The Leafs

[Kilgore Trout]

Boston has salary cap problems and can't afford to add any new salary.
So, Schenn at NHL level would be a problem for Boston simply due to his salary.

 

[shack]

And Schenn I think could be a better fit on another team loaded with some veterans who could teach him how to play the game well.

Sorta like Beauchemin, Komisarek and Kaberle?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Kadri on world junior team this year.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/739526--leafs-draft-pick-kadri-makes-junior-team

 

[21pro]

Sorta like Beauchemin, Komisarek and Kaberle?

hahaha.... or like what roster has cap space to fit him on the blueline and has better 'mentors'??? he's in the best spot possible.

hey- it's a good thing he's not playing right now. the leafs have plenty of good performing D-men and it is finally showing.

The Penguins have a similar situation where it is difficult to work Alex Goligoski into the lineup... and he's a consideration for TEAM USA at the Olympics!!!

like I said, a good problem to have.

but, it is Toronto afterall.... guess it's part of the culture here to just find SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.

 

[Ironhead]

The game last night;
The Leafs beat the Bruins 2-0, it had to happen sometime. The Bruins were not going win every encounter with the Leafs.
Gustvsson made the big save when he had to and he had to several times, earning his first NHL shutout. However it is only one win and there is too much of the season remaining too get excited over one win.
The Boychuk hit on Stajan.
Was it an elbow ? Contact with the head ? Dirty hit ? Did Boychuk jump ?
There is a geart shot of the hit in the sports section of the Sunday Star. Boychuk making contact with Stajan, elbow on chin, skates off the ice.
I think it is suspension time.

On the season;
Many Leaf detractors were saying at the start of the season that the Leafs would have a difficult time scoring and there is no one to get the puck to Kessel. The Leafs do not seem to have a problem scoring, they are fifth in the East in scoring and 12th overall in the league. Kessel, I suspect, has surprised some in that he has been able to score without a 'number one center'.
They are not in a playoff spot yet, even if they were it is not even halfway, so we can revisit that at about the 50-60 game point.
Keeping the puck out of their own net needs improvement, but I think it has improved since the start of the season and will show in the second half.

It should be an exciting second half of the season ... a long time coming for us suffering Leaf fans.

 

[shack]

The game last night;
The Leafs beat the Bruins 2-0, it had to happen sometime. The Bruins were not going win every encounter with the Leafs.
Gustvsson made the big save when he had to and he had to several times, earning his first NHL shutout. However it is only one win and there is too much of the season remaining too get excited over one win.
The Boychuk hit on Stajan.
Was it an elbow ? Contact with the head ? Dirty hit ? Did Boychuk jump ?
There is a geart shot of the hit in the sports section of the Sunday Star. Boychuk making contact with Stajan, elbow on chin, skates off the ice.
I think it is suspension time.

On the season;
Many Leaf detractors were saying at the start of the season that the Leafs would have a difficult time scoring and there is no one to get the puck to Kessel. The Leafs do not seem to have a problem scoring, they are fifth in the East in scoring and 12th overall in the league. Kessel, I suspect, has surprised some in that he has been able to score without a 'number one center'.
They are not in a playoff spot yet, even if they were it is not even halfway, so we can revisit that at about the 50-60 game point.
Keeping the puck out of their own net needs improvement, but I think it has improved since the start of the season and will show in the second half.

It should be an exciting second half of the season ... a long time coming for us suffering Leaf fans.

Good post. The only thing I'll disagree with is Boychuk's feet. When he first made contact with Stajan, his feet were both on the ice. It was the momentum of his follow through and the fact Stajan started falling which combined to make his feet leave the ice.

I'm all for any sanctions/penalties/bans to decrease the meaningless violence on the ice. The injuries, especially concussions, are getting out of hand. I'm not defending hits like Boychuk's, just trying to get the details correct.

 

[The Bandit]

Boychuk lifted his shoulder when he hit Stajan. The hit was part shoulder/part elbow.

 

[crt]

The game last night;
The Leafs beat the Bruins 2-0, it had to happen sometime. The Bruins were not going win every encounter with the Leafs.
Gustvsson made the big save when he had to and he had to several times, earning his first NHL shutout. However it is only one win and there is too much of the season remaining too get excited over one win.
The Boychuk hit on Stajan.
Was it an elbow ? Contact with the head ? Dirty hit ? Did Boychuk jump ?
There is a geart shot of the hit in the sports section of the Sunday Star. Boychuk making contact with Stajan, elbow on chin, skates off the ice.
I think it is suspension time.

How can you blame Boychuk when Stajan was skating with his head down to the ice? Keep your head up kid!

 

[Ironhead]

The thing I do not like most about the hit is that Boychuk targets the head and goes full bore after a player in a vulnerable position.
There was no need to lead with his elbow. I have played hockey and I used to hit and I never led with my elbow.

With todays equipment(a lot of very hard plastic) looking more like football pads it is ridiculous.
I am surprised there is not more head injuries.

 

[thelake]

He had his head down, like a timbit player looking for the puck, this is the NHL, play to that level or get out.

 

[Ironhead]

It was a suicide pass no doubt and to go after a guy in that position is one thing, but when they target the head then it is time to act.

My opinion Boychuk targeted the head. No reason for his elbow to lead into the hit.

 

[shack]

He had his head down, like a timbit player looking for the puck, this is the NHL, play to that level or get out.

So basically you are saying that if somebody is totally defenseless, even if partly by some fault of their own, you are completely at liberty to injure them.

 

[Mr. Black]

And the Leafs blow another one.
Fucking sacks of shit.

 

[crt]

He had his head down, like a timbit player looking for the puck, this is the NHL, play to that level or get out.

I agree....Stajan was 100% responsible for putting himself in that position. Its players like him that have led to the rash of head injuries lately....keep your head up at all TIMES!

 

[crt]

It was a suicide pass no doubt and to go after a guy in that position is one thing, but when they target the head then it is time to act.

My opinion Boychuk targeted the head. No reason for his elbow to lead into the hit.

Stajan served his own head on a silver platter IMHO..he won't last long if he keeps playing like that.

 

[shack]

I agree....Stajan was 100% responsible for putting himself in that position. Its players like him that have led to the rash of head injuries lately....keep your head up at all TIMES!

I guess if a pedestrian is crossing against the light, assuming you could still stop your car, you would still be within your rights to hit them (at least a little) because they put themselves in that position and you're just teaching them to wait for the light to change.

 

[JohnLarue]

I guess if a pedestrian is crossing against the light, assuming you could still stop your car, you would still be within your rights to hit them (at least a little) because they put themselves in that position and you're just teaching them to wait for the light to change.

Hello
Its a professional hockey game, not a traffic intersection.
A good portion of success in the game comes from physically wearing your opponent down, with body checks and knocking them of the puck.

Everyone who plays the game at that level knows that you have to be aware and skate with your head up, least you get hurt.

No-one wants to injure an opponent, but if he is skating with his head down, you hit him and hit him hard.

Thats the way it has always been in contact hockey & (hopefully) will always be.

 

[shack]

No-one wants to injure an opponent, but if he is skating with his head down, you hit him and hit him hard.

There's the contradiction.

First you say that you don't want to injure an opponent but if he gives you the opportunity and even if he's defenseless, you are going to grab that opportunity and hit him hard, hard enough that you know he might get injured in which case the first part of your statement is just lip service. You really don't care if he gets injured.

 

[thelake]

I guess no one remembers the Scott Stevens hit on Lindros, same situation.
I don't remember any bleeding heart Laffs fans compaining on that one.
This is the NHL, the most elite hockey league in the world. Play to that level or get out.
Hitting is part of the game, get over it, like said above, you are expected to hit to beat your opponent.
And the moron comment comparing it driving, get your head out of the sand.

 

[gladheateher]

ugh, another loss for the Leafs, come on Burkie do something!