Schenn shows offensive flair in shootout win

TORONTO - His junior team, the Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets, was in a ton of shootouts last season. But Luke Schenn never got his chance to take a shot. His coach in Kelowna knew what his strengths were, and knew what was going to get him drafted by an NHL team. And Schenn did too. He refers to himself as a "defensive defenceman."

But Monday night, he was Bobby Orr. Monday night, he was Paul Coffey. Monday night, Ron Wilson, Schenn's coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs, looked down his bench in the shootout, and of all the players he could have picked, he chose the rookie.

"We had a little (shootout) practice the other day, and he was a finalist," Wilson said. "I think he scored twice . . . He had great moves in practice."

And Schenn made a great move on St. Louis Blues' goaltender Manny Legace in a real-life shootout at Air Canada Centre, pulling the puck to his backhand and flipping it over Legace's pad to cap a 4-3 Toronto win. The victory improved the Leafs' record to 2-2-1 in pre-season, and it boosted Schenn's already blossoming confidence.

"I just kind of went in there," Schenn said of his shootout goal. "I don't know if I had a move in mind."

The stay-at-home defenceman has played in all five pre-season games. He was paired with playmaker Tomas Kaberle Monday night. Schenn showed some of his strength and his nasty streak, when he shoved Blues veteran power forward Keith Tkachuk to the ice in the dying moments of the second period.

"He hasn't looked out of place to me," said Wilson.

The Leafs coach spoke earlier in the day about how he wanted to challenge Schenn, and to play him against top players, like a Tkachuk, and like Blues' speedster Paul Kariya.

"Those are the things you want to see if he is ready and capable of handling," Wilson said. "That is what the whole process is. Seeing how he interacts with his teammates, how he corrects his mistakes. "Up to this point he has passed every test.

"(Leafs assistant coach) Rob Zettler is working with him at moving pucks quickly, identifying and simplifying how he moves the pucks, because if he cleans up that part of his game, there is a real good chance he could be here."

Wilson did not mention anything about using Schenn in the shootout. And maybe he didn't need to. Maybe Wilson already knew that the fifth overall pick in the 2008 draft was ready for his next test.

"He almost over-skated the puck," Wilson said. "It would have destroyed his confidence if that happened."

Anger management

BUFFALO -- Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson, according to the laws of a civilized society, is not allowed to strangle his players when they screw up in games -- something the Leafs have specialized in in recent seasons.

So he plans to do the next best thing; bench those who take dumb penalties, or give the puck away, or fail to block shots, particularly when such mistakes leads to a loss, as was the case last night in front of 14,629 delighted fans at the HSBC Arena.

The Leafs led for most of the testy pre-season contest, behind the steady goaltending of rookie Justin Pogge, but performed yet another collapse job.

After jumping ahead 2-0 on goals by Toronto defencemen Ian White and Pavel Kubina, both on the power play, the Leafs yielded two third-period goals by Derek Roy and Paul Gaustad, and an overtime marker by Ales Kotalik, to fall 3-2 to the Buffalo Sabres. Toronto now is 1-3 in the pre-season.

Wilson spoke in calm and measured tones after the team's second collapse in as many nights, but he clearly was steamed and laid out, in his strongest words since joining the organization, the message that laziness and stupidity will be rewarded with a seat in the press box.

"Everything is baby steps right now and you learn from your mistakes," Wilson said. "(But) the guys who don't learn from their mistakes by the end of next week won't get a shot to open up (the regular season) in Detroit (Oct. 9).

"That's the way I've always coached," he said. "If it's an honest (effort), it should be applauded. If people don't do what they're supposed to do to help the team win, they shouldn't play. And that's how I'm going to approach this."

As were the goals by White and Kubina, Buffalo's two markers in the third were on the power play, the first with Boyd Devereaux in the box for hooking and the second with rookie defenceman John Mitchell serving two minutes for cross-checking. The Sabres had a two-man advantage on the Gaustad goal, as coach Lindy Ruff pulled goaltender Ryan Miller for the extra attacker. Both goals were deflections that Pogge had little chance to stop.

"Some rookies and some veterans are taking some bad penalties in some of these situations and I told them: 'If it's a regular-season game, you take a cheap hooking penalty in the first period, you won't play the rest of the night.' That's the only way you can get that out of their system," Wilson said.

The two third-period goals and an overtime marker by Buffalo ruined what had been a solid game for the visiting Leafs up to that point. White played his strongest game of the pre-season, while some of the club's other veterans, including Matt Stajan and Jason Blake, blocked hard shots -- Blake ending up the worse for wear with a bruised knee. Other than the overtime goal, Pogge also was outstanding, stopping 29 shots, as was Miller, who turned aside 26.

But, still, it was a disgruntled group of players who marched back on the bus for the trip home. Defenceman Mike Van Ryn said that they can't treat the loss as unimportant because it is only the pre-season.

"We're not that far away from the regular season," he said. "You've got to learn from these things. It's about concentration and poise and trying not to panic."

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REPLAY

PASS THE HOSE

Rookie defenceman Luke Schenn knew what he was going to do for a living if his hockey career didn't pan out. When he was young, Schenn wanted to be a firefighter like his dad, Jeff, who is with the Saskatoon department. Luke said he spent a day with his dad at work in Grade 9, part of that 'Take Your Kid to Work' program and actually went out on a call, wearing all of the prescribed equipment. Luke described it as a thrill almost as equal as dressing up for a game at the ACC.

FOOTY FREAK

Defenceman Pavel Kubina travelled from his native Czech Republic on two occasions this summer to watch his national football (soccer) team play in the Euro Cup. Kubina, who may be the Leafs' next captain, travelled to Basel, Switzerland to watch the Czechs defeat the host Swiss 1-0 at St. Jacob-Park and later to the Stade de Geneve to watch the Czechs lose to Turkey, 3-2.

DOUBTING THOMAS

Head coach Ron Wilson praised Leafs defenceman Tomas Kaberle, who has three points in his first two pre-season games.

"My understanding is he's in much better shape this year than he was last year," Wilson said. "He came to camp a lot lighter than at the start of the year here last year. So he's probably primed and ready to go."

Wilson: Pogge 'not ready to play in the NHL'

BUFFALO -- Justin Pogge's ears were ringing last night, thanks to three late blasts of the HSBC Arena horn and the subsequent stinging words from coach Ron Wilson.

What looked to be Pogge's coming-out party turned into a nightmare for the young goaltender, whose shutout aspirations in pre-season action against the Buffalo Sabres were crushed by a late flurry by the hosts.

Having blanked the Sabres over the first 57:39, Pogge allowed power-play goals to Derek Roy and Paul Gaustad, the latter scoring with just five seconds left to even the score at 2-2.

The final blow came 63 seconds into overtime when an Ales Kotalik point shot somehow eluded him, leaving Wilson to declare that Pogge is not at the stage to be a Maple Leaf quite yet.

"Yeah, he played," Wilson said after his team's 3-2 loss. "But he made mistakes at the end. He allowed what looked like a great effort to dribble right down his chin.

"Obviously you wish he had the last goal back and that's kind of why he's not ready to play in the NHL. You have to be able to play poised all the way."

Wilson was not putting all the blame on the organization's top goaltending prospect. At the same time, he does not want Pogge to be hyped into some kind of saviour in pads, either.

"He's shown he has great talent and that's why we have to be patient with him," Wilson said. "You don't throw him under the bus or anything like that. He's learning his craft. But you guys should respect that and not put too much pressure on him."

Management's decision to go with Scott Clemmensen as the Marlies starter over Pogge during the AHL playoffs last spring was a head-scratcher. Pogge is the guy who would have benefited most from getting that post-season experience -- not Clemmensen, who isn't even in the Leafs system any more.

At least Pogge will get his shot to be The Guy on the farm this season, with coach Greg Gilbert expecting to give him 60-plus starts.

Of course, the Marlies were the furthest thing from Pogge's mind in the dressing room last night as he reviewed Kotalik's game-winner.

"He shot it, it was on edge and I thought I had it in my pants," Pogge said. "Instead it deflected in off my pants. I could have got it with my blocker but ... well, I just have to have a short memory."

Asked if he was ready for the NHL, Pogge, 22, replied: "I feel like I'm getting there. But I've got to find a way to close out games."

Ron Wilson couldn't agree more.

There's method to Fletch's madness

At first glance, you'd have thought Cliff Fletcher was a masochist for approving an exhibition schedule that pits his Maple Leafs against the two Stanley Cup finalists four times during this exhibition season.

But the general manager was ecstatic that Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin faced his team on Wednesday, that Sidney Crosby was in the lineup last night and that the champion Detroit Red Wings likely would dress numerous veterans for home-and-home games next week. Fletcher planned to put as many kids and Marlies as he could into the firing line before his own roster gets pared for opening night, Oct. 9.

"It's what you want," Fletcher said yesterday. "You want kids such as Luke Schenn to experience playing against Crosby now. The tougher the opposition in pre-season, the better it is for us moving forward."

Added coach Ron Wilson: "It's good that Chris DiDomenico and a (forward) such as Jaime Sifers will see a player of (Crosby's) magnitude. I'd want to be challenged by someone like that.

"If Luke gets beat one-on-one by Crosby, he'll be right back the next game. It's not like a test, but they may still pass it. Who knows? You'd be shocked by how good some of our young guys are."

The Leafs split their dressing room yesterday into a defined parent team and farm club. They moved 32 players into the main quarters at the Air Canada Centre, with Marlies coach Greg Gilbert taking the other group at Ricoh Coliseum.

Minor-league goalie Justin Pogge and forwards Robbie Earl, Jeremy Williams, John Mitchell and Sifers remain with the Leafs for now.

Leafs set new goals

The Maple Leafs aren't expected to do much this season, other than lose a lot of low-scoring games and send head coach Ron Wilson running for the Rolaids on a regular basis.

But if the first three pre-season contests are any indication, this year's version of the blue and white may be a little more explosive than first thought, though the Leafs blew a third period lead last night to the defending Stanley Cup finalists Pittsburgh Penguins, dropping the pre-season contest 5-4. Wilson was not impressed with the fact that his team blew a third period lead -- one of the weaknesses of this club last year.

"It's a mentality that I'm going to have to crack here, when we have that one-goal lead in the third period, sitting back and waiting for something bad to happen," he said. "But all the mistakes are correctable."

The Leafs now have 13 goals in three games. This is a team that has only two 20-goal scorers from last year's NHL campaign, but has generated a surprising amount of offence thus far in the exhibition campaign. Last night, in front of 18,884 at the Air Canada Centre, the home side fired 40 shots at Pittsburgh goaltenders Dany Sabourin and Marc-Andre Fleury.

"The one thing I love watching is how our D moves the puck, we have a couple of the best offensive defencemen in the game, which enhances the guys up front," Wilson said of Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina.

Unfortunately for the home supporters, the Penguins had even more weapons, even without superstar forward Evgeni Malkin in the lineup. But head coach Michel Therrien did dress Sidney Crosby, who picked up a goal and an assist while teammate Ruslan Fedontenko had three assists. Crosby was, however, limping somewhat after the game, but insisted that it is not serious.

"It was just a groin tweak," he said. "Everything was good. No worries."

Matt Cooke scored with under two minutes left to cap the comeback for the Penguins, who departed for Europe immediately after the game.

The Penguins play against Helsinki side Jokerit in pre-season action on Thursday and open the regular season in Stockholm, Sweden, against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Still, Wilson was more content than bitter with his club's performance, last night and throughout camp. There does seem to be some positive vibes around the club this season, further demonstrated last night by the fact that chronically injured defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo left the ice in the second period -- and actually returned to the game. No injured list, no surgery, no crutches. After a few minutes of jumping up and down at the bench, Colaiacovo, who has averaged only 31 games per season in the past three winters for the Leafs because of various injuries, returned to the ice.

Rookie defencemen Luke Schenn picked up his first goal in the pre-season on a snap shot from the point in the second period and made a nice defensive move on Crosby.

"It has been good so far, I'm really enjoying myself and I just want to keep progressing," Schenn said. "You love being put in key situations and being out there in the last few minutes of the game.."

Crosby blew past the Leafs defence for his goal in the third period to tie it at 3-3, before Kaberle put the Leafs ahead.

Kris Letang then tied it again, 4-4, with less than four minutes left.

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REPLAY

DI-LIGHTFUL

The Leafs played rookie forward Christopher DiDomenico yesterday between veterans Ryan Hollweg and Jamal Mayers and then planned to ship him off to his junior team, the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major League today. The Woodbridge native was the best player for the Leafs at the NHL rookie camp in Kitchener and played well enough in camp to earn a spot in last night's lineup. Last year, DiDomenico had 39 goals and 95 points and could play for Canada at the world junior championship.

DEMO DEMOTIONS

The Leafs assigned 13 players to the Marlies yesterday, including forwards Brent Aubin, Darryl Boyce, Stefano Giliati, Kyle Rogers, Dan Rudisuela, Greg Scott, Tim Stapleton; defencemen Scott Langdon, Phil Oreskovic, Juha Uotila and goaltenders Adam Munro, Michael Ouzas and James Reimer.

FINN FINALLY FLIES

The Leafs' No.1 goaltender Vesa Toskala started for the first time in the pre-season last night and head coach Ron Wilson said he will start the Finn in three of the remaining six exhibition contests. Justin Pogge, who played in 41 games for the Marlies last season, will start in Buffalo tonight and veteran Curtis Joseph, who will backup Toskala this season, will get the nod on Monday against St. Louis at the ACC.

Schenn in tough

Rookie defenceman Luke Schenn is making it awfully tough for the Maple Leafs organization to send him back to junior hockey.

But unless two or three older defencemen get injured or forget how to skate backwards, the young man will be going west when the pre-season ends following the game on Oct.5 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Head coach Ron Wilson said yesterday, prior to last night's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Air Canada Centre, that the 18-year Schenn has done everything the organization has expected from him during training camp and the exhibition schedule, but it's almost certain he'll start the season back with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.

It's a numbers game more than anything else. The Leafs may not score a lot of goals this season, but the one area the team is deep is on the blue line, with 10 defencemen fighting for seven spots, although Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina and Jeff Finger are givens.

"We do have nine other guys (with NHL experience) and I'll throw (Jonas) Frogren in there too, because even though he hasn't played NHL games, other than one exhibition game, I regard him as an NHL defenceman," Wilson said. "It will all depend on how everybody plays. None of the other defencemen have failed at anything, so it will still be tough for Luke to make the team."

The Leafs have made it clear that they won't keep Schenn in Toronto as a tourist. They plan to give him a lot of minutes this season, if not with the Leafs, then back with the Rockets.

"He won't be here to be the seventh defenceman, sitting in the press box, learning the game from you," Wilson said to a reporter. "I'd rather have him learning from the real coach."

Wilson made it clear, however, that the Leafs are absolutely thrilled with the way the Saskatoon native has carried himself, on and off the ice.

CHIPS IN

Schenn dressed for the third time in four pre-season games last night and scored his first goal. The coach said that Schenn will play in every pre-season game until the regular schedule begins, with the exception of tonight's contest in Buffalo.

"He's going to be a great defensive, shut-down, defenceman. You can see that," Wilson said of the 6-foot-2, 216-pounder.

Wilson said Schenn is a coach's dream in terms of his reliability in the defensive zone -- and that will be his value to the team, not his goal-scoring.

"He reads defensive situations as well as any defenceman we have, if not actually the best," Wilson said.

"Defensively, he knows what he's doing, it's just he worries about all the other (offensive elements) -- moving the puck, turnovers, things like that. But he's a pretty quick learner.

"He's one of those players, the better the lineup around him, the better he's going to play. And the better the other team is, the better he's going to play.

"Obviously I'm happy with everything he has done up to this point and I like it that the most important thing is his coachability," Wilson said.

"I talked to Craig Hartsburg at the draft this year. Having coached him at the world (junior) championship, he had nothing but rave reviews about him. He said, 'As a coach, you'll love this guy because he's a sponge.' And I've seen that."

Veteran Penguins too much for young Leafs

PITTSBURGH - And now, back to reality

After an exhilarating, seven-goal outburst against many of Buffalo's farmhands at home on Monday, the Toronto Maple Leafs faced a legitimate opponent at Mellon Arena Wednesday night and it showed. Despite missing injured players Sidney Crosby, Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney, the Pittsburgh Penguins had more than enough experience and firepower to subdue the Leafs 3-2.

The Penguins dressed key forwards Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Max Talbot, Ruslan Fedotenko, Petr Sykora and Miro Satan. And though the Leafs also had a representative lineup, they were decidedly inferior to the defending Eastern Conference champions. The teams play a re-match at the Air Canada Centre Friday night.

It was the last of two home games for the Penguins in the pre-season. They leave from Toronto on Saturday for Europe to prepare for their regular-season opener, Oct. 4, against Ottawa at the Globe Arena in Stockholm.

Gonchar, who anchors the Penguins' power play with his passing and shooting skills, dislocated his shoulder against Tampa Bay in the club's exhibition opener Saturday, and will be sidelined indefinitely. Crosby has a sore groin and was held back as a precaution.

The Leafs, meanwhile, auditioned a number of their fresh faces Wednesday night.

Veteran Swedish league defenceman Jonas Frogren got off to an inauspicious start on his first shift as a Leaf when Talbot outmanoeuvred him in the corner to the left of goalie Justin Pogge. Frogren tripped Talbot and Pittsburgh opened the scoring on the ensuing power play when Sykora banked in a centring pass off the skate of defenceman Josef Boumedienne.

Frogren, 28, represents a wild card on the Toronto blue-line. Though it's certain the Leafs did not bring him over to roost in the minors, he nonetheless has to prove he can perform as a regular in the NHL. Given that Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, Mike Van Ryn, Jeff Finger and Anton Stralman have a virtual lock on five spots, the final regular position will be contested among Frogren, Carlo Colaiacovo, Ian White and Staffan Kronwall.

First-round draft pick Luke Schenn faced a number of players that competed in the Stanley Cup final last spring, and he looked shakier than he did against Buffalo's patchwork lineup. The Pittsburgh forwards - notably, Talbot - pressured him in the corners and Schenn coughed up the puck several times. Schenn, of course, is still just 18.

Boumedienne, for his part, made up for things, setting up Alexei Ponikarovsky as the Leafs launched a mini-comeback in the third period.

Mikhail Grabovski, who looked jittery with the puck in his first Leafs appearance - centreing Nik Antropov and Ponikarovsky - made a nifty move in traffic late to beat Pittsburgh goalie Dany Sabourin for Toronto's final goal.

Hopefully, for him, it will be what head coach Ron Wilson remembers, as a number of Grabovski's passes were off target; a stray feed during a second-period Toronto power play sent away Talbot and Matt Cooke on a 2-on-1 break.

Pogge can thank a couple of his defencemen if Wednesday night's full-game stint results in a one-way trip back to the American Hockey League. Pittsburgh's first two goals were virtual replays, as Sykora put one in off Boumendienne's skate, and Fedotenko made use of Stralman's blade on a pass through the crease. Both eluded Pogge and the visitors trailed 2-0 at 7:52 of the opening period.

Stralman had a rough night. He fell near the boards early in the second period, allowing Malkin and Staal to play tick-tack-toe in front of Pogge, who was at their mercy. Malkin's short-handed goal provided the Penguins a 3-0 lead.

Leafs in no rush for Stanley Cup

The owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs say they would rather the team be competitive long term than win a Stanley Cup now and be lousy in the following years.

"From an ownership level we look at the long term," said Larry Tanenbaum, co-owner of the hockey club and chairman of the board of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. "We want to be absolutely competitive, super competitive each and every year.

"If you asked us if you were to pay for a Stanley Cup team this year, but you were to be lousy for the next five years, would you do it? The answer from the ownership point of view, absolutely not.

"We want to see a consistently strong winning team over the long term. If it takes two or three years to rebuild this team, let that happen, to know that it's going to be a strong contending team for 10, 15 years."

Tanenbaum dropped by Leaf practice and said the public perception the billion-dollar company doesn't care about winning is "B.S." He says the Leafs rebuilding program is on track.

One reporter surmised Leaf fans would take a Stanley Cup now even if it meant five years of losing.

"I don't buy that," said Tanenbaum. "It would be an interesting survey. If someone would say we would be we could win a Stanley Cup one year and go from first to worst and stay worst for a long period of time, would they actually take that?

"Or to be always be like a Detroit Red Wings, competing every single year?"

A work in progress

PITTSBURGH -- We're thinking Ron Wilson knows the difference between an apple and an orange, so safe to say he wasn't expecting the Maple Leafs to dominate a superior opponent last night.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Leafs were NHL opposites at the Mellon Arena and for more than just the obvious.

One was coming off a season that took them to the Stanley Cup final. The other, a squad that wasn't within shouting distance of the playoffs.

One has trimmed its roster down to regular-season size in advance of a trip to Europe. The other still had a handful of future Marlies in the lineup.

So a 3-2 loss to the Conference champs was somewhat predictable. After falling in a 3-0 hole, the Leafs had a better effort in the third period to make a game out of it, but the result was hardly the point.

As he moves forward through training camp, Wilson will have gained as much from this as he did a 7-4 win over a mixed bag of Buffalo Sabres prospects a couple of nights prior.

"We're only four practices and one exhibition under our belt so it's awful hard to say what we are," Wilson said prior to the game. "I'm just trying to figure out what the players are grasping and what we need to practice."

For example, Wilson went into the game hoping to find chemistry between young centre Mikhail Grabovski and wingers Nik Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky.

When that didn't work, he replaced Ponikarovsky with Nikolai Kulemin, which was more of a force in the third and led to Grabovski's first goal as a Leaf, with 11 seconds remaining. The other Leafs goal came a little under five minutes earlier when Ponikarovsky got the shaft of his stick on a bullet shot by Josef Boumedienne.

"I was hoping there would be chemistry (between the first three) and there obviously wasn't," Wilson said. "But that's what the pre-season is for."

As much as the Leafs were outplayed early, they also fell victim to rotten bounces, including a pair of own goals in the first period. One went in off the skate of Anton Stralman, the other off Boumedienne.

Justin Pogge, who played the entire game net, had no chance on the third goal, either. Stralman slipped and was stripped of the puck by Pens sniper Evgeni Malkin, who worked a give-and-go with Jordan Staal for an easy two-on-nothing score.

"Two of the goals we kicked in the own net, the other both of our "D" slipped and fell so it was a bit of bad luck," Wilson said. "Defensively we played pretty well but we were hesitant to go on the attack until the third period.

"I got an indication of what we need to work on in practice, so we'll go from there."

Which was the point of the exercise on a hectic day for the Leafs, who flew in late in the afternoon, following a morning skate in Toronto.

Wilson wanted a serious look at top draft pick, Luke Schenn, who he paired with his best defenceman, Tomas Kaberle, on the opening shift and throughout, including penalty-killing situations.

While Schenn seemed to have trouble adjusting to the speed at times, he didn't embarrass himself, either.

"Obviously it's a lot faster than what I'm used to playing in junior hockey," Schenn said. "That and puck movement is the main thing."

Even if Schenn is headed back to junior before long, Wilson wanted to take a look at both the rookie and his veteran partner for the night.

"I put Luke with a guy like Kaberle to see if Kabby has got the leadership qualities to play with a young guy and help him out," Wilson said. "And part of it is to see if there's chemistry there for the future."

The new coach in town has made it clear he won't read too much into any pre-season contest, especially one less than a week into training camp. But it was games like this one that will give the teacher in him plenty of new material.

Hollweg's personality looks like a fit

Ryan Hollweg didn't have your typical hockey upbringing.

Hollweg - on his way to becoming a fan favourite at the Air Canada Centre for his agitating brand of hockey - was born in Downey, Calif., in 1983. Hardly a hockey hotbed.

Hollweg's German-born, Brazilian-raised father, Victor, didn't know what to call those boot-thingies that hockey players wore on their feet when they're on the ice.

But when Wayne Gretzky was traded in 1988 to the Los Angeles Kings, Hollweg simply had to play hockey. Good thing his mother, Helen, was from British Columbia, knew what skates were, and where to find hockey arenas.

"She called up a rink and asked if they had hockey," said Hollweg. "Me and my brother (Bryce) hadn't put on a pair of skates or seen the game of hockey before and they were like: `Okay, you guys were on the team.' Without even practising. There was nobody in it."

One game, and Hollweg was hooked.

"It was always my dream," said Hollweg. "It was always what I wanted to do. When I was a little kid, every school report I'd write, or every picture that I drew, was about being a professional hockey player."

While the minor hockey situation in southern California has improved immensely in the post-Gretzky era, it was difficult at the time for Hollweg and his younger brother to get enough games to improve. There simply weren't that many arenas or teams around. But it's what the brothers wanted, so the parents pursued it.

"We were travelling every weekend to play in tournaments, all over the Pacific Northwest," he said. "We'd drive an hour and a half just to get some ice time. Our mom would pick us up from school and we'd go to the public rink just to skate. It was a lot of sacrifice."

Hollweg left home at 13, pursuing hockey in the San Francisco area for a year in an experimental program that drew the likes of Stanislav Chistov from Russia.

He was given a choice of heading to an American prep school, but chose Canadian junior hockey and landed in Langley of the Tier II BCHL before jumping to Medicine Hat of the WHL in 1999.

"It was tough," Hollweg said of living away from home as a teenager. "(My parents) always knew what I wanted to do. They were 100 per cent behind me."

Hollweg's brother would go on to graduate from West Point, where he was captain of the military college's hockey team and now serves in the U.S. military as a communications officer.

Hollweg was drafted by the New York Rangers, where he amassed five goals, seven assists and 311 penalty minutes over three seasons. Hollweg insisted he's got better hands than a typical enforcer.

"I used to score goals quite a bit," said Hollweg. "But coming into this league, I had to do what I had to do to keep my spot. I'm capable of more offensively, it's just a matter of opportunity."

Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher acquired the 5-11, 210-pounder over the summer from the Rangers for a fifth-round pick. Coach Ron Wilson envisions Hollweg on a third or fourth line with speedsters Dominic Moore and Jamal Mayers.

"I see them forechecking, and being an energy line," said Wilson. "He (Hollweg) gets in on the forecheck, he finishes his checks. The Rangers probably have an overabundance of that, that's why he was available to us. We don't have enough of that."

Hollweg said he can't play the game any other way.

"I love to play that way, get the fans into it," said Hollweg. "It's definitely part of who I am."

Jamal Mayers is a Maple Leaf, back in a city where it all began, as a boy who could not afford to play hockey

TORONTO -On the ice, he is a banger, a super-pest who kills penalties and, when things get nasty, is not afraid to fight.

Jamal Mayers's game is loud and brash. It is old-time, hard-nosed hockey, the sort of stuff Don Cherry likes to crow about on Coach's Corner on Saturday nights.

But off the ice, Mayers speaks softly. And a listener needs to lean in close to hear what he has to say. Mayers hockey story does not begin on a Prairie farm, a backyard rink his old man made or a small town in Northern Ontario.

It starts here: in a big city with a cold heart. It starts with a father who was not in the picture, and a mother who had to work two jobs to pay the bills. It starts with an older brother who quit playing the game he loved so his younger sibling could chase down a dream. "I didn't play hockey when I was 10 years old," Mayers said, after an intense Toronto Maple Leafs training camp session at the Air Canada Centre yesterday morning. "We couldn't afford hockey. The year after that, my brother, Allan, gave it up so I could play.

"I owe a lot to him."

Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher traded a third-round draft pick to St. Louis to acquire Mayers at the NHL draft in June. Mayers is a Toronto native. But the Toronto he moved back to was different than the one he knew before. Mayers and his wife, Natalie, and their two young daughters, have rented a house -- an entire house -- and not just a tiny apartment. The little boy whose older brother had to give up hockey, is earning US$1.4-million a year. Mayers is rich. He knows it. But he has never allowed himself to forget his humble beginnings.

"It's funny," he says, glancing around a Leafs dressing room that, without the skates and the sweaty hockey gear, could be a stand-in for a luxury spa. "To be here today, it seems like such a long way away ? "

Mayers was a fourth-round draft pick of the Blues in 1993. Before the trade, St. Louis was the only NHL franchise he had ever played for. He even married a girl from St. Louis. At the rink, his gritty style won over Blues fans. There was even talk last season that he would make the perfect captain for a Blues club in the midst of rebuilding.

So, while Toronto may have been where he was from, St. Louis was home.

Mayers and former teammate, Bryce Salvador, founded the Blues' Jam 'n Sal's Community Stars program. Local elementary school children were recognized for performing "an uncommon act of kindness or good deed."

A community star could be a student who organized a community-service event, or someone who helped a classmate in need. Each star received four tickets to a Blues game and they also got to meet Mayers in person.

Mayers says his community-activist streak, and the idea of recognizing simple acts of kindness, is a by-product of his own upbringing.

"It comes from the general feeling of being fortunate and seeing so many examples of how so many other people aren't," Mayers said. "It also has a lot to do with how I grew up."

Mayers mother, Doreen, eventually pared down from two jobs to one and became a law clerk. She is the now the vice-president of a bank. "She's done well for herself," Mayers said.

Off to a strong start

His team - one that doesn't have any offensive stars - had just scored a shocking seven goals in its pre-season opener and the first thing Ron Wilson wanted to talk about was how the Maple Leafs blocked shots.

Thirty-one shots failed to make it from a Buffalo Sabres' stick to the Maple Leafs' net and the coach couldn't help but grin.

"The number of shots we blocked tonight was very high," said Wilson after the 7-4 win. "It's a sign they're listening. They're paying attention."

Wilson's defence-first mantra that also calls for making quick passes, an aggressive forecheck and relentless backchecking, was the reason the 20 men who lined up in blue and white last night made such a favourable first impression with their new coach.

"We saw some things we really liked and we saw some things we have to work on," said Wilson. "It's a start. We really only had two practices and filled their heads with a lot of garbage. They did a pretty good job."

One play in particular speaks volumes for this new philosophy. A re-invigorated Jason Blake - who picked up a goal and an assist and played the part of forechecking pest - was killing a penalty in the second period.

Blake blocked a shot at the Leaf blue line. The puck bounced to defenceman Ian White, who launched a quick pass to Robbie Earl, who had just stepped out of the box. The speedy Earl breezed in alone, and wristed a shot past Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth.

"That's what the coach has been talking about, that there's really no shortcuts," said Blake. "You've got to block shots, have good defensive-zone coverage.

"We're going to have a fast team this year. If you do the little things, the offence is going to come with your speed. That was just one of those lucky plays, but we'll take it."

There was a lot to like with how the Leafs played last night.

Jeff Finger, the free-agent defenceman few had heard of, led the team with four blocked shots.

"That's what matters in this game," said Finger. "You do the simple things right, you're going to win."

Finger's playing partner, first-round draft pick Luke Schenn, looked at home, taking a regular shift and killing penalties. The 18-year-old said he was a bit nervous.

"It's an adjustment coming from junior hockey, playing against 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds to playing against men," said Schenn. "It's more the puck movement. As soon as someone's got the puck, it's off their tape pretty quick."

Centre Dominic Moore scored twice, with both goals the result of his dynamic speed.

Winger Ryan Hollweg stirred things up, leading the team with five hits and throwing in a fight for good measure.

"Holly provides a lot of energy," said Moore, Hollweg's teammate in New York last year. "He's a shot in the arm for a team."

Justin Pogge stopped 15 shots in the second period but let in three goals in the third.

Carlo Colaiacovo had a goal and an assist and showed some offensive flair from the blue line.

Jiri Tlusty, Matt Stajan and Boyd Devereaux also scored for the Leafs, who, on the downside, allowed three power-play goals and took too many undisciplined penalties.

Young and old Leafs put in solid effort against Sabres in exhibition opener

On the night the Maple Leafs let the house in for free, they delivered the kind of game their long-suffering fans gladly would have paid top dollar to see.

As a public relations exercise, the gratis exhibition opener was a roaring success, 7-4 over the Buffalo Sabres on just two days of practice. Leafs new and old chipped in goals, big hits, shot blocks and key saves to delight almost 19,000 who replaced the season's tickets holders for one evening.

"We looked around and saw at times what it could be like here," defenceman Jeff Finger said. "Let's just say it was a good start and go from there."

New coach Ron Wilson knows the rebuilding begins anew this morning, with many tough nights ahead.

The Leafs allowed three power-play goals and three third-period goals, both sore points with Wilson.

But they also showed some untapped forecheck ability and offensive flair, starting with three goals on Sabres' first-string goalie Ryan Miller.

Dominic Moore scored two on the night, Carlo Colaiacovo had a goal and triggered another with some pressure in the Buffalo zone, while Ryan Hollweg brought back memories of a vintage Darcy Tucker with some big hits, sparking a first-period fight with Andrew Peters.

Oh yes, in their first game in 14 years without Mats Sundin on the roster, all three of last night's alternate captains had a point with goals by Boyd Devereaux and Matt Stajan and two assists by Jason Blake.

"Considering we had just the two practices and we filled their heads with so much garbage, I wish this did count in the standings," Wilson joked. "You did see our speed (which he insists can make up for a lot of Leafs deficiencies elsewhere) and the number of shots blocked (23 to Buffalo's 11) was a sign they're listening to us."

Curtis Joseph, who had played only once at the ACC since his bitter 2002 divorce from the team, drew the biggest pre-game cheers, though a short-side power-play goal by Marek Zagrapan in the first minute caused the fans to wince.

He and the Leafs recovered for two goals by Moore and Colaiacovo, Moore believing the Leafs did enough of the little things right to reverse a lot of the close losses last season that contributed to another barren April.

"There is so much parity in the league, so many one-goal games," Moore said.

Marlies starter Justin Pogge had the crowd in his pocket with 15 second-period saves, finally beaten by Philip Gogulla to unleash a six-goal third period. But Toronto didn't let its two-goal lead get away.

The Leafs did their best to start repairing the rifts caused by three years of playoff failure, giving tickets away for last night, with Vesa Toskala among others serving as door greeters. Cops chased scalpers from the sidewalks to keep the intent honest, while all Leafs came out for the warmup wearing No. 1 sweaters with 'Leaf Fans' stitched on the back.

Robbie Earl had the nicest goal of the night, getting a long Ian White pass as he exited the penalty box after Blake blocked a shot. Stajan and Blake played with Jiri Tlusty, but the most effective line was Moore centring Hollweg and Ben Ondrus, the kind of provocative unit the Leafs will need to see them through some long nights in the regular season.

---

REPLAY

TURNING POINT

A seven-minute stretch of the second period where the Leafs forechecked hard, received stellar goalkeeping from Justin Pogge, killed a minor to Robbie Earl and then set him up from the box with a breakaway goal.

EDUCATING THEM

The Leafs truly are putting the emphasis of teaching this year when a record six coaches were on the ice to work with last night's starting lineup early in the day.

Ron Wilson was joined by assistants Tim Hunter, Rob Zettler, Keith Acton, skating coach Graeme Townshend and goalie coach Corey Hirsch.

QUOTE, UNQUOTE

"Don't assume we're going to be a boring team." -- Wilson on the Leafs' preaching defence.

IT BEGINS

Last night marked Wilson's first night behind the Leafs bench.

"I didn't think of that until (Sunday) night (watching the closing ceremony for Yankee Stadium on TV)," Wilson said.

"It got me thinking about the job. The Leafs are kind of a Yankee franchise, at least in Canada and hopefully we can get back where they are."

POINT-GETTERS

Toronto G A P

Dominic Moore 2 0 2

Jiri Tlusty 1 1 2

Carlo Colaiacovo 1 1 2

Jason Blake 0 2 2

Matt Stajan 1 0 1

Robbie Earl 1 0 1

Boyd Devereaux 0 1 1

Mark Bell 0 1 1

Ian White 0 1 1

Ben Ondrus 0 1 1

Jeff Finger 0 1 1

Moore-Hollweg pairing impresses

Ron Wilson is very much in mad scientist mode with his forward lines.

But two players bound to get a second look are centre Dominic Moore and left winger Ryan Hollweg, who once played together for the New York Rangers. On a line last night with Marlies captain Ben Ondrus, the duo was the nucleus of Wilson's desired energy line.

"We're trying to experiment, but there's a good chance they'll open there," Wilson said after last night's 7-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres. "I'd never really seen Dominic play (he did have a summer heart-to-heart with the unrestricted free agent to get him to re-sign in Toronto), but I was impressed with his speed, how he took the puck to the net and how he killed penalties."

Moore was plus-three, scored twice and won 11-of-15 draws. Wilson insisted the Rangers connection didn't inspire him to play the two together, but Moore called Hollweg "a shot in the arm" on the line.

Hollweg had a team-high five hits last night, drawing the fists of Buffalo enforcer Andrew Peters in the first.

The Leafs also rolled out Luke Schenn, Jeff Finger and Mike Van Ryn on defence, but it will be a challenge for Wilson to see all newcomers and prospects in game situations before the 60-man camp is cut.

Rules stipulate teams must dress at least eight veterans from the previous season, according to a formula of games played in the NHL and American Hockey League, with first and second-round picks such as Schenn counted among the eight.

NINE PRE-SEASON TILTS

Toronto has nine pre-season games, but three of those are on consecutive days, Oct. 3-5. The collective bargaining agreement prevents players from being utilized in more than two straight appearances. Wilson went with 13 "name" players last night in the free admission game versus the Sabres.

Schenn was paired with Finger, as Wilson hoped a veteran would calm any nerves the rookie had in his first game. Outside of some slow puck retrievals, Wilson was happy with Schenn, though it's still a long shot that the first-round pick will earn a top four spot and stick.

"I've been told by (Leafs goalie coach) Corey Hirsch. who saw him at the world championships, that he likes to dip his toe in the water first before diving in and then once he's comfortable, away he goes," Wilson said. "I've got to get him comfortable."

Kubina has a leg up on the Leafs' captaincy

There was a buzz around veteran defenceman Pavel Kubina yesterday, and not because a swarm of bees got loose inside Ricoh Coliseum.

The Leafs, who begin training camp this morning in preparation for the start of the pre-season schedule on Monday night, have yet to name a captain, but the smart money is on Czech native Kubina eventually getting the nod.

Which is curious, given that the Leafs almost traded Kubina last season. In fact, general manager Cliff Fletcher was set to deal him to the San Jose Sharks near the end of the season, but Kubina vetoed the deal with his no-trade clause. The Sharks were coached by Ron Wilson, who is now the bench general with the Leafs.

"I told him, ironically, that I'm coaching (in Toronto) because he cost me my job last year," Wilson said with a laugh. "If he had said yes to a trade with the San Jose Sharks, we may have gone a little farther (in the playoffs) and I wouldn't be the coach (here). Conversely, he heard the reason he is (still) here is because of me putting in a good word, that I was hoping he wouldn't go anywhere. That's true."

Wilson isn't particularly gung-ho to name a captain, or captains, at least not until he gets to know his team better, adding that there are other options he may explore, such as captain by committee.

"I don't know at the moment if we need a captain, how important that is. I don't think that's going to deter from what we're doing as a team," he said. "I'm not worried that the fans need a captain or the media needs a captain. It's what our team needs right now."

Kubina was an alternate captain with the Tampa Bay Lightning for a couple of seasons, as well as with his national team, and the captain of the Czech pro league team Vitkovice during the NHL lockout four seasons ago. He said he would be honoured to get the C, although he added that replacing the AWOL Mats Sundin certainly was a tall order.

"He was a great captain. Also he's a great human being, an unbelievable guy. You don't meet many guys like that in hockey or overall in life," said Kubina, adding that it wasn't just Sundin's leadership on the ice that made him a great captain.

"It was the small things he did. My first day, when I came (to Toronto), I got here in the morning to do the testing and he was the first guy who asked me if I needed something, if I needed help with a car, or find a place, or anything. He gave me his number and called me in the afternoon and (invited) me for dinner and said we'll talk. You don't see that much, especially from of the best players in the league. You cannot replace a guy like that."

Forward Alex Steen described Kubina as a "perfect candidate" to replace Sundin. Kubina certainly endeared himself quickly to one of the newest Leafs, Curtis Joseph, when he readily agreed this summer to give up his No. 31 to the veteran goaltender.

Kubina will wear No. 77 this season.

Matt Stajan, Steen, Tomas Kaberle and Toronto native Jamal Mayers also have been suggested as candidates to wear the C this season.

Hey there big boys

If it is indeed the end of the Swedish sensation era for the Maple Leafs, how about the start of a Russian Revolution?

It was only one day into training camp, but new coach Ron Wilson didn't mind rolling the dice to unveil an intriguing potential first line yesterday at the Ricoh Coliseum. In between towering Russian wingers Alex Ponikarovsky and Nik Antropov, Wilson put their pint-sized compatriot Mikhail Grabovski at centre.

It's a role Mats Sundin often played in recent seasons, but with the absence of the former captain, the Leafs need to unearth someone else who can create offence. So why not the 24-year-old speedster from Belarus who was acquired in a July trade with Montreal?

No one is ready to proclaim Grabovski the solution to the expected Leafs power shortage, but by putting him with the two big veterans, Wilson intends to see what he's got.

"I'm not going to say we have expectations," Wilson said after five hours of putting two groups of Leafs hopefuls through their paces. "But we have high hopes for him.

"Sometimes people have to be given an opportunity. If a guy has the skill set to play on the first or second line and he needs to play with good people, that's who he should be playing with. You don't take skill people and throw them on a fourth line with some grinders and expect them to score. It doesn't work that way."

Though Grabovski saw spotty ice time in Montreal, Fletcher became intrigued watching him school the AHL Marlies in a couple of appearances with the Hamilton Bulldogs. In 12 AHL contests last season, he totalled eight goals and 12 assists.

"I'm glad to be here for this chance," Grabovski said in halting English. "I just work hard to show what I can do."

Though he has just nine points in 27 NHL games, Grabovski has shown hints of being a playmaker and makes up for his lack of size with a speed not lost on one of his new linemates.

"He's a skill guy, he's small and he's fast," said Ponikarovsky. "It could be a good mix."

Though they won't play together in tomorrow's pre-season opener against the Sabres, Wilson said the trio will get plenty of opportunity to develop some chemistry throughout training camp.

"I think Grabovski could be a pleasant surprise. I think it could be a tremendous line but there are no guarantees."

Wilson puts focus on drills

There was lots of skating, teaching and defence yesterday through two sessions of the Leafs' opening day of training camp.

But in Ron Wilson's opinion, the scrimmaging can wait for the glut of pre-season games that begin tomorrow at the Air Canada Centre.

"A lot of teams would have scrimmaged today and they don't do any drills or don't do any teaching and just hammer away," Wilson said after nearly five hours on the Ricoh Coliseum ice. "Our first couple of exhibition games I will view almost as scrimmages for some guys to show what they can do."

As for who will do the scrimmaging and when, don't expect to see anything resembling a projected starting lineup early in those pre-season games.

"You have to have kind of a master plan, which I do," Wilson said of assembling a lineup for the busy two weeks ahead. "I've got a lot of masters right now -- scouts, the general manager, and others who want to see certain people in certain situations.

"I'll try to address those needs early on and the last five exhibition games are mine. With nine games in 14 days, you want to make sure you don't kill your team."

CENTRE STAGE

Alex Steen may not yet be the centre of attention as the Leafs re-tool, but he believes he has what it takes to, at the very least, centre one of the four lines this season, his fourth as an NHLer.

"We had a brief talk with both (general manager Cliff Fletcher) and Ron and it seems that's how they want to start it," Steen said. "But a lot of things happen during the course of training camp and the season and there are different line combinations that work. We'll see what happens, but I feel very comfortable playing centre."

He has the support of his coach, too, as Wilson intends to allow Steen to audition for the position. "I know deep down Alex wants to be a centre," Wilson said. "I want to challenge him to show me he can be a centre and do the job defensively as well."

This has gotta hurt

Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson didn't fall off a turnip truck, so he wasn't going to make the same mistake of his predecessor, Paul Maurice, and sugarcoat his team's chances this season.

"The only prediction is that we'll be a hard-working team," Wilson said yesterday during the team medicals at Ricoh Coliseum. "That's the one thing I can guarantee. We'll work hard. Every night."

One key area in which the Leafs are determined to improve is in their play without the puck. Wilson said it will be up to him and his coaching staff to bring the players together quickly as a unit and learn his new defensive system, which he is going to stress throughout the pre-season. But he added that there won't be any quick fix to the club's woes of recent years.

"You guys (the media) are the ones saying the Leafs should blow this up and start over, and then you're talking about we have to find a way to win within two weeks," Wilson said. "It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way.

"We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come."

The general consensus is that the rebuilding Leafs -- who have only two players on the roster (Niklas Hagman and Nik Antropov) who managed 20 goals or better in the NHL last season -- likely will miss the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season and could finish with fewer than the 83 points recorded last year (last in the Northeast Division). But that's just fine with the current crop of Leafs who hit the ice today for the start of training camp.

"We have to prove people wrong, and to use that as motivation," forward Matt Stajan said. "But our whole dressing room believes that we can do a lot better than people give us credit for. And that's fine. We'll play that (underdog) role. We have nothing to lose. We're going out there and play as hard as we can and hopefully prove everybody wrong.

"We're going to have to play as a team to win hockey games, we know that. We don't have a top-flight guy like a Mats Sundin. We have a lot of good players who can score goals. We're going to have to play a good system and score by committee. And I think everybody is excited for the challenge."

Another returning forward, Alex Steen, said the club has two things going for it heading into the season -- speed and hunger.

"We're a frustrated team, we haven't been in the playoffs for three years," he said. "Especially in a city like this, the playoff atmosphere is so unbelievable, it's something you want to be a part of. So we're looking to get back in that picture -- at least take a step toward doing that."

Wilson also pledged that the blue and white would be prepared properly for every game and that soft play would not be tolerated.

"The remedial part of hockey is blocking shots and playing hard in your end and that's the message to our team," he said. "Nobody is going to be excluded from that because, on the best teams in the league, the best players do that better than anybody. And we have to get all our players committed to doing that."

Sundin's absence doesn't go unnoticed

For the first time since 1994, the Maple Leafs opened training camp without Mats Sundin's giant shadow.

After a soap opera summer of will-he-or-won't-he return to the Leafs, reality set in yesterday that the captain and leading scorer likely is gone for good.

"Coming back here was always like the first day of school for him," said media relations director Pat Park, one of the few members of the club who pre-dates Sundin. "Our department had to keep an eye on him because he was in such demand, but he was very accommodating and low maintenance all the time he was here."

What equipment man Bobby Hastings remembered best was Sundin going out of his way at every camp to welcome newcomers.

"I started here as a 20-year-old in 2001, nervous as anything, and he made me feel right at ease," Hastings said. "It's really different with him not being here this year. He was a great player and an ever greater person."

Notable among the other missing Leafs yesterday at the Ricoh Coliseum were defenceman Bryan McCabe and winger Darcy Tucker, both eight-year men with the team, as well as goaltender Andrew Raycroft.

"You miss guys, but at the same time, you have to move forward," Matt Stajan said.

Coach Ron Wilson has been diplomatic where Sundin has been concerned, but politely reminded people the Leafs hadn't exactly been tearing up the NHL with him and the other vets at the helm of the dressing room.

"If the general leadership group was as good as people are implying, the team would've been making the playoffs the past three years," Wilson said. "I don't think this team is looking for one guy to lead them out of the mess. When you remove people who were big personalities from the room, it will probably allow others to grow."

Leafs open training camp

With a gallery of new faces and missing a very familiar one, the Maple Leafs opened their 2008-'09 training camp this morning at Ricoh Coliseum.

“This is definitely different,” centre Matt Stajan said, looking around and not seeing captain and top scorer Mats Sundin’s mug at team medicals for the first time since 1994. “You miss guys, but at the same time, you have to move forward. You have to believe that we can do a lot better than people are giving us credit for, (such as) score by committee this year.”

A total of 60 players were run through tests with on-ice workouts starting Saturday. New coach Ron Wilson will have the camp split into Blue and White teams, go through two days of practice and start their nine-game NHL exhibition schedule Monday against the Buffalo Sabres.

General manager Cliff Fletcher overturned the roster during the summer, adding free agents Jeff Finger, Niklas Hagman and Curtis Joseph and trading for Jamal Mayers, Ryan Hollweg and Mike Van Ryn.

Luke Schenn and Nikolai Kulemin lead a group of rookies hoping to crack the roster.

Gone are Sundin and many Leaf mainstays such as Darcy Tucker, Bryan McCabe and Andrew Raycroft. “I wouldn’t say it’s weird not having them here, but they were guys who took me under their wing,” said third-year winger Alex Steen.

Hollweg was not bothered by dire predictions of a fourth straight spring without playoffs in Toronto. “My first year with the Rangers, everyone predicted we’d be last and we had a pretty good year,” Hollweg said.

Van Ryn, who played through some tough times with the woeful Florida Panthers and a wrist injury, thinks he and the team are destined for better things.

“You have to believe the sun will come out,” he said, his left arm bandaged from a blood test. All the Leafs were anxious to see what sort of workload Saturday’s opening session with Wilson would bring.

“He likes to crack jokes, but but we’ll see what happens on the ice,” Stajan said.

Van Ryn heard lots of Wilson tales from London-area boyhood friends Joe Thornton and Brian Campbell, who played for Wilson’s San Jose Sharks.

“He’s a demanding coach and he’ll want us to buy in,” Van Ryn said.

What (and who) to look for at this year's camp

The newer, younger Maple Leafs begin their pre-season workouts tomorrow at the Ricoh Coliseum.

The opening of camp always arrives with some key questions to be answered by the time the regular season begins. For the Leafs, there are a few more than usual.

BLUE LINE BLUES

Of all the battles contested at camp, none will be more fierce than that on the blue line.

Coach Ron Wilson dropped the bombshell earlier this week that only three defencemen -- Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina and Jeff Finger -- are guaranteed spots, leaving Mike Van Ryn, Anton Stralman, Jonas Frogren, Ian White, Carlo Colaiacovo, Staffan Kronwall and, perhaps, first-rounder Luke Schenn, battling for the remaining four spots.

Van Ryn should be a frontrunner if his surgically repaired wrist is fully healed.

As for Schenn, Wilson is unlikely to keep him with the big club unless he cracks the top four, believing that the kid's development would be hampered by limited ice time.

CENTRES OF ATTENTION

While Mats Sundin remains in limbo, the Leafs find themselves entering the season without a bona fide No. 1 centre.

According to Wilson, Alex Steen will get a shot to start in the middle between newcomers Niklas Hagman and Nikolai Kulemin on one line, with Mikael Grabovski and Matt Stajan looking to get plenty of minutes in the middle, as well.

A shift from wing to centre by the end of camp could also be a possibility for Nik Antropov.

ON THE HOT SEAT

Jason Blake: Veteran winger scored just 15 goals last season after inking a five-year, $20-million US contract. He was, however, diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer last October. If anyone is looking for a fresh start, it's Blake.

Jeff Finger: This poor guy hasn't yet played a game for the Leafs and already he is being scrutinized after being overpaid with a four-year, $14 million deal. He'll need thick skin.

Mark Bell: Last season included a suspension for the big winger, a fractured orbital bone and a summer serving on a California work crew for a DUI incident in 2006. He has reason to want to put his past behind him.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON

Nikolai Kulemin: Evgeni Malkin claims his former Russian Elite League linemate "will be a good NHL player." Given the lack of scoring depth on this Leafs team, the young winger will need to be.

Jonas Frogren: The scouting report says the Swedish national team defenceman plays a physical, North American style game. It will be interesting to see how he fares on the smaller NHL rinks.

Mikhail Grabovski: Scouts claim the little winger has a world of talent but holds on to the puck too long. If anyone can rid him of that habit, it's Wilson.

Luke Schenn: His nickname is "The Human Eraser" for his bone-crushing hits. Let's see if he can live up to it.

CAPTAIN'S LOG

With Sundin gone, who will wear the "C?"

General manager Cliff Fletcher said Wilson wants to wait on making a decision, but don't be surprised if the captaincy rotates on a month-by-month basis, a system the Buffalo Sabres used last season.

DOG DAZE

Six years after Curtis Joseph bolted for the Detroit Red Wings, the harsh feelings fans harboured toward Cujo seem to have subsided.

One thing to note during Joseph's second stint as a Leaf: Take a look at his back plate, the part of the mask that protects the back of a goalie's head. There, Joseph has each of his kids' initials printed inside the outline of a dog's paw.

FREEBIE NIGHT

If the throng packed into the Air Canada Centre for Monday's pre-season opener against the Buffalo Sabres seems more vocal than usual, there is good reason.

Instead of the sushi-munching suits occupying the seats, the building will be filled by 20,000 fans who received free ducats courtesy of the Leafs and Coca-Cola. Imagine that: A rare noisy crowd for a Leafs game.

KILLER CALLING

For the first time since 1986 the Leafs will start camp without at least one of Wendel Clark, Doug Gilmour or Mats Sundin on the roster.

Talk about a lack of star power.

For his part, Gilmour will be on the ice at the Ricoh at the beginning of workouts as he embarks on his new role as assistant coach with the Marlies.

McCabe deal finalized, draft pick involved

TORONTO -- The remodelling of the Toronto Maple Leafs continues.

The Maple Leafs dealt veteran defenceman Bryan McCabe and a fourth-round pick in 2010 to the Florida Panthers for blue-liner Mike Van Ryn on Tuesday night, ridding the team of its biggest contractual obligation and freeing up more than US$11 million in cap space.

McCabe waived a no-movement clause to complete the long-rumoured deal.

"It's part of what we're trying to do moving forward here," said Maple Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher. "We wish him well.

"We move on with building the team. (The trade) give us a considerable amount of salary cap flexibility for the next three years."

McCabe had been one of the longest-serving Maple Leafs, having been acquired in a trade from Chicago on Oct. 2, 2000.

The 33-year-old came into his own in Toronto after bouncing from the Islanders to the Canucks to the Blackhawks early in his career. More recently, however, he developed into a scapegoat for fans who thought his performance dipped after signing a $28.75-million, five-year contract in 2005-06.

He'll get a fresh start in Florida.

"(Larry Murphy) was kind of pushed out of Toronto the same way with the media," said Panthers GM Jacques Martin, referring to a 1997 deal Fletcher made during his first stop in Toronto. "He went to Detroit and was a pretty effective player. ...

"(Bryan) is an individual I feel helps our top four."

McCabe's contract is the main reason the rebuilding Leafs were looking to make the deal.

His annual salary cap hit for the next three seasons will be $5.75 million even though the Panthers will only have to pay him $4.15 million per year on the front-heavy contract. The Maple Leafs are on the hook for a $2-million bonus that was due on Monday.

The trade has been in the works for some time but was slowed in part because the Panthers didn't want to pay that bonus.

"That was part of it," said Martin. "We didn't sign the contract."

Van Ryn has two years remaining on his contract and will earn $3.35 million each season. His cap hit is only $2.9 million so the Leafs have freed up $11.45 million over the next three years with the move.

Fletcher continues to remake a team that hasn't made the playoffs since before the NHL lockout. Earlier this summer, he decided to buy out winger Darcy Tucker and backup goalie Andrew Raycroft and waive centre Kyle Wellwood.

It's also looking extremely likely that the Leafs will start training camp without Mats Sundin for the first time in 15 years. The team's long-time captain was interviewed by Toronto radio station AM640 on Tuesday and indicated he likely won't make a decision about his future before camps open.

"I haven't even looked at different options or teams or where to play," Sundin said. "That's not even my first question. My first question is: `Do I want to play anymore?'

"I've got to get past the personal decision if I'm going to play or not."

Sundin will be in Toronto to participate in the Festival Cup charity hockey game on Friday night and Fletcher plans to sit down with him for a meeting while he's here.

The Maple Leafs have plenty of salary cap room to sign him but Fletcher is simply looking to renew acquaintances.

"We're not anticipating anything other than a private meeting so that there's a good understanding of what can happen in the next period of time," he said.

McCabe missed almost two months last season with a broken hand and ended up appearing in 54 games, scoring five goals and putting up 23 points.

He now joins a rebuilt Panthers blue-line that will be led by Jay Bouwmeester and two other recent additions -- Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton, who each came over in the draft day trade that sent former captain Olli Jokinen to Phoenix.

"I think he likes the direction of our hockey club," Martin said of McCabe. "I think he feels he's going to be a big part our success. I think he likes where we're going, how we're building our club. ...

"We feel that we're going in the right direction and Bryan's excited about joining our club."

His best two seasons in Toronto were the ones immediately before and after the lockout. In 2003-04, McCabe put up 53 points (16-37) and a plus-22 rating while finishing fourth in Norris Trophy voting as the league's top defenceman.

He had a career-best 68 points (19-49) the season after the lockout and played for Canada at the 2006 Olympics in Turin.

Van Ryn spent the past four seasons with Florida, where he twice reached a career-high 37 points. The 29-year-old played just 20 games a year ago because of a wrist injury.

"He's a very capable offensive defenceman," said Fletcher. "He's ready to go and he's excited."