WATCHING FALLEN LEAF
Former Maple Leafs have been scattered throughout the hockey world as the NHL locked in its 23-man rosters last night and the season gets underway this evening.
- Defenceman Anders Eriksson was released yesterday by the Columbus Blue Jackets from his tryout.
- Former first-line winger Jonas Hoglund has not yet decided on whether he will return to Europe or try out for another NHL team after he was let go by the Florida Panthers.
"We're digesting what's happened the last couple of days as opposed to making a rash decision," agent Anton Thun said last night.
- Unemployed sniper Sergei Berezin is working out in Florida. He's a proven 20-goal scorer.
"He's only 31 and can help a lot of teams," agent Vadim Azrilyant said. "He was killing penalties for Brian Sutter in Chicago last year, proving to people he's not one-dimensional. But he has moved around a lot lately (having played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals last season) and he's looking for the right situation. A lot of unrestricteds will wait until teams identify a weakness early in the season."
- Another free-agent winger, Steve Thomas, is still hoping for another shot as well. He's 40, but can still play as his role with the Cup finallist Mighty Ducks of Anaheim showed last spring.
- Travis Green, who was claimed by Boston in the waiver draft last week, likely will centre the Bruins' third line.
PILAR OF STRENGTH
Defenceman Karel Pilar pronounced himself fit for duty with the Leafs after a final battery of tests the past two days to check the heart virus that sidelined him for almost a year.
"I feel I could play Saturday, but it will probably take me about two weeks to get into game shape," Pilar said yesterday. "I did all the tests, such as the V02 max on the bike, and I was fine."
Agent Mark Stowe and Leafs general manager John Ferguson were to talk this week about a contract that must precede any game action by Pilar.
"I haven't heard anything about the contract yet," said Pilar, who made $700,000 US last year.
LOOSE LEAFS
The club was unsure what its plans were about marking the passing of Atlanta Thrashers centre Dan Snyder at its season opener on Saturday ... The Air Canada Centre hopes to have its new LED (light emitting diodes) system running for the game on Saturday. It's a ring of signboards running around the lower bowl that flash in unison, which are meant to enhance fan participation ... The Leafs will announce today which of three forms of protective netting they will use at home games this year, as chosen by end-zone fan voting and TV viewers during the exhibition games. Ironically, one of the discarded fishnet models likely will be donated to the St. John's Maple Leafs, who play in Canada's one-time fishing capital.
Former Maple Leafs have been scattered throughout the hockey world as the NHL locked in its 23-man rosters last night and the season gets underway this evening.
- Defenceman Anders Eriksson was released yesterday by the Columbus Blue Jackets from his tryout.
- Former first-line winger Jonas Hoglund has not yet decided on whether he will return to Europe or try out for another NHL team after he was let go by the Florida Panthers.
"We're digesting what's happened the last couple of days as opposed to making a rash decision," agent Anton Thun said last night.
- Unemployed sniper Sergei Berezin is working out in Florida. He's a proven 20-goal scorer.
"He's only 31 and can help a lot of teams," agent Vadim Azrilyant said. "He was killing penalties for Brian Sutter in Chicago last year, proving to people he's not one-dimensional. But he has moved around a lot lately (having played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals last season) and he's looking for the right situation. A lot of unrestricteds will wait until teams identify a weakness early in the season."
- Another free-agent winger, Steve Thomas, is still hoping for another shot as well. He's 40, but can still play as his role with the Cup finallist Mighty Ducks of Anaheim showed last spring.
- Travis Green, who was claimed by Boston in the waiver draft last week, likely will centre the Bruins' third line.
PILAR OF STRENGTH
Defenceman Karel Pilar pronounced himself fit for duty with the Leafs after a final battery of tests the past two days to check the heart virus that sidelined him for almost a year.
"I feel I could play Saturday, but it will probably take me about two weeks to get into game shape," Pilar said yesterday. "I did all the tests, such as the V02 max on the bike, and I was fine."
Agent Mark Stowe and Leafs general manager John Ferguson were to talk this week about a contract that must precede any game action by Pilar.
"I haven't heard anything about the contract yet," said Pilar, who made $700,000 US last year.
LOOSE LEAFS
The club was unsure what its plans were about marking the passing of Atlanta Thrashers centre Dan Snyder at its season opener on Saturday ... The Air Canada Centre hopes to have its new LED (light emitting diodes) system running for the game on Saturday. It's a ring of signboards running around the lower bowl that flash in unison, which are meant to enhance fan participation ... The Leafs will announce today which of three forms of protective netting they will use at home games this year, as chosen by end-zone fan voting and TV viewers during the exhibition games. Ironically, one of the discarded fishnet models likely will be donated to the St. John's Maple Leafs, who play in Canada's one-time fishing capital.
