3-11-5, This is Canada's Team?
Is this the low point for Leaf fans or does that come with a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday?
I'm just kidding, everyone knows the low point comes when the Leafs win the draft lottery in June and hockey fans around the world hear the story of the last time the Leafs had the #1 overall pick and selected Wendel Clark.
And with that little ray of sunshine, here's your emergency FTB (a bit of a scramble to get this up, post your links in the comments and I'll refresh throughout the day).
- Godd Till vents about last night's Leafs game over at Zambonic Youth. Looks like he's giving this team a time-out until they learn to play better
- Toronto Sports Media says this loss hurts more than most. Apparently the first cut isn't the deepest, it's the 11th (or is it the 16th?)
- General Borschevsky has a game review up.
- Over at Bitter Leaf, MF37 (hey that's me) wonders where will the talent come from to make the Leafs competitive again?
- Sports and the City has one word for this Leafs season and, surprisingly, it's not a profanity
- Truculence is Everything has a photo of one of the few bright spots from last night's tilt.
- Toronto Mike has a simple plan for the Leafs this year. Remarkably, it's one that Stajan seems to have mastered.
- Loser Domi haz a sad.
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My thoughts of last night's game:
In caption comic form: http://truculenceiseverything.blogspot.com/2009/11/leafs-picture-comics-17-orr-smash.html
In written form: http://truculenceiseverything.blogspot.com/2009/11/post-game-report-snes-3-leafs-2.html
Thanks.
Junior Director of Anti-Bandwagoning, PPP Amalgamated Heavy Industries
Truculence is Everything: Blogging Leafs Nation's Emotions, Because We Care.
Caption is kind of weird, considering Carkner didn’t run, and in fact was mucking it up with Orr again later in the game.
Orr beat the hell out of him, though.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
in fact was mucking it up with Orr again later in the game
Someone might want to tell Carkner that he can’t enjoy the fruits of his labour if he’s a drooling mess because of getting pounded my Orr too often.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I’d also like to see Neil man up and fight someone who isnt a 19 year old non-fighter.
Has he even fought a leaf other than Schenn since Domi left?
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
Nope
Schenn shouldn’t have fought either. He was at the end of a shift and had just got rocked.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
yeah, he was seeing stars, but I think he was protecting Stemp more than seeking revenge
although Schenn really isnt all that grand at fighting people not named Tyler Kennedy or Jared Boll
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 11:05 AM EST up reply actions
He’s strong and that’s usually been enough to control the fight but you could see he was tired.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
yeah, he is strong enough to control most fights, but when he isnt stronger than the other guy, or tired like you said, then he doesnt have the pugilistic skill to make up for it
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
Nope, I just checked
But Schenn started the fight last night (and kudos to him for doing it), Neil just ended it.
by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 18, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions
Neil started it when he cross-checked him when he was getting up.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
and then ran another player into a dangerous open door
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
That never happened. He barely even touched Stempniak.
by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 18, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
Other than trying to put him through the open door.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I bet if you asked Stempniak whether or not he had a problem with it, he would take less of an issue than you are. If Neil wanted to run him through the door, he could have made that a more punishing hit.
by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 18, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
Sure
How often do players rock the boat on small, dirty plays?
Ask Berard how he feels about Hossa and I bet in public he says very different things that he does in private.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
it was also a culmination of three dirty plays in the span of less than 15 seconds
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
2
The first hit was clean. Good timing. I think Schenn cut himself on his visor or on the boards
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
i still think he jumped
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
there were a lot of missed calls last night
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
At least you’re giving him some credit.
by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 18, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
he is very good at noticing when Orr isnt on the ice
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
It’s a skill to know who’s on the ice and who’s locked in the penalty box.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
The ‘I just checked’ was with regards to the fact that Neil has fought no Leaf aside from Schenn since Domi left.
by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 18, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
I know. We know his track record :)
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I just checked But Schenn started the fight last night (and kudos to him for doing it), Neil just ended it.
A shocking conclusion, a stunning finding. Thank goodness you’re here.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
the Leafs win the draft lottery in June and hockey fans around the world hear the story of the last time the Leafs had the #1 overall pick and selected Wendel Clark.
Excuse me while I hang myself.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
Excuse me
while I go beat up SNES fans.
Junior Director of Anti-Bandwagoning, PPP Amalgamated Heavy Industries
Truculence is Everything: Blogging Leafs Nation's Emotions, Because We Care.
by Marc Pilgrim on Nov 18, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions
this is not the bottom
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying things WILL get worse. But they absolutely CAN.
I can’t believe they need an 8-game winning streak just to get back to .500.
hey
we can do it, we’ve had 10 game winning streaks before!
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
I have a link
LOLeaf: http://wwold.blogspot.com/2009/11/loleafs-mailing-it-in-edtion.html
THIS IS A JOKE
Hes got to be back for the Carolina game right?
I know Toskala hasn’t played poorly and has actually been quite decent the last 3 games, but the team looks lost in front of him.
Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...
I expect Gustavsson to play on thursday.
However, unless we was going to make all the saves Toskala did AND score a goal, I don’t see last night being any different regardless of which played.
Toskala was far from the problem last night. Of course, his SV% was like 0.86…
Resident Capologist
No that why I threw in the fact that he has played decent. The Save % was more of a fact that the Sens barely managed to get shots on him and I couldn’t fault him for any of the goals. He has been good and not the reason the Leafs lost at all. Didn’t want to imply that. And your right I don’t doubt the score would be any different if we had Monster in last night.
But the team seemed to play different with Monster in nets. I know that is just a perception thing but a lot of people here said the same thing. The forwards just seem lost and the D seems confused. Maybe Komi has more of a calming influence then previously thought, because when the Leafs went through that stretch of decent games where they got points in 7 they were playing decent enough and starting to gel.
That all seemed to regress when Komi got hurt.
Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...
Yeah, with Komi hurt, and having seen his game round into shape before the injury, that looks like it was a really smart signing by Burke…. we need him.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
i still cant get over how bad beauchemin is
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
I think
he’s actually been the only defenseman to step it up with Komi out. Which confuses the heck out of me.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
he’s been better since Komi went out, but that really isnt saying much
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
He reminds of of Yushkevich’s first couple of seasons here. Hopefully he figures it out the same way.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
If Komi can get settled, he will be very valuable,
but he will always be hated by the masses because “he doesnt do anything” and the masses have no idea how to spot a very good defensive defensman
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
They’re the Rodney Dangerfields of hockey. No respect. It’s always driven me nuts.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Nov 18, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
A few different Twitter feeds have reported that Gustavsson starts on Thu.
I’m mobile, otherwise I’d link them for you… :(
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Nov 18, 2009 10:23 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Burke
Needs to make some kind of move. Call up Hanson for a game and see how he does, or Stalberg, or Bozak again.
Something to say – ACCOUNTABILITY!
Resident Cook and IT Superman
Truculence FTW
Even better
Call all three up.
The college line needs to reunite.
Junior Director of Anti-Bandwagoning, PPP Amalgamated Heavy Industries
Truculence is Everything: Blogging Leafs Nation's Emotions, Because We Care.
by Marc Pilgrim on Nov 18, 2009 10:08 AM EST up reply actions
Am I allowed to say
I am officially no longer a fan, supporter or believer of Burke?
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Nov 18, 2009 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
Something to say – ACCOUNTABILITY!
I would assume it’s quite obvious to all of us by now that all this pre-season talk of “accountability” and earning things and nothing being handed to anyone was just so much PR bullshit.
Somewhere, Burke fiddles.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Nov 18, 2009 11:08 AM EST up reply actions
Here’s the quandry:
Do you waive guys now and get nothing for them (Mayers, Stajan, Wallin, Exelby) or do you bit the bullet, keep these guys on the roster until the trade deadline and hope to get a couple of 2nd, 3rd and 5th round picks?
You can have short-term accountability or you can have a chance to moderately re-stock an empty draft cupboard.
Unfortunately, you can’t have both.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
yeah, waive the one with the least projected value, see if the others pick up their socks
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t see how that would concern any player unless they desperately wanted to stay in Toronto
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Nov 18, 2009 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
If they get picked up, then what’s the message: “If you play poorly you might get moved to another team” ?
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 18, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
Yes. Which really is a threat, since most of these guys seem to like the idea of playing/living in Toronto more than they like the idea of actually winning anything.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Nov 18, 2009 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
Which makes me wonder if it wasn’t a bad idea to move the Marlies to Toronto?
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Grange, is that you? I think Feschuk has hacked into DGB’s account.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Yes
But who do you choose? The one with the least potential value in which case the move’s ignored or the most pontentially valuable in which you cost yourself a decent asset?
Is it worth it to send players possibly the wrong message?
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I agree in principle, but I’m curious as to what kind of value those guys bring. If I’m another GM, I might be interested in one of them in exchange for dumping a bad salary, but that’s not the kind of move I want the Leafs making. I don’t really see any of those four being worth much more than that.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Nov 18, 2009 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
You do good work, MF37.
I hope blurr hasn’t done anything too drastic.
by general borschevsky on Nov 18, 2009 10:07 AM EST reply actions
He's in DIsneyland, apparently
Junior Director of Anti-Bandwagoning, PPP Amalgamated Heavy Industries
Truculence is Everything: Blogging Leafs Nation's Emotions, Because We Care.
by Marc Pilgrim on Nov 18, 2009 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
Happiest Place on Earth
Until a Leaf fan walked in there
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Nov 18, 2009 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
Whoah. Wait a minute. People who live in California take vacations? What a country!
by general borschevsky on Nov 18, 2009 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
What do the Leafs even do? Try and sign UFAs to short deals and hope they play well to trade them for picks?
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
That’s exactlly what I wondered over on my blog today.
The Leafs have 9 pending openings on their roster and all of five prospects in the system. Even if 80% of the Leafs prospects turn out, that produces all of four roster players.
UFAs kill your cap situation and remove any flexibility from the roster.
I have no idea, even over the medium term, how the Leafs crawl out of this hole.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
I’m suggesting an Islanders kinda deal. Sign guys like Doug Weight and Bill Guerin to one or two year deals without NTCs, pump up their numbers with PP time and move them at the trade deadline.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
The medium term answer has to be “sign every decent NCAA free agent” again this year, keep trawling the SEL, hope we nab some awesome talent in the second round.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Not exactly the most promising business model, but likely the only option.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
good thing they buffed up scouting
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
You’re also lucky your best player only has a history of sitting out for cancer, mono, summer surgery, and being soft in the playoffs.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 18, 2009 10:49 AM EST up reply actions
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=93039
PLAYOFFS:
Year GP G A Pts
08 4 3 1 4
09 11 6 5 11
Yeah, terrible player missed eleven games getting a testicle removed and going through chemo and then “hit the wall” in the playoffs where he’s “soft”.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Somebody’s a bit defensive…I’m saying he doesn’t get injured a lot.
He did get sat in the ’08 playoffs – the Bruins took 7 games to lose to the habs that year.
He played game one, sat for 3, and then came back for the last three. He did score two in game 6, though.
I’m not saying he stayed soft. I’m saying he started soft.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 18, 2009 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
to be fair, that whole team was soft in the playoffs
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions
any idea...
who is available from the NCAA this year that could be a decent addition to the leafs prospects group??
...Being surrounded by Sens and Habs fans makes me feel intrinsically superior...
by El Monstruo on Nov 18, 2009 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
no idea
but that was what Niewendyk did, I’m worried he’ll bring more guys to Dallas than we’ll get this year…
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
I think that’s Dave Poulin’s job now.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
they better land some quality college kids this season otherwise…
desperation…
...Being surrounded by Sens and Habs fans makes me feel intrinsically superior...
by El Monstruo on Nov 18, 2009 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
I have an interesting (possible) theory on the Marlies situation. Hockey and baseball are the two sports right now where prospects are generally worth more than they will be when in the top league. What if Burke is intentionally keeping guys like Stalberg and Tlusty down (who are arguably NHL ready) because once they actually get some time in the NHL, their trade value will drop. If Burke has designs on adding another premier offensive player (via a trade), he will need to include some decent prospects in return. By keeping these guys at a level of hockey where they can succeed (or even dominate), it might get rival GM offices thinking about these guys as future top 6 talent. It makes their trade value, in all likelihood, higher than it would be if they were currently in the NHL.
mf37
You pretty much nailed it in your post.
Now, if anyone needs me, I’ll be in the corner of my office rolled up in the fetal position.
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, still. Now truculently rebranded!
I think Burke/Wilson were obviously expecting progression, or at least not regression, from last year’s play from guys like blake, stajan, stemps, poni, kulemin, etc. MF37’s definitely right that they’ve got their work cut out for them trying to turn this team around.
I will respectfully disagree that drafting is the only way to find talent and achieve success though. If you look at the post-lockout cup winners, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag.
Carolina and Anaheim each only had 5 or 6 guys they drafted on their team when they won the Cup. Sure, it was Staal/Cole and Perry/Getzlaf, but the point is you only need one or two high-performing young drafted players (playing above their contract), not a full team of them. Anaheim actually had a lot of players that were undrafted that they ended up signing as free agents (Penner, Kunitz, Macdonald). And both teams had several players that were integral to their success that they either traded for or signed as free agents (Williams, Stillman, Recchi, Brind A’mour, Cullen, Weight; Selanne, Macdonald, Niedermayer, Pronger, Giguere, Beauchemin).
Detroit’s cup-winning team was almost completely devoid of first round picks – Niklas Kronwall I think was the only one. Detroit is the only team that’s had fewer first-round picks than Toronto the last 15 years (9 vs 11).
Pittsburgh had Crosby and Malkin. Those both came via lottery drafts. Planning to suck then hoping to win the draft lottery is not a business plan. It’s desperation. Chicago is a completely different team if the lottery for the drafts with Kane and Toews didn’t go the way they did (they moved up 5th to 1st to get Kane).
Just as importantly, if drafting really was the only way to succeed, why have so many teams like Phoenix, Florida, Columbus, Nashville, etc had so little success?
Yesterday is dead, but not my memory.
Phoenix, Florida, Nashville = money problems, they get good players, they become UFA’s, they can’t re-sign them.
Columbus had some really poor drafts, in terms of quality.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
They had money to re-sign Bouwmeester but they couldn’t because they are terribly run. They had the money to re-sign Luongo but they didn’t because they are terribly run.
Nashville is more of a money problem. Same with Phoenix.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
yeah
you’re right, Florida’s been horribly mis-managed.
Nashville would be the best team in the league if they didn’t have all those ownership problems.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
re: Columbus
That just reiterates the point though, that you can’t bet on good drafts and picks panning out.
Grabo's virtual linemate.
by Sergei Puckizin on Nov 18, 2009 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
yup
yes, and as an added benefit, the “islanders model”, not that its anything to write home about appears to be flipping decent UFAs into picks and the deadline AND keeping your own picks, so that, you know, you can draft franchise-altering talents.
sigh
Somebody positive say something. Because I’m really not buying the “all the dead wood will be gone next summer” argument. Fine, so we have like $15 million in cap space to work with. Where’s the evidence that management is going to spend it wisely?
I think Burke spent our cap space wisely this year. Beauchemin hasn’t been as good as expected, but he’s, what, making the same as Finger? That’s a decent contract.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions
Eh
That’s debatable, he man spent a lot of money and time beefing up our blue line which has only played marginally better then the previous 3 seasons
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Nov 18, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions
They have committed to youth; that’s the first time anybody can say anything like that about a Toronto GM in the history of ever.
It’s just that there is still a lot of deadwood that needs to be cleared away, and some of them are struggling in their second year in the NHL (which is a very common occurrence).
Resident Capologist
indeed, the combo of slumps of certian players are regression of others is a huge impact on the performance of the team. usually your whole forward corps doesn’t regress at the same time
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
technically
they haven’t, Stempniak has improved……. but he’s about the only one.
Poni’s actually about the same.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
ok well not the WHOLE forward group, just most of them
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions
And it only takes most of them.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Nov 18, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
yah, i think they should just say fuck it and stick with some lines, hope to build some chemistry for a few games
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions
I like Finger, but that’s a damn terrible contract.
Paying $3.5M for your No. 5 D-man – those are the contracts that kill you under the cap.
Resident Capologist
Finger's, yes
but not Beauchemin.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
yeah, it sucks that he was signed as a 3-4 man but is playing the spot of 7
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
And that contract is a classic case of one GM giving a player a contract with a vision of how he would be used (top 4, PP time) and another GM not agreeing.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
respectfully disagree
i admire the attempt to be positive, but really? we have one seriously fucking overpaid defence. THE TEAM HAS 3 WINS AND 16 LOSSES.
We’re paying Finger, Komi and Beauchemin more than $11 million a year. Surely “decent contract” has to be the absence of bad.
Decent is not what I’m looking for in a franchise. And right now I’m not even getting that!
Finger is not a Burke signing. Don’t blame him for the previous GM’s mistake.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions
This team isn’t losing because of how Finger, Komi and Beauchemin are playing. The team is losing because it hasn’t been built to succeed.
The team doesn’t have a goalie that can keep the opposition to two goals or less and it doesn’t have an offense that can routinely score the three, four or five goals it’s going to take to win.
That’s a recipe for disaster and it’s all coming to fruition.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
The team doesn’t have a goalie that can keep the opposition to two goals or less
They might – they’re just not playing him as often as one would expect.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
Still doesn’t address the problems with the non-scoring forwards and it certainly doesn’t put the blame back on D.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
9 of those 16 losses are by 1 goal (this includes the Vancouver game, which was iced by a empty netter)
And several of those losses are on the forwards inability to score when we absolutely need one.
The Leafs D has pretty much solid or awful, with no in-between. But to suggest it’s all on the D that we’re 3-11-5 ignores the short-comings of the forwards and goaltending.
Resident Capologist
Look on the bright side...
Kessel’s playing pretty awesomely.
Dallas Stars 4 Life: Stars Blogging From Hockeyville, Iowa
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Nov 18, 2009 11:09 AM EST reply actions
Yup
But like I told Mattblack, the lone bright, bright spot this year is the reason that all of this losing is that much worse.
It’s like a g-ddamned Greek tragedy
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
He's great
but not bringing the team outta the basement, but that’s not his fault
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Nov 18, 2009 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
I also love how the monster has one bad game and suddenly the leafs NEED goaltending DESPERATELY
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Nov 18, 2009 11:13 AM EST reply actions
Possible
that he’s tiring out faster because he’s not used to an NHL schedule? In the SEL they only play 55 regular season games over a 6 month span from Sept to Mar while NHL is 82 games over a 6 month span from Oct to Apr
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Nov 18, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
i'm patient with the MOnster
Everything I’ve seen shows me he’ll be at least an above-average NHL goaltender. I’m not sure he’s the second comign of Patrick Roy, but I will take him as a legit NHL goalie. Hell, I’m solidly in the “if the Leafs had any sort of average goaltending they’d have made the playoffs” for the past 2 years.
I think Kessel has shown, over the past 2 seasons, that’s he’s a top end talent with good speed and a truly elite level shot. Just in the past few games we’ve seen teams adjust their scheme to account for his presence. Whether or not he’s a “franchise” player is pointless. He does have issues in other parts of his game. But when you get the chance to add talent, you take it. I would guess that if you asked GMs from the NHL (or other sports) about adding proven talent vs. keeping picks, most would add the talent that’s ready to contribute, especially if its young talent.
Jay McKee
is now out 2-4 weeks for the Penguins.
THey need a defenseman baaaaaaaaaaaaadly
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 1:13 PM EST reply actions
I can’t remember seeing a team’s D get ravaged by injuries like theris has been. It’s unbelievable.
Resident Capologist
it really is, it’s half understandable given the two extremely long seasons they’ve had, and McKee is injury prone, it seems.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions
Check out some dumb SNES fan trying to justify Neil's actions...
Are you suggesting he should let up (a CLEAN hit) because it is your precious Luke Schenn? Give it up! It was a clean hit, it is what Chris Neil is paid to do.
PS. Schenn challenged Neil to a fight, should he have declined because Luke is a dumbass? Take off the blinders.
Absurdity at its worst.
Junior Director of Anti-Bandwagoning, PPP Amalgamated Heavy Industries
Truculence is Everything: Blogging Leafs Nation's Emotions, Because We Care.
Who said he should have declined? Just that crosschecking him after a clean hit was bullshit.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
That was an actual comment left on my blogpost
about the game last night. Typical SNES “fan” defending of their putrid pussies.
The crosschecking after the clean hit was B.S., as was going after Stempniak and attempting to injure him.
I’m betting, if Orr was on the ice for that moment, Neil would be pissing his hockey pants and running home and crying to his “mommy”, Cory Clouston.
Executive Jr. Director of Anti-Bandwagoning, PPP Amalgamated Heavy Industries
Truculence is Everything: Blogging Leafs Nation's Emotions, Because We Care.
by Marc Pilgrim on Nov 18, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
To a SNES fan...
All hits delivered by Senators are clean, and all hits delivered TO Senators are dirty. (They probably learned this from Dean Brown…)
They’ve been playing a bit too much Super Nintendo.
Truculence...starting 10/1/09
That's the funny part.
If a Leafs player did that to a Senators player, SNES fans would be calling for a suspension right now.
Visit my blog at: http://50-mission-cap.blogspot.com/
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Nov 18, 2009 6:43 PM EST up reply actions
I think the Leafs have a desperate need for a pair of top line forwards, and they’re going to be very hard to find; I’d be surprised if Marleau, Savard, and Kovalchuk weren’t extended, and while we have 5 decent young forwards in the pipeline (Bozak, Hanson, Stalberg, Tlusty, Kadri) at most they might be ready for 2nd/3rd line minutes next year. So where do we nab a bona-fide top line forward? In a Kaberle trade? Maybe a Kaberle and Ponikarovsky trade? I don’t see that happening.
Basically, I think Bruke might have seriously erred in his “we’re retooling, not rebuilding” philosophy, because it looks like we’re rebuilding to me, and if we’re talking a 3, 4, or 5 year process, I would rather have kept the picks and traded for a Kessel style player when 2 or our prospects had stepped into a first line role.
San Jose only has 11 players under contract next year, and they already have $35M committed.
Pavelski and Setoguchi will be looking for raises, and Nabokov and Blake are UFAs too. They’ll eat up a big chunk of that room, and then they need to fill out a line-up.
I wouldn’t be shocked if San Jose has to let Marleau walk. And I don’t want to overpay for either of the other two.
Resident Capologist
yeah, I can’t see Savard or Kovalchuk even being options, really.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
In which case, Kessel ends up being…kind of useless. He’s scoring at nearly a goal a game pace, and we’re still losing the games because we don’t have anyone to back him up. And right now it looks like next year we won’t, either.
wow
you’re saying that the ONLY options are Marleau, Kovalchuk and Savard?
What about Bozak? The possibility of Kadri being ready? Burke finding a gem in an unknown player, like Peverly has been in Atlanta?
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t see Bozak, Kadri, Stalberg, etc, coming in and necessarily getting more points than the guys they’ll be replacing. It’ll be rookie seasons for all of them. I certainly don’t see them playing their first season and getting 30+ goals.
they don’t need to provide 30+ goals each, they just need to score more than the guys we currently have, which shouldn’t be hard given our 2% shooting percentage or something.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 1:57 PM EST up reply actions
I’d be happy with someone who does nothing more than give the defense someone other than Kessel to worry about covering.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Nov 18, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
Kessel’s doing it alone which makes me think that we might not need an elite center to play with him. What if we nabbed another top flight winger and put him on a different line?
Two threats.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
MLSE
should’ve bought the Yotes and absorbed the good players into the Leafs franchise
and somewhere in the desert Odin’s spider-senses are tingling
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Nov 18, 2009 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
I’m surprised we haven’t seen any Marlies called up for a look lately. Not that I expect them to save the season, but why not bring up, say, Hanson, for a game or two and see how he looks?
so many players on the roster, who do you expose to waivers?
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 1:45 PM EST up reply actions
Blake, Stajan, Exelby, Mayers.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Nov 18, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
Don't forget
Wallin
Executive Jr. Director of Anti-Bandwagoning, PPP Amalgamated Heavy Industries
Truculence is Everything: Blogging Leafs Nation's Emotions, Because We Care.
by Marc Pilgrim on Nov 18, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
i didn’t. He does his job.
Leafs Rumination: hockey and sesquipedalianism.
by puckurgently on Nov 18, 2009 1:51 PM EST up reply actions
Not really. I know he’s not going to score goals but I’m not even really sure why he carries a stick.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
yeah
he’s been pretty poor lately
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
I'd rather
play Primeau than Wallin after watching him last night, and then taking some time to get perspective on it (I have unexplained fondness for Wallin)
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 1:59 PM EST up reply actions
He can’t handle the puck for shit. He has trouble doing anything at all with it. If he scored 50 points in 55 games in the SEL than most beer league players could score 60.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
DarrenDreger
Check out the story Duthie just posted on www.tsn.ca. Brian Burke will be marching in the opening ceremonies at the Oly’s.
At least we know Burke’s been working hard on important things while the Leafs have been losing….
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 2:33 PM EST reply actions
Yeah I bet accepting the invite to walk into a stadium during the Olympics took up a whole bunch of his time.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
I know
but he has broad enough shoulders to carry my anger.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 18, 2009 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
USA! USA! USA!
very important
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 18, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
My $0.02 Fucking Cents
And the only thing I post today.
1. Sens fans can fuckoff. I don’t want to hear ANYTHING AT ALL FROM A GODDAMN CANADIAN FRANCHISE THAT CAN’T SELL OUT THEIR BUILDING WHEN THE LEAFS COME TO TOWN. You suck, all of you, and you’re a disgrace to our national past-time. Go to hell.
2. The words I’m thinking of re: the Leafs lately is “reckless and laying with abandon”. They are holding their sticks so tight they’re about to snap them. Think of how the Leafs have played in the last 10 years (which is contra to RW’s philosophy, which might be a big part of the problem- which system do we play?)- dangerous, gritty hockey where we outwork the opposition. Of course, it requires a very high level of confidence in goaltending………which we have literally zero of for Toskala and we are just starting to have for the Monster. Arrrgh. I think OLAS has to remember how much he loves hockey and play with a combination of meanness and joy in the game. How that happens is beyond me. It’s the hockey version of letting go of the tremendous pressure that Toronto has more than any other team and finding a way to play your best hockey. And may I repeat that ACC fans have fulfilled the shitty prophecies and become an an actual problem for the team? It was so apparent last night what real Leaf fans look and sound like. GODDAMN IT.
3. Our newly revamped scouting department hasn’t really been taken into account. Yes, the best three picks of the next two years are gone, but there’s lot’s of opportunity to find pieces in lot’s of different ways.
4. Somewhere between RW’s and BB’s hockey philosophies there is a Stanley Cup-winning team. I’m actually looking forward to what that will look like in a year or two.
5. We don’t know who’s out there that we can pick up. It’s all as speculative as the value of those 3 picks. Burke is a good trader at the very least, and he’s been straightforward with everyone he works with. (I still think Tampa owes us- for God’s sake, they didn’t even have to surrender a 2nd rounder because Bettman stuck his fucking nose in after the fact)
6. Fuck you Sens fans. I just can’t say that enough. You deserve to have your franchise moved to Las Vegas, and that’s all you deserve.
I am Mikhail Grabovski's smirking revenge.
by kidkawartha on Nov 18, 2009 3:17 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
rec'd for truculence
Also, the Senators needed the Leafs fans to come just to get to the 17400 total they managed to get…so I wonder how many Sens fans there actually WERE at the game. There can’t have been too many ;)
Truculence...starting 10/1/09
SNES Army
We’ve got suckulence.
Visit my blog at: http://50-mission-cap.blogspot.com/
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Nov 18, 2009 6:44 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry I was MIA this morning
My recap is here.
by Rock Outta SoCal on Nov 18, 2009 8:37 PM EST reply actions
I know I'm way too late for this bit....
….maybe you could add it for tomorrow morning?
New video up.
How The Lockout Was Won.
http://www.blogesalming.com/2009/11/how-lockout-was-won.html
www.blogesalming.com

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