Leafs complete final cuts

[Crowned]

The Toronto Maple Leafs trimmed down their roster Monday, cutting goaltender Scott Clemmensen, forwards Jiri Tlusty, Simon Gamache, Tony Salmelainen, Jeremy Williams and Ben Ondrus and defenceman Jay Harrison.

Clemmensen, Ondrus, Williams, Salmelainen, Harrison and Gamache will need to clear waivers. I don't really think any team is going to pick them up, with the slight exception to Williams, even then...he had a poor preseason and isn't exactly valuable at the moment.

[youreachiteach]

The Toronto Maple Leafs trimmed down their roster Monday, cutting goaltender Scott Clemmensen, forwards Jiri Tlusty, Simon Gamache, Tony Salmelainen, Jeremy Williams and Ben Ondrus and defenceman Jay Harrison.

Clemmensen, Ondrus, Williams, Salmelainen, Harrison and Gamache will need to clear waivers. I don't really think any team is going to pick them up, with the slight exception to Williams, even then...he had a poor preseason and isn't exactly valuable at the moment.

Clemmensen did better than Raycroft, who I would be glad toexpose to waivers (like anyone would pick him up at his price). Salmelainen and Gamache had very good camps, although the other players on the team played like cr*p in the games they were in. I would much rather have Gamache than Belak. Samelainen I suppose could go down, but I'd rather him than Battaglia. Williams can't play at NHL pace so he won't be picked up. Harrison is just bad, period.

I don't think Maurice is very open minded. He seems too old school, really like Quinn in this regard. He favors the tougher players over the talent all the time, and I think it hurts the team.

Newberry is great, but why him AND Belak? Can't we just stockpile talent and let it go? It's one thing to have a McGratton who can actually play...Belak can't. Not even as a forward (he just hurts less than as a defenceman). Battaglia is a holdover from his Carolina days and knows how to play his system--but he's not really an NHL calibre player anymore.
I would far rather have a Euro with speed or talent play on the fourth line in the new NHL. We have enough grit already in Tucker and Blake.

Basically, we are keeping two players who are not NHL level products because one is a friend to the coach and the other can fight. And we're keeping Raycroft because he's paid too much money.

Fabulous.

[Crowned]

Raycroft is a much better goaltender than Clemmensen, and would much rather have him in the nets, whether as a starter or backup.

[youreachiteach]

Raycroft is a much better goaltender than Clemmensen, and would much rather have him in the nets, whether as a starter or backup.

Did you see that first goal Raycroft allowed the other night? That was attrocious. I'd expect any decent AHL goalie (such as Clemmenson) should make that save 100% of the time. Raycroft's glovehand is bad, but what is worse, he struggles to square up to shots! I mean, what else is there for a (somewhat)veteran goalie toknow how to do?

I will say Raycroft has improved his rebound control, but that's about it. And since he struggles to stop the first shot anyway, that's not much consolation.

At this point, Id take Aubin over Raycroft any day. And he's not much better. Look, the guy is athletic. Maybe the Leafs should hire Tretiak (or whoever the new elite goalie coach of the league is now) to work with Raycroft and maybe they can teach him to use his size apropriately AND use his glove hand. But until then...man, does he need a confidence boost.

[juucer]

So what's the status on Stralman??

[jalenrose#5]

So what's the status on Stralman??

He's on what Maurice called a "day to day" thing with the Leafs. They kept him for some flexibility for practices so they can run 8 d-men out there, but if after the first week he's getting next to no PT, he'll be either sent down to the Marlies or sent back to Sweden (as per his request).