Leafs: cautiously optimistic

[Goober Mcfly]

HA^576

Yes, you heard it here first.

 

[pblues]

Just responding to your pipe dream there Goober.

 

[Goober Mcfly]

I too would like to see these two teams meet again. Win or lose, the series is always entertaining.

Thanks
Kathleen

I propose a bet. If the Leafs and Ottawa meet, and Ottawa wins, I get a free session with you. If the Leafs win, you get a free session with me!

Deal?

 

[fiasco]

emotional let down

Couple of points ... first about toronto complaining about refs. Belfour has said prior to being in toronto he heard a lot of whining from the leafs about being over penalized and no one really believed it. However, since playing on toronto he as come to realize that the leafs argument has much more merit than he thought (true he is no longer objective). Second, many leaf fans were flown at half mast at work when we heard from a decent source that it was an ACL injury for killer and his career is most likely over. Lets hope our source is wrong but not having doug is an emotional loss but shouldnt be a huge hinderance once we get over the dissappointment. Just for the record odds for leafs to win the cup closer to 11-1 and worse than ottawa, nj, and phili so realistically we barely in the top 10 in vegas' mind to win the cup. That being said I still put some cash down on them.

 

[artmosphere]

As a HUGE leaf fan I couldn't help but think of the site of Doug Gilmore crawling off the ice in pain.

I mean it was very sad....

Please God don't let it be a sign for the leafs post season.

Oh yes, it pains me each time I watch the highlight. That's not the way to go. If it's any consolation, the Leafs were already successful before Gilmour arrived so...even with the additions of Nolan, Wesley and Housley - they're still considered a better team than before. That's of course everyone comes back healthy and get over Gilmour.

And to the Senetor fans, it's ok to dream.

 

[BigGuy26]

Exactly!

*sighs*

My point is the following:

* I think the Senators are going to go all the way this year. And, I know that if they don't face Toronto, all the Leafs fans are going to say that they wouldn't have won the Cup if they had had to face TO. (just as you already pre-emptively stated) Therefore, the Senators must face and beat TO to get the monkey off of their back. *

Well put Goober! The same argument was made when Montreal and Los Angeles met in the final back in 93. It was clearly Montreal's year having won so many games in overtime. Even if the leafs would have beaten the kings, leafs fans were saying that the leafs would have beaten Montreal, but Montreal clearly had momentum.

One thing, as much as I like the Leafs, most fans can't possibly believe another team could beat them if they had made the finals by chance.

 

[BigGuy26]

Ottawa will not go all the way primarily because their captain is the biggest pussy in the league. In fact, he's probably donned his "estrogen patch" by now, a spring ritual for Mrs. Alfredson.

Also, you better bet history plays a role. If the Leafs meet the Sens and take the first game the Ottawa players start thinking about it, if they lose two in a row their done. Past memories way heavily. It's played a role the last two years.

GO LEAFS GO!!!! GO LEAFS GO!!!! GO LEAFS GO!!!!

OK then, past history shows the Leafs will not win a playoff series in less than 7 games, and will not advance past the Conference finals. It's all speculation. The Leafs were better than Ottawa the last 3 years in the playoffs, so let's see if they can do it again. Until they play, talk is cheap.

The Leafs are very lucky to have such devoted fans, but seriously this is the first time in 37 years they have made some moves to become a better team to win the cup. The fans are so loyal but have received nothing in return, unless you count increasing ticket prices and second choice players.

 

[BigGuy26]

Unreal!

No way. Ownership was the problem until Ballard passed away. You can't say what Cliff Fletcher did for Toronto wasn't trying. The Leafs in '92-'94 tried very hard. If not for a very controversial high stick Gretzky put on Gilmour, it very well "could" have been an all Canadian final. Sundin for Wendel, Bringing in Anderychuck, Fuhr, Gilmour, Anderson, Gartner, etc.. that was a great team.

Thanks
Kathleen

You just don't get it do you Kathleen. Adding the above players before the start of the season is what all teams do. But this year, adding Nolan and Wesley during the season is what is called going for it, because it identifies the weaknesses and tries to upgrade them.

Maybe my question should have been this: In the past 37 years, have the Leafs really made an attempt to improve the team during the season (specifically at the trade deadline like Detroit etc.? NO THEY HAVEN'T!!!!!!! (Don't count Wendel Clark, he wasn't that effective and was just to boost team interest).

The 92-94 Leaf teams were great, because they did a lot without a loaded roster. But the highstick, that was a missed call. Maybe the Leafs should have won the series in less than 7 games or played better defense than rely on "crying foul" or could have been should have been. And let me guess, the Leafs would have won the cup that year right?