The Leafs

[Ironhead]

Well another loss. I never though it would get to this, not saying I expected a winning record, ... but zero wins ?

They played Vancouver very well and I sense the first win is near.

I have been listening to media opinion of Burke vs the rest of the GMs and it is generally believed that all the other GMs are getting a chuckle out of this.

That is fine. Burke is the GM of the most financially successful hockey team on earth. Time is something Burke has. I wonder how long the Anaheim owner will tolerate a $6mil backup ? How will Chicago work it when Hossa comes off the DL ?
There are many things a team with money to burn can do for teams looking to cut some payroll.

 

[Numbnutz]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/no-band-aid-for-leafs/article1337801/

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Send+your+Toronto+Maple+Leafs+jokes/2133365/story.html

 

[Ironhead]

California Dreamin'

Followed by the second win Wednesday night in Dallas ? Maybe.

A very nice save by Gustavsson in the first built some much needed confidence tonight.
The Leafs fired the puck a lot tonight and it worked out for them aided in no small way by the Ducks penalty parade.

 

[Ironhead]

Fourth game in a row where they received at least a point.
Kessel will return soon.
That road trip came just at the right time.
Only seven points out of a playoff spot, this seems to be important to the Leaf detractors, it is not even 15 games into a 82 game season.

Let us see where the Leafs are after 25, 30 and 40 games.

 

[Malibook]

The Leafs are playing much better.
As long as they put in a solid effort and are competitive, I can watch the game.

I still can't stand Toskala though.
I sure hope the Monster plays most of the games.

 

[dj1470]

Fourth game in a row where they received at least a point.
Kessel will return soon.
That road trip came just at the right time.
Only seven points out of a playoff spot, this seems to be important to the Leaf detractors, it is not even 15 games into a 82 game season.

Let us see where the Leafs are after 25, 30 and 40 games.

Eternal optimism.
Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.
Awesome.
You've got to just love and respect blind, dedicated, and faithful fans.

BTW, on HNIC last night Milbury is quoted as saying the Leafs would need a .624 winning % for the rest of the season to make the playoffs based on last year.

 

[happydog]

Eternal optimism.
Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.
Awesome.
You've got to just love and respect blind, dedicated, and faithful fans.

BTW, on HNIC last night Milbury is quoted as saying the Leafs would need a .624 winning % for the rest of the season to make the playoffs based on last year.

I just want them to be competitive and keep the pressure in their opponents end. Watch the stupid penalties and fight for every inch. The last couple of games we got that. Playoffs are a huge question but, they must move up or Burke made a huge mistake giving up the first rounders. Kessel will help but, especially in the shootouts.

 

[dj1470]

I just want them to be competitive and keep the pressure in their opponents end. Watch the stupid penalties and fight for every inch. The last couple of games we got that. Playoffs are a huge question but, they must move up or Burke made a huge mistake giving up the first rounders. Kessel will help but, especially in the shootouts.

Understood.
But most Leaf fans I know have this overriding fantasy about being contenders!?!?!?!?
Basically the Leafs would need to go 40-25-5 for the remainder of the season to be in the playoffs based on the 8th place team last year.
Seriously not realistic.

 

[Ironhead]

Eternal optimism.
Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.
Awesome.
You've got to just love and respect blind, dedicated, and faithful fans.

BTW, on HNIC last night Milbury is quoted as saying the Leafs would need a .624 winning % for the rest of the season to make the playoffs based on last year.

Eternal optimism ?

Fact, Leafs have received a point in their last four games.
Fact, Kessel is slated to return soon.
Opinion(fact ? ), the road trip did come at the right time.
Fact, the Leafs are just seven points out of a playoff spot and it is a long season. Whether they make the playoffs or not, they are certainly not a contender.

 

[plyrs99]

kessel is coming back, kessel is coming back, .

okay, you are right, it is a fact that kessel is coming back, but tell me who on the leafs i going to pass him the puck? let's examine it...

stajan? he is a leafs first liner who on a good team, would be on the third line.

blake? he is a shoot-first puck hog.

grabovski? see blake.

ponikarovsky? decent second liner who is more of a shooter than a playmaker.

no need to continue is there. there is no marc savard on this team. hell, they do not even have a patrice bergeron. too bad kaberle is not a forward.

kessel is a guy who can create his own space and make plays, no doubt, but he received a hell of alot less attention playing on a team with savard, ryder, bergeron, wheeler, krejci, lucic, chara and wideman, than he will get here in toronto. teams will play their best defensive units on him, and that will certainly make a huge difference in his stats. the fact he has missed significant time is another factor. he will be trying to play his way into game shape against guys who have gone through training camp and over a month of the year already.

one more fact...you are a slapnut!

Plyrs99

 

[Fireseal]

There is a repelling forcefield in the net the leafs are trying to score on.

 

[dj1470]

There is a repelling forcefield in the net the leafs are trying to score on.

Yeah I think it's called a "lack of scoring talent"

 

[slowandeasy]

Yeah I think it's called a "lack of scoring talent"

ROTFLMAO.

Fireseal, I think you are listening to Ron Wilson too much. "Snakebit, lucky bounces, bad bounces, etc." are excuses for not getting the job done.

I have to say that the Leafs look alot better than they did in a 6 or 7 game stretch earlier. The last 4 games are what I expected from them, but they just don't have the talent up front to finish the job.

It looks like Gustavsson is getting better with each game, and the d-men are playing alot better. I just don't understand why they keep a guy like Ponikarovsky and send down Christian Hansen or Viktor Stalberg (although Stalberg needed to be sent down for a bit). I had hoped they would trade or just get rid of Poni and Stajan.

I like this team, and I had hoped they might challenge or even make it to the playoffs this year. I am not so sure they will make the playoffs, but if they continue to play hard every night, and be competitive in games, it will be a fun season.

 

[Ironhead]

Kessel, not bad for the first game action in six months.
10 shots, a career high, so getting the puck is no problem.

With Boston, Marc Savard assisted on six of Kessel's 36 goals last season.

 

[pencilneckgeek2]

Kessel, not bad for the first game action in six months.
10 shots, a career high, so getting the puck is no problem.

With Boston, Marc Savard assisted on six of Kessel's 36 goals last season.

You're really not that bright, are you ?

*Indeed, while Savard led Boston with 63 assists a year ago, ranking sixth in the NHL, he got the helper on 22 of Kessel's 36 goals.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hocke...e/720132--new-city-new-start-for-young-kessel

*From the article.

 

[Ironhead]

You're really not that bright, are you ?

*Indeed, while Savard led Boston with 63 assists a year ago, ranking sixth in the NHL, he got the helper on 22 of Kessel's 36 goals.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hocke...e/720132--new-city-new-start-for-young-kessel

*From the article.

Complement aside ...

I read the same article and in the paper(the actual paper) it said "six assists".
I see it has been corrected in the online version



Pencil's version sounds more like what I expected.

Indeed, while Savard led Boston with 63 assists a year ago, ranking sixth in the NHL, he got the helper on 22 of Kessel's 36 goals.


The article, "New city, new start for young Kessel", appears on the front page of the Sports Section of the Nov 3 Star.
Beside the baseball picture of Chase Utley hitting a home run.

 

[slowandeasy]

You're really not that bright, are you ?

*Indeed, while Savard led Boston with 63 assists a year ago, ranking sixth in the NHL, he got the helper on 22 of Kessel's 36 goals.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hocke...e/720132--new-city-new-start-for-young-kessel

*From the article.

Hey... start acting like the pencilneckgeek that you are!!!! LOL...

I did not watch enough Bruins games to know the impact of Savard getting 22assists on Kessels 36 goals. I believe that Gretzky got a huge number of assists on Yari Kurri's goals, but most would say that Kurri was a pretty darn good hockey player.

I think Kessel is a damn good hockey player, and he has the skills to create his own shot. It would be great if he had a Savard on the same line with him, but he doesn't, so we will see how he does. I think he has alot of intestinal fortitude, and he is going to be a good player for the Leafs for a long time to come.

 

[spankingman]

MLSE is in for the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Even when PAL HAL ran it into the ground all they cared about was $$$$$$$$$$$$ Remember the phrase "Carleton Street Cashbox"?

I doubt very much that fans will stay away because of a losing record its just not done in TO.The last 42 years prove it ya still can't buy a ticket.

 

[pencilneckgeek2]

Hey... start acting like the pencilneckgeek that you are!!!! LOL...

I did not watch enough Bruins games to know the impact of Savard getting 22assists on Kessels 36 goals. I believe that Gretzky got a huge number of assists on Yari Kurri's goals, but most would say that Kurri was a pretty darn good hockey player.

I think Kessel is a damn good hockey player, and he has the skills to create his own shot. It would be great if he had a Savard on the same line with him, but he doesn't, so we will see how he does. I think he has alot of intestinal fortitude, and he is going to be a good player for the Leafs for a long time to come.

Jari Kurri.

I am a Leaf fan, I wish Phil Kessel only the best. I was impressed with his skills that he showed last night. I just don't slurp the kool-aid like some do. I also don't like misinformation being put out, and not corrected.

Phil definitely has the ball to play in the N.H.L.

 

[dj1470]

Kessel, not bad for the first game action in six months.
10 shots, a career high, so getting the puck is no problem.

Sure but he was REALLY rusty!!! Geez, Phil keep your head up!!! He almost went back on the IR in record time after he got laid out by Hedman!