Being Brian Burke - The 2009-10 Maple Leafs
Pension Plan Puppets — ... or Dale Mitchell, or one of the other young kids we have. But the point is that I expect one of these kids to make the team out of camp. Fitting with Burke's top six/bottom six mentality, Stahlberg and NSFW need to get opportunities to play top-six minutes, or else they should be in the AHL getting that experience. I'm betting on them finding chemsitry with Blake as a line that uses its speed to create matchup problems. Jamal Mayers, 1.333M, expires 2010 Matt Stajan, 1.75M, expires 2010 Mike Grier, 2.0M, expires 2012 ...

A Look Back At Vancouver's Draft History
Nucks Misconduct — ... in the way. Burke grew tired of him too, trading him to the Rangers in 2005 for Jozef Balej. Fedorov would surface this past season in New Jersey. Guess what happened?   2002 NHL Draft Hits: Absolutely nothing. Misses: With no picks in the first round, Vancouver took Kirill Koltsov at 49th in the second round. He's had great success in Russia, but never suited up for the Canucks. He was selected before Duncan Keith, Matt Stajan and Jiri Hudler amongst others. Other frowny ...

2009 Free Agency: Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Rickard Wallin
Pension Plan Puppets — ... might play like he is seven feet tall in that he never backs down but he's not even six and Matt Stajan is sock-kicking soft. Wallin also has a history of offensive production. I tried to use ...

CLS NHL Re-draft - Seventh Round Update
Raw Charge — ... $3,900,000 5 123 Brent Burns Minnesota D $3,550,000 6 178 Matt Stajan Toronto C $1,750,000 ...

I Make Goal Scores for Leafs
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Finally, Mikhail have good chance at success because of visor on helmet. Mikhail take eye protection much seriously unlike other jerk center Matt Stajan who not wear visor while playing soccer before games. Mikhail wears visor even when sleeping at night which saved the eyes one time when remote control was left in bed and someone change channel causing invisible lasers to come out of remote. Very smart move. ...

Kessel: Point, sort of Counterpoint
Pension Plan Puppets — ... right there) and a 3rd rounder (I have no idea what a 3rd round pick is worth, Matt Stajan with a full head of hair and faster reaction time to stray soccer balls?). ...

Toronto Maple Leafs Announce 2009 Training Camp Roster
Pension Plan Puppets — ...   Stefano Giliati Viktor Stalberg       Mikhail Grabovski Matt Stajan       ...

Maple Leafs v. The Future
Pension Plan Puppets — ... last night will get a chance to continue their shutout streak against the other half of Pennsylvannia's hockey duo. Jason Allison is back in the lineup and Matt Stajan is making his first appearance of the exhibition season as the roster is mostly turned over. Crosby won't be in the line up but the ...

Gameday: A real lineup travels to Toronto
Broad Street Hockey — ... Giroux, Scott Hartnell, Danny Briere, David Laliberte, Dan Carcillo, Darroll Powe, Ian Laperriere, Riley Cote, Blair Betts, Mark Bell Defensemen- Matt Carle, Chris Pronger, Danny Syvret, Braydon Coburn, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Randy Jones Goalies - Ray Emery, Brian Boucher Forwards: Niklas Hagman - Matt Stajan - Jason Blake Alexei Ponikarovsky - Jason ...

Phil Kessel Is Not Walking Through That Door
Pension Plan Puppets — ... this year they've got two wins and a tight loss. It's not scientific but it should give a little bit of confidence to the fans. If things bog down, I asked Blurr to add overflow and post game threads but I don't know if he can make it and I'm at the game. Therefore, I empower Jared to put up fanshots to continue the conversation. In his absence, just make sure it's only one person doing it :) GO LEAFS GO! Forwards: Niklas Hagman - Matt Stajan - Jason Blake Alexei Ponikarovsky - Jason ...

Philadelphia Flyers @ Toronto Maple Leafs - Post Game Instant Reaction
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Even Jason Allison had a truculent moment, breaking the helmet of a Flyer. It seemed to be a closer to NHL ready roster on the Flyers (Daniel Briere, Mike Richards, Scott Hartnell, Chris Pronger, Braydon Coburn, Ray Emery and more big names all dressed for the Flyers) while the Leafs were still a bit of a mish-mash on the forward lines.The Leafs blue line however looked to be what we should get used to for the upcoming season. Matt Stajan had a great game, giving the #14 faithful more fuel for their ...

Leafs at Sabres: No Pogge - We Have a Chance!
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Pogge won't be in net which changes the over under on Leafs goals against from 5.5 to 2.5. Lineups are after the jump. Commenting has been going great in the game threads, pretty good discussion until a fight or a goal when things go crazy but I don't see that ever changing. Keep up the good work, and maybe invite a fellow Leafs fan who hasn't checked out the game thread tonight. Toronto's lineup: FORWARDS Niklas Hagman - Matt Stajan - Jason Blake Alexei Ponikarovsky - Mikhail ...

Buffalo Sabres vs. Toronto Maple Leafs [Open Thread]
Die By The Blade — ... Paul Gaustad, Jason Pominville, Matt Ellis, Clarke MacArthur, Philip Gogulla, Jochen Hecht, Tim Kennedy. The Leafs lineup comes via Sabres Edge as well... The Leafs' roster: Vesa Toskala and Joey MacDonald are scheduled to be in goal. The defense corps will include Luke Schenn, Garnet Exelby and Ian White and the forwards will include Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Jason Blake, John ...

2009-10 NHL Season Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs
From The Rink — ... on the blueline, and if either Vesa Toskala can have a rebound campaign or Gustavsson can surprise in his first season, that'll make a world of difference in their record this season. Komisarek and Beauchemin, meanwhile, should also help improve what was a league worst penalty kill in 2008-09, something thats sure to be a target for coach Ron Wilson and Co. in the early going. As for where the offence will come from, expect the likes of Mikhail Grabovski, Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman to play plenty of minutes until ...

The Trouble with Scoring?
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Wayne Primeau   0 4 4 Jay Rosehill   0 0 0 Matt Stajan   14 40 54 ...

Canes Country Clash: Northeast Division Predictions, 2009-10
Canes Country — ... team might be a bit better than they were last year.  They should make it to the postseason, but they can not match up with the Bruins. My surprise pick for third is Toronto, and I'll even predict that they will be fighting for a playoff spot right up until the end.  Luke Schenn is just going to get better and better.  They over-paid for Mike Komisarik, but he's a good addition, and the rest of their defense looks serviceable.  Lee Stempniak, Matt Stajan, and Mikhail Grabovski are under-rated forwards.  ...

Leaf of the Day - Oct 2-4 2009 - Matt Stajan
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Matt Stajan played a very good game as well and potted a couple of power play goals.  I don't know whether he's had a multi-goal NHL game before (if he has, he hasn't had many) and is now on pace for a 164-goal season, tied with Alexander Ovechkin (don't you love small sample sizes?  Tom Fergus was once on pace for 240 points after three games (5-4-9)). ...

Leafs @ Capitals: So Fetch!
Pension Plan Puppets — ... I want Matt Stajan to glide in on a unicorn and score a hat trick and to possibly deliver puppies to sick children. I want ...

Maple Leafs 1 v. senators 2: Why Have A Rule Book?
Pension Plan Puppets — ... We stunk. We had no offence at all. I mean, that was almost embarrassing from seven or eight guys who we are counting heavily on. They only showed up when it was too late (a third-period Matt Stajan power-play goal). Playing on the perimeter, not wanting the puck, not willing to take a hit to make a play. Jittery when we do have the puck. We need a much better effort. To use one of Pat Quinn's best lines, you couldn't find half our forwards with a (World War II) Norden bomb sight. We'll find most of them tomorrow (at today's gruelling morning "bag ...

Maple Leafs Wins: Easy as One, Two, Three?
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Matt Stajan continues to carry the Leafs / drive his contract price up / increase his trade value (pick your favorite) while the rest of the team pretty much does the opposite.  For a guy once considered captain material, he sure ain't inspiring the troops much, is he? ...

Is it November Yet...?
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Vintage Leafs has more great shots. Leafs247 has the latest on the former goalie of the Leafs future. Rob gives you one more reason to hate Gary Bettman, all the way from SoCal. MLHS is shocked, SHOCKED, that Leaf fans are a little freaked out after an oh-fer start to the season. TO Sports let's us in on a little secret: Matt Stajan is getting good.  OOOPS!  Cat's out of the bag ...

CLS NHL Re-Draft: The Results
Raw Charge — ... I suggested a free-for-all format, which was accepted, and so I hurried up and got mine all done. I'm hoping I didn't pick a player that someone else already has. I don't think so, but we'll see if anyone says anything. I'll probably post something more on this, but here's my team: Total cap hit is $53.709m (out of the $57m allowed). Forwards: Ryan Malone | Mike Cammalleri | Milan Hejduk Dustin Penner | Matt Stajan | Guillaume Latendresse Kyle Calder | ...

How Do The Maple Leafs Allocate The Salary Cap?
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Top Six Forwards: Phil Kessel, Jason Blake, Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Mikhail Grabovski ...

You Can't Win 'Em All, Sometimes You Can't Win Any
Pension Plan Puppets — ... going well. The locker room is stressed out and players are gripping their sticks tight trying to force something to happen. The good news is that after tonight the Leafs only play 1 game in eleven nights (!) which should give them some time to stop the bleeding. In tonight: Viktor Stalberg, Tyler Bozak (1st NHL game), James Reimer, Garnet Exelby Out tonight: Vesa Toskala (terrible), Niklas Hagman (healthy scratch), Matt Stajan (healthy scratch), and a defenseman to be named later ...

Leafs roster gets a mini-makeover
From The Rink — ... I'm on Leafs duty today so things will be quiet here. Follow me at Globe Sports and on Twitter for updates on all things Toronto heading into tonight's game. In short, Vesa Toskala's out (for who knows how long), Joey MacDonald is starting against Colorado, Tyler Bozak and James Reimer were recalled and Viktor Stalberg is back from a mild concussion. Oh, and Niklas Hagman and Matt Stajan are benched. Things are pretty ugly already here... and they'll get a whole lot more so if they ...

Truculence, Shmuculence
Pension Plan Puppets — ... -      Toronto is on the PP because Moen took an additional minor for goaltender interference and Matt Stajan scores at 9:09. ...

No Fun
Pension Plan Puppets — From left to right: Vesa Toskala, Jason Blake, Matt Stajan and Jamal Mayers (via jareandbecc.files.wordpress.com) Down Goes Brown has his thoughts on the 90s nights. Straight Outta SoCal is looking for a captain. Leafs247 reviews the upcoming road trip ...

Who Sits, and Who Skates?
Pension Plan Puppets — ... 38 D 7/16/1985 195 6-3 Luke Schenn 2 D 11/2/1989 216 6-2 Matt Stajan 14 C 12/19/1983 200 6-1 ...

Leafs at Sabres
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Offense: Jiri Tlusty - Matt Stajan - Lee Stempniak Jason Blake - John Mitchell - Nikolai Kulemin Niklas Hagman - Mikhail Grabovski - Alexei Ponikarovsky Colton Orr - Rickard Wallin - Wayne Primeau   Defense: Francois Beauchemin - Ian White Tomas Kaberle - Michael Komisarek Garnet Exelby - Luke Schenn ...

Connolly and Miller Lead Sabres to Ugly Win
Die By The Blade — ... The third period was all Leafs but Ryan Miller was the best player on the ice.  He played a game of anything you can do, I can do better with the Leafs players and they were left shaking their head.  The Sabres seemed well on their way to victory when Matt Stajan took a dumb interference penalty with 54 seconds left to play.  Just 16 seconds later ...

What do the Leafs do at Centre?
Pension Plan Puppets — ... It's painfully obvious that the Leafs need a better option to pass to Phil Kessel than Matt Stajan. They also probably need a better winger than Jason Blake on that line but that's a Question of the Day for another day. Today's question: what should the Leafs do at centre? Stay the course: Tyler Bozak and Nazem Kadri are in the system and will fill the need eventually. This is obviously the most cap friendly move but what if Kadri isn't ready next season? What if Bozak isn't the right fit for Kessel? ...

Price / Halak - The Stats - October 2009
Habs Eyes On The Prize — ... 3. 5 on 4 PP. Scramble in front of the net. Matt Stajan taps it into an empty net. No chance. 5 ft  ...

Leafs 2 Flames 5 - I Hate The 80s
Pension Plan Puppets — Leafs outplay Calgary most of the game and still lose going away. Positives - Luke Schenn, Gunner, Phil Kessel, Matt Stajan. Negatives - pretty much everything else. Calgary got a quick three, and then, Bundy-style, asked for the five count. We almost hulked-up for the comeback, but then got squashed in the third. So, playoffs is kinda definitely not happening, right? The only thing that ever seems to change is the way it all goes wrong. Give me some reasons to believe, after the jump. ...

HEROES 1 v. ZEROES 1: KESSEL IS AWESOME
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Did you guys see Kicking and Screaming, the Will Ferrell vehicle? Well, he makes his team awesome by adding two little Italian geniuses and one super secret play: Pass it to the Italians. Right now, Matt Stajan is doing the best job of following Ron Wilson's coaching: Pass it to ...

Big Trouble in Little Barilkosphere
Pension Plan Puppets — ... sky and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big old storm right in the eye and says "Give me your best shot. I can take it." The Leafs lost last night, again.  But I can take it... Firstly, there's a little unpleasant business from last night.  Recaps courtesy of JaredFromLondon, Fifty Mission Cap, Two Line Pass and Kavel Pubina. The general has the latest words from Matt Stajan and Ian White. The Bitter Leaf, mf37, sees ...

Maple Leafs 3 v. NY Islanders 4 (OT): Second Verse Same As The First
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Of course, when you're playing a terrible team like the Islanders (I know, the irony) who is on the back end of a seven game road-trip, it's not that hard to continue taking the game to them. The Leafs were rewarded when Matt Stajan's embarrassment at getting his stick knocked out of his hands turned to joy as he ended up by a loose puck to set up ...

Maple Leafs 3 v. Canadiens 0: Celebrations Ruined
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Oompa Loompa Doopity Dewed When Colton Orr Scores You know that you're screwed Oompa Loompa Doopity Dinger And that goes double when The second's from Finger What would you if Matt Stajan made it three Probably boo your team and from the Bell Centre flee!  The Maple Leafs picked a great night to get their first win against a divisional opponent. And to be quite frank, from what I saw, the Canadiens were never in this game. Craig MacTavish described them ...

Game Preview: Montreal Canadiens @ Buffalo Sabres
Die By The Blade — ... connected superb offense (12 goals) with stellar goaltending/defense (three goals allowed). It'll be Ryan Miller and Jaroslav Halak backstopping their respective squads. Five thoughts on each team below. You name it, Ryan Miller's on top or close by. In reference to save percentage, goals against average and shutouts, the 29-year-old is setting the bar leading all netminders. His 15 wins are bested by Evgeni Nabokov and and Marc-Andre Fleury. Matt Stajan and Ron Wilson applauded his efforts in Monday's 3-0 result in ...

Savard's hat trick helps Bruins skate past Toronto 7-2 in #81's return to The Hub
Stanley Cup of Chowder — ... Toronto finally got on the board with 4:14 remaining to take the shutout away from Tuukka Rask. Matt Stajan set up behind the net and sent a pass to ...

Maple Leafs 5 v. Thrashers 2: TODAY IS THE GREATEST DAYYYY
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Chemmy would like you to listen to this song to understand the post title. Unfortunately, Smashing Pumpkins doesn't like having their music embedded. The Toronto Maple Leafs bounced back from a pantsing in Boston on Saturday to beat the Atlanta Thrashers 5-2. They were paced by two goals by Alexei Ponikarovsky, a strong performance by Matt Stajan, and competent, nay, outstanding at times, goaltending by Vesa Toskala. Re-read that if you have to in order to believe it but there ...

Leafs Slay the Juggernaut!
Pension Plan Puppets — ... Spitfires.  However, the man can bust rhymes with the best of them, so step off. Leafs Fan Forever went to his first Leafs game last night and he made one special request that our heroes were happy to oblige. Were the Tampa Bay Lightning open to trading Vincent Lecavalier, would that make Tyler Bozak expendable? Newcomer to the Barilkosphere, Hart Ross, seems to think so. Kavel kaptions Kabby (and Matt Stajan, but that doesn't jive with the whole "k" thing we've got going.) ...