Nibbled To Death By (Un-Mighty) Ducks
by Mattblack on Mar 24, 2009 7:11 AM EDT
in From The Branches
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You're the best! No, YOU'RE the best!
- Toronto Sports Media lays out the red carpet for AO in TO this evening.
- Never knowingly not trying to stir up trouble, Down Goes Brown has suggestions for the next celebration du jour.
- The Leaf questions for the day, posed by Maple Leaf Hot Stove.
- T.O. Sports has a look back at the Marlies long, hard weekend.
- Staying in affiliate-land, Puck Daddy covers the two of the premier knuckle swappers in the AHL. Good job the Leafs haven't needed a bit of biffo this season, eh? Wait, what?
- Outdoor game in Montreal for the 'centennial'? Outlook not so good...
- UPDATE - Cry Freedom for the Bloc! They have suffered a great injustice at the hands of the Party.
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My favourite is the “Down Goes Brown” but I can’t believe he didn’t work Wellwood into it.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Kyle Wellwood who is fat bumps in Carlo Colaiacovo who is injured, causing an indecisive Mats Sundin to allow the puck to slide over to Bryan McCabe, who shoots it into his own net past Andrew Raycroft’s glove hand, and also John Ferguson Jr is stupid.
I believe this is the archetypal DGB joke. I should just replace my archives section with that line.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Mar 24, 2009 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I can't wait
Until all this glorified Habs-self-loving ends
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
Well
it has gotten progressively better, especially since just before the all-star break
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
Indeed, but the appalling self-congratulatory crap at the start of the season was a crucial ingredient in the Habs shit-omelette …no one would be laughing if the Habs fans hadn’t acted like this season would be a coronation. It is a lot more fun to laugh at a team with four “starting all-stars” when they miss the playoffs.
No Kidding
Beg for the all-star game, build a bunch of statues, vote in marginal players as all-stars, say things like “25 in 100!”, and ignore basic mathematics = 5 ways to make everyone hate you…even more.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
it can’t be said enough how frickin awesome the Habs anniversary season has turned out. i couldn’t have scripted it any better. the ‘25 in 100’ crap was unreal… like they didn’t even think that maybe, possibly, they overachieved last year (you know, having missed the playoffs the year before) and that it might be tough to make it to the cup final, never mind win it.
and it’s remarkable how my feelings for the habs have gone from strong dislike only-bordering-on-hatred pre-lockout, to raging deep-inside-my-soul hatred in just a few short years.
Media
I think it is interesting that a lot of bloggers saw this coming, while so many “experts” and “insiders” in the media were picking the Habs to win the Cup, or at least the East. Instead of actually providing any analysis (Habs with career years last year, lack of injuries, unproven goalie), the media just picked up on the “good story” and wished for it to come true. Good work, again…
They should have gone with the slogan “In 100 Years, What Difference Will it Make?”
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Mar 24, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Check out...
Andrew Raycroft’s career, in one picture…
http://www.sportsandthecity.com/2009/03/andrew-raycrofts-career.html
A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...
PLAYOFFS!!!!1
I think it did go past his glove, he just never realized it.
Running over terribleness in search for something positive about the Leafs. Anything? Anyone?!
by blindfolded tank driver on Mar 24, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions
It looks like it went over his glove hand but he’s looking in the wrong direction, which makes it even better.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Mar 24, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Now now, no need to bicker, it could have gone past both of his arms.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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More Spin
WCH just in with Hogan…now saying that he wasn’t wondering why Wilson didn’t make the stick call back in November (along with the integrity implications), but rather just pointing out how it is easier to make these calls when the games don’t matter.
What?
That doesn’t even make sense. I mean, Ottawa and Toronto haven’t been in the playoff race all year, so even if you buy the whole “with playoff berths on the line, that’s a tough call to make” notion, how would it be harder to make that call now with those teams? Oh Howard, your logic does not resemble our earth logic…
/smacks head into table repeatedly
Newly appointed Awesome/Gin Division Head
I will try to use this power only for good, but I make no promises.
So
he’s beating on a dead horse… this is old news and literally stuff that the rest of the world has moved on about… or is he just that desperate to rekindle that little bit of “news” to extend his 15 minutes of fame?
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
I had the same thought. It struck me as: “Well, time has passed, people have forgotten the details, now is my chance to absolve myself of any blame by painting it as a harmless misunderstanding.”
You’re ruining my exit strategy for Gainey-gate.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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MLHS questions
are delicious. Especially the Stralman conundrum.
I say he stays, and kabby and kubina go. Sorry gang…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions
The long absence of Kaberle has done a good job making everyone forget about his shit-tastic play all year.
I wonder though, if Kaberle came back would he be playing well now that the team is clicking?
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Kabby ain’t going nowhere. Burke appreciates a puck moving d-man, who can make a cross ice pass like you won’t believe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eni3tZdeaKg
A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...
PLAYOFFS!!!!1
Burke also
knows how to drive up the price…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
AMEN
at $4.25M it would be foolish to trade him. and if the cap’s down in a year or two, we can probably sign him for ‘cheap’ as well (as in cheaper than brian campbell or dan boyle’s crazy contracts… he might throw in a ‘home-town’ discount as well).
‘shit-tastic’? why are you so hurtful chemmy? why??
He was godawful all year.
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he was.
don’t forget his benching, which came a little too late for me…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
he wasn’t up to his usual high standards, but he wasn’t ‘godawful’, at least not consistently. there’s still no one i’d rather have making outlet passes or manning the pplay.
Our power play was clicking fine with Kubina and Stempniak.
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we’ll have to agree to disagree.
That is such a cop-out
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
Sorry, I’d like to dedicate several hours to this this morning. But I’ve had this discussion about 100 times now, no one’s mind has ever changed. We’re discussing perception and opinion here, not fact.
Plus, chemmy’s mean, I don’t want him to unleash his fury on me.
chemmy’s mean, I don’t want him to unleash his fury on me.
See. Now we’re arguing facts.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Agree.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
by jrwendelman on Mar 24, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Here’s the number one reason Burke won’t trade Kaberle:
He doesn’t think that this rebuild is going to take as long as we do.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Here’s the number one reason Burke would say that.
Any position of weakness restricts his ability to sell assets for as high a price as he can.
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
So is he posturing about jumping into the UFA market too?
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
why would he posture about that?
Of course he’s going to be aggressive in the FA market.
What kind of FA is he going to sign, that’s the question. Why would he come out to the media with his tail between his legs and admit the franchise is in a position of weakness, and in order to rebuild, he’ll take whatever he can get for his few assets?
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
No.
We’re getting Cammalleri
A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...
PLAYOFFS!!!!1
i hope so. pass on the sedouche twins, and sell cammy on a 2010-2011 story that includes himself and rick nash.
we’re not getting Nash…
seriously, we’re starting to sound like Habs fans with this presumption that all Ontario boys want to be Leafs. Remember all the hoopla around Lecavalier a month back?
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
they're not done
with that…. now the rumours are that they’ll get him at the draft.
by Karina on Mar 24, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
why...
would he leave the Blue Jackets now?
They can’t even begin contract talks until one year before his contract is up, which will mean, Howson has all summer long to figure out how far apart the two sides are, before he even needs to think about moving him.
Then, if Howson decides the Blue Jackets need to trade him as they have no chance of resigning him, he’ll get a fortune out of the team he trades the rights to. that’s a price I’m hoping the Leafs don’t pay.
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Vinny’s NTC kicks in, when?
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I think
July 1, but that’s off the top of my head.
by Karina on Mar 24, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
i.e. the day after Tampa trades him.
Running over terribleness in search for something positive about the Leafs. Anything? Anyone?!
by blindfolded tank driver on Mar 24, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
not a statement of fact, just a possible scenario (and yes, probably an unlikely one). but you can’t rule out the possibility that nash would come here.
who here lives in Brampton?
He owns the one good bar in town… Turtle Jacks, I think it is? My memory is hazy. Anyways, he hangs out there in the summer time so you should hit it up and convince him to become a Leaf.
by Karina on Mar 24, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Asking people to go to Brampton
Is like asking people to cheer for the Habs
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
to be fair
I asked if anyone was already IN Brampton so that noone would have to make that sacrifice.
by Karina on Mar 24, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
nope...
can’t rule out the possibility that Iginla will come to the Leafs. Or that Bobby Ryan will, or Malkin, or Ovechkin.
Just saying, speculation of this type, at this point, sounds foolish. Too many unknowns at this point in the game. As I stated above, Nash and the Bleu Jackets haven’t even begun to talk new contract, so why trade him…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
they’ll trade only if they truly believe it will help the Blue Jackets to do it, not only because it helps the Leafs. The king’s ransom they’ll demand for him will be outrageous anyway. Wait until good players are available, make decent offers (ie. don’t overpay) and more importantly find cheap assets with upside for more long term growth.
Running over terribleness in search for something positive about the Leafs. Anything? Anyone?!
by blindfolded tank driver on Mar 24, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
bingo
no need for a quick fix.
Don’t get me wrong I would love (L-O-V-E LOVE) it if Nash was a Leaf, however, if Schenn 2.0 is drafted by Burke this year, the power forward position will be all filled up.
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the Leafs being your favourite team as a kid is a small factor in wanting to sign here. More important will be burke’s ability to demonstrate that this is an organization that has it’s shit together, which I think he’s on his way to doing, and actually having the money and cap space to spend on an elite player (which we’ll have as well, hopefully).
i only threw nash out there because he’s a free agent in a year. the other guys you mentioned are all under long-term contracts (except Ryan) so are much less likely to move anywhere. trading for an elite player is a lot harder than just signing one as a free agent.
I agree in that he rooted for the Leafs, but there are way too many unknowns at this point to be thinking it’ll happen.
I like Cammallerri a LOT, but I don’t think that’s the kind of player Burke will go after. If he does, great,. I like what Burke and Wilson are doing. On a team like Toronto, there can be no egos. I think the personality, more than the skill set is what Burke is looking for. That’s why May was traded for…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Here's an Eklund-esque rumour for you
I can’t vouch for the reliability of the following, but a guy I work with (who I do trust) says that a buddy of his (who I don’t know and therefore can’t decide whether to trust or not) claims to have run in to Nash at a bar when Columbus was last in T.O.
According to my buddy’s buddy, Nash was into his cups a bit – and said that he would be in Toronto in 2010.
I got it second-hand; now you’ve got it third. If you each tell two more people, Kevin Bacon will know.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Very Eklund esque.
sounds like one of Dwayne’s “sources”
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I am thinking of charging you all $24.95 for reading it…
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
No
I am thinking about charging you to read about my inside sources.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Curses!
/instantly regrets decision not to post this exclusive scoop on own blog
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Burke
confuses me. Is he really trying to drive up Kabby’s value by saying he won’t trade him? Then what was he doing when he said he wanted a 1st for Antro?
by Karina on Mar 24, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Also, Kaberle’s amazing contract is what will really drive the price up on him.
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Trading Kaberle would be a mistake. We’ll never get fair value for him and we’ll never be able to replace him. He is a very unique player that every team would love to have.
by general borschevsky on Mar 24, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
The Leafs won’t be done rebuilding in two years when his contract runs out, he’s a quiet guy who apparently isn’t much of a leader, his play ever since being concussed by Janssen has been subpar, and we would absolutely get a king’s ransom for Kaberle because of his past performance and his contract.
Alternately, because we all love Kaberle we could keep him on the team and wave goodbye when he leaves as a free agent and get nothing for him.
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but in 2 years, kabby will only be 32 or 33. he’ll still probably have another 4 good years in him, and because of the economic environment and his apparent affinity for toronto, we can probably resign him to a reasonable contract.
ok, maybe i wasn’t done debating with you.
in 2 years...
we’ll have to start worrying about Luke Schenn’s contract, and Tlusty, and Kulemin….
save the cap space for the kids.
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
you still need to have a good puck-moving / pplay quarterback defenceman, regardless of the status of Schenn et al.
Stralman.
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Whoever we get with the first rounder Kaberle returns.
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Great, he’ll be a free agent and Toronto can make him a nice offer.
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we won’t be done rebuilding in two years?
we’re a good goalie away from the PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!!1 this year.
We’re going to the dance next season. And Kaberle will come in handy when we do.
A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...
PLAYOFFS!!!!1
are you drinking the juice that Sundin enjoyed in his years here?
We could make the playoffs next year with some solid goaltending, but that’s far from being a contender. I know Mats always says that anything can happen in the playoffs, but it’ll take a couple of years of what I expect to be quick ousters in the first round, along with a lot more talent than the team currently possesses, to become a contender.
by Karina on Mar 24, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
You should know by now
That Eyebleaf is bound by contractual obligation with the devil to scream “PLAYOFFS!!!!!1” at least 50 times every 24 hours
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
I love that juice, Karina.
Anything can happen in playoffs (!!!!1). That’s the beauty of it. That’s why we just gotta make it there.
Giguere taking the Ducks on his back. The Flames winning all those game 7s in overtime. The Oilers’ magical run. Just gotta make it.
A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...
PLAYOFFS!!!!1
but
none of them won the cup.
I don’t want a cinderella run. I want a cup.
by Karina on Mar 24, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
and the only way to get a Cup is to make the playoffs.
Did you expect Tampa to win the Cup when they did?
Carolina?
A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...
PLAYOFFS!!!!1
oh
I think we could make the playoffs next year, and that’s a good thing because the young guys need the exposure. Just that making the playoffs doesn’t make us a contender. A cinderella run doesn’t make you much better either. I’d rather be like Carolina and Anaheim if we go on a cinderella run, and win it a few years later. But I fear we’d be more like Calgary and Edmonton, and I’d hate that more than waiting a few more years of early ousters from the playoffs.
by Karina on Mar 24, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
there are more teams on an upswing than not. Which 8 teams aren’t going to make it out of the east?
I’m willing to bet the sens goaltending will look a lot better with their new goalie. Philly is a questionmark with their goaltending situation, so we’ll see if they trade for someone or resign Biron. The Rangers have looked amazing with Tortorella and some big Kazakh. The Panthers are touch and go, but I think next year they’ll be even better. Pittsburgh will be really good. Same with Washington, and Boston. Montreal could fall big time, depending on how free agency shakes down.
Basically, as much of a crap shoot it is when you’re in the playoffs, it’s even more so just getting there.
who are we going to beat out?
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
More Than an 8 seed
They won their division so it was more than just a team stumbling into the playoffs. Those teams don’t win the Cup.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
none of them won the cup.
Calgary did – they just didn’t count it….
Leaf, the universe and everything.
Martin Gelinas took a shot in Game 7 that Khabibulin stopped, but his pad was behind the goal line. Nobody noticed until it was too late.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
but did Calgary complain as loud as Buffalo over the Hull goal
Running over terribleness in search for something positive about the Leafs. Anything? Anyone?!
by blindfolded tank driver on Mar 24, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
True
Gelinas would have completed a ridiculous hat-trick of series winning goals.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Really?
For some reason I thought he hadn’t done the semi.
That would have been legendary.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
the Flames
had Kipper, and Iginla and a an insanely hot Martin Gelinas. He was crazy good that entire stretch run…
Anaheim had Kariya, Selanne and Giguere.
Toronto has Schenn, Kabby and Kubina.
Also, both teams you referenced lost in the final…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Anaheim didn’t have Selanne in 03.
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they didn’t…forgot, he was a Shark by then wasn’t he.
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Giguere got insanely hot. That was my point. No one expected a Finals run for them.
And I know they lost in the Final. But I’m willing to take my shot in the finals.
I just want to make the playoffs. Period. There are no guarantees we ever win the cup. EVER. I don’t care how good our team is on paper, or which stars we have. So the more times we make the playoffs, the better.
A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...
PLAYOFFS!!!!1
Fuck Ya!!!
Amen, eyebleaf.
Making the playoffs, unexpected success, and then the eventual heartbreak is all part of the process of building a contender. We’re not gonna win the Cup in our first trip to the playoffs. We build, we fail, we learn, we get better, we win.
Just don’t give these pompass asses NTCs. You don’t need to trade them – it’s enough for them to know that they can be traded.
by general borschevsky on Mar 24, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes making the playoffs will be nice when our next young core is complete and they show the world that they’ve matured from being green rookies to young players ready to carry a team on their shoulders.
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SELL HIGH!
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
by AIG on Mar 24, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
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Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
i don’t think so.
i’ve always loved Stralman, even though he’s done little to reciprocate, but this season, on each call up, he’s looked better and better. He’s added some size (I couldn’t believe how big he looked when I saw him in LA, of course, I think he was standing next to White…) but he’s still got decent wheels, and he’s not getting as flustered with the puck.
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
aka he spent him time on the Marlies wisely and gained some confidence
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the Marlies are going to the playoffs!!!!1
A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...
PLAYOFFS!!!!1
PLAYOFFS!!!1
Marlie style
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
though, you may have slightly better chances to stay awake till the game start….
Как же так может быть?
EHF
also starts for Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever according to Wiki
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
European, hence fabulous
Как же так может быть?
by sleza on Mar 24, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I can’t trust my high-fiving to ‘the staff’
Maybe for these unwashed North American types, but not for a fabulous fellow Euro.
You've had all your word nourishment for one day.
So uh
I know the general thought is that Stralman is having a bad year for the Leafs, but has anyone looked at his numbers to see that he’s actually performing miles ahead of last season both in point production and defense?
He’s already eclipsed his previous point total from last season despite playing 14 fewer games, although his shooting percentage has gone down defensemen historically score few goals under Wilson. Not to mention sample size, Stralie’s never played over 50 games, we don’t know what his shooting average really is yet.
He’s averaging a hit a game and a blocked shot a game, better than last year on both counts, and his 6 takeaway/giveaway ratio is better than last year’s -14. He’s also an even +/ this year, which is up +10 from last year.
On Saturday Stralman played nine minutes, with an assist and an even +/-. He was on the ice for Lapierre’s first goal, but that goal was a breakdown by the forwards involved, and if you look at Poni’s reaction he knew it. Still Wilson sat him, he ended up playing 9 minutes.
Is the perception around Stralman’s year based on Wilson’s coaching decisions? Ian White was a -1 with a goal against but played 27 minutes. Wilson gets on Stralman for his breakdowns, the yo-yo treatment he’s been getting from the AHL and NHL would make it seem like upper management also doesn’t really know what to do with the kid, and the lack of a vote of confidence anywhere in the club can be damaging to a player and his reputation. But still, extrapolated to a full season, Stralie’s on pace for 10 points more than last year’s theoretical full-season totals, while playing better defense.
no idea
but that is an interesting post. Maybe they’ve decided that Stralman really does need more time in the minors first and Wilson is scared to play him in the NHL in the meantime.
The perception of his poor season comes from his play at the World Championships last year, where he was one of Sweden’s top defensemen.
by Karina on Mar 24, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
The dashes at each of the sentence…stupid automatic formatting.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I concur
Blurr’s nuts. I’ve always liked Stralman. He doesn’t play for Team Sweden for nothing.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I like him too. Hoping to see a lot more of him neat year.
You've had all your word nourishment for one day.
ummm....
my point was that Stralman is good.
how did you all miss that? was it the “we should trade Kabby and let Stralman take over because he’s been so good lately” that was confusing?
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh
But before you didn’t like him.
Either way, you’re in the books as a Stralman hater now.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
when did i not like him?
Was it when i said
i’ve always loved Stralman, even though he’s done little to reciprocate
was that it?
PS – crack kills, just sayin…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Cocaine is a helluva drug.
Still. I heard Blurr hates Stralman with a passion.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
you've really
gotta stop listening to the voices in your head, PPP.
by Karina on Mar 24, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions
why you gotta hate me like that?
now I’m gonna have to go spend all my time on Cox Bloc, with their new chat stuff…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Mar 24, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s just what a Stralman hater would say and where one would go.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Couple of points on Stralman
While I admired his play last season for Sweden at the WHC, it WAS the WHC and not the World Cup, or Olympics… you need to take it with a grain of salt. That being said, he put up the 6th highest point total amongst D at the Worlds, and he was named one of the top 3 Swedish players at the tournament, he also managed to take 25 minutes in penalties for roughing and a game misconduct against the Russians. That indicates a bit of spunk in his game we haven’t seen yet.
His biggest problem is consistency. Even at the Worlds last season, he didn’t play every game (he sat out Sweden’s second game). He didn’t score a point until his 3rd game of the tournament when he scored a goal and an assist against Denmark in the midst of an 8-1 drubbing.
He only played 2:36 against Russia before being kicked out for his roughing situation with Kovalchuk (who has a hate on for Leaf D men apparently).
He scored an important opening goal against the Czech Republic in their first victory over the team in the 2nd round, before getting 2 assists against them in their second win against them immediately thereafter.
Lastly he scored a very important 2 goals in a losing cause against Canada, which basically put his name on the Hockey stage for a long time, as many Canadians finally knew who the hell he was.
He needs polish in his own end, but his offensive skills are present and will shine through if he’s given the opportunity. He just needs to find consistency if he hopes to play on a Ron Wilson led team.
"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.
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