Leafs Regular Season Discussion

BobbyBoy · Post #321 » by **BobbyBoy** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:05 pm

Just wanted to keep the thread going... lol

big game for the leafs tonight. It feels like they keep losing, even though the monster and reimer have put in decent starts. Gotta sweep this home and home!!

kaulkhara15 · Post #322 » by **kaulkhara15** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:37 am

Nice game from Jonas.

Let's see if they can duplicate this performance tomorrow night.

leafsfan89 · Post #323 » by **leafsfan89** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:57 am

If the leafs win tomorrow, they will be 12 pts ahead of where they were at this point last year (heading into the all star break). I would call that a success, so far... but now begins the real push, leafs have to win these divisional matchups, these easy matchups, and not let points slip against conference teams and teams they are chasing or ahead of. The key is consistency, if they play consistent, i believe they will get a spot between 6th-8th. They can't have any in-game meltdowns/breakdowns where they let a team come from behind and tie the game to take it into OT or something. Those 3 pt games will hurt us badly. Oh, and with some help from other teams, it will get interesting down the stretch! Last couple of seasons, the leafs always tend to play better near the of the regular season whether it be from the all star point onwards (similar to last season). Or they usualy play better from late February/early March, when it becomes do or die almost every game. Best part of the hockey season is yet to start!

_venom_ · Post #324 » by **_venom_** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:52 pm

The Leafs playoff chances are pretty simple. They need to stay ahead of the 6 teams behind them (very doable) and then they need to catch one team ahead (very doable). I definitely see Florida dropping down in the standings. They've already started to slow down. I think Washington ends up winning the southeast and Florida will be the best target for the Leafs to catch. Either Florida or New Jersey. The playoff locks imo are Boston, NYR, Philly, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa.

Post #325 » by **Crowned** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:18 am

Lombardi has picked up his play over the last few games. He's got some serious speed.

Relentless88 · Post #326 » by **Relentless88** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:45 am

Grabo with a goal and 3 assists, and MacArthur with 2 goals. 2nd line was awesome tonight.

Also congrats to Jake Gardiner on his first NHL goal! Gardiner was great all night.

hsb · Post #327 » by **hsb** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:47 am

Leafs with the comeback, in a controversial game.

Post #328 » by **Crowned** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 4:45 am

Just watching Lupul this year is amazing. He has a hop in his step, uses his body really well, and knows where to put the puck. His confidence has allowed him to develop his offensive awareness a little bit. Both him and Kessel have a great chemistry, and putting a young center inbetween them would make them extremely dangerous.

Homer Jay · Post #329 » by **Homer Jay** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 3:57 pm

Crowned wrote:Just watching Lupul this year is amazing. He has a hop in his step, uses his body really well, and knows where to put the puck. His confidence has allowed him to develop his offensive awareness a little bit. Both him and Kessel have a great chemistry, and putting a young center inbetween them would make them extremely dangerous.

If we lock up a playoff spot with 4 or 5 games left, I hope they give Colbourne a shot there for a little stretch to see how he plays with them.

leafsfan89 · Post #330 » by **leafsfan89** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:46 am

Woo Kessel not picked last! Kind of a sigh of relief to be honest. I could care less who gets picked when really, but just happy don't have to hear about it for over and over again. They need to tinker the draft system, sportsnet anchors gave some good ideas. E.g. let the captains pick the all stars and something like you can't pick your own team mates i think it was.

But this year will be a little interesting even though all star games are just for show and all in good fun. Team Chara = Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal ... Team Alfie = Vancouver, Ottawa

its also got the vancouver vs boston rivalry mixed in it with alfie having all the canucks players and zero boston players.

Brew666 · Post #331 » by **Brew666** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 3:51 pm

The whole all-star draft thing is one big non-story for me. The only thing I found interesting was that Chara chose Lupul as his assistant captain. Definitely says something about Lupul's game if Chara sees him as that type of player.

I don't know why I subjected myself to Lang & Brady this morning, but I did. They were talking about the draft and how they would've liked to see teams mix it up a bit. T. Thomas on Alfie's team, Sens/'nucks on Chara's team. I'm pretty sure if the draft panned out that way, they would've preferred that lines be drawn and teams not to be mixed. Just the media hyping up things that don't really matter. The game is boring if you're an adult and I can't even remember the last time I watched the game.

whysoserious · Post #332 » by **whysoserious** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:46 am

On the subject of the All-Star game, they are trying to do all these gimmicky things to make it interesting. The All-Star game never had a problem being interesting during the 80's and 90's.

I say go back to the two conferences playing each other. Mandate that any player voted or selected must show up and play unless injured, suspended or players over 35 can opt out due to age if they've made an all-star appearance at least once before.

Also, the NHL guys it seems are just quite boring. When I watch the NBA at least there's guys dancing and entertaining the fans. They don't seem to make jokes or take advantage of taking shots at the opposing team. The NHL needs a few Shaq personalities to help sell the All-Star game. ( i did want to edit this to say Carey Price has been pretty entertaining with the mic on and i think PK Subban would be entertaining )

Also, I don't want to see home ice played for in the finals based on the All-Star game but they should do something. Partner with an Auto Manufacturer and give every player on the winning team a nice car. Even though these guys make a ton of money, you bet they wouldn't play a little harder to win if they winning team got BMW's or something.

whysoserious · Post #333 » by **whysoserious** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:53 am

They are trying to make the breakaway challenge like the dunk contest but it's just not working.

BobbyBoy · Post #334 » by **BobbyBoy** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:47 am

Patty kane sold the game pretty well. F all sens fans! Leafs gonna get Ruutu, I hope!

whysoserious · Post #335 » by **whysoserious** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:59 am

BobbyBoy wrote:Patty kane sold the game pretty well. F all sens fans! Leafs gonna get Ruutu, I hope!

Not that Ruutu ain't a good player and all, but I sure hope the Leafs are aiming higher than him.

leafsfan89 · Post #336 » by **leafsfan89** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:10 am

I'd love Ruutu on this team.. He seems to be a solid player and can develop into a 60+ point man on the leafs. He's having a I dont know who we would trade for him though but as long as its not overpaying. Ruutu can be a solid 2nd/3rd line winger i think.

And yea i hope leafs are aiming alot higher, and im talking "Number 1 Center" higher. But i dont think burkes got those assets to get an all star calibre first line center. Only way i see him acquiring one is overpaying by including a first rounder and a couple of young core players. And i dont know if that's the smartest thing to do.

whysoserious · Post #337 » by **whysoserious** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:56 pm

Is it just me also, but i don't remember guys moving in such slow motion to set up in spots for a play like this back in the day.

LLJ · Post #338 » by **LLJ** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:24 am

LOL, this made me chuckle:

Joffrey Lupul 2 (Assists: Tyler Seguin 1, Phil Kessel 2)

whysoserious · Post #339 » by **whysoserious** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:34 pm

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=386468

Bettman still supporting the shootout. I don't mind the shootout and I don't think a lot of people do overall. IMO, they need to stop awarding a single point to both teams that make it to overtime. It would simplify the standings so much, in fact you wouldn't even need points any more. Like all the other major sports it would a true W/L record.

BobbyBoy · Post #340 » by **BobbyBoy** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:40 pm

I would like ruutu, Ryan, Clowe, Clutterbuck, D.Brown, but its gonna take a lot to get at least 2 of those guys.