Hey everyone,

I’m going to be replacing the wallpapers that have photos of Leafs that have been traded. We’ll start with February which used to have Ian White on it and now I replaced him with Dion Phaneuf.

If you notice I deleted both sets of my March schedule wallpapers (the old one and the new one that’s similar to the one below). The the older set had Blake and the new one was represented by Hagman.

I will replace one of them with Giguere but I want to wait because he might change his pads and helmet. Otherwise I’ll have to use the current photos.

So that’s it for now. Below are the updated February calendar with Phaneuf.

feb_phaneuf_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

feb_phaneuf_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

I just added a bunch of new wallpapers (1024×768 and 1366×767) to the Changing on the Fly Flickr Photostream (click on the wallpaper set on the right hand side).  They are of prospects and other young players.  Some haven’t played in a Leafs or Marlies uniform yet so they’re in their junior jersey’s.

Below are just four examples in 1366×767.  View the rest in the Flickr Photostream.

n_kadri_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

m_stefanovich_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

j_gustavsson_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

t_bozak_b_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

After making the first trade with the Calgary Flames Brian Burke described his teams’ salary cap as being like a “new pair of underwear, it’s uncomfortably tight.”  Of course Burke fixed that problem with his second trade for Jean Sebastien Giguere.

To truly assess any trade is an impossible task.  But on paper I believe that Brian Burke robbed the Flames of a potential franchise player.  Most people in Calgary will say that Dion Phaneuf was traded because his development has come to a standstill. 

Any logical person knows that this can’t be the reason why Darryl Sutter traded his best defenceman, a vital prospect, and a decent penalty killer for two respectable and two marginal players.  I would have given half the Maple Leafs roster for Phaneuf alone.

So far, Phaneuf, Giguere, and Fredrik Sjostrom have revitalized their new team in the first three games since the trade. 

These three players will make the rest of the Maple Leafs a whole lot better. 

We’ve already noticed a change with Phil Kessel who will especially benefit from the rebounds created by Phaneuf’s explosive shot.

The powerplay will also profit because now the Leafs have two solid defensive units.

Another advantage of the trade is that it forced the Leafs to call up Christian Hanson from the minors due to the lack of available forwards.

His play in the last three games has been really solid at both ends of the ice and he is an energetic fore checker.  It seems that his stint in the minors has improved his game and filled him with tons of smarts and confidence.

Sjostrom is also an excellent fore checker and penalty killer and he is the key piece of the Leafs newly formed checking line along with Nikolai Kulemin and Rickard Wallin.

As well, Luke Schenn has been relieved of a lot of pressure and it has resulted in a return from his delayed progress.  He has also shown a gleam of offensive prowess by scoring two goals last night against the Ottawa Senators.

As for the players that the Leafs gave up, they were inconsequential.

Matt Stajan is a highly overrated pushover and a huge defensive liability.  In addition, he will be a free agent at the end of the season and Burke wasn’t planning on signing him anyway.

Niklas Hagman is a decent goal scorer and Ian White is a good defender but in exchange for Phaneuf they are more than expendable.  Second of all, they are easily replaceable.

Jamal Mayers?  Really?  He’s all yours Calgary.

Jason Blake didn’t earn his four million dollars a season and furthermore he wasn’t happy in Toronto and a sour attitude is more infectious than a good one.  So, adios Jason.

I don’t know how Burke managed to trade Blake since most analysts argued it would never happen but kudos to him for getting it done.  Burke and his staff also deserve praise for including Vesa Toskala in the Anaheim Ducks trade.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are now six million dollars below the cap due to these two trades and a season ending injury to Mike Komisarek.  With the extra money Burke will be able to add a centre that can play with Kessel.

He may also choose to trade Alexei Ponikarovsky and Lee Stempniak as rent-a-players to playoff bound teams.  In exchange for draft picks, this would allow Burke to set aside some cash for the upcoming free agent market and replenish his draft pick pool which became depleted because of the Kessel deal.  Although this years’ NHL free agent pickings are very slim this is a good move anyway.

Now if Brian Burke is able to trade Jeff Finger and his $3.5 million salary then I think he should be canonized as a saint.

Cheers Leafs Nation.

Maple Leafs Acquire Dion Phaneuf- Brian Burke Press Conference

Maple Leafs Acquire Jean Sebastien Giguere – Brian Burke Press Conference

Dion Phaneuf Feature

Farewell Tribute to JS Giguere

Fredrik Sjostrom Spin-O-Rama Goal vs Blue Jackets – Oct 20th 2009

Keith Aulie Feature

Congratulations to the six Toronto Maple Leafs players that were chosen to play for their respective nations at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. In honour of the Winter Olympics and the Maple Leafs, that will suit up for five different countries, I have created wallpapers in 1366×767 and 1024×768. Good luck to all athletes and lets enjoy the spirit of competition.

sweden_gustavsson_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

belarus_grabovski_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

usa_komisarek_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

usa_kessel_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

czech_kaberle_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

finland_hagman_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

sweden_gustavsson_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

belarus_grabovski_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

usa_komisarek_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

usa_kessel_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

czech_kaberle_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

finland_hagman_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

I decided to create a second batch of schedule wallpaper for the rest of the season, including December (only for the games between the 18th and the 30th).   As before they come in two sizes and resolution; 1024×768 and 1366×767.

dec_gustavsson_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

jan_kessel_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

feb_white_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

march_hagman_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

april_ponikarovsky_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

dec_gustavsson_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

jan_kessel_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

feb_white_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

march_hagman_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

april_ponikarovsky_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

It’s been 25 years since a new public ice facility has been built in the Toronto-area.  That’s going to change this September during the grand opening of the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence.

The centre will replace the Lakeshore Lions Arena which was built in 1951 and it will continue to be operated by the Lakeshore Lions Club.

The MasterCard Centre is a shared initiative between MLSE, MasterCard, and the Lakeshore Lions Club.  It is a state-of-the-art building with three NHL-size ice-pads and one Olympic-size pad.

The building will be open to the public but it will also be used for Maple Leafs and Marlies practices.  On top of that, it will be home to Hockey Canada’s Ontario Regional Offices and the Hockey Hall of Fame’s archives and research facilities.

This is an excellent opportunity to promote hockey in Toronto where basketball and soccer have stolen a huge chunk of the market.

The Maple Leafs are finally realizing that their influence in Toronto is losing potency.  Hockey must learn to share with other sports and entertainment and fight for its position.

The Leafs will also be going from a four-hundred thousand dollar community investment, in the past three years, to $2.3 million in the next five years.

The money will be used to refurbish outdoor city-owned rinks.  Brian Burke didn’t lie when he said that the Maple Leafs will increase their community influence in Toronto.

The Maple Leafs want to give every youth in the city a chance to develop their love for hockey.  MLSE has had a revelation that, through community involvement, Toronto can truly become the hockey Mecca and not just by name.

MLSE’s recent hockey related investments make me believe that they want to create a “hockey factory” in the Toronto-area.  The Leafs want potential players that will stay loyal to the team and/or city that fostered their development.

This is a fantastic outreach program and creating a facility where the grassroots community can skate and play hockey, on the same surface as the Maple Leafs, is an excellent marketing plan.

Not only does it promote hockey development but it also brings NHL players closer to the public.  The accessibility to players and hockey archives allows people to study the game and mesh with the NHL community. 

Suddenly, players become human in our minds and a new generation of hockey fans may develop from MLSE’s public participation.

Learn more about the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence.

Thanks to CNW Group for details.

I’m finally convinced that fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t want a Stanley Cup.  They just want “Mats Sundin” surrounded by mediocrity for another thirteen years.

Following the draft and free agency period many Maple Leafs fans continued to do something that drives me nuts.  They called into local sport radio stations to share their asinine opinions that can be described as fantastical at best.

This time they suggested that Brian Burke acquired too many goons and checkers.  “We already have a team full of third and fourth line checkers,” they cried from the roof tops.

It sounds like these fans don’t want a winning team but rather they would prefer an overpaid superstar or maybe a whiny baby like Dany Heatley.

As usual, I disagree but I also don’t take this breed of Leafs fan seriously.  Frankly, I don’t think that they know enough about hockey to conjure up an educated comment (oops, was I suppose to say that out loud).

Not all players with minimal stats are great checkers for the third and fourth line.  So, I’m kind of tired of people who say that the Leafs are full of third and fourth liners.  Checking forwards have an intangible skill and role to play and not just anyone can fill it.  Can you honestly suggest that Tim Stapleton is a better third liner than Colin Stuart or Wayne Primeau?  I don’t think so.

What the Leafs have on their team now is not a bunch of checkers but rather many players that want to compete for a spot on the top two lines.  These types of players are not satisfied with the limited role of a checker; nor do they possess the skills necessary for this kind of player.

Not every top six forward is an all round great player like Pavel Datsyuk or Henrik Zetterberg.

Yes, the Maple Leafs need a legitimate first line with at least two A-list players but above all they require better defensive players.

Scoring is essential but the Leafs were actually decent in that department.  They had five 20 goal scorers if you include Nik Antropov.  Isn’t that better than two 30-40 goal scorers surrounded by mediocrity?

The Leafs’ problems actually came in their own zone where they possessed some of the worst defensive and goaltending stats in the NHL.

In relation, I also refuse to blame Vesa Toskala for all the defensive woes that plagued the Maple Leafs last season.  I agree that he let in a lot of soft goals but most goalies are only as good as their teams’ defensive prowess.

As a result, Burke had to prioritize by building the Leafs from the net out.  He simply filled the biggest holes that his team possessed and offense was not on top of his list.

Why not? 

Who’s to say that Mikhail Grabovski won’t become that 30-40 goal scorer this season.  But then again, it’s only Grabovski, right?  I mean to most Leaf fans he still wouldn’t be considered a superstar. 

“That’s not fair!”, they would scream.  “He wasn’t bought.”

That’s just ridiculous.  Even Datsyuk and Zetterberg were once in the same position before they took that extra step. 

Unfortunately, patience is not everyone’s virtue but Leafs Nation must realize that Burke’s task is not easy.  He can’t erase 42 years of mismanagement and self entitlement.

Leaf fans have waited long enough but Burke has just arrived; he hasn’t been at the helm since 1967.  What happened before is not his problem and he can’t shoulder the impatience of his teams’ supporters.

He can only start fresh and help ensure that the next 42 years won’t be as disappointing.

In essence, he is doing what everyone “seemed” to want; build a perennial winner at a smart and steady pace.

Part of that process is also working with what you have because, in today’s NHL, trading for star power may not always be the key to winning.

The Detroit Red Wings didn’t go out and buy Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyuk.  They developed and groomed them for the job.  The team fosters development and a great working environment.  They work with what they have and they are loyal to their players.

On any other team these two athletes may not have developed into present day superior hockey players.

Brian isn’t trading away any draft picks or young talent like Luke Schenn.  He’s trying to be as honest as possible to his colleagues and that’s a good trait for any organization.

I remember those days as a kid when I spent countless hours studying my hockey card collection. Who knew how much they would be worth? I just loved hockey cards, and I couldn’t get enough.

It was a form of entertainment, like watching a movie or reading a book. It was time spent with friends so that we could complete our collections via trades. Today’s youth might liken it to Facebook or Twitter.

We would memorize players’ stats and learn about the game through their mini bios. I guess this seems archaic now, but to us, it was a fulfilling hobby.

I don’t even think the majority of collectors are youth anymore. A plethora of “adults for profit” have taken over the reins. 

The same baby boomers and Gen-Xers who once flipped through cards with soiled hands are now “double-sleeving” them so that they can’t be contaminated by impurities in the air.

My collection is long gone, but rounded corners and slight bends would render them valueless in the minds of collectors. In my life, these cards have a lot of worth because they filled my mind with great memories of my favorite sport.

What happened to the hockey card business, or better yet, what happened to youth? Why does everything have to be glossy with graphics that ignore the real subject—the athlete?

Some of these cards are made so thick that I can’t imagine they even need plastic for protection. Do all young people have such an attention issue that they can’t value simplicity? 

Then you have game-worn jersey cards and other gimmicky cards together with so many manufacturers that even the price, which collectors value the most, is in question.

When will this insanity end? I recollect when O-Pee-Chee/Topps was the only major player with one set per season. Those were the days when collecting seemed plausible. 

But then again, assembling a set was done for different reasons. I guess present-day hobbyists just want the “big ticket” cards with the dollar sign written all over. 

It’s a shame how a great pastime has been stained in the name of the almighty buck.  In the end, most of these cards aren’t worth a lot of money anyway.  

Whenever I read prospect analyses and biographies I tend to cringe. It’s especially unbearable when the player in question is a forward.

I find it ignorant to think that the only value a player has is his ability to put the puck in the net.

Every time a player is drafted, the first thing that’s examined is his point production. Sure, critics pass judgment on his two-way play and his face-off acumen, if we’re talking about a centre.

But what if that player’s best asset is his defensive skills? Are we just going to assume that this young chap is not valuable?

Defense is a very important aspect in the game of hockey, particularly in today’s NHL where power plays are a dominate factor.

I would love to draft and develop a player like New Jersey’s John Madden. When he started playing he wasn’t a great scorer, but he could skate like the wind and shadow any player in the league.

Many people would argue that you can find tons of veterans that can play that role.  I disagree because I’m not talking about role players. Sure, you can find veterans who can stick to the system and play dependable hockey.

I’m talking about young players that can step into the league and shut down opposing scorers like nobody’s business.

And that’s their skill, that’s it. They eventually learn to score about 25 goals and add 25 assists, but their value is their defense.

Players like John Madden, Mike Peca, Jere Lehtinen, Kris Draper, Esa Tikkanen, Jan Erixon, Guy Carbonneau, and Bob Gainey don’t grow on trees.

They had an intangible skill that’s just as important as producing hundred point seasons.

I feel like screaming when I hear that certain forwards are great two-way checkers, but they’re not ready because their scoring ability is poor.

If they’re responsible two-way players then let them play. Maybe that’s the most you’ll ever get out of them.

Don’t just let these players disappear into obscurity like many misunderstood prospects.

Hey everyone! I just completed another wallpaper design which was inspired by my Twitter background. For the the wallpaper design I added Duke the Dog and I am dubbing it “Carlton & Friends”. I produced both regular and widescreen dimensions.

carlton_duke_1024×768, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.

 

carlton_duke_1366×767, originally uploaded by Changing on the Fly.