Leafs update: Sifers stays, Stralman goes

by James Mirtle on Dec 14, 2008 4:54 PM CST Comment 13 comments

A very minor update from the land of the Maple Leafs: Gone is defenceman Anton Stralman, off for his first stint in the AHL this season, and staying put is rookie Jaime Sifers, who has impressed everyone in two games in the NHL.

Sifers was a three-time captain at the University of Vermont where he was a teammate of Sharks winger Torrey Mitchell, who had nothing but good things to say about him to coach Ron Wilson.

There's more at Globe on Hockey (mostly just quotes from Wilson on the move). There'll be more Leafs coverage of a different sort in tomorrow's paper.

UPDATE Here's my piece on how the Leafs have revamped their awful penalty kill and seen some success lately. It's pretty Leafs-specific, but I do talk about the Sharks a bit given that San Jose's coaching staff from last season has taken over in Toronto.

The Sharks had the NHL's best PK last year, so it stands to reason the Leafs will see some improvement there from past years. Toronto's been bad at killing penalties (and limiting goals against in general) for years.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Jaime Sifers	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	7	0.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Anton Stralman	21	1	6	7	1	6	0	0	1	0	29	3.4

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I wonder if this would be reported on

if this same transaction was made by, say, the Florida Panthers.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Dec 14, 2008 6:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

There’s really not much real estate being devoted to this.

by James Mirtle on Dec 14, 2008 7:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but Don Cherry spoke about him yesterday so he must be someone of importance, right??

I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!

by Scotty Hockey on Dec 14, 2008 7:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know that there are many 25-year-old career minor leaguers suddenly getting 21 minutes ice time a night. It’s a good story, especially on a team that’s not very compelling so far.

by James Mirtle on Dec 14, 2008 8:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not compelling?

Did you miss all of the Brian Burke stuff? That was kind of compelling if not overdone.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 14, 2008 9:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It sort of had a foregone conclusion, no?

by James Mirtle on Dec 15, 2008 12:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Probably Not

Mostly because the Panthers don’t have the largest fanbase in the league.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 14, 2008 9:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Leafs fans have a Leafs blog

If I was a Habs, Sens, Oiler, Flames or Canucks fan I would be so tired of this BS, as I am an Orioles fan that is tired of all this Red Sox and Yankees B.S. Blogs are great because they don’t have to appeal to a majority of a poplulation, they can appeal to a niche audience. Just because Hockey Night in Canada way overreports on the Leafs, doesn’t mean independent blogs have to as well.

by jobe on Dec 14, 2008 10:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m guessing Jobe’s hoping I don’t have more trip to the Leafs’ practice facility!

by James Mirtle on Dec 15, 2008 12:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

God Forbid

James tie in his actual work to his personal blog. The vast vast majority of this blog has nothing to do with the Leafs. You don’t see Leaf fans complaining about when it’s covering another team do you?

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 15, 2008 8:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs