Toronto Maple Leafs 2011/12

[Ironhead]

The Leafs pick up a nice road win in New Jersey.
Lupul scores a hat, almost had his fourth late.
Gustavsson made some big saves when needed most.
Kessel fails to score.
I noticed Schenn out there for the first time in a while and not for the fight.
Steckel is still dynamite on faceoffs. That was a great pick up by Burke.
Crabb scores in his first game back.

I think the Devils are really going to suck this season and there will be a fire sale later, maybe as early as December.

 

[Ironhead]

Harvey "Busher" Jackson was quite a character. Apparently, he loved his alcohol and his women. This delayed his entry into the hockey HOF. Not sure if this is a true story but it is said that an older and retired Jackson was seen standing outside old Maple Leaf Garden begging for spare change.

BTW: Are Charlie and Joe also in the HOF?

EDIT: According to Wikipedia, Jackson was inducted into the HOL 5 years after he passed at the relatively young age of 55.

Charlie Conacher - Inducted 1961(Passed away 1967, age 58)
Joe Primeau - Inducted 1963(Passed away 1989, age 83)

 

[Rockslinger]

Charlie Conacher - Inducted 1961(Passed away 1967, age 58)
Joe Primeau - Inducted 1963(Passed away 1989, age 83)

Glad to hear that both Joe and Charlie were still alive to enjoy the honour of being inducted into the HOF. In the case of Harvey "Busher" Jackson they waited 5 years AFTER he passed. Some people rank Busher right up there with Bobby Hull as the greatest left winger ever.

 

[gq_man]

Leafs #1 in the NHL as of right now!!

 

[tribunus]

Leafs #1 in the NHL as of right now!!

And why couldn't they do this in a year where they don't have their own 1st Rounder? Yeah, I'm still bitter that Seguin is a fucking Bruin.

 

[shack]

Yeah, I'm still bitter that Seguin is a fucking Bruin.

Didn't they get something for him?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Ben Scrivens is an undrafted player, quietly signed by the Leafs as an unrestriced free agent in April, 2010.
He signed with Toronto mainly because he'd attended a goalie camp run by Francois Allaire and wanted a chance to work with him again.

If Reimer is out for a couple of more weeks then I hope Scrivens gets a chance to play a couple of more games to get a better sense of what he can do.
Some Leaf watchers said he was the best goalie in training camp; but, was sent down because he's on a two way contract.

 

[Malibook]

Scrivens looked great.
I believe in riding the hot hand and I would go with him at least until he loses.

 

[ahlungjai]

lol is this real life? leafs on top of the east

Scrivens > monster

 

[Ironhead]

Scrivens looked great.
I believe in riding the hot hand and I would go with him at least until he loses.

Then Gustavsson should have started this game.

 

[hunter001]

3 wins and 2 losss with a 3.00 GAA and .897 SV in last 5 games is a hot goalie to you ? Just asking

For the leafs...:wink:

 

[Malibook]

Then Gustavsson should have started this game.

The Monster has been much better but not what I would consider hot.
Plus he has let in some absolutely horrible goals.

 

[Dawgger]

Scrivens was amazing last night. The monster has been very good too and seems to be playing with much more confidence. Kind of interesting that the Leafs have gone from goaltending is a major problem to Reimer, the monster, and Scrivens all capable of getting a win. The nice part is they don't have to rush Reimer back.

Mailbook, I think Ironhead was saying that going with the hot hand until he loses meant Gustavsson was just coming off a win so you continue with him. It will be interesting to see who they go with on Sat.

I notice all of us Wilson haters have shut up. Amazing what a few wins can do.

 

[Dawgger]

I won't shut up ... The power play is still one of the worse and so is the penalty killing units and they are still have one of the worse goals against averages in the league ...

No need to defend Wilson cause he couldn't care less what everyone thinks ... It's never his fault the Leafs lose .. Ask him ... So if it's not his fault when they lose then don't give him credit for this start ..

Special units are bad and I also would love to see him go. As long as the Leafs keep on trucking he will be here unless he decides to leave. If you read my post there was no defense of him. It is just futile to call for his ass when they are leading the league.(Season is young)
Gustavasson has played well. He does allow some soft goals but overall his play has improved. I still don't thing he is anywhere close to being as good as the initial hype.

 

[shack]

I won't shut up ... The power play is still one of the worse and so is the penalty killing units and they are still have one of the worse goals against averages in the league ...

So they need to be in first (way, way, way ahead of anybody's expectations) plus have the best stats, otherwise winning/being in first doesn't count for anything.

If you are going to be so critical even when they are doing great, it really removes any credibility you have in your observations. You come off as somebody who just loves to complain for the sake of complaining.

As others said, most people, Wilson haters included, have enough sense to button it when they are winning.

I agree there are deficiencies and the season is young, but for now they are winning. Why don't you sit back and actually enjoy it. After all, you do say you are a Leaf fan.

 

[shack]

It is just futile to call for his ass when they are leading the league.

Only in Leafland do people want to fire a coach who is guiding his team to first place. The most important/only stat is wins and losses. Even if the special teams aren't very good, it only means the rest of their game is very good if they are at the top. What team has no deficiencies?

Keep in mind, the Leafs had one of the best records for most of the second half of last year as well. This start is not out of nowhere. Things have been going well for the team for probably 50+ games.

Like I said to guy, why not just enjoy the kind of results we have not seen for a long time and save your criticisms for a time when they may have more merit?

 

[shack]

When somebody asks what are the Leafs doing differently which has lead to this great start and we see the same things ie penalty killing bad, power play bad and goals against bad ... That makes me think that this may not continue and we might be headed for a down turn ...

They've have playing consistently well with good results for 50-60 games now.

where have all the Wilson haters gone you ask ??? It has become apathy ...

I disagree. If they were losing, there would not be this so-called apathy. There would be no end to calls for having him hung, drawn and quartered.

The Wilson haters will always hate Wilson, but as long they are at or near the top, most have enough sense to stifle it. It is not apathy. It is called not being able to argue with success, which is what is happening right now (for most).

 

[shack]

Shack I don't like Wilson and the fact he isn't a likeable contributes to that ... He will be judged by MLSE and by Burke not on his last 50-60 games I hope but if he gets this team to the playoffs .. That's when he should be judged ...

Totally agree, except to say the last 50-60 need to be considered in the overall equation

Wilson does nothing to make us want to cheer for his sucess ie his personality is so unlikeable ....

Understandable, but seeing as it is tough to have a coach fail and the team do well, let me ask a question, which would you prefer?

Assuming you can only have one from the coach would you rather have results or personality. Do you want John Gibbons or Mike Keenan? Right now we are getting more of a Keenan than a Gibbons, and I for one, will take it.

 

[Dawgger]

Shack relax! You can't help but enjoy the early season success. I'm loving it and hope it continues.
I am not, never have been a Wilson fan. However as I previously posted,as long as the Leafs keep winning Wilson will be here, love him or hate him.
You can't expect a team to fire a coach when he has his team in first place. I am not calling for his ass although if it were to happen I'd have a hard time
feeling upset.

 

[Bill the Pirate]

It was a great game by Scrivens last night and he is clearly a goalie of the future. Keep in mind one thing about this goaltending situation.. Scrivens may have been the best goalie in camp but he was sent down to the minors not because he deserved to go but because if we had sent Gustafson down then his trade value would have plummeted even worse that it was. The way it is happening right now he is once again becoming a trade-able commodity. At some point Burke will deal one of them (imho).

The same thing can be said of the log jam with defensemen, there is no way that Komisarek could be traded for anything but a bag of pucks had they sent him to the Marlies.

Now that both players are playing better maybe some team will be interested. Burke seems to be very good at finding gems under rocks, maybe it's time he let one go. With that thought in mind here is my fantasy deal........ Gustafson and Komisarek to CBJ for Rick Nash. even if we have to throw in Kadri.