Toronto's Worst Kept Secret
by SkinnyFish on Oct 31, 2011 7:01 AM EDT
in From The Branches
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PrintLeafs to Honour Mats Sundin's No. 13 - The Globe and Mail
Mats Sundin is ready to take his place with other Toronto Maple Leafs legends in the rafters at Air Canada Centre.
Midway through the first period of Toronto's 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Maple Leafs announced Sundin will have his No. 13 raised to the rafters on Feb. 11.
It's been nearly four years since Sundin last wore a Leafs jersey, but the 19,526 in attendance let him know how revered he remains in the city. Fans gave the former Leafs captain a standing ovation that lasted the entire TV time out.
The announcement came a bit prematurely for the Leafs thanks to a Swedish newspaper spilling the beans, and a bit prematurely in general as Mats isn't HHOF eligible (1st ballot btw. Book it.) until the class of 2014. Clark had to wait 8 years; Gilmour 5. Sending Mats to the rafters after less than 4 years away (1 with the Canucks I might add) just seems to early to me, I dunno.
Also Kadri, get rid of the 13 on the Marlies.
Your thoughts? More links after the jump.
Leafs Links
Senators Beat Maple Leafs for Sixth Straight Win
Laugh it up now Ottawa; we'll be doing the same when you miss the draft lottery by a point.
11 - What's up with Schenn's lack of ice time?
JP recaps last night's game.
We're Seeing the Dion Phaneuf We Need to See
Mike at VLM loves that Dion has returned to form.
As was his hair. More photogoodness from Vintage Leafs.
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It is a bit early..
BUT, Mats was a hell of an ambassador for the city and franchise, and I think MLSE is looking for a way to get some more “old boy/traditional” type publicity back in the rink. To be honest, I can’t wait I think its going to be one swell shindig.
These aren't the droids you're looking for.....
I so agree with this
Plus, Mats was always my hero. Honoring him is honoring 13 years of dedicated service. At least I think so.
http://mapleleafshotstove.com/author/mislav-jantoljak/
@Xterratu on twitter
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Oct 31, 2011 7:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Also, he had that awesome Nike commercial back in the late 90s? where some d-bag is rollerblading around d-town knocking people over as he goes and then just as he skates by a restaurant window, Mats comes out of nowhere and pastes him on the glass while an elderly couple looks on from inside the restaurant. One of my favorite commercials ever!
by gettingcozywithsarkozy on Oct 31, 2011 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I preferred the one with Wayne Gretzky. “Ok Mr. Fancy Stick” It killed me every time
If you look up "Loyalty" in the dictionary you'll see a picture of a Leafs fan wearing a Todd Gill jeresy looking like he just got punched in the stomach
he also never forgot to eat his chunky soup
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 31, 2011 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
or the McDons one with Gretzky?
“Off the clock, off the zambonie, top corner”
“you owe me a big mac”
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Oct 31, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Any chance you could find a link to the one I mentioned above? I’d love to see that one again.
by gettingcozywithsarkozy on Oct 31, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Thank you m’am, you’ve made my day!
by gettingcozywithsarkozy on Oct 31, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Also this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u88WdovasU0
Popped a Colboner - Certified Joe Colborne Fanboy
I'm telling you I was the King of Spain (now I eat humble pie)
Now the Leafs call me up to drive the Zamboni
Twitter me this.
Welcome home Chaim Weisswasser!
by happiergilmore on Oct 31, 2011 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
best one
french canadian goalie / cab driver.
“Learn how to drive!”
“Learn how to make a kick save!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySjUgBSA80g
I had something really clever to say here. But I forgot.
That’s 5 games for hitting from behind in today’s NHL.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Ha ha. I completely forgot about this one. “Francois Dupuis”?!?!?
by gettingcozywithsarkozy on Nov 1, 2011 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions
PS
Thanks for the linkage and happy Halloween!
http://mapleleafshotstove.com/author/mislav-jantoljak/
@Xterratu on twitter
by Mislav Xterratu Jantoljak on Oct 31, 2011 7:40 AM EDT reply actions
13
Needs to be hoisted up as fast as possible and I sure don’t think it is too early. Great ceremony Sat. nite, very touching.
One of the classiest captains in Leaf history and this fan will forever be bummed he got hurt during the 2002 playoffs. I thought we had a great shot that spring at going to nirvana.
Hope Burkie and the boys decide to permanently retire all numbers now up at the ACC.
Loathing the Habs with every fibre of my being since 1963.
Definitely not too early to honour Mats – he’s easily the best Leaf of the last 30-40 years, and is one of the Leafs all-time greats. He can’t get in the rafters soon enough.
First ballot hall-of-famer. Agreed.
And Kadri should definitely ditch 13 on the Marlies. Wear the same number at both clubs.
I had something really clever to say here. But I forgot.
43 is just such an awkward number, why wouldn’t he go with 44 or something instead
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Or why wouldn’t he go with #91, his number with the Knights? Or, since Burke’s not keen on the high numbers, #19, his number with the Kitchener Rangers? Both are available on the Marlies now, and while Connolly’s got #19 on the big club at the moment, it might be available once Kadri’s earned his stripes in the NHL.
Lupul has #19, Connolly #12.
In columbus
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
We play Columbus in November this year…
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Oct 31, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
We play November in Columbus?
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
November, when the games matter….in Columbus.
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 31, 2011 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
His dad could beat up your dad.
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 31, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
that’s a very unlawful statement to make with your pro leafs bias.
Dion Phaneuf: turning the tunes up since '10
Almost as unlawful as mentioning Chaim Weisswasser and his seven VTech phones.
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 31, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
He can read, HE CAN READ BETTER THAN ANYONE
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Oct 31, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
If Chaim Weisswasser wins a V-tech phone and Kessel gets a cross checking penalty during that game in Columbus in November PPP will explode.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
There are clear warnings about “crossing the memes” all over the place.
Surely no one would ever let that happen…
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Oct 31, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
“We could cross the memes”
“Whoa whoa I thought crossing the memes was a bad thing”
“Yes there is a very small chance that we would survive…..”
“You know what? I love this idea, I’m excited about it”
If you look up "Loyalty" in the dictionary you'll see a picture of a Leafs fan wearing a Todd Gill jeresy looking like he just got punched in the stomach
Especially fitting when posted by someone with a handle of “Ghostsof” …
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Oct 31, 2011 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions
/smacks Ray Stantz
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Mats Sundin
Was my childhood idol. Playing road hockey in front of my house, I was Mats Sundin every god damn time now matter what anybody said. He carried the team on his back with garbage on his wings a lot of the time and STILL stayed a PPG player pretty much every year
Two conference finals appearances, more OT goals than anyone, most points as a Leaf and most ever by a Swedish player… having his number raised up to the rafters early and being a 1st ballot HoFer is what he fricking deserves.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 8:52 AM EDT reply actions 6 recs
What’s up with Schenn’s lack of ice time?
He’s not playing well. I’m sure this isn’t permanent.
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
Grrrr
Seeing Mats Sundin’s tag at the bottom of this FTB say Mats Sundin (C-VAN) is depressing
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
Hockey in Florida
This is obscene. At least they are selling tickets instead of just giving them away.
Barely three hours before the Lightning-Jets game on Saturday, some tickets were going for as little as $5 on various Internet ticket sites. Tickets for the Panthers-Jets match Monday were priced as low as $4.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 9:22 AM EDT reply actions
...
The Panthers are living on borrowed time unless they can build a serious fan base with a good run this year. Even when I went to a game there and the Leafs were in town, the place was still quiet and lacking atmosphere. The building was full of Canadians on vacation for march break and my section only had a few Panthers fans in it.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
The building is also in the middle of nowhere...
That was taken from the (empty) balcony they have, looking off to the west I believe. The east has more trees but is not a whole lot better off.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions
thats even more middle of nowhere than LeafsbankPlace
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
Here's the view off to the north east I believe...
Look! Another building! Civilization!
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d love to see that outside my window.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m with you there. I have a better view from my grandparents condo in Palm Beach Shores anyways.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
I used to think like that. now I’m old. Screw snow & cold.
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
I actually find the summers harder since I’ve gotten older, especially in the Southern States. 40deg weather?! No thanks…There’s something very unsettling about sitting, doing nothing, and being drenched in sweat.
Must be an old thing then cause I’m sick of winters too. I just hope these $4 tickets are still there when I retire
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Just to attest to how low prices really are… Some friends of mine drove to Florida last year for a small holiday. On their way back, they saw games in Tampa Bay, Florida, and Atlanta for a combined total of $50 per person. The lowest price was in Atlanta, where they literally payed $10 to sit in the lower bowl.
Never stop believing. Go Leafs Go.
That’s insane…although my brother went to Tennessee one weekend last winter to watch a Titans game, and a Vols game. When they were downtown Nashville on Saturday night, they passed by the arena, and the Preds actually had people working out front doing “giveaways” for the game that evening. Being from Central Ontario, I can’t even fathom that. Not to mention he said that the corner store they went into had a deal where you got 2 tix with the purchase of a bottle of Vodka….
You obviously don’t have a driveway to maintain :P
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Its not too bad, I have a place north of Barrie with a couple of acres and a snowblower for the driveway. But if you live in the city I can see how it would be a pain.
In the city. Long narrow laneway. Snowblower works well and everything. Just a pain, like you described it.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Not. The. Same.
I used to like walking to class in the snow too. Usually get to class late. Too much fun
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Pretty much the complete opposite end of Florida in fact
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, even as screwed up as some of these team locations are…I doubt they would ever put one that close to Alabama
Tampa Bay is much closer to the Panhandle than Sunrise anyways
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
and the hardcore fans got dicked around by the team re: Season Ticket Holders in the centre ice section.
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
Yup
And the whole Playoff Guarantee thing a few years ago really shot them in the foot when they finished tied with the Habs in points and lost the tiebreaker…
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions
While the arena is bordered to the northwest by a massive conservation area, and they are nearly 40 miles from the heart of Miami, they’ve been hurt way more by 1) how shit they’ve been forever and 2) no one knows what hockey is in Florida. They need to pump up their marketing bigtime in the wake of the NBA strike and the Dolphins sucking ass this year. I was in Miami a couple months ago and got approached twice by the Panthers street team trying to sell me tickets. So they’re getting out there and trying to get the word out, people just don’t care.
Actually, hockey is bigger in Florida than most people think.
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
There are a lot of snowbirds down there
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions
They should work the Gulf Coast VS Ocean Coast angle.
or maybe have an episode of CSI Miami take place during a Panthers game.
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
The first season and book of Dexter partly took place in a Panthers arena.
by theninjagreg on Oct 31, 2011 10:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I wonder if the attendance atrocities in Phoenix and Florida (and Ottawa, to a lesser extent) will convince owners to stop building arenas that are nowhere near the population base that they’re trying to entice to come to their games.
/thinks about it
Nope. They’ll probably just keep taking free money.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Well bigger than “nonexistent”, sure. But when they’re up against the NBA/NFL/NCAA football, there’s not a lot left to go around. And yeah there are a lot of snowbirds, but not all of them are in Florida to watch hockey on the cheap. They’re there to lay around in the sun.
Miami & Atlanta are the two biggest bandwagon sports towns in all of North America.
Throw in a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in a decade, and the fact that they play 40 minutes away from Miami and it’s not exactly surprising that nobody goes to Panthers games.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Great points.
In hind sight I remember the massive push to put the Dome on the Downsview Base. They ended up next to the CN Tower and it was gravy for a few yrs. Now the people that stay away from Jays games say parking (pricing and lack thereof) and getting into the core of the city helps keep fans away.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Now the people that stay away from Jays games say parking (pricing and lack thereof) and getting into the core of the city helps keep fans away.
I’ve not heard this before, but something tells me this would be a mark against them wherever the Dome would be. Ballpark parking ain’t cheap, anywhere.
There were stories about fans staying away even though the team was becoming competitive again and tickets were cheap. Many that didn’t live in the core said it was a pain to access and too costly to get to the games especially on weeknights.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
weeknights is a pain if you aren’t already downtown/have the day off if you’re coming from outside Toronto. Teraffic is backed up going in to downtown everynight at rush hour anyway.
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
And the lease deal the panthers have with the city is the motherlode of sweetheart deals which is how they are profitable. Unlike the SNES who lose money almost as bad as Phoenix.
The Maple Leafs- making me certifiably insane since 1985.
by torleafsfan29 on Oct 31, 2011 10:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
1. It’s mostly 1. Tampa is currently 8th in raw attendance, 18th by percentage (3rd after the 100% teams), and the only difference is that they win (which makes Florida’s need to be competitive even more important. God knows why anyone thought two expansion teams four hours apart would be a good idea).
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
The snowbirds there and Arizona were in part what the league thought would help boost and grow the game. Not a surprise the Leafs trips there are during prime season
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
The idea that snowbirds will go to the games is kind of built on faulty logic.
The entire reason that snowbirds exist is because they don’t like winter and they go south to get away from it. So the likelihood of them wanting to go to the most wintery sport is probably pretty low.
And again, there’s so much to do down there that they aren’t driving an hour out of their way to go do it on a lark.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
I may be an exception
But we woke up at 4:30 am, drove ~5 hours to Key West to spend the day, and caught the Leafs game on our way back to the island even though it was an hour out of the way (being in the middle of nowhere and everything)
If I was old and spending my winters in Florida, you bet your ass I’d have season tickets
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
In that scenario you’re on vacation.
Let’s say you live and work in downtown Toronto. Are you going to rush home after work on a Tuesday night so that you can drive out to, say, Vaughn, for a Leaf game? Probably not unless you’re a die-hard, right?
That’s basically what Ottawa, Phoenix, Florida, and all of these dumbass franchises that build arenas away from their core audience are essentially doing. They’re alienating the casual fans that will help keep their arenas full by making it difficult for them to attend.
The ACC may well be the most perfectly located arena in the entire league. It sits directly on top of the centre hub of Toronto’s transit services, and it’s directly off a highway.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Verizon.
Not the best highway access, but sits on top of a Metro stop.
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro"
But basically the point is that if you have a team in a large metropolitan area and you want to encourage higher attendanc you should probably focus on accessability to the location.
Football stadiums can get away with being out in the middle of nowhere because substantially all of the games are on a weekend, and the tailgating component makes it an all-day experience.
But for the three pro leagues that routinely play through the week, being centrally located seems like a no-brainer to me.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Rogers Arena in Vancouver is up there, too. It’s located downtown and right off its own skytrain station.
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 31, 2011 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
MSG sits on top of the largest train and subway station in NYC.
Joe Louis is smack dab in the middle of Detroit with it’s own highway exit directly to the parking garage and is on the People Mover.
TD Bank Garden is on the T and at the end of the biggest bridge over the River Charles.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
So there are others that are fairly similar in location.
In a related story, they routinely have good attendance.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
except the Joe, but that’s because no one in a 50 mile radius has a job
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 31, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
hey hey now, I havw a job a live only 20 miles from the Joe.
In related news, the people mover sucks, and everyone I know thinks it was a waste of money+gimmick to bring business back to d-town.
by gettingcozywithsarkozy on Oct 31, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually to be fair Ottawa has a great bus service that takes you directly to the arena from several key stops near mid-town (the 417 highway). I literally walk 2 minutes to the stop and for the same price as any bus get taken directly to Scotiabank with only 3 or 4 total stops. Bus is always packed. And they are all lined up to take you back after the game – at least 6 or 7 buses initially.
by Goosemonster on Oct 31, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
As mentioned, it leaves right after the game to get back downtown, and moves ridiculously slow and way too jammed, that it sucks the energy right out of you. Completely kills any momentum for a Saturday night
Finally on the Twitter train, @j6events. Follow me, I swear I'll have interesting thoughts soon!
by BetterThanBester on Oct 31, 2011 2:41 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
I don’t know, last time Leafs fans spent the whole busride acting smugly around the poor Ottawa fans who had to witness such a beating.
by Goosemonster on Oct 31, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Shrug
My friend at Windsor got a ticket to a Pistons/Lakers game (in Detroit) in the lower bowl for 7 dollars, day of the game… This was last season. Lakers would be comparable to seeing Washington play….
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
So after a “good” weekend for him, Jonas Gustavsson still has a SV% of .888. In 6 appearances this season he’s allowed less than 3 goals once. I still don’t think he’s very good, and I don’t know why we didn’t give Scrivens a shot last night.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
Gustavsson ultimately lost us that game last night with that weak ass goal, other than that I thought he played pretty well
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions
there were many many many reasons why the Leafs lost last night, gustavsson was just one
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 31, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions
No argument there
But if Gustavsson makes that routine save we had a different game on our hands
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions
and if Kulemin buries that empty net chance its a tie game
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Right, that was shitty luck and a good save not, completely misplaying a floating shot from a nobody at the half boards
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t know how the comma ended up right after the word “not”
Ugh, mornings
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
It sucks that the awful awful awful goal was the GWG
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 31, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Gustavsson ultimately lost us that game last night with that weak ass goal,
I disagree. That goal was Toskala levels of bad, hell it was even Bester/Momesso levels of bad, but the team played bad for 50 minutes.
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I agree
But don’t you find it a little bit funny that we can play like shit against the Sens and still keep it at 2-1? If Gustavsson makes that save maybe Mac scores a few minutes later and that game goes to OT instead
I’m just saying
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s another one of those types of things we were talking about after the Philly game.
It’s entirely unreasonable to solely blame the Monster for the shortcomings of the entire team, and yet it’s the type of stuff that keeps happening to him.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
And on an unrelated note I don’t think Ben Scrivens would have made the difference last night.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Probably not, Leafs didn’t really play well as a whole. Would’ve been a good start to give him I thought – back to back games – put a fresh goalie in net. Against a team, despite their hot streak, doesn’t have that many offensive threats in the lineup.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not defending Gustavsson, he let in a terrible goal that he definitely should be mocked about. Just saying that the team played craptacular.
Also, Phaneuf played 29 minutes last night.
29.
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Leafs played poorly. Gus looked fine, but you have to make that save. No excuses there.
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
We all agree on that one.
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Dion is unbelievable
elephant shell
never question our ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - yardly
When you’re hoping someone will be unbelievable for 86+ games, you don’t run them into the ground with 30 minutes a night in October. The lack of significant depth is showing; Wilson and Burke had to expect Schenn to be able to shoulder a bit more of the load.
Oh, I'm sorry, just one moment. Is this a five minute argument or the full half hour?
I disagree
He has consistently played a lot of minutes. He is top 10 in minutes played over the last 4 years. Guys like Pronger, Keith, etc have games pushing 30 minutes occasionally and average around 24-26 minutes/game. Thats who we want Phaneuf to be.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Maybe I’m splitting hairs, and I don’t have any evidence to back this up, but I suspect that as you push to the extreme end of the range, every additional minute is increasingly punishing. My speculation is that 27 minutes a night is a lot more exhausting than 24-25. Certainly, Phaneuf is a big-minute guy, but there has to be a point where that affects his energy level as the year drags on.
Oh, I'm sorry, just one moment. Is this a five minute argument or the full half hour?
I agree with you
But I guess I just see the situation differently. Phaneuf is currenty 5th with 26:49. That is after the last 2 games of 27+ minutes. Before that he was at 26:30.
Over previous years (4 years ago to last year):
26:25, 26:31, 24:14 (year he was traded), 25:18
Basically to me it looked like he has been playing his typical amount of 25-27 (he was lower hte year he was traded) and that the last 2 were a couple of freak games that balance out over the year. I don’t like that they were back to backs though.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
I agree that 25-26 is nothing to be worried about. I guess I’m concerned that because of our apparent lack of defensive prowess in no.s. 3 through 6, the 29-in-60 last night is a sign of things to come, rather than a freak occurrence.
Heck, I’d be happy just to make the playoffs, so maybe there’s little to lose.
Oh, I'm sorry, just one moment. Is this a five minute argument or the full half hour?
I don’t think he’s the sole reason we lost. If we had showed up for the entire game earlier we wouldn’t have had to worry about coming back. But Gustavsson can’t be excused for that goal no matter how well he’s played lately
The Leafs played one of their worst games of the season and still almost came out with a point. Gus needs to make that save
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Nobody is excusing him. I think anyone who has said anything about him said that the goal he let in was inexcusable.
However, because a goalie let in a bad goal doesn’t mean the team is off the hook for playing a bad game
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Totally – Phaneuf/Schenn letting someone behind them with 10 seconds left on a PK is a way more glaring error IMO
Ditto with Komisarek ignoring TWO senators in front of the net
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I dunno how the hell both him and Liles managed to let two Ottawa forwards get behind them like that.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
So it’s cool that the rest of the team had one of their worst games of the season?
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
When did I say it was cool?
We were terrible, no question… but even so, we were still good enough to keep it 2-1 with the Sens and might have came back if not for Gustavsson channelling the spirit of Vesa Toskala on that goal.
It’s a team effort in the end. If the Leafs had played as well as we know they can, that game is over before Gustavsson has a chance to fuck up. We didn’t, but the fact still stands that Gustavsson fucked up and the team got what they deserved last night. All I’m saying is that even playing like crap we almost stole a point which says more about the Ottawa Senators than us, I think
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Anyways, I’m sure the Leafs will be fine. You can’t win them all
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
And I thought the consensus was that if the Leafs come out of the last 3 games with 3 points we’d happily take it. Well, we got 4, so closing out October in this fashion was acceptable (especially with Reimer out). In comes November, here is where the real test is.
by gettingcozywithsarkozy on Oct 31, 2011 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Did Gustavsson give the Leafs a chance to win? How many times has he stolen a game for the Leafs that they otherwise had no hope of winning?
Discuss.
The Maple Leafs- making me certifiably insane since 1985.
by torleafsfan29 on Oct 31, 2011 10:52 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He looked pretty good against PIT and NYR
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
He’s 50th out of 63 goalies this season in SV%. He’s 56th out of 63 goalies this season in GAA.
Over the last three and one month seasons, he is 63rd out of 69 goalies to play more than 30 games over that period in SV%. He’s 63rd out of 69 goalies in GAA.
He’s not even relatively poor comparatively as a backup. He’s abysmal.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
i’m guilty of looking at his recent win/loss record and his most recent games. we need more data but he is playing better then i thought he was capable of. and is still prone to a bad often.
Is it improvement or variance? We’ll see. I don’t expect Gustavsson to put up a .920+ every night but we need to look into another option if he’s a .900 or worse goalie ignoring the past because it’s already done.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
first 3 games this season – sub .870 save percentage each time out.
last 3 games this season – .900 or better each time out.
3SA and all that, but he does appear to be playing better lately. Whether he can keep it up, and whether that’s good enough for our backup are different questions…
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Oct 31, 2011 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I expect a minimum of .900 from a backup and stealing a few wins per year at 930 or better isn’t asking that much. My concern is that he doesn’t have this level in him.
My point is that other teams have that backup who can do this. The Leafs don’t have this in Jonas Gustavsson.
The Maple Leafs- making me certifiably insane since 1985.
by torleafsfan29 on Oct 31, 2011 1:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
so
does the .933 against NY not count?
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
nope
nor do the 6 games he played last year with over a .930 SV% that the Leafs went 3-3-0 in…
or the 12 games from his first season when the team went 8-2-2
"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 31, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Unfortunate reality is
Gustavsson had 15 games over .920 in his first NHL season, and 19 where he was under .900.
Last year he had 7 games where he was over .920, and 14 where he was under .900.
So far this year he has 3 under .900 and 1 over .920.
"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 31, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Have you changed your perspective on him recently, Steve? I feel like we used to fight about this all of last season, but I find myself agreeing with you lately.
it’s…icky.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I really
don’t think he’ll ever make it as a starter… which was what I was trying to say last year. I think he’s at BEST a back up… but I am willing to admit that we don’t have enough to assume he’s never going to pan out.
I just think he’s horribly inconsistent, and I’d like to see that improve.
I chalk a lot of it up to his mental game. His life since he left the SEL has been pretty damn difficult frankly, between losing both parents, moving overseas, playing in one of the toughest markets in the world, multiple heart ablations, I just think it’s amazingly difficult for him to succeed at this point.
Last year he was getting really frustrated with the team in front of him (validly so) but I don’t think he was calm enough to cope.
That needs to improve. He seems a bit more calm this 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.
by Steve Burtch on Oct 31, 2011 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
agree
i also find it a sad coincidence that the beginning of his decline coincided with the father-son road trip.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions
That shit is sad as fuck
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I chalk a lot of it up to his mental game. His life since he left the SEL has been pretty damn difficult frankly, between losing both parents, moving overseas, playing in one of the toughest markets in the world, multiple heart ablations, I just think it’s amazingly difficult for him to succeed at this point.
Steve has a heart!!! ( I’m joking)
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s the one player many say we should get rid of but he’s also most likely to bite us in the ass too.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Thats not a very nice thing to say about Steve.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Steve is buried in the PPP depth chart….needs a change of scenery. Has top line potential
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, he’s not likely to be a good goalie but he could very well be Alex Auld 2.0.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: 4 Weeks and counting.
"The power of Matt Ellis compels you to score."
Lately?
Not much
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
guys guys, we’re the division leaders.
one loss shouldn’t return us to the dark days of Last place.
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
I have a couple of Sens fans and one girl that likes me so pretends to be a Sens fan to tease me on Facebook, and they pestered me a bit last night
I ain’t taking shit from nobody!
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions
or were you in “awwwwww…..poor guy”
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
by elseldo on Oct 31, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I met one at the first Leafs/Sens game of the year. He was one of the only ones there, but he still cheered loud for his team, which must be pretty tough with the state of the Sens this year. He was a nice guy though, and was certainly quite loud during that godawful third period.
Never stop believing. Go Leafs Go.
which must be pretty tough with the state of the Sens this year
I dunno if you guys are keeping trackt, but the sens have a nice little 6 game win streak right now. I don’t think it’s sustainable, but, they gotta get some credit here…
/ducks
by gettingcozywithsarkozy on Oct 31, 2011 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
There’s no such thing as Sens Fans. They’re something made up to scare kids, like the boogie man or Micheal Jackson.
by Primitive_ on Oct 31, 2011 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
One of my good buddies is a real Sens fan. He followed the team b/c he was born in Ottawa despite living in BC his entire life. He watches every Sens game online since he can’t see many of the games on TV out there. They’re rare, but they exist.
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 31, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
who did he like before the Sens were in existence?
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 31, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s my age, and would’ve been like 6 or 7 when the Sens became a team so who knows?
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 31, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
get off my lawn
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 31, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
My ex-girlfriend was born in Ottawa and a diehard sens fan… so I dumped her.
by Dr_Furious on Oct 31, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I think in general leafs fans tend to return to dark times when a pee wee wrist shot ends up in the back of our net. It just brings back too many bad memories
by Dan Thompson on Oct 31, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
I had a harder wrist shot than that in Pee Wee for crying out loud
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
It was a brutal goal against.
What if Kessel didn’t whiff on that pass from Connolly (?) in the second?
The Leafs played one of their worst games of the season and still almost came out with a point.Gus needs to make that saveKessel needs to bury that chance.
(I’m being facetious).
There’s too many “ifs.” Brutal game and typical Gus. Move on.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions
the fact that it was 1-1 after the first when the Leafs were getting outshot something like 15-8 means he did his job. if he hadn’t played well up to that point, there’s no way we’re even talking about that goal because it isn’t 2-1.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I didn't say
Gustavsson had the shittiest game ever, but he let in the shittiest goal I’ve seen since Toskala flubbed Lydman’s dump in.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
you must have missed last week when Price let in the face off win pass from his own center
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 31, 2011 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Leaf goal against I meant, that Carey Price goal was funny as hell but he stoned the Bruins the rest of that game. As Ithink clrkaitken said here somewhere, if a good goalie lets in a bad shot, oh well he’ll get them next time. And price did that.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
so did Gustavsson
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 31, 2011 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
stop pointing out logical inconsistencies. it’s un-becoming of an internet tough-guy.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Gustavsson let in the weakest wrist shot ever late in a close game ant it turned out to be the GWG. Price did it early in the game and got hit shit together and his team won. Gustavsson ultimately cost his team a game they were still in (even though they didn’t deserve to be) and Price made up for his mistake.
Obviously Gustavsson didn’t let in anything after that goal… but that’s largely because the Leafs decided not to let Ottawa touch the puck for the last ~10 minutes.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I enjoy you coming into the threads late in the mornings now.
it’s like a WWE tag-team match where the one good guy has been stuck in the ring for like 10 minutes, then he finally gets the tag and his partner comes in and just destroys everything for a while.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Arrogance alert!
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Just kidding
At you calling yourself “the good guy”.
And following up the joke of "alert"s
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Too late, I assigned the Team narrative above:
"Leafs party hard after Saturday night win against league leading Pittsburgh; play like ass Sunday night against the Sens."
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
And I don’t think Gustavsson will “get them next time” because Gustavsson is not a very good goalie. He lets in at least one weak goal each game… it’s just unfortunate that this one happened so late
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, i dunno.
it was a horrible goal, no question. but at least the guy was inside the blue line. a ton of great goalies have been scored on from center ice.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Potvin by MacInnis.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Jeff Buddy Hackett.
“Just get those shots on net kids”
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Or good, depending on what team you root for!
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you see Price’s goal?
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Yup
And as I said above, Carey Price let in a shitty goal and managed to get his shit together to get the win. Gus let in his shitty goal late in a close game.
I should have said worst Leaf goal against though
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Bester was a midget that played with pads that weighed 90lbs apiece and were the width of a shin pad. He did alright considering.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
If only Reimer had his glove hand.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
The first Rock’em Sock’em (I think) had a whole montage dedicated to him. Love that glove hand. Five hole like a tunnel, but great glove hand
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Love those TV saves. Even if the puck was caught down low beside the pad the glove hand would be shot up over head like an exclamation mark.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
The best. Roy was a master at that.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Old Battle of Alberta games with Vernon vs. Fuhr would feature 20 of those over-the-top TV saves every night.
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Oct 31, 2011 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Fuhr would also kick out his leg and do some David Lee Roth splits. It was all the coke.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
No
what ultimately lost the Leafs that game was surrendering 30 shots, and taking so many damn penalties (particularly 3 straight in the 2nd period).
He should have had that shot, but goalies are bound to let in 1 “unlucky” goal every so often. The team itself didn’t generate enough offense, and they gave up way too many chances to a team with a very succesful power play.
"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 31, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
He should have had that shot, but goalies are bound to let in 1 "unlucky" goal every so often.
How many times are we going to try tand convince ourselves that this is the case before we stop giving Gustavsson extra chances? The guy does it at least once in almost every game. I want him to succeed here but I’m pretty tired of him letting in so many “unlucky” goals, especially when they end up being the GWG
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
try and*
I’ve had a lot of typos today for some reason.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve seen Reimer let in unlucky goals. Shit, every goalie does. Cujo let in unlucky goals all the time. But if you’re puting up .919 %, who cares. Case in point Jonas’ game against NYR. The first goal was stinker.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly. If he was putting up league average save percentage I wouldn’t care as much, but the fact that he is posting a sub .900% AND letting in a bunch of weak goals isn’t sitting well with me
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Judge him against other backups. He played a poor game but probably slightly above the game of most of hte leafs last night.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
The average league backup is still over .900sv% and the bad goal thing doesn’t change just because you only play 20 games instead of 60…
But I’ve agreed before, the Leafs were crap last night. Even so, we had a chance to steal a point and Gustavsson couldn’t make the stop.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
We had a chance to steal a point and Kulemin/Steckel couldn’t score on open nets.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Kulemin got robbed by Lehner and the post. Bad luck. The shot on Gustavsson was routine.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Steckel had an open net. AN OPEN NET!
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Steckel isn’t exactly a maestro offensively, it would have taken some pretty good hands to bury that and Steckel sure doesn’t have ’em
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Gus isn’t exactly a starting goalie. He is an abysmal back-up. Overall, he did much better than expected in his last 4 starts
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Which is the sad thing, since he still put up a mediocre .905% over those starts, far below the average backup nevermind starters
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Chris "sad trombone: Stoikoff (I kid, I kid).
But yeah, I’m trying to stay positive about the whole thing. You’re making it difficult.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry about that
I’m just bitter about bad goalies after the last few years (minus Reimer, bless his heart)
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Steckel
also had 3 goals in his previous 3 games… I think expecting that rate of production to continue is like praying for rain in Arizona.
"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 31, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
Exactly my thoughts
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
robbed = +1 luck
shitty goal = -2 luck.
these nights will happen.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I know, and I'm actually not that upset that we lost
I just don’t want to coddle Gustavsson anymore. He lets in bad goals pretty much every game and I’m just tired of sitting around waiting for him to hit +.900% so we can claim we have a semi-competent backup goaltender.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
happens
to everyone. We blew tonnes of chances against Pittsburgh too… didn’t ruin our chances there.
"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 31, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
It happens. This is the point.
Big picture:
Gus has a .905% in 4 starts since Reimer went down. It’s better than expected.
I’m tired of grilling him for his fuck ups.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m tired of grilling him for his fuck ups.
With how often they happen, I’m getting pretty tired of it too
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
And he really only has been terrible in one game (the Montreal game). Since then, he’s was meh vs. Philly, great vs. NYR, great vs. Pittsburgh, and okay vs. Ottawa (but for the one goal).
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 31, 2011 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
There was really nothing he could do in Philly….he was okay there. You give Jagr 3 breakaways and he will punish you, doesn’t matter if it’s Reimer/Lundqvist/Quick, etc.
by Goosemonster on Oct 31, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s why I said meh. His SV% wasn’t great, but it wasn’t really his fault, either. He coulda been better, coulda been worse.
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 31, 2011 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions
that's exactly it
by the standards of last night’s game, he actually played pretty well…
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I never said
That Gustavsson had an awful game, but he let in an awful goal at an awful time
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Lombardi was bad on that goal too.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Yeah, that was a brutal giveaway
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s why you get rid of the puck when you are tired and your team is changing. Otherwise you get your pocket picked.
by Goosemonster on Oct 31, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Anytime a goalie puts in the following performance;
30+ saves
3+ goals against
1 goal that a bantam goalie would’ve stopped
3 how did he do that? saves
It should be referred to as a “Monster”
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
you forgot ‘defensive lapses leading to 2+ goals’
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
29 teams never fall apart in their own zone on a play and then there’s the Leafs whose defense hang their goalie out to dry every night.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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not sure if serious.
other teams definitely fall apart in their own zone. though rarely when they’re playing the Leafs from what I can tell….
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Definitely not serious.
Chemmy’s pointing out that other teams break down and allow chances against their goalies too, and they don’t have SV%’s like the one Gus has.
Not followin' @JPNikota on Twitter? Oh, you better believe that's a paddlin'.
obviously he’s not serious. but my point is maybe he should be? honestly, have we played a team yet that is as prone to defensive zone break downs (regardless of who is in net) more than the Leafs?
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I dunno, quantify defensive breakdowns and get back to us.
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I’ll get my team of stats monkeys on that right away.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Florida has had horrendous defence for years, but Vokoun and Luongo both put up pretty good numbers there.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Oct 31, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
The meme so nice, we used it twice!
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Oct 31, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
but .. but … Mike Weaver!
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Oct 31, 2011 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
so when
you’re describing Florida’s D as “horrendous” are you including Bouwmeester, Ballard, Jovanovski, Salei, Skrastins, Montador, Van Ryn on that list? or what?
"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 31, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Or
Wideman, Allen, Leopold or Seidenberg?
Why are we assuming Florida’s D all suck again? Most of those names look pretty solid to me.
"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 31, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
The top 3
D men while Luongo was in net in Florida for 5 years were Bouwmeester, Svehla, and Van Ryn. Two of those guys played in Toronto and I thought they were pretty solid whilst here.
Other D men to play a significant role in Florida during Luongo’s tenure include Dan Boyle, Brett Hedican, Andreas Lilja… these guys aren’t all atrocious.
"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 31, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Top 6 for Vokoun
in GP during his tenure were Ballard, Allen, Bouwmeester, McCabe, Salei and Montador.
Next on the list is Kulikov and then Cullimore.
Is that really “horrendous”?
"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 31, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Its okay. Neither good nor bad.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
right
I just think horrendous is a huge over-statement.
Also, I don’t think Mike Weaver is horrible… just don’t think he’s an all-star.
"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 31, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Ballard got scratched for most of last year so maybe he isn’t that solid. Jovo-cop is overrated. Salei and Skrastins are both solid but nothing special.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
this isn't from last year
this is from the past decade… Ballard was fine in his time in Florida.
"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 31, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Perhaps
just the number of breakaways alone should be note worthy. He had to face 3 Jagr breakaways in one game, he had at least one or two against the Rangers, and then that Greening goal last night on the PP… frankly the number of uncontested attempts is ridiculous.
"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 31, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s a good point I was too tentative to bring up.
Man up moose
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
the two SHG against are also bad mojumbo.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
hmmm
i just threw together something from behindthenet. i was looking at the SA/60 compared to the missed shots against/60. Is it possible that teams who play good D drive up the number of missed shots, while brining down the number of shots that hit the net? in which case, the ratio of these two numbers expresses D performance?
eg., goalies with low values: Curtis Sanford (1), Emery (1.4), Biron, (1.7), Mason (1.5), Backstrom (1.7), Bobrovsky (1.8).
goalies with high values: Brodeur (5.2), Lehner (4.5), Scnheider (3.0), Harding (4.0).
Reimer is at 2.16 (2+ shots against/shot missed) and Gus is at 2.95 (almost 3 SA/missed)
Not sure whether any of this is meaningful…just thinking out loud here…
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
this came up
in the fronting post by draglikepull yesterday.
I compared shot blocking to percentage of shots that hit the net, and there was a strong correlation between guys that block shots having a lower percentage make it to the net.
They FACE more shots, but they also have more miss as a result of what they’re doing.
"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 31, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
which is where
I was going to determine a value to fronting. If you block more shots, and make teams miss more, and as a result have lower quality shots in general making it on net, then does that help your goaltending.
"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 31, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
in general, i suppose I’d rather teams try to prevent shots in general (missed, blocked, or otherwise)…
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
The other night, didn’t Kessel get in alone 2 times? It was either against NYR or Pitt.
Finally on the Twitter train, @j6events. Follow me, I swear I'll have interesting thoughts soon!
by BetterThanBester on Oct 31, 2011 2:56 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
NYR
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
even price whiffed a goal on plekanic’s faceoff win. that maybe a monster moment but the difference is his team won the game. (and price played well after that).
If you’re a good goalie and you whiff on a bad shot, sucks you’ll get ’em next time.
If you’re a bad goalie and you whiff on a bad shot you probably just cost your team two points.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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That’s sort of the point, isn’t it? Saying “oh well the D fell apart” isn’t a silver bullet that excuses Gustavsson’s horrible numbers.
The D falling apart happens constantly to both teams. Gustavsson does worse than other goaltenders.
Great week for him but he needs to keep this up.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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i don’t really disagree with any of this. in fact, you seem more positive less negative on Gus than you were before last week.
the fact remains, the D still have serious problems with zone coverage (aside from maybe the Pitt and NYR games). and yet here were are talking about goaltending again….
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
How about the forwards only putting 23 shots on Lehner last night?
No one wants to discuss that?
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
ahem…25 shots
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
We talk plenty about D.
Komisarek, Schenn, heck even Gardiner… all three have been roundly criticized for their work in their own zone.
Not followin' @JPNikota on Twitter? Oh, you better believe that's a paddlin'.
I’d include Liles in that discussion.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
really worried about schenn…
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Oct 31, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Gus is playing well and if he keeps it up I’d be happy to keep him around because I want the Toronto Maple Leafs to win and having this week’s Gustavsson got us 4pts out of 6.
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sweeeeet. Agreed.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
That said I don’t think the long term outlook is good and my guess is that this week likely falls under “a broken clock is right twice a day”.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Yeah, I’m not overly confident in Gus either. But … trying to be optimistic.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Credit where credit is due: Gustavsson bailed us out this week by not being completely horrible.
Last night is probably his fault but it’s disappointing to not put up more than a pair on the Senators.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Terrible 3rd goal against.
I am disappointed our offence couldn’t do more against the Sens. 25 shots and 2 goals isn’t enough. Both teams played back to back, the Leafs did have to travel, but it’s a really short trip TO to Ottawa. Maybe that was the difference.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
http://www.dorkly.com/video/24712/dorkly-bits-nba-lockout-jam
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 31, 2011 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I will be very happy if he can play like he has this week. It sbasically the definition of back up hockey.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
yep. he’s done it before for long stretches. here’s hoping the end of last season was the anomaly.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Gustavsson is a better goaltender than Toskala.
Even Toskala was capable of playing well for stretches of games as a Leaf.
______________________________________________
Gustavsson must be capable of playing well for stretches of games.
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 31, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
see
I think the term “long stretches” is an exaggeration.
The longest stretches he’s managed is an 8 game stretch and 5 game stretch both in his first year, and stretches of 2 and 3 games early last year.
That isn’t really particularly extended.
By comparison Reimer had 2 games under .900 in his first 16 games last year. THAT is an extended stretch. He then had 2 bad games, and then rattled off 7 out of 9 games over .900. So out of his first 27 games he had only 6 sub .900 showings.
"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 31, 2011 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
but Reimer was the fucking Savior last season. I’d suspect those kinds of stretches are rare for all but the best goalies.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
and if we're comparing to Toskala
in his first year as a Leaf – between games 11 and 44 (that’s a 33 game stretch) he only had 6 games under .900 SV%.
"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 31, 2011 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
so yeah
for starters? not so rare… for backups… moreso.
"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 31, 2011 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought Toskala was pretty solid for us when he first got here, oh boy how the times changed
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
exactly. in the context that is this week, there’s nothing more to that goal than it being ‘bad’. it didn’t cost us 2 points. it’s not worst goaltending this side of Glenn Healy. It’s ‘shit happens’.
obviously, there’s a track record though…but based on short-term performance I think people need to CTFO about it.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m more concerned about the horrendous special teams
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
just when I thought they might be turning a corner….
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
That have persisted despite changing every player and coach…
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every coach except….
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
who is Paul Maurice?
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 31, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t get it.
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
How do we fix the PP and PK?
We’ve shipped out everyone who plays on both. We fired Maurice, brought in Wilson and then fired all of Wilson’s assistants and brought in new guys.
And yet.
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bring in Gordon Bombay?
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Start executing defenceman for leaving 3 opposing forwards alone in front of the net to try and block a shot 5 feet in front of the goaltender.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Mike Komisarek would be dead 10 seconds into the first PK
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I don’t have an issue per se with the concept of fronting.
My issue comes from the fact that it’s galactically stupid that BOTH defenders rush out to block the same shot, leaving the goaltender to try and prevent 2 or more opposition forwards from tapping in a rebound.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
It’s like a goal line stand. Goalie against 3 FWD’s. I don’t like it all that much.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
The Leafs just collapse so much. So not only are there four guys in a small box trying to block a shot from 10-15 ft away, but now the goalie has extra bodies to try and see through.
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
This is what I’ve been hoping to see happen personally.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Fronting is going to send me to an early grave.
My new men’s league team sucks and we cover guys better than that.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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Ottawa’s second goal last night was so bad in that regard it was almost humourous. Neil and whoever else was in front could have gotten down, done a handful of pushups, and still had enough time and space to get up and turn that point shot into a goal.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Neil's goal
was a tip in… I don’t see how fronting causes that goal.
The Greening goal wasn’t a result of fronting.
The Gustavsson miss wasn’t a result of fronting.
"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 31, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I know it was a tip in. I’m not saying that fronting causes the goal, but it sure doesn’t help to allow Neil that much time and space to do whatever the hell he wants in front of the net.
My issue is less with fronting I guess than just generally terrible coverage in front of the net.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I think
all 2 of the goals came on shit plays that you can fairly criticize.
The Neil goal would be the ONE of the 3 I wouldn’t bother nitpicking over.
"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 31, 2011 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
You might not, but I see opposing forwards with way too much time and space in the Leafs’ zone a lot more often than I’d like. It’s probably the biggest thing that frustrates me about this team, so I guess I’m perhaps more prone to nitpick about it than others.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
time and space
in our zone without the puck? We’re not playing man coverage… we stopped doing that when Maurice left.
"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 31, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah fair enough. Maybe I don’t understand the current system well enough. Just looks to me that a lot of the time, its not working.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s a powerplay.
Virtually every team gets time and space in the offensive zone on a powerplay.
The Leafs are doing a much better job pressuring the opponent’s to take away that time and space. It’s when they get caught running around and out of their formation that the other team uses that time and space to create a scoring chance.
And then the horrible fronting decisions being made by the defenceman break the entire coverage down.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Yeah that’s true. I didn’t give enough attention to that fact.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
The issue is gaining the blue line. Once they setup they are just okay. They can’t gain the zone tho.
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
yeah
the PP has looked a bit better lately. i’m more concerned about the PK.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Looked pretty sharp against Pitty on Sat. MGK line looks to be picking things up a bit
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
MGK line was the only one that showed up until the last few minutes
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Kinda hard to watch.
I felt like it was bound to happen after beating Pitt at home on a Saturday night. If I was a Leaf player, it be hard to not hit up a bunch Hallowe’en parties after that win.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Consider the narrative assigned for last nights’ loss.
“Leafs party hard after Saturday night win against league leading Pittsburgh; play like ass Sunday night against the Sens.”
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
we
scored on the PP… and the Greening goal wasn’t really a bad PK so much as a complete brain cramp by Schenn and Phaneuf… that’s not a typical goal on the PP.
"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 31, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Our problem is we keep getting caught napping at our blue line, forgetting where opposing players are around us. We have to stop these breakaways from occuring.
by Goosemonster on Oct 31, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
goalie needs to communicate better perhaps? He could have seen the guy and said something… Schenn and Phaneuf can’t let that man get behind them.
I don’t notice as many of those breakways when Reimer’s in net.
"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 31, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Definitely it would help if the goalie yelled out to them to let them know, but it is their responsibilty. Look around you when you get out….how many opposing players do you see? 4? Then there’s a guy behind you.
by Goosemonster on Oct 31, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Our power play has actually been okay.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
We’re 13th in the league with a 17.6%
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
yeah
but considering we were 3rd in the NHL in offense going into yesterday’s game, the 13th best PP isn’t spectacular.
"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 31, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Can you expand this thought
Why is that a bad thing?
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
we have offensive tallent, and yet given the chance to showcase it, we fall short too often.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Ahh I see where you are coming from. Honestly I’ll be content with better than 20th, happy with better than 15th, and ecstatic with better than 10th.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
yeah, that sounds about right. although, maybe we’re setting the bar low based on previous years abysmal PPs? Maybe we should only be content with about 16th or better?
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Part of me definitely is setting the bar low. The other part realizes that special teams really aren’t that important and I am okay with adequate play there as long as the rest of our game is good.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
If we look at the PK+PP number
I would be content with about 97. I would be happy with 100. Very happy with 103. Ecstatic with 106 or better.
For reference we are doing terrible: This year to the past:
89.9, 93.4, 88.6, 93.5, 95.9, 96.2, 101.4
In that first year since the lockout we had the second best PP (21.4%) and 24th PK (80%).
Since the lockout we have one year (the first) where special teams have helped us, and 2 years where they haven’t been completely terrible! Besides that one year none have met my condition of below 100 but I could accept…
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
high numbers are OK if it’s 30% + 70%. What you really want to look at is PP% + (1 – PK%)
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
What advantage would that give us?
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
nevermind i’m being dumb again.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I want us to be even or better at specials teams (more PP + SHG goals for than PP + SHG goals against)
I had something really clever to say here. But I forgot.
I’d be content with this over the course of the season if our PK was top ten.
Note to PK: please improve
"These balloons aren't going to stay filled till New Year's!"
"Those aren't for New Year's... those are my everyday balloons."
by Isosceles Kramer on Oct 31, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
it didn’t cost us 2 points.
I don’t disagree with you overall, people are too hard on Gus, win and lose as a team, etc.
BUT, down below you write:
“Since then, he’s gone 2-2 over 4 straight starts, posting a .905 SV%, and, I might add, getting us 4 points against New York and Pittsburgh.”
You can’t have it both ways. IF you’re crediting him four points in what is a team game, you can’t then object to people saying he cost us two points, while citing it’s a team game.
true
what i meant by that was his play helped contribute to us getting the 4 points. which, as Chemmy said, would be key (4 points in the 3 games). by no means did i mean to imply that he was singularly responsible.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
What does it matter how positive or negative we are on this guy? It’s been two-plus seasons. Gustavsson’s got to either put up or shut up. Who gives a crap what the fans think. He needs to do it for his own sake because if he doesn’t he gets no contract next year.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Oct 31, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m no player agent but going to a GM with “My client would have a better save percentage if the D didn’t keep falling apart” is not going to get you a contract.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Oct 31, 2011 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I was hoping Scrivens got the start last night too.
On the bright side – Gus has a 904 sv% in 4 starts since Remier’s injury. Including a couple really nice games against Pitt and NYR. It’s a baby step in the right direction.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions
he had an .860 against Boston in a game the Leafs got thoroughly trounced, and a .833 coming in cold against Montreal.
Since then, he’s gone 2-2 over 4 straight starts, posting a .905 SV%, and, I might add, getting us 4 points against New York and Pittsburgh.
In other words, like the rest of the team he’s been inconsistent so far in this (young) season, but I’m happy with the overall record.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I think Scrivens should have played last night. I don’t like goalies playing two nights in a row.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
I actually
felt the same way. Lehner looked far fresher in net to me than Gus did. Gus made some huge saves, but to me the mental gaffe on the 3rd goal was a sign of his fatigue.
"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 31, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
especially with 4 points over NYR and Pitt, it would have been nice to see what Scrivens had in him.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Thats more or less where I was coming from.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
I hate when everyone agrees.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Win free Leaf tickets
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2011/10/31/2526634/win-tickets-to-a-leaf-game-in-the-tiqiq-sb-nation-takeaseat-contest
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2011/10/31/2526634/win-tickets-to-a-leaf-game-in-the-tiqiq-sb-nation-takeaseat-contest
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
Well it always sucks losing to Ottawa, but we have a chance of redemption a week from Saturday. Our next eight opponents can all be summed up as mediocre (NJ, CLB, BOS, FLA, STL, OTT, PHX, NAS) so I don’t think its overly optimistic to hope for another 10-11 points (5 wins+) in those games.
Knowing that they’re mostly terrible, the Leafs will probably come out with 3 wins
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
That has been the trend over the last few years
With the exception of last night, we have done well against mediocre teams to start the year this year though (see: our first 5 games), so I am hoping on 5 or 6 wins.
Never stop believing. Go Leafs Go.
I think Boston is a very good team that’s caught some bad breaks. They lead the league in losing 1-goal games. We’re near the top in winning 1-goal games. That could turn very quickly.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Oct 31, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
I think Boston’s a flawed team whose finally not getting record-setting goaltending.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
yep
amazing how that happens.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
No no no they have a Cup hangover. They don’t want to win very badly because they just won, duh.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
And 6.3% team shooting.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 31, 2011 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Jason Blake shot selection
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I just looked. The year we signed Blake he scored 15 goals on 332 shots. That’s 4.5% shooting. What the hell?
elephant shell
never question our ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - yardly
Let this be a lesson in shooting percentage: Jason Blake didn’t “shoot from better places” or “take it to another level” he got lucky.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
40 goal outlier? Uh ya.
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
It was pretty obvious he wasn’t a 40 goal player, w/o looking at shooting %
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
or unlucky
4.5% in one season is almost lower than any forward (Zetterberg, 7.4%) who has shot over 300 shots in one season 2000
if you raise the threshold to 315 shots, that’s 4% less than any forward since 2000
elephant shell
never question our ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - yardly
For sure. However, Jason Blake’s career shot percentage is 8.1%, which is quite low for an NHL forward (average is over 10% most years). The 4.5% was, incredibly, less of an outlier than the 13.1% (I’m ignoring possible skewness, of course). I get that desperation played a role, but someone in our organization should’ve seen the letdown coming.
Clearly some players are just better shooters, and I’m a bit miffed at the semantic waffling in the stats community which has obscured this fact. It seems to me that most claims to the effect that “shot quality doesn’t exist/can’t be sustained” explicitly exclude shot location in their definitions, while most lay discussions of shot quality are clearly including location.
Oh, I'm sorry, just one moment. Is this a five minute argument or the full half hour?
They’re still a good team. They’ll bounce back.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
hopefully not!
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Columbus is getting better (injury problems to start the season), Boston’s getting better, Florida aren’t slouches, St. Louis and Nashville aren’t easy two points either. I thin realistically, the Leafs could only end up with 3 points, should get 10, but probably won’t get much more than that.
Florida should be slouches but are playing well. Columbus, St. Louis, and Nashville are all winnable games. The hardest will be stingy teams like Boston and Nashville.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
CBJ will kill us. Slumpbusters ‘R’ Us
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m predicting 7-5-2 on the month. After 25 games, that’d get us to 14-8-3 on the season, and 31 pts in 25 games. I think we take 1/2 against Boston, get revenge against Ottawa, and possibly lose against Columbus.
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 31, 2011 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Pretty much restating what has already been said, but:
A) Leafs played pretty poorly for most of the night last night. We weren’t hitting hard enough (Komi had a great hip check in the neutral zone) and our forecheck was weak. We got caught napping on too many of those goals, one the two D-men just stopped paying attention to where all the Ottawa players were and another where Gus was evidently praying to the shrine of Toskala.
B) Gus has got to make that save. Got to. It’s a different game down 3-1 with 10 minutes left than being down 2-1.
C) If Reimer is still injured, we should give Scrivens the chance. Not that Gus has been terrible, but he’s played more games in a row than in about a year or so. Hopefully Reimer is back, however.
Can Phaneuf really continue to play that many minutes a night? He looked tired by the end and didn’t have the same jump he would normally have.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 10:33 AM EDT reply actions
No way
He can maintain ~25 a night but pushing him to almost 30 in regulation time is insane
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I think his TOI was so high due to 6 powerplay opportunities, of which he plays nearly the full 2 minutes.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
29 last night.
About 57 minutes between Saturday and last night
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
err my bad
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
NHL.com has his SH TOI at 4:23 for last night.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah for sure. I thought he looked a tad sluggish at times last night. No doubt having to eat a shit load of tough minutes contributes to that.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup and Schenn and Komisarek’s ice was cut because they were trying to get back into the game.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
I don’t know if he can keep it up – I think averaging over 25 mins is very tough for any player especially if he is playing a lot shorthanded (3:42/g). PP time is 4:48/g.
Disagree. I’d rather he play 25 minutes a night and play better than play 30 minutes and look gassed
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Agreed especially in the 2nd game of of back to backs.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Not sure why you’re concerned, he’s clearly not human in the sense that you and I are.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
People are asking $250 for purples on Mats Sundin night. … A friend of mine is singing the national anthem against the Jets in January… why couldn’t he draw a crappy team like the Panthers? Jets tickets are in high demand! Following this team is so goddamn expensive sometimes…
It’s crazy how Thrashers tickets used to be some of the easiest/cheapest to get, now that they’re in a new city everyone wants to see their crap team.
I was volunteering setting up an event this weekend and the Leafs tickets in the silent auction were 2nd row platinums vs. the Jets… they sold for over $900 for the pair.
Flugenweb, space code, twit zone, ass mode, check ze tweets.
Fun With Statistics
Since the 2008-09 season, seven goaltenders (who played more than 30 games) put up a SV% under .900.
Five (Toskala, Leclaire, Osgood, Legace and McElhinney) are out of the league.
One (DiPietro) is arguably only still in the league because of his maddeningly dumb contract.
The seventh is Jonas Gustavsson.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Osgood is is out because he is getting ready for his Hall Of Fame induction.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
his point still stands. It’s from 08 so he is out by way of retirement because he was starting to get stank. Gus has no hope of being on this team next season.
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 31, 2011 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Ger K-Woo residents
anyone who’s been to The Aud – if I’m sitting in row R, the view isn’t terrible right, it’s only a 7k seater so “nosebleeds” in there aren’t actually terrible are they?
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
Generally minor-league arenas don’t have an “upper bowl” at all. (at least the three I’ve been to)
However, sometimes the sight lines are poor from the highest seats so that’s something to worry about.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: 3 Weeks and counting.
"The power of Matt Ellis compels you to score."
yeah The Aud in kitchener has an upper and lower section and the only tix I can find 3 in a row are top corner.
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
the IceDogs have their own fan bus trip planned for that game as well maybe i can grab some tickets from them, but visiting teams don’t really get the best sections.
See our home opener where the Majors fans had to share a section with the drum corps
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
It’s been a while since I went to see the Rangers play at the Aud, but I remember all the seats being pretty good.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Oct 31, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
ger? K-Woo? what is going on here?
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m assuming you’re talking about KW. In which case it’s K-Dub. K-Woo just sounds idiotic.
Still don’t get the Ger thing. Germans in K-dub?
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, there are definitely a lot of Germans in KW.
Not followin' @JPNikota on Twitter? Oh, you better believe that's a paddlin'.
i understand all this
what i don’t understand is why the OP said “Ger K-Woo residents”
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
ohh…i meant to type hey.
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
and i have a name.
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
I was too lazy to scroll up and figure out who it was.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
his name, is Rober Paulson
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
shit. lost a there.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
There’s also a New Hamburg 10 minutes west of Kitchener
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Yeah, they have that one car dealership there, don’t they?
by gettingcozywithsarkozy on Oct 31, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
or in my neck of the woods, “that hoser town I pass on my way to toronto”
by gettingcozywithsarkozy on Oct 31, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
K-Woo refers to the massive Asian population at UW…I’ve heard it before, but no one really calls it that.
Does it? I called it K-Woo once while making up bad city nicknames when my sisters fried from Oshawa kept calling it “The Shwa”
And now O keep doing it because it’s so stupid it makes me giggle.
August 18th is National Chaim Weisswasser day. Celebrate it by buying a new phone.
The ’shwa is definitely a real nickname.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 31, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
this just smacks of racism to me…
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
The University is referred to as WaterWoo.
I grew up 40 minutes from KW and never once heard it referred to as K-Woo
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Was borned and raised there, never heard “K-Woo”.
by gettingcozywithsarkozy on Oct 31, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I went to Laurier and Waterloo for 5 years and never heard it called K Woo either.
K-dub i’ve heard. But that’s stupid too.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 31, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
not as stupid as K-woo.
Ontario cities lack decent nick-names.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
What, “T-dot” isn’t good enough for you?
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 31, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I’M FRONT THE T-DOT-O.
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
i actually quite like T-Dot. And ‘The Hammer’. Other than that….
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Girlington
The ’Schwa
what else is there
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 31, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
The Soo
for Sault-Ste. Marie
"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 31, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
ah, yes…forgot the Soo…
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I like
Hamil-stan 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.
by Steve Burtch on Oct 31, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
never heard Hamil-stan. seems apt.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
all the unions in the steel mills etc. very NDP town… public sector employs a lot there 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.
by Steve Burtch on Oct 31, 2011 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Alberta has “CowTown” and “The Armpit of Alberta” ;-)
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Oct 31, 2011 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah Germans. Didn’t it used to be called Berlin before WW2?
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 31, 2011 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Caps got rid of D.J. King. WHO WILL PROTECT THEIR STARS?
#nomoreorr
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Gillies on waivers too.
SEND THE GOONS TO THE AHL.
GMS UNITE AGAINST THE COLOTON ORRS OF THE LEAGUE
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 31, 2011 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Colton even.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 31, 2011 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
GET THE CANNON
FIRE HIM INTO THE SUN
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
They’d probably make him a weekly columnist.
Oh, I'm sorry, just one moment. Is this a five minute argument or the full half hour?
Still better than Simmons
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Offensively: Kulemin or MacArthur
Defensively: Definitely Lupul
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
you picked the guy
with 4 goals in the last 3 games, who was 2nd on the team in scoring as the “weak” one offensively?
You guys are also picking one of our two 30 goal scorers…
I find this weird.
"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 31, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I wanted to take it back when I said MacArthur but it was too late so I didn’t bother
As for the 30 goal scorers thing, I don’t see Kulemin touching that this year. I’d be ecstatic if he hit 25.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I dunno about Kulemin, I’d put him third behind Kessel and Grabbo.
Based on this year:
Offensively: Connolly
Defensively: MacArthur
Connolly just started playing again and has had point per game potential at times during his career, something nobody else on the Leafs can say just yet
He’s also making some freaking sweet passes.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s clearly starting to get back into the thick of things. It will take a few more games before he has caught up, I think. Look at Clarkey Mark – he’s back in form, it seems.
by Goosemonster on Oct 31, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
point per game
“potential”??
The guy posted 0.98 ppg 3 years ago… and that was in a year where Buffalo had Vanek post 40 goals in only 73 games. Connolly also posted a 14.3% shooting percentage which is well above his career 9.4%.
"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 31, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Doesn’t make what I said any less true. And besides that, I said has had, not necessarily has. Still more than any current Leaf can claim just yet.
Re: shooting percentage, Kulemin hit 30 goals in a year where he shot over 17%. Seems sustainable, right?
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Kulemin's
career SH% is 13.7%, so 17.3% doesn’t seem quite so far away (3.3% higher) as 14.3% over a career 9.4% (4.9% higher).
Also Kulemin is shooting 14.3% so far this season.
"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 31, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Even so, the next year he regressed to 8.3% (6.0% lower) and still put up a .89 ppg. The closest any other Leaf has come to in their career, as far as I can tell, is Phil Kessel who put up a .86 his last year with Boston.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I think
team-quality has a lot to do with it also though. He wasn’t the top scorer on any of those teams, so in some ways he was riding other guys coat-tails to those numbers.
"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 31, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Just like Kessel wasn’t the top scorer on Boston the year he put up 60. Now he’s leading our team in scoring.
Ask anyone who they think is our best offensive player and 11/10 will say Phil Kessel, and they’d be right to do so. But Connolly has been no slouch throughout his career either, and if they can drag each other to 65-75 point seasons I’ll be freaking ecstatic.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't call Connolly
a slouch, I just don’t think he’s currently close to our top offensive player.
"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 31, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
But I don’t think he’s the worst either, and Kessel will probably carry him back up to the .75-.85ppg range at this rate
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Kessel
is leading the NHL in points despite playing with Bozak, Steckel, Lombardi, and Connolly already so far this season.
If he’s “Carrying” someone to a higher production level, I’m not sure I’m ready to call that person one of our most talented forwards offensively.
"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 31, 2011 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
But he hasn’t carried anyone yet. If you don’t want to call a guy who has had one year under .80ppg in the last four years one of our most talented forwards I don’t know what to tell you.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Connoly, the guy with 1 G and 2 pts in 3 GP?
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Probably would have had more if guys had buried his passes against the Rangers. They looked shocked that they actually got through
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
yep
I don’t think he’s the one stirring the drink.
Unless you think Bozak being 2nd on the team in Pts/60 at ES prior to yesterday’s game was a result of his high value offensive skill.
"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 31, 2011 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Connolly doesn’t have to stir the drink on that line. He just has to get Kessel better scoring chances than Bozak did.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Oct 31, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
WTF?
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
No
Offensively = probably Connolly at this stage just because of injuries and age.
Defensively = Lupul or Connolly.
"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 31, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Wait how is Connolly bad defensively. And how is Connolly weakest offensively?
This is the guy who has had 0.83, 0.98, 0.89, 0.62 PPG over the last 4 years. So 3/4 of the last years he had a higher PPG than every Leaf had last year, or higher than any of them besides Lupul has EVER been…
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Lupul’s highest PPG was .82 in 07-08
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Look at that! I was just basing on my memory. But Kessel had a 0.86 season. So change it to better than everyone besides Kessel EVERY
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Lupul's
never potted 30 goals… Kulemin has. I’d be ecstatic if he did it this year, same with Kulemin.
Lupul has played with great offensive talents on virtually every team he’s been on (except Edmonton – wow 28 pt season). Amazingly gifted, but hasn’t really applied himself particularly 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 31, 2011 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I said
age and injuries… not sure what else I have to say to justify it.
As for Defensively? despite my opposition to the +/- stat, his -10 last year wasn’t awe inspiring.
"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 31, 2011 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think thats enough to justify calling him the worst of the 6th. He isn’t that old and has been the best of the bunch historically.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
again
best of the bunch based purely on ppg is a bit weak as a point for me. I don’t think I’d ever have called him the best of the bunch in Buffalo, but suddenly he’s amongst the top 2 or 3 in Toronto?
"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 31, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
he was always behind
Vanek, Briere, Drury, Roy, Afinogenov, etc. I never thought of him as cream of the crop for the Sabres. Maybe I’m biased against him, I just don’t think of him as that amazing.
"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 31, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Slow start for Kule…chill. I don’t think Lupul is worse than Kessel defensively and I think MacA is better than both.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Lupul
is definitely far from strong defensively…. always has been.
He’s a combined -48 for his career.
Kessel is only a combined -17… not sure I’d say he’s stellar in his own end, but I don’t think he’s quite the liability Lupul is.
Lupul misses coverages a lot.
"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 31, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Lupul also makes a science of giveaways in dangerous places.
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 31, 2011 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Wowsers
I like halloween too but I think Paul Bisonette just killed off some of my childhood. Poor Hacksaw
If you look up "Loyalty" in the dictionary you'll see a picture of a Leafs fan wearing a Todd Gill jeresy looking like he just got punched in the stomach
That girl he’s with is pretty
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
File this under MISC. and/or useless info, but...
I had a bit of time to kill downtown today so I went into RealSports to check it out. I love looking at the prostock/game used stuff, especially the sticks.
Anyway, I was surprised by a few things and thought I’d share on the off chance that anyone cares about this crap.
1) Kule’s stick is short.
2) There is way to much JFM stuff left there. Get the hint RS, nobody wants Mitchell’s old gear. we just want to forget and move on.
3) Grabovski’s S19 is actually not an S19. I can’t be sure, but I’d say its actually a CNT repainted. Now, there is nothing unusual about a player using a less then modern/current stick repainted as the latest and greatest, but what I do find interesting is that with the new Stealth RS being Easton’s new top dawg, that he continues to play with his stick painted as an S19. Also, very very short.
4) Hanson’s stick is crazy long
5) Kessel’s stick was an S19, but the RS sticker was calling it a Total One. The candycane tape had been removed for some reason and it appears that someone had deliberately tried to conceal the fact that it’s an S19 by removing as much of the decals as possible (can’t hide that elliptical taper tho).
So there you have it. For what its worth.
by Kessel'sOversizedSuit on Oct 31, 2011 3:20 PM EDT reply actions
wasn’t there a time last year where he switched up sticks to end his goal drought? he was always a bauer supporter but I think lately he switched to easton. Can’t confirm that though, Chemmy?
Dion Phaneuf: turning the tunes up since '10
I remember the switch from the TotalOne to the S19 last year, but he did go back to a TotalOne. He also tried switching from White Tape to Black tape, which I remember working. This year he seems to have started out with an S19 right from the get go IIRC.
by Kessel'sOversizedSuit on Oct 31, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
apparently
manufacturers are happy to copy eachother’s labels for the pros just to get them to use their sticks. or something….
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Phil mickelson gets his ball sponsor to paint the ball he actually likes like this sponsor.. if that makes sense
@phoking_awesome
by pho king awesome on Oct 31, 2011 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Kessel used the TotalONE, Vapor X:60 and S19 last season.
There was a cool TotalONE with the clear Bauer grip coating in a candy cane pattern up the shaft at RS.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Bauer now has a Spiral Tac grip on their Supreme line sticks. It’s similar to the candy cane, but actually molded into the shaft.
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
Holy awesome timewaster
Did you know hockey-reference has two “Comparable players” tables on player pages now?
I don’t really care how its calculated because its awesome.
Grabbo:
Claude Giroux, Yvan Cournoyer, Andrei Kostitsyn, Randy Cunneyworth, Gary Roberts (!), Danny Cox, Johnny Wilson,
Martin St. Louis, Paul Ysebaert, Keith Acton (!!!)
We can clearly conclude from this list that Grabbo has a future in coaching.
Vanek:
Ryan Getzlaf, Pierre Turgeon, Glenn Anderson, Dale Hawerchuk, Mats Sundin, Denis Savard, Joe Sakic, Alexei Yashin (rofl), Alex Tanguay, Marcel Dionne
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: 4 Weeks and counting.
"The power of Matt Ellis compels you to score."
I believe its based on voting…
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
no
they have a new thing at the bottom… that’s not the voting thing.
It’s based on career similarity.
"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 31, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
And scary so far
is Kessel compares to Jeff Friesen??? wtf.
"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 31, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
it's based
purely on their point shares system… which can be further broken down into Offensive and Defensive point shares.
I used the same comparisons to track Schenn and Gunnarsson in the pre-season discussion around our D… only I did my own comparisons, their system wasn’t up yet.
"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 31, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
The problem with their system
Is that it is using full careers, so young players are getting harmed…
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Actually ignore this.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
weirder
is they’re comparing best and worst seasons… not in any particular order… which I find very bizarre from a logic perspective.
"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 31, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Really i haven’t bothered to see if i trust the measurement, it just gives me a list of 8 random NHL players to draw silly conclusions about how they are similar to the player in question.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: 4 Weeks and counting.
"The power of Matt Ellis compels you to score."
you could run the same
calculation differently… rather than using it only on the “best 6 years” or whatever, you could just do it year to year… or by age… that makes far more sense to me.
"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 31, 2011 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
did you just reply to yourself to answer your own question? You are one of a kind Steve.
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 31, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Point shares, which is a similar measure to GVT.
You can get degrees of separation: For example, Grabbo is 91.3% similar to Joe Juneau over his first five seasons, who is 89.9% similar to Wendel Clark over his career.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: 4 Weeks and counting.
"The power of Matt Ellis compels you to score."
yeah but
it’s not similar to GVT entirely… I don’t like that system quite as much as I like GVT.
I also don’t like how they don’t break it down on a year by year basis… using averages and ignoring age is kind of screwy.
"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 31, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes but how else can you make crazy conclusions like Grabbo’s career is 82% similar to Wendel Clark!
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: 4 Weeks and counting.
"The power of Matt Ellis compels you to score."
they use
both points and point shares. the upper one looks at points i believe.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
The upper one is first x years of career and the lower one is career-overall
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: 4 Weeks and counting.
"The power of Matt Ellis compels you to score."
ah.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
A nucks fan dropped this in the tickets thread
It is pure trolling to truly humourous degrees of idiocy…
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
You thought Luongo would lead the Canucks to a Stanley Cup? Really???
1/1/11: Saw the beginning of the Optimus Reim era. And it was glorious!!!1
Oh...and Phil Kessel says YAAAAAAYYYY!!!1
Also Kesler scored something like 3/4 of his 40 goals against non-playoff teams last year. Dude must really suck!
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 31, 2011 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
i could take a crap after lunch and it would be a more substantive commentary.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you not find humour in the idiocy though? I did.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
I’ve heard that he who gets the sloppy seconds gets facial herpes.
I chuckled but I amuse easily
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
no.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 31, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I like laughing at mouth breathers. Maybe I’m the only one.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
There are mouth breathers…and then there’s that guy, lol.
1/1/11: Saw the beginning of the Optimus Reim era. And it was glorious!!!1
Oh...and Phil Kessel says YAAAAAAYYYY!!!1
that guy is so dumb he has to be intitubated
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 31, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
what a sad empty little man
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 31, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Cam Charron is also up for that position. Isn’t he actually normal?
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Having that troll take over the Kurtenblog would be like having Rebecca Black finish Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ tour.
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 31, 2011 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it a good blog?
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
Under the old writers, it was. The lone bright spot in The Province sports section.
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 31, 2011 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
That was useless. I made it through the first paragraph, and then shut ’er down.
"I will actually score as many times as Kulemin assists me."
-Mikhail Grabovski
by MapleLeafMole on Oct 31, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Jan Bulis, there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while.
by Self Destructive Zones on Oct 31, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Really?
He used the word “Really” 15 times. Fact: the more often you use a word, the more effective it is.
by theninjagreg on Oct 31, 2011 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s trying to be funny, ala Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler on SNL. It’s not working.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
1/5. Would not read again; would only use as toilet paper if desperate.
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 31, 2011 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
1) They also beat the Rangers. Yes, those same Rangers that demolished the Canucks 4-0.
2) The Pens are still 8-3-2 with the roster they iced in Toronto (save for Staal). Oh, and that Pens team did beat the Canucks in a shootout.
Your move, troll.
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 31, 2011 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Justin Bourne ranks the NHL’s hitters. Guess where The Captain ranks.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
That progression of program pics is awesomeness.
Foster Hewitt voice: That youngster Gardiner is a real smoothy out there.
by Saanich West on Oct 31, 2011 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Sweet hit on Tlusty. Even the on Van Ryn was bad ass through the glass
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Ronny W joining the Movember movement.
@coachrw63
Ron Wilson
Starting a stache tomorrow. Am encouraging my assistants to do likewise. Hope Movember will be as good as October was.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
Also
Orr, Gustavsson, Brown & Franson will be growing staches
Woo! Me too!
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
I can't
But I’m gonna grow out the Neckbeard to make up for it!
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
It really is true
Phil Kessel doesn’t cross check enough: http://www.google.ca/search?gcx=c&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=%3A+CROSS+CHECKING+-+2+MIN#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=%22phil+kessel+%3A+CROSS+CHECKING+-+2+MIN%22&pbx=1&oq=%22phil+kessel+:+CROSS+CHECKING+-+2+MIN%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=1&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=10174l11246l2l11453l2l2l0l0l0l0l173l331l0.2l2l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=135c0148e947d7b5&biw=1271&bih=837
by theninjagreg on Oct 31, 2011 6:13 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Raffi Torres
Puts on black makeup. Causes an uproar. Discuss.
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
This should not be discussed
This is one of those discussions which is likely to just end up causing trouble (like Komi-gate).
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
After what happened last night, I’m staying outta this one. If you really care what I think, check my tweets.
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 31, 2011 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Mountains out of molehills.
Living and dying with the Blue and White, season to season, game to game, shift to shift.
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Oct 31, 2011 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Forgot to mention
This is Schenn being Octomom and his/“her” octuplets
(Kessel, Gustavsson, Schenn, Gunnarsson & their girlfriends)
Good god that is weird
In summing up, it's the Constitution, it's Mabo, it's justice, it's law, it's the vibe and... No, that's it, it's the vibe. I rest my case
Kessel and Gus’ hair is WEIRD
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
I…don’t even know what to….wow……speechless….
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 31, 2011 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m sure there was one random conversation which made them think this would be a good idea… but wow
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
For those who criticize Gustavsson, the "Fleury Rebuttal"
Did you know Marc Andre Fleury did not get his career save % into the .900s until his fourth season? Jonas Gustavsson is only just beginning his third season, and spent most of his second season looking at the NHL rather than in it. Clearly though, because hes sub-.900 (by a mere .003), Jonas needs to be traded, as any goalie who ever begins his career with two .890ish seasons could never make two Stanley Cup Final appearances, win the Stanley Cup, and be named to the eventually-Gold 2010 Team Canada.
In some aspects of MAF’s early game, he was downright autistic. He was good for at least one joke goal a game, and even now still is half the time if hes not going into the game 110% focused with it being Flyers/Capitals/playoffs.
It was a running joke cause he would call them “Soff” and miss the ‘t’ in soft with his heavy french accent. And he’d laugh as he said it. And it pissed everyone in Pittsburg fansites off. “He let in another soff one.”
Thusly your honor, I have been placated.
I further forward a motion to strike breakaway goals from goalie criticism. Cause who the F—- knows, just like the Shootout :)
Fleury was also a 1st overall pick and given every chance to succeed because of the potential that caused him to go that early. Gustavsson was older, unsigned, and has been hit with every problem imaginable so far in his career. If he can push himself into career backup numbers I’ll be astonished.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions
All I’m saying is – More time. Joke goals can, and still do, happen to great goalies (Luongo, Fleury, Even Brodeur in the Olympics). When it happens, it’s random.
Have you seen the stevedangle? Imagine if the goals were switched around. Daugavins scores first, then Neil tips in, then the Greene breakaway. Would we really roast Gustavsson?
Even Reimer let in 3 goals or more on 50% of the few games he played. So, nor can I give to one goalie and take from another.
Have you seen the stevedangle? Imagine if the goals were switched around. Daugavins scores first, then Neil tips in, then the Greene breakaway. Would we really roast Gustavsson?
Not as much, but it doesn’t matter. The fact is that the shitty goal he let in late in the game happened to be the GWG. When considering the context and the fact that Gustavsson lets in a weak ass goal almost every freaking game, I’m not letting him off the hook for it
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions
True, and that was on the penalty killers 100%, anybody who blames Gus for that is dumb
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you know that MAF was 19 when he started working on his NHL SVP? He broke .900 by age 22.
Gustavsson is 27, is on an expiring contract. The team neither put much into getting him (like, say, a first overall pick), nor suffers much from losing him (Scrivens/Rynnas, step on up).
Basically the only similarities between Gustavsson and MAF is that they both play goalie and neither led the league the second they stepped onto the ice. Not many do.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
by Bower Power on Oct 31, 2011 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions
The stevedangle point still stands – What if the goals were switched around, Daugavins, then Neil, then the Greene breakaway.
And, first of all, what a hell of a pass by Rumblad. Greene is probably the last person anyone would pick on that play to pass to – “Oh I’ll just beat the entire team from my own zone” – But it’s the penalty kill. You’d expect the team to think 95% about defense and keep Greene in front of them. That goal is half-amazing pass, half-massive defensive lapse. And it certainly wouldn’t be Gus we pointed at – and we still lost by one.
Think positive with me: That laffer goal did not lose the game, we had plenty of time and, really, plenty of chances to come back. Because, in between some terrible instants, the Leafs didn’t play too bad that game. 8 out of 10 times in every league the goalie gets blamed when the team screwed.
The fact still remains – 100 times out of 100, you’re supposed to stop that Daugavins shot. But even back-to-back against the Greene goal it’s still part-Gus, part-Team
Nobody is saying that Gustavsson is 100% to blame. The entire team blew chunks. But even so, we had a chance to come away with a point when it was a 2-1 game and Gustavsson pretty much took that chance away by failing to stop that weak wrist shot from the middle of nowhere.
The fact that we had chances to make it 3-3 doesn’t matter because we shouldn’t have had to play come-back hockey after MacArthur got his second. We can’t come back from 2 goals down and win every time like we did against Calgary and Winnipeg. If Gus makes that save, this game probably goes to OT… even though we wouldn’t deserve to be there.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
If Gustavsson is starting on Wednesday again I’m not watching, I miss Reimer :(
Besides, New Jersey is still boring
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
If Gustavsson is starting on Wednesday again I’m not watching
There is nothing I hate hearing/reading more than this. Watch and cheer for the team regardless of its Reimer or Gus in net.
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I don’t hate Gustavsson that much, honest. But we’re playing New fricking Jersey and if I already had plans on Wednesday night I wouldn’t exactly blow them off to watch the game
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions
The comparison to MAF being ridiculous has nothing to do with last nights game. You can’t compare a 19 year old 1st overall’s rookie season with a 25 year old UFA’s
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
It’s a pain reliever anecdote-thing – Goalies take time, and even big ones can fall down alot more than passionate fan bases like to tolerate. MAF had the 5-hole of death, if I recall.
It’s also Gus’ third – more like 2 an a half, season in the nhl, since he hasn’t played since January prior to the Bruins game. So even though it’s not the same, It’s not entirely totally random.
Fleury also played with vibrant yellow pads that screamed “don’t shoot at me!”
Not sure how much of an impact that had though
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
This goalies take time argument is bullshit. If they “take time” let them learn in the fucking AHL. Leafs lose points every time they have to be “patient” with a shitty goalie.
For fuck sakes if he’s going to become “elite” and we have to be “patient” then ride the Ricoh.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
Why do people who defend Gustavsson only ever use the very few success stories as a way of making a point instead of the multitude of failures that make a much better one? For every MAF there’s 50 goalies who came into the league, sucked, and never played again.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
Because he has games where he’s played like a success story.
This is alot of doom and gloom for 2nd in the conference.
Sure
Every goalie does. But for every one of those good games it seems Gus has a 7-0 shelling at the hands of the Rangers to balance it out.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Mike Brodeur came into the league with 2 shutouts and only 1 goal against in 3 games. He finished last season for the Senators in the ECHL. Everyone has games where they play like a “success story”, far less have careers that can be called success stories.
There’s a lot of doom and gloom for being 2nd in the conference because we’ve been outshot in 8 of the 11 games this season and we have a career sub .900 goaltender as our backup. This whole season could got to shit in a hurry.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
Everybody's grasping at straws
Trying to find a way to justify the Leafs management’s choice to keep giving Gustavsson chance after chance. But seriously, how long can the Leafs keep giving him extra shots if he can’t post .900%? He’s not 19 year-old first overall pick Marc-Andre Fleury, he’s a 27 year-old former unsigned free agent who still hasn’t proved anything and is running out of time.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
by Chris Stoikoff on Oct 31, 2011 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the case can be made to test Scrivens or Rynnas, but if Gus can finish the season with backup stats (.9 or better), it’s not like he has to go.
Though we definitely could, if Reimer holds out. Again, need a third season
.900 isn’t “backup stats” it’s “below AHL replacement level stats”.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
Reimer's only at .912 this year
And after the opening night shutout, his last 5 games have been .900, .897, .875, .938 and .844
Send him down.
/notreally
R.I.P. The playoff hopes of Montreal Canadiens fans for 2011-12.
by not norm ullman on Nov 1, 2011 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions
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