Dog Days
by birky on Aug 22, 2010 7:00 AM EDT
in From The Branches
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There are 47 days until the Leafs open the season with a trouncing of the Canadiens. It can't come soon enough. Still, there's plenty of Leaf related stuff to write about (unless you work for the Toronto Sun). Who'll win the second-line left wing spot? Who will be the third-line center? Will Nazem Kadri make the final roster? How about Jerry D'Amigo? Articles about camp, roster battles, and season predictions are starting to trickle in. That's probably a good thing, considering how much we've over-analyzed the moves made this summer. If you're new around these parts or don't have a blog of your own, feel free to throw up a fanpost and let the community weigh in. The worst that can happen is that people disagree with you (trust me, I get this A LOT). I think everybody looks forward to hearing some new ideas about the upcoming season.
Links after the jump.
Sunday links:
Pension Plan Puppets vs. Toronto Sun: The Latest Battlefield in Old vs. New?
Hockey Wilderness with an outsider view on Fullergate.
Yakov's take on how the bottom six could shape up.
Proof the Kabby and Wilson have some issues...
The Muppet from BoO looks at the possible rift between the coach and his defenseman.
The General has a heart to heart with his beloved.
12 Burning Questions: Will the young players carry their weight?
MLHS looks at the youngins'
Weekend Stir Up: Leafs media drama
Maple Stirup with his take on Fullergate.
Should the NHL go to 3-on-3 in overtime?
The man, myth, legend James Mirtle takes a look at opening up the ice to lower the number of shootouts.
Missed your post? Throw it in the comments.
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The distractions!
The number 1 reason I wanted to see Kabby traded for ANYTHING was the fact he is already the medias favorite story. I cant envision any scenario where this is going to die down. I am Burkes biggest fan but not trading him is his biggest disaster as GM
by Johnny Bower's Pokecheck on Aug 22, 2010 8:09 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
My vote still goes to the Kubina trade. Biggest disaster in my eyes.
by fatassjackson on Aug 22, 2010 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I vote the Lebda signing
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions
‘Disaster’ is a pretty strong word, especially for a small signing like Lebda’s, but I agree that it doesn’t look like a great move. Komisarek I don’t have a great feeling about his Komisarek signing, though. We’ll see.
"Defense! Defense! Common! Do you call that blowing!?"
i’m just trying to skew the results with dumbassery
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
We could take up the media narrative and claim that Kaberle is going to become a dressing room cancer.
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Aug 22, 2010 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions
‘Disaster’ is a pretty strong word
Burke likes having a lot of Dmen around and at $1.45 for 2 seasons he may end up being a nice signing.
He’s played behind Lidstrom, Chelios and Rafalski and has a Cup ring. Not to mention David Poulin coached him in College, so they’ve got a fair idea of what they were getting. Not a huge signing, just some insurance with some possible upside. Now the Kubina deal … that was more my idea of disaster.
by leafsandstuff on Aug 22, 2010 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
that really has yet to be seen if it is a total disaster.
the deal itself was a loss out right, Burke knew that, no way fair market value for Kubina (and prospect stapleton) was exelby and colin stewert.
The goal was to clear cap space to sign Komi and Beauch. And in that it was successful
Beauch had a pretty decent season in which he played the toughest minuites defensivly on the 2nd worst team in the NHL and didn’t do too bad of a job at it.
Komi started rough, but settled in and was very good, then he got hurt.
If Komi has a bounce back year and Beauch continues to be a workhorse and minuite monster then it is very well worth the trade off of a bad value deal
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for saying everything I was going to say
Keep fighting the good fight
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
The goal was to clear cap space to sign Komi and Beauch
Agree 100 percent it was a dump, and in that respect it was successful. My problem was seeing nothing coming back except for cap space. I guess I expected to see something come back for a 244 lbs Dman who could play the pp, especially after listening to Burk talk all season about how valuable dmen are on the trade market.
…
life was so easy before the cap.
by leafsandstuff on Aug 22, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Phaneuf-Kaberle-Komisarek-Beauchemin-Gunnarrson=-Schenn.
This is hardly a disaster.
“We worked very hard to put this group together. And my inclination is to do nothing.”
-Burke
Yet, because of Komisarek’s injury, we’ve yet to see these 6 suit up together. Just once – just once! – I would like to see these six defenders all in uniform for the same game. Then we’ll see what kind of a disaster it is.
by general borschevsky on Aug 22, 2010 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions
/glee
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
that’s 1314lbs of Defense there
averaging 219lbs per (assuming Gunnar is at only 200lbs)
the shortest is Beauch at 6 even
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
wow, and we still have 5+ mil in D-men sitting in the press box.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Nowhere to go but up!
by LeafFan1989 on Aug 22, 2010 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
correction, we still have 4.95 mil in D-men sitting in the press box!
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Big question
Will Finger be in the press box or playing for the Marlies?
by general borschevsky on Aug 22, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
as it stands now he and Lebda probably play musical press box like he did with exelby last season.
No reason to send finger to the marlies and risk losing a serviceable all around D (abet an expensive one) to waivers unless the Leafs have a better use of cap space coming in
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Get out of my head!
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Aug 22, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
but it’s so roomy
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d say it depends on what our needs are, if we don’t actually need the cap space he’ll sit in the press box, if we do, he’s on the Marlies.
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Aug 22, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
You are awesome. Very very awesome
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
You’re right. It will probably be one of the better defensive groups in the NHL. Still extremely concerned about how we’re going to score goals.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
punching the puck into the net, duh
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
How about Jerry D’Amigo?
I’m quite intrigued by him. (sorry, didn’t mean to use a Bob McClown word). Prior to the World Jr’s I didn’t even know he was on the radar. Other than the fact he’s a U.S. born player I wouldn’t have thought of him as a Burke type player. He seems to have offensive talent, scoring around a point a game for the last few seasons. I’d love to see him stick, but I have to think he’s a long shot to make the club out of camp.
I’ve found since the kid signed his contract his “stick with the Leafs out of camp” potential has sky rocketed. Before then you would be hard pressed to find anyone even mention the kid in the same breath as the Marlies, let alone Leafs. I find itsome what amusing and unrealistic to suddenly see him penciled into so many line ups around the Barilkosphere.
If he makes the squad, awesome, good on him. But I don’t like the thought of what may happen if he doesnt even crack the marlies in the eyes of some leafies out there.
He’s a 19 year old 6th round pick, lets not get hasty peoples
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
also Mueller and Iriwn, and while neither are proven in the NHL, they are older, big bodied and more physically developed, I’m pretty sure Leafs brass will opt to give them a shot in the bigs than a green kiddo, unless he absolutely blows them away at camp
same goes for Kadri, mind you
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
As I read somewhere else, if D’Amigo’s draft year had been last year, he would’ve been a first round pick, second at worst. I think he’s going to be a legitimate contender for the Competition Slot. But I’m really excited to see a Marlies line of D’Amigo-Kadri-Mueller/Irwin/Caputi [whoever loses the fight for the competition slot]. I think that’ll be our Sheltered Line of the future.
If I'm losing an argument, I ask myself "What would a real journalist do?"
Then I cower behind: "You still don't get it. Deal with it."
I think Brian Burke said that his group thought D’Amigo would have been a late first rounder should the draft be"redone". Haven’t heard that anywhere else.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
/still holding out hope Sondre Olden is the next Datsyuk / Zetterberg
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
BINGO!
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
He (Sundin) became better and better the longer the match went and I think he could step into any Elitserien team without making a fool of himself. With couple of weeks of training.
Мы в любовь играли,
И как кровь из вены капает слеза.
Remember kids it's down the road not across the street
/swoon
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
i can’t even imagine what would happen if he came back… the press conference would probably be like “Blah, blah boring news blah blah, and hey by the way, we just signed sundin: You losers can fight for the second place. c ya bitches”
Мы в любовь играли,
И как кровь из вены капает слеза.
Remember kids it's down the road not across the street
by sleza on Aug 22, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Hahahaha rec’d for Sundin love.
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Aug 22, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Coda, Verse 13
He would smile that glorious smile of his, and flash his golden medallion, and the ice would part for him out of awe and respect.
And they would whisper from the benches “There goes he who was once and always our King”.
But he said “You are not my subjects but my princes. Follow me and I will show you how to find your own crowns”.
And he skated down with a forehand, backhand, and a slight pause, delivering the puck into the upper reaches of the net.
Pointing to them all, they only felt him pointing to their hearts; blue & white or blue & yellow, hearts that awakened as though they had been dead all along.
And he just smiled that glorious smile of his.
by Death_By_Leafs on Aug 22, 2010 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i was reading this as the crowd at the ACC gave Mats his standing O for scoring his all time Leafs leading point and goal (on leafs tv)
fantastic timing
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
just watched that the other day on youtube. i still get misty eyed.
Yesterday is dead, but not my memory.
course they follow that game up with the one where toskala lets in the 197 foot shortie
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Details, details.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Aug 22, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
This is how I like to imagine the scenario
[PRESS CONFERENCE. BRIAN BURKE is hosting reporters.]
BURKE:…and upon investigation, it transpired part of Luke’s weight gain was down to his regimen of eating cow hearts under the misapprehension it would give him some kind of boost.
REPORTER: What kind of boost?
BURKE: We’re still not sure. He insists on eating thirteen every day and, so far, the only change is that he occasionally moos when on the traine-wait a second. Did I just say…thirteen?
REPORTER: Yes. Why?
BURKE: Oh, no reason. It’s not like I tempted Sundin out of retirement with the promise of playing with a real superstar on his wing for the first time ever
[Cut to: MOGINLY HOUSEHOLD]
ALEX MOGINLY:…oh just fuck you, Brian.
[Cut to: PRESS CONFERENCE]
BURKE: No, because that would just be crazy. I mean, it’s not like he’s in hockey shape or anything, he’d get embar-
[DAVE NONIS leans over and whispers into BURKE’S ear]
BURKE: What’s that? You say Mats is in better shape than he’s ever been? You say we signed him this afternoon? You say he’s here right no-
[Joe Satriani’s “Crowd Chant” interrupts him as MATS SUNDIN walks into the room. He throws a thumbs up, flashes a smile and heals a leper who mistakenly thought Wendel Clark still played for the team.]
~
I’m going to go to bed right now and hope I can dream that occurring. Goodnight everybody
miss mats so much…. dion has ALOT to live up to
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Aug 22, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I remember hearing the same thing about Mats, and Dougie, and Wendel
The Leafs C is instant magic, I have no doubt one day people will be talking about Phaneuf with the affinity we have for the rest
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
MAGIC
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
there were concerns about a young 20 something taking the reigns of the historic and storied maple leafs and if he would stand up to past greats such as Sittler etc yes
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
i do too, the anticipation of seeing Dion rock the “C” is killin me.
Also, how long until we see #13 honoured?
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Aug 23, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I still think Kulemi, Kadri and Kessel on a line would be hilarious, albeit awkward for the colour commentators
Introducing the all new and improved Me! Now with more Me then before! Get the new Me while supplies last! Quantities are limited!
Offer not guaranteed to contain Me, New Me, or any quantities of Me. Offer limited to Me. No refund of Me will be issued.
The Burger King line.
"I don’t know what it is about me that makes people think I want to hear their problems. Maybe I smile too much. Maybe I wear too much pink. But please remember, I can rip your throat out if I need to."
by Wrap Around Curl on Aug 22, 2010 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
How to fix the issue of shootouts RE Mirtle's article
I have been banging this drum for around 5 and a half years now….
Get rid of the shootout. Do 10 minutes of 4 on 4 – if it ends in a tie – so be it.
Also, even if someone loses in OT – No loser points.
Problem solved.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Aug 22, 2010 4:27 PM EDT reply actions
Get rid of the shootout.
Here here!
I’ve been watching this game for over 40 years. There’s no better sport on earth. I’ve never seen a problem with ties. 2 for a win, 1 for a tie. 10 mins of OT 4 on 4 is great but if it’s still tied after that I’m good with it.
If they want shoot-outs so much, bring back SHOWDOWN.
by leafsandstuff on Aug 22, 2010 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
This is what I would like to see, too.
Blogging on hockey at Globe on Hockey
by James Mirtle on Aug 22, 2010 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Better than the shootout. And it’s working in Junior A.
Blogging on hockey at Globe on Hockey
by James Mirtle on Aug 22, 2010 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Like it
Bring back the tie. No loser points. Shoot-outs suck.
by general borschevsky on Aug 22, 2010 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions
If the problem is teams playing too defensively near the end, I don’t think bringing the tie back is necessarily going to solve it. It definitely will be less of a factor than the loser point. I personally don’t have a huge issue with the tie, but I’ve come to terms with the fact that it’s not coming back.
I’d rather them play 4v4 until they have a winner (I’d venture you’d be able to settle all but a rare couple of games in a single 20 minute 4v4 period), but I’m admittedly intrigued by the 4v4, 3v3. Anything’s better than the shootout though.
Prefers pugnacity to truculence.
What if there were 0 points for an overtime tie. So nobody wins anything?
1) Both teams have everything to gain by trying to win down to the last second,
2) it’s satisfying – if you don’t win you don’t get anything. You have to earn every point. That’s way better than assigning points by coin flip, because it means points are worth something – they prove you achieved things.
3) You might even watch 2 teams you hate play (or at least the end of a tied game), which you would never normally do – because no you really CAN cheer for everybody to lose. That’s a win for the NHL because you might actually get a few more eyeballs watching teevees, and that’d help their numbers.
Hm… This is a good idea, I should fanpost this..
I know it's not 100% hockey
But keeping in the recent theme of “Toronto sports newspaper columnists are fucking ridiculous”, our old friend Damien Cox is getting absolutely ripped apart today by Blue Jays fans thanks to this article: http://thestar.blogs.com/thespin/2010/08/gotta-at-least-ask-the-question.html which basically fingers Jose Bautista as a steroid user. Nowhere in this article is there a quote from anybody, much less Bautista, and when a lowly blogger wrote a similar post a few years ago (About Raul Ibanez, I believe) the guy was totally chastised on ESPN.
Because Cox is such an esteemed member of the REAL media, I’m sure he’ll be in the Jays clubhouse this week looking to follow up this story, right? Right?
Please don't act like this comment is important
I’d love to read and comment on this, but one of my personal rules are:
Never read anything written by Damien Cox.
This rule has served me well for the past 2 years and I don’t see any reason to break it now.
The only Cox I have read would be quotes that are posted on this website – and I feel dirty after reading them. There is only so many times you can scrub your corneas before you do permanent damage.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Aug 22, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
You're right
and it went against every fibre of my being to go through with reading it, but it was generating too much heat for me to fully ignore.
If you’re keeping score, in the last 4 days the Toronto Sun has pissed off PPP, the biggest Leafs blog on the internet and now the Toronto Star is at war with Drunk Jays Fans, the biggest Jays blog on the internet.
Oh, this city.
Please don't act like this comment is important
Yes
It’s a great read. Even gives mention to the Sun beef here at PPP
Please don't act like this comment is important
Trade Dion Phaneuf
He is the ONLY big name the Leafs have that they can trade and it won’t effect the Leafs performance. How about Phaneuf for Braden Schenn ?
by money never sleeps on Aug 22, 2010 9:53 PM EDT reply actions
.
You may be taking Jared a little too seriously
by JaredFromLondon on Aug 22, 2010 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions
They made him a captain… like couple of months ago… u realize that right?
by hockeyphreak on Aug 23, 2010 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Man,
this obsession with Brayden Schenn has to stop.
(Yes, I resisted from making the obvious “Schenn” pun there.)
by Marc Pilgrim on Aug 23, 2010 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Welcome
Thanks for joining and for giving us a great laugh.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
The Toronto Sun: The Philadelphia Flyers of journalism.
"My country is the world, my religion to do good" - Thomas Paine
by article1 on Aug 23, 2010 1:01 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
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