Canadian Sports Fan Blog

Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Komisarek went under the knife Wednesday, while Christian Hanson and Fredrik Sjostrom are thankfully no longer under the weather.

Komisarek, who was shut down for the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder, was slated to be operated on by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala. His recovery period is expected to be 4-6 months, which should leave him ready for training camp in September, barring any setbacks.

Komisarek’s right shoulder has been wonky ever since he scrapped with Boston’s Milan Lucic back in November 2008. Komisarek was a member of the Montreal Canadiens at the time.

Meanwhile Hanson and Sjostrom were back at Leaf practice today, having recovered from a bout of food poisoning they acquired on Sunday. According to coach Ron Wilson, both players ate at the same restaurant.

“I’ve always told people: ‘Don’t eat seafood if it’s flown further than you to get there,’” Wilson quipped. “I know they don’t get that shrimp out of Lake Ontario.

“They just ate some bad shrimp.”

Both players were too ill to play in Monday’s 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. They also could not accompany the team to Canton, Mass. Tuesday for the funeral of Brendan Burke. son of Leafs general manager Brian Burke.

After all that, each was upbeat at the opportunity to be back out on the ice again today and should be in the lineup when the Leafs meet the St. Louis Blues Friday in Missouri.

Click here to read the full article – By Toronto Sun

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Hockey players don’t often experience the luxury of getting a do-over in the midst of a rigorous season.

The Leafs’ big catch on the free-agent market last summer after he was lured from the arch-rival Montreal Canadiens with a five-year, $22.5-million US contract, Komisarek wants to erase from his memory his first 16 games in a Leafs uniform. His next Toronto chapter will begin tonight, when he is slated to return to the lineup against the Buffalo Sabres after a small quadriceps tear kept him out nearly three weeks.

“It was good to take a step back and re-evaluate,” Komisarek said. “You can’t change what has happened. It’s a fresh start, a clean sheet, and forget about what has happened.

“It doesn’t matter what it was. I don’t know — trying to make an impact, trying to make your presence felt, trying to do too much. I would not say it was one exact thing. I have to simplify my game and, most importantly, try to have some fun.”

Komisarek originally targeted tomorrow’s game in Montreal to come back, but coach Ron Wilson saw no reason that he would not play tonight.

Click here to read the full article – By Toronto Sun

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With a team that was destined to be a sinking ship anyway, there probably was no point in naming a Maple Leafs captain a year ago.

Wilson said Mike Komisarek, Tomas Kaberle and Francois Beauchemin will begin the season as alternates. And if all goes according to plan, one will emerge as worthy to being promoted to captain early in the season.

“Hopefully by the first of November or so, after I get to know (Komisarek and Beauchemin) better, we will have a decision on who the captain is,” Wilson said of the two D-man general manager Brian Burke signed in the off-season.

“I think out of those three candidates, they all are worthy. We would like to choose from one of them.”

Wilson’s comments marked a departure from the stance he and Burke have shared. Both have held to the belief that there is no rush to name a captain given the weight the position tends to carry in a hockey-mad market such as Toronto.

But Wilson has been impressed with the leadership from many of the newcomers as the attitude shifts in the Leafs dressing room.

Click here to read the full article – By Rob Longley of Toronto Sun

Toronto Maple Leafs Sports Memorabilia
and other Toronto Maple Leafs Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for popular Toronto Maple Leafs players.