Maple Leafs 2 - Sharks 3
by SkinnyFish on Feb 8, 2010 9:41 PM EST
in Game Recaps
187 comments
I gotta say that despite the outcome, this was a great game played by the Leafs. It took two deflections and a wacky bounce off a skate for the Sharks to find the back of the net. Without those, the Sharks leave with a loss. The Leafs out skated, out hustled, and out bullied (save for Colton Orr) the opposition. Pretty damned impressive when you consider that half of the Toronto Marlies were on the ice along with an OHL player in Nazem Kadri, and that they were up against the second best team in the league with a healthy roster.
Evgeni Nabokov won this game for the Sharks, no question. He stopped 32 of 34 shots and came up big when he needed too; especially at the end. Could there have been a penalty shot for Dany Heatley covering the puck with his glove? Sure, but it's a non-reviewable play so it's not the replay officials fault and it would have been hard to see with that huge scrum in the crease. And the Leafs had many other opportunities they couldn't capitalize on thanks to the stellar play of Nabokov.
I can't say enough about how these New Look Leafs continue to impress me. If you have this team back in October, then it's a whole different ball game. What do you think?
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Good game
but if only that damn puck hadn’t gone wide
by The_Truculenster on Feb 8, 2010 9:44 PM EST reply actions
Blurr
where is that gif of the “what the fuck was that?…what the fuc is this?” Cat? I feel like that right now (not because of the game, just generally)
I'll roll up on you smooth and punch you in the jeans
I love that cat.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
I want to be his friend.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
he is concerned about your diabetus
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
The Leafs are a completely different team post trade. I have to think that something cancerous was in that locker room before because stempniak, schenn, bozak, hanson etc all picked it right up after the trade. This team is hardly recognizable in the hustle and intensity and defensive mistakes categories.
Speaking of Toskala
When I read this this morning I burst out laughing – they have to put up with his emceeing now hahaha
http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/07/quick-hits-from-sundays-practice-3/29425/
I found this less amusing (you can understand it I guess but still)
http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/762138—toskala-irks-ducks-takes-shot-at-leafs
by The_Truculenster on Feb 8, 2010 9:59 PM EST up reply actions
Too bad we didn’t have this team in November, when it mattered.
Pumps out more male with one thrust of the pelvis than the United States postal service over the last 146 years.
/checking
yup, still funny
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
first loss in a while i havnt felt like crap after in a long time
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
Before the trade, I would see the end of a game and wonder if there would be another Leaf win this year. This team makes me feel a lot better.
I have a thing I never update and a Twitter account
he seems like a keeper to me so far. a little more strength and some more experience and he’s good to go. he’s got good instincts and vision. A Kuleminian slope would be great from him. 11 pts in 15 games I like it
it feels different because you feel the effort was there. It might take a while to get to the light at the end of the tunnel, but at least we are beginning to see it
Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!
by blindfolded tank driver on Feb 8, 2010 9:47 PM EST up reply actions
Or whatever elements were bollicksing up the system
are gone. And now the system operates as it should, and the whole thing takes a quantum step forward.
or something like that
For sure. I’m encouraged by their play tonight. They will win their share of games down the stretch if they keep up that level of play.
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.
yeah, and they;ve played good teams (and the sens) since the trade and played well each time
might be nice when they start playing other lower tier teams
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 9:48 PM EST up reply actions
Regarding Kadri making the roster...
considering this team will probably be needing cheap options at forward, I definitely see Kadri making the team. This team will likely be thinner at FWD next year than now. Wilson has shown in the past a willingness to play young guys. If Kadri is ready, he’ll play. The Leafs have no financial reasons to keep Kadri down, like Burke did with Ryan in Anaheim.
I'm sure he will
It’s tough to add weight when you play a few times a week. He should bulk up big time in the summer.
it’s not even about getting stronger or bigger. No matter how much stronger Kadri gets, if he tries to out-muscle a guy like Clowe or Heatly, he’s going to lose. It’s all about how you pick your battles. You don’t go toe-to-to with those guys, you get under them, around them, etc and play to your strengths.
I’m talking about getting knocked off the puck and being able to take a check without damaging major organs. Today he had his stick lifted 150 times and got hit pretty light one time and flew away into the corner. I know he’s 19 I’m just sayin if we’re gonna expose him to 82 games of NHL grind I’d like him to be protected by some muscle. I don’t want to antropov him
Antropov was a completely different case. Antropov had major issues with his skating and staying healthy. If anything, it was the constant injuries that help Antropov back.
i know you could theorize his body wasn’t ready for NHL hits so he got injured. I don’t wan tthe same to happen to Kardi is all I’m saying.
by Chuck Diesel on Feb 8, 2010 10:00 PM EST up reply actions
Kadri is Awesome
I got to see Kadri when London was at Ottawa for an OHL game. You guys need not worry about his bulk/strength. Yes, he can out finesse everyone in the OHL, but he also threw some massive checks and got in a fight.
Yes, that’s right he got in a fight and totally owned his opposition. You should find this on YouTube and bask in its awesomeness. He is strong and will stick up for himself when the open space is not there. If I were a Leaf fan, I’d be totally excited about him.
The Leafs have no financial reasons to keep Kadri down, like Burke did with Ryan in Anaheim.
That depends.
If they play Kadri, they burn a year of his contract and have to pay him out one-year earlier. That might be a tough pill to swallow in three years when this team is finally competitive.
The other variable is the CBA. If it isn’t renewed, the Leafs have to take player bonuses into account. Kadri’s total hit, with bonuses, is about $2M.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
But if he makes the squad, i’d say it’s a pretty sure thing that he plays top 6 minutes. Would I pay 2 million for a top 6 player? Absolutely.
Plus, let’s be honest. Kadri has the skills to play in the NHL right now. It’s some of the other parts of his game that need work and he needs to get used to the NHL caliber of hockey. If he’s going to be your #2 center, i think you take his offensive upside over his inexperience.
I’d prefer he spend the year on the Marlies learning the game and getting bigger stronger.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
i agree with this, look at kyle turris, he’s got the skills too, but i’m willing to bet that while he would’ve been OK this season in the NHL, next season he’s going to be a superstar.
I’ll take three years of a superstar on a rookie deal, than a year of a second liner and then two years.
Who wants to hear a funny ass joke?
In a perfect world, I’d prefer him starting out in the A and then moving to the Leafs in the new year, like Bozak did. I just don’t think it’s very likely.
Why do you think the Leafs will rush his development?
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
I don’t even think it’s rushing his development. He has the puck skills, game IQ, and work ethic to play right now. Burke and Wilson were right in sending him back to the OHL to let him add some weight and get more experience. I don’t know if they are going to wait another year. I haven’t even watched the kid play that much this year, and I can already see that his puck handling might be the best on the team. He has a great sense for when and where to pass the puck, but I think he needs to play with better talent to really shine.
I have not been impressed at all with Grabovski this year, and I don’t think he’ll be the 2nd line center for the Leafs next year. Even if he is, come September, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Kadri beat him out.
You can’t really judge his positional play on tonight, because he’s playing with a whole new group of guys in a different system. But his skating, passing, puck handing….all there.
Whether or not I agree with the decision, if he has another strong training camp, there is no way he goes to the AHL.
It just doesn’t fit Burke’s typical plan with top draft picks. Look how he treated Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan. All of them spent time in the AHL, and all of them benefited from the extra development. Unless something drastically goes wrong at next year’s training camp, I think Kadri goes to the Marlies. It makes sense, it fits Burke’s M.O. and I think it’s probably best for Kadri’s long-term future.
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.
Look how he treated Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan. All of them spent time in the AHL, and all of them benefited from the extra development.
This has already been debunked. Both Getzlaf and Perry played in the AHL in the 2004-2005 season, which was the lockout year. Both would have made the NHL, in all likelihood, had the season not been wiped out,
are you sure they would have played in the NHL? I mean they might have, but that is far from debunked
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:17 PM EST up reply actions
My mistake. they were both sent back to the CHL. However, they both played less than 20 games in the AHL in 05-06. When they were ready for the NHL, they were brought up almost immediately. Ryan was a different case because of Anaheim’s cap situation.
no
Ryan was kept down for development reasons. Burke said so himself. The type of game Ryan plays required him to bulk up and learn to maintain his speed and skills while adding strength and learning how to handle himself against grown men.
Kadri plays a nasty game. He likes to get physical. He comes up to the NHL expecting to have success right away without the experience and physical strength to go with it, and he’ll fall flat on his face. Could end up ruining him in the long term if he’s forced to change his style of play.
I’ve said it before, but the guys like Crosby, Malkin, Ovehkin etc have spoiled hockey fans into thinking it’s a relatively small step from junior to pro. In a market like Toronto, fair or not, the media and most fans will have unrealistic expectations for the guy. He needs to be physically ready to handle the game, and right now, he’s not.
The highlights we’ve seen of him in the OHL are completely different than the game (single) he’s had in the NHL. He’s not comfortable playing the way he’d like right now. Chances are, he may still not be ready after this summer.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it won’t happen, or that I don’t want it to happen. More than anything I’d love to see Kadri step in and tear it up in the NHL right away. So would a lot of other fans. The law of averages being what they are say he won’t have that success right away. Teams like Detroit ease their guys in, because they can afford to thanks to their depth. I’d rather Toronto get to that level than put the prospects in because they don’t have the depth to appease the fans.
I have nothing interesting to say.
Here’s where I differ. Kadri doesn’t have to bulk up to play his style of hockey. He’s an aggressive forechecker and doesn’t shy away from contact. He may get pushed around to some extent. But there are several guys in the NHL who are undersized that can still play that way and succeed. Kadri sets himself apart because he has high-end talent with the puck. His offensive skills already translate into the NHL game. If the kid can put points on the board, especially on a team that looks like it may be think up front, I can see him making the team.
The kid is a fierce competitor. He knows how it felt to get cut last season. He’s going to make it very difficult for the team to do it again. He’s done everything asked of him by Burke and Wilson so far in the OHL. Please understand, I DO think he should start the season in the AHL. I just don’t think he will.
I’ll have to agree with blurr and others in regards to Kadri. When Kadri went down to juniors after training camp, he was in a lull and was almost going through the motions. Perhaps my memory is hazy, but I distinctly recall one of the numerous TV commentators stating that Brian Burke told Kadri in no certain terms to start playing like a man, and not a kid. Every 19 year old is different and while the physical limitations are evident, the mental aspects of the game are even harder to understand. It’s not about just playing the game on ice, but it’s how he handles himself on the road, hotels, dressing rooms, media, fan interaction, diet, etc. That’s a lot to take for any athlete, let alone a player not yet 20 years of age.
The AHL may not be what Kadri wants, but it may very well be what he needs.
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
He also turned the puck over a tonne in the third, was awful on the face-off dot and is way too small physically.
If he can’t step into the top 2 C, and I’m not sure he can – he’s behind Bozak and Grabbo on the depth chart – then he should be on the Marlies. There’s no way he fits Burke’s idea of a “pick and shovel man.”
Let him play 20+ minutes a night in the A and give him the occasional call-up to reward good play.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Grabbo was awful on face-offs for the first 2 months of the season. I don’t think he’s any smaller than Grabovski and he’s far more talented. He also plays with a ton of effort every night. I could easily see him making the team.
grabbo is 7 years older than Kadri and is probably as physically develped as far as he ever will be
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:13 PM EST up reply actions
I just don’t see it.
Best thing for Kadri is a year in the A.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
agreed, it wont hurt him at all
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:15 PM EST up reply actions
i don’t disagree with Kadri should play in the AHL to at least start the season. I’m saying that I think he’ll go straight to the Leafs.
I don’t see him displacing Bozak or Grabbo and that’s what he’ll have to do to make the club.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
That’s where I disagree. First, I’m not sold that Grabbo will even be with the team next OCtober, and if he is, he may be moved to wing. Second, I think Kadri could definitely beat out Grabovski for the 2nd line center spot
We’ll have to agree to disagree. It doesn’t make sense as a hockey decision or as a business decision.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
why would grabbo be gone? and the only way he gets bumped to wing is if an established center is brought in to dethrone him
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:25 PM EST up reply actions
Burke signed Grabbo as a stop gap. He’s here until the last year of his contract, which is probably what Burke has forecasted as Kadri’s earliest chance of getting a sniff in the NHL.
I have nothing interesting to say.
If anything, Burke and Wilson have shown their willingness to give the prospects a chance to prove themselves at the NHL level. Gunnarsson, Hanson, Stalberg, Bozak, have all gotten long looks with the team this year, and 3 of them have probably earned spots for the remainder of the season.
Kadri is more talented than all of those 4 guys. If he has another strong camp, I don’t see how they cut him.
the difference between all of those players and Kadri is physical maturity
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:40 PM EST up reply actions
THIS
Plus Wilson said again that he needs to cut down on turnovers and the types of moves that slide by in Jr but don’t work in the bigs
Willing to trade humour for cash, straight up.
raisins?
Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!
by blindfolded tank driver on Feb 8, 2010 10:43 PM EST up reply actions
Gunnarsson, Hanson, Stalberg, Bozak, have all gotten long looks with the team this year
Hanson 9 GP
Bozak 15 GP
This is a long look?
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Bozak has been with the team for 2 months. Is that not a long look at a guy?
You could probably argue Hanson hasn’t had a long look, but he’s not going anywhere now.
sorry, Bozak has been up for one month. Still, I would consider 15 games to be a long look at a kid, especially when he’s your #1 center and logging big minutes.
Considering you get a 9 game look at a kid before he has to go back to the minors, I don’t think 15 counts as a “long look”
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Yes, that’s exactly what I’m arguing.
He’s played 20% of his season this week.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
But they’ll both likely play 20 more games before the end of the year. It’s still a small sample size in the grand scheme of things but enough to keep them around.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
we have seen
a grand total of 1(one) regular season NHL game out of Kadri. If you are able to project a guaranteed top 6 nhl forward from that, would you mind buying me some lottery tickets as well?
Seriously, I’m just as excited about the prospect of seeing Kadri as a Leaf. I just have no idea how he’ll pan out. What i do know is that it takes a rare talent to step in to the NHL right after junior, and I’m not all that convinced Kadri is a once in a lifetime type of player.
I have nothing interesting to say.
“takes a rare talent to step in to the NHL right after junior”
a rare situation of a season doesn’t helps a bit
by The_Truculenster on Feb 8, 2010 10:04 PM EST up reply actions
I just meant because things have going poorly they’re more anxious for him
by The_Truculenster on Feb 8, 2010 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
ah
agree on that aspect. Things will likely go poorly next season as well.
I think when Burke said that he wants the Leafs to be competetive right away and compete for a playoff spot, people automatically assumed that to mean the Leafs had to be good right away. He never said “good” though.
He wants a team that is competitive, ie – it competes. it works hard and it forces the opposition to work even harder to beat them. The Leafs haven’t been that this season, so he brought in some guys who might help instill that attitude.
Further, the whole point of playing in the NHL is to win a cup. If that isn’t the GM’s aim every year, then they’re in the wrong job. By Burke saying that’s his aim every year, means he will always take the gamble to make the team better. Sometimes it will work, sometimes it won’t, but either way, he’s not standing pat.
I have nothing interesting to say.
I don’t think KAdri is a “once in a lifetime player”, but in the, i’ll admit, limited games I’ve seen him, his passing, puck handling, skating are all NHL ready. He just needs experience.
he'll get it
in the AHL.
Bobby Ryan was drafted second overall and in his draft year put up 95 points in 59 games in the OHL. He then spent another year in junior. Then split time between the AHL and the NHL. He’s now a 22 going on 23 year old RFA on a team up tight against the cap.
I hope Burke learns his lesson from this approach. I’d hate to be forced to trade off big names and take on crappy contracts to make cap space for Kadri when his EL contract is up.
I have nothing interesting to say.
Ryan was kept in the AHL because Anaheim was so tight against the cap. They tried bringing him up earlier in the season last year, but they couldn’t afford him to start the year last season.
I agree. The answer depends on the answer to the question “will this help us win the Cup?”
I think we are more likely to be contending 2014, not 2010. Let’s have Kadri on the cheap for the former, not the latter. Keep him down.
by The '67 Sound on Feb 8, 2010 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
Wilson not so keen on Kadri's game
From Mirtle in the Globe
Leafs coach Ron Wilson didn’t sugar-coat his thoughts on Nazem Kadri’s NHL debut. "He skated well but this was a great opportunity for him to have a see what the NHL’s all about," Wilson said. "He had a lot of turnovers and things he can probably get away with in junior hockey that you can’t get away with in our league, let alone against a top team."
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Fair comment
I still thought Kadri played fairly well all things considered, but he did struggle with those things at times. Wilson’s just being realistic, which is fine.
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.
I don’t know what anyone was expecting. Kadri has been playing in the OHL since early October. He hasn’t had any time to adjust to the NHL game. It was inevitable that he would try things that work in juniors because that’s what he is familiar with. I think if you gave him 10 games, things would be a lot different.
That was something my friend and I talked about during the pre-season. He tries to do the quick passes behind his back too often. They are easily read.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Inexcusable
Both trades have to be considered disasters. Kadri will never make it. Leaf fans are all stupid and sheep-like and are the ones responsible for the Cup draught, long may it continue.
/Berger
take the best game of your life, and put it in your mouth
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 9:54 PM EST up reply actions
I have no problem with tonight’s effort. The results kind of sucked but I am actually not disappointed.
Hope has knocked and I cautiously answered.
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Feb 8, 2010 9:56 PM EST reply actions
Welcome! We missed you…
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)
Been busy
I hope to have part 3 of my series of next year’s leafs up Wednesday night
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Feb 9, 2010 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
agreed
the Leafs played well against the league’s top team. There are green shoots of optimism all over the ice.
Giguere was steady but unspectacular. Three iffy goals against that I’m not going to blame him (or anyone else) for. Tonight anyway.
Hope springs eternal. I’m probably the last person that would have said this around December or so, but if this keeps up, I don’t give a f^&* if we do end up in 29th, win the lottery, and hand over the keys to Taylor Hall. Phil Kessel & Co. are turning into gamers.
And besides
with the way Boston is stinkin’ up the joint, Taylor Hall won’t be able to do a damn thing.
by Kavel Pubina on Feb 8, 2010 10:04 PM EST up reply actions
boston has been severly ravaged by injuries, they are not half as bad as they ahve been
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:05 PM EST up reply actions
Still
as seen with Tavares struggling in Long Island, one guy can’t save the team.
by Kavel Pubina on Feb 8, 2010 10:12 PM EST up reply actions
Sidney Crosby
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
Point taken.
Taylor Hall is no Sidney Crosby.
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.
Taylor who? Never heard of him.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
he’s expected to be the top draft pick in 2010.
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"If Chuck Norris was up against 7 Rangers, he'd call Ryan Kesler."
GO CANUCKS GO!
yes, i missed it there.
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"If Chuck Norris was up against 7 Rangers, he'd call Ryan Kesler."
GO CANUCKS GO!
Though
it took a few years (and Malkin) for Crosby to bring about winning success in Pittsburgh. It’s unrealistic to expect one guy to save the team immediately. Look at what happened to Stamkos in TBay. They had all this marketing ballyhoo with their “Seen Stamkos?” and the like, and Stamkos struggled and didn’t make an immediate impact.
by Kavel Pubina on Feb 8, 2010 10:17 PM EST up reply actions
Boston has a much stronger starting base than either the penguins or the caps had, on a healthy roster I dont even think Hall would step into the NHL on that team
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:18 PM EST up reply actions
Part of the reason Stamkos didn’t succeed right away was because the (now former) owners made one of the dumbest decisions of all time and bring Barry fucking Melrose to coach the team. He almost single-handedly torpedoed Stamkos’ rookie year.
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.
I'm interested in this, but almost no info seems available on it
what exactly did Melrose do that was so awful?
Other than rocking a mullet?
Melrose gave him very few minutes and basically, gave Stamkos very little responsibility or opportunity. But more than that, Melrose was overwhelmed in the dressing room. Lot of line combos, strategies, and on-ice adjustments were out of place or non-existent. Being away from the game for so long in a management role negatively affected the team. To be fair though, Melrose wasn’t at fault for being hired in the first place, nor did he want Stamkos on the team (he felt Stamkos should have been in juniors).
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
Another upside, Heatley didn’t score. Can’t imagine having to listen to all the stat-fattening he’s done by playing the Leafs six times a year for the past four+ years.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Positive Pubina - 02/08/10
- We fucking outplayed the Sharks. WIthout their lucky, fluky bounces, we win this game.
- The effort was there, we didn’t go all “fuck this” once SJ took the lead.
Was at the game tonight...
Cheering for the Leafs to lose in OT. I refuse to cheer for them, even with the draft pick thing, but it would have been nice if they got it to OT. Observations:
All in all, the Leafs played pretty well. SJ’s big line didn’t look particularly dangerous to me. Kadri was ok, I thought, although the Leafs are nuts if they let him play 10 games. You can tell he’s still got the physical strength of a teenager. It would be literally insane to have him burn a year off his ELC in service of a lost cause of a season. Burke’s pretty good about that though – I’m not sure he’s ever done it, to be honest. I doubt Schenn would have been here last year if Burke were hired before the season.
Kessel’s an interesting guy to watch. He was on tonight, for sure, but he stayed out for like 1:30 at the end. He was clearly gassed and doing the thing guys do in beer league when they’re out of gas but too stupid to leave the ice – just sort of hanging around away from the play and hoping that the puck bounces towards them. There’s an argument that if he changes earlier, maybe the Leafs do a better job of keeping the puck in and get an extra chance. Strikes me as odd that Wilson lets that go.
Phaneuf will be a hell of a player if he ever figures out when to make a play that takes him out of position. He got lucky that Shelley got that penalty towards the end of the second – otherwise SJ has an odd man rush going the wrong way because he decided to fill in Jody Shelley. Shelley needs to learn how to do deal with him – you can’t ask him to fight because he runs away. Just drop the gloves and start punching. (Works best if you stick him in the face first.)
All in all though, pretty good night for the Leafs. Tough luck for Giggy on two of those goals and Bozak/Schenn kind of screwed up the third one. You can start to see the shell of a successful hockey team here.
Not only that...
I went to the game in a suit, sat in the lower bowl and listened to the guys behind me confer amongst one another and decide that, yes, hockey has periods instead of quarters. No joking.
No you get out.
mc79 is an Oilers fan, and a damn fine one at that.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
I’m surprised his post-game analysis didn’t have a great argument as to why the Leafs should acquire Moreau.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
scary thing is
there’s a good chance he’d make it a compelling argument…
I have nothing interesting to say.
my counter point, Moreau is terrible
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:32 PM EST up reply actions
MC79 is ahead of you there. Some pretty strong data at his site that Moreau’s done.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
counterpoint, Moreau is terrible
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
(I am aware this makes no sense)
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 10:39 PM EST up reply actions
I remember thinking at the beginning of the season
when Khabibulin fumbled that puck…. oohhh that’s not a good sign
by The_Truculenster on Feb 8, 2010 10:33 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah...
turns out that was a high point of his season because at least he was giving away goals instead of having back surgery.
And for any Leafs fans wondering: Moreau is oh so painfully finished. I hope he’s here soon, so that I can boo him at Leafs/Oil on March 13. I’m going to be doing it anyway but it’s confusing looking when a guy in an Oil jersey is booing an Oil. Him being a Leaf would make things much simpler.
I like your thinking – some moron at work the other day said " Moreau for Kaberle – I hear that is being proposed."
I looked at him like he had the mental capacity of a 3 year old(dog, not person.) And then proceeded to tell him how stupid of a deal that is.
He then says “but they need a #1 centre and Moreau is a Burke type player(BTW I HATE that expression burke type player….)”
I should have stopped there but I had to say. “No, a Burke type player is a good player – Moreau is fucked. Edmonton would have to give us their first this year, a prospect and something else if they want us to trade Kaberle to them.”
I then proceeded to spend 2 minutes explaining to him why the Oilers have no interest in Kaberle because he only has one year contract left and they won’t be competitive… AND there is no way Kaberle would waive his NTC to go to the Oilers…
I don’t hold out much hope for that guy…
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Feb 9, 2010 11:45 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks for dropping by.
Good comments. Agree with most of them.
You can start to see the shell of a successful hockey team here
It’s exciting.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
wow … came over to say good game …cause I’ve hung out with you guys plenty of times … but reading this thread, seems you guys have hung out with Wings / Hawks fans a little bit much lately huh?
(shrugs)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Feb 8, 2010 11:11 PM EST reply actions
wut?
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 11:14 PM EST up reply actions
I dont think we ripped on anyone especially hard or in any unwarented fashion, except maybe heatly, but he is a tool and we hate him from his Ottawa days
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 11:16 PM EST up reply actions
what he said
whatever dude. you’ve caught Leaf fans in one of their rare moments of positivity and your gripe is what, exactly?
Your team is very skilled. They played well enough to win and deserve better in the special teams department. Your goalie was excellent.
let’s get back to discussing nazem kadri.
Game in Six
http://mapleleafs.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=802&id=59798
Who wants to hear a funny ass joke?
If a week and a half ago, you’d told me any of the following things:
Colton Orr would score on a breakaway against Marty Brodeur
Brian Burke would trade six players on the same day
Someone would actually take Vesa Toskala in a trade without Burke putting a gun to their head
Rickard Wallin would score his first NHL goal in six years against Marty Brodeur
Nazem Kadri would play his first ever game for the Leafs
I’d actually enjoy watching hockey again before the Olympics
Not only would Giguere become the 2nd Leaf goalie to get a shutout in his debut, but he would go 2 full games and over 7 periods without giving up a goal as a Leaf
The Leafs would play New Jersey three times, Vancouver, Ottawa (on an 11 game winning streak), and San Jose, and go 2-3-1. (and have out and out blown 2 of them, and just come up short in the 3rd loss)
I would not have believed a single one of them,.
Resident Capologist
Toskala Cap Counter - RIP
There's no proof...
Burke didn’t pull a gun to make that Toskala trade happen.
Willing to trade humour for cash, straight up.
Rickard Wallin would score his first NHL goal in six years against Marty Brodeur
Not much to add, except Wallin isn’t looking so terrible with a defined role and a different team anymore. I’m happy, but confused. So, confappy? (Though that sounds more like I touch myself to convicts, so let’s scratch that one, shall we?)
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
by bkblades on Feb 8, 2010 11:53 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And hapfused sounds like you were the victim of some terrible experiment conducted by a mad scientist.
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.
Lab notes, Feb 8, 2010
Upon being strapped to the restraint chair, subject was saboggled, until 10cc’s of beribald were administered, and he entered a state I can only describe as hapfused.
The Defense
Hey guys, just here to drop a link for you guys to see; it basically contextualizes (very basically – I don’t have a lot of time right now) the new defensive roles. Phaneuf’s arrival (and hopeful ascent as a stud defenseman) has a major impact on the defense as we all know.
http://hfbroads.com/showthread.php?t=17160
Let me know what you all think. KavelPubina, sup dude?
Love the creative name for the site.
I just might join.
by Kavel Pubina on Feb 9, 2010 12:56 AM EST up reply actions
Sounds like fun
would like to bring my rantings there.
by Kavel Pubina on Feb 9, 2010 12:59 AM EST up reply actions
Ranting is okay in short-doses. It’s funnier if you can actually make it sound awesome. We support swearing, pornography, and general irreverence. We’re a laid-back group.
SO PISSED ABOUT TONIGHT'S GAME
I can’t believe calling up a kid out of nowhere from the OHL wasn’t enough to push us past the top team in the Western Conference while the flu runs roughshod through the team.
We should trade Kadri and Kaberle to Boston for our picks back.
Willing to trade humour for cash, straight up.
by Archimedies on Feb 9, 2010 4:00 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Whoa there!
my Sarcasm-O-Meter just broke!
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Feb 9, 2010 11:57 AM EST up reply actions
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