Maple Leafs Wins: Easy as One, Two, Three?
by blurr1974 on Oct 8, 2009 5:15 AM EDT
in From The Branches
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PrintMatt Stajan continues to carry the Leafs / drive his contract price up / increase his trade value (pick your favorite) while the rest of the team pretty much does the opposite. For a guy once considered captain material, he sure ain't inspiring the troops much, is he?
After watching some Colbert, I got to thinking: Who should be on notice? The Leafs have their fair share, and the easy targets are varied, but today, I'm going to focus on our offensive side. So, for the following week...
Grabovski, Kulemin, and Mitchell (L - R) you're on notice! (via i.cdn.turner.com)
- Dr. Steve has not diagnosed what's ailing the Leafs, but he's zeroing in on the symptoms.
- LD is celebrating an anniversary, and the Leafs threw a sexy party for her. Well, maybe not so much sexy...
- The Vintage Leafs have loaded up with another assortment of fantastic shots.
- Truculeafs is reminiscing, or on something. I can't really tell.
- Leafs247 is weighing in on the tampering issues against the Leafs.
- Puck Daddy wraps up tamper-gate with a pretty bow. Case closed.
- HockeyCentric is not feeling the love for the Kessel trade at the moment.
- Puckurgently has a behind-the-scenes interview with a major player in the tampering complaint.
- Allan Bester was a great goalie that the Leafs gave up on far too early. I knew it!
- Brian Burke is just talking here!
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Mitchell is on the third line I don’t think as much scoring is expected from that line as the “top 6”
Kulie has only been in one game so lets give him a couple of more.
Grabbo….. really needs to learn how to take a faceoff. No wait learn how to WIN one.
Mitchell’s not getting 3rd line minutes. He’s leading all forwards in time on ice overall and even strength.
I thought Kulemin was good Tuesday. He’s credited with 4 Hits which puts him equal with or ahead of every Forward on the team. Stajan and Poni are the other leaders with 4 a piece after 3 games. In other words, Leaf Forwards are not doing nearly enough hitting.
by general borschevsky on Oct 8, 2009 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions
bingo ringo
we rag on a certain goalie for being, at best, mediocre.
why accept it from our forwards? I liked Kulemin’s game after the call up, but I still expect more from him. Mitchell has been given every opportunity to use that wicked wrister of his, but he’s not making much noise on the scoresheet. Couple that with his turnovers, and we’ve got a guy who needs to improve.
Grabovski is just infuriating me this year. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m seeing less and less to like about him.
Still, it’s only been three games, that’s why they’re only on notice.
"Sanity is not statistical." - George Orwell, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Oct 8, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Grabbo has lost the edge that made him endearing, he has also regressed and isnt using his team mates at the level he was tail end of last year.
its like he had his mind erased and we got 2007 Grabbo
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 8, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
the only Leafs
that I’ve been impressed with (aside from Gustavsson) are Kabby and Stajan. Kabby has really picked it up so far this year, he had some good defensive moves in the Ottawa game along with that sweet pass for our only goal.
Stajan is working hard and is probably the only forward who’s had consistent effort so far.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Oct 8, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
cross-ice pass!!!1
Identical to Sergei Berezin in every way, only 1/10 his size.
From Russia with GLOVE SIDE!
by Sergei Puckizin on Oct 8, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
general announcement - I totally endorse this product
I have received my print from CanaianMaple of future Maple Leaf Captain and Hall of Fame Stanley Cup Winner, Luke Schenn. My sincere appreciation. It’s incredible. The photo doesn’t do it justice. When you see it with your own eyes and hold it in your hands… holy smokes, it’s breathtaking. Seriously magnificent.
If anybody out there was thinking of getting one but wasn’t sure, it’s probably worth sending CanadianMaple a message to see if he has any left. You won’t regret it. This isn’t just a piece of Maple Leafs’ histroy, it’s a piece of Barilkosphere history too. It already has way more value to me then the amount the cheque that’s going to bounce has on it. Way, way more.
Thanks again, CanadianMaple.
by general borschevsky on Oct 8, 2009 8:30 AM EDT reply actions
A guy played pickup hockey with us last night in an autographed 1993 era Wendel Clark jersey.
When he came on the ice late I leaned over the bench to yell “WEN-DEL WEN-DEL”.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Nice. Now why would anybody wear an autographed jersey to play pick up?
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 8, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions
At my league game last night both teams showed up in Teal. What are the odds of that happening?
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
who the hell picks teal?
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 8, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
The Sharks?
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Oct 8, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
We were Leafs blue, but can you imagine how many Toronto based mens’ hockey teams have the same colour?
So we switched to red Canadian olympic style jerseys. About 1/3 of the teams in our league wore red and we’d get stuck wearing league pinnies that smelled like they were stored in a septic tank.
When the league offered us new custom jerseys three years ago, we decided we’d pick a colour that nobody else wore and went with Sharks jerseys.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
Are there any plaids?
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Oct 8, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
The “Don Cherry.”
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Oct 8, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Jersey Fouls of a different kind
I pushed for the Ottawa 67 barber stripe and was nearly kicked off the team.
There was a guy on the other team last night in a Bruins-style jersey that had a stencil of Don Cherry for a logo. Ick.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
There was a guy on the other team last night in a Bruins-style jersey that had a stencil of Don Cherry for a logo. Ick.
Pulled off right, I’d probably like that.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Oct 8, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
It was not done well. Looked like an etch-a-sketch and had a silly saying beneath it (“get ’em grapes” or something like that).
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame
Now I want a good Don Cherry stencil.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Oct 8, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
There’s a team in another division in my mens league that wore that Ottawa jersey for the past few seasons.
We also had a team wear CCCP jersey’s that all had funny names on the back like Suckmiov and Urwifeblewmeov.
Brad Stowe
Maple Leafs Hot Stove
by RepressedOptimism on Oct 8, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Any Turnyerheddinkovs?
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Oct 8, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Haha.
There’s was one poking fun at Ovechkin, but I can’t remember out what it was… Ovenchicken maybe?
Brad Stowe
Maple Leafs Hot Stove
by RepressedOptimism on Oct 8, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
For our commerce team (commies) we got red jerseys with the gold hammer and sickle on the chest. Greatest jerseys ever.
Good thing we could play because people hated those jerseys.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I was on a team that wore pink as a second jersey , the firsts were leafs blue and like you said, everyone has leafs blues, when I asked the jersey supplier (guy owned a small sports shop, thus the two jerseys) why, he just said “to fuck with em”
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 8, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
My team is rocking the white and black Blackhawks design:
with just the team name “Nomads” on the front. On the back of my jersey, 2.
Wings fan by birth. Leafs fan by truculent osmosis.
My team wears almost an exact replica of the Hamilton Bulldogs jersey’s, really high quality as well.
We plays games at Copps Coliseum a few times a year as part of our league and while waiting for the zamboni, some kid in the stands asked us ‘are you guys the real bulldogs?’
No one would confuse us with anything resembling a professional team. Such is the life of E division hockey.
Brad Stowe
Maple Leafs Hot Stove
by RepressedOptimism on Oct 8, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Do you guys all use AHL names? Bulldogs, Marlies, Monsters, Wolves etc?
Brad Stowe
Maple Leafs Hot Stove
by RepressedOptimism on Oct 8, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
When I was in Major Bantam, they switched our AAA team jerseys to that style, and we hated them.
One of the dads on our team owned a sports store and got us a third jersey in the 2000-2002 Ottawa Senators style. We cut a deal with the Minor Hockey Association that we’d only wear them in tournaments.
It’s the only time I’ve ever heard of a minor hockey team having an alternate third jersey.
Resident Capologist
Yet another reason rep hockey costs parents a 2nd mortage annually. :)
Brad Stowe
Maple Leafs Hot Stove
by RepressedOptimism on Oct 8, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
The jerseys were free in exchange for his company being the sponsor. It’s why we were only allowed to wear them in tournaments because we had another company as the sponsor on the other ones.
We only paid like $10 for the new socks. Although one of our goalies did go out and buy new $700 pads that matched the new jerseys…
Resident Capologist
Bahahah a comment on Hockey Centric compared Toskala to Luongo in saying Luongo hasn’t been benched yet so we should lay off Toskala…
Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...
I know, how could anyone compare that Luongo guy to the great Vesa!?
I'm not even supposed to be here today..!
No, it makes sense since the other goalie on both teams…right.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Oct 8, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Also
I landed a tell-all interview with a Canucks insider. We talked about the tampering charges, inconsistency from the league, and the ins and outs of life under Mike Gillis.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
Y’all were talking about Allan Bester the other day.
http://brodeurisafraud.blogspot.com/2009/10/underrated-allan-bester.html
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Oct 8, 2009 9:51 AM EDT reply actions
Bester was great. He’s due as the LotD in about two weeks.
Bone spurs and calcium deposits in his heels. Everyone forgets about those.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
YES!
That day will be Allan Bester Day
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I would put Toskala on notice,
but he’s already dead to me.
Identical to Sergei Berezin in every way, only 1/10 his size.
From Russia with GLOVE SIDE!
by Sergei Puckizin on Oct 8, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions
there were two reasons why i didn't
First, for all intents and purposes, he’s done. Allaire was hired to coach Gustavsson, meanwhile Vesa keeps sinking. It’s not hard to see the writing on the wall. And B) I found this pic online with three guys side by side and wanted to use it…
:(
"Sanity is not statistical." - George Orwell, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Oct 8, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
wait, those are three different guys?
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
now you two are on notice!
Kulemin looks a whole lot like a Hagman/Mitchell cross, but Grabbo, definitely looks like Grabbo.
"Sanity is not statistical." - George Orwell, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Oct 8, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh blurr, don’t tell me you’re letting pictures rule the content! :(
Harder, better, faster, stronger because our work is never over.
but, that’s a 3000 word picture up there…
"Sanity is not statistical." - George Orwell, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Oct 8, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
We’re only here because you eat grapes in bed until noon every day.
Harder, better, faster, stronger because our work is never over.
Don’t forget the concubines fanning me!
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Isn’t that Eyebleaf’s car?
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
MOnster on IR for one week with a groin strain.
MacDonald up on an emergency recall.
Resident Capologist
efffffffffffffffff
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 8, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
If anyone needs me, I’ll be on the roof. But only for a little bit.
Harder, better, faster, stronger because our work is never over.
by Mattblack on Oct 8, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’m hoping it’s some sick belated very April Fools joke…
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 8, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Orchestration
This is a good little maneuver to get MacDonald up. If Vesa craps out, MacDonald gets an opportunity to shine. The Vesa is probably more scared of Joey Mac upstaging him then he is of the Monster. You can bet the Vesa will do everything he can to not give MacDonald one second of game time.
by general borschevsky on Oct 8, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with your conclusion, but completely disagree with how you got there.
Once Gustavsson is healthy, Joey Mac has to go back to the AHL no matter how well he’s played.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
I agree with your conclusion, but completely disagree with how you got there.
I think that’s my niche.
I was wondering about the legality of possibly sending Vesa down and keeping JoeyMac when Gustavsson comes off IR. But the point remains that if Vesa plays poorly MacDonald might get a chance to showcase his skills against NHL competition, making the decision to call him up later in the season easier.
by general borschevsky on Oct 8, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Because MacDonaldcame up on emergency recall, he doesn’t have to clear waivers. Once Gustavsson’s healthy, MacDonald has to be the keeper that goes down.
The challenge is, if MacDonald puts on a clinic, what are the odds that he passes through recall waivers if/when the Leafs decide to bring him up for good?
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
so
are you saying that McDonald is the one that HAS to go back down, due to his call up scenario (emergency recall), or that is just makes sense to send him back down due to waivers?
Let’s just say McDonald does come up and plays lights out, and Burke decides to send Toskala down instead. Worst case scenario, no one plucks Toskala off of waivers and he sucks in the AHL. Or, he plays really well in the AHL, regains some confidence, and when the Leafs call him up, someone plucks him off of waivers, and we are only on the hook for 50% of his salary until the end of the season, which is also the end of his contract.
sounds like a win/win.
"Sanity is not statistical." - George Orwell, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Oct 8, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s my understanding that MacDonald HAS to go back to the Marlies.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
/sad trombone
"Sanity is not statistical." - George Orwell, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Oct 8, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes MacDonald has to go back to the Marlies otherwise it would be a way for teams to get around the waiver wire for players they want to bring up.
Joey Mac would have to go back down, then clear waivers to get called back up.
Brad Stowe
Maple Leafs Hot Stove
by RepressedOptimism on Oct 8, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
unless we send Gustavsson down for conditioning after the week off… delay the inevitable?
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Oct 8, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
maybe
but is there time for him to do that and still make it out to Vancouver for the game?
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Oct 8, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m pretty sure it has to be the player that gets called up.
Otherwise teams can fake injuries and recall anybody up without having to go through the risk of losing them through waivers.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 8, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Someone correct me if I’m wrong about any of this (which would just be terrific, really), but I do believe none of that can happen.
Sending Vesa down would require waiver clearance, which is easy enough, but recalling MacDonald after Gustavsson’s off the IR would mean re-entry waivers. If he plays well enough to justify that, he’ll get claimed. If he doesn’t, well, the problems there are obvious.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Oct 8, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
It also scares me that Gustavsson can’t seem to stay healthy. Granted it’s early and it’s appears to be minor but he has already had an injury in the rookie tournament (was it another strained groin?), a minor heart procedure and now a strained groin. I thought he was supposed to be one of the fittest guys on the Leafs too. I just hope injuries won’t continue to plague him throughout his career.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 8, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I think it’s more than a little unreasonable to count heart ablation towards injury proneness.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Oct 8, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
but it’s a health concern nonetheless
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 8, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Not unless you think it’s likely to come up again, or contribute to other issues. From what I’ve read, that’s not how it works.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Oct 8, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
The point I was really trying to make is that we haven’t been able to see him string together more than 2 games without getting shut down due to one reason or another. Although early, it’s still a little worrisome considering we can’t really afford to let Toskala continue shitting the bed since we don’t have our picks.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 8, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
This is what happens when we tempt the hockey Gods.
We mocked Craig Anderson and the Avalanche at our own peril.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
I figured having Toskala was punishment enough.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 8, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Would it be bad to say that Gaborik’s groin is still healthy right now?
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Oct 8, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't think there is a better time to say this...
I BELIEVE IN JONAS GUSTAVSSON!!!
"We've had an ongoing problem with Grabovski this year." Bob Gainey, 4/04/09
I don't think there is a better time to say this...
I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT BUTTER!!!
Wings fan by birth. Leafs fan by truculent osmosis.
by SkinnyFish on Oct 8, 2009 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Sergei needs your help!
Please head over to Puck Daddy for the Wilson/Burke fine fiasco blog. I’m surrounded by slack-jawed morons…
Identical to Sergei Berezin in every way, only 1/10 his size.
From Russia with GLOVE SIDE!
Nevermind,
Looks like I’ve got it under control. Reason and intelligent discussion prevail yet again! Back to the Smart Cave!
Identical to Sergei Berezin in every way, only 1/10 his size.
From Russia with GLOVE SIDE!
reply fail. :(
Identical to Sergei Berezin in every way, only 1/10 his size.
From Russia with GLOVE SIDE!
epic reply fail!
Identical to Sergei Berezin in every way, only 1/10 his size.
From Russia with GLOVE SIDE!
by Sergei Puckizin on Oct 8, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow, you really suck at this, Sergei. ;)
"We've had an ongoing problem with Grabovski this year." Bob Gainey, 4/04/09
True, Kk.
Unclear on the movie trailer reference though?
Identical to Sergei Berezin in every way, only 1/10 his size.
From Russia with GLOVE SIDE!
by Sergei Puckizin on Oct 9, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
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