Promoted Fanpost - What now?

by penaltyshotsca on Jan 4, 2008 11:37 AM EST

Ed.'s Note: This is another promoted diary from penaltyshotsca. Remember that the beauty of the SB Nation platform is that it's not a one-way street. If you have something to say then you can write your own post and share your thoughts. In this one, penaltyshotsca sums up a lot of the frustration that Leaf fans are feeling.

I've abided by many disgraces the last three years but I never thought they would stoop so low as to get destroyed by a team with Ty Conklin in net. I think the Clemmensen experiment is completely over. He sucked ass last night and it is no excuse that the rest of the team did as well. Pull up Pogge and at least get him some experience because if Toskala is not healthy in the next five games, and judging by the way we handle our injuries I suspect he won't be, then the season is over.

Of all our team's problems, most could be solved by a consistent work ethic, something I have harped on all year. We just don't work hard every shift, something that I believe is a hold over from the days we were talented enough not to have to.

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I have quit teasing my Oilers buddy about Dustin Penner because of Blake. We may have given up less, but we didn't get anything back. Not to mention Blake is 35 years old and has cancer! This was the worst Fergie move. He signed a 35 year old player with cancer to a long term contract! For the love of God man!

Tucker is no longer a top nine player for 3 mill. I don't care if the problem is that he is injured. Don't play at 80 percent if you are going to be useless.

Why is Raycroft on our team at 2 million a year? What function is he now performing that this amount of cap space is deemed appropriate? Does JFJ really think he is trade bait after being benched in favour of a minor league goalie? If so then wow, maybe Glenn Healy really would be better. He needs to be waived now, no humming and hawing, there is no excuse. Isn't every dollar important now-especially when it is obvious we need help?

Take no salvation from being only 3 points out of a playoff spot. We are at best in the middle of a mess and at worst at the start of one. Coming out of this spin will depend on Toskala and who knows, that may be ten games away.

PensionPlanPuppets.com is a fan community that allows members to post their own thoughts and opinions on the Toronto Maple Leafs and hockey in general. These views and thoughts may not be shared by the editor of PensionPlanPuppets.com.

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Raycroft help

Maybe he should start eating more donuts. It wouldn't help with the game, but more donuts would make his butt bigger so he can take up more room and maybe block some more pucks. Just a thought.

by loser domi on Jan 4, 2008 3:12 PM EST reply actions

Work Ethic

That is the most frustrating thing. The Leafs saw what back-checking and hard work could do and they still decided that they preferred to be lazy.

I agree that it's a holdover from the days of Quinn when the Leafs could play lazy, got insane goaltending, and had enough pure skill to win.

I wish the medical team would just tell Tucker to go under the knife. He is just hurting the team.

by PPP on Jan 4, 2008 3:26 PM EST reply actions

Lindros

It's going to end up like Lindros where they put it off and off and then when he finally got the surgery he was out for the rest of the year.

Or maybe Tucker is just old and soft now. I'd hate to think that but if the knee is not busted up then maybe that's it.

by David Danforth on Jan 4, 2008 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

Blake

We're all frustrated and we're all upset that J-Blake has turned out to be a bust, but I think it's rather insensitive to go as low as to mention his cancer. He was diagnosed after he signed the contract. Diss him, cuss him, swear at him all you want for not putting the puck in the net, but you've got to draw the line somewhere. The man is playing with cancer. He has cancer for the rest of his life. A type of cancer that, five years ago, was almost fatal across the board.

Ferguson signing a 35-year-old to a long-term contract was a risk, but keep in mind that the top tier free-agents never even entertained the notion of coming to Toronto. Scott Gomez never thought about the Leafs, neither did Chris Drury. Ryan Smyth wanted to return to the West, and he did. For Briere it was between Montreal and Philly. Paul Kariya went to Nashville as a free agent a couple of years ago, and he liked the fact it was a small hockey market (or non-existant hockey market, depending on who you ask). So this time he went to St. Louis, another small market. I'm sure he shot down any thoughts of coming into this pressure cooker right away. So based on last year, Blake was one of the few snipers left, and he was the sniper with the most goals scored.

It clearly hasn't worked out, but Blake certainly doesn't skate like a 35 year old. He's one of the faster Leaf players. So while the offence is sputtering and Blake deserves a fair share of the blame, I don't believe his cancer has anything to do with it. You shouldn't go there.

Great diary entry though, and I have to agree about Tucker. He's no longer the Tucker I fell in love with. If he's not healthy, he should pull himself from the lineup.

As for Raycroft, well, he can just go to hell.

by eyebleaf on Jan 5, 2008 2:21 AM EST reply actions

Blake

The problem with Blake is obviously not the cancer since that's something that can come up so suddenly it is just unfortunate that he was diagnosed and that it came after he was signed by the Leafs. Having said that, it certainly hasn't been the root of the problem.

The main problem is that the Leafs clearly were not entirely sure of who he would play with and what his purpose would be. While the entire media was screaming about him being a winger for Sundin he has always seemed to be a player that was brought in to form a second scoring line to complement the Antro-Sundin-Poni troika but he hasn't gelled with any other players. Part of that is the fact that Wellwood has had such a disappointing season.

by PPP on Jan 5, 2008 8:31 AM EST up reply actions