A Leader In Search of a Nation

In this FanPost mc79 tells us all about the glories of star hockey player Ethan... wait that can't be right. Ethan Moreau? Ethan "76 Points Since the Lockout" Moreau? Anyhow mc79 has this bizarre fantasy where Toronto trades for him and saves Edmonton. I'm ok with Toronto trading for Moreau; if the Grebeshkov deal is anything to go off of we'll end up with Moreau, Eberle and Edmonton's first for Jamal Mayers Garnet Exelby or something. Like JFJ Tambellini is dumber than most of the bloggers who cover his team. - Chemmy

What sorry soul made this? Oh, HFBoards.

As you're probably all aware, when Wendel Clark left the ice after his last home game as a Maple Leaf in 2000, he smashed a stick into a wall on his way to the dressing room.  That stick has never been removed, despite the efforts of various Maple Leafs to do so.  Legend has it that Clark's rightful heir as captain of the Maple Leafs will be able to pull that stick from the wall and rightfully wear the "C" on his jersey.  That man may be about to join the Leafs. 

With the collection of latter day Jimmy Cannons and Ring Lardners that makes up the local sporting press, I assume that Leafs fans probably don't have to go far for coverage of the team.  As such, when I came across something suggesting that Wendel's heir might be hours from becoming a Maple Leaf, I felt duty bound to share it with you all.  After the jump.

Robin Brownlee, the last journalist in Edmonton who isn't employed by Oilers' owner Darryl Katz, has the following on Oilers' captain Ethan Moreau:

• Moreau is being shopped heavily by Tambellini. I was told Toronto was at least interested enough at one point to have VP of hockey operations Dave Nonis inquire about who Tambellini would want for Moreau. I'm told Los Angeles, San Jose and Anaheim are also interested.

• There's not a chance, none, Moreau will be here after the deadline. I see Los Angeles and Toronto as the likeliest destinations. I give the Kings the inside track.

• I'm thinking there's a chance that O'Sullivan's name came up in talks with Nonis in Toronto. If the Oilers and Maple Leafs can't trade bad contracts with Moreau and, say, Garnett Exelby in a swap involving picks, maybe O'Sullivan gets something done.

Moreau has been the Oilers captain since Jason Smith was dealt in the summer of 2007.  He has a propensity for offensive zone penalties, gets hurt a lot, doesn't score a lot of goals and blames everyone else for the failures of the team.  Oh, and he comes at a cap hit of $2,000,000.00.  On the other hand, he's never been charged with extreme drunk driving after drinking a single glass of wine, which we can't say about all of the Oilers.

It will hurt us, as Oilers fans, to lose our captain.  However, we can't stand in the way of destiny and, as unlikely as it might seem that Clark's heir is an injury prone guy who wears a number in the teens, has never won a Stanley Cup, takes a lot of penalties, has more career goals than assists and is coming to Toronto from the Prairies, it seems clear that Moreau is the chosen one.  Leader of Men.  Captain of the Leafs.

Prepare to do obeisance to your King, Toronto.  He demands it.