Winning The Prince of Wales Trophy - One Point At A Time

by Mattblack on Nov 1, 2009 7:30 AM EST in From The Branches Comment 44 comments

More photos » Lori Shepler - AP

Take THAT, Prague Night of Glamour!

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Well, what Halloween party would be complete without losing to the smegging Habs? Your game reviews come courtesy of Rock Outta SoCal, Leafs247, Toronto Mike, Norman James Sports, Toronto Sports Media, Kavel Pubina and the latest addition to the Barilkosphere, Moustache Fever. Habs Eyes On The Prize looks at it from the other side.
Moustache Fever hadn't been drinking all day though, you'll be pleased to here. This is their origin story.
Time to charge your glasses and join the General in a toast to your Czech mate and mine, Tomas Kaberle.
Keeping things on a CZE tip, TML Fan Fury props Tlustý to step up to the NHL standard - just in really small letters.
Toronto Maple Leaf Legends profiles Don Ashby.
The Canadiens sub-Waldo jerseys even look stupid in black and white.
UPDATE: Space Weed whips out the Basildon Bond and pens a heartfelt note to the Vesa.
UPDATE, PART DEUX: Dr Steve hasn't let a night on the cooking sherry impare the analysis.

So it's NAH NAH HEY HEY to October and finally, finally it starts to matter.

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http://spaceweedsays.blogspot.com/2009/11/open-letter-to-vesa-toskala.html
add this to the Links Matt

Space Weed Says The Steve Ott of Hockey Blogs
"DO NOT get stuck behind Kyle Wellwood in the buffet line. This isn't really etiquette, but it will prevent you from starving to death"- Down Goes Brown on Etiquette for Jason Spezza's wedding

by Space Weed on Nov 1, 2009 7:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

…and the magic word is?

Harder, better, faster, stronger because our work is never over.

by Mattblack on Nov 1, 2009 7:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Please, Matt, add my letter to Vesa Toskala to the links?

by Space Weed on Nov 1, 2009 7:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, the magic word is ‘Abracadabra’ – but since you said please, alrighty then.

Harder, better, faster, stronger because our work is never over.

by Mattblack on Nov 1, 2009 7:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Matt!

by Space Weed on Nov 1, 2009 7:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Stupid dog woke me up again. What an anus. Also, my game recap was written in an incredibly drunken stupor, just an fyi to anyone who actually reads it.

Moustache Fever

by Shield on Nov 1, 2009 8:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Also

Is anyone else noticing a trend in the way of other teams’ game stories being about “we won against the leafs but should’ve lost”?

Moustache Fever

by Shield on Nov 1, 2009 8:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

yup followed by “the leafs are a better team than their record indicates”

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Nov 1, 2009 8:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This always happens

Gabe Desjardins’ article on winning and losing streaks has a lot of merit… I suggest everyone reads it.

I also think people need to realize that going through all of this adversity will be part of what builds the youth on this team up in the long run. They need a solid foundation of good fundamentals to realize what it takes to win consistently. They aren’t there yet by a long shot.

Our goaltending is crap (even with Gustavsson making ridiculous saves – which frankly indicate he’s out of position and has to work on his rebound control a tad) as indicated by our horrible save percentage which isn’t really going up much.

Our PK is equally odious … and we suck donkey dick 5 on 5.

Our PP is vastly improved with Stempniak manning the point though, and I look forward to it every time it gets to take the ice.

Would be nice to see more W’s, but those will come with time. I expect the team to eventually go on a decent winning streak, and hey, they’re already unbeaten in regulation in 4 consecutive games… that’s pretty impressive, especially when one considers it could very well have been 5 if they’d gotten the bounces in that Vancouver game.

The Montreal game was their worst one of the trip, and the first one where they were outshot. Hagman and Beauchemin weren’t very good, and I

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

stupid glide pad

screwing up my posting… anyway… I want to see more consistent play from Stajan and Mitchell… and I’ll be glad when kessel is on the club finally.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

PK went four for four last night and has been pretty good lately to be honest.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Nov 1, 2009 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also they closed out the third still flying despite being on the last game of a road trip and the second night of a back to back. That’s a good effort.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Nov 1, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah the first period

is what worried me… they got outshot pretty handily… and Montreal played back to back also… so we were both coming in on even terms in that regard.

and going 4 for 4 against Montreal’s PP without Markov isn’t that big an accomplishment. They’ve been shit on the PP since he went down.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 1:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Their

73.9% PK on the road trip would rank them 26th in the NHL or something if it was for the entire season I think? I have the real number in my posting… but yeah… it’s still not that good… and far worse than the median number of 80% for the entire league.

They need to be a lot better before they get credit for being “pretty good” on the PK.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok but before this trip they were like 60%, they’re improving.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Nov 1, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

the trend is definitely upwards. Also playing 2 games against the Rangers, and against Pittsburgh and Anaheim doesn’t help much. Their forwards are very good.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Compare the Leaf’s play in Buffalo on Friday to Montreal on Saturday. Both games showed great effort and tenacity, but they play with more confidence in front of the Monster. Time to make him #1 and send Vesa to the back-up spot. Loved loved loved the “na na na” song and it’s abrupt end. Montreal fans are way too emotional and silly. Maybe it’s their team’s uniform .. hey, at least we know know where Waldo is.

by leaffanmasochist on Nov 1, 2009 8:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Welcome

Thanks for joining.

The Leafs were definitely better Friday night. I think it’ll be hard for Wilson to go forward with Vesa but then again he got this far.

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

by PPP on Nov 1, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh… god Im just tired of losing. However which way it comes Im just sick of it.

Vesa needs to sit. If you for no other reason then the very first soft goal. We got the opening goal for the first time all season, how great did that feel? And then to have it taken away with a bad goal 75 seconds later? Thanks Vesa, you destroyed the feeling on the bench with that one.

Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...

by JohnnyG on Nov 1, 2009 8:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The second goal against him was terrible as well; he gave up the worst kind of rebound right up the middle back into the play. It didn’t have to be such a dangerous rush. The next two were impossible deflections, though.

by Fleet Fox on Nov 1, 2009 6:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like we loosened up Miller for the Isles, let in 4 goals and got pulled.

Moustache Fever

by Shield on Nov 1, 2009 9:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

So how ’bout that Kabs?

Pumps out more male with one thrust of the pelvis than the United States postal service over the last 146 years.

by Blinky on Nov 1, 2009 10:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m very pleased with the Leafs effort the past two games. They play with more confidence in front of Gustavsson, so there’s no question he’s the number one goalie from here on out.

Can we afford Toskala as a $4 million backup? I see a trade or the waiver wire in his future. That money would go a long way toward acquiring or signing another forward.

by Rock Outta SoCal on Nov 1, 2009 10:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Better then the 6Mil backup problem they have in Anaheim.

Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...

by JohnnyG on Nov 1, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ironically

Toskala had the best save percentage during any game on the road trip.

His .897 in the last game out did anything Gustavsson managed, but yes he was victimized by yet another horrible goal which would have given the Leafs the W if he had stopped it.

That being said, I agree they’ve played better in front of Gustavsson. Now Gustavsson needs to play better behind the rest of the team and notch a couple of games where he gives up just 1 or 2 against… or even GOD FORBID… a SHUTOUT.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the Toskala factor was most obvious on the 4th Montreal goal, where all of our players had backed in around the net and caused wayyy too much traffic. Obviously the 1st goal was his fault as well but the third one shows the effect he has on the team. Plus, the shootout was just ridiculous, totally frozen on the first shot and then leaving the same spot open for the second.

Moustache Fever, not to be confused with swine flu.

by Shield on Nov 1, 2009 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

both shoot out goals are classic Toskala

He’s too small in his net, and he relies too much on his reflexes. He’s like a smaller crappier version of CuJo or Potvin.

Which is sad because his injuries are likely going to ruin his chance at having a decent career.

Either way, he doesn’t play big enough in his net to master Allaire’s style of goalkeeping, so I estimate he’ll be gone before January… to the minors if nowhere else.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's the thing about NHL goaltending

and this is a point that was made during the CBC telecast last night, so it’s not an original thought on my part, but -

NHL goaltending is hard enough with NHL shooters. Goals are going to go in even in games where they stop everything they should due to tip ins and just ridiculous shots. Thus, the only way the Leafs are going to reach average netminding is if they get some games where Gustavsson or Toskala play a virtually flawless game… which is what we should expect from a decent goalie in the NHL.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL!

Vesa Toskala:

He’s like a smaller crappier version of CuJo or Potvin.

That’s fucking amazing.

Moustache Fever, not to be confused with swine flu.

by Shield on Nov 1, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

5 points in 5 games on the road

That road trip could have been a lot worse. Just remember how they were playing two weeks ago!

Still, we need to peel off some wins. I hope to hell we can play as good at home as we did in these past 5 road games.

by TMLSiegeinVancouver on Nov 1, 2009 11:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Considering Chemmy and I were assuming that they’d go 0-5 with a couple of blowouts I’d say it’s a qualified success.

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

by PPP on Nov 1, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lower your expectations so you’ll never be disappointed. That’s how I live my life.

Pumps out more male with one thrust of the pelvis than the United States postal service over the last 146 years.

by Blinky on Nov 1, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

anyone of us expected them to be as bad as they were out of the gate. Once that 0-4-1 mark hit, we were all pretty much expecting the pain to never cease. In the end though, I think we can all logically agree that the team isn’t as bad as their record has shown, but they aren’t a playoff team either.

If they finish about 23rd or 24th at the end of the year I’d qualify that as a reasonable season. If they can garner a 1st round pick through a trade at some point I’ll be perfectly happy if the kids can show some improvement.

I want the Leafs to find their Aaron Hill and Adam Lind… sure we’re going to lose our Halladay (Kaberle), but if we can get solid return for him I don’t mind so much.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

kaberle trade?

I don’t get why you’d assume Kaberle’s gone. If Burke didn’t get any offers good enought o part with him when he was locked in for two more years at reasonable money I wouldn’t assume anyone’s going to knock his socks off when he’s a down to one year left.

Kaberle has been back to his old self. Playing his best hockey since he got cheapshotted in New Jersey a few years back. But let’s not kid ourself. He ain’t going to have a 90-point season, and nobody’s sending us a boatload of picks and prospects for him.

I say keep him, and then some time and the middle of next season (surely by THEN we’ll be competitive, rigth? right?) he re-ups for 2-3 more years at similar money. Something around $4 to $5 million per.

by pevans on Nov 1, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Because

This team obviously sucks and isn’t going to make the playoffs… having Kaberle is a luxury that we don’t need. Other teams will need him far more now than we will in 4 or 5 years when we’re competitive.

The reality is, Kaberle isn’t “back to his old self” he’s playing way ahead of his old self. He has never led the NHL in assists, or been better than a PPG player. He’s the highest scoring D man in the NHL right now. You’ve never really been able to say that about Kaberle.

Right now he’s playing better than ANY offensive D man in the league… how long he maintains that is up for debate, but the point is, his value will only go up if he continues to play that well… and if he IS available at the deadline, there will be teams that will offer a lot of prospects and help for the Leafs future if we make him available.

You sell high and buy low… this would be an example of selling high, because honestly Kaberle’s value WILL drop slightly after this season as a result of their being no years on his contract after next year. Keeping him when he’s at his highest value point when y

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

shit this glide pad is annoying

so as I was TRYING to type… his value will never be this high again, and he’ll be worth a lot more to playoff hopeful teams this year than he will be to us in 4 or 5 years when we’re really competitive. He’s a luxury we don’t need, and when we’re rebuilding it makes sense to sell him to obtain maximum return.

It’s logical asset management. Buy low, sell high. You’ve never been able to say Kaberle leads the league in assists, or has the highest point total amongst D men – at least not that I can recall. Think about how badly the Habs might want a PP quarterback if they are en route to the playoffs… they could certainly use one without Markov in their line up. If that doesn’t grab you, then think about the prospect of Colorado wanting a top end blue liner to help them do well if their great season continues…

Considering trades certainly won’t hurt.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Considering trades certainly won’t hurt.

Considering them doesn’t hurt but expecting them can.

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

by PPP on Nov 1, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL at your wandering thumb

It would be great to move him for picks and prospects but it doesn’t seem like Burke is inclined to do it for anything less than a king’s ransom.

One thing in our favour is that the only first rounder that moved at last year’s deadline was for Olli Jokinen because he had an extra year left on his contract.

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

by PPP on Nov 1, 2009 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd argue

that Kaberle is more valuable than Jokinen for a few reasons.

1. Playoff experience – Jokinen had none at the time of his trade, Kaberle would have 28 points in 77 career NHL playoff games, not to mention the fact that he’s been captain of the Czech national team at the World Championships in the interim (between playoff appearances in the NHL).

2. PP production – Kaberle is more integral to a solid PP for most playoff teams than Jokinen would be. Theoretically if teams are making the playoffs they have a top line Centre, but PP quarterbacks on the level of Kaberle are a bit more rare.

3. Defensive skills – Kaberle is a career +40, while Jokinen is a career -86.

4. Cost – $4.25 million per year for Kaberle, $5.25 million per year for Jokinen

5. Making players around you better – Jokinen hasn’t shown the ability to elevate average players games as far as I can tell, while Kaberle seems to positively impact upon the likes of Svehla, McCabe, Tucker, etc. over the years.

If Kaberle can maintain something close to his current production, he’ll be worth more than just a first round pick.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah, and Kaberle

is currently on pace for a 116 point season – it’s not going to happen, but if he can keep up something approaching a .70 ppg pace for the year, he’ll be worth a hell of a lot.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Nov 1, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs