Preview: Maple Leafs vs. Balsillie's Baby
by PPP on Jan 13, 2009 3:00 PM EST
35 comments
Did you know that the Predators have lost seven straight road games? It's true. It's right here in the official preview. Now, what does that tell you? That it is a mortal lock that they will win tonight. And that's a good thing because the Leafs are never going to catch up to ottawa by beating struggling teams.
One nice storyline from tonight is that Wade Belak will be back in town for the first time as a Nashville Predator.
Wade Belak had a well documented run as the team funny guy. His Wade a Minute series was hilarious and featured the foxy Jody Vance. There was his run at a Leafs record, he was devastated at being traded, hell, he even tried to give Mats Sundin the kind of winger that he deserved. In the end, he was shipped out to Florida. Lots of Leaf fans found out that they missed the guy:
The irony of course is that for years Leaf fans wanted nothing more than to see the defenceman/winger moved. JFJ kept signing him and, in fact, would have signed him again if he had not been fired. In his stead, to replace the fighting ability, the Leafs have brought in Ryan Hollweg, Andre Deveaux, and Brad May. Now, this could easily be a case of romancing a player after he has left but when you look at the Leafs' lineup who would you rather have? Belak, Hollweg or Deveaux?
The latter might have the best hands, which is not saying much, while Hollweg is just a liability. On the other hand, Belak has the size and skating ability (Pat Quinn said he was the Leafs' best skater and he's our buddy so we trust him) to play on the Leafs' fourth line. He was like Ian White without hands. He has always been a bit of an underrated fighter but he never (did he ever?) backed down from a challenge and was always ready to defend his teammates.
I guess it's true what they say, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.
Oh yeah, Finger is out of tonight's game and Kulemin is questionable. The two teams are 3-3-1 (that's a tie for those of you that remember them) all time in Toronto so tonight's winner gets bragging rights in the Battle of Belak Teams.
Go Leafs Go!
REMEMBER YOUR SPG PICKS
Update It looks like the latest in a string of great goalies unearthed by the Predators will be starting and Nashville's answer to Ryan Hollweg will be benched.
0 recs |
35 comments
Email
Print
Comments
Jody Vance
And that glass table from her old Sportsnet days were to the best things to ever grace my TV
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
by Winkle on Jan 13, 2009 3:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I still won’t forgot the upper bowl chanting BE-LAK for the remainder of that game.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
by Chemmy on Jan 13, 2009 3:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It was a nice reward for a guy that never did anything but try his best to improve and always played hard.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Jan 13, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If you ever listen to Edge 102.1
The morning guys really like Belak, they used to invite him to the studio all the time in the morning to chat with him, and nowadays they calling him at least once every 2 to 3 weeks to chat with him, Belak’s pretty funny and has a great sense of humour, the last time they had him on they got him making fun of Florida and their hockey fan base. Sadly they haven’t called him since he was shuffled off to Nashville, hope they get him on again soon.
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
by Winkle on Jan 13, 2009 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I own a Belak jersey.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
by Chemmy on Jan 13, 2009 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Which is why we no longer have the pleasure of his presence on the hockey team.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Jan 13, 2009 3:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Chemmy, can you buy a Hollweg jersey?
A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...
by eyebleaf on Jan 13, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If he bought an Alfredsson jersey
Would he instantaneously-combust?
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
by Winkle on Jan 13, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Either that or he’d be set aflame by people or persons unknown.
When in Emor, do as the Snamor.
by Mattblack on Jan 13, 2009 3:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Persons?
That wasn’t in my plan dream
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
by Winkle on Jan 13, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Are we going to have to fight over the matches again?
When in Emor, do as the Snamor.
by Mattblack on Jan 13, 2009 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You can have the matches
I’ve upgraded to a more practical molotov cocktail and lighter
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
by Winkle on Jan 13, 2009 4:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That takes all the fun out of it.
I can remember when burnings were intimate and personal things.
When in Emor, do as the Snamor.
by Mattblack on Jan 13, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well
We can use those to finish the jobs, what do you recommend we start off with?
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
by Winkle on Jan 13, 2009 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Couple of drinks and a light dinner?
Sorry – got my nights mixed up…
When in Emor, do as the Snamor.
by Mattblack on Jan 13, 2009 4:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes you did
But that too sounds appealing, I think we need to discuss this further
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
by Winkle on Jan 13, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I miss 102.1
that’s the best morning show ever.
I especially liked it, back when the Leafs were in the playoffs, when Todd would go to the hotel the opposing team was staying at and harass them early in the morning…
by Karina on Jan 13, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
He hasn’t been able to do that in awhile sadly.
The morning show is hit and miss now, sometimes they are funny, sometimes they are not at which point I switch over to the Fan590 but that always results in me turning off the radio in less then 30 seconds.
Last year they had a funny one where they had a rumour where Jude Law was filming in the Eaton Centre across the street from their studio, so they sent Todd over who confirmed that there was a movie being filmed, and he got pulled into being an extra by the movie crew and he was in a couple of scenes while talking on his cell phone so everyone could hear him over the radio the whole time, then he started dicking around and purposely screwing up shots and scenes until they threatened to kick him off set and he tried to talk to Jude Law but never succeeded.
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
by Winkle on Jan 13, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
OK, so I'm old
But 102.1 isn’t the same without Humble and Fred.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
by 1967ers on Jan 13, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But are you old enough...
to remember when it was called CFNY? and Chris Sheppard when he was ‘alternative’ and not a coked-up dance DJ?
by daoust on Jan 13, 2009 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
wait...
there was a time when Chris Sheppard wasn’t a coked up dance DJ…?
"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 Jan 13, 2009 5:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bring back
The Spirit Of Radio
by general borschevsky on Jan 13, 2009 6:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, actually.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
by 1967ers on Jan 15, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I cannot stand Tootoo, glad he’s benched since it’s not likely anyone on the Leafs would manage to give him the beating he so richly deserves.
by LeafFanInVan on Jan 13, 2009 4:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Belak
I remember seeing Belak fight Brashear back when Domi was suspended after that Niedermayer elbow incident.
I’m not sure what his parental situation was at the time, but he sure did get beaten like a redheaded stepchild. Brashear took the questionable approach of holding Wade up by the neck of the jersey in order to pound on him a bit more when it was apparent that Belak was ready to drop like a sack of laundry. It was bruuuuuuutal.
Couldn’t find it on youtube, but I seem to recall the leafs won the night anyway, handily.
by LeafFanInVan on Jan 13, 2009 4:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Brashear is a piece of shit fighter. Did you see his last ‘fight’? He sucker punched the guy before he knew that he was in a fight.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Jan 13, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah he’s a complete tool. He’s a fearsome fighter even when he fights clean so I don’t see the need for all his shenanigans.
by LeafFanInVan on Jan 13, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Headline game
If the Leafs lose tonight, which ex-leaf gets the credit in the headline?
Belak and Predators Beat the Leafs
Sulliavn and Predators Mawl the Leafs
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
by mf37 on Jan 13, 2009 4:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
In a shocking twist, Wade Belak will pummel Steve Sullivan, injuring his back and ending his career. Belak will then go on to tear off his Predators jersey, revealing his Leafs jersey with a hand written note attached that reads "SIGN BEALK (sic)"
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
by Chemmy on Jan 13, 2009 4:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
SIGN BEALK
That’s some of your best work to date, bravo indeed.
When in Emor, do as the Snamor.
by Mattblack on Jan 13, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
hahaha BEALK!
Perhaps the handwritten note could have the E backwards as well.
by LeafFanInVan on Jan 13, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
BWAHAHAHA
sign him for two twenties!
by Ando Rich on Jan 13, 2009 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
and some crayons
Making stuff up since real Leafs news is far too depressing
by loser domi on Jan 13, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bravo Chemmy. Bravo.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
by mf37 on Jan 13, 2009 7:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
Related FanPosts on Pension Plan Puppets
Related FanShots on Pension Plan Puppets
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Tuesday's Three Stars: Nitty keeps rolling; Sens rebound
- Kari Lehtonen traded to Dallas, Turco move to come?
- Puck Previews: 'Hawks, Stars battle; Franzen in for Sweden?
- Evgeni Nabokov puts his name in the Vezina race
- Puck Daddy chats with Brandon Yip about life as a rookie, his first NHL game, Colorado’s success this season and the upcoming Olympics
SBNation.com Recent Stories
StatCounter
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
