Toronto Needs a Plinkett Review
If you don't know what a Plinkett Review is, then head over to RedLetterMedia.com right now, watch all three Star Wars prequel reviews and come back to this article in 6 hours. Seriously go now. For those of you left, you know that "Plinkett" is a guy who reviews terrible movies and picks them apart to inform you the viewer about how terrible they truly are on so many more levels than you were even aware of. The man knows movies. I've just finished watching his Episode III review (epic) and have come to the realization that the Leafs are much like the Star Wars franchise; they were both once great and amazing to watch but then they were led astray by people who didn't understand what they were doing and have ended up as terrible messes.
Star Wars was destroyed by its very own creator, George Lucas. Somewhere along the line, he was given too much power over the franchise and the prequels resulted. Brian Burke is the latest in a long line of general managers who, as Lucas, didn't understand what they were doing and we the viewing public have paid for these mistakes. Brian Burke's tenure, I believe, is a perfect candidate for a Plinkett style review.
#1 - A complete lack of ability to properly judge on-ice talent. Examples: Brett Lebda, Mike Komisarek, Garnet Exelby, Rickard Wallin, Colby Armstrong, Tyler Bozak, Martin Gerber. Who wants a Burkie dog? Send me a self addressed, stamped envelope if you want a Burkie dog.
How Bad Has Armstrong's Season Been?
mf37 does the research as comes back with an answer: Hindenburgesque
Tim Horton's Launches Leafs Themed Donuts
What is it with this team and breakfast foods?
Teams Lining Up for Kris Versteeg
Or at least they are in the mind of Leafs Nation Online.
The Leafs' Guide to Life in the Basement
Puckin' Eh with an informative piece for the New Jersey Devils
Courtesy of Slava Duris at Leafs Nation
Without Contraction Rivalries Will Die
VLM with an interesting look at how a dilution of talent is bad for hockey.
Pretty neat article at the G&M from a pro.
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Gerber….man I still don’t get that move.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
It’s all in the name – Darth Gerber
PS Is it just me or is it entirely possible that Wilson got a wake up call from Burkie… Him being so cranky and all. It was like: “one more season and a half like this and I’ll think about sacking you!”
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 7:22 AM EST up reply actions
to which Wilson would reply “get me some fucking talent to work with”
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 7:24 AM EST up reply actions
touche! Although that jab doesn’t make me feel any better. It’s like we’re in a who gets the blame warzone. And it’s a standoff.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 7:28 AM EST up reply actions
Gold tonight!
Visentin gets the start, and I’m feelig dangerously overconfident.
Ticket price difference for Canada & Non Canada games:
Day 11 / Wednesday Jan 5th, 2011
3:30 PM…………….Bronze……….………$35.00 per ticket
7:30 PM…………….Gold…………………$200.00 per ticket
A little side note: The World juniors takes such a big chunk of the TV audience History moved the premiere of Ice Pilots to next week to avoid the game.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
That’s not surprising, the gold medal game sold out ages ago, I do know someone who is going though… jealous.
and we all are anxiously awaiting Ice Pilots….. /blink.
Burke is the type of guy who will take a big shit on the floor right in front of you and then tell you straight faced that it wasn’t him. -Skinnyfish 12/3/10
by Future_considerations on Jan 5, 2011 8:41 AM EST up reply actions
Toronto Needs a Plinkett Review
I endorse this statement, and recommend the associated link.
Lies. All lies.
I just watched the Plinkett Review of Avatar. So funny.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 9:20 AM EST up reply actions
I’m with you, being Croatian I have no options but to root for Canada. Many many reasons.

Many.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 7:31 AM EST reply actions
Yeah, I’ll give on the fact that Armstrong is overpaid, but at least he’s battling out there…
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 7:37 AM EST up reply actions
He’s losing the battles. The Leafs get out-shot when Armstrong is on the ice.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
This is Toronto. Learn your math.
Apparent efforts + No results > missed efforts + results.
Armstrong > Kessel.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
That’s sadly true. For many Leaf fans, intentions often count more than results.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
But Tie tried so hard! On every shift!
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
I’ve said it before and will say it again—this is true of virtually all North American fanbases (can’t speak ot the rest of the world).
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
If you work hard you’ll get the bounces eventually. Luck runs out after a while.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:17 PM EST up reply actions
while his ability to judge talent
Is definitely questionable, I disagree with a few of those players you mentioned.
Everyone anticipated Bozak to have a better year. At the end of last year we were all excited for him.
With Armstrong, he knew what he was getting into. He didn’t misjudge his talent, he overpaid him. There is a difference.
How did he misjudge Gerber?
Also, with this post, are you saying you can judge talent better than Burke?
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
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by leafer1984 on Jan 5, 2011 7:40 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I can judge talent better than Burke. Colby Armstrong is overrated from playing with Crosby. Boom. I just judged talent better than Burke.
Cut me some slack, I’ve been up all night drinking.
Lies. All lies.
by betterforsome on Jan 5, 2011 7:47 AM EST up reply actions
If you had said this before the signing, I would have taken you seriously there.
I'm thinking that when the Leafs win the Cup, I'll lose my drinking problem.
by leafsfan4life94 on Jan 5, 2011 5:58 PM EST up reply actions
I think a number of fans pointed out that it was unlikely Bozak was the real deal (how many un-drafted players can handle the rigors of the 1C job with just 37 professional games under their belt?).
The Leafs complete lack of depth/experience at C was something that was quite clear in the off-season.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Bozak is getting the Matt Stajan treatment right now… a guy who is not skilled enough to be a #1C being forced to play that role and being chastized for it. His “get it to Kessel” method of putting up points hit a brick wall this year too.
It’s too bad too, if we could bring in a legit #1C he’d be just fine (with a reasonable contract) to be a 3C.
20 miles to Legoland!
Was this due to Burke being unable to obtain a #1C (heck, even a #2C) during the off-season, thus forcing them to play Bozak as the #1C or was it because Burke actually believed Bozak was ready, or had the potential to fulfill that position and role?
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Jan 5, 2011 8:24 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Bigger questions:
If they had pencilled Kadri in at 2C, how do the rest of the Cs shake out?
Is there another team in the NHL with less professional experience in the 1-4C roles?
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
We’re the youngest team in the league. There isn’t another NHL team with less professional experience across the board.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Nah I just checked their payroll and Alexei Yashin is a grizzled vet for sure.
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We’re the youngest team in the league.
You say that like it’s an unconditionally good thing.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Only when it’s the Oilers.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
It’s not a good thing, but A it’s expected from a rebuilding team, B it’s expected from a team that lacks established elite talent, and C it’s just that having little experience down the middle isn’t exactly an anomaly for this team.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
I guess my point is all of this was well known and easy to mitigate yet nothing was done.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Eh. I don’t mind giving developing kids a whole bunch of ice time, especially if there wasn’t a way to give a quality veteran a short, cheap contract. Maybe there was, but I’d just rather not see our first line center look like Armstrong-, Lebda-, or Komisarek-esque signings.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Who exactly are the “developing kids” that are getting the ice time?
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Kadri and Bozak. Mostly Bozak. So, y’know. That’s going well.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
More importantly: We don’t have some 29 year old 50 point player signed for 4 years at $5M to bring “veteran presence” and “win hard battles” on this team.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
I don’t think anyone is calling for bad contracts, but it would have been nice to have a veteran that might step in or shelter one of these guys:
NHL Games Played prior to 2010-11
Tim Brent 19
Tyler Bozak 37
John Mitchell 136
Mikhail Grabovski 164
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
http://www.capgeek.com/players/display.php?id=705
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I don’t think there was a #1C on the market. I’m no Burke apologist but our hole at centre was not, to me, “easy to mitigate”.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
Burke wanted the Sedins. He’s been scrambling for a solution ever since he missed out on them.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
No doubt he wanted them, but I doubt that was his only plan.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
no
Burke only has one plan ever. there are no “plan b” or “plan c” scenarios, because that would be him admitting that “plan a” may not have a chance at success, and winners don’t think that way.
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
My bad.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
sorry if I wasn’t clear. I wasn’t looking for, nor expecting, Burke to land a #1C, they’re pretty rare birds.
Rather, I thought it would be prudent for this team to take on a veteran centre that could eat some tough minutes to provide some shelter for the kids.
Going into camp with four Cs with a combined NHL experience of about 350 games strikes me as a good way to lose early and lose often.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
was there anyone available that would have made sense short term and long term on july 1? it didnt seem like it….
Matthew Lombardi was one guy I thought off, but he seemed to be shot down pretty quick ’round here.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
I still think Brendan Morrison made sense. He’s not going to light the world on fire, but he’s playing 15 minutes a night in Calgary and keeping his head above water.
Eric Belanger was another option.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
That’s the one I would have liked after the whole Caps fiasco.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
Matt Cullen?
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
Cullen got a 3 year deal, not sure that’s an ideal term for the situation in Toronto.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
tru.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
Sort of like when the Islanders signed Guerin to be their captain. That was a win-win for everybody. Guerin got a chance to prove he could still play while the Islanders got veteran presence and leadership for a while, then flipped him for assets.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
/checks standings
success…?….!
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
I knew someone was going to go there. Just because the Islanders did dick all with the assets they got out of Guerin doesn’t discount the validity of the strategy at the time. If the Leafs did something similar I would be very happy.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
makes all the sense in the world
step 1 – sign old guy
step 2 – trade old guy for picks
step 3 – draft useless players
step 4- don’t improve team
step 5 – profit!
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
Well obviously the difference would be for the Leafs not draft useless players. The one has nothing to do with the other. If the Islanders have bad scouting, that’s their problem, and a separate issue.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
I think their rebuild plan is long-term, so its unfair to judge the Islanders this early
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
I hear you. I’d rather suffer through this crap-fest than take on a Morrisson though. At least we’re learning something about Kadri and Bozak.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
I really don't think
Bozak is horribly underperforming.
I keep trying to point this out, but 15 goals, and 42 points through 75 NHL games really isn’t that crappy.
When Andy McDonald was 23/24 playing as a free agent signee out of NCAA for the Ducks, he posted 8 goals and 21 assists for 29 points through his first 69 games (though he admittedly was only averaging 14:52 in ice time).
I really don’t think it makes sense to think that Bozak is doing atrociously. He definitely hasn’t impressed as much as I had hoped he would (I remember saying something about improving to a ppg player – which I freely acknowledge was pie in the sky thinking), but he’s doing pretty damn well.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on Jan 5, 2011 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
the pie-in-the-sky days were so much better than the shit-in-the-mud days of late.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 1:04 PM EST up reply actions
Bozak’s waking up a little, which is nice.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Yeah, we’re learning his likely ceiling is #2C and right now he’s a #3C.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
To be fair, we didn’t really lose early. Often, ok, but we were good for four games of early.
by Leaf in Habland on Jan 5, 2011 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
Three of those four wins were 1 goal games…bit of luck in there too.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
So the Leafs are 4-9 in one goal games? Split the difference, make them 7 and 6 and their record is 17-17-4.
They move up one whole place in their conference.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Didn’t have to be a #1 centre just one who could play tough minutes without getting buried.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
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by PPP on Jan 5, 2011 7:28 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think any of that statement is entirely fair
Matt Stajan at 23-24 averaged 0.16 gpg, 0.28 apg, and 0.44 ppg… while playing roughly 17:30 in average ice time over 164 games.
Bozak at 23-24 has averaged 0.20 gpg, 0.36 apg, and 0.56 ppg… while playing roughly 19:08 in average ice time.
I think Bozak is far closer to a top line centre at his age than Matt Stajan was.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on Jan 5, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
What are the totals if they’re adjusted for TOI: G/60, A/60, Pts/60?
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
I don't have ES ice time up, but give me 10 seconds here
and I shall calculate.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on Jan 5, 2011 12:54 PM EST up reply actions
Ok
Stajan at 23/24 had the following numbers:
ES G/60 = 0.58, A/60 = 0.95, P/60 = 1.53
PP G/60 = 0.56, A/60 = 2.26, P/60 = 2.82
Bozak so far at 23/24 has the following:
ES G/60 = 0.49, A/60 = 1.20, P/60 = 1.69
PP G/60 = 1.41, A/60 = 1.17, P/60 = 2.58
So he’s a fair bit better at even strength, and on the PP he scores more goals, but his point totals are a bit lower. Frankly some of that won’t be helped by the Leafs PP at the end of last year, and Stajan was playing on the PP with McCabe, Tucker, Sundin, etc. so that doesn’t hurt his assist totals.
I’d say Bozak is quite a bit more developed offensively than Stajan was at the same age.
"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.
Duh
that’s why it’s 2.0.
Version 2 is better than version 1! Has updated patches so it’s Mac compatable.
20 miles to Legoland!
There’s been a skill Drop-off, that no-one anticipated..
Most of the blame is to be shouldered by the players…which will hopefully manifest in them being shipped out.
Burke is the type of guy who will take a big shit on the floor right in front of you and then tell you straight faced that it wasn’t him. -Skinnyfish 12/3/10
by Future_considerations on Jan 5, 2011 8:12 AM EST up reply actions
Also, with this post, are you saying you can judge talent better than Burke?
Well yeah, I obviously stated exactly that in the third para……wait. I never said this. Is it against the rules to say someone has a bad judge of X without implying that you yourself are better than them at X?
Phil Kessel is terrible at playing a power forward role on the ice. This is a fact. Phil Kessel would ruin my shit sideways were he and I to battle for a puck in the corners. This is also a fact. Brian Burke has repeatedly misjudged player talent leading to failures on the ice. This is a fact. Brian Burke could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves. This is also a fact.
Certified Grabbo Lover
“Brian Burke could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.”
<3 you
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
by leafer1984 on Jan 5, 2011 9:21 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Don’t give him too much credit; he’s from the midwest and they like their ketchup.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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I still don’t get it. BBQ sauce is like 99.4% ketchup by weight. This kid will literally drink BBQ sauce from the bottle.
“No ketchup please.”
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Ketchup blows, tomatoes own.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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by Chemmy on Jan 5, 2011 9:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I only eat ketchup on hamburgers and hot dogs. I could live without it on burgers, hot dogs are more of a guilty pleasure than real food so who cares.
My mom, noted wine snob, puts ketchup on everything.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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if ketchup goes on my fries it means that the fries are nearly inedible.
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
Winston Churchill
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jan 5, 2011 5:09 PM EST up reply actions
You guys must eat some truly shitty fries if you need a side order of fat to enjoy them.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
With the exception of BLTs and left-over turkey sandwiches, I cannot do mayo. Ick.
But mayo’s bastard friend aioli? Now we’re talking…
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Are we talking homemade or store bought? I can’t do store bought mayo.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
If you can’t make mayo, then you really mustn’t have confidence in your cooking skills, it’s so damn easy
I need a more consistent deep frying method. I could probably make six or seven perfect french fries currently.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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I made sablefish goujons as an appetizer for New Year’s dinner. They were good but it reminded me why I so rarely deep fry anything.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
I just lost way too much temperature adding the fries to the oil.
375 to 320 is unworkable.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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isn’t this why you start off with the oil being a little hotter than you want it?
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 10:22 AM EST up reply actions
So I should start my oil at like 430?
It would light the hell on fire.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Maybe once you put the fries in turn the burner all the way up and keep the thermometer in until it reaches the temperature you want.
You really need a specialist deep fryer to do it properly, but I’d get tempted to do it way to often
I really think you’re underestimating the bar for quality I’m setting in the kitchen.
If I can’t do it repeatably and do it right I’m not doing it.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Wait a minute. Bar…. kitchen…. I think I see a solution here.
by not norm ullman on Jan 5, 2011 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
If I fuck something up I’ve got to try it again to try and get it right, except for desserts because that shit just defeats me
Buy a digital scale. I was a terrible baker but now, thanks to the scale, I’m decent.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
That’s so Dutch.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
I could eat hot off the vine tomatoes until I puked.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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I don’t know that there’s a greater gulf in the food world than the difference in taste between a home grown tomato and a grocery store tomato.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Raw milk vs flash pasteurized irradiated cream removed to exactly 3% milkfat.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Fresh burger mince vs slaghterhouse floor meat scraps mushed together and treated with ammonia before being compressed into a patty form
We grind our own burgers (and make our own sausages) but the gulf isn’t HUGE like it is with tomatoes.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
woohoo skinny once again provides a new sig
Brian Burke could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.. -Skinnyfish
by Future_considerations on Jan 5, 2011 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
no. I can’t stand the taste of them. I do not know why. My Mom and both of her brothers are the same way, and they grew up on a farm. Go figure.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Tomatoes are the hardest vegetables to get in stores. If you buy them at the grocery store they taste like pulpy nothing.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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tomatoes are technically a fruit are they not?
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 9:37 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Nah, I’ve gotten ones that smell good but taste like nothing. I buy those greenhouse Campari tomatoes for like five bazillion dollars because they taste pretty good.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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I find that most vegetables don’t taste as good when you don’t grow them yourself, but tomatoes are especially bad
I <3 Dueling Watermelons
They pick them green and then expose them to ethylene gas which makes them turn red.
It unfortunately doesn’t let them actually ripen and taste like anything but here we are.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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really? I’ve been growing tomatoes in suburban toronto for years. Don’t even put them in the garden, just put them in big pots in the background with sticks for the vines.
I <3 Dueling Watermelons
We grow bushels of tomatoes in our little backyard garden. When the new recycling bins came out, we gave the old ones to the kids, converted them to planters and let them grow whatever they wanted. My daughter grew amazing grape tomatoes and the boy grew peanuts.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
You mean he actually grew peanuts, or that he just grew nothing lol
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:05 AM EST up reply actions
No, he grew peanuts. They turned out pretty well too. He also grew potatoes, which couldn’t be easier to do and were amazing.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Five hours and fourteen minutes. Sheesh.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Have the handicap of not being in Canada, and 40 C days tend to kill most things. farmers help things some-what at least
is it the texture?
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
Lies.
I’m sure some people prefer catsup.
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 Jan 5, 2011 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
Outdoor Hockey game in Mexico City!
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
yes
Burke is the type of guy who will take a big shit on the floor right in front of you and then tell you straight faced that it wasn’t him. -Skinnyfish 12/3/10
by Future_considerations on Jan 5, 2011 8:13 AM EST up reply actions
she’s going brown
Burke is the type of guy who will take a big shit on the floor right in front of you and then tell you straight faced that it wasn’t him. -Skinnyfish 12/3/10
by Future_considerations on Jan 5, 2011 8:44 AM EST up reply actions
I can live with the one year contract “misjudgments”. But two years for Lebda? Really? And we’re stuck with the Komisarek and Phaneuf boat anchors until 2013-2014. $11 million cap hit between the two of them. This is not good news.
by World's Worst Man on Jan 5, 2011 8:18 AM EST reply actions
Not that those contracts aren’t shitty, but I’m reserving judgement before declaring Phaneuf a boat anchor. And in all honesty, this team won’t even be a contender until 2013-14 IF everything works out perfectly IMO.
Those Armstrong numbers make my eye twitch.
The ultimate intangible? Truculligerestosterugnacity.
by lucc on Jan 5, 2011 8:28 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, I don’t think anyone won the Phaneuf trade, not like the guys we sent to Calgary for him have turned out to be better. Stajan has a whopping 18 points this season so he’s roughly on pace to match the average seasonal output he had with the Leafs and this is with him centering Iginla every so often.
We could have chosen to not re-sign Stajan and enjoyed the cap space.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
And then we would have had to listen to everyone complain about how the Leafs let another asset walk without getting a return, just like Sundin, and presumably Kaberle six months from now.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
I don’t think Stajan is an asset like Sundin or Kaberle. We might have gotten a third for Stajan.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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agreed, but I think you’re underestimating the general Leafs fan base’s propensity for bitching and whining.
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 9:56 AM EST up reply actions
I also think Phaneuf will only start playing near his cap hit when we get some more dangerous forwards in the mix. Respectable down low pressure and better passing ability should open up the lanes for him to fire.
The ultimate intangible? Truculligerestosterugnacity.
by lucc on Jan 5, 2011 8:49 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don’t get the two years for Lebda, were teams falling over to sign him that Burke felt the need to offer a 2 year contract?
I guess he didn’t think his savvy vet would suck this much ass. What’s he on pace for,
-30 and 4 points?
The ultimate intangible? Truculligerestosterugnacity.
by lucc on Jan 5, 2011 8:35 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
That’s even worse; he’s only played 18 out of 38 games. Two year contract to play less than 50% of games.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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oh god oh god oh god.
Brett Lebda makes me cry myself to sleep every night
Stoik_Leafs Twitter
by Chris Stoikoff on Jan 5, 2011 9:03 AM EST up reply actions
Apoca-Leb Now.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 9:04 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Money.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 9:40 AM EST up reply actions
i'd prefer finger
my issue with him was always the contract, not the player.
It’s pretty damning that Lebda’s being scapegoated considering how little he makes in the scheme of things. You have to be epically bad when a fan base declares you to be the most egregious problem, when you’re the 14th highest paid player on the team
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
He’s not the most egregious problem, just the most obvious. I mean, with pretty much every other player on the team at least someone defended the trade or contract at the time. With Lebda I think the best anyone could say was “well, he might not be that terrible and maybe it means Finger is gone”.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 9:09 AM EST up reply actions
Like I said before, I think Burke expected Lebda to be a poor man’s Jeff Finger. Except for the fact that Lebda is absolutely terrible.
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 Jan 5, 2011 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
Let’s also not forget that one point was on the PP (where he’s sucked) and if the puck touched him at all on the play it was a ricochet off his leg or something—he made no positive contribution towards that goal.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 8:57 AM EST up reply actions
Every point is sacred
Every point is great
Every time one’s wasted
God gets quite irate
Pension Plan Puppets*
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by Chemmy on Jan 5, 2011 8:59 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Any spot-on Python reference gets a rec from me.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 9:01 AM EST up reply actions
Nice one Chemmy.
Now, isn’t it awfully nice to have a point?
Isn’t it frightfully good to have a goal?
…
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 9:09 AM EST up reply actions
Star Wars prequals? Don't even get me started!!
I love the original Star Wars trilogy – without added special effects or bonus scenes. Just love it so much. Have them on tape and still watch them a few times a year.
I hate the new Star Wars soooooo much. Just hate it. Plinkett’s reviews are hysterical but they’re also bang on. Everything about the new Star Wars films is awful and wrong.
LUKE: No, my father didn’t fight in the wars. He was a navigator on a
spice freighter.
BEN: That’s what your uncle told you. He didn’t hold with your
father’s ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten
involved….
…
BEN: I have something here for you. Your father wanted you to have
this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn’t allow it. He
feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic
crusade like your father did.
LUKE: How did my father die?
BEN: A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he
turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi
Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all
but extinct.
This scene is what the first half of the prequals should have been based upon. The relationship between Obi-Wan, Anikan, and Owen – their comraderie, their conflict, and then ultimately, the betrayal.
The second half of the sequals should have revolved around the Empire’s ruthless pursuit and eradication of the Jedi religion, climaxing with the escape and disappearence of Obi-Wan, Yoda, Anikan’s mother (not Amidala, a entirely different character), and the twins – Luke and Leia, with the promise that their survival will lead to a NEW HOPE for the next generation.
Also, fuck “midi-chlorians”. What fuckin’ bullshit. The Force is “an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together”, not god-damned midi-chlorians. Blasphemy.
Also, Leia states that she remembers her mother: “She died when I was very young… Just…images, really. Feelings… She was very beautiful. Kind, but…sad.”
Don’t even get me started on this subject. Almost everything about the prequals is wrong. It needs a complete do-over, from scratch, written by the fans.
In short: Fuck George Lucas.
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 9:08 AM EST reply actions
George Lucas didn’t ruin my childhood, polio did.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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I think about this subject at least once a day, usually before I go to sleep.
Not joking.
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
While I hate the prequels I love how Plinkett points out the obvious plot devices that don’t make sense.
The part about the trade federation guy who never gets anything but continually puts his whole empire on the line is incredible.
Also all the parts that show everyone constantly agreeing with George Lucas.
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And that though bubble of Hayden Christiansen when Lucas is talking to him, it looks like that’s exactly what he’s thinking
i just love at the end of the review, he shows this Expoisitory shot of Lucas looking at a plaster moulding of that fat, neck pouched four armed wobbly thing in the diner – the similarities are shocking.
that and when he keeps showing Rick McCollum saying the line " every shot is so dense"
Dion Phaneuf: turning the tunes up since '10
seriously
If you and I sat down and wrote a backstory based only on the dialogue in New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, it would be nothing at all like the garbage Lucas came up with for the prequals.
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 9:39 AM EST up reply actions
It would have way more dick and fart jokes, that’s for sure.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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kaberle would be the god of the universe.
Brian Burke could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.. -Skinnyfish
by Future_considerations on Jan 5, 2011 9:50 AM EST up reply actions
If I had to write three prequels they’d all be about Han Solo shooting people directly in the face.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
ooh, if you do this, please have Chewbacca rip the ears off a Gundark
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
The crap is a gundark?
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
Check the wookiepedia, duh: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Gundark
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
Is there any mention of Han Solo in the prequels? I saw 1 and 2 but have done my best to pretend it never happened. I still haven’t seen 3 and hope to keep it that way.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
I don’t recall them ever mentioning Han in any of the prequels.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Harrison Ford’s pretty much disowned the franchise since he did the third one.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
No Han, but the Millennium Falcon can be seen in the background during a shot in Episode III.
Certified Grabbo Lover
From what I’ve seen in video games and on the internet, the millennium falcon was a modified version of a pretty standard ship
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
I can’t believe I never noticed there was a star wars wikipedia before. Bonkers.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
you can get lost there. I spend an entire week there when I was a temp
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
My productivity is rapidly approaching zero.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
Yea, and Chewie gets a couple of background scenes during the Battle of Kashyyek and helping Yoda escape
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
don't forget
both wookies and whatever ET is have screen time in the Galactic Senate scenes
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
You probably don’t want to see the 3rd one then. I just saw some of the last half of the 3rd one on TV. I’d already seen it once and had forgotten how horrible it was.
Horrible is the only word to describe it.
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
For a badass, Mace Windu is quite the bitch. Should have shanked that palpatine when he had the chance
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 10:13 AM EST up reply actions
None of it made sense.
Dooku smokes Obi-Wan twice, in a 2-on-1 situation, is good enough to hold off Yoda, then Anakin pawns him without breaking a sweat 1-on-1 but couldn’t hold a candle to Obi-Wan?!
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe it’s like the Leafs-Sens-Flyers of post-season hockey.
Leafs beat Sens
Sens beat Flyers
Flyers beat Leafs
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
by mf37 on Jan 5, 2011 10:18 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If there’s anything I’ve learned is that the Jedi lose every fight where they outnumber someone.
Episode 1 – Maul vs Obi-Wan + Qui-Gon, Maul dominates until he knocks off Qui-Gon, gets dispatched by Obi-Wan 1 on 1
Episode 2 – Dooku vs Obi-Wan + Anakin, Dooku smokes both, Yoda has to save them
Episode 3 – Dooku vs Obi-Wan + Anakin, Dooku holds both of them off, knocks out Obi-Wan, gets taken out by Anakin 1 on 1
Episode 3 – Palpatine vs Windu + 3 miscellanous Jedi, Palpatine has no problems taking on 4 Jedi Masters at once until he kills the 3 nameless Jedi but couldn’t handle Mace 1 on 1
by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
I love that those three miscellaneous jedi all had lengthy backstories and were supposedly jedi masters. Yet they all got knocked off in the first 30 seconds like punks.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:28 AM EST up reply actions
It’s ok cause he doesn’t play for the Leafs.
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 9:18 AM EST up reply actions
Did you see the third one? Vader taking the giant step was hilarious.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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I saw it opening night with Court and Weiner both of whom burst out laughing in the theatre when it happened. I’d say roughly five hundred nerds turned around to glare at them.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 9:22 AM EST up reply actions
shitty Frankenstein ripoff.
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
Winston Churchill
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jan 5, 2011 5:18 PM EST up reply actions
If I saw the third one, I can’t remember seeing it, I think I remeber Obi-wan saying “I have failed you Annakin” or some shit like that, but definitely not the Vader thing
The most powerful Jedi in the universe was defeated by Obi-Wan because Mr. Kenobi had the high-ground.
or what? your camera and saftey crew will back you up?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, and then he’d build a lean-to or a raft or a rudimentary lathe or something.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:08 AM EST up reply actions
I thought the first one was OK if you take out Jar Jar (of course) and there was a lot less Anakin
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Padme: We used to come here for school retreat. We would swim to that island every day. I love the water. We used to lie out on the sand and let the sun dry us and try to guess the names of the birds singing.
Anakin: I don’t like sand. It’s coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here everything is soft and smooth.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Wasn’t that in Attack of the Clones?
I felt bad for Portman, you could visible tell that she was literally choking on the lines as she was delivering them.
Who even knows? I could probably write down 90% of the original trilogy scene by scene. I couldn’t tell you five scenes from the new trilogy.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Yup.
I remember Obi-Wan cutting Anakin’s legs off, screaming at him, picking up his light saber and walking away.
Then 18 years later he gives it to Luke and says, “YOUR FATHER WANTED YOU TO HAVE THIS WHEN YOU WERE OLD ENOUGH.”
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 9:43 AM EST up reply actions
Vader did kill your father … from a certain point of view
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
That’s one way to say it. Another way to say it would be that he was killed. Another way would be to say he was killed by Vader. Yet even another way is to say he was thrown out of a window by Vader because of you, Obi Wan.
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 10:26 AM EST up reply actions
Obi Wan has never been beholden to details!
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
.

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
when will this cease to be a blog about the Leafs, and become a blog about Pugs?
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
a year ago?
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
Oh well it’s a fantastic film with subtlety and nuance and I think you should insist on sitting down to watch it with SkinnyFish.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Time to put your foot down Fergus.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Oh my god. I liked Sex and the City on TV. It was amusing enough. My wife wanted to see the movie so I said “yeah alright”.
I tried to escape six times in the first twenty minutes.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
I mean literal escape.
“I have to use the bathroom.”
“Are you going to leave me here?”
* sits back down *
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
First commercial I saw for that movie I turned to my girlfriend (who was a casual fan of the show) and said “No fucking way”
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
I liked it on TV too. Halfway through the trailers for the movie I knew I was in the wrong theatre.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jan 5, 2011 10:04 AM EST up reply actions
I was a big fan of Sex and the City 2. Not the actual movie, just the pitch.
They were going to Dubai! Only the UAE wouldn’t let them film there, since it had “sex” in the title – this is one of those countries where you can be arrested for public affection, I believe. So they went to Morocco, which is a bit more liberal. I just couldn’t wait for the first fans of the movie to go to Dubai and say, “But they did it on SatC2!”
Sex and the City 2: The movie that almost caused an international incident.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 5, 2011 10:15 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Can we all agree, that story arc problems aside, the best thing to come out of the Star Wars prequels were the Clone Wars animated shorts by Genndy Tartakovsky? Good.
Certified Grabbo Lover
I saw an episode about deregulating banks.
I’m sure that’s what all the cool kids are talking about these days.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
Since this FTB is loosely related to films…
If you missed out on #LessAmbitiousFilms last night, you missed out on some lulz.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
I came up with:
Gone in Ten Minutes
Father of the Girl I Knocked Up
Harold and Kumar Go To Burger King
Coincidence on 34th Street
Mission: Difficult
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Mission: Difficult is good
Pension Plan Puppets*
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A Bridge Just Far Enough.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 9:46 AM EST up reply actions
Deception
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 9:46 AM EST up reply actions
The Pretty Good 4
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
The Alright, The Less-Alright, and The Not-So-Alright.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:04 AM EST up reply actions
The Girl With the Dragon Temporary-Tattoo
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
The Assistant Sub-Wizard of Oz.
Casaloma.
Pushed Over There By The Wind.
by not norm ullman on Jan 5, 2011 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
A Pretty Good Looking Mind
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
A bus pass for Ms. Daisy
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Ticked Off Max
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Middle Gun.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:08 AM EST up reply actions
The Occasional Gardener.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
I Have a Vague Recollection of What You Did Last Summer
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Some of the Prince’s Men.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
Blood Cubic-Zirconium
The Leafs are my Rushmore
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
The Pretty Good 4: Rise of the Aluminum Surfer
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
The Decent Mr. Fox.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:14 AM EST up reply actions
Discomfort and Annoyance in Las Vegas.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
80.33 °F
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Skirmish Club
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
The Mild Bunch
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by article1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:15 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
The Returning-Shortly
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
The Empire Runs Home To Mummy
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by article1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:18 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
The Capable Mr. Ripley.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
Tramspotting
©1979-2010 article1 All rights reserved. Terms and conditions available on request. May be freely reproduced by anyone except those answering to the description 'Thieving Mittenstringer'.
by article1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:19 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Tame Things.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
SLC Alternative-Rock.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:20 AM EST up reply actions
School of Easy Listening
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
On another side note, I love the opening scene where fucked-up junkie Renton is being chased down Princes Street, then gets hit by a car that comes out of – literally – nowhere on Calton Road, having sprinted flat out for about a mile.
©1979-2010 article1 All rights reserved. Terms and conditions available on request. May be freely reproduced by anyone except those answering to the description 'Thieving Mittenstringer'.
by article1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:24 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Skirmish Club
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions
Ctrl F that one.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
dammit…
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:08 AM EST up reply actions
Scott Pilgrim vs. North America
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 Jan 5, 2011 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
Live and Let Live
Coppereye
The Man With the Gold Plated Gun
Get Wounded Another Day
Hexapussy
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
The World Is More Than Enough
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by article1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:20 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
The Believable Hulk.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
Maim Bill
©1979-2010 article1 All rights reserved. Terms and conditions available on request. May be freely reproduced by anyone except those answering to the description 'Thieving Mittenstringer'.
by article1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:29 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Somethings are illuminated.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
Heated Discussion of the Worlds
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
The 3 foot Yard
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Space Lay-Up
Journey to the Edge of the Earth’s Crust.
A few feet under the Sea.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
How The Grinch Borrowed Christmas
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Girlfriend of Frankenstein
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by article1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:34 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Middle Aged Frankenstein
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
The 2nd Assistant Directors
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Pineapple Local
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
The Maltese Finch
©1979-2010 article1 All rights reserved. Terms and conditions available on request. May be freely reproduced by anyone except those answering to the description 'Thieving Mittenstringer'.
by article1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:53 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Locating Private Ryan
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 10:55 AM EST up reply actions
My casual acquaintance’s wedding.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:04 AM EST up reply actions
Any time-line for Brown’s return?
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 9:52 AM EST reply actions
No mitchell on the ice this morning…all lines the same with mike brown the extra on the 4th line.
Certified Grabbo Lover
YAY!
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
Tim Horton's products were ALREADY Leafs-themed
Look – no centres.

Leaf, the universe and everything.
Now in year 44 of the 42-year saga.
by 1967ers on Jan 5, 2011 10:27 AM EST reply actions 14 recs
This is why Dunkin Donuts has munchkins – all our centers get knocked the fuck out
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
timbits > munchkins
Who wants to hear a funny ass joke?
by ohshrit on Jan 5, 2011 10:30 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
God I miss Tim Horton’s. Gregge is a poor substitute.
©1979-2010 article1 All rights reserved. Terms and conditions available on request. May be freely reproduced by anyone except those answering to the description 'Thieving Mittenstringer'.
by article1 on Jan 5, 2011 10:29 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I enjoyed it.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 10:30 AM EST up reply actions
This is the Leafs donut? It has blue and white sprinkles.
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You sure that’s not a waffle-wich under there?
by not norm ullman on Jan 5, 2011 10:49 AM EST up reply actions
Anyone else feel that (kid who played well at recent prospect tournament) is the solution to (current problem)?
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Not saying he’s the solution, but if that’s how you feel…
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Jan 5, 2011 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
Also didn’t mean him specifically – but a center prospect with size and skill. We’re not exactly overflowing with center’s here
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Jan 5, 2011 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
only if his name is Brayden Schenn, i hear he has a famous hockey playing brother
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
A player of his type – prospect, center with size and ability? The Leafs aren’t deep at center, and they def aten’t big
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Jan 5, 2011 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
I haven’t been that impressed with Johansen at the WJC. I thought a few other guys stood out more.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
cough
brayden schenn
Incessant label peeler due to lack of playoffs
by AkiSchennberg on Jan 5, 2011 10:52 AM EST up reply actions
Ashton plays the wing, and Cizikas is average size. I’m thinking skilled center with Size.
But both have been pretty impressive, I wouldn’t say no to either, obviously.
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Jan 5, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions
And all of the stigma of having killed a kid playing rugby that everyone seems to have forgotten about.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
accident dude
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:09 AM EST up reply actions
I played rugby for five years. You don’t powerbomb someone in a rugby game by accident.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
if the guy is on your back and choking you you do. It was set off by panic, he didnt mean to kill the guy… he just tried to get him off…
even the parents of the poor kid said it was an accident…
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
The parents of the kid said they didn’t want to see two lives ruined by one dumb action.
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maybe it’s a Canadian thing…? You could just as easily be talking about the parents of Dan Snyder.
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
yes, they did. It was dumb, not denying that, someone died.
Im just trying to say the kid isnt a murderer…. what happened wasnt intentional
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
I mean, I don’t disagree that when he was powerbombing some kid he thought “I’ll kill this kid and it’ll be great”, but powerbombing someone for “being on your back” seems a little disproportionate.
Saying that you panicked isn’t a great excuse for a homicide.
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i cant lawyer this to sound good so i wont bother… you’re right, theres no excuse to use such exessive force but when you’re caught up in the heat of the moment and someone is trying to choke you out, you do things you wouldnt normally do.
Casey is a quality person and a great hockey player, its too bad this’ll hang over him for the rest of his life.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
And that’s also why I never said Cizikas is a murderer.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
i know, i just wanted to make it clear that it wasnt.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:54 AM EST up reply actions
If I remember right, and it’s the same kid, the powerbomb itself didn’t do anything – it was his head landing on a rock on the field.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
I mean, right, it’s a freaking powerbomb. But the “unlucky” / lethal factor wasn’t there until there was a rock on the field. If you’re talking about intent and “how was it an accident,” it just seems to me like it’s a bit closer to accidental if the maneuver itself wasn’t lethal on its own. Anywhere else on the field, and the kid might’ve been okay.
Doesn’t change what happened, though, just the punishment. It’ll be interesting to see if Ray Lewis Cizikas makes it.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Alternately had he not been powerbombed it wouldn’t matter what on the field killed him.
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That’s like saying it wasn’t Heatley’s fault Snyder died, it was the wall for being in the way.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
That would definitely fly right under the radar in Toronto, yes sir.
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Wow. I remember the story being broken and people saying he “had a shot at a pro hockey career” – I had no idea it was the same guy, or that his “shot” would lead to WJC.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
you mean, CIZIKAS!!!1

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jan 5, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
I also don’t get the Leaf fan love for B Schenn. What’s the big deal?
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Just imagine if Wendel Clark had a draft eligible nephew…
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
talented prospect. happens to be the brother of luke. how don’t you get that? plus until the day of the draft it was a reasonable possibility we’d have him.. comparable to the bryan little love that went on when he was drafted one spot before kadri
Incessant label peeler due to lack of playoffs
by AkiSchennberg on Jan 5, 2011 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
So what if he’s Luke’s brother? Who cares? We got a really good prospect in that draft.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
k.. so what if johansen looks really good at the wjhc we have kadri..
k.. so what if johansen looks really good at the wjhc we have kadri..you were looking for a centre with size and skill b schenn fits that bill better than johanson does
Incessant label peeler due to lack of playoffs
by AkiSchennberg on Jan 5, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
I guess I was tired of using B Schenn and the Leafs in the same thought
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Jan 5, 2011 11:08 AM EST up reply actions
Anyone else feel that (kid who played well at recent prospect tournament) is the solution to (current problem)?
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by Chemmy on Jan 5, 2011 10:34 AM EST
That pretty much covered it
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
I’m sorry for asking a question. I should’ve left Johansen name out. I’ll rephrase:
Watching the WJC tourney, makes me question/worry/concerned with the Leafs lack of a center prospect with good size and skill.
Better?
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Jan 5, 2011 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
I personally don’t care.
The Leafs need a centre with skill and size. Ryan Johansen is a good prospect. Those are two perfectly valid thoughts.
I don’t see what’s accomplished by the “WHY can’t WE get guys like that?” hand-wringing. You might as well complain that we didn’t get Drew Doughty and settled for Schenn.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
It’s not even hand-wringing though. You’re making the initial thought sound much more dramatic than it was meant to be. Just putting feelers out there, to see if anyone other Leaf fans are seeing things the way I was over the last few days. I haven’t been around. geez.
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Jan 5, 2011 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
When your on the subject Johansen looks like he has a TON of upside. And yes, caps mean even more upside.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
unnacceptable.
Brian Burke could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.. -Skinnyfish
by Future_considerations on Jan 5, 2011 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
NOW THAT’S A BROAD YOU COULD MARRY KIDS I TELLS YA
[/don cherry]
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#1 – A complete lack of ability to properly judge on-ice talent. Examples: Brett Lebda, Mike Komisarek, Garnet Exelby, Rickard Wallin, Colby Armstrong, Tyler Bozak, Martin Gerber. Who wants a Burkie dog? Send me a self addressed, stamped envelope if you want a Burkie dog.
2009 NHL Entry Draft
3rd round
68th overall – Jamie Devane
2009/10 – 51 GP, 14 points
2010/11 – 32 GP, 8 points
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
he made up for that by picking up two good 3rd rounders in 09
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 11:59 AM EST up reply actions
I know the 3rd round is a long shot, but they might as well have walked up to the mic and said, “Pass.”
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
by mf37 on Jan 5, 2011 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Pretty well.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:04 AM EST up reply actions
“We’re good”.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:05 AM EST up reply actions
the same could be said of 90% of the options available though.. hard to judge somebody based on late round picks
Incessant label peeler due to lack of playoffs
by AkiSchennberg on Jan 5, 2011 11:05 AM EST up reply actions
Devane wasn’t even ranked by his junior league, never mind any of the scouting bureaus. I doubt that can be said for 90% of the options available.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
ugh really. touche
Incessant label peeler due to lack of playoffs
by AkiSchennberg on Jan 5, 2011 2:04 PM EST up reply actions
* Burke taps mic *
Ahem. Urm. Tronna Maple Leafs draft with the sixty eighth pick, out of Ottawa. Ahem.
* adjusts tie *
Whoever’s next, next year’s first overall pick. Hold out. Sign with the Tronna Maple Leafs.
* Burke sits down behind the podium *
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Has about the same odds of working out as Lebda, Komisarek, Armstrong, Giguere…
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
That was the Brett Lebda of draft picks.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
Phaneuf not capitalizing on his opportunities
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/01/05/phaneuf-not-capitalizing-on-his-opportunities/
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Without inside knowledge, I’d say Phaneuf needs to change his stick.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
I think, as the article mentions, part of it is the lack of net presence from the forwards.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
I think they’d be safer in front of the net to be honest, to the side and behind the net, that’s where you’re gonna get dinged by a Dion Phaneuf point shot.
Dion Phaneuf: turning the tunes up since '10
Exactly.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:42 AM EST up reply actions
He hate Capitalizing, He’s a Pinko!
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
i’m probably reading Slava Duris’ scoring chances data wrong, but it seems to me, Phaneuf has been getting the puck to the net with some regularity as of late, it’s just odd that nobody can seem to bury the rebounds those shots create.
or, as I said, i’m reading the data wrong, in which case, never mind…
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
His shooting percentage is still really low. We’d expect it to come up but it’s been low since he arrived in Toronto.
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Phaneuf doesn’t keep the puck low, which is how most rebounds are generated.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
He shoots high a lot, but once or twice a game he rips a low hard one that the goalie just stops because he’s being allowed to see it. And it’s always a massive rebound, I mean you can hear the BOOM off the pads as the puck fires out past the slot. If the goalies aren’t screened, you don’t score from the point in the NHL unless it’s a ridiculous bar-down snipe. Dion’s shooting% won’t go up until 1) his luck turns and 2) the forwards start sticking their asses in the goalie’s face with regularity.
The ultimate intangible? Truculligerestosterugnacity.
Dion seems to have realized this.
WE NEED BIGGER FORWARDS
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
Phaneuf says his No. 1 priority as a defenceman is to prevent goals — not score them.
Bad news Dion…
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Phaneuf seems to me like he’s lost his jam. In his early days he looked like he was always hopped up on uppers (like of the cocaine variety, not Red Bulls). Now he looks like he’s taking downers before each game.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
It’s not just him though. There has been no offense out of Beauchemin or Gunnarson this year either. Could be partly a coaching issue.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
There is a definite issue, got to think if we had a guy to stand in front of the net and tap in rebounds….
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t know the numbers but I get the feeling we’re getting historically bad production from our D this year. Normally I’d say that can’t continue forever, but this is the Leafs we’re talking about. As for Dion, he’s not hitting. And when he does, literally no one on the team can/will back him up so we don’t immediately get scored on. I think he’s the kind of player that really gets going after he gets into some contact. He wants to be a difference maker. Since at this point he’s one of our centerpieces, Burke needs to put players around him that can cover his pinches, complement his game and get the most out of him.
The ultimate intangible? Truculligerestosterugnacity.
I think Mirtle looked at this earlier and the Leafs’ D is at or near the bottom of the league in production.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
are you baiting me?
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
Obviously
NOT A COACHING ISSUE
"They’re not joining the play they way they should be," said coach Ron Wilson. "As soon as it leaves our zone, they coast up the ice. If they move their feet and got a little bit more involved in the play as the fourth guy, they might have better results."
When players consistently don’t or won’t do what they’re supposed to do due to a lack of interest or effort, that clearly is nothing to do with coaching. Except when it has everything to do with coaching.
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
hasn’t anyone ever stopped to ask the question why the players seem to care so little, and supposedly don’t do what’s asked of them?
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
the whole thing’s confusing.
some games they don’t work hard and stink up the joint, so that’s the coaches fault.
some games they work hard but don’t score, it which case it’s not the coach’s fault, the team just isn’t talented enough to execute.
but as has been shown below, even when they’re working hard and losing, it could be because of the system, and not a lack of talent, so maybe that’s the coaches fault too?
but that leads to the conclusion that if players are underperforming (versus historical average) due to a bad coach or a bad system, then burke isn’t actually to blame for misevaluating the talent. but is he to blame for misevaluating the coach?
i don’t know what to think or who to blame anymore.
There will be an answer. Let it be.
you’re right, there are no simple answers. in previous years we’ve always seemed to have an obvious scapegoat or two. this year, more than any other year, there seem to be flaws from top to bottom, and holes in every position.
not that the team is purely horrible. like you said, some games they work hard, and show flashes of brilliance, which is what makes the whole thing all the more frustrating.
the reason I always come back to blame the coaches is that it’s an issue that has been constant for the last 3 years. No coach would ever get this particular team to be a cup contender. But I’m wondering whether some coaches would have this team a little closer to competing for a playoff spot.
the longer Burke goes without making a change that impacts the team in a positive way, however, the more it becomes his fault.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 1:03 PM EST up reply actions
Insert .920 goaltending, and turn all that around. “Burke is a genius, his defense keep the puck out at league-high rates; his forwards score just enough; Wilson’s systems are impeccable and the players are motivated.”
Phaneuf will come around.
Solid goaltending and more elite talent up front would make this look a lot different.
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Some evidence that Brian Burke knows what he’s doing evaluating talent
Stanley Cup (I won’t list all the moves he made in Anaheim, there were many good ones)
The Sedins – the lengths he went to to get them, and avoid Stefan, were awesome.
http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2007/06/21/entry-draft-1999-how-burke-pulled-off-the-sedins-heist/
Kessel (regardless of price paid, talent accurately assessed)
Bozak (42 pts in 75 games)
Francois Beauchemin (tough minutes!)
Jonas Gustavsson (soon, hopefully)
Kadri
MacArthur
Versteeg
Mike Brown
I will also add that anyone who advocated signing Kovalchuk in the offseason clearly knows nothing about evaluating NHL talent.
There will be an answer. Let it be.
I will also add that anyone who advocated signing Kovalchuk in the offseason clearly knows nothing about evaluating NHL talent.
Guilty.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Jan 5, 2011 11:42 AM EST up reply actions
To be fair, maybe he is pacing himself so he can contribute equally throughout the duration of his contract.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
Can I repeat
that I continually argued I wanted no part of Kovalchuk. I actually advocated for Zherdev and Frolov ahead of Kovalchuk:
Kovalchuk: 38 GP, 10 G, 11 A, 21 P
Zherdev: 35 GP, 13 G, 2 A, 15 P
Frolov: 40 GP, 7 G, 9 A, 16 P
Kovalchuk is obviously the “best” of the three, but he also costs a hell of a lot more in terms of cap hit.
"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.
instead Burke went and signed MacArthur
MacArthur: 38 GP, 10 G, 19 A, 29 P.
He might have SOME eye for a reasonable level of talent? Possibly?
Of course even a broken clock is right twice a day.
"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.
i don’t think anybody is saying the man is blind, But his batting average in talent rating is well under .200 because the strike outs have been much more significant/often then the singles. there have been zero home runs.
by mick mcgeough on Jan 5, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
Yes, they are.
#1 – A complete lack of ability to properly judge on-ice talent.
And if Clarke MacArthur isn’t a home run I don’t know what is.
There will be an answer. Let it be.
true.
ok, one home run. just like phaneuf’s one goal. 1.
by mick mcgeough on Jan 5, 2011 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
O, what we'd do with
Ian White’s 2 goals.
Matt Stajan’s…. 2 goals.
$7 million in salary, those two.
Phaneuf will come around.
I’d totally support handing Nonis the car keys at this point. Burke’s best move to date is keeping him in the fold instead of losing him to Tampa
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
And that should not be read as I’m giving up on Burke and want Nonis to take over.
But if Burke and MLSE made that decision… I’d be for it. I think Dave Nonis is criminally underrated as a GM.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Nonis
may be doing more than we think at this point, especially with what happened to Burke’s son last year. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if, at the end of this season we see:
1) Burke step down as GM
2) Nonis step in as GM
3) Nonis fire Wilson
That way, Burke can be involved without being too involved, which is probably what he needs at this point, plus he doesn’t have to be the one to axe Wilson. New GM. New direction, etc.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
The team has been together for less than a year. This is exactly what people mean when they say that Toronto isn’t patient enough for a rebuild.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
im pretty sure if Burke had traded Kaberle and the Kadri pick for Kessel, and the Leafs had seguin, some fans would be shouting from the rafters that we need to trade schenn for offensive help
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
It’s a big enough fanbase that we can assume every possible opinion is going to be held by someone at any given time.
We can also assume that at any given time there will be someone in the MSM lame enough to take whichever of those opinions they wish and present it as the collective dogma of the entire group.
Phaneuf will come around.
this fan wouldn’t be.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
interesting question, if the Leafs had their draft picks, would you still be calling for wilsons head?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
depends. one of my big pet peeves is the inconsistent effort (not finish). this is either a leadership/dressing room issue, or a coaching issue.
if it was clear that we were developing youth, and putting in consistent efforts night in and night out, where the improvements were noticeable, then I would be OK with him (I think).
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 2:51 PM EST up reply actions
Look at the other teams who are fighting for a spot in the lottery: MacLean canned, Gordon canned, Clouston gonna be canned, Calgary’s GM went bye bye.
Certified Grabbo Lover
I’m gonna start calling firing a coach as a bad team sex panther
60 percent of the time, it works every time
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
Devils were supposed to be good.
Don’t analyze the Islanders.
Murray is firing Clouston to save his own job.
Calgary.
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Don’t do things or not do things because other teams are doing them; do them because they’re right or wrong.
The Leafs lose more than they win because primarily they’re poorly constructed (GM). Maybe the GM has a long term plan that will make up for the team being crummy. Maybe he doesn’t.
I still don’t see how Phil Kessel being the only elite player on the whole team is Wilson’s fault.
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The team turning the puck over because of a poorly constructed breakout? That can be Wilson’s fault
The team doing badly on the PK because of an ill-advised PK strategy? That can be Wilson’s fault
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Sure. We still wouldn’t be going to the playoffs.
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I find it hard to understand
how we’re determining the Leafs make giveaways because of a “poorly constructed breakout”.
You’re inventing a reason in order to explain it as the coach deserving blame. Why it can’t be as simple as the forwards leaking out too quickly (because they’re young and they are still learning not to do that), and the D not having as many options, and isntead trying to force the puck up the middle of the ice in order to reach the less reliable members of the team is beyond me.
Kulemin, Grabovski, and MacArthur don’t seem to be on the ice for a lot of shitty turnovers from the D… Kessel, Versteeg, Kadri, and Bozak seem to have been… I wonder if you notice a trend?
"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.
the leafs putting the puck up the middle of the ice appears to be by design, since they do it several times a game.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 8:47 PM EST up reply actions
Does this mean my “lol Devils” meme is catching on?
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
more a state of reality than a meme
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
Either way I’ll take it
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 3:00 PM EST up reply actions
It’s Lou’s world. You’re just living in it.
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
it’s true. pairty means most teams expect to compete every year. the fact that a team doesn’t is problematic (for some teams more than others).
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
right now, the one thing that makes me want to keep wilson is that he has a proven track record working with young players, and the Leafs have a whole ton of young players. The Leafs have time to worry about getting a coach that can help them win when they are good
of course I’m of the few who doesnt give a fuck if we hand the bruins another lotto pick
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
I get the “track record with young players” logic (even if I don’t fully believe it), but I don’t get the “replace the coach when they are good” part. or rather, I guess I agree with “replace the coach when they plateau”. the problem is, I’m not sure where our plateau is with RW behind the bench. It might be 28th. we’re moving sideways…
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
well I guess I should have been more specific. Say when the youth is more developed and you are more sure of what kind of team you have, you go find a coach whose style is best suited to taking advantage of how the team is built
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
are we having a rational discussion about this? it feels…icky.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
my dad can beat up your dad.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
Consistently atrocious special teams is why I’ve called for his head.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
Consistently atrocious?
that’s excessive.
The PK has been consistently bad (although the goaltending numbers sure don’t help with that), and the PP was horrible last year, but much improved this year.
I also think it should be pointed out that the PP was generally ok for the early part of last year until Kessel became the team’s primary option, and then they supplemented with Phaneuf firing the puck incessantly from the point… neither of those options worked, but do you honestly expect most NHL coaches to go with a horribly different game plan considering the “talent level” of the players on the team at the end of last year?
"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.
Under Wilson we have consistently underperformed on PK/PP as compared to ES. We’re a better team at evens.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 5:39 PM EST up reply actions
If all it took was the 2008 pick and Kaberle, a lot of folks would be waiting for the Leafs to stink it up to get another lottery pick in the 2010 draft.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
im pretty sure that offer was all but confirmed at the 2008 draft (Burke thought it was Kaberle for Kessel + bostons 1st mix up, blah blah)
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
my opinion on Wilson is well documented. I’m not judging him on this season, I’m judging him on the entirety of his tenure here.
The moves made by Burke and Wilson last year and in the off season were presumably done to improve the team, not make it worse. So either they failed horribly at assessing the talent, or Wilson is a terrible coach, or both.
It’s also not about being patient for a rebuild. It’s about whether the team is delivering as advertised. Based on the past actions and statements of BB, I’d say they are not.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
The team has been together for less than a year.
That’s true of every team. I’ll let Burke do the talking here, from November 2010:
“In a couple of weeks, I’ll have been here 24 months,” Burke said. "That’s a reasonable time for people to start expecting results, and we haven’t had results.
If people are impatient it’s because Burke told them he was impatient and he made moves inconsistent with a patient rebuild.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
GMs in Toronto aren’t patient enough for a rebuild.
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Seriously. This team has sold out every game since MLG was built. The fanbase is patient.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
than waiting an extra two years for good draft picks shouldnt be an issue
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Why waste time?
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 3:00 PM EST up reply actions
that doesn’t sound very patient
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
But waiting 2 years in the future for something that should be done now is nonsensical
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
patience –noun
1.
the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
2.
an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay
nope, nothing about a time frame
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:04 PM EST up reply actions
Patience – the quality of being patient
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 3:14 PM EST up reply actions
So is your face?
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
rec’d.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 3:07 PM EST up reply actions
right now i am picturing the internet exploding and me walking away from it in slow motion, that’s how bad ass I feel
/I’m lame
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
It was a remarkably pessimistic comment for you.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
I didn’t read it that way at all.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
I said fans are patient, GMs aren’t. Jared said the fans should then be OK waiting an extra two years for good draft picks (implying we’d still be terrible).
Either that’s pessimistic or it’s ass-hattery (hence my “So is your face”).
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
it has layers, like an onion
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
I read it as the latter.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
I agree with Sound.. When you advocate cutting corners for results you expect results faster, no?
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
I think that’s the biggest gripe with people, when it comes to evaluating Burke’s tenure.
After JFJ’s firing, we were told by the organization (and MSM) that the team was going to under go a full blown rebuild, and this was started with the drafting of Luke Schenn.
However, after Burke came in the plan was changed and suddenly we were in a win-now/retool mode.
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly. Look, ok, I might be naive, but I thought we needed a Phil Kessel. Even with the price we paid. But, that decision also willingly or unwillingly put the rebuild in a second gear when it clearly should have been in the first. Not saying it’s all on Burke.. Kessel is what he is, and people expect him to be a gamebreaker, even with the price paid…
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:04 PM EST up reply actions
it also fast-tracked cap-space problems. fortunately we’ve got ourselves out of some of them, but ELCs are always cheaper than blue-chip RFAs.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 3:14 PM EST up reply actions
win-now/retool mode.
curious, where was this said/written?
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
Well he said this wasn’t going to be a rebuild, so what else could it be?
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
i thought the words he used were “traditional rebuild”
am i wrong?
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions
"traditional"
Now you got me all skeptical.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions
he also said the word playoffs
that means that he is guaranteeing the leafs are in right?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions
Thank goodness Alfredsson isn’t our GM
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
i think he once said “lottery” which means we’re all going to win the Mega Millions jackpot!
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
I absolutely agree with the idea that Burke has set unrealistic expectations. But to allege that Burke has been out of touch, “especially with what happened to [his son]?” And that because of that baseless accusation, we need a “new direction?”
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Pretty sure I didn’t say that. Just sourcing a quote, trying not to be the Toronto Sun.
I should also credit Karina for compiling.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 3:06 PM EST up reply actions
No, no, you didn’t say it – but the comment I was responding to was VRN’s, who did say those things.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
OK. When I hit “up” it went to my comment.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
I didn’t mean to imply that Burke is out of touch. Just that, if I were him, I wouldn’t give a flying fuck about the Leafs. And if I didn’t NEED to work every day (like he doesn’t) I wouldn’t.
The new direction thing is specifically a coaching issue, not a jab at Burke.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
I think he truly believes in this model and he’s the kind of guy that will go down with the ship.
I also don’t think that has anything to do with the tragedy, it’s just his model of building. Model that may or may not be outdated. In comes the guinea pig (Leafs).
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
to me it looks like a bright orange lambo murcelago, sure it promises to deliver, but you just know it’s going to catch fire
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
Most cars catch fire when you crash them at 180mph Jared.
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not if you crash them into a lake
duh
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Still do if that lake is in Cleveland.
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why would anyone take a lambo to Cleveland?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
I drive fast enough that I end up everywhere.
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if you drive that fast, in reality, you are nowhere
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
Or am I both everywhere and nowhere at once?
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This isn’t a model anymore. It’s panic time. They can see the moves aren’t panning out, hence the Kadri situation.
“He’s gonna play top six, we’re not calling him up to play bottom lines” – oh yeah… Nothing good for the franchise there.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
panic time? really?
what has he done that is panicked? sure he brought up Kadri for a few games, gave him a shot, but Kadri was going to get a shot sometime this year no matter what
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed.
But I call paying Armstrong 3 mil. a little panicky…
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
Might be, but it just feels like Ken Campbell was right when he said Burke bought all the media hype about the Toronto market.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:27 PM EST up reply actions
the move was made before the season, panic implies he was reacting without thinking as things turned to shit
that deal was done before things were as bleak as they are now
dumb over payment? sure. Panic? no
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
Panic also means knowing what awaits you if you don’t succeed. This is related to the Ken Campbell bit.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions
I think the best thing about the illiquid NHL trade market is that it likely prevents, or least limits, a lot of panic moves from happening.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
True, but then again you have Darryl Sutter who made it work.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:31 PM EST up reply actions
Panicing is
Trading Phaneuf and one of your best prospects for a couple scrubs on a shittier team.
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions
Kadri was going to get a shot sometime this year no matter what
The timing was dictated by panic. The Leafs had lost 8 in a row and were shutout 3 times in that stretch. Calling up Kadri was a panic move to boost the Leafs offence.
Worked for a bit: Kadri had 4 points in his first 5 games and the Leafs scored 15 goals. Didn’t last though as the Leafs then scored only 4 goals in their next 4 games while Kadri quickly adapted to Wilson’s attention-to-detail approach and had just 2 assists in his next 12 games.
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
i wish i kept a tab on how many great Kadri set ups were wasted on Shoestorm and Orr
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions
Shoestorm and Orr sounds like a terrible comedy team who starred on the CBC in the 1970s.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
they would work in the appliances section of a department store and make zany jokes about how the ladies love the new hand mixer because it has three settings
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:49 PM EST up reply actions
They brought him up too soon and then kept him up too long.
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t know if panic is the right word to use in that situation.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 3:47 PM EST up reply actions
What would you call it then? Mild concern?
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 3:47 PM EST up reply actions
I thought the same thing after I typed it, actually.
“Desperation”? “Anxiety”? “Alarming Disatisfaction”? “Abject Horror?”
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions
Anxiety maybe. But really let’s be honest, Kadri was going to get a look sooner rather than later and the team needed help, calling up your best available player is something a lot of teams try.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 4:01 PM EST up reply actions
The line that stands out in this is:
while Kadri quickly adapted to Wilson’s attention-to-detail approach and had just 2 assists in his next 12 games.
Coaching methods suffocating point production?
Shoebacca - the PK Wookie
by danishmarshmallow on Jan 5, 2011 8:05 PM EST up reply actions
When we talk about Burke decisions
we’re inevitably talking about the Burke team. This is an enormous division of an even bigger corporation, obviously it isn’t just one person. But Burke assembled his team, so I don’t feel uncomfortable giving him the ultimate credit or blame.
Phaneuf will come around.
i could easily build a better team than Burke. All I need is a time machine.
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

Strikes again.
On a serious note, the only beef I have with Burke being all over the place this year. Ok some of us get it. If not lottery picks, Kessel is worth it. But…
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
I’m new to all this :D
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
question
does the draft pick number make the Leafs a worse team? I mean, sure, it makes boston have a better chance at being better, but are the Leafs a worse hockey team if the Bruins draft 1st over all or 30th?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
Only for 6 games out of the year
and any other games where that player would have helped more than kessel
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
So currently not by that much, but check back in a couple years
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
well I’m going by the theory that no matter what, the Leafs have kessel and the bruins have the pick. Sure the players might have a better team with the higher picked players in the line up, but 6 is a pretty small sample size out of 82, who is to say the bruins don’;t play like utter shit 5 of those games? or the leafs goalie plays out of his mind
at the end of the day the leafs are the same team no matter where boston picks
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:28 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, that’s true.
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
in fact, you could argue that the Leafs are actually BETTER off the higher the Bruins pick is, because, in fact, all the Leaf picks will be higher as well
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
Not so much last year as we didn’t have our own second rounder, but this year there is SOME benefit to us for finishing lower.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 3:38 PM EST up reply actions
a high 2nd is pretty easy to convert to a 1st
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
It does hurt that it’s a division rival. Otherwise I wouldn’t care as much—someone’s going to get the #1 pick, who cares if not us right?
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 3:27 PM EST up reply actions
all i know is that Seguin and Whoever they pick this year are going to burn us for a decade +
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
hopefully not.
Kessel lighting up Boston would really be nice
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
Disagree
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:42 PM EST up reply actions
he’s getting closer every game
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
i know, last game I thought he was going to bury for sure. Kessel was flying
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
he was half an inch away from potting an absolute insane goal when he tipped his own rebound just wide
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:44 PM EST up reply actions
I know it’s bound to happen eventually. Happy it hasn’t happened yet.

Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions
Luckily, I was already too drunk to care or even really remember.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
More importantly, not a real goal.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:49 PM EST up reply actions
That’s true, unlike a real goal it got us two points.
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by Chemmy on Jan 5, 2011 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
One.
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
incorrect, it got the Bruins one point
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
Versteeg scoring in the last minute did that.
Of course, Versteeg was a Bruins prospect once
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions
Also Michael Ryder’s hilarious inability to score in the shootout
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 3:58 PM EST up reply actions
one day… Chara will be injured for a really important game, like do or die for the playoffs for both teams and Kessel will go apeshit
/hopes
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
or Kessel will just play seek and destroy with Seidenberg, that was fun
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:51 PM EST up reply actions
Season series:
BOS 2-0-1 (.833 PTS %)
TOR 1-2-0 (.333 PTS %)
BOS GF 6 GA 4 PYTH PTS % .775
TOR GF 4 GA 6 PYTH PTS % .344
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Now no. In the future, I can’t tell. Odds are yes.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions
I will also add that anyone who advocated signing Kovalchuk in the offseason clearly knows nothing about evaluating NHL talent.
Clearly Kovalchuk has forgotten how to score and that will continue forever.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Yeah, I wouldn’t write the obit on Kovy’s career yet.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
why not?
we’re writing one on Burke’s
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
The NHL found another job for JFJ, Burke’s career will never die.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
who will be employed longer
Burke or Kovalchuk?
Place your bets!
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 11:57 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t think anyone’s done that.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
Burke is the latest in a long line of general managers who, as Lucas, didn’t understand what they were doing and we the viewing public have paid for these mistakes
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
To say he’s made a shit-ton of mistakes is not the same as saying he’s done as a GM in the league. Not even remotely the same.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
Where's the shit-ton?
He’s made a couple of admittedly significant mistakes. If you’re counting the Phaneuf trade as a mistake, I’m curious how you would’ve spent the cap space we might’ve had, assuming we got rid of both Stajan and White.
Phaneuf will come around.
I’ve done this before but here goes.
Signing Gerber, drafting Devane, dumping Kubina and using cap space to overpay Komisarek, overpaying Lebda, overpaying Armstrong, entrusting 09/10 to Toskala, not acquiring more offensive talent this offseason.
And those last two mistakes also make the Kessel deal a mistake (though I thought it was a good deal at the time and it would still be a good deal if he hadn’t so botched the past two years).
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 2:19 PM EST up reply actions
“not acquiring more offensive talent”
people keep saying this, but is there any evidence he didnt try to improve the team offensively? Isn’t that part of the reason Versteeg was brought in?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
another thing that doesn't get much press
his decision to keep Kaberle rather than flip him over the summer.
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
There’s nothing to suggest that keeping Kaberle was a bad move. The best we heard of was Ryan Malone, who has 12 of his 30 points playing with Stamkos and St Louis.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Yeah, I haven’t heard any return since Pronger or Carter that made me say “GET OUT OF TOWN”.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Or what offensive talent would have been available. Short of Kovalchuk, I just don’t think there was much elite offensive talent available in the 2009-2010 season/offseason.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Frolov (lulz), Zherdev (who probably would have cost at least double what philly paid), Poni maybe?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:23 PM EST up reply actions
Saying “he couldn’t acquire top line talent because it’s not available” isn’t an exoneration of Burke’s strategy to build via UFA.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
+2
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
i wonder what burke’s ‘draft shmaft’ equivalent saying is? Does he and the fox sit around smoking cigars and mumble said phrases back and forth with Nonis shaking his head? Kill me.
by mick mcgeough on Jan 5, 2011 2:29 PM EST up reply actions
Brian Burke doesn't care about draft picks

Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
no one? really?
I guess this one is just for me
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
i was going to write that I was laughing out lod but it seemed like it was too much to type.
by mick mcgeough on Jan 5, 2011 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
I lol’d
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
Who’s trying to exonerate the overall strategy? We’re talking about not having “acquir[ed] more offensive ability” for the team. If it wasn’t there, is it a mistake?
Burke has shown that he has been willing to entertain trades for forwards (Versteeg), but if it’s not there, that won’t change regardless of the strategy. He’s not folding on players who want more term (Poni), he’s not overpaying (Kovalchuk), and he’s not settling for old/“maybe” players. It seems less like a mistake, and more like an ongoing work in progress to me.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
he’s not overpaying
The agents for Mike Komisarek, Brett Lebda and Colby Armstrong think your comment should be green.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
he’s not over paying for OFFENSIVE talent duh
oh wait, that doesn’t work either does it
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
got it. so lets see. long term build. current pace; up one position per yer. last years position;29th….
by mick mcgeough on Jan 5, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
Again, I don’t think it’s about acquiring “elite” offensive talent so much as it’s recognizing that even at peak / career high performance the players assembled by Burke in no way, shape, or form, are going to score enough goals to get this team into the playoffs.
Scoring by committee was the only approach that would work, but that doesn’t fit Burke’s top 6/bottom 6 philosophy. I’m presuming that’s why the Leafs passed on guys like Morrison, Cullen, etc.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
did he pass
or were the players not interested? that’s a key point I’d like to know.
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 2:32 PM EST up reply actions
Short of injecting someone with sodium pentathol I don’t think you’ll get your answer.
It is interesting that a few of these guys were late signings after Burke had said he was done. Burke expressly said he had no interest in Morrison as they wanted to acquire a forward with size.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
i remember that re: Morrison. Just wondering about the other names tossed around here.
unfortunately, too much guessing to ever know.
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
…[I]t’s [about] recognizing that even at peak / career high performance the players assembled by Burke in no way, shape, or form, are going to score enough goals to get this team into the playoffs.
That, to me, is a good thing. It’s the biggest thing that tells me Burke isn’t done. Our top line is quite literally two warm bodies and Phil Kessel. We’ve had the opportunity to fill those with mediocre players – hell, we had mediocre players filling those slots in Stajan and Poni – but they’re out now. We didn’t settle for mediocre goal scorers (Frolov? Be a top line player right now!), we effectively left them blank.
My concern is that, in searching for elite talent, Burke either won’t find it or won’t have the pieces to acquire it. As it stands, we have so little trade capital that we’ll probably have to settle for a strong prospect to grow into the first line center role (which only works because of how young this team is), but that’s something I expect to see alleviated the first time there really is elite talent on the move.
Our second line looks good. Our third line looks overpaid, but “okay”. The complete lack of Burke’s usual “I believe in these players yadda yadda” around some middle-of-the-pack barely-first-liners at the top line tells me he’s not done. I can wait a bit to see if/when he takes a kick at that cat.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
My concern is that, in searching for elite talent, Burke either won’t find it or won’t have the pieces to acquire it.
Agree. And to me, this obviates everything else – the moves Burke has made and the ones he hasn’t.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
But, that’s where I think Burke has earned a little of my patience. Regardless of the quality of Phaneuf’s recent play, not only was he considered an elite player at the time of his trade, other GMs have said they would’ve given Calgary more for Phaneuf. His recent play has made discussion completely warranted, but Burke has actually traded for “elite” talent (plus a utility player, plus a prospect) in the past. If Phaneuf was even playing at career average right now, we’d talk about how much of a steal that trade was – Stajan in the press box, Mayers and White gone?
In a world where trades between opening day and the deadline just don’t really happen, it seems a little premature to demand that Burke have traded for elite goal scoring talent, or signed some non-existent first line player out of the 2010 offseason.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Many didn’t consider Phaneuf an elite player at the time of the deal.
And did anyone look at the Leafs roster with it’s paper thin forwards and horrible goaltending and think, “Expensive D-man. That’s what this team needs.”
In a world where trades between opening day and the deadline just don’t really happen, it seems a little premature to demand that Burke have traded for elite goal scoring talent, or signed some non-existent first line player out of the 2010 offseason.
I have no idea where this strawman came from, but I’m hoping we can eliminate it soon. I don’t know of anyone that’s suggested that was a realistic goal for the Leafs. Many have pointed out there were clear holes in the line-up that could have been addressed with short-term solutions that wouldn’t impede the development of the Leafs’ prospects and would give the Leafs a better shot at picking up a few more wins.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Many have pointed out there were clear holes in the line-up that could have been addressed with short-term solutions that wouldn’t impede the development of the Leafs’ prospects and would give the Leafs a better shot at picking up a few more wins.
Frolov’s 16 points in 40 gp?
Poni’s 7 points in 22 gp?
I…guess. Morisson (5-15-20 in 40) is the only name I’ve seen thrown around who’s been okay so far…
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Off the top of my head, vets on limited term cheap contracts that were available well into UFA season: Morrison, Cullen, Belanger, Stempniak, Halpern…
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Belanger and Morisson strike me as two right answers. I was honestly asking the question, as capgeek doesn’t seem to keep the FA lists from previous seasons.
(Cullen took a multi-year, Stempniak wasn’t going to happen, Halpern has 16 points in 40 games.)
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
I think Cullen got 2, if not, 3 years.
I would have been a-ok with Stempniak returning. Good price for his production and he can genuinely play ES, PP and PK.
Halpern’s 16 would put him 7th on the Leafs in scoring. It’s also 2 more points than Mitchell, Brent and Armstrong combined.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Yeah. I’d go with Cullen. But I think he wanted to play in Minny.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
I’m more worried by his taking a multi-year. That, to me, says he wasn’t interested in taking a band-aid contract, like we were talking about adding.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Good point. But of all the players on that list, I was convinced he was going to help someone.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
Belanger’s got 19.
Our 7th best F has 6 points. Think about that for a minute.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions
Morrison was OK for a few weeks, but now has one goal and three helpers in his last 22 games played. That’s Tim Brent production.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
Now in year 44 of the 42-year saga.
$750K for one year – I’d still take him over Brent or Mitchell.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Is he suited to third-line work, though? Because it looks like his first/second-line days are finished.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
Now in year 44 of the 42-year saga.
He’s getting 15 minutes a night in Calgary and is a plus on the season so I’ll blindly answer yes to your question.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
That’s the only way I’d have interest. The third line has had zero production and in theory he can play higher if one of the kids falters/is hurt.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
Now in year 44 of the 42-year saga.
Yup.
I keep thinking about this in the context of the Leafs goaltending options for next year.
Giguere is done/gone. That leaves the variable that is Gustavsson and the question marks on the Marlies and Reading.
As much as I’d like to give the kids a shot, I think the team needs to think about lining up a competent veteran that can start 35+ games in 2011-12.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Also, said competent veteran should be cheap.
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 4:48 PM EST up reply actions
And on a short-term deal with absolutely no NMC/NTC.
And while we’re talking pipe-dreams, he should also take care of my dry cleaning each week.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
hopefully he can teach Chemmy how to make the perfect French Fry as well
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
#BringBackGerber2011?
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
It’s a misnomer as written.
I don’t think you can argue he didn’t try to acquire more offensive talent, because he traded for Versteeg and signed MacArthur and didn’t give anything of significance.
If you want to assign a value to that, such as “we didn’t acquire offensive talent sufficient to increase our GF by 40”, then it becomes a valid complaint to me.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
if more Leaf players were on career norm paces for goals/points (I’m looking at you defensemen) than this probably wouldnt be as big an issue
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
OK, to be more nuanced, it’s that he traded for Kessel and sacrificed 2 #1s while vastly overestimating either the talent on the team and/or his ability to acquire more talent.
I hate unearthing these corpses but I was asked.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions
first round picks make it all better! If we had them we could have a horrible patronizing show on TSN like Oilchange instead call it “yard work” so the media could slobber all over us for having a shitty hockey team BECAUSE WE ARE DRAFTING HIGH! YEAH BABY!
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:30 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Ok, but who’d you rather watch lose right now? Us or the Oilers?
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
Ok then, imagine a Leafs team full of exciting prospects vs this?
Besides, loyalty isn’t in question here. I’m speaking from a neutral TV show swallowing perspective and something called exciting hockey…
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:39 PM EST up reply actions
two words
Mikhail Grabovski
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
Can’t stop the crazy bat shit insane train!
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 4:42 PM EST up reply actions
I give. Watching Grabo is like being 15 again.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:42 PM EST up reply actions
they have things called hockey games, that is where you watch these exciting prospects
this whole “WATCH THE OILERS BE TERRIBLE FROM THE INSIDE OUT BECAUSE THEY COULD BE GOOD ONE DAY” thing is stupid
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
At least they’re not dumping on them for sucking.
If we were in the same situation it would be “STUPID LAFFS 1967!!!1111”
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 4:47 PM EST up reply actions
i watched some of that show yesterday with a friend and he says to me “Man are they going to be real good, real fast”
I turned to him and said “name me 1 good prospect on defence and 1 good goalie they have in the system….they have hall and eberle then after that they arent much better than toronto”
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
I’d say we’re a leg up on them, we got good goaltending prospects in the system, a good corp of D in the A. Forwards we’re a bit slim on top end talent, but we have good prospects nonetheless
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 4:50 PM EST up reply actions
Chorney and Petry.
I can’t name goalies.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:50 PM EST up reply actions
both have the ceiling of 2nd pairing defensemen, they don’t have a legit looking starting goalie in the whole system, but goalies are unpredictable and can come out of nowhere
all you can say right now is they do not currently have a viable NHL number one
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
Don’t know, I kinda like “Boys On the Bus” kid edition… It’s just an effort to get the fans their belief in the organization back.
It’s a cheap stunt, I’ll give you that but why not take what’s good about it… If they ever win the Cup this documentary will be something…
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:48 PM EST up reply actions
The Oilers have 8 goals more than we do and 18 more goals against. Their leading point scorer is a defenseman and their leading goal scorer would be 4th on our team. Average age of EDM top 6 goal scorers? 23.5. Average age of the Leafs top 6 goal scorers? 24.5. Our defensive prospects are better (Schenn, Aulie), our goaltending prospects are better (Gustavsson, Reimer).
Can we stop pretending like the Oilers are miles ahead of the Leafs in terms of a rebuild? The only thing they have on us right now seems to be hype and their first round pick, the latter of which they’ll probably need to burn on a defenseman just to hope they can shore up their blueline, unless Petry and Smid just turned into top pairing defensemen.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Forwards are much more exciting to watch because of the nature of their position. But I’ll take our prospect pool over theirs anyday.
Plus, nothing in this world compares to Schenn smashing the skull out of an opposing forward
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
Team full of exciting prospects?
like ummm:
Kadri: 20 (6 pts)
Schenn: 21 (9 pts)
Aulie: 21 (0 pts)
Reimer: 22 (1-1-0, .957)
Caputi: 22 (0 pts)
Holzer: 22 (0 pts)
Kessel: 23 (25 pts)
Versteeg: 24 (25 pts)
Bozak: 24 (15 pts)
Kulemin: 24 (24 pts)
Gunnarsson: 24 (4 pts)
Hanson: 24 (0 pts)
Phaneuf: 25 (7 pts)
MacArthur: 25 (29 pts)
Brown: 25 (2 pts)
Rosehill: 25 (0 pts)
Boyce: 26 (2 pts)
Brent: 26 (6 pts)
Gustavsson: 26 (5-12-2, .897 SV%)
hell I’ll even include Mitchell: 26 (3 pts)
20 players 26 or younger, 157 points, 6-13-2 with .903 SV%
OR
Oilers?
Hall: 19 (22 pts)
Pajaarvi: 19 (14 pts)
Eberle: 20 (23 pts)
Gagner: 21 (26 pts)
O’Marra: 23 (3 pts)
Petry: 23 (1 pt)
Peckham: 23 (7 pts)
Omark: 23 (6 pts)
Cogliano: 23 (11 pts)
Brule: 24 (7 pts)
Smid: 24 (3 pts)
Dubnyk: 24 (2-3-5, .915 SV%)
Stortini: 25 (3 pts)
Reddox: 25 (1 pt)
Jacques: 25 (1 pt)
Jones: 26 (12 pts)
Fraser: 26 (3 pts)
Belle: 26 (0 pts)
18 players 26 or younger, 143 points, 2-3-5 .915 goaltending.
Honestly I don’t see a huge difference… the Oilers top scorers are younger than the Leafs, but that just means the Leafs players should be reaching their peak production sooner. The Oilers forwards probably have a slightly higher upside, but the Leafs D prospects are stronger.
"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.
That’s fair, but I don’t like nebulous complaints like this.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
I was asked, and gave a quickie list rather than detailed points. I think everyone knows the nuances.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 3:00 PM EST up reply actions
misnomer
I don’t think that word means what you think it does.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
indubitably
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
I've said it before
but it’s a silly language: cromulent is in the Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary.
Phaneuf will come around.
for the chicks
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
i believe the term “misnomer” only applies to a name or an expression, not to a statement or clause.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
Belanger? Is there no one that could have bolstered our centre corps?
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
I was just joining in on the hyperbole party. Of course it’s unlikely to continue forever, we don’t know.
The same could be said for Phaneuf, or Komi (take out ‘score’ and insert ‘play hockey’).
There will be an answer. Let it be.
I fully expected Phaneuf to have a bounce-back season by just playing the averages. With that leg injury, it may not happen until next year…
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
hopefully 6.5 mil buys more than just average.
by mick mcgeough on Jan 5, 2011 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
I’ll take Phaneuf’s averages, they’d be good for 15+ goals a year.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Dion hasn’t panned out yet, for his price tag anyway. But if you are an NHL GM and you have a chance to trade for a 25-yr old former Norris candidate (plus a useful PK guy and a D prospect) by only giving up a bunch of spare parts, and you don’t, you are a terrible GM.
There will be an answer. Let it be.
You sir are amazing
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
by leafer1984 on Jan 5, 2011 3:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Shooting Percentages and System Changes?
Kovalchuk Career: 14.5
Kovalchuk 08-09 ATL: 15.6
Kovalchuk 09-10 ATL: 17.3
Kovalchuk 09-10 NJD: 9.0
Kovalchuk 10-11 NJD: 9.2
Phaneuf Career: 6.0
Phaneuf 08-09 CGY: 4.0
Phaneuf 09-10 CGY: 7.2
Phaneuf 09-10 TOR: 2.3
Phaneuf 10-11 TOR: 1.5
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
by Chemmy on Jan 5, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
……Fire Wilson?
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
I ain’t sayin’ nothin’.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
we’re also getting historically bad production / play from Phaneuf, Komisarek, Beauchemin, and even LEBDA (career + 18).
have you just convinced yourself this is Wilson’s fault?
There will be an answer. Let it be.
Historically good production from Grabovski, MacArthur, Kulemin, Schenn; a hair off Versteeg’s 2008-9 pace.
JS
Phaneuf will come around.
To this point
Should we bother throwing up numbers from the players the Sharks added while Wilson and his coaching staff were there? Because I think they were pretty freaking good.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
it’s true, they improved while he was there. so why hasn’t it happened here? (serious question)
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 8:50 PM EST up reply actions
Not that, but what you have there is a Phil Kessel that isn’t worth two first round picks but makes more dough… ok a slightly more talented but still one dimensional Phil Kessel.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
Kessel is not one dimensional, he just isnt a complete player
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions
his position doesn’t really require him to be as such…
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 3:57 PM EST up reply actions
HE SHOULD BE GOOD AT EVERYTHING! WHY ISNT HE TOEWS?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 3:57 PM EST up reply actions
oh, right, i mean
KESSEL’S SV% IS PURE SHITE. WTF!?!?
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 3:59 PM EST up reply actions
Ok so who would you rather have? Kovalchuk or Kessel? No, you can’t have the picks back.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:58 PM EST up reply actions
Kessel
he’s got 4 more points than Kovalchuk
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 3:59 PM EST up reply actions
at their current contracts?
Kessel
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 4:00 PM EST up reply actions
Both of you get it. So, a 23 year old scorer with his potential (with a right setup man) is good. One question still bothers me, do you trade two 1st round picks for a guy like that? I do. Not lottery picks but picks.
And exactly, people forget he’s 23. Twenty three.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
i hate when people compare it to Nolan and Leetch…. they were like 36
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
also part of cup runs
Leetch would have looked way better if we didnt lose him to the lockout
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
March 3, 2004: Traded to Toronto by NY Rangers with Edmonton’s 4th round choice (previously acquired, Toronto selected Roman Kukumberg) in 2004 Entry Draft for Maxim Kondratiev, Jarkko Immonen, Toronto’s 1st round choice (later traded to Calgary – Calgary selected Kris Chucko) in 2004 Entry Draft and Toronto’s 2nd round choice (Michael Sauer) in 2005 Entry Draft, March 3, 2004.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Odd piece of info
Jarko Immonen is one of the top scorers in the Finnish League.
"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.
oh for sure, i was quite pissed about that.
Leetch – McCabe for a full year would have been pretty alright…. and hopefully Kaberle wouldnt have still been paired with Ken Klee…
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
Whatever happened to Ken Klee?
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 5:47 PM EST up reply actions
He went
to New Jersey, then Colorado, then Atlanta, then Anaheim, then Phoenix, then I think he retired.
"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.
Yep retired now
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
Wow surprisingly well-travelled. I completely lost track of him after we traded him.
Oh didn’t we trade him for Suglobov? Wow that was a waste of time.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 5:49 PM EST up reply actions
I remember being somewhat exicted for Suglobov, but then he turned out to be a huge dud
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
he was quite good
for the last part of that season after the trade… then he was in a funk to start the next year, and he ended up going nowhere.
I think he had his heart set on playing in the NHL, and when that didn’t pan out he got sick of playing in the AHL and decided he was going home. His effort went to zero.
"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.
Gotta earn your keep before you get in the big leagues
Kulemin, so hot right now, Kulemin.
Boom Posted!
by PassivelyTruculent on Jan 5, 2011 5:54 PM EST up reply actions
A lot of players
might feel hard done by if they came over from Russia being told they’d get a shot if they put in time in the AHL, then played 172 regular AHL games over 3 seasons, plus an additional 5 playoff games (after the trade to the Marlies), producing 69 goals, and 57 assists in the regular season, along with an additional 5 goals and 2 assists in the playoffs and then getting only a 14 game shot in the NHL with limited minutes.
I’m not saying he deserved a huge shot, but he wasn’t exactly given the chance he may have been expecting.
He was very productive in the AHL, both with Albany and with the Marlies, and then he didn’t really get much help offensively in Toronto when he came up… he averaged 7:25 in ice time nightly, which is freaking ridiculous if you expect offensive production out of a player… no wonder he got 0 points… that’s about what one expects from most guys that play that small an amount of ice time.
P.S. Paul Maurice SUCKED at developing young players… I can’t think of a single “prospect” that was succesful under Maurice… Wellwood maybe? Stajan stagnated, Steen stagnated, White got a shot, but he didn’t really come into his own until Wilson got here.
"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.
If you look at his game log
he played under 5 minutes in 5 of the 14 games he was in.
He didn’t get a shot with over 10 minutes until his last 4 games, by which point his confidence was probably shot. He still produced 10 shots in those 4 games though, and I think if we’d kept him and used him correctly he could have been productive.
We’re talking about a 56th overall pick that had 26 points in 37 games in the KHL last year, and now has 7 points in 14 games, which ranks him 11th on his team in scoring, but he’s played less than half the games most of the other players have.
"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.
He was 3rd on CSKA Moscow
in scoring last year. Ahead of the likes of Petr Schastlivy, Nikita Filatov, Alex Nikulin
"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.
Kessel
Kovalchuk’s making like twice as much per season, he’s older, and he’s producing less??? why the fuck would you want Kovalchuk at this point?
"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.
Kovalchuk’s making like twice as much per season
Kovalchuk’s cap: $6.5
Kessel’s cap: $5.4
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
Indeed. Kessel is as three dimensional as they come. He’s got length, width and height.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 3:59 PM EST up reply actions
I’d have to see his Corsi numbers to agree with you on that
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 4:01 PM EST up reply actions
Not that, but what you have there is a Phil Kessel that isn’t worth two first round picks but makes more dough… ok a slightly more talented but still one dimensional Phil Kessel.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
Mike Commodore has requested a trade out of Columbus. Only 3 years left @ 3.75.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
can he play C?
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
sadly, no. But he is a grossly overpaid defenseman. Burke loves those.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Hey, if Lebda is a winger ding ding ding
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:04 PM EST up reply actions
I await our top line next year of Lebda – Commodore – Finger
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
I propose they be christened FeCaL
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
by mf37 on Jan 5, 2011 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Mitchell out 4-6 Weeks
National Post’s Michael Traikos reports:
Leafs John Mitchell out 4-6 wks with knee injury
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
is it wrong I kind of want to jump up and fist pump right now? I mean, the guy is injured.
Dion Phaneuf: turning the tunes up since '10
not when you realize this means Lebda will be lining up in his center spot
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 1:00 PM EST up reply actions
i think they stand pat with Boyce and Crabb as call ups until one of them fucks up too bad
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 1:02 PM EST up reply actions
So your thinking is Brown replaces Mitchell on the roster? I could live with that.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
pretty much, even though Brown is a winger….hum
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
can’t Boyce play C?
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
So you go
Kulemin Grabovski MacArthur
Crabb Bozak Kessel
Armstrong Brent Versteeg
Brown/Sjostrom Boyce Orr
one of Brown, Sjostrom and Orr sits.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
unlikely, don’t get your hopes up
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
Leafs play St Louis and Atlanta this weekend
So you can count on Orr to play to fight Janssen and Boulton
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
also there is a 50 percent chance he gets LTIR’d from a fight
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
Bring back the Wookie!
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
nah, he’s already going to be taking mitchells spot
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t know why we haven’t seen more of Hanson. I thought he was good in the pre-season. Kid plays with heart.
by general borschevsky on Jan 5, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
I like when he smashes peoples face off the ice
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
when did Tonya Harding become the Leaf’s new trainer?
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 5, 2011 1:06 PM EST up reply actions
For your pointing and laughing enjoyment
…cause, y’know, fuck the Buffalo Sabres and all.
Puck Daddy article detailing the trials and tribulations of Tyler Ennis vs Colorado
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) CERTIFIED GRABBO LOVER
Poor Ubiquitous.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
position for a fighter
Further up people were talking about Orr sitting against St. Louis, or Komisarek fighting and so not having to be on the ice. Assuming you are ok with having a fighter in the line-up, is it better for him to be a D-man or a forward? Seems to me it’s easier to deal with losing a forward for 5min or 10min or the rest of the game than it is to go down to 5-D. The other point is that is he’s a true fighter, how good is he at hockey, and are you basically dressing 5D with him in the lineup anyway?
Having a fighter be a d-man is a bad idea.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Engel is tough as they come…
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:25 PM EST up reply actions
Gotta be a forward. Especially if you’re shallow on defense. I mean, it just makes sense. Especially if your fighter loses a lot. Your team would have to be pretty stupid to do anything else.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
The funny thing is that Carkner is one of their best defensemen!
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 5, 2011 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
I would never employ a fighter I don’t trust to play 10 minutes per game. Probert, Simon, Domi? Sure. Boogard, Orr, Shelley? Pass.
To me the ability to actually play hockey is more important than the position.
Though I agree, a pure goon can do less harm at F.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Jan 5, 2011 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
Parros is my favourite tough guy.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 2:00 PM EST up reply actions
I like Shawn Thornton 
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 2:00 PM EST up reply actions
scores a little (this year, anyways) and fights and all of those other things
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 2:20 PM EST up reply actions
YEAH HE’S A GOOD CANADIAN KID HE
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
…costs half as much as Boogaard!
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
…is still nipping at Kovalchuk’s goal-scoring heels!
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
…is really good at getting punched in the face!
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Year in Review: Your 2010 Boston Bruins. The Good, the Bad, the Loss to Philly (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 5, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions
….is a very model of a modern major general?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 5, 2011 2:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Parros can hande your business. Literally.
GWWWHAAAA!
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Jan 5, 2011 4:11 PM EST up reply actions
Tyler Bozak's point production in 10 game increments
Thought Steve’s observations about Bozak were great.
I wanted to see how his point production looked last season and how it compares to his performance to date. I got lucky in that he played 37 games last season and 36 to date this year, so the data is at an almost perfect point for comparison.

To my eye, both the trend line and the pace are lagging this season…hopefully he’ll find his stride in the second half of the year.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
in summary
BOZAK!!!1
When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
If he maintains a sub-.4/g point pace for the rest of the year I’ll be concerned, but he’s heating up a bit (6 in 10).
Phaneuf will come around.
I should add “NBA Jam Collectible Pog Game” to my “to do” list.
"
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
To add to this
if you adjust those numbers from last year to include his time in the AHL, they align more closely. I suggested this in a comment last week, but it’s quite possible he’s just a guy that get’s better as the season progresses… we just have to work on him playing at a high level consistently. I also wonder how much of this is “sophomore slumpesque”… but I dunno.
Either way, I think he’s developing fine, and his reduced numbers could also be closely linked to Kessel’s time in a slump. Now that Kessel has 11 points in his last 12 games, Bozak is getting more chances and assists, so his numbers jump also.
"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.
Also
perhaps if his development trajectory isn’t that far from Stajan’s, we can expect him to have the skill to develop into a 60+ point player. Decent #2 C. Then we’d have him, Grabovski, Kulemin and MacArthur all playing decent 2nd line production totals. With Kessel and another winger, and Versteeg adding 60ish points on the 3rd line with PP time, then really? We’d have a decent set of offensive weapons.
"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.
- - Ron Wilson. A lot of responsibiler should be placed on Burke for the team he built, but having Ron Wilson coach this team for so long with so little results is inexcusable. One reason he has not been fired yet could be that Burke wants to keep Wilson so that he takes the blame for much of the team’s woes, kind of like the team’s scapeboat. Another reason could be that firing his long-time friend would seem rather awkward to him, which is funny because I once fired my only brother. I placed him in my oven with my Burkie dogs. Anyone want some of my Burkie dogs?
A scapeboat is a boat that is given all the responsibility for things that may not entirely be the boat’s fault.
Who wants a pizza roll?
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
One part of the comment I didn’t understand is when the giant pizza roll showed up and told me to kill my wife.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
I WANT A LEAFS DONUT
Hey, if you’re gonna call us birds you might as well call us chickens.
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
Recently-converted Certified Grabbo lover
After school snack?
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 4:02 PM EST up reply actions
YES
surprisingly, there aren’t any Timmies within walking distance of my house :(
Hey, if you’re gonna call us birds you might as well call us chickens.
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
Recently-converted Certified Grabbo lover
Not yet, just finished assembling our chili for dinner. Gonna let it bubble on the stove for at least another 90 mins.
Bitter Leaf Fan: Skepticism, not cynicism.
nope
I suddenly feel like I’m in the middle of nowhere
Hey, if you’re gonna call us birds you might as well call us chickens.
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
Recently-converted Certified Grabbo lover
There are about 3,500 timmies across Canada! It’s practically impossible to walk a block without running into one. Frankly I’m amazed.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Jan 5, 2011 5:48 PM EST up reply actions




































