coliseum.

"He won't be going to the Marlies," the interim general manager said yesterday. "He'll be in this (Leafs') market."

Kulemin had 21 goals and and 33 points for Magnitogorsk of the Russian Super League and was one of three finalists for RSL playoff MVP.

"He'll take it step by step, but he's a strong, intelligent young man and he's ready to fit in," said agent Gary Greenstin. "He can play left or right wing, he's tough, but he's not dirty."

Kulemin won a gold medal for academics in high school and was doing well in a metallurgy course in university. His wife will attend university in Toronto and Greenstin said both will adapt well.

"Give him two months and he'll do English interviews on his own," Greenstin predicted.

Captain Sundin is supposed to let Fletcher know his intentions at next week's meeting so the club can make appropriate plans for July free agency. Fletcher has been confident Sundin will return, despite the lack of a full-time GM and team direction unchanged from the end of a regular season, with no playoffs.

"After I sit down and tell him what we have in mind -- which isn't for public consumption now -- I think a clear picture will emerge for him," Fletcher said. "I think he'll be comfortable."
With Fletcher likely to be in office to start the season, the focus is on a new coach.

He refused to narrow the field, but toss in the likes of Ron Wilson, Joel Quenneville, the runner-up in Ottawa between Craig Hartsburg and Bob Hartley, ex-Leaf coach Pat Burns, Kevin Dineen, John Anderson, Don Lever and Marlies' Greg Gilbert.

As for the GM search, Doug Armstrong remains interested and has an interview upcoming, but a job in St. Louis is shaping up quickly. David Nonis has been interviewed in a non-GM capacity, but hasn't yet ruled out another gig as GM elsewhere.

Fletcher says he's concentrating his efforts on trades until around June 15, when a two-week buyout period begins. If he can't swing a deal at the draft in Ottawa, June 20-21, he'll look seriously at buyouts and take the salary cap hit

Pogge has to earn it: Fletch

The Maple Leafs had the Vesa Toskala - Andrew Raycroft Goalie-gate at the start of their season, while the farm team Marlies ended the year in a controversy with Scott Clemmensen and Justin Pogge.

Coach Greg Gilbert had many fans and media on his case for starting the veteran Clemmensen in the playoffs ahead of Pogge, the franchise's goalie of the future. Clemmensen helped take the team deep into post-season play, while Pogge started only the final two games of last week's Western Conference final against the Chicago Wolves, winning one, losing the deciding game.

Using Pogge in more pressure situations would've been valuable experience and could've enhanced his value to the Leafs as a challenger to the No. 1 job or a trade commodity. Toronto's interim general manager Cliff Fletcher said he didn't interfere with Gilbert's choice to either start Clemmensen or go back to Pogge, but defended the coach.

"It wasn't fair to the rest of the team, to not go with the goalie he thought gave it the best chance of winning," Fletcher said. "It was based on what happened in the last month of the regular season."

Comparing their last six regular-season starts, Pogge was 5-1 with 12 goals against, Clemmensen 3-1-2 with 14 on him. It came down to the 30-year-old Clemmensen's experience as Martin Brodeur's back-up in New Jersey. But Fletcher doesn't think the 22-year-old Pogge will suffer long-term from the slight.

"Goalkeeping is a difficult position and the mental aspect is such a big part," Fletcher conceded, "but a young guy also has to prove himself."

Pogge will enter his third AHL season with the chance of playing around 50 to 60 games.

Unrestricted free agent Clemmensen could leave or replace Raycroft if he's not traded or bought out as Toskala's back-up. Pogge played fewer games last year than his rookie season, but had a better record, thanks in part to Clemmensen spelling him off.

While several Marlie skaters did well in the playoff run, top forward prospect Jiri Tlusty wasn't one of them. After two goals at the start, he had none in his next 18 games.

"He hit the wall after a long season," Fletcher conceded, "but it was more games than he ever played before. We thought he played a lot better in Toronto once he had some better linemates (six points in his final 10 Leaf games)."

Fletcher said he was pleased with Gilbert's overall performance and plans on having him back for the last year of his contract.

Armstrong next on interview docket

The man who wanted a shot at the Maple Leafs' general manager's job from the word go now has the green light.

Doug Armstrong, who put together the core of the Dallas Stars roster before being fired last autumn, said yesterday the Stars have given the Leafs permission to talk to Armstrong.
"The Leafs are going to get to me in the next while," Armstrong said from Texas. "I want to get back in the game."

Armstrong was let go in mid-November after close to 20 years with the Stars, six as GM. The team was only four games below .500 at the time, but reports say dressing room friction had been building against him.

Les Jackson and Brett Hull took over as co-GMs, but other than the Brad Richards trade at the deadline, it was a roster built mainly by Armstrong that came within two wins of the Stanley Cup final.

Armstrong has said several times that he was anxious to interview here, while keeping himself busy with Team Canada's management group at the world championship. He said he is not intimidated by the prospect of rebuilding a talent-thin organization or working in the demanding hockey market.

"I don't want to put the cart before the horse in terms of getting the job, but there are challenges no matter where you go," Armstrong said. "Teams are at different spots on the Bell Curve, but what you want is a (consistent contender), not just a flash in the pan."

During a Sportsnet interview in February about the Leafs vacancy, Armstrong was asked about the perceived interference from the board of directors of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd.

"You certainly want to know the chain of command," Armstrong said at the time. "But I worked well with people such as (various Stars owners) Tom Hicks, Jim Lites and Norm Green."

THE ARMY FILE

NAME: Doug Armstrong

AGE: 46

HOMETOWN: Sarnia

EXPERIENCE: Joined Dallas Stars in 1991 as assistant to Bob Gainey. Part of five division championships from 1996-2001, including the 1999 Stanley Cup ... Became GM in January of 2002, leading Stars to 100-plus points in three of his first four full seasons ... Fired in November of 2007 ... On Canada's management team at 2008 world championship.

Burke to Leafs talk lingers

Those Brian Burke to the Maple Leafs rumours just won't go away, especially when the man in question is in the general vicinity.

Burke was tracked down in Boston by The Score on Thursday night after analyst Steve Ludzik reported two sources said the Anaheim general manager would meet with Toronto's seach committee in the coming days.

Burke, who lives in California but has children in the Boston area, told The Score's Steve Kouleas in somewhat cryptic terms that he has "no plans on speaking to Toronto in the very near future."

Burke, the Anaheim Ducks GM, had made hazy comments before about his name being linked to the Leafs, until that team's execs put the hammer down and said he'd have to honour the last year of his contract. But a new round of speculation began when Toronto interviewed Burke's buddy and ex-Vancouver Canuck GM David Nonis last week.

It's thought the National Hockey League continues to monitor the Leafs very closely for any evidence of tampering with Burke's existing deal.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd.'s search committee is comprised of CEO Richard Peddie, lawyer Gordon Kirke and adviser/interim general manager Cliff Fletcher.

Tha latter has been busy with team pro scout meetings this week and Kirke was in San Francisco the past few days, chairing the Sports Lawyers Association board meeting. It's not believed Kirke is conducting any interviews until at least next week.

COACHING CAROUSEL

With Alain Vigneault staying in Vancouver and Tony Granato promoted in Colorado, the vacant coaching jobs in Toronto, Ottawa, Florida, Atlanta and San Jose are taking centre stage.

Ron Wilson and Joel Quenneville, fired in San Jose and Colorado, respectively, are getting lots of mention for various jobs in the East, while rumours continue that Pittsburgh Penguins assistant Andre Savard is moving up the list to join old pal Jacques Martin with the Panthers.

Atlanta's farm team, the Chicago Wolves, are a win away from the AHL final, which enhances the already solid background of John Anderson as a developer of talent in the minors and could lead to his promotion.

POHL-AXED

Unrestricted free agent centre John Pohl is the latest victim of the changing of the guard with the Maple Leafs.

"We've told his agent (Minneapolis-based Neil Sheehy) that we won't be offering him a contract," Toronto's interim general manager Cliff Fletcher said yesterday.

Pohl, who was drafted by St. Louis and rescued from that club's minor league team three years ago by former GM John Ferguson, waged a good fight to stay in the lineup, but an ankle injury in mid-season severely curtailed his playing time to 33 games and one goal in 2007-08.

The 28-year-old played most of his first of three seasons here with the Marlies, but graduated to the Leafs and had 29 points in 74 games in 2006-07.

The rest of the UFAs on the Leafs at present are centres Mats Sundin, Dominic Moore, defenceman Andy Wozniewski and goaltender Scott Clemmensen.

Marlies, and Pogge, still alive

Leaf fans got their first post-season glimpse of the team's "goalie of the future" Justin Pogge last night.

And it couldn't have come at a better time.

The 22-year-old was stellar as the Toronto Marlies staved off elimination with a 6-1 rout of the Chicago Wolves before 2,713 at Ricoh Coliseum.

Pogge entered these playoffs – his first as a pro – a month ago as the backup after Marlies coach Greg Gilbert decided to go with veteran Scott Clemmensen, who was Martin Brodeur's backup for seven NHL seasons in New Jersey.

Pogge, the Leafs' first pick in the 2004 NHL draft (90th overall), was forced to take a lesson in patience.

Last night, with the Marlies trailing 3-0 in the series and facing elimination in the Western Conference final, Gilbert decided his team needed a shakeup.

The call went out to Pogge, who had appeared in two separate periods this post-season but had not started since April 12, the second last game of the regular season.

Well, there was a call, but Pogge didn't have his cell phone on.

"Yeah, I was really surprised (about the start), I didn't have my cell phone on and there were a bunch of missed calls when I turned it on again," Pogge said with a sheepish grin.

Pogge went on to stop 24 of 25 shots. He wasn't the difference, but he was solid, and the Marlies found their game for the first time in this series, scoring first and never looking back.

Colin Murphy, in his second game back from a shoulder injury, scored a pair of goals while Andy Wozniewski, Chris Harrington, Staffan Kronwall and Alex Foster had the others.

Three of those goals came on breakaways, and the Marlies chased Chicago goalie Ondrej Pavelec after the fifth goal. Pavelec looks like a strong candidate as the AHL's rookie of the year and has been outstanding in the post-season, allowing only two Marlie goals in the first three games of the series.

"He (Pavelec) was the difference in the first three games, but maybe now we've got a few by him and he's beginning to doubt himself," said Murphy, referring to a pair of dribblers that made it past Pavelec less than five minutes into the game.

The Marlies have now faced elimination five times, and have responded each time with a win.
The series moves back to Chicago for Game 5 tomorrow night.

Gilbert said he pulled the Pogge-for-Clemmensen switch as part of a search for some kind of spark.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Gilbert said of pulling Clemmensen, who was excellent for the Marlies in the first 17 games of the playoffs, in favour of an untested Pogge.
What about returning with Pogge for Game 5?

"There's a good possibility of that," Gilbert said. "We'll think it over. We have two good goalies and we're confident with either one in our nets."

The Marlies practice today before taking a charter flight to Chicago.

Pogge, who has been stoic about his backup role, would naturally welcome another playoff start.
"I hope so," he said.

"It gets old when you don't play. But you have to stay focused, work hard in practice. Anything can happen ... I got a chance and I didn't want to screw up."

Leafs' chance to get Carter next to none

The agent for Jeff Carter said his client wants to remain with the Philadelphia Flyers but realizes there is not a guarantee that will happen.

"We're going to make every effort to have Jeff stay in Philadelphia," agent Rick Curran said yesterday. "Prior to the draft I would expect we'll know what is likely to happen. Jeff has expressed an interest in staying in Philadelphia."

Carter's situation is going to be watched closely in the coming weeks. The 23-year-old, who was coveted by the Maple Leafs just a few months ago, finished his third full season with the Flyers with 29 goals and 24 assists (both career highs), and recorded 11 points (six goals and five assists) in 17 playoff games.

Carter, who made $942,400 US in 2007-08, is slated to be a restricted free agent July 1 and there has been speculation the Flyers will try to move him because they won't be able to afford him. It's thought Carter, who is not eligible for salary arbitration, will be looking for $5 million a season in his new contract.

But Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren told reporters yesterday he intends to keep Carter in black and orange.

"We'll get him signed," Holmgren said. "I have no doubt about that."

The Leafs wanted Carter before the trade deadline this past February and had a deal lined up to get him for defenceman Tomas Kaberle, but it fell through when Kaberle refused to waive his no-trade clause.

If Carter somehow gets to July 1 without re-signing with the Flyers or being traded, Curran figured there would be at least 12 serious offer sheet possibilities from across the league. The Leafs almost definitely would rekindle their interest.

Another youngster in the same spot as Carter is Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks, but Ducks GM Brian Burke has said his No. 1 priority in the off-season is to sign Perry.

GM SEARCH ONGOING

Richard Peddie reiterated yesterday the Leafs will take their time in hiring a GM.

"We have Cliff (Fletcher) in place and he has been open-minded," Peddie, the president of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., said.

The Leafs last week interviewed Dave Nonis for a management position, but not necessarily that of GM. There was speculation Nonis was going to be back in Toronto this week for more talks with Leafs management.

Leafs' Stralman stars for Sweden - faceoff.com

QUEBEC CITY-Anton Stralman, brimming with confidence from his experience here, may go from skating for Team Sweden to playing for the Toronto Marlies in the AHL playoffs.

The slick skating defenceman intially declined the Maple Leafs wishes to join its farm team for the playoffs and asked, instead, to accept Sweden's invitation to play at the world championship. Toronto relented when it was assured that Stralman would play a significant role here with the Swedes.

He certainly has.

Stralman was named player of the game for Sweden yesterday. Though he struggled with some of Canada's big forwards at times - who hasn't in this tournament? - he played a strong 22 minutes and scored two goals on excellent shots.

Stralman has averaged more about 17 minutes a game, seen action on the power play and been a contributor offensively with four goals and three assists in seven games in this tournament. He's also a plus 7 and even got in a fight with Russia's Ilya Kovalchuk in an earlier game. Stralman is convinced he made the right choice to come here.

"This is a better way to develop as a player," he said. "Every game is against the best in the world, Canada is probably the best team I've ever played against and probably will play against for a while. They have so many stars, such good stars."

Stralman said his time here has been a huge "boost of confidence" after struggling at times during his rookie campaign with the Leafs.

"It was kind of tough in Toronto at first, when you don't play that much and you don't feel that confident about yourself. It's hard to play your game," he said.

"It's obviously a great experience to come here and get some more ice time and get the opportunity to play my game to gain some confidence for next year and try to have the guts to play my game when I get to training camp."

Stralman said he has been following the Marlies' playoff drive on the internet and on the radio. He said it would "be kind of fun" to join the team now. The Marlies opened their AHL semifinal against the Wolves at Chicago last night.

The 21-year-old is, however, also wary of parachuting in and bumping a player from the lineup who has already been part of the team's playoff success. After declining to join the team initially, he's unsure how that would be perceived.

Stralman said he will return to Toronto after today's bronze medal match, sit down with interim GM Cliff Fletcher and discuss what the team thinks would be best for him."

The Leafs' 'calm before the storm'

The holiday weekend was short-lived for Maple Leafs brass and some of its front-office staff.
Interim general manager Cliff Fletcher will gather his pro scouts tonight in Toronto to begin several days of meetings, which will include looking ahead to the free-agency period beginning July 1 and evaluating the Leafs' roster as it stands today.

"It's about discussing where we need to go as a team and hashing out the months ahead," Fletcher said. "We're at the point where it's the calm before the storm, and we know a big storm is coming."

It's possible the club will identify which players will be bought out in June. Among those who the Leafs could pay to give them their freedom include forwards Darcy Tucker and Mark Bell and goaltender Andrew Raycroft.

Fletcher and assistant GM Jeff Jackson will try to get a handle on which free agents should be pursued in July. It's a tough spot for the pair, because if a new GM is hired prior to July 1, different decisions could be made. But Fletcher and Jackson have no choice but to assume they will be in charge for the coming weeks.

The crop of free agents this summer is not overly deep, but the Leafs should have a good idea of what they will be looking for. Goaltending won't be an issue as Vesa Toskala has a two-year, $8-million US contract that kicks in next season, though the Leafs will need a backup if Raycroft is set adrift. The Leafs need plenty of help at forward and the defence corps doesn't exactly have opposing teams cowering in their skates.

Bigger names available to the highest bidder in six weeks include Marian Hossa, Wade Redden, Brian Campbell, Daymond Langkow, Sean Avery and Mark Streit.

The consensus is the Leafs need years of rebuilding before they can be competitive again, so a Paul Holmgren-like quick fix won't be coming in the following months. One bonus is that when the Leafs pick at No. 7 in the entry draft next month in Ottawa, they will have a shot at a blue-chip prospect.

Coach Gilmour? Could be

The Maple Leafs' next coaching staff could be killer.

While it might be a long shot, Doug Gilmour made it clear yesterday he is ready to move closer to the action.

For the past two seasons, Gilmour has been the Leafs' player development adviser and has spent most of the club's home games watching from the press box. But the 44-year-old, whose last NHL game as a player was in 2003 with Toronto, wants to take his hockey knowledge behind the bench and become a coach. A role as an assistant coach is Gilmour's aspiration.

"I think the time is right," Gilmour said yesterday from his cottage near Kingston. "I've been five years out of the game (as a player) and you need that. But I want to get back into it.

"I'm not looking for a head coaching job. It's all baby steps, like it has been with working in management. At the same time, I know where I want to go, whether it is in the pros or the minors.

"It's hard to say right now what will happen and I won't really know until a new general manager and coach are hired."

There's no telling yet what the Leafs coaching staff will look like when camp opens in September, other than it will include Keith Acton, who was retained when Paul Maurice and Randy Ladouceur were fired last week. Another assistant, Dallas Eakins, has been asked to work in another capacity in the organization, and interim general manager Cliff Fletcher said yesterday he plans to talk to Eakins next week.

Once a new GM is hired, the next step will be to bring in a coach. Gilmour will be looking for an interview.

"We've talked about it and we know Doug would like to get into coaching," Fletcher said. "We would arrange for him to meet with the (new GM and/or coach)."

The Leafs' search for a GM, meanwhile, is on hiatus for the holiday weekend.

It won't be a snap for Leafs search team

Just as the Maple Leafs couldn't buy their way to happiness in the salary cap era, they've found they can't snap their fingers and put together an all-star front office.

Almost all of the best personnel is happily employed elsewhere, and those who are available have a few other options this year with up to 10 teams looking for general managers or coaches:

DEFINITE OPENINGS

- Maple Leafs (coach and GM) -- The Leafs have been turned down so far in attempts to talk to big names such as Brian Burke, Doug Wilson and Ken Holland. Jim Rutherford has the green light if asked. They have interviewed Dave Nonis for some kind of special assistant's role as a possible bridge to Burke and there is no shortage of willing candidates, such as Doug Armstrong, with Colin Campbell and others in the shadows.

The latest rumour is that if Burke is lured here, he will bring ex-Sharks' coach Ron Wilson with him, even though Joel Quenneville or Craig Hartsburg would be better suited for this media market.

It is believed the Leafs search team will not conduct interviews over the long weekend.

Blake would rather stay

The agent for Maple Leafs winger Jason Blake disputed a published report last week that his client is unhappy and wouldn't object to a trade.

"Jason called me after that story came out and assured he wants to win in Toronto," Minneapolis-based Neil Sheehy said. "He didn't say anything in the story that (general manager) Cliff Fletcher hasn't said before, that the Leafs could be looking to make changes and I've spoken to Cliff to (underline) that."

But Blake was a disappointment in the first of a five-year, $20-million US contract, scoring just 15 times. That deal makes it almost impossible to move him (the Leafs tried unsuccessfully last season) or buy him out.

Blake, who is a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy after his season-long bout with a treatable form of leukemia, continues to lead a near-normal life with medication in pill form.

Nonis meets with Peddie as Leafs' GM search rolls on

Now that the Maple Leafs know that Wayne Gretzky is not interested in the job as general manager, perhaps everyone can get on with their lives.

TSN reported yesterday that Gretzky is not interested in leaving the Phoenix Coyotes, where he is coach and part owner, to come to Toronto. Not that there has been much of an indication the Leafs were of the mind to bring Gretzky in for an interview.

Gretzky, who likes coaching the Coyotes, appears to have fallen into that category of big names who have so much as held a hockey stick in the NHL must have a connection to the Leafs' GM position.

Instead, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. president Richard Peddie met with Dave Nonis yesterday, and there's a theory making the rounds that Toronto would like to hire the former GM of the Vancouver Canucks to be by the side of interim GM Cliff Fletcher through the important summer months that include the entry draft and the free agency period.

But sources in Vancouver have indicated Nonis has no interest in becoming an associate or assistant GM -- he wants the same title and role he had in Vancouver. If the Leafs want him to be something else, they might not get anywhere with Nonis. He reportedly also has interest from the Atlanta Thrashers and St. Louis Blues.

The idea that Nonis would be a bridge to the hiring of Brian Burke next summer won't go away.
There remains the thought in some quarters that the Burke-to-Toronto move is not as dead as it is being made out to be, and some refuse to say it won't happen this summer.

Two other men who have been linked to the Leafs vacancy -- NHL senior executive and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell and Neil Smith, who was interviewed in Toronto when John Ferguson got the job nearly five years ago -- were contacted yesterday by Sun Media, but neither was in a talkative mood.

"I haven't heard from them at all," Smith said.

NO WORD

Campbell, who has had the support of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for the job, was asked whether the Leafs had been in contact with him and if so, would he be interested.

Via e-mail, Campbell said it "would not be proper to comment."

Peddie has remained concrete in his claim that the club won't rush into a decision and eventually will hire a proven winner. But many of the men Peddie and Gord Kirke had in mind -- from Ken Holland to Doug Wilson to Lou Lamoriello to Bob Gainey and others -- won't be in Toronto for any reason next season other than to watch their current teams play.

Nonis is not a proven winner, and has more in common with Ferguson than he does with any of the higher-profile people who won't be hired.

Peddie, Nonis and Kirke did not return phone calls yesterday.

Leafs Fire Maurice

When Cliff Fletcher took over the GM responsibilities from John Ferguson Jr., he promised there would be changes to the organization. Those changes began today.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired coach Paul Maurice and sources tell TSN that the team has approached the Vancouver Canucks asking for permission to speak with recently fired GM Dave Nonis.

Nonis would be brought in to handle the Leafs' managing duties through next season, with speculation suggesting the Maple Leafs would then approach Brian Burke at the conclusion of the season, with designs on Burke overseeing the entire hockey operation with Nonis continuing to occupy a management role as well.

"My objective is to create the best environment possible for the next Leafs general manager to bring in his own staff and to create a new culture around the team," Fletcher said in a statement regarding the Maurice-firing.

"Since the season ended we've spent considerable time evaluating our organization and how best to move it forward. Paul has been in a difficult position for several months. Making this decision now also provides the best opportunity for Paul to pursue all options potentially open to him."

The move didn't come as a surprise to Maurice, who sensed that his job could be in jeopardy after after another disappointing season that saw the Maple Leafs miss the playoffs for the second straight season.

"You know the way the season ended up and the changes that are going to take place on the team," Maurice told The Canadian Press from his Toronto home. "So I was very aware that it was a possibility.

"I can't say that I was surprised."