head coach: Mike Murphy

roster: C - Darby Hendrickson, Steve Sullivan, Alyn McCauley. LW - Fredrik Modin, Wendel Clark, Todd Warriner, Derek King, Kris King, Igor Korolev. RW - Mats Sundin, Sergei Berezin, Tie Domi, Mike Johnson, Martin Prochazka. D - Jeff Brown, Jamie Macoun, Dimitri Yushkevich, Mathieu Schneider, Per Gustafsson, Jason Smith, Rob Zettler, Yannick Tremblay. G - Felix Potvin, Glenn Healy.

injuries: Nick Kypreos, lw (post-concussion syndrome Sept. 15, indefinite); Craig Wolanin, d (knee sprain Nov. 1, out for season); Jeff Brown, Wendel Clark, Alyn McCauley, Mathieu Schneider and Dimitri Yushkevich all day-to-day with various bumps and bruises.

transactions: Sent Marcel Cousineau, g, to St. John's (AHL); acquired Jeff Brown, d, from Carolina Hurricanes for a conditional 1999 draft pick.

standings:

Western Conference - Central Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
Dallas       47  28  11   8    64  144   97  
Detroit      47  27  11   9    63  153  110  
St Louis     47  26  15   6    58  141  115  
Phoenix      46  20  18   8    48  128  123  
Chicago      44  16  19   9    41  102  102   
Toronto      43  14  22   7    35  103  129

game results:

12/15 at Colorado     L 3-2  
12/17 at Anaheim      W 6-2   
12/18 at Los Angeles  L 5-2  
12/20 at Phoenix      W 3-2   
12/23 Edmonton        W 5-4   
12/26 at Detroit      L 4-1   
12/27 Detroit         L 8-1  
12/31 Boston          T 2-2    
01/01 at Chicago      T 3-3
01/03 at New Jersey   L 4-2   
01/06 at Washington   L 5-3
01/07 at Tampa Bay    W 5-2   
01/10 Chicago         L 4-3  
01/12 at NY Rangers   L 3-2   

team news:

by Jonah Sigel, Toronto Correspondent

If Only It Were June

The way the season has gone thus far has many Leafs hoping that the all-star break was really the end of the season. However, the many observers have taken note that the main difference between this year and many others is that this year there really were no expectations. Management made no lofty goals beyond realism so the fans are pretty much getting what was predicted.

There have been many surprises so far - some good and some bad. The biggest surprise is that the management has been content to patiently observe the on-goings with the team with little emotion or drastic call for change. Having just completed their 44th game, a grand total of one trade was made and not one free agent was signed or claimed off of waivers.

The erratic play of the goaltenders has been very disappointing for the club, neither backup Healy or Potvin have played up to expectations. Potivn has continually been plagued by the long shot, having been beaten regularly by floaters from outside the Leaf blue line.

Sergei Berezin's play has been nothing short of brutal. He has spent more time in the press box sulking than he has playing. Fresh off a fat new contract, Brezin is proving to be a bust for the Buds and his new contract makes him almost untradeable.

After horrific starts both Derek King and Mats Sundin have come around of late with both edging up the point totals. Sundin has crept up to a respectable 16th in league scoring. The brightest and best surprise has been the play of rookie Mike Johnson. He has gained league-wide recognition and is a front runner for the rookie of the year award.

On the disappointing trail is ex-captain and soon to be free agent Wendel Clark. Clark's numbers are horrific. 35 games, nine goals, seven assists 78 penalty minutes and a whopping -18. Clark will have a lot of proving to do if he hopes to entice any offers from any professional team: IHL, AHL or NHL.

All in all this has been a mediocre season at best for the Leafs, something Leaf fans have gotten used to. Of course ownership has made lofty promises for a much-improved club next season with the huge increase of quality free agents. A playoff birth this year would almost be a disappointment for the team that works hard every night but gains few results. Many would much rather ownership have to face the music that their team is not very good, or more realistically, pretty awful and take another look at the drawing board.

Unfortunately there is but another 38 games to be played...

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