TORONTO, ON– After missing the playoffs last year expectations are high at Ricoh Coliseum this season for the Toronto Marlies.”We will not except anything but the playoffs, I don’t want to stand up here and address the media next season and talk about why the Leafs and the Marlies missed the playoffs” said Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke after the 2010 season. COACHING STAFF– The Toronto Marlies are entering there second coached by three former NHL players, Head Coach Dallas Eakins along with Assistant Coaches Gord Dinnen and Derek King. Dallas Eakins – Drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 10th round, 208th overall, in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. Eakins played in 120 NHL games for Winnipeg, Florida, St. Louis, Phoenix, the NY Rangers, Toronto, the NY Islanders and Calgary, collecting nine assists and 208 penalty minutes. He retired from professional hockey following the 2004 season with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. Gord Dinnen – Dinnen, native competed in 18 seasons of professional hockey (1982-2000). In 528 career NHL games with the NY Islanders, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Ottawa, he registered 106 points on 16 goals and 90 assists with 695 penalty minutes. He was selected 42nd overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. Derek King – King returned to the organization after playing 161 games for the Maple Leafs from 1997 to 2000 during which he scored 45 goals and 53 assists for 98 points. He played 14 seasons (1986-2000) in the NHL with the NY Islanders, Hartford, Toronto and St. Louis. In 830 career NHL games, he compiled 612 points on 261 goals and 351 assists, while adding 417 penalty minutes. He was selected 13th overall in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by the NY Islanders. FORWARDS – The Marlies have a solid set of lines for the 2010-2011 season. Nazem Kadri joins the team after spending all of 2009-2010 in the OHL with the London Knights. Dale Mitchell, another OHL graduate and 2 time Memorial Cup Champion from the Windsor Spitfires will be look upon to bring the scoring touch he showed during his OHL career amassing 136 Goals and 158 assists in 293 Games played. Joey Crabb who spent last season with the Chicago Wolves, while Marcel Mueller was on the roster for the Cologne Sharks in the German Elite League for the past three seasons. Ryan Hamilton, Danny Boyce, Luca Caputi, Jay Rosehill, and Alex Foster round out the veterans for the Marlies. Joey D’Amigo will also be suiting up for Toronto after four seasons at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. DEFENSEMEN – Toronto’s defensive side will start the season with several AHL veterans. Mike Brennan and Danny Richmond move North, Brennan after suiting up with the Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks and Richmond after stints with Rockford and the Peoria Rivermen, Matt Lashoff, who acquired last season in the Phil Kessel trade with the Boston Bruins and Jeff Finger, who played for the Leafs last seasons will both start the year with the Baby Leafs. GOALTENDERS – The Marlies will look to James Reimer and Jussi Rynnas After spending four seasons with Assat in the Finish Elite League, Rynnas has joined the Marlies for his rookie season in the AHL. Reimer is returning to the Marlies after posting a 14-8-2 record in 24 games played last season while backing up Joey MacDonald, who has left the organization to join the Grand Rapids Griffins. CONCLUSION – With a neculeus of returning players, the Marlies will look make a push at winning the North Division title. THE EDITORS PREDICTION: 2nd in the North Division Contact Mitchell.Tychynski@prohockeynews.com
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