I wouldn't rank him ahead of Karlsson, Keith, Subban, Chara, Weber, Dougherty. etc.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2013/14 Season
- Thread starter Ironhead
- Start date
Oh we're halfway there ...
.
41 games done, 41 to go
The top three in the Metro do not matter, they make the playoffs regardless.
The top three in Atlantic and all remaining East teams are the ones to keep an eye on.
The Leafs are 4-6 points from climbing back into second/third in the Atlantic. About the same as dropping out of a playoff spot.
Anything can still happen, but as the Leafs get healthy the near future is looking better.
Bozak comes back and gets three assists, including the two by Kessel(19th 20th).
Bernier was sharp.
Ranger was good. I like the way he drew the even up penalty.
Go Leafs Go !
.
41 games done, 41 to go
The top three in the Metro do not matter, they make the playoffs regardless.
The top three in Atlantic and all remaining East teams are the ones to keep an eye on.
The Leafs are 4-6 points from climbing back into second/third in the Atlantic. About the same as dropping out of a playoff spot.
Anything can still happen, but as the Leafs get healthy the near future is looking better.
Bozak comes back and gets three assists, including the two by Kessel(19th 20th).
Bernier was sharp.
Ranger was good. I like the way he drew the even up penalty.
Go Leafs Go !
I would. Exactly what proof do you have that Phaenuef isn't better than those guys?
Chara has a more experienced and defined defense corp. around him. And still Phaneuf's number's are better or just as good in points.
I take it you are talking about Shea "-12" Weber? Please.
I think you just regurgitated garbage you heard from idiots. The only one who has been as impressive as Phanuef is Subban. The rest have vastly more talented and experienced team mates. Hell some nights Phaneuf is on his own. That fact that Phaneuf is anywhere in the + in +/- is a miracle in itself.
Are you seriously comparing McCabe with Dion? LMFAO. I guess Ballet is sold out or something sista? I refuse to debate you any further.
The fellows I have mentioned are Norris Trophy winners or at least mentioned as candidates, I can't recall Phaneuf being mentioned in that way at least not since he became a Leaf.
Leafs record worse than last year
As the title says, many people are using this to conclude the Leafs have fallen back a step or two.
One must keep in mind that, as is clearly evident, the western conference is heads and shoulders superior to the east. Well, if you recall, the Leafs only played games in the weak sister eastern conference. Playing games against the west is obviously making their schedule more difficult.
Last year they had 23 wins after 41 games. This year they have 20 wins.
IMO, they still have lots of room to improve but I don't really think they have fallen back. Spinning their wheels mainly.
As the title says, many people are using this to conclude the Leafs have fallen back a step or two.
One must keep in mind that, as is clearly evident, the western conference is heads and shoulders superior to the east. Well, if you recall, the Leafs only played games in the weak sister eastern conference. Playing games against the west is obviously making their schedule more difficult.
Last year they had 23 wins after 41 games. This year they have 20 wins.
IMO, they still have lots of room to improve but I don't really think they have fallen back. Spinning their wheels mainly.
Dion Phaneuf is under consideration for the Canadian Men's Olympic hockey team for Sochi 2014.
We at the half way of the season and I think the Leafs have done quite well cinsodering all the injuries. IMHO the Leafs can compete with any team in the East provided :
1) the goaltending duo of Reimer and Bernier continue to hold up the rest of the way;
2) full recovery of Bolland and no more serious injury to key players; a healthy Lupul makes huge difference;
3) continued development of Reilly and Franson. I think both still have a lot of potential to become legit top four d in the league.
4) better performance from Kadri, Clarkson has played better the last few games and I hope pairing with a better centre will improve his offensive output.
I don't really think Pittsburg and Boston are that much better than a healthy Leaf team. The only big concern I have is how soft at times the Leafs looked. Raymond and Holland fill in nicely offensively for the injuried, but they lose most the time on one-on-one battles. Fraser regressed in the first half, but we need him for his toughness. Franson is a big guy and he can certainly add more physicality to his game.
1) the goaltending duo of Reimer and Bernier continue to hold up the rest of the way;
2) full recovery of Bolland and no more serious injury to key players; a healthy Lupul makes huge difference;
3) continued development of Reilly and Franson. I think both still have a lot of potential to become legit top four d in the league.
4) better performance from Kadri, Clarkson has played better the last few games and I hope pairing with a better centre will improve his offensive output.
I don't really think Pittsburg and Boston are that much better than a healthy Leaf team. The only big concern I have is how soft at times the Leafs looked. Raymond and Holland fill in nicely offensively for the injuried, but they lose most the time on one-on-one battles. Fraser regressed in the first half, but we need him for his toughness. Franson is a big guy and he can certainly add more physicality to his game.
Trade Imminent?
Evidently Liles and a minor leaguer to Carolina for 30 y.o. Tim Gleason.
Adding some grit, sacrificing some skill (not that it was being utilized).
Seems like a reasonably good move seeing as Liles was not really in their plans.
Evidently Liles and a minor leaguer to Carolina for 30 y.o. Tim Gleason.
Adding some grit, sacrificing some skill (not that it was being utilized).
Seems like a reasonably good move seeing as Liles was not really in their plans.
So who is the odd man out? Rielly or maybe Ranger.
If it is Rielly does he go back to junior?
If Ranger he can be sent down.
Rielly must go back to junior as per NHL/CHL agreement.
However I feel there may be another trade coming.
Leafs win the Outdoor Classic !
Win in a shootout on goals by Lupul and Bozak.
Bernier was outstanding !
That win moves the Leafs ahead of the Wings by one point.
Leafs got better as the game moved into the second to the end.
From what I understand the trade is now a done deal.
Win in a shootout on goals by Lupul and Bozak.
Bernier was outstanding !
That win moves the Leafs ahead of the Wings by one point.
Leafs got better as the game moved into the second to the end.
From what I understand the trade is now a done deal.
The shootout had me nervous as the Wings have done so well with them this season, but it ended well. Bozak is back, 5 points in 2 games. he will make a difference. The new trade is also a good call.
Doesn't seem to be a huge impact move, looks to be a 5th or 6th d-man, rotating with Ranger & Fraser for that final roster spot. Good for Liles, maybe he'll get a chance to play regularly again.
Holland is too good to be playing 4th line. He should be on 3rd line with Clarkson & Kulemin to try to get another scoring line, or he should be playing with Lupul & Raymond until Kadri gets his scoring touch back.
I like Orr but maybe he shouldn't be dressing every game only to play 5 minutes. Bodie gives more skill, a 4th line with McClement-D'Amigo-Bodie is a solid checking line.
Holland is too good to be playing 4th line. He should be on 3rd line with Clarkson & Kulemin to try to get another scoring line, or he should be playing with Lupul & Raymond until Kadri gets his scoring touch back.
I like Orr but maybe he shouldn't be dressing every game only to play 5 minutes. Bodie gives more skill, a 4th line with McClement-D'Amigo-Bodie is a solid checking line.
Gleason is more of a Carlyle type player then Liles. Carlyle will trust him and likely play him more then he did Liles.
With the changing dynamics of the team, Liles was not fitting in.
The other points, I would not mind giving Holland a look between Lupul and Raymond.
Orr, I also like him and I agree maybe he should not dress every game. Today for instance, that is not Detroit's game so a more skill skater type may have been a wiser choice.
I am guessing if Bolland were healthy he would have dressed and Orr would have sat.
I am just guessing here, but watch for Gunnarsson to go next, maybe in a package with Kadri.
Wrong.
The Detroit Red Wings record in shootouts (including today's game) is 1-7 for the 2013-14 season.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/standings
Actually Detroit sucks at the shoot-out this season.
Shoot-out records
Leafs were 6-4, now 7-4
Wings 1-6, now 1-7 ... their only SO win was the game just about a week ago here in Toronto.
Then I stand corrected.The charts I was reading aren't that clear.
That was one of the best hockey games I have ever watched on TV.
Actually, I did not even watch the whole game, just parts, but I did see everything after the 2nd intermission.
This Winter Classic was interesting, but when your team plays, then this game gets that extra dimension, and it was so so cool, to use the words Brian Burke.
Everyone had fun, the players, the coaches, the fans.
There was Mike Babcock, with his hat, trying the Tow Blake look, or maybe Punch Imlach look. There was Randy Carlyle, with is cap on, and fat belly protruding out, looking like Joe Six pack, looking like a typical loser for a guy who actually won a Norris trophy as a player and a Stanley Cup as a coach.
There was a real intensity on the ice, but it was not tension. It was just two teams going hard and having fun. It really was like they were kids again, and we were watching kids play the game we all love.
Then to see the game decided on a shootout, what spectacle it all was. The Dastzuk shootout goal, same move same result from last week. The final Detroit shooter Tsartsar, the whole stadium saw him dibble the bouncing puck into the goalie's pad all the way from the red line. Then the Leafs, he shoots he scores!
What a game!
-----------------------------------------------------------'
Hello there, we're on the air,
It's hockey night, tonight.
The tension grows as the whistle blows,
The puck goes down the ice.
The goalies jump and the players bump,
The crowd they go insane.
Someone ROARS, Bozak scores,
It's a 3-2 hockey game,
Oh ... the good ole hockey game, is the best game you can name,
and the best game you can, name is the good ole hockey game!
:Eek:
Actually, I did not even watch the whole game, just parts, but I did see everything after the 2nd intermission.
This Winter Classic was interesting, but when your team plays, then this game gets that extra dimension, and it was so so cool, to use the words Brian Burke.
Everyone had fun, the players, the coaches, the fans.
There was Mike Babcock, with his hat, trying the Tow Blake look, or maybe Punch Imlach look. There was Randy Carlyle, with is cap on, and fat belly protruding out, looking like Joe Six pack, looking like a typical loser for a guy who actually won a Norris trophy as a player and a Stanley Cup as a coach.
There was a real intensity on the ice, but it was not tension. It was just two teams going hard and having fun. It really was like they were kids again, and we were watching kids play the game we all love.
Then to see the game decided on a shootout, what spectacle it all was. The Dastzuk shootout goal, same move same result from last week. The final Detroit shooter Tsartsar, the whole stadium saw him dibble the bouncing puck into the goalie's pad all the way from the red line. Then the Leafs, he shoots he scores!
What a game!
-----------------------------------------------------------'
Hello there, we're on the air,
It's hockey night, tonight.
The tension grows as the whistle blows,
The puck goes down the ice.
The goalies jump and the players bump,
The crowd they go insane.
Someone ROARS, Bozak scores,
It's a 3-2 hockey game,
Oh ... the good ole hockey game, is the best game you can name,
and the best game you can, name is the good ole hockey game!
:Eek:
