Toronto Maple Leafs 2013/14 Season

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
51,360
9,953
113
Toronto
True, but I think the buds will score enough to win this one. Kessel has been on fire the last 3 games so I think he stays hot.
Curious to know how you have done betting on hockey in general and/or Leafs in particular this year. $$$
 

saxon

Well-known member
Dec 2, 2009
4,759
520
113
Curious to know how you have done betting on hockey in general and/or Leafs in particular this year. $$$
Lately they have cost me. I bet them every game during their recent 4 game losing streak. But earlier in the year when they were winning I won some. I actually do a lot better with college football and soccer.
 

smuddan

Well-known member
Mar 7, 2007
2,297
295
83
It's a mini streak now baby..lol
Three games, and 6pts is better certainly better then how things had been going.

Much better team game overall. Reimer didn't have he best night, but he hasn't see much action either. Franson continues to be both very soft, and turn over pucks. Found Gunner was rather soft too, and much of the Leafs defense was either being beat to loose pucks, or not taking bodies out. Gleason, Gardiner and especially Rielly were good though. Plus, loved the goal by Kulemin, that was a thing of beauty.

Enjoy the couple days of Leafs, seems all the right teams in a hunt for the WC are losing at the perfect time.
You're so right about Franson. It seems every game lately the Leafs have at least a goal or two scored on them because of stupid turn overs. They'd do that even against the worse teams in the league. Gleason has been very steady the last couple of games though.

Holland has been very good the last couple of games. I think putting him with two stronger players in Kulemin and Clarkspn help to raise his compete level. I look at the last couple of great goals scored by Kulemin and wonder why he doesnt shoot and score more; perhaps he should be given more offensive duties (like some powerplay time) to get him going. They may have a chance to develope some chemistry as a line. If they can get Raymond to play harder and better with Kadri and Lupul, they'll have three pretty good lines for the stretch run.
 

Ironhead

Son of the First Nation
Sep 13, 2008
7,014
0
36
Leafs win !

Defeat Bruins in Boston .... and the Referees also. Apparently the rules were no longer in effect in the final two minutes.


Bernier was great. Gleason looked good too.
Kessel helped with helpers. :thumb:
Bozak is really going good since coming off injury.


When Boston scored the third I though 'oh-oh here we go' but turned out ok. whew
There are some Leaf players I cannot wait to get rid of and it is getting more and more obvious everyday that those guys have no interest in paying the price.
Sure, here is a short list of Leafs I would move.
Franson ... 6'5", 215lbs plays way too soft. And when the Leafs got him I heard he had a good hard shot, I never see it.
Gunnarsson ... solid defensively, but far too easy to knock off the puck. No where near physical enough around the goal.
Raymond ... very soft player. Has disappeared at times this season. He does have 11 goals though.

Kadri ... still so young, I would hate to see another Alex Steen situation. I would move him if the right deal came along.
 

K Douglas

Half Man Half Amazing
Jan 5, 2005
27,216
7,852
113
Room 112
Sure, here is a short list of Leafs I would move.
Franson ... 6'5", 215lbs plays way too soft. And when the Leafs got him I heard he had a good hard shot, I never see it.
Gunnarsson ... solid defensively, but far too easy to knock off the puck. No where near physical enough around the goal.
Raymond ... very soft player. Has disappeared at times this season. He does have 11 goals though.

Kadri ... still so young, I would hate to see another Alex Steen situation. I would move him if the right deal came along.
Would it surprise you to know that Franson leads the NHL in hits with 176? I don't think that's playing soft. Gunnarsson, now that's soft. I wanna buy him a lifetime supply of Halls he coughs the puck up so much. Almost cost us the game against Jersey when he failed to get the puck out. Wonder why we give up so many late leads, no need to look further than Carl. In his defense his positioning has been better than previous years and his passing has improved (although it couldn't have gotten much worse).
I'd be happy to cut ties with Kadri but his recent contract signing limits our options.
Raymond has been a bonus for us, I can't complain. But yes he has faded since the start of the season.
 

whiteguy

Member
Mar 26, 2004
137
0
16
Hey Kathleen, I was at the game last night, and I did not know how much phanuff costs on the ice... I wondered why he doesn't skate as much as I thought he should have... Now Reilly, there is a skater... he seems to fly out there... Kadri did not look great last night, but he has heart... Gleeson looked decent, and JVR just keeps going hard right now... I think JVR is the team leader right now... Just going by attitude last night... Clarkson during last nights game, I would say even... That is from a non hockey person...

S
 

bullitt

Well-known member
Nov 7, 2005
1,294
101
63
I'm flat out shocked. But hits point to the offensive end of Franson which is actually positive. He hits, and leads team defensemen in points.

His downside, and the softness comes when he is defending. On a dump in, Franson tends to coast back or let the other team get possession of a loose puck. Instead of taking the body, he just fishes around for the puck. Another weak spot is protecting the net. When someone is smacking away at a loose puck, he is terrible at clearing out that person. That's an area for their size, Phaneuf and Franson should excel, yet neither do. Fraser used to be the best Leaf at clearing the net and I do have to concede to Bullit, that Fraser has all but vanished. Now it looks like Gleason is that person.

You can't expect Gardiner, Gunner or Rielly to be the physical presence, but Phaneuf, Franson and if they see time with the Leafs again Ranger and Fraser all need to be better clearing the net, and taking the body in corners.
your a smart girl Kathleen!
 

Butler1000

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2011
30,365
4,570
113
Four regulation wins since november 1st.

I'd like to remind everyone there is no shootout in the playoffs.......

Look at the records of the top teams in both conferences. If the Buds actually squeak in no way they even get to the third round.

I was a fan. Now I'm a critic. They don't have a playoff capable team. There will not be a cup.

Sorry kids.......
 

Ironhead

Son of the First Nation
Sep 13, 2008
7,014
0
36
Four regulation wins since november 1st.

I'd like to remind everyone there is no shootout in the playoffs.......

Look at the records of the top teams in both conferences. If the Buds actually squeak in no way they even get to the third round.

I was a fan. Now I'm a critic. They don't have a playoff capable team. There will not be a cup.

Sorry kids.......
This is the type of idiotic comment I despise. From this type of comment the only thing every Leaf hater/critic will get is a 'Leaf Fan' has/had thoughts of a Cup this 2014 Stanley Cup playoff.

No Cup for the Leafs this year Butler ? Thanks for pointing out the INCREDIBLY OBVIOUS !

As much of a Leaf fan as I am, I do not even expect one round win. I just expect another one and done six,seven game series.
 

Butler1000

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2011
30,365
4,570
113
This is the type of idiotic comment I despise. From this type of comment the only thing every Leaf hater/critic will get is a 'Leaf Fan' has/had thoughts of a Cup this 2014 Stanley Cup playoff.

No Cup for the Leafs this year Butler ? Thanks for pointing out the INCREDIBLY OBVIOUS !

As much of a Leaf fan as I am, I do not even expect one round win. I just expect another one and done six,seven game series.
Its this irrational anger at pointing out facts like the one I mentioned that shows I'm hitting a sore spot. I get this from friends as well. The fact is that this city has continually been denied a good team by bad management yet continue to support the team with their eyeballs and wallet. Hey I like the game too. But I've had enough of being a lemming. Of the what ifs. Of the could be's if only's. I mentions near the beginning of this thread these same sentiments. That I wouldn't come back to it until past the halfway point to either say it again or eat crow. They are in essence a sub .500 team. Barely saved in the point standings by a point for an overtime loss.

If they don't have a playoff ready team do they really deserve your support or your contempt?

They have my contempt. I want a winner. Built by good management. Until I see third round playoffs they are losers. Hell until they can truly even be above .500 in actual wins they are.

So I encourage the fans to rebel. To stop being lemmings. They scream "You are pointing out the obvious!". Yes I am.....so why don't they react to it too?

Peace out.
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
51,360
9,953
113
Toronto
Its this irrational anger at pointing out facts like the one I mentioned that shows I'm hitting a sore spot. I get this from friends as well. The fact is that this city has continually been denied a good team by bad management yet continue to support the team with their eyeballs and wallet. Hey I like the game too. But I've had enough of being a lemming. Of the what ifs. Of the could be's if only's. I mentions near the beginning of this thread these same sentiments. That I wouldn't come back to it until past the halfway point to either say it again or eat crow. They are in essence a sub .500 team. Barely saved in the point standings by a point for an overtime loss.

If they don't have a playoff ready team do they really deserve your support or your contempt?

They have my contempt. I want a winner. Built by good management. Until I see third round playoffs they are losers. Hell until they can truly even be above .500 in actual wins they are.

So I encourage the fans to rebel. To stop being lemmings. They scream "You are pointing out the obvious!". Yes I am.....so why don't they react to it too?

Peace out.
This whole line of reasoning, i.e. to rebel, is based on the premise that management/ownership doesn't give a shit about performance except at the box office and we need to teach them a lesson.

The team, as everyone knows, is creeping up to the 50 year mark since 1967. In that time, the team has had a handful of owners and dozens of management teams. Do you really think that every one of them has had the same philosophy of shitting on the fans, that none of them care about icing a winner? Anyone who thinks that is clued out. Sure there have been times when that was true (Ballard) and the team has used the passion of the market to raise ticket prices out of the range for the common man, but to think they don't want to build a winner as well is idiotic.

These guys are undoubtedly interested in maximizing profits. What is the best way to do that? Cut costs on players and development and the fans will come anyway? They are not that stupid, only the people who think that is their attitude.

If they are a money making machine now, just imagine how much more they could plunder the market if they had a dynasty, even a one time winner, let alone just an annual contender. Increased ticket prices, paraphernalia, media rights (Rogers/Bell are the owners now) and then parlaying that revenue into non-hockey investments (condos etc.). We can't begin to imagine how much they'd make with a winner.

The passion we have as fans pales in comparison to the passion they have for making money. To stop watching because you're tired of watching them lose is understandable. To boycott in an effort to teach management a lesson is, naive, stupid, moronic etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Forget
 

Ironhead

Son of the First Nation
Sep 13, 2008
7,014
0
36
Its this irrational anger at pointing out facts like the one I mentioned that shows I'm hitting a sore spot. I get this from friends as well. The fact is that this city has continually been denied a good team by bad management yet continue to support the team with their eyeballs and wallet. Hey I like the game too. But I've had enough of being a lemming. Of the what ifs. Of the could be's if only's. I mentions near the beginning of this thread these same sentiments. That I wouldn't come back to it until past the halfway point to either say it again or eat crow. They are in essence a sub .500 team. Barely saved in the point standings by a point for an overtime loss.

If they don't have a playoff ready team do they really deserve your support or your contempt?

They have my contempt. I want a winner. Built by good management. Until I see third round playoffs they are losers. Hell until they can truly even be above .500 in actual wins they are.

So I encourage the fans to rebel. To stop being lemmings. They scream "You are pointing out the obvious!". Yes I am.....so why don't they react to it too?

Peace out.
Here is a 'fan' who after making a stupid comment tries to comeback with calm, while attempting to make the other person look/seem ... what was the term 'irrational'.

So we have learned (you know none of us here in Leaf Nation knew this stuff so once again we must thank Butler) that the NHL does not have the shoot out in the playoffs and the Leafs are not likely to win the Cup this season. I know, I know, it is a shock. I was going to jeweller and personally make sure he spells Kessel correctly.
 
Hope the secondary scoring and elevated compete level the last few games are signs of better things to come. Kulemin really should still be capable of scoring 15 or 20. Legit two way players have to do more than check and he has the tools. Don't know if it's confidence or mismanagement. Carlyle doesn't always bring out the best in his players. Sometimes it seems he has tunnel vision, yet other nights, like his line shuffling against the Bruins, he does a savy job of adapting to the situation. Guess that kinda sums up the team as a whole this year - inconsistent.
 

Butler1000

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2011
30,365
4,570
113
Shack, sometimes people reach a point where the same old same old isn't enough anymore to keep their interest. They lost mine. In speaking to friends I see blind loyalty. Through ballard. Through stavros. Through the teachers.

You are correct in that now the owners are the big two media giants they will hopefully have a more vested interest in suppying a winner. I have a small kernel of hope for this. There interest is mainly driven by the need for content to help stop the bleeding of customers from cable. Its why they have gathered on to themselves all the sports in this city. And the leafs are crown jewel of that. Not just in Toronto. But across Canada.

Why is it so wrong to expect better of the most valued franchise? To question and be critical? And yes at some to say "come back to me when you are ready to take what in many ways is your civic responsibility to place a team on the ice with the potential to win"? That's all.

Is it so much to ask for a team that is .500 in regulation witha few overtime wins? That's all it would take to win really. Its anybody's series with those stats.

Is it so diffucult to not buy the Jersey? To turn the channel? To decry them on the boards? Try it sometime. Take a couple weeks off. See how you feel.
 

Butler1000

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2011
30,365
4,570
113
Here is a 'fan' who after making a stupid comment tries to comeback with calm, while attempting to make the other person look/seem ... what was the term 'irrational'.

So we have learned (you know none of us here in Leaf Nation knew this stuff so once again we must thank Butler) that the NHL does not have the shoot out in the playoffs and the Leafs are not likely to win the Cup this season. I know, I know, it is a shock. I was going to jeweller and personally make sure he spells Kessel correctly.
Discussing the minutae of the players and analysis of plays while cathartic doesn't solve the real issue with the team. Quite simply. I don't believe there is the will to win. I don't. Not from the management and that tricles down to the players.

In the end I don't believe they care...so why the hell should I give them my time?

Show me third round. Just make it. And I'll watch. Until then I will occasionally pop my nose into the sports app for the standings. And find better thing s to do. Like suggest to others they do the same.
 
Ashley Madison
Toronto Escorts