Matt Frattin goal against the Capitals...

Seems like former Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin gets a lot of goals within 3-5 feet of the goal. Frattin got the game winner for the Leafs as they beat the Washington Capitals 3-2.  It proves the point that good things happen if you go hard to the net. Frattin (4g-2a—6pts) is tied for second on the Maple Leafs in scoring with Nikolai Kulemin (1g-5a—6pts).

Lastly, this is a text book example of a poor effort by the Washington Capitals defense as they looked like a bunch of pylons as the Leafs skated right past them.  It would be an understatement to say that the Capitals  as they were flat footed on that play.

Matt Frattin's slick goal against the Islanders

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Frattin didn't make the Maple Leafs roster out of camp but was the first one called up with the injury to Joffrey Lupul. Frattin was called up and dressed for tonight's game. One could say that Frattin made the most of his 2013 NHL season debut scoring(1g-2a--3tps).

Dion Phaneuf blast John Tavares from behind.

Not a good hit by Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneauf on Islanders forward John Tavares. I am also shocked that there was no penalty on the play as the referee was standing where he could see the play.

Matt Frattin Ties it With 9.5 Seconds Left

Former Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin scores this goal for the Toronto Marlies against the Rochester Americans with under 10 seconds to go to tie the game. The Marlies would go on to be the Rochester Americans 4-3 in a shootout. Frattin would also score a goal in the shootout for the Marlies.

Frattin missed 12 games to start the season recovering from knee surgery and has come back with a vengeance;  Frattin has 12 points in 12 games (8g-a--12pts)

Hump Day links... Just give me my hockey now!

English: NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman in 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Well there are quite a few news stores of note this morning in the college and professional hockey world.

The NHL Labor mess continues on and is proving to be an absolute gong show and it appears that there is little evidence that a solution is forth coming.

Like my friend Chris Wassel said on Twitter, they should just cancel the season already, instead of dragging out the agony.

Seriously!

It's beginning to look like this is where the NHL owners led by the lockout commissioner Gary Bettman are going. I used to get excited every time someone would post a story with a theory about a possible solution to the lockout that is now in its 74^th day and chugging towards 80.

Just cancel the NHL season already. Sure the odds are headed that direction.
— Chris Wassel (@ChrisWasselTHW) November 27, 2012

Notre Dame head hockey coach Jeff Jackson was fined for his comments he made about the officials in the post-game news conference. I don’t like this because I think that if the officials blow a call a head coach should be able to relay his displeasure about the officiating within reason. Over the years in college hockey I have seen some brutal officiating in college hockey.

There is a great story about former UMD Bulldog J.T. Brown in Tampa Bay online.

There is also a great story in Grantland about college hockey that mentions the WCHA and Minnesota and Wisconsin leaving and also the formation of the NCHC hockey conference. Obviously, there are some points of interest in this story will bring up all kinds of emotions and feeling from college hockey fans around the spectrum.

Apparently, the Toronto Maple Leafs are worth 1 Billion dollars. Yeah! 

There is a really nice story in All Habs about UND forward Mark MacMillan; Up Close with Mark MacMillan: Habs Prospect with Discipline, Character.

The College Hockey Rink Report ranks the college hockey conferences. Currently the WCHA is ranked second in his rankings.

Chris M Peters from the United States of Hockey had a very nice piece on the B1G teams and their struggles so far this season.

Joe Haggerty CSNNE makes a pretty good point about where the blame for the 2012-13 lockout lies, it's not Bettman. Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs is one of the big power broker owners that is driving this lockout and Haggerty is letting fans know where the blame lies. 

Related articles

• The only game in town? (thehockeywriters.com)
• Updated College Hockey Television Schedule (thehockeywriters.com)
• College Hockey takes center stage (thehockeywriters.com)
• Revised and Updated College Hockey Television Schedule (thehockeywriters.com)

Leafs Fan buys toilet for $5,300.00

This morning, I was listening to NHL Home Ice on XM-92 and this story was one of their lead stories. You would have to be one heck of a NHL Hockey fan to buy an old toilet for 5,300.00. Seriously, I can’t imagine spending that much money for a toilet no matter who sat on it.

TORONTO - An Ontario lawyer is now the proud owner of a toilet from the Toronto Maple Leafs' former dressing room.

Jim Vigmond, of Barrie, Ont., bought the unusual item for $5,300 at auction after the piece he really wanted—the 1967 Stanley Cup banner—got too expensive. The toilet was offered up along with more than 100 items from Maple Leaf Gardens, which was home to the NHL team until 1999.

Fifty-five-year-old Vigmond says his friends were skeptical about the purchase.

But the long-time Leafs fan says the item was just too good to pass up.

Vigmond says he was actually willing to spend up to $10,000 on the throne.

"They thought I had money to burn, and surely there was something that I could have better spent my money on," he said.

"They've got a point. But ... it's a part of an icon. I just thought ... what a rare piece and just think of all of the people that have spent time contemplating in that dressing room what lies ahead of them."

Vigmond plans on putting the toilet in his sports memorabilia room, where he wants to sit on it, light up a Cuban cigar, open a bottle of 30-year-old single malt, and hopefully, watch a Leafs game sometime soon.

Matt Frattin goal against Binghamton Senators

Former UND hockey player Matt Frattin scores for the Toronto Marlies in the closing minute of today’s game against the Binghamton Senators. That’s four goals in three games for the former UND forward. Frattin missed the first 13 games of the season with a knee injury. The Marlies lost the game 3-2 to the Senators.

Former DU forward Tyler Bozak's Halloween costume tweet

Oh good, a Leaf dressed as a black man who then deleted the tweet. RT @bozie42: Halloween!! instagr.am/p/RblQYWP9Sw/
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) October 31, 2012

Oh hey, the deleted pic is here. Sigh. wraparoundcurl.tumblr.com/post/346813764…
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) October 31, 2012

This is a picture that former Denver University and current Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bozak put into one of his tweets tonight about his Halloween costume, which is a picture of him dressing up as Michael Jackson. I can tell you that Bozak's Halloween Costume is not going to be well received. Actually the picture has gone kind of viral and Bozak has gotten beaten up pretty bad.

That's a tribute to one of my fave artists. For anyone saying its racist is crazy!
— Tyler Bozak (@Bozie42) October 31, 2012

Here is Bozak's response to the twitter picture that he has since deleted. I agree with the tweet below, I am going to mark this one up as a horrible mistake on Bozak's part.

"Racist" is a loaded word that implies intent. Doubt Bozak's racist, more likely just made a stupid mistake.
— draglikepull (@draglikepull) October 31, 2012

EDIT: More comes out about UND Hockey party

More and more information is beginning to come out about the suspension of the four UND Hockey captains - the suspension are a result of a team party that took place this past weekend in Grand Forks, ND. It would appear that the University of North Dakota is being proactive and sending a message to it's players that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.

I have seen suggestions from some fans that this party from this past weekend resembles what some classify as hazing which the NCAA takes seriously - personally I am going to wait for more information to come out before I jump to that conclusion.

Here is what UND Sports Information Director Jayson Hajdu had to say on the matter, when asked by the UND Hockey beat writer Brad Elliot Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald, asked him if this might be a case of hazing.

“UND is continuing to gather information. If hazing has been involved, the university will take strong action.”

Kristo confirm that he got cut in an initiation party that involved -21 yrs old players. That's why he and 3 teammates are suspended. #habs
— Jonathan Bernier (@JoBern) September 19, 2012

Obviously, Kristo was caught and not cut from the team and which the writer later corrected himself.

Of course, Kristo got caught and not cut. Sorry.
— Jonathan Bernier (@JoBern) September 19, 2012

Here is a press release on the incident from CBC Radio - I translated the article with Google translate.

Hope Canadian Danny Kristo is suspended by the University of North Dakota for the first game of the season.

The team made ​​the announcement Tuesday.

Kristo and three other teammates were suspended for "unacceptable conduct" during a team party Saturday, said Brian Faison, director of sports programs at the school.

"The behavior of our players is not the role model they should play in the community, said the head coach of the team, Dave Hakstol. We rely on several players of character, but they must be accountable for their actions. '

Kristo is assistant captain this season. The other three players are also suspended two other assistants (Corban Knight, hope the Panthers, and Carter Rowney, undrafted) and the captain, Andrew MacWilliam, 7th round selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008.

In addition to the suspension, the players of the team should lend itself to such workshops weekly alcohol education. Any future violation of team rules lead to other consequences, ranging from reducing scholarships to expulsion from the hockey program.

Kristo, second-round pick of the Canadiens in 2008, will play in his fourth and final 2012-2013 academic year.

The team formerly known as the Fighting Sioux will begin its season Oct. 19 in Anchorage, Alaska.

OHL to limit fighting?

Just confirmed a new fighting rule coming to the OHL. The much-rumoured 10 fight maximum is part of it but there is more as well.
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) September 19, 2012

I saw this tweet tonight and I think it's a horrible rule after 10 fighting majors a player would receive an unspecified suspension plus additional discipline. I think this is a horrible rule if it does in fact get enacted. I will post something as soon as more details emerge.

"O Captain! My Captain!" - UND picks Mac to be captain

Official Press Release

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota senior defenseman Andrew MacWilliam has been named captain of the men’s hockey team for the 2012-13 season. Senior forwards Corban Knight, Danny Kristo and Carter Rowney were each named assistant captains.

MacWilliam, who served as an assistant captain as a junior, has appeared in 122 career games, the most among returning UND players, and owns a career plus/minus rating of +24. Last season, the Calgary, Alberta, native played in all 42 games and collected two goals and five assists along with a career-best +12 rating. He was also named to the WCHA Final Five All-Tournament Team.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound MacWilliam was a seventh-round draft pick (188th overall) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008.

Knight, like MacWilliam, served as an assistant captain as a junior in 2011-12. The High River, Alberta, native played in all 42 games and amassed career highs in points (40), goals (16) and assists (24). His career +40 rating leads all returning UND players. Knight was a fifth-round draft pick (135th overall) of the Florida Panthers in 2009.

Kristo, a native of Eden Prairie, Minn., is UND’s top returning scorer with 109 points (42 goals, 67 assists) in 117 career games, including a career-high 45 points last season. In 42 games as a junior, Kristo also established career bests in goals (19), assists (26), game-winning goals (3) and plus/minus (+16). He also won UND’s Virg Foss 3-Star Award after receiving the most 3-star voting points from the media following home games. Kristo was a second-round draft pick (56th overall) of the Montreal Canadiens in 2008.

Rowney enjoyed a breakthrough season as a junior, finishing third on the team with a career-high 18 goals and fourth in scoring with a career-high 33 points. Nine of his goals came on the power-play and three stood as game-winners. The Sexsmith, Alberta, native tied for the WCHA playoff scoring lead with eight points in five games, including a league-leading six assists.

UND went 26-13-3 overall in 2011-12 and captured its league-record third consecutive Broadmoor Trophy as WCHA Final Five champions. It was also the program’s league-leading 11th WCHA playoff title.

UND opens the 2012-13 season, its last as a member of the WCHA, with exhibition games against Manitoba (Oct. 6) and the U.S. Under-18 Team (Oct. 12) before opening the regular season Oct. 19-20 at the Alaska Goal Rush tournament in Fairbanks.

NHL looks at Obstruction

I am sure that my buddy Redwing77 will give his spin later on this subject.

According to NHL.COM, the NHL is having a two day summit to discuss the NHL current standard of rule enforcement.

Translation, the National Hockey League is looking into whether there too much obstruction in the NHL right now, especially after they had players sounding off on the leagues officials during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The following people listed in the Paragraph below are part of the discussion.

If you need refreshing here are some examples about players being upset with the reffing during last season's NHL playoffs... [example one] and [exmaple two]

While they’re at it, I would like them to look at the diving and flailing about on the ice that some like to use to draw penalties.

Tim Campbell, Winnipeg Free Press --- Players present for the meeting were Mike Cammalleri of the Calgary Flames, Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators, Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning, John-Michael Liles of the Toronto Maple Leafs, James Neal of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Kevin Bieksa of the Vancouver Canucks.

The coaching roster included five NHL bench bosses -- Chicago's Joel Quenneville, Nashville's Barry Trotz, Phoenix's Dave Tippett, Boston's Claude Julien and Washington's Adam Oates -- as well as three active referees, Stephen Walkom, Brad Watson and Wes McCauley.

Also attending were five NHL GM's -- Pittsburgh's Ray Shero, Tampa Bay's Steve Yzerman, Buffalo's Darcy Regier, New Jersey's Lou Lamoriello and Vancouver's Mike Gillis.

After reading some of the tweets that Paul from Kuklas Korner posted on line it appears that the NHL is going to tighten up the calls if the NHL ever plays a game this season.

#NHL met today to discuss rules, namely obstruction. Looks like they’re going to tighten things up a bit for next season. — George Popalis (@SNGeorgePopalis) August 22, 2012

For fans that want to watch a more wide open game I think that this is really good news – I don’t know anyone that wants to watch the players hanging all over each other like groupies at a hockey party.

I also think that if the league cracks down on the obstruction they also need to crack down on the poor sports that like to embellish to draw penalties – you know the frauds like Ryan Kesslers (video evidence) and Alex Burrows (video evidence) that skate up and down the ice flailing around and snapping their heads back.

Lastly, It will be interesting to see if anything actually comes out of this or will they call it tight for a few months and go back to the horrible job of officiating we saw last spring during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Is Kessel a polarizing figure?

Apparently, former Minnesota Golden Gopher and former Boston Bruins forward Phil Kessel is feeling the pressure in Toronto. Some of the pundits are beginning to wonder if the Leafs need to trade Kessel while he is still on top of his game.

Meanwhile, Boston Bruins fans are saying thank you Kessel and are happy to have Tyler Seguin on their team as the result of the 2010 offer sheet by Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke. If you asked Boston Bruins fans if they would take Kessel back, they would probably say hell no. Also, after reading the comments of some of the Bruins players it sounds like many of them didn’t want him back either. Bruins forward, and tough guy Shawn Thornton admitted to not liking the former Bruin on a Boston talk show back in December of 2009.

Mark Ritter, The Slapshot Blog -- Since arriving in Toronto Kessel has been under a tremendous amount of scrutiny from both the media and fans. A quiet, unassuming player, Kessel has tried to remain in the shadows, but in the media frenzy that is Toronto it has been tough for him to remain anonymous. As tough as it has been for Kessel to avoid the media attention he receives, it has been even tougher for him to live up to expectations.

While the pressure to perform is with every NHL player, Kessel (fairly or unfairly) will forever be judged against the performances of Seguin (who is well on his way to becoming a star) and Hamilton (who is regarded as an exceptional defensive prospect) and to a lesser extent Knight (who is a project). While the comparisons are unfair, Kessel seems unaffected by all the attention, as witnessed by the numbers he has put up over the past three seasons.

For whatever reason, fair or unfair, Phil Kessel always seems to be under a lot of scrutiny.  After failing to agree to a restricted free agent contract with the Boston Bruins,  Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke traded for Kessel and he's now a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I think all of us know the rest of the story. In 2011, the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup in 39 years and to this day, the Toronto Maple Leafs continued to be mired in mediocrity. The former Bruin Kessel is heckled in Boston every time he touches the puck and now after last season the Bruins fans also chant thank you Kessel. Because of the Leafs offer sheet, the Bruins ended up with two first round picks and a second round pick. One of the Bruins first round draft picks was fan favorite Tyler Segiun, who helped the Boston Bruins win the cup. Also in just his second season with the Bruins, he was their leading scorer last season.

According to Michael Traikos from the National Post, one unnamed Toronto beat writer suggested that the Maple Leafs trade the young Kessel after leading the Leafs in scoring “while he still has any value.” 

I think it’s premature to throw Kessel under the bus. Last season he didn’t have much of a supporting cast but the Leafs have a stable full of young talent that is starting to mature and that could just take the heat of Kessel. One thing the Leafs need is a setup man that could pass Kessel the puck – in Boston it was Marc Savard – Toronto it’s to be determined.

What will Seguin get?

The recent signing of Jeff Skinner is going to set the bar for other RFA with similar numbers. The upside of Tyler Seguin is pretty big as I could see him erupt and have a very big season this year.

This is an interesting discussion that is worth talking about - one could also ask the question - what if Seguin gets somewhere in the neighborhood of  75-80 points - he is going to command a pretty big salary and if the Bruins low ball him you could see someone sign him to an offer sheet like the Toronto Maple Leafs did with Phil Kessel.

Joe Haggerty, CSNNE.COM --- Skinner signed a six-year, $34.35 million contract that could wind up being very similar to Seguin’s second contract if the Bruins opt for a longer term pact with their budding superstar. The deal will play Skinner $4.35 million in his arbitration-eligible season in 2013-14 and $6 million per season from 2014-2019.

If Seguin got the same deal, it would make him the highest-paid forward on the Bruins, and the second-highest paid player behind only Zdeno Chara.

But it’s also the kind of deal that Seguin could command given the comparable track that both Skinner and Boston’s young superstar have undergone over the last two years. In essence Skinner has set the bar for Seguin and agent Ian Pulver if a contract extension is to be completed before the end of next season.

Boston could opt to go the shorter deal route with Seguin, but that could end up costing them more money if the B’s center continues his rapid ascension toward being one of the game’s best offensive players.

I am not sure what Joe Haggerty is talking about because according to Cap Geek David Krejci makes 5,250,000.00 and Patrice Bergeron makes 5,000,000.00 a year.

Will hockey go to a luxury tax like the MLB

This is an idea that would run counter to Redwing77's contraction idea that he threw out there yesterday in be the NHL Commissioner for a day. I kind of like the idea too - if your team goes over the salary cap, then that team would pay a luxury tax like Major League Baseball has. I don't know if you could get the more successful and more lucrative teams in the NHL to sign off on a deal like this.

Joe Haggerty, CSNNE.COM --- Instead the NHLPA is sitting, waiting and taking measure of which way the wind is blowing before releasing its own counter-proposal. One would expect that counter-move is coming sooner rather than later, and that it’s going to include creative ideas about revenue sharing.

After all, Fehr is the same union head that oversaw the change to a soft salary cap in Major League Baseball that essentially boils down to a luxury tax with heavy revenue sharing controls. The New York Yankees spend like drunken sailors and poverty-stricken teams like the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates end up the beneficiaries of the extra funds.

Fehr and the NHLPA have designs on something similar in the NHL where teams like the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs have seemingly endless reserves of cash they could call upon when needed. That would make things more manageable for teams like the New Jersey Devils and Phoenix Coyotes that are facing economic difficulties. That system could help the “struggling” small market franchises that are driving the owners to a “we are losing money” argument despite a record $3.3 billion in revenues last season.

But it would also be a large departure for teams like New York, Toronto, Chicago and Boston that don’t want to bankroll the rest of the league based on their own successful business models. It’s not the business that any owners signed up for when they joined the NHL, but it might just be the best solution to get everybody what they’re seeking.

One thing that proposal will do: get the small market and big market NHL owners fighting among each other given the very different situations they’re each facing.

What do you think? Also, do you think the NHL is going to have a prolonged work stoppage or are the two sides going to be able to work out their differences quickly. Some have said that the NHL has a lot to lose if they don't have their winter classic and wouldn't like to have a long drawn out work stoppage.

Shea Weber agrees to offer sheet from Philly

Reminiscent of the Toronto Maple Leafs general Manager Brian Bruke making an offer sheet to former Boston Bruins forward Phil Kessel –the Philadelphia Flyers have made an huge offer to Nashville Predator defenseman Shea Weber which he has accepted. Now the ball is in the Predators court – If I was them I would take the four first round draft choices.

ESPN.com --- The Philadelphia Flyers have signed star defenseman Shea Weber to a 14-year offer sheet worth upwards of $100 million, a source confirmed to ESPN.com. The Flyers also confirmed the offer sheet, although the team didn't disclose terms.

A restricted free agent, Weber has spent his entire career with the Nashville Predators, who have seven days to match Philadelphia's offer, which was first reported by TSN.

If the Predators decide not to match the offer, they would receive four first-round draft picks from the Flyers, according to TSN.

Weber's departure would be a devastating blow to a Nashville team that already lost All-Star defenseman Ryan Suter, who signed a 13-year, $98 million deal with the Minnesota Wild.

Now; is anyone besides me rolling your eyes? Seriously – the owners claim they need to reel in expenses and that they are bleeding money and then the Philadelphia Flyers go out and pull this bush league move. I just don’t take the owners seriously anymore or think that they have a leg to stand on. First they want to limit contract to 5 years – Weber’s deal is for 14 seasons – who knows what else is in this deal. The Nashville Predators have 7 days to match the Flyers offer sheet. You have to think that they won't be able to match this one.

If I was the Predators GM, I would take the four first round draft choices, while the Flyers won’t pick that high in the first round it could end up giving the Predators some decent players in the future and could give them something to trade if they want to move up in future drafts.

Here is a breakdown of the contract from Frank Seravalli Philly.com

According to Kypreos, the Flyers have structured the deal in a way that it may be impossible for Nashville to match. The breakdown would be as follows:

2012-13 (age 27): $1 million salary + $13 million signing bonus (league maximum $14M)
2013-14 (28): $1 million salary + $13 million signing bonus (league maximum $14M)
2014-15 (29): $1 million salary + $13 million signing bonus (league maximum $14M)
2015-16 (30): $1 million salary + $13 million signing bonus (league maximum $14M)
2016-17 (31): $4 million salary + $8 million signing bonus (total $12 million)
2017-18 (32): $4 million salary + $8 million signing bonus (total $12 million)
2018-19 (33): $6 million salary
2019-20 (34): $6 million salary
2020-21 (35): $6 million salary
2021-22 (36): $6 million salary
2022-23 (37): $3 million salary
2023-24 (38): $1 million salary
2024-25 (39): $1 million salary
2025-26 (40): $1 million salary
TOTAL: $110 million

Brooks on Parise, 'Devils' Parise will soon wear new jersey'

Zach Parise & his fans (Photo credit: New Jersey State Library)

This will be one of the top stories in the NHL this summer - where is Zach Parise going to sign and with what team. Personally, I hope the Boston Bruins or the the home town Minnesota Wild are going to be choices for the former Fighting Sioux  First Team All-American and star forward Parise.

Larry Brooks, New York Post --- Parise, who will turn 28 next month, could attract offers of up to 12 years. He will certainly receive front-loaded, bonus-laden offers from the Rangers and Red Wings, who have millions to spend and the inclination to do so.

The Wild will be in, though Parise might want to think more than twice about going home to join a team in which he would be the best player by leaps and bounds.

The Sharks could be in. The Maple Leafs will be, though current general manager Brian Burke doesn’t believe in front-loaded deals. The Bruins could become a serious contender. There will be others.

Given the financial realities in New Jersey, it’s almost impossible to conjure the scenario in which ownership could cut Parise a $10 million check on July 2. And again, that’s even assuming Parise’s first choice is to remain a Devil.

He is one today and will be one tonight. But once the puck is dropped, the clock will be ticking on the Devils’ season and on the captain’s career in New Jersey.

T-minus-60 and counting.

Thomas and Schultz rumblings.

Goalie Tim Thomas, NHL Hockey player for the Boston Bruins (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It's been a roller coaster season for Bruins' goalie Tim Thomas. It will be interesting to see if the Boston Bruins trade him or not. If I was the Boston Bruins General Manager I would make sure that I sign Tuuka Rask first before they even consider trading Thomas. The bad thing about trading Thomas is that it could come back to haunt the Bruins if he met his former team in the playoffs. I would rather watch him finish out his career in Boston with the Bruins.

Tim Thomas' Options

LeBrun: We know the Boston Bruins may potentially try and trade goaltender Tim Thomas when his no-trade clause evaporates on July 1 but among the other options I'm told Tim Thomas is considering is maybe not playing next season. I'm not saying that's going to happen for sure but I was told today that he's thinking about maybe taking the year off. It's been a stressful year for the 38-year-old, we all know about the White House controversy, and the Bruins have a #1 goalie-in-waiting in Tuukka Rask. [TSN.CA]

The Justin Schultz sweep stakes are a month away, it will be interesting to see where the highly sought after offensive defenseman goes.

Dealing With Schultz

McKenzie: It's going to be very difficult for Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray to make a deal involving defensive prospect Justin Schultz. He's certainly out there trying to make it happen and there's lots of teams interested. Every NHL team will want this guy when he becomes an unrestricted free agent, which is likely to happen before July 1 but I can see the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers among others being extremely interested. But it's going to be tough for Murray to get anything for Schultz. It looks like he's going to unrestricted free agency.

Bad news for the Marlies?

If forward Matt Frattin is hurt it could be a big hit for the Toronto Marlies.

Related articles

• Frattin's goal against OKC

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• Marlies move on to the Calder Cup finals

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• Frattin Scores two as Marlies win

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• Oklahoma City Barons bury Toronto Marlies 5-1

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• Frattin scores twice as Marlies take series lead against Baron

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Matt Frattin vs Marcus Foligno

Former Fighting Sioux forward and current Toronto Maple Leafe Matt Frattin isn't know for his fighting skills, nor do I see him picking up the role as the Leafs goon. That was Frattin's first career fight in the NHL. 

Personally, I have to give him credit for standing up for a teammate, Foligno's hit on Bozek was questionable and border line dirty and I admire a players stepping up and answering the bell even if he doesn't fight.

In tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres, the leafs rookie Frattin had the Gordie Howe Hat Trick tonight by scoring a goal, and assist and a fight.

Frattin scored his eighth goal of the season tonight, here is the video to that goal [Click to view].

Frattin now has (8g-7a—15pts) in 54 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

As soon as the NHL regular season is over, the Leafs are not going to be in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Frattin will play in the AHL's  Calder Cup playoffs with the Toronto Marlies. 

Related articles

• Nelson signs with Islanders and Big Mac to return. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)