TORONTO -- Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk should be accustomed to life with a new coach.

In seven NHL seasons, he has had five different coaches in John Stevens and Peter Laviolette with the Philadelphia Flyers as well as Randy Carlyle, Peter Horachek and the latest in Mike Babcock with the Maple Leafs.

But the adjustment to Babcock took time. Maybe it had to do with the fact this was the first time van Riemsdyk started the season with a new coach since his rookie season with Stevens before he was replaced 26 games into 2009-10.

"It was a matter of getting comfortable with [Babcock] and the lines of communication," said van Riemsdyk, who has points in five consecutive games and six goals and 11 points in his past nine outings going into Saturday's game against the St. Louis Blues at Air Canada Centre.

TORONTO -- Phil Housley was presented his Hockey Hall of Fame plaque by Pat LaFontaine, his United States teammate from the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, on Monday.

Housley's acceptance speech covered his hockey roots in South St. Paul, Minn., to his lengthy pro career to his tight-knit family.

He waited 12½ seasons since his last NHL game to gain entrance into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The wait was worth it.

At the end of his speech, he reached into a plastic bag and pulled out his round and renowned Jofa helmet.

"I know I took a lot of grief over the years for this helmet, but I thought I would bring it out one final time," Housley said, holding the relic high. "I'd like to thank Jofa. You're going into the Hall of Fame."

TORONTO -- After Carolina Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis bestowed his boss Peter Karmanos Jr. with his Hockey Hall of Fame plaque, among the people the Hurricanes owner thanked were all the hockey moms, a group which included his wife, Danialle.

"I would like to thank her for her support and wisdom," said Karmanos, who lost his first wife Barbara to breast cancer in 1989. "Danialle, I can't tell you how much you mean to me. I love you very much and I don't know where I'd be without you."

Here are three other highlights from the 72-year-old Karmanos' speech:

TORONTO-- Chris Pronger's old junior coach Dick Todd believes that his former player will one day make a good general manager in the NHL because of his knowledge and passion for hockey.

Pronger played two seasons for Todd and the Peterborough Petes, winning an Ontario Hockey League championship in 1992-93.

Todd witnessed Pronger's knowledge of the past one day when the Petes stopped at Don Cherry's restaurant in Oshawa, Ontario for a team dinner.

"There was a picture of the Boston Bruins there from the 1960s," Todd said. "He told me, 'I bet I can name every player on that Bruins team without looking at the label and you can't.' We went over and challenged each other. If I remember correctly both of us were able to get everyone, but one player."

TORONTO -- Carolina Hurricanes scout Sheldon Ferguson received a surprise phone call a few weeks ago.

On the other end was Chris Pronger, who invited his old friend to the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Monday evening.

"I was so happy to get the call," Ferguson said. "There are many things to like about Chris and one of his traits is he's very loyal to his friends."

That friendship took a brief break when Ferguson's Hurricanes got the better of Pronger and the Edmonton Oilers in the seven-game 2006 Stanley Cup final.