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."
Sunday, September 21, 2008
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."
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."
Saturday, September 20, 2008
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."
"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."
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."
Friday, September 19, 2008
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.
“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.
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.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
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."
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