Call the Nurse
by birky on Oct 29, 2011 8:02 AM EDT
in From The Branches
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PrintAfter remaining incredibly healthy last winter, Toronto has already seen four players miss time due to injury. Just as Tim Connolly and Tyler Bozak returned from their respective time off, word came this week that James Reimer would go on IR for concussion-like symptoms. Toronto is also dealing with yet another injury to forward Colby Armstrong, and just yesterday we found out that NHL leading scorer Phil Kessel is "banged up". In regards to Reimer, Dave Shoalts of the G&M wrote:
Seven days after James Reimer was clipped on the head, the only thing certain is the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender will not play against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night. It is still not clear if Reimer has a concussion or neck injury. The Leafs said initially Reimer suffered whiplash when he was sideswiped by Montreal Canadiens forward Brian Gionta. Then, after Reimer’s replacement, Jonas Gustavsson, indicated Reimer had a concussion, Leafs general manager Brian Burke denied this was the case but said he was being treated "for concussion-like symptoms."
Let us hope that this is just a bump in the road, and not the beginning of a season of injury issues.
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Banged Up Kessel departs Leafs practice early
More from Dave Shoalts in the G&M
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I broke out some individualized data on elite players to build on yesterday’s post. Some of the names among Kessel’s comparables are pretty interesting.
http://bluechipprospects.blogspot.com
Kessel probably has a stomach ache...
from all that cheddah.
Maybe I like planning parades, ever think about that?
I really hope Gustavsson plays out of his skin tonight. Pittsburgh is going to be a tough one…
http://bluechipprospects.blogspot.com
I'm headed to a Hallowe'en party tonight so I'm going to miss this one
but I’m going to approach it just like I did to Thursday’s game – expect a blowout for the other team. If it doesn’t happen it’s a nice surprise, but PIT has the Leafs beat almost top to bottom with its roster.
As was said earlier if the Leafs get out of this group of games (NYR, PIT, OTT) with 3 points, it’s a good thing. Just need 1 more over the next 2 games to give the Leafs 14 points in 11 games (easily a playoff team record), although 4 more would be nice (17 in 11 games).
Although it’s a bit early to be breaking this site out, go here for YAY and here for LOL.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 29, 2011 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not expecting much tonight, but we’d better pump Ottawa tomorrow.
Paedophiles are using an area of internet the size of Ireland.
leafs have not skated well in a back to back game, fortunately ottawa also has a back to back before sundays game with them
Also Ottawa is awful.
/temptingfate
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 29, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
… against other AHL teams.
Charter member - Grabbo Lover's Union, Local 84
by Sergei Puckizin on Oct 29, 2011 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm
well Winnipeg, Columbus, Carolina (via ShootOut) and Florida… not exactly AHL, but not the creme de la creme either.
"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 Oct 29, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Goodish news
@TSNScottyMac
Scott MacArthur
#Leafs’ James Reimer taking part in morning skate. Not eligible to play tonight. #Penguins #NHL
At least he’s skating.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
@DavidAlter590
David Alter
Good sign that Reimer has taken some shots during the morning skate, on pace to potentially start tomorrow night. #Leafs
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 29, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
From Siegel
Lupul, re: Anaheim
“I came back and was kind of just an afterthought there and didn’t really get the chance that I felt I deserved. You can’t really complain about it too much; it’s business. They thought other players were better than me. I look at those players now and I can tell you they’re probably not.”
Damn right they’re not.
by potvin vs hextall on Oct 29, 2011 11:12 AM EDT reply actions
Bested for ice-time on many nights by the likes of Jason Blake
That’s all we needed to prove Lupul’s point.
TWEET AT ME BRO
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 29, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
*sigh
I get tired of trying to make this point, but over the past 4 years Jason Blake hasn’t been particularly bad.
His pts/60 hasn’t tailed off, but his ice time has.
Since the 2002-03 season here are his point totals across the Islanders, Leafs, and Ducks:
55, 47, 57, 69, 52, 63, 41, 32
Over the same time frame here are Lupul’s point totals (starting in 2003-04):
34, 53, 28, 46, 50, 14, 31.
Who would you be giving more minutes to on that basis?
"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 Oct 29, 2011 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Just to recap
Blake had more points than Lupul in every single season they were both playing… and another 55 in that first season where Lupul didn’t play because he wasn’t in the NHL.
"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 Oct 29, 2011 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Blake's
pts/60 last year was 1.49 at ES. It was 1.74 the season prior, and 2.35 and 2.05 in the two previous years in Toronto respectively… so I take that back, his pts/60 has been dropping, but then again the guy is 38 years old so that’s to be expected.
Lupul’s pts/60 last year in Toronto/Anaheim was 1.60 (not much better than Blake – and it went up after the trade). It was 2.48 in Anaheim the year before (2nd on the team after Getzlaf), 2.03 three years prior in Philly, and 1.94 in 2007-08.
So to compare, year over year you have Blake as follows since 2007-08:
2.05, 2.35, 1.74, and 1.49.
For Lupul it goes:
1.94, 2.03, 2.48, and 1.60
Past two years Lupul is better on a per game basis, but he wasn’t healthy and that hurts him in terms of playing time. So far this season, Lupul is at 3.44 pts/60… definitely a top line player. and 38 year old Blake has zero points in 3 games so he’s not worth comparing.
"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 Oct 29, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d still rather have Lupul then the blonde gnome. Stats be damned!
Raycroft! I like the move. Falls inline with the push for youth and is a solution for the future. Trading Rask was unfortunate, but with Pogge and Raycroft only being 26, I think the TO goaltending future is a bright one. - Some guy from 2006
by Chuck Diesel on Oct 29, 2011 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
This is silly. Jason Blake never played less than 75 games during that span. Lupul has seasons of 56, 23, and 54 games in there. If you go on a goals per 82 games played over that period, they’re virtually identical – Lupul’s is 23 and Blake’s is 24.
However, that also includes Blake’s outlier 40 goal season, where he shot 5% higher than his career average, and it includes Lupul’s 20 year old rookie season.
If we go since 2007-08 (but not including this season), when Blake went to the Leafs and Lupul went to the Flyers, Blake has scored scored 72 goals in 318 games, an 82 game pace of 19 goals. Lupul has scored 69 in 212, an 82 game pace of 27 goals.
At most you could argue that Blake has been more valuable because of his ability to stay healthy, but when healthy, Lupul has clearly been the better player in recent years.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Oct 29, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m assuming he’s referring to Getzlaf and Perry, in which case, of course he’s right.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 29, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Whew
@jonasTSN1050
Jonas Siegel
Kessel back on the ice this morning after departing practice early yesterday. Expected to play tonight.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
That was the moment I became a Kessel fan. It had been years since we had a player who could turn the game around with one shot, who I trusted with the puck on his stick.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
I also write things about stuff over at the Leafs Nation
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Oct 29, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
jonasTSN1050 Jonas Siegel
Reimer “doubtful” for tomorrow according to Wilson. Depending on Gustavsson performance tonight he likely goes again vs. Ottawa.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
If Gustavsson starts both of these back to back, we’re talking about putting him in for three games in four days.
Ben Scrivens, please report to the show. Ben Scrivens, please report to the show.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
by Bower Power on Oct 29, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Auld is also injured, so Lehner is called up. Anderson played on Thursday v. Florida, and is expected to play tonight. So either Anderson and Gustavsson will both play 3 games in 4 days, or we’ll see at least one AHL goalie in the game tomorrow.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
by Bower Power on Oct 29, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
The more Reimer’s return is delayed, the more I worry that there is something serious the team is keeping from us.
TWEET AT ME BRO
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 29, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
i doubt it
he wouldn’t be doing morning skates just to put on appearances if there was something major going on that they knew would keep him out for several weeks.
the more likely case: they really don’t know how long he’ll be out.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 29, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m hoping this is one of Wilson’s ploys to keep media attention away from Scrivens. He pretended Reimer wasn’t starting the first time he actually ended up starting a game, so he could be trying to reduce the pressure on Scrivens while actually planning on playing him.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Oct 29, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
re: Pens
This team is scary good at 8-2-2 so far.
Add back in Crosby and with a healthy Malkin, they are by far (IMO) the favourties for the Cup. Nothing earth shattering in that assessment, but still, its worth noting how good these guys are.
That said, they’ve won 5 straight and might be primed for an off night.
Expecting a blow-out. Hoping for 2 points.
GO LEAFS GOone
loading.......67%
they're winning
despite missing Crosby and Malkin for extended chunks… and Staal is now out due to a “lower body” injury.
It won’t last.
"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 Oct 29, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
we’re winning despite crappy play. That won’t last either.
Also Geno’s back and Neal’s on fire. I have a bad feeling about tonight :(
By which you mean good feeling, because you secretly love the Pens more than us.
TWEET AT ME BRO
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 29, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
secretly?
Charter member - Grabbo Lover's Union, Local 84
by Sergei Puckizin on Oct 29, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
did you not
watch the Rangers-Leafs game? The Leafs played quite 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 Oct 29, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Neal
has 9 goals on 50 shots for an 18.0% shooting percentage. He’s a career 13.0% shooter… that won’t last either.
Staal was their 2nd leading goal scorer with 6 goals, no one else has more than 3. Their offense is pretty similar to the Leafs (Kessel + Lupul)… but after Malkin and Neal, who do we fear offensively? Letang?
I’m not worried about Pascal Dupuis or Matt Cooke lighting the Leafs up particularly.
Unlike the Pens the Leafs have MGK, they have Connolly that just got back, they have Bozak and Lombardi capable of putting up points…
I just think the Leafs have more depth… despite Pittsburgh’s league leading record.
"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 Oct 29, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Last season the Pens had a combined 126 games from Malkin, Staal, and Crosby, and they finished 2nd in the league in wins.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Oct 29, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Injuries
It Happens
FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! ~ ~ ~ Lori Wilson Gray ~ ~ April 07th 1967 - May 27th 2011 ~ May you rest in Peace ~ I love you and miss you big Sis ! I cant believe at 44 yrs of age .. you went to sleep and never woke up. I promise to take care of Matt and Emily for you. With Love, your baby Brother.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 29, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
thats a sign of Depth and Resiliency ~ Gut Check Time.
FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! ~ ~ ~ Lori Wilson Gray ~ ~ April 07th 1967 - May 27th 2011 ~ May you rest in Peace ~ I love you and miss you big Sis ! I cant believe at 44 yrs of age .. you went to sleep and never woke up. I promise to take care of Matt and Emily for you. With Love, your baby Brother.
which i guess
is why it’s a good thing Burke went and added so many forwards/D for depth.
"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 Oct 29, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Brent Johnson is starting today
Isn’t it about time we lit up a backup?
by potvin vs hextall on Oct 29, 2011 12:12 PM EDT reply actions
He needs to light up DiPietros face again
Raycroft! I like the move. Falls inline with the push for youth and is a solution for the future. Trading Rask was unfortunate, but with Pogge and Raycroft only being 26, I think the TO goaltending future is a bright one. - Some guy from 2006
by Chuck Diesel on Oct 29, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t be surprised if Reimer had a neck injury rather than a head injury. From personal experience, it’s amazing how many headaches and other issues a neck injury can cause.
Yeah, I get headaches from an ongoing neck issue I’ve got. It is possible. Doesn’t stop me from worrying about Reimer, though.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Oct 29, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
the thing that makes me the most angry
is when Reimer got hurt, whateverthefuckdipshit’snameis was saying how he was acting/embellishing
now it could be a concussion??
That’s the sweet thing about a job without accountability. It’s astounding to me what scumbag members of the media can get away with.
by potvin vs hextall on Oct 29, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
His exact words were “Reimer sold that”.
FUCK GLENN HEALY IN HIS STUPID FUCKING EAR
I had something really clever to say here. But I forgot.
by daoust on Oct 29, 2011 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
We should egg his face for Halloween
Raycroft! I like the move. Falls inline with the push for youth and is a solution for the future. Trading Rask was unfortunate, but with Pogge and Raycroft only being 26, I think the TO goaltending future is a bright one. - Some guy from 2006
by Chuck Diesel on Oct 29, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
BOB COLE!
PPP just said on Twitter that Bob Cole is calling tonight’s game! WOOOOO!
TWEET AT ME BRO
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 29, 2011 2:23 PM EDT reply actions
HNIC tweets confirm the same. unfortunately we also get Healy still :(
by Nigel Cadbury on Oct 29, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Tonight's HNIC Lineup:
From the looks of it, West/ON will get the PIT/TOR game, MB will get the WPG/TB game, and QC/Atlantic Canada will get the BOS/MTL game.
TWEET AT ME BRO
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 29, 2011 2:32 PM EDT reply actions
Tweet Tweet Tweet !!!
I would like to see Montreal Lose, Winnipeg Lose (still angry at the stupid 9-8 loss for my FLYERS) and Penguins go down hard and fast. I hope Fleury gets lit up like a Christmas Tree !!!
FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! ~ ~ ~ Lori Wilson Gray ~ ~ April 07th 1967 - May 27th 2011 ~ May you rest in Peace ~ I love you and miss you big Sis ! I cant believe at 44 yrs of age .. you went to sleep and never woke up. I promise to take care of Matt and Emily for you. With Love, your baby Brother.
That’d be hard to do since Johnson is in net for the Pens.
TWEET AT ME BRO
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 29, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
not necessarily
Leafs pot 4 on 5 shots, in comes Fleury, Leafs score 4 more.
It can happen… just look at the WPG-PHI game the other night!
"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 Oct 29, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Note I said hard, not impossible.
TWEET AT ME BRO
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 29, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Atlantic Canada is getting the TOR/PIT game. Off the CBC website
Pittsburgh @ Toronto – (Full Network less Quebec and Manitoba); Boston @ Montreal – (Quebec only); Winnipeg @ Tampa Bay – (Manitoba only) (Live) (HD where available)
"Our bottom six should be nicknamed The Intangibles." -Plea From A Cat Named Felix
Leafs fan till the end!
by whyevenbother on Oct 29, 2011 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Huh, random. There are a lot more Habs and Bruins fans in the Atlantic so that’s kinda surprising.
TWEET AT ME BRO
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 29, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Marlies game highlights from last night
Check out Holzer’s fight vs. former Marlie Brennan, and wicked goal by Colborne.
http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=802&id=131343
"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.
Joey Crabb
also does his best job of trying to break his hand on the back of Gaunce’s helmet.
"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 Oct 29, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
ya that’s the last thing he needs the way he’s been playing this year.
by Nigel Cadbury on Oct 29, 2011 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions
HockeyBreak
An interesting stat: A Boston Bruins draft pick leads both the AHL (Joe Colborne), and NHL (Phil Kessel), in scoring.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
by Bower Power on Oct 29, 2011 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Both for the Leafs too. Love it.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Oct 29, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
KesselBear
Raycroft! I like the move. Falls inline with the push for youth and is a solution for the future. Trading Rask was unfortunate, but with Pogge and Raycroft only being 26, I think the TO goaltending future is a bright one. - Some guy from 2006
by Chuck Diesel on Oct 29, 2011 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Back
Raycroft! I like the move. Falls inline with the push for youth and is a solution for the future. Trading Rask was unfortunate, but with Pogge and Raycroft only being 26, I think the TO goaltending future is a bright one. - Some guy from 2006
by Chuck Diesel on Oct 29, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
A monster of a friend
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 29, 2011 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions
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