Are the Jays gearing up for a run?

With the recent departure of Shaun Marcum for Canadian prospect Brett Lawrie and continued rumors of the Jays pursuing top talent such as Zach Greinke, Carlos Pena, Justin Upton, Manny Ramirez and Dan Uggla are the Blue Jays really going to compete next season with the likes of New York, Boston and Tampa Bay?

The Jays GM Alex Anthoupolous has preached patience since he was hired on after the team let go J.P. Ricciardi. Since then, the Jays have retooled, adding youth and trading away veterans such as Roy Halladay.

Anthoupolous has been stock piling young arms, draft picks and prospects in hopes that a strong core can emerge. However, with the team continuing to put up winning seasons it appears the team may make a move to compete with the top teams in the AL East.

So far, next years lineup looks as follows:

C- JP Arencibia

1B- TBD (Carlos Pena is a possibility, also moving Lind to 1B and signing a DH)

2B- Aaron Hill

3B- Jose Bautista

SS- Yunel Escobar

LF- Travis Snider

CF- Vernon Wells

RF- Rajai Davis

DH- Adam Lind

SP-Ricky Romero

SP-Brett Cecil

SP- Brandon Morrow

SP- Marc Rzepczynski

SP- Kyle Drabek

If you key in potential off-season acquisitions such as Greinke and Pena the team has some added pop, and a strong young starting staff.

Combine this with an expected step back from the Rays, and an aging Yankees and Red Sox team and the Jays may be able to sneak into the Wild Card spot. If not grabbing the spot, then at the bare minimum being in contention through September.

I hope that the fans show up for what will be a great season.

I know I will.

The World Junior Hockey Championships are coming…

It is definitely the best part of Boxing Day, sitting with friends and family and watching team Canada embark on their trip for junior hockey supremacy.

There does seem to be a trend building as this years team will be missing it’s top eligible players who currently reside on NHL rosters.

It seems that there is no question that if Canada had all of it’s available talent, they would be able to produce a formidable squad. Having players such as Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin and Jeff Skinner would put Canada far ahead of any competitors.

In a way, this creates more competition, as most other countries are able to compete with Canada, and in the USA’s case, even beat them as they did in last years final.

This years team will be lacking a lot of flash and skill at the top, but should be built through hard work and effort. The return of Brayden Schenn to the Brand Wheat Kings of the WHL should help Canada as they have a player with some NHL experience at forward.

Canada will be faced with a tough challenge to top the American squad that hosts this years event in Buffalo, NY.

I might even have to make it down for a few games myself.

One final note, don’t sleep on Sweden, they could take the tourney!

The hockey world loses a legend

RIP Pat Burns, you will be missed.

Last night it was announced that former NHL bench boss, Pat Burns, had died after losing his battle with cancer.

Pat Burns finished his NHL coaching career having been the bench boss of Montreal, Toronto, Boston and New Jersey.

Each stop along the way he made an impact having won the Jack Adams award as the leagues best coach with Montreal, Toronto and Boston. In his final coaching stint with the New Jersey Devils he finally won his first and only Stanley Cup championship.

Burns has yet to be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and this year there was much debate as to whether or not he should be ushered in so he can enjoy the honour before passing on. He was not elected and I am hopeful next year the Hall of Fame selection committee will make the right decision and  Pat Burns will be forever enshrined.

I'll never forget the 92 and 93 season's for the Toronto Maple Leafs with Pat Burns behind the bench. Southern Ontario had been awakened once again to the power of the Maple Leafs. The franchise was reborn after a dull era. Pat Burns played a major role in this success.

Nazem joins the turmoil

After their first four games of the season the Toronto Maple Leafs were the best team in the NHL. Now, eight games later they are in the bottom three.

So what happened?

The defense has been OK, special teams have been poor and the offense has be non-existant.

In an attempt to stir up some sort of spirit amongst Leaf players, Brian Burke decided to call up the teams number one prospect Nazem Kadri.

After one game, and about 18 minutes of play, Kadri was fairly non-existant. He didn't do much good, but he didn't do much bad either. The only gasp was a late game three on one play where Kadri mis-handled the puck and was unnable to make a play.

Only time will tell if the Leafs can climb out of their slump, calling up Kadri though seems to be a step in the right direction.

He can play at this level and soon enough everyone will see it.

Leafs blow it against the Sabres

Last nights Toronto Maple Leafs game against the Buffalo Sabres is a prime example of why it is so hard to be a Leafs fan.

With a comfortable 2-0 lead at one point in the game, the Leafs managed to find a way to fall apart. The Sabres were without star goaltender Ryan Miller and offensive forward Drew Stafford. Despite this, the Sabres managed to get the game within a goal before pulling their goalie with under a minute remaining.

This is the moment where my blood starts to boil.

The Sabres manage to apply pressure, and with only a few seconds remaining, Johan Hecht (who had not scored yet this season) manages to tuck the puck past the outstretched pad of Leafs starting netminder JS Giguere. WHY!!!

There goes two points, to a team in our conference. In our division.

Ok it's not over yet, Toronto can still pick up a pair in OT.

The game undecided after OT then heads to a shootout.

I hate shootouts, mainly because I know the Leafs aren't stacked with goal scorers.

Of course in the end after falling behind then coming back, the Leafs manage to lose.

One point when it should have been two, haven't heard that story before.