Ex-Canes Updates 2006

[nccanes]

Just realized that othe Ex-Canes Update thread was 30-something pages (and probably had a ton of dupe posts).

So I'll initiate a new one - with Cullen being the first entry

Rangers' Cullen in the midst of a whirlwind year
By SAM WEINMAN
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: September 21, 2006)



NEW YORK — Matt Cullen could be pardoned if he feels a bit frazzled these days. Few men have had a more frenetic couple of months.

On June 19, the 29-year-old forward was a member of the Carolina Hurricanes team that hoisted the organization's first Stanley Cup. Eleven days later, the Hurricanes decided they didn't want him. The day after that, the Rangers decided they did.

Then there was this past week. Just last Wednesday in Minnesota, Cullen and wife Bridget celebrated the birth of their first child, a boy named Brooks. The day after that, Cullen was on a plane to New York for training camp. Last night he scored his first goal in a Rangers uniform in a 2-0 win over the Devils at Madison Square Garden.

Stop us if you feel dizzy.

"It was really tough to say goodbye, but it was good that I got here and everything had started," Cullen, a native of Virginia, Minn., said of leaving his family. "Just because of that it hasn't been something I've been able to think about all day and then be disappointed that I'm not home."

Still, it has been a peculiar existence for Cullen the past week, trying to familiarize himself with his new surroundings while also keeping tabs on Brooks at home. His wife has sent him photos via e-mail. There have been phone messages in the middle of the night, when Bridget is awake feeding the baby, and Matt is fast asleep. Often he pines for home. Those are the times when he doesn't.

"She leaves me messages at four or five in the morning when she's up feeding. So it's not totally bad that I'm not there," he said with a laugh.

Besides, Cullen has important work here. A versatile forward who had a career-high 25 goals and 49 points last year, he was originally disappointed to sever ties with the Hurricanes after the high of last spring. But he also senses a new opportunity with the Rangers.

"That was the best part. When you go into free agency, a lot of times the expectations are the team that needs free agents are the teams that are at the bottom," said Cullen, who is joined on the Rangers by former Hurricanes teammate defenseman Aaron Ward. "But when the Rangers were involved, with the season they had last year, I was very excited."

Notes: Defenseman Michal Rozsival had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and will be out for two weeks. ... Kevin Weekes reaggravated his groin during practice and is out indefinitely. ... Petr Prucha had the second Rangers goal, and Henrik Lundqvist had 22 saves in the shutout.


Gonna guess that Erik Cole didn't help them pick the name, lol.

[corylav]

Thx NCC ...

Bates scored (assisted by O) last night, and Zigomanis scored for PHX.

[nccanes]

Weight set to test his shoulder
He'll take ice against Chicago on Wednesday
BY NORM SANDERS
News-Democrat
ST. LOUIS - Veteran St. Louis Blues center Doug Weight will make his first preseason appearance Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

A separated right shoulder kept Weight out of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals last season, but he still was a factor in helping the Carolina Hurricanes win the title. After a long offseason rehabilitation, Weight is ready to test the shoulder under game conditions.
"I've been feeling good," said Weight, who gradually has increased his contact levels during practice. "No one around here's been trying to hit me either, so I've got to get in there and play."

Weight, 35, rejoined the Blues in July, signing a two-year, $7 million deal. He had 15 goals and 42 assists with the Blues and Hurricanes last season, then added three goals and 16 points for Carolina in 23 playoff contests.

"He wants to get his timing down and things like that, which will be exciting for us," Blues coach Mike Kitchen said. "We'll watch his ice time of course early, let him get a feel for the game. But I think he has to get out there and get confidence, too, take a check and that kind of thing."

Weight will start this season on a line with two of the Blues new veteran wingers, Bill Guerin and Martin Rucinsky.

"I want to come into San Jose (for the Oct. 5 season opener) at least feeling a little better and playing a couple games," said Weight. "I play the game where I put myself in a position to get people the puck and take hits, I've got to be able to do that. I'm not going to jump out of the way."

Weight said he's still conscious of his injury, but feels strong and ready to contribute.

"You feel different when you move it, when you're out on the ice," he said. "When I shoot, it's just a different kind of feeling so I'm glad I've been skating for two weeks and battling, realizing that it's just a sensation."

Blues winger Keith Tkachuk, who left the Atlanta game Sunday night because of back spasms, was held out of practice Monday.

"It hurts," Tkachuk said. "I'll be fine."

Kitchen said the injury is mainly muscle tightness and thinks Tkachuk could be held out of the home game Wednesday against Chicago as a precaution.

Soderberg back to Sweden

One of the Blues top forward prospects is headed back to his native Sweden as center Carl Soderberg chose playing professionally for Malmo in the Swedish Elite League over the AHL's Peoria Rivermen.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound center was the Blues' second-round pick (49th overall) in 2004. He signed an entry-level contract this summer which included a clause that would allow him to return home.

"It's a big step for a 20-year-old to come in here and I guess he's not ready to make that step yet," Kitchen said. "It's a culture shock, coming over here to a different country and things like that. I think he feels much more comfortable to play in the Swedish Elite League than playing in Peoria right now."

The Blues met with Soderberg on Sunday night and again Monday before the decision was finalized.

"We knew during the offseason that it was going to be a question mark," Blues President John Davidson said. "He really feels that he'd like to play one more year in Sweden before he comes over here. We're all on the same page."

and a really long one on Cullen

http://www.newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=2288

And the other thing is that it's kind of cool to be part of an organization like this because I've been in Anaheim, Florida and Carolina, which aren't necessarily big hockey areas. So it's great to be in a place like New York, where hockey is so big."


"Everything around the Rangers is first class, and everybody in the league knows that," he said. "They treat us awesome here."

[SoCalcaniac]

Clearly Cullen has moved on.... :( and I say that having hear him speak on MSG- who is all Rangers all the time. They have had not one but two different specials including their 'Rangers 2006-07 preview show' which I watched last night- he said lots of nice complimentary things about Coach, about Raleigh, and so on, but if you listen to him talk about "The Rangers" and "the energy of the City" etc, etc. you get the feel he's loving NYC.

On a funny laugh out loud made me crack up note, during this broadcast of the Blueshirts 2006-07 Preview show, they talked to all the new acquisitions- Ward & Cullen got major airtime, Shanahan not so much- it was funny cause it was like an ex-Hurricanes bonanza they interviewed Ward, Cullen, then Weekes, then Malik and it was like ok enough. SO the funny, was when they asked each guy (Ward and Cullen) to talk about the other as a player and a person and what they'll bring to the Rangers- Cullen said something like Aaron's a talker, he uses lots of big words and he talks about the U of Michigan alot- lol- then it's Ward's take on Cullen, he says stuff like Matt's real low key, kinda below the radar, but as a player he's fast, slick, great stickhandler an equipment fanatic (LMAO) and as far as his personality, he's a real fun guy, then says "He's got that funny Phoebe Buffay of "Friends" thing going on- he'll say stuff and you kinda shake your head" OMG, I was cracking up- cause is he implying Cullen's got a little blonde in him??? :lol:

Cullen's doing real well, I've watched all the Rangers preseason games, and he's basically picked up where he left off. Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti are basically in love with him, just oohing and ahhing over him. He's all over the ice and looking very confident. I wonder if they'll keep him playing with Prucha-they seem to have lots of chemistry already.

Thanks for posting E!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Hockey may be big there, but you'll never win a Cup there, you jerk. :p ;)

And I always knew he was an airhead. :laugh:

[AbNormal27]

Burke done as a Bolt?

Sean Burke will find out today whether or not he will be staying in the Tampa Bay organization.

The Tampa Bay Lightning placed the veteran goalie on waivers Monday and must wait until noon today to see if another team claims him. If no team picks him up, Burke will be assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League and expected to report by Wednesday.

"I'll go to Springfield … and get some good practice in and see what happens around the league," Burke told the Tampa Tribune.. "This game is always fun to me at every level. I’ll go get on the ice and look at it as an opportunity to work with the younger guys. It’s something that I’ve never had the chance to do, and it will be a new experience for me."

Aaryn

[WillLikeWhoa091]

I'm sad about Cullen.

I miss him.

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

Just remember Cullen, MSG will be empty if the Yankees are home that night for a playoff game. Rangers will always take a back seat to the Yankees in NYC.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[nccanes]

Marty Murray put on waivers

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17256655&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18170&rfi=6

(and looks like Mark Cullen is gonna stick with the Flyers for now)

[nccanes]

I'll be honest - I've barely kept up with preseason at all and was surprised to see this, but then again it's TO and probably an over reaction.


O'Neill on outside looking in at lineup

TIM WHARNSBY

Globe and Mail Update

Whether Jeff O'Neill is in the starting lineup when the Toronto Maple Leafs raise the curtain on the 89th National Hockey League regular season next week will be determined by his play this weekend.

Although O'Neill has exhibited flashes in training camp of the sniper who enjoyed seasons of 25, 41, 31 and 30 goals between 1999-2000 and 2002-03 with the Carolina Hurricanes, the veteran forward has not proven that the funk he was mired in last season is behind him.

“I'm not in the evaluating part of it,” O'Neill said Thursday. “The exhibition games that I've played in I've felt pretty good. But I don't know what [the coaches] think. It's just preseason. We'll see what happens over the next few days.”

O'Neill, 30, is one of the few veterans to have played in five of the Leafs' first six exhibition games.

Head coach Paul Maurice said O'Neill's heavy training-camp workload is the result of the coach wanting O'Neill to shake off the rust from his inactivity in the 2004-05 lockout season and his lack of ice time under former coach Pat Quinn last year.

O'Neill averaged only 12 minutes 38 seconds a game in 2005-06 as he tried to overcome a nagging shoulder injury and the death of his brother, Don, who died in a car accident a few weeks before the season.

But there wasn't much work for O'Neill in the Leafs' 5-3 exhibition loss to the visiting Ottawa Senators at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday. After taking a regular shift in the first half of the game, O'Neill played only two more shifts after he took a hooking penalty at 13:22 of the second period.

Maurice said he kept O'Neill on the bench because the forward was “dinged” by an opposing player. But the coach also wasn't pleased with O'Neill's lack of discipline.

“I liked parts of his game in Halifax [last Sunday against Ottawa] and one of the games against Montreal,” Maurice said. “I will continue to look for those flashes.”

Even a glance at how the lines are shaping up doesn't reflect well on O'Neill. Although the forward units are not set in stone, it appears captain Mats Sundin will play with Alexei Ponikarovsky and either Kyle Wellwood or Darcy Tucker on the first line.

Either Wellwood or Tucker will likely play alongside Matt Stajan and Alex Steen on the second unit, and Michael Peca will centre the third line between wingers Chad Kilger and Nik Antropov.

The fourth line appears to consist of centre John Pohl, Alexander Suglobov and Bates Battaglia.

Robust forward Ben Ondrus will be in the mix when he returns from his undisclosed injury, leaving O'Neill and Wade Belak on the outside looking in at this point.

“The coaches figure out the lines,” O'Neill said. “If you're not where you want to be, you work hard to get there.”

Maurice said no decision has been made whether Jean-Sébastien Aubin or Mikael Tellqvist has won the backup goaltending role. No. 1 netminder Andrew Raycroft will start Saturday at the Joe Louis Arena against the host Detroit Red Wings and could play in the rematch on Sunday at the Air Canada Centre if he feels up to it.

“They have played well enough,” Maurice said. “I would like to see [Tellqvist and Aubin] each play 20 games this season. But that's not the reality. It will be a tough call.”

Injured Toronto defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo, who suffered from dizziness in the first workout of training camp on Sept. 14, returned to the ice Thursday for a 30-minute skate under the guidance of assistant coach Randy Ladouceur.

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

That 2nd line of the Leafs is gonna be sick. I think they are gonna be good this year.

[nccanes]

LMAO - CMac's claim to fame will NEVER be forgotten!

http://torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2006/09/29/1917991-sun.html

Back when both were with the Carolina Hurricanes, Maurice skated O'Neill and six other players so hard young Craig MacDonald finally collapsed to the ice.


"It's a (expletive) joke is all it was," O'Neill said at the time.


And ewwwww - they call him O-dog. :sick:

Has O'Neill, called "O-Dog" by his teammates, found his way back into Maurice's doghouse?

[SoCalcaniac]

OMG- "O-Dog"???

Yeah E- you know my morbid fascination with the TO media, I've been all over this 'chatter' I even spent a couple days this week listening to Leaf's Lunch (I know, stop laughing) to listen to all the chatter about how O is working his way to the Marlies, he came to camp out of shape, Suglubov is gonna win a roster spot, he skated with Sundin to start the game on the first line then he was on the 4th line by the end of the game, blah, blah. (nope, haven't followed it at all :lol: )

It even made Eklund's blog yesterday- http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=2992and your old buddy Howard Berger talked about it on Fan590 too....

This is what they all dream of, playing for the Blue & White & ALL the scrutiny that comes with it- eh? ;)

[nccanes]

Oh no - I'm getting sucked in the TML soap opera - I blame you and that link SoCal! :lol:

I'm not sure - this might require it's own "Annual Leafs Thread" before long. I chuckled at this comment in that thread about Ek's post.

I heard the same thing this morning on the fan590. Berger was calling in from the Leafs training facility in Etobicoke, and said on the ice O'Neil looked disinterested on the ice.

My pal Berger hasn't watched enough of O's practices - even at the peak of his career - if he thinks that means anything, lol.

[SoCalcaniac]

Woa..... alot can happen overnight eh?

O'Neill on the bubble
'I haven't made the lineup yet,' says Leafs coach Toronto still has 30 players vying for 23 roster spots

Sep. 29, 2006. 01:00 AM
KEVIN MCGRAN
SPORTS REPORTER


Jeff O'Neill's future with the Maple Leafs is suddenly uncertain thanks to the winger's indifferent play, a coach who says his spot is not guaranteed and his agent-father who basically dared the team to put his son on waivers.
Head coach Paul Maurice flatly answered, "No" when asked yesterday at practice if Jeff O'Neill's spot was secure.
"I really don't want to talk about it right now," said O'Neill when told about Maurice's statement.
"If his spot's not guaranteed, it's not guaranteed; I don't think anybody's is," said Paul O'Neill, Jeff's father and agent. "Put him on waivers and send him to the minors. It's up to him whether he reports or not." :beatup:
Pressed further after Leaf practice, Maurice was asked whether O'Neill's $1.5 million (U.S.) guaranteed contract would factor into his decision, Maurice again said no.
"It's true of most players. Not all," said Maurice. "There's a big chunk of guys that are here no matter what, but they may not be in the lineup."
Maurice said yesterday that O'Neill, recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, is not in his doghouse, despite playing less than seven minutes against Ottawa on Wednesday night. O'Neill started on the first line, but fell back to the fourth by the end of the game, a troubling development because Maurice was rolling three lines.
Maurice insisted he wanted to see other players more, and was worried about a check O'Neill took midway through the first period.
But it's no secret Maurice wasn't happy with O'Neill's shape over the summer, encouraging him to take off-season training seriously. Maurice said he's seen only glimmers of O'Neill's potential despite dressing the 30-year-old five times so far in the exhibition season, an unusually high number of games for a veteran.
"I don't think he's played a lot of hockey going back a few years, lockout, injuries, his ice time last year," said Maurice. "He needs to get that game rhythm. He's a shooter. You got to get in games.
"There were parts of his game in Halifax I really liked," said Maurice. "His game in Montreal, I thought there it is, that's the flash I'm looking for.
"So we'll just keep looking for it."
O'Neill, who spoke to the media before Maurice made his comments, said he was focused on getting ready for the season.
"In the exhibition games I think I played pretty good," said O'Neill. "What they think? Whatever. I'm trying to get my legs underneath me, make sure my shoulder's good, and get ready for my season."
O'Neill scored 19 goals last season, his first in Toronto, a year in which he dealt with the death of his brother. But he had his best seasons under Maurice when the two were together in Hartford and Carolina.
"I have seen enough to know that there's talent there," said Maurice. "I've got a lot of time for him. Where a player starts in the start of the year, doesn't mean that's where he'll be in two months. I haven't made the lineup yet."
The message to O'Neill is a strong one delivered at a key point, with 30 players in camp vying for 23 spots.
Winger Alexander Suglobov is leading the team in scoring and centre John Pohl is proving to be a versatile playmaker. Winger Bates Battaglia has rediscovered his grit. Those players are pushing for the spots now occupied by veterans like O'Neill, the slow-footed Nik Antropov, and veteran Wade Belak.
"You're at the point where you could make a case for all the different athletes. They bring different skills," said Maurice. "We will go with what we think fits, not only the position he's trying out for but how it effects the rest. Can he jump up on the top three lines? Is he is a more physical player?"
Injuries have helped sort out some decisions, with none of Carlo Colaiacovo (headaches), Brendan Bell (ankle), Staffan Kronwall (shin) or Ben Ondrus (lower body bruises) expected to be ready for opening night. When they come back, they'll need time with the AHL Marlies to find their games.
That leaves Andy Wozniewski, Ian White, Jay Harrison, Marc Moro and Brad Brown fighting for three defence spots.
The Leafs must also decide whether to carry two or three goalies, meaning an awkward situation between Jean-Sebastien Aubin and Mikael Tellqvist behind Andrew Raycroft.

[caneshockeychick]

You know, O could be brilliant at times but I always thought that was a result of playing with Francis. Other than that, most of the time, he always looked lazy to me on the ice. I was never a fan of his but I always thought that he could be good. Its up to him to do that and I never felt that he had that desire, that work ethic, that heart to succeed.

[nccanes]

That article is the prototypical TML coverage. Take the first part out -- about where they pushed Maurice to say if O's place was safe: "yes or no" kinda deal. The rest of the article appears to be completely fair toward O - he's not yet earned his spot, but he sat him because of a hit, blah, blah, blah. What was Maurice SUPPOSED to say when asked if his spot was safe? It would be absurd for him to "protect" O or any player that has admittedly considered retirement several times, that has admittedly had a tough road in the last few years, and has admittedly got to earn his ice time.

Another quote from Mo:

"Getting into the doghouse is quite easy and so is getting out. It's nothing personal with me. I'm more than happy to talk to anyone. If you had a bad night last night, then come out and have a great practice today, you're out of the kennel.

The poor TML/TO grind.

Good points chc - if RF was O's crutch, both on the ice and in his head, he's got a long road ahead of him. I wish him the best.

[SoCalcaniac]

Here's the latest saga of O & the Leafs- (he didn't dress last night in the game vs DET-neither did Bates so....) But once again, early Leafs drama- Maybe E's right and we'll have to start a Leafs thread. :lol:



Leafs won't assign O'Neill to Marlies

Struggling Leafs winger Jeff O'Neill will not be assigned to the Marlies — for the time being — coach Paul Maurice said last night.
"I don't think so, not right now," Maurice said after the Leafs' 3-2 shootout loss to Detroit.
Maurice said O'Neill will be spared the indignity of a minor league demotion — one that would have included clearance through waivers — in favour of a rehab process with the Leafs.
What that means officially for O'Neill is unclear. Maurice said the veteran winger has been hampered in his recovery from two shoulder surgeries, a setback that has in turn left his fitness and conditioning at a sub-par level.
The Leafs and the NHL's 29 other clubs face a noon-hour deadline today for placing players on waivers.
Season-opening rosters must be set prior to a 24-hour period before a team's first regular season game, which means sometime tomorrow night for the Leafs.
The Leafs could fit O'Neill within the 23-man maximum player limit for the purposes of keeping him with the NHL club and monitoring his recovery-conditioning.
Another scenario could see O'Neill placed on injured reserve, which would give the club a two-week window to get him back into playing shape.
"I think it's one and the same," Maurice said when asked if O'Neill is either injured, or out of shape.
"He's never gotten entirely back.
"His numbers are sufficient, but it's the timing, the hands ... he's not the Jeff O'Neill we know. I hope we can get him to be the player he is sooner than later."
O'Neill will ultimately be placed on waivers and assigned to the Marlies if he cannot recover and find his former form. But O'Neill's agent-father Paul indicated he would reject a minor league assignment and refuse to report to the Marlies.
Maurice and GM John Ferguson are not expected to waive any players today.
Five players — goalies Mikael Tellqvist and Jean-Sebastien Aubin, defenceman Jay Harrison and Brad Brown, and forward Bates Battaglia — joined O'Neill last night on the sidelines, raising speculation the club would either place them on waivers or assign them to the Marlies.
However, Harrison, Brown, and Battaglia, are all on two-way contracts. They could be returned to the Marlies, but would have to clear waivers if recalled to the NHL.
The Leafs would be forced to pay half their salaries if another team claimed them off waivers.
The club still has three goalies in camp — No.1 Andrew Raycroft, and backups Jean-Sebastien Aubin and Mikael Tellqvist — and has given no indication it won't start the season with all three on the roster.
Toronto is also expected to place Carlo Colaiacovo, Staffan Kronwall, Brendan Bell and Ben Ondrus on injured reserve to start the season.

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

Doesn't sound good for O. Toronto had a decent preseason basically without him. And with O's father-agent [what is it with player's fathers?] saying he will not accept a reassignment to the Marlies, this doesn't sound good at all.

[Captain Slack]

More on the O saga:

THE LATEST ON JEFF O'NEILL.

TORONTO SUN: Mike Zeisberger reports Jeff O'Neill's recent benchings during pre-season didn't sit well with the winger's family as his father urged the club to put his son on waivers if they weren't happy with his performance.

Spector's Note: There appears to be a suggestion from the O'Neill camp that Paul Maurice, who once clashed with the winger during their days with the Carolina Hurricanes, might be picking on him once again. However, Maurice wasn't to blame for O'Neill's struggles last season. For all O'Neill's recent bluster about "BS" from the media, he's done nothing thus far to silence his critics, and if he doesn't put up soon, his father might get his wish. Don't, however, expect many takers for an underachieving winger starting the season with a $1.5 million salary.

[nccanes]

It's always interesting to read the media's various "takes" on a single event.

The XM guys were saying the Mo came out and said he was a big fan of O's and that he was looking forward to him getting up to speed fitness wise and how they'd get him back in the lineup. Their take was wholly positive.

But O's Dad/agent needs to just keep his trap shut, imo.

[nccanes]

Well - this article is all over the place. Sounds like O has a major chip on his shoulder (pun not intended, lol)

O'Neill goes from press box to lineup
Injury forces Leafs' hand: 'I just want to go out there and prove that I belong'
Published: Wednesday, October 04, 2006
TORONTO - Jeff O'Neill is out of the doghouse and back in the Maple Leafs lineup.

But the struggling veteran had nothing to do with the decision.

Instead, head coach Paul Maurice said O'Neill will play in today's regular season opener against the Ottawa Senators, because Nik Antropov is injured and the team "needed a winger."

O'Neill, meanwhile, said he deserves to play on a nightly basis. And if the coaching staff think otherwise, the 30-year-old seems intent on demanding a trade out of the city.

"I'm just going to go out there and just try to prove people wrong," said O'Neill, who was scratched for the final two games of the exhibition schedule, then led to believe he would be cut from the opening-day roster.

"I just want to go out there and work hard and prove that I belong. And if they don't think I do, then things will change."

O'Neill is in the final year of a contract that pays him US$1.5-million this season.

After O'Neill arrived at training camp out of shape, Maurice said he did not have a guaranteed spot on the roster, adding that the Leafs would not hesitate in dropping him from the lineup or sending him down to the minors.

Injuries to six Toronto players and a one-game suspension to defenceman Pavel Kubina have since forced the head coach's hand.

"He's certainly capable of playing now," Maurice said of O'Neill.

"I wasn't thinking we would hold him out because he was that far off. This guy can go out and you won't notice a difference."

O'Neill is expected to play on a forward line tonight with centre Matt Stajan and winger Darcy Tucker. But the head coach hinted that his spot in the lineup is not long-term.

Maurice still believes O'Neill needs to get himself in shape if he is going to become the player who once scored 41 goals in Carolina.

"I kept him out of the lineup on the weekend so he could work on [his conditioning]," Maurice said of O'Neill, who underwent two shoulder surgeries in May.

O'Neill spent the summer training with the team's strength and conditioning coach and was one of the first players to begin skating at the Leafs practice rink.

Still, Maurice said there is "another level" to O'Neill that Toronto fans have not seen.

"He has worked very, very hard," said Maurice, who praised O'Neill's work ethic and attitude.

"He's done everything we've asked him to do going back to July. He's never missed a workout. You can always squeeze a guy for more -- squeeze harder, squeeze harder -- but I have no problem with that."

O'Neill, who is trying to bounce back from a disappointing 2005-06 season where he scored only 19 goals and was a team-worst minus-19, said he was shocked by his coach's assessment.

"Early on in camp, I thought things were moving in a positive direction," said O'Neill. "I felt good about my game and all of a sudden they weren't.

"Like I said, if it's not sufficient for what they want here, then we'll see what happens."

If O'Neill ends up leaving Toronto because of Maurice, it would not necessarily be a surprise.

The pair have a rocky relationship that stretches back to when Maurice coached O'Neill for nine seasons in Hartford and Carolina.

But O'Neill said it is his family who has the real problem with Maurice.

"Whatever he says, I'll respond to it and do whatever I can to prove myself," he said. "I hope my cousins don't run into him somewhere, because they'll have something to say to him."

[wheels76]

from the toronto star:

"He dressed Jeff O'Neill — whatever the reasoning behind said decision, the optics at least suggest a climb-down by the coach and so much for the fitness fiat."

about Jeff's family thinking Maurice must be picking on him:
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2006/10/04/1949670-sun.html

talked to my buddy in TO this morning......consensus is #92 ha essentially 9 more games to make a HUGE impression which won't happen playing on the 4th line and DTucker double shifting thus giving him 8-9 min of ice time.
we'll see what ol' pops has to say about JFergJr. when he waives O' in the near future.

[Esbee]

I didn't realized Bates had been brought up. I got the impression that he had really stepped it up when he made the Marlies last year - looks like he's continuing to do so. Given the two of them were "kids" while down here, it seems that Bates has done a fair job of maturing and understanding what he needs to do, and he's clearly taking advantage of a great opportunity. Sad, because O has some very natural talent - if he had some kind of serious physical work ethic to go with it, he'd be impressive again. The cousin and family quotes are just stupid.

[AbNormal27]

Senators recall Malec from Binghamton

The Ottawa Senators recalled defenceman Tomas Malec from the Binghamton Senators on an emergency basis for tonight's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He replaces Tom Preissing, who suffered a lower body injury during the Senators season opener against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Wednesday.

Malec, 24, cleared waivers on Tuesday and was assigned to Binghamton where he had six penalty minutes in four pre-season games.

The 6'2'' Slovak is in his fourth NHL season and second with the Senators. He had two penalty minutes in two games last season with the Senators and has a total of two assists and 47 penalty minutes in 45 career NHL games. Malec recorded a goal, 28 assists and 118 penalty minutes with Binghamton in 2005-06.

Aaryn

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Back to O'Neill, I actually heard an interview with Mo about O (lol) one day last week. He wasn't saying O needed to get back from a "fitness" standpoint. He said he was in great shape fitness-wise, but he'd never been allowed to/able to fully rehab from his 2 shoulder surgeries and he needed to get his hands back. :huh:

[apolinar]

Is O still smoking?

[Captain Slack]

More from Spector:

THE LATEST ON JEFF O'NEILL.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch yesterday reported it wouldn't be surprising if the Toronto Maple Leafs traded winger Jeff O'Neill before this season is out. Garrioch suggests Leafs management may not be happy with O'Neill's whining over how he's being used by head coach Paul Maurice and club officials weren't happy with O'Neill's conditioning heading into camp.

Spector's Note: Some might try to blame Maurice for not monitoring O'Neill's off-season conditioning but in the end it's up to the player to stay in shape. O'Neill's underwhelming play in the Leafs first two games isn't going to help his situation.

[Captain Slack]

WEEKES TO BECOME TRADE BAIT?

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks recently reported the strong training camp of young goalie Al Montoya could result in the Rangers potentially shopping backup Kevin Weekes to a club seeking a starting goalie later in the season if the opportunity arises.

Spector's Note: Weekes might be a more affordable option for some clubs that other goalies who may be available (Giguere, Nabokov, Biron) but at this point in his career I don't think there are many GMs who see Weekes as a starting goalie.

I doubt Shady 80 will be a Ranger by the end of the season.

[Bonbonsgrrl]

I doubt Shady 80 will be a Ranger by the end of the season.

Just as long as he's not a hurricane...i'll be happy

[Zamboni]

Regarding the O and Mo combo, why do they insist on having an indirect conversation with each other through the media? It all seems very Jr. High to me.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I actually don't think they do insist on that. I think the media insists on making it seem that way, lol.

[nccanes]

And I think the neither of them is probably any good at doing it -- or avoiding it. But it's probably impossible really.

[nccanes]

Vrbata gets promoted to the top line

Vrbata promoted to top line

October 11, 2006
BY LEN ZIEHM Staff Reporter
Offense wasn't the Blackhawks' problem in their first two games. They scored 12 goals in their 1-1 start. The problem is, they gave up 11.
Still, coach Trent Yawney did some significant line juggling at practice Tuesday in preparation for a home game Thursday against the Nashville Predators. Mikael Holmqvist was dropped from the first line to the fourth as Radim Vrbata took his winger spot. Speedy Tony Salmelainen also was promoted, moving from the fourth line to the third alongside Bryan Smolinski and Denis Arkhipov.

The Holmqvist-Michal Handzus-Martin Havlat line was effective in the first two games, piling up 12 points -- six of them by Havlat, who was tied for the NHL scoring lead through the first week of the season.

But while breaking up a line that has been scoring may seem questionable, the elevation of Vrbata makes sense. Not only is he one of the Hawks' most skilled players, he also has a long history of playing with Havlat. Born two months apart, they were teammates on the Czech Republic's under-16 team when they were 14.

''And we played against each other in our leagues, too,'' Vrbata said. ''Every team had at least one good player, and when we played against his team, he was their guy.''

Now Havlat, acquired in an offseason trade with the Ottawa Senators, is the Hawks' top weapon, and the line switch figures to work to his advantage.

''I played them together a couple games in training camp, and it worked out,'' Yawney said. ''They have a good feel for each other. I just like the chemistry between the three of them.

''They were together in our last preseason game at Minnesota, and they had a lot of poise. They really settled things down when things were going haywire.''

Vrbata isn't in awe of playing on the top line.

''When I was in Colorado [2001-03], I played with some great players, too -- Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg,'' he said. ''I was 20 when I played with Joe and Peter, so it's not like 'Wow, what do I do now?'''

Vrbata came to the Hawks from the Carolina Hurricanes midway through last season in one of general manager Dale Tallon's first trades. The Hawks gave up only future considerations for Vrbata, who had been seeing little ice time for the eventual Stanley Cup champions, and the deal now looks like a steal.

Vrbata had 34 points in 45 games for the Hawks last season and has a goal and an assist in the first two games of this season. Playing with Havlat and Handzus should boost his production.

''We all have the skills to play with each other,'' Vrbata said. ''We complement each other. In the preseason, it was working. Hopefully it'll work in the next game.''

Putting Salmelainen with Smolinski and Arkhipov is more of an experiment. After leading the Finnish Elite League in scoring last season, Salmelainen had a slow start in his first training camp with the Hawks.

But Yawney is hopeful his speed will become more of a factor when he's paired with Smolinski and Arkhipov and gets more ice time.

''He's got to start establishing himself in the league,'' Yawney said of Salmelainen, who had a 13-game stint with the Edmonton Oilers in 2003-04. ''He isn't a player who's over here for the first time. The way the game is played today, it should be tailor-made for the skills he possesses. We need more production out of him, and Smoke [Smolinski] should be a good complement.''

[puck_it]

thats good for Vrbata. though, unfortunately i dont know what that says about chicago... oh wait they have Khabibulin... yeeeeeaaaah

[CANESFREAKinDET]

Good for Vrbata! I've always liked him, even when he was an Av and the rest of Detroit hated him. :laugh: