Halfway to the dance
by birky on Jan 8, 2012 7:00 AM EST
in From The Branches
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PrintThe Leafs beat the Detroit Red Wings last night. Enjoy today's links.
Wasn't perfect, but we'll take it
Quick hits from MLHS
Is JP backtracking on Gustavsson?
How the Maple Leafs can make the playoffs
Step 1: win games. New one from Luke Hardonk
Marlies end weekend with 4-1 loss
I blame Jeffler
A Getzlaf piece from VLM
New photo goodness over at Vintage Leafs
Check 'em out
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Brad Ross got 26 mins in penalties last night, including TWO ten min misconducts
what a nutter
Resident Internet Tough Guy
TRUCULENCE!!!!1
Riding the Leafs bandwagon since 1991.
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by CanadianMaple09 on Jan 8, 2012 2:16 PM EST up reply actions
another stupid comment
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
Channeling my inner FLYERROB
go FLYERS go!
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
by BCapp on Jan 8, 2012 9:18 AM EST via mobile reply actions 2 recs
it's weird
no one’s talking about the “exciting young oilers” anymore.
looking at the standings, Khabibulin’s ridiculous start to the season likely cost them a real shot at the top pick this year. burn.
That's "Da-ooo". I killed a turkey once, with a shovel.
Like the Leafs they have suffered some injuries.
Unlike the Leafs they have made no attempt at building depth beyond drafting in the Top Five for the past five years.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
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I also write things about stuff over at the Leafs Nation
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jan 8, 2012 9:54 AM EST up reply actions
And Tambellini said that Khabibulin’s start to the season was indicative of their “true talent” in net. lol.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
C’mon Daoust you are telling me that you didn’t expect Smyth to keep up his point per game and half a goal per game season? You must be psychic!
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
it’s true. I also called all this bullshit with the Euro. I’m borderline clairvoyant.
That's "Da-ooo". I killed a turkey once, with a shovel.
To be fair
They have gone through some tough injuries to Hall, RNH and now Eberle left last night’s game. I’m not saying they weren’t over-hyped to begin with (especially Khabibulin), but you have to factor that in.
by holymackinaw on Jan 8, 2012 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Boo fuckin hoo
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
by leafer1984 on Jan 8, 2012 10:42 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
to be further fair, the few oilers fans I know weren’t fooled and were fully expecting a drop off. it’s just amazing that the MSM is so eager to hype a team when it was pretty obvious to everyone that their play was unsustainable. it’s downright sad that their management may have actually thought that play was sustainable.
That's "Da-ooo". I killed a turkey once, with a shovel.
I would hope Tambellini was not actually that dumb. With some regression of Hall/Eberle/RNH and some improvement of Hemsky/Gagne/Whitney they can probably maintain their offense at a slightly sub-average pace. With their D dropping to the shit we knew it would they’re probably a 12th-13th ish team or a 25th ish team.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Evidently math is not a required subject for a journalism degree
Cox
After decades of travel across North America, the NHLPA is suddenly concerned about travel. Joke. Huge one.
Only bigger joke is belief its harder to make playoffs in an 8-team conference than 7-team. Amazing how some will believe anything.Burtch
DamoSpin GlobeKPD 8 tm conference has worse odds than the 7 tm conference – it’s called math, look into it.KPD
SteveBurtch DamoSpin GlobeKPD All play 82 games. Top 4 teams in ea conference make dance. Red herring.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
Cox is an opinion writer. So “math” is, like, your opinion, man.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
Cox is probably thinking:
I CAN’T HEAR YOU! I CAN’T HEAR YOU! LALALALALALALA1967LALALALALALALALALA
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr
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Or the proper use of its versus it’s.
by MrSmithy on Jan 8, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
7-team conference – be better than 3 teams.
8-team conference – be better than 4 teams.
said another way, in an 8-team conference there’s one more team that can potentially be better than you.
you know what solves this though – get rid of two f-ing teams.
That's "Da-ooo". I killed a turkey once, with a shovel.
What’s that you say? Add two f-ing teams? Well okay then!
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
I agree. The N.H.L. is going to have to tap into the Canadian markets sooner or later. I hope it is sooner.
The only Canadian market that can handle a team is another one in Southern Ontario. Maybe Quebec city. I would still put a fair amount of money that Winnipeg fails in 11 years.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
The chatter I’ve heard is that the NHL wants to expand with a 2nd team in Toronto and one in Quebec, figuring the expansion fees could be in the neighbourhood of $1 billion combined.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
is it possible that the rogers/bell ownership of MLSE is all a set up for a split when a new team arrives: bell gets the Leafs, Rogers gets the new team, plus they get the money owed to the leafs back? they each get a cash cow at a very low cost.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 8, 2012 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
That is an extremely interesting hypothesis. Makes sense, they both know this market has the appetite for another NHL team. Maybe they could even share the ACC like the Clippers and Lakers share Staples Center.
by Shift on Jan 8, 2012 8:09 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I thought MLSE had boycott ability?
Even if it does go through the new team would likely have to pay the leafs at least a quarter billion dollars no? That means like 750 mil just to make the team. That is insane.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Who is KPD?
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
When Bruce Arthur wrote his piece on realignment I said something like “I’m happy to see that you wrote about the math problem”. His reply was along the lines of “I might be a sports journalist, but even I can understand odds that simple.” So . . . yeah. Good on Damien there.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Jan 8, 2012 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
It’s easy to see if you just expand.
Is it easier to make the playoffs if 4 out of 5 teams qualify? Or if 4 out of 1000 qualify?
by potvin vs hextall on Jan 8, 2012 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
Math aside, I don’t really buy this idea that the players were that concerned about it being harder for some teams to make the playoffs. It should be more of a concern for owners, since they don’t get to change teams every few years.
OTOH, I do buy the idea that they were insulted that the NHL would only supply them with a single partial travel schedule. That’s not a good way to get a union on your side.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jan 8, 2012 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
The players do get a bonus for making playoff appearances, and they do want to win the Stanley Cup. I’m not sure why you wouldn’t buy the idea: players in the West (or traded to the West) would give up a good bit under that realignment.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
In terms of ratio of teams getting into vs. not getting into playoffs western teams do indeed lose slightly while eastern teams gain. It certainly isn’t entirely fair.
Being a Leafs fan makes me bipolar.
The only truly fair system is the top 16 teams make it in regardless of division, conference etc. The current system is reasonable in that there are only 2 conferences and they have an equal number of teams, so all teams have to be better than 7 others to make it in. The division winner getting a top-3 seed could theoretically be problematic (and I think it’s a bullshit format), but I don’t think there’s ever been a case where a division winner wasn’t also one of the top 8 teams at least. That sadi the Leafs certainly got burned a couple of years under Quinn where they got seeded 4th or 5th while actually being number 2 or 3 in the conference. 03-04 I think was nuts…. in the NE it was boston 102, Toronto 101 and OTtawa 100 (or something like that).
That's "Da-ooo". I killed a turkey once, with a shovel.
What is the deal with this bonus? I only started hearing about it recently.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
I know that players all get paid evenly, but I’m not exactly sure how it works. All I can find in the CBA is this:
ARTICLE 28
PLAYER FUND
A single lump sum payment of $6,500,000 shall be made by the NHL to the
Players on account of a Player fund (“Player Fund”), which shall be allocated to the
Players on Clubs participating in the various Playoff rounds and/or based upon Club
finish, as shall be determined by the NHLPA, subject to approval by the League.
A Player who is brought up during the Playoffs shall be entitled to be
paid/receive:
• hotel accommodation; and
• NHL per diem.
So, basically, $6.5 million is divided up among players on teams who make the playoffs each year, but it’s not clear exactly how much each player receives.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
15 total playoff rounds with 45 players per round means that each player gets something like $10,000 per round.
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Assuming a sweep a guy like Phaneuf would make $2,500 a game compared to during the regular season when he makes about $80,000 per game.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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I’ll bet most players would rather be $10,000 richer than not.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
That sounds like peanuts. If every team that made it in the first round has just 23 players that is 368 players.
6.5/368= Roughly 18 000 per player.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
I’m assuming that they get paid once a round for each round.
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I would hope the players care about it being more difficult ot make the playoffs. I would hope they care a lot about winning the cup.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
I'm sure they do care a lot about winning the Cup
But for some of them it gets easier. The teams from the seven-team divisions voted no too. I’m just suspicious that a slightly bigger or smaller chance for 1/2 the league of sneaking into the playoffs as a mediocre team isn’t the real sticking point here. My belief is that it’s more about being treated like partners, which they weren’t.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jan 8, 2012 3:37 PM EST up reply actions
To be honest I would have rejected it, simply as a bargaining tool for the CBA.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Yeah, that’s kind of why I think this is a smokescreen for public consumption.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jan 8, 2012 3:42 PM EST up reply actions
I feel like they are issues that slightly concern them and that can be negotiated on, but for the most part it is a mix of (a) bargaining chip and (b) they were completely kept out of the change and weren’t even given a schedule.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
I think the League played it brilliantly and won the first PR battle. Media really seems to be helping that cause as well.
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
.
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr
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by Frag on Jan 8, 2012 11:30 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
So which team actually admits it needs to rebuild first – Anaheim or Calgary?
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
Calgary. I’d rather have Anaheim’s under-24 team/prospect pool by a mile.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
Anaheim
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr
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Only because I believe they have already admitted to a rebuild.
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr
Sorry, unauthorized hotlinking of copyrighted material not permitted.
Nah, Murray insists they’re not rebuilding, that they have a good core, and that the most they need to do is change a couple of pieces. ie. basically what Feaster says.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Jan 8, 2012 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
Ah, okay then.
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr
Sorry, unauthorized hotlinking of copyrighted material not permitted.
Will admit or should admit?
Either way, Anaheim could start later and still contend sooner. Calgary is a mess, and their fans should invest in a time machine to just jump ahead five or so years because they won’t be pretty.
I said it at the beginning of the season. They are the 2007 Maple Leafs and they may even be in worse shape than we were.
Iggy ~= Sundin
They have 10 players with NTCs
They are one of the 3 oldest teams in the league
Something like 80 or 90% of their players making more than 2.5 million are 29 or over
They have the worst prospect pool in the league.
They have an overage team with players who are good enough to make them look reasnoable at times, but just no future. And they’re locked in.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Anaheim doesn’t need to do a proper one. With Bobby Ryan and Fowler on the team, mixed with a really solid looking prospect pool (Schultz, Smith-Pelley, Palmieri, etc) I think they can retool on the fly. They really need Hiller to refind his game. I wonder if whatever caused the vertigo did some sort of damage to him (physically or mentally)>
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
but….but….Edmonton!
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
Edmonton is that kid with Legos who was always spoiled and his parents would always buy him the latest set and then he’d tear it apart and throw the pieces in the bucket, never to be played with again.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
by SkinnyFish on Jan 8, 2012 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I hated that kid, you’d go over to his house and he’d have that giant mixed bucket of lego, and you’d want to build a space ship or monster truck but he’d say something like “NO THAT IS A PIRATE SET AND A POLICE STATION SET AND YOU CAN ONLY BUILD THEM ONE WAY!” so you’d say whatever and ask if you could build the pirate ship or the police station and he’d tell you he lost the instructions
well now that just became the perfect analogy for the oilers
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Your ideas intrigue me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
by clrkaitken on Jan 8, 2012 8:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
So I took a different approach to watching the game last night
I was mentally keeping track of the ‘Corsi’ so to speak (shots toward the net, whether missed/blocked/on target). Obviously, it was a little rough because I was doing it my head while drinking, but it was pretty cool counting that stuff, helped me watch more closely what was going on. I did this from the time of the first Detroit goal to the end of the game, and I wasn’t tracking it for individual players. Some observations (and i stress, this is pretty rough work):
-While the Leafs where flat out dominated in the second, they actually had a good third period. When Lupul scored I actually had us ahead in shots, about 9-6 . Detroit eventually won the 3rd period shot battle something like 20-12, but the Leafs were defending the lead with 10 left in the third so thats to be expected.
-Detroit didn’t pin them as much in the third. They had more entries that ended in no shot attempts. The Leafs were better at keeping them to the outside and clearing it.
-Now for some player observations. I love Brown and Boyce, those guys (with Steckel centring) were great on the forecheck. I love that we can use our ‘4th’ line to defend 1 goal leads with a minute left.
-Gunnarson is pretty good. I’d love to have him back with Phaneuf, but spreading him around the lineup makes the other sad sacks more effective.
-Grabovski is really good. If he leaves, we will miss his defensive game dearly. I am aware of the issues with bringing him back, but Id still like to see him in blue and white next year.
by samspade on Jan 8, 2012 12:16 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
If they were playing the Isle or the Canes or some other shite team last night I’d be more concerned. But I don’t think anyone should expect a solid team like Detroit to just roll over because they’re down 3 goals after the 1st period. I’d have been lot more surprised if they hadn’t turned things around. Their puck possession game is unreal.
Love that 4th line now. Little bit of speed, little bit of grit, little bit of skill (ok not much but still).
If Armstrong gets healthy again, I think you send Crabb down, move MacA back up with Kule and Grabbo, and roll Kadri, Armstrong and Lombardi as your 3rd line. If Armstrong and Bozak are both healthy at the same time I’m not sure what you do. Send down Boyce and move Lombo to the 4th line? or Armstrong to the 4th line?
I love Grabbo as well. I’d love to see him back next year, but I don’t think it’s likely.
That's "Da-ooo". I killed a turkey once, with a shovel.
I think Armstrong would actually be suited to either the 4th (with those Dzone starts) or on Grabbo’s wing (Armstrong – Grabbo – Kulie would be damn solid defensively and have a hell of a cycle).
I don’t care how much he makes, lets just use Army where he is best. If she run him with G-K, then we can put Mac with Lombardi and Kadri and make that line a little more deadly.
Our fourth line is pretty much a classic third line, if that makes sense. Historically the third line has been a grinding, checking, defensive squad. Looking at Mac-Lombo-Kadri that is definitely not the case. Boyce-Steckel-Brown is the checking line and they do see decent minutes sometimes, therefore I would have no problem with Armstrong on the 4th line.
well, that escalated quickly
Lombo actually has a reputation as a two way player, but it is obviously based on positioning, smart stick play, and of course his speed. MacA works the whole ice but is definitely not a classic defensive forward, and Kadri is a liability.
While I definitely enjoy this fourth line, we should keep in mind that offensively they are still a true “fourth” line. They are all 10-20 point players which is fourth line, not third line production.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
how many times has someone on Kadri’s line fucked up an amazing chance he created? I’d love to see him with a couple big boys for a few shifts, see what he can do.
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by pho king awesome on Jan 8, 2012 1:39 PM EST up reply actions
if you put Kadri on a top line he’s going to be facing tougher competition and his defensive lapses are going to be more exposed. I prefer him in a sheltered role, generating chances on a line that otherwise would have far fewer.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Jan 8, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
true, would just like to see him with someone that can bury those chances he’s creating
@phoking_awesome
my blog, "The Silver Fox", check it out!
by pho king awesome on Jan 8, 2012 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
He might not get to create those chances against top opposition.
by Shift on Jan 8, 2012 2:26 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Kadri can do whatever he wants
@phoking_awesome
my blog, "The Silver Fox", check it out!
by pho king awesome on Jan 8, 2012 2:41 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah. Let Kadri keep doing his thing where he is.
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I really like Kadri and MacA together. It would be pretty cool to see Colborne get the chance to centre those guys.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
I’ve been in Cuba and was out last night. Who is Gunnar playing with now? I imagine it is Aulie with Phaneuf.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Franson last night I believe but Schenn usually.
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
From timeonice, looks like Gunnar started off the game playing with Schenn, and then started logging shifts with Franson later in the game.
http://timeonice.com/default.html?GameNumber=20603&submit=Go
by Self Destructive Zones on Jan 8, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
That is an interesting switch. As long as we never see Komisarek-Schenn.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Looks like RW avoided that problem by not playing Schenn for the majority of the third period, paring Gunnar with both Franson and Komisarek at various points.
by Self Destructive Zones on Jan 8, 2012 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
The dumb dumb over at the Toronto sun wrote he’s trade Kessel for Getzlaf in a heartbeat……………..DURRRRRR
Toronto Maple Leafs: All about the Lemon Grabs
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It isn’t beyond idiotic. I obviously wouldn’t do it, but I would if they were the same age. A centre like Getzlaf is potentially the most valuable commodity in the game. But of course with the 2 year age difference and Getzlaf seeming to have some injury concerns the last couple years you don’t make that trade.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
If I was trading 20 year old Getzlaf for 20 year old Kessel, I’d rather have Getzlaf. But right now, Getzlaf is approaching the end of his best years and Kessel is just starting his. So right now I’d rather have Kessel.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
Lupul on the other hand….
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
How Swede it is
Nice to see other countries have a great passion for hockey too. And they say the World Juniors are only important in Canada.
"They build a statue, they knock it down and piss on it, and now they will be out there building it again."
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Jan 8, 2012 1:42 PM EST reply actions
BOO
@phoking_awesome
my blog, "The Silver Fox", check it out!
by pho king awesome on Jan 8, 2012 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
If it couldn’t be us at the very least the win is appreciated and celebrated.
"They build a statue, they knock it down and piss on it, and now they will be out there building it again."
by ThickSkinnedAlive on Jan 8, 2012 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
I’m only a little sad Canada lost. They didn’t really deserve a gold this year but at least the Russians were humbled in that mess of a final. And of course the Americans had to win a game not to get relegated, so there’s that.
by scrambles the death dealer on Jan 8, 2012 7:19 PM EST up reply actions
2pts in hand AND we don’t live in Detroit.
Truly victory is ours.
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by Chemmy on Jan 8, 2012 1:50 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
I hate having to live downwind of Detroit.
Riding the Leafs bandwagon since 1991.
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by CanadianMaple09 on Jan 8, 2012 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
meh I like their team. Backstrom, Koivu, and Setoguchi. Even like Heatley now.
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
I like the team, but the fans were thinking the team’s early season success in relation to its goal differential was sustainable.
ah. It is tempting to believe such things.
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
I like the team because they’ll be a poster child for regression to the mean.
by Shift on Jan 8, 2012 8:07 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
NHLPA
sucks and will suck until their mandate is player safety, pensions, and player pay, in that order. I doubt with Fehr in charge anything but money, money, and money, oh, and money, will be negotiated. He does great at what he does, which is to screw people and screw them often. His impact on baseball made it suck even more than it did before his arrival, I’m sure he’ll make hockey worse than Bettman did.
thank you for confirming that you know nothing about nothing
again
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
Two comments in the same FTB. You’re breaking the pattern!
by Self Destructive Zones on Jan 8, 2012 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
Owuya called up to the Marlies, per Jeffler. Rynnas has played well lately, Scrivens poorly, but they’re both sitting at .908 on the season. Scrivens 15 GP, 363 SVS 37 GA, Rynnas 14 GP, 366 SVS, 37 GA.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
Rynnas’ struggles were early in the year IIRC. While Scrivens’ are more recent.
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
Which is exactly what you said.
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
#TEAMUNIT
The Jays that were at the game last night (Romero, Arencibia, Janssen, Lawrie) were in Ottawa this afternoon signing autographs at the St. Laurent Mall. Just managed to catch them!
Bleeding Blue and White since '88
by Joe Ferguson on Jan 8, 2012 3:49 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Congrats!
were in Ottawa this afternoon signing autographs at the St. Laurent Mall. Just managed to catch them!Needed a hair cut did you?
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
Bring the whole family! Haircuts for everyone!
Riding the Leafs bandwagon since 1991.
Check out my art!
by CanadianMaple09 on Jan 8, 2012 4:37 PM EST up reply actions
Did you manage to get your stuff signed?
Bleeding Blue and White since '88
by Joe Ferguson on Jan 8, 2012 11:36 PM EST up reply actions
You gotta be kidding me…Philly had a 4-2 lead going into the third, Ottawa comes back and scores 3… its 5-4 now with a minute to go…
Bryz has been horrific
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 7:52 PM EST up reply actions
He looked so defeated in the third. Slouching a lot in the butterfly, looked exasperated after every goal. Really surprised Laviolette didn’t pull him after the GTG.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
his contract, on the other hand, is getting quite hilarious
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 7:59 PM EST up reply actions
Whatever.
Short-term they’re screwing up their pick this year, and are going to get curbstomped in the playoffs.
Long-term they’re hooped next year when Alfie retires and everybody stops shooting 15%.
Also Erik Karlsson is an RFA this year and will be such an expensive turnstile next season you’d think the TTC negotiated his contract.
Cynically Sarcastic
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
by clrkaitken on Jan 8, 2012 8:07 PM EST up reply actions 8 recs
Their underlying numbers (Corsi&Fenwick tied) are apparently pretty good, and better than ours, although I haven’t looked at them myself.
Karlsson has been really good. He gets 58% offensive zone starts, he doesn’t kill penalties and he doesn’t face the top competition much, but at the same time he’s not what you would call sheltered (he ranked 3rd in comp). He puts up a boatload of points, his CORSI is really high, you can’t get the puck off of him.
Spezza is over a point per game, he’s been playing really well.
Yea I wouldn’t think 58% would classify as exessively sheltered. A few forwards are shooting 20% someone has mentions many times.
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
58% is excessively sheltered. Full stop.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
13th highest o-zone start in the league among defensemen who have played more than 20 games.
RIP Former-and-forever Leaf Wade Belak
Me on Twitter
well then I retract my statement
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
Really? For a young Dman depended on for offense?
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
“He’s not sheltered, he’s just young and bad at defense so they shelter him.”
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
I wanted to know how sheltered it was so I checked compareables
He is 181st of 193 defenders who have played 20+ GP
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
You can click the header again to sort by highest OZONE start.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
His zone starts are very sheltered for a defenseman
But he’s not drawing the weakest competition either. He’s the 3rd ranked defenseman in CorsiQC and CorsiRelQC. Lee and Cowen draw the weakest competition. He also has the highest Corsi on the team, and has been putting up a boatload of points.
One stat that reflects poorly on him is his Ozone finish, which is down about 7% from his Ozone starts.
Look, I never said the guy was Nik Lidstrom. He is pretty much a fourth forward on the ice. But he is still really good.
His Poise/60 is almost as high.
by Spezzal Teams Playa on Jan 8, 2012 8:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Shit happens. They aren’t winning the cup, they aren’t drafting a cornerstone-caliber player, and Alfredsson and Spezza are going to be another year older. Let them beat the odds for now.
by Shift on Jan 8, 2012 8:14 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
all logic dictates that they can’t keep up this “fall behind by 2-3 goals in the 2nd and come back to win in the 3rd/OT” thing they have been running the past month
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 8:32 PM EST up reply actions
Reimer could start scoring points, but that would just be unfair to the heathens of the NHL
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 8:46 PM EST up reply actions
Rocco Grimaldi approves of this message.
by Spezzal Teams Playa on Jan 8, 2012 8:47 PM EST up reply actions
he would, but he is too busy writing emails to girls on his facebook chastising them for their scantily clad beach pictures
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 8:47 PM EST up reply actions
For serious? Like that MTV tea party girl?
by Spezzal Teams Playa on Jan 8, 2012 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
you missed him tweeting about girls needing to “cover up” earlier this year? it was all the scandal!
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 8:51 PM EST up reply actions
Ask yourself, “Does this outfit honor God?”
by Spezzal Teams Playa on Jan 8, 2012 8:53 PM EST up reply actions
god loves him some boobies
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Jan 8, 2012 8:53 PM EST up reply actions
Put your boobs away, and everything else that is hanging out.
by Spezzal Teams Playa on Jan 8, 2012 8:55 PM EST up reply actions
Sounds like someone needs to be traded to Winnipeg.
by Shift on Jan 8, 2012 10:43 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Yeah, I know. But there’s a silver lining for us in their mild success.
by Shift on Jan 8, 2012 10:40 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
LOL not anymore.
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
Karma?
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
Oh for sure I just don’t like Pits’ QB. My first time trying to get into watching the NFL I started to buy into the Big Ben hype. Then I found out he was implicated in 3 sexual assult incidents.
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
2, and 1 was compete bullshit by any objective measure.
The other one…. well he wasn’t indicted… soo… uh…
by Chi-town leafs on Jan 8, 2012 11:31 PM EST up reply actions
joe_sheehan Joe Sheehan
It took longer to explain OT than to play it.
As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica
Donovan McNabb was still trying to figure it out when the fans were filing out of the stadium.
by Spezzal Teams Playa on Jan 8, 2012 8:48 PM EST up reply actions
BRADYYYY
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
by Chemmy on Jan 8, 2012 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Every time Crispus Attucks touches the puck, you boo, amirite?
by Spezzal Teams Playa on Jan 8, 2012 9:12 PM EST up reply actions
New post over on Bleeding Blue 'N White
PPP’s very own commenter TheCeej has become a blogger and here is his virgin post: TheCeej looked at the shot differential in the shutout against the Jets and how it progressed. He plans on making this into an ongoing series of his. Enjoy!
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Give it a read and have at me. I accept constructive criticism and will give recs in exchange for Excel tips.
Nice charts. If you continue these for other games you may want to add goal differential to contrast against shot differential (and if you feel ambitious use fenwick or corsi differential in place of shots as some people think they better track scoring chances).
Thanks. Those ideas sound interesting. Can always experiment later on.
by TheCeej on Jan 8, 2012 10:49 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
How about adding a line for the Leafs’ overall performance to date (this line would fluctuate depending on the score)? Or even just a separate table in your post (or sidebar) so that there’s a point of reference?
by Shift on Jan 8, 2012 11:08 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Fuck JFJ
Rask has had a shutout in 3 of his last 4 games. The other one? He let in one fucking goal.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
He has 4 games below a 0.935 and 6 games below 0.950 in the 14 he has played this year. FUCK
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
JFJ is good at scouting
That’s why he traded Rask instead of Pogge.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jan 9, 2012 1:39 AM EST up reply actions
Ottawa basically pulling a Jets
9 of their last 12 have been at home. Once they start hitting the road I’m sure the losses will pile up.
That seems to be a pattern throughout the league this year, there’s like no teams that are better on the road than at home.
Bleeding Blue and White since '88
Yes, it would be nice to get back to owning them in the 1st round like old times.
Bleeding Blue and White since '88
by Joe Ferguson on Jan 8, 2012 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
Wow, just realized they play next 9 of 10 on the road too, one of those being against us a week from Tuesday. Expect them to come back down to earth during that stretch.
Bleeding Blue and White since '88
by Joe Ferguson on Jan 8, 2012 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
92 has been the average points needed for the playoffs since the lockout and that’s dragged down by one year that was 88. We’ll have a better idea after the lockout.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
Errr
All-Star Game. the number of 3 point games go up as well.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
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