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Leafs Bolster Roster
March 23, 2003
Courtesy of On
The Wall
Story by: Brent Stokes
There are two sure signs it’s March
in Toronto: the bars sell that "lucky
green beer," and Maple Leafs fans start
talking about "the trade" they
hope will lead to a Stanley Cup parade in
June.
Phil Wilkins, 18, of Toronto was working
for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
for hours while the NHL trade deadline was
approaching teams across the league. However,
he’d much rather have been at home
watching the details of the latest trades
announced on TV on the major Canadian sports
stations. TSN and Sportsnet, both had coverage
from Noon until 6pm on March 11th, which
has now became the busiest trade day in
hockey history with 25 trades involving
46 players.
Fans, including Wilkins, were excited when
hearing about the Leafs first trade this
month, in which they obtained right-winger
Owen Nolan from the San Jose Sharks on March
5th. In exchange, the Sharks got centres
Alyn McCauley and Brad Boyes, plus a first-round
pick in this summer’s draft. Toronto
traded away a second-round pick in next
year’s draft to the Carolina Hurricanes
for defenceman Glen Wesley just four days
later.
"Nolan’s my favourite all-time
player," Wilkins said.
He paid $700 for two tickets in the first
row of the gold section to see Nolan’s
first game as a Leaf on Saturday at the
Air Canada Centre. He was not the only Leaf
supporter happy to see Nolan. Toronto fans
were seen holding signs all over the Air
Canada Centre welcoming Nolan to the team.
One woman was even spotted wearing a Team
Canada jersey with Nolan’s name and
number on the back. And already, Nolan has
proven his worth with the Buds.
Wilkins is also pleased with the acquisition
of Wesley, whom he believes will bring some
much-needed stability to Toronto’s
blue line. He sees both Nolan and Wesley
as strong leaders with valuable experience
in high-pressure situations. Nolan was a
member of Canada’s 2002 Men’s
Olympic Team that won the gold medal in
Salt Lake City while Wesley helped the Carolina
Hurricanes in their surprising run to the
Stanley Cup Finals last year. Wilkins hopes
the two players will be able to show younger
Leafs, like Nik Antropov, how they can improve
their game.
Ironically enough, Wilkins made the request
to see Doug Gilmour back on the Leafs’
roster just hours before the centre was
traded from Montreal for a 6th round pick
in the upcoming draft. Five minutes prior
to the deal, defenceman Phil Housley was
traded from Chicago to Toronto for a 4th
and 9th round pick in the 2003 draft.
Another Leafs fan, Julian Ortiz, is hoping
that the trades will result in the club
gaining some momentum over the next year
or two, the length of time he expects Nolan
to remain on the roster. He did not agree
with swapping Nolan for McCauley right before
the playoffs.
"McCauley is a playoff player. Look
what Nolan did last year: jack shit."
Ortiz said that most Toronto defenders play
with the puck instead of shooting, which
results in a lot of short-handed goals being
scored against them. He hoped the Maple
Leafs would acquire a defenceman with a
good shot, like Al MacInnis, one of the
quickest shooters in the league.
However, given his past experience with
the club, Leafs fans across Canada are happy
to have Doug "Killer" Gilmour
back in their line-up.
"Leafs fans will think they’ve
died and gone to heaven," said TSN’s
James Duthie of the trade.
TSN’s hockey experts say Gilmour plays
much bigger than his frame would suggest.
At just 5’11 and 177 pounds, he’s
an excellent player and gritty performer.
Unfortunately, Gilmour’s comeback was
short-lived. Injured after only minutes
on the ice with the Leafs, Gilmour is out
for the next four to six weeks. A playoff
return may spark some much-needed blue and
white energy.
The Leafs may just have the long awaited
momentum to bring that Stanley Cup back
to Toronto, and more importantly back to
Canada where it belongs!
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