The Leafs put a capper on what has been a year of increased hopes and expectation with their first visit to Winnipeg since 1996. Manitoba native James Reimer is making his sixth straight start, in spite of being yanked after giving up three goals on eight shots in Florida on Tuesday and allowing three goals in the third period and overtime in Raleigh on Thursday.
Toronto will be without forward Tyler Bozak, as he has been placed on injured reserve after suffering an upper body injury(suspected to be a shoulder) in practice at the MTS Center in Winnipeg yesterday.
Matthew Lombardi, who suffered a shoulder injury in Nashville on November 17, has been fully participating in team practices and may take Bozak's spot between Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul on the first line.
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Since 2011 is drawing to a close, it gives me a chance to look back and recognize the eleven most impactful and important events that occurred over the last 12 months:
11. Blue And White Hall Of Fame Night: November 12 – A great night when former Leafs Joe Nieuwendyk, Ed Belfour and Doug Gilmour(as well as Mark Howe) were honored for their induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Nieuwendyk and Belfour’s made an impact in their short tenure in Toronto, while Gilmour is rivaled by perhaps only Wendel Clark as the most popular Leaf of this generation.
10. The Twittering Hierarchy: The presence of both Leafs GM Brian Burke and Coach Ron Wilson on the social media site has already been quite entertaining, with tweet wars between them and media figures like Steve Simmons and their thoughts on everything from the TV show “Dexter” to HBO’s 24/7. Should make for more interesting events in 2012.
9. The Luke Schenn Contract: September 16 – After negotiating all summer, the Leafs finally signed the 21 year old former fifth overall pick in 2008 to a five year, $18 Million contract. Schenn has been a focus of some criticism since the signing, as his play has not been up to expectations. His name is always front and center when speculation arises about Toronto trying to acquire a big forward in a trade.
8. Striking Out On The Free Agent Biggies: July 1 – Toronto sent senior VP Dave Nonis, Cliff Fletcher and Claude Loiselle to a farcical meeting at Newport Sports in Mississauga when it was widely known that prized free agent was not interested in playing for anyone other than old coach John Tortorella’s New York Rangers. The club was got into the bidding war for Maxime Talbot, Michael Rupp and Ville Leino but decided that the contracts were too rich for their blood and instead opted for a short term deal with former Buffalo Sabres center Tim Connolly.
7. Wilson Gets Extension: December 25 – “He came! He came! Remember saying that as a little kid? Well he did: I got a new Red Ryder BB gun and a contract extension!" The announcement made by Coach Ron Wilson on Twitter Christmas Day that irked a sizable portion of Leafs Nation and most of the Toronto media for it’s timing and method of release. In the end, it will mean nothing if the club does not make the post-season.
6. The Teacher’s Go Bye-Bye: December 9 – The deal that saw the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Fund sell it’s nearly 80% interest in Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment to telecommunications behemoths Bell Media and Rogers Communications. The owners of TSN and Sportsnet will possess equal shares of MLSE, but the sale is unlikely to have any negative impact on the Leafs or effect on GM Brian Burke’s autonomy in day-to-day operations.
Part II Tomorrow
To everyone of my readers and all the members of Leafs Nation, I wish you a healthy, happy and safe 2012.
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