Maple Leafs Notes: Tomas Kaberle Shines, Jiri Tlusty Promoted

Kaberle Shines At All-Star Weekend

The Maple Leafs only had one lone player at this year's All-Star Game, and it wasn't Mats Sundin. 

In a controversial decision, Sundin was left off the All Star roster, while Kaberle, who is playing below his lofty standards, was chosen to go to Atlanta. 

The decision turned out to be a good one after all.  

Kaberle did the Maple Leafs and all their fans proud on Saturday night by winning the Accuracy Shooting competition.  He went four-for-four in the first round to advance to the final against the West's representative, Jason Arnott.  In the elimination duel, Arnott missed his target, while Kaberle connected crisply on his, sending he and his Eastern Conference teammates into a celebration.

Kaberle was held pointless in the All Star Game.

All-Star Weekend Thoughts

I decided not to post during the All-Star weekend because I figured plenty of our qualified writers would be doing so.  Instead I enjoyed the action as a fan, and also had a day trip with my family (I have a fiancee and a two-year old).  As far as the skills and the game went, I would have to rate it a thumb in the middle. 

The new skills competition isn't very good in my opinion.  The obstacle course relay is kind of lame, but I can't blame them for trying something new.

The Puck Control Relay was better. 

Fastest Skater wasn't as good as years past either, skating all the way around the net is the way to go. 

The elimination shootout was pretty cool, everyone likes a shootout.  Sure, we may not like it to decide a game, but everyone gets excited for a breakaway. 

The camera CBC used (the on ice one) made it very hard to see if the goals went in though. 

The Young Stars game was definitely an improvement over last year, but the breakaway competition was pretty bad. 

Give the guys credit for trying some of the things they did, but how much better would it have been if there was more scoring in the competition? 

Overall, I think the Skills Competition of years past were much more entertaining.

The game itself is what it is.  The third period was good, as the intensity did pick up.  As for the rest of the game, the goals were nice and all, but  I get frustrated seeing them pass so many times. Just shoot.

Tlusty Promoted, Colaiacovo Back

There are no games tonight in the NHL. Action resumes tomorrow as the Maple Leafs take on the St. Louis Blues. 

On the injury front the Maple Leafs will be without Alex Steen (another ten days or so) , Alexei Ponikarovsky (five weeks at the minimum), and Darryl Boyce (indefinitely with a shoulder separation).  Due to these injuries, Maple Leafs Jiri Tlusty will be promoted to the top line along with Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov.  Carlo Colaiacovo also gets back in the line up after being out about four weeks.  Look for Colaiacovo to replace Wozniewski on the blue line.  

The Maple Leafs will likely start Vesa Toskala, while St. Louis is probable to counter with All-Star goalie Manny Legace, who is a Toronto native.

After tomorrow's game against St. Louis, the Maple Leafs head to Raleigh to take on the Hurricanes Thursday night, before heading back home to tackle the rival Ottawa Senators.

That is your Leafs Notes for today, Monday January 28th.  Be on the look out for a full game recap and analysis following tomorrow night's game.

One final note.  The NHL Trade Deadline is coming on Tuesday, February 26th—and I will have a full, wall-to-wall report, starting early in the morning and taking you right up to the deadline time of 3 PM and beyond. 

Join me as I provide full coverage of trades as they happen, as well as an analysis of the moves of the day.