Leafs hire Maurice, etc.

[TG1996]

Toronto hired Paul Maurice as their new head coach today. He's been coaching the Toronto Marlies, and of course, Alex Foster. With the Leafs front office already putting some major stock in Alex (witness the contract he signed), and the head coach moving up to an NHL job, you'd have to think Alex (and a number of other Marlies) are in good shape to see some NHL time next season.

Also, there was some talk at the end of the Anaheim-Colorado series last night about Rob Blake being an unrestricted free agent this summer, though they seemed to think things would get done to keep him in Colorado. (Selfishly, I'd love to see him in Carolina or Columbus, of course.) Unfortunately, with the Avs loss, as best I can recall, Ken Klee is the only former Falcon left in this year's NHL playoffs, and he's had a pretty rough series against the Hurricanes. He took a couple penalties that led to the first goal in the 6-0 Game 1 win, and coughed the puck up in OT of Game 2 that led to the winner for Carolina. As a Canes fan and a Devils hater, I can't say I'm too sorry to see him on the verge of elimination, but I'd rather he had an at-worst "quiet" series.