D-plus Say this for the Leafs, they never quit. A new, younger lineup has produced a different...

D-plus
Say this for the Leafs, they never quit. A new, younger lineup has produced a different style of hockey on the ice under new coach Ron Wilson. Too often, though, the results are the same, and that means not enough victories. The normally reliable Vesa Toskala has been too ordinary too often for the Leafs to think playoffs and it is a rare night they don't fall behind by a couple of goals early on.

ESPN's Scott Burnside gives out his quarter-pole grades. My first thought is whether it is based on expectations or did he arrive at them in a complete vacuum?

about 3 years ago PPP 21 comments 0 recs |

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i think it was based on their current record.

the playoff scomment makes no sense, as no one was thinking playoffs coming into this season to begin with…

"You do dat, you go to da box, you know, uh, two minutes by yourself, and you feel shame, you know, and then you get free."
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Nov 20, 2008 6:54 PM EST reply actions

wait…how does a team that exceeds all expectations, never quits and makes opponents cringe at the thought of playing with them gets a D? Jeez, in most cases that at least warents them a C, I’d even give a B-.

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Nov 20, 2008 6:55 PM EST reply actions

then again

the expectations were they’d be in turbosuck mode. If people expected them to win and they did what they’re doing now it would be a different story

Making stuff up since real Leafs news is far too depressing

by loser domi on Nov 20, 2008 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

I’d give them a C based on us having poor goaltending, suspect 3rd and 4th lines and no PK to speak of.

I would, however, say that there is much to be happy about with the way we’ve played so far. The total absence of tankage is very pleasing.

As is being far better than Ottawa.

by article1 on Nov 21, 2008 12:59 AM EST up reply actions

I don't get

how they have the same rating as Tampa. Put Vinny and Marty on the Leafs and we’re winning a whole lot more….

by Karina on Nov 20, 2008 7:42 PM EST reply actions

So a team that splashed the money; made far bigger trades than us; had the #1 overall pick; and already have far more talent than us; but they could suck a golf ball through a garden hose where we don’t.

They were expected to challenge, but haven’t. They’ve also revealed themselves to have a even more dysfunctional management than us.

D- bordering F. I feel.

by article1 on Nov 21, 2008 1:04 AM EST up reply actions

senators: D+

Ummm based on their expectations and their supposed talent vis-a-vis the Leafs they should be rated an F-.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Nov 20, 2008 7:45 PM EST reply actions

and their roster

if Auld can win 30 games backstopping vancouver, he should be able to do the same in Ottawa. They’ve got serious issues and are last in the east… pathetic!

by Karina on Nov 20, 2008 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

From “We’re going back to the playoffs,” to, “We’re going back to the top 5 of the draft,” in six weeks…

At what point do Spezza and Heatley become available?

by article1 on Nov 21, 2008 1:07 AM EST up reply actions

Wouldn’t some context or even an explanation of his methodolgy make the whole thing just a bit more meaningful?

It’s not like he’s constrained by word counts, margins, column inches or the cost of newsprint.

Talk about not getting it.

A life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...http://bitterleaf.blogspot.com

by mf37 on Nov 20, 2008 7:58 PM EST reply actions

He was probably listening to Cox’s explanation that the internet is for dumping half-thought out columns.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Nov 20, 2008 8:11 PM EST up reply actions

Its a conspiracy against Leaf Nation!

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Nov 20, 2008 8:14 PM EST up reply actions

what else is new?

Making stuff up since real Leafs news is far too depressing

by loser domi on Nov 20, 2008 8:18 PM EST up reply actions

This isn’t a bad evaluation. I’d give the Leafs a C- so far, so he’s not far off.

Obviously the expectation was an F—- so they’ve far exceeded that, but the Leafs shouldn’t get bonus points just because the experts were wrong (like they always are).

Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.

by Down Goes Brown on Nov 20, 2008 9:53 PM EST reply actions

I agree with the mark as well

While Burnside’s assessment is a little off (bringing up playoff expectations is irrelevant, since he himself said the Leafs would toil in last place before the season began), but the mark is okay.

Besides, Burnside is a noted anti-Leafs guy, and he doesn’t usually shy away from it either. Buccigross is another non-Leafs ESPN guy who generally dismisses the team, even in the early 2000 days when the playoffs rolled around.

by bkblades on Nov 20, 2008 11:34 PM EST up reply actions

Buccigross...

likes all 30 teams equally. and the bruins even more so. ;-)

as far as US hockey analysts go, though, you can’t get much better. The guy is a fan of the game, and I’ll take that over elitism any day of the week…

"You do dat, you go to da box, you know, uh, two minutes by yourself, and you feel shame, you know, and then you get free."
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Nov 20, 2008 11:53 PM EST up reply actions

Last season Vesa practiced with Sundin railing pucks at him, this year he’s practicing with Jason Blake take soft shots to the torso…no wonder he’s going .589 in some games.

http://sensleafsetc.blogspot.com/
Leafs, Sens, Smooth Music

by Johnny Toronto (in Ottawa) on Nov 20, 2008 10:53 PM EST reply actions

Hey! Don’t be down on Blake. I love Blake….of course I have dedicated my life to the study of fetal albino ferrets.

by Mirinov's Nose on Nov 20, 2008 11:59 PM EST up reply actions

I love lamp.

by article1 on Nov 21, 2008 1:08 AM EST up reply actions

Expectations, eh? Hmmm. Methinks that’s the key to judging performance at the quarter-pole.

Oh ya… also, I wrote a post about my expectations. Pure coincidence.

by general borschevsky on Nov 21, 2008 9:06 AM EST reply actions

I think the media knows and still believes that free cheap shots are still a plenty when it comes to any Leafs team. Unfortunately they all need a good bitch slap to set them straight and so here’s to Wilson and (soon) Burke to deliver much needed bitch slaps!

...

by puckbuddy on Nov 21, 2008 2:50 PM EST reply actions