NHL Morning Papers: Evaluating guarantees

After hearing of Paul Maurice’s much-talked about playoff guarantee for his Maple Leafs this past week, I began to wonder why on earth this was a story at all. Is this guarantee suddenly going to make the Leafs try harder? And, if the answer to that question is yes, aren’t there more inherent problems with the Leafs anyways. Moreover, just because any of the other 29 coaches in the NHL didn’t promise a playoff spot, does that suddenly mean those teams won’t do anything to make it to the playoffs? I think not. In reality, Paul Maurice promised his team would finish among the top 16 of a 30 team league, not exactly an arduous task. If I never heard another sporting guarantee, I wouldn’t be any worse off.

On to the morning papers:

• Tim Wharnsby of the Globe & Mail details the possible repercussions of another sub-par season in Leaf land.
• Dave Shoalts of the Globe & Mail discusses the flexibility the Leafs now have with two potential starting goalies on their roster.
• Paul Hunter of the Toronto Star looks at the possibility that Jason Blake will lineup beside Mats Sundin, and the odds appears to be quite good.
• MLSE president Richard Peddie wants to see more of Western Canada and is prepared to voice his opinion on the matter at NHL meetings in Chicago.
• Michael Nylander is looking to lead this season in Washington and has already gotten off to a good start by wowing the team and fans during a camp scrimmage.
• After withstanding John Tortorella’s no-puck opening practices, Lightning players are trying to making a good impression in this year’s short training camp.
• Hannu Toivonen is looking forward to a fresh-start in St. Louis and is hoping to earn the Blues’ backup goaltending spot behind Manny Legace.
• The sour taste of a second round playoff loss still irks the Sharks and, as Ron Wilson says, this is the year to prove they are a playoff winning team.
• Dave Molinari has the story of Adam Hall’s training camp tryout at Penguins’ training camp.
• Denis Gauthier is determined to crack the Flyers‘ top-six defense this year and according to Tim Panaccio of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Gauthier looks more like an NFL linebacker than NHL defenseman.
• It’s not matter of if, but when, the Senators will trade for a top-six forward writes Chris Stevenson of the Ottawa Sun.
• Brian Costello of the New York Post has the story of Scott Gomez’s adjustment from Devil to Ranger.
• The Predators’ four off-season acquisition will be asked to play to their strengths this season and that won’t likely lead to a lot of offense writes John Glennon of the Tennessean.
• Apparently Patrick Elias may not be the Devils’ captain in 2007/08, as new coach Brent Sutter is going to consider his other options before making a final determination.
• With Teppo Numminen to undergo heart surgery, the Sabres’ suddenly have an open spot on the blueline which is sure to create some healthy competition at Buffalo camp.
• Claude Julien will not bar Zdeno Chara from fighting, as Dave Lewis did last year, writes Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald.
• Peter Schaeffer may see himself playing on the Bruins’ top line alongside Marc Savard and Glen Murray details Fluto Shinwaza of the Boston Globe.
• Playoffs are the only focus for the Thrashers heading into 2007/08; Craig Custance of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution explains the mood at Atlanta’s camp.
• Mike Keenan believes the way you practice is the way you play writes Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun.
• As Jean Lefebvre of the Calgary Herald explains, Adrian Aucoin is trying to re-make his career under his former boss in Vancouver.
• There has been a Krys Kolanos sighting at Flames’ camp and he is attempting to make his hometown club and return to the NHL. (Writers’ note: Why am I just a little skeptical of Kolanos and Keenan butting heads?)
• Peter Laviolette stressed speed, speed and more speed at Canes’ camp on Friday.
• According to JJ Taylor of the Dallas Morning News, Marty Turco is setting his sights on the Cup. (Writer’s note: I guess he’s planning on getting traded…)
• The Blue Jackets’ all-eggs-in-one-basket line had quite an impressive first day together at camp writes Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.
• Dallas Drake is bringing grit and penalty killing ability to the Red Wings this season, but his first day at camp did see him pot a couple goals.
• Anthony Stewart is coming to Panthers’ camp ready to prove all his doubters wrong writes Steve Gorten of the Florida Sun-Sentinal.
• The offense and defense look solid in L.A. but questions still remain about goaltending.
• No need to create false competition at Oilers‘ camp when there are so many open spots up for grabs; Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal has the story.
• Robbie Schremp wants no part of returning to the minors and will do anything he can to stay up with the big club after camp breaks.
• The youngsters are proving they belong so far in Habs’ camp writes Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette.