November Leafs discussions

[SDM]

If youre going by win/loss record, Leafs are 7th in the East with Phaneuf playing

Their goals against with him on the team is 3rd best in the league (he plays the most minutes.) So Im not sure what other metric you could use to measure his success.

His difficulty in performing routine plays troubles me. He was advertised as able to do this and more, and though he's playing heavy minutes, I don't see a correlation between his play and the team's (mediocre) performance. There's nothing he can do, besides these supposed intangibles fans can't attest to or verify, that isn't replaceable on the ice.

[hsb]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=340801

Desperate for offence and in the midst of a seven-game losing skid, the Toronto Maple Leafs have decided to give their top prospect Nazem Kadri a chance.

The club has called up the seventh overall selection in the 2009 draft along with defenseman Keith Aulie from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

The Maple Leafs have averaged 2.13 goals per game this season, including just nine in the last seven games. Only the struggling New Jersey Devils have scored less than Toronto this season.

[ablatt]

The Leafs should do what's best for Kadri's development, because he can't possibly have a huge impact on the team's win/loss record.

Kadri should play where it's best for him to grow and develop. Not brought up for some hope and prayer of more production.

[darth_federer]

This is a bad move. A panic move. I am disappointed in Burke.

[Blade_Runner]

This is a bad move. A panic move. I am disappointed in Burke.

Next thing you know he will be trading away a first round draft pi... oh...

[darth_federer]

One day last fall, Ron Wilson is walking through the underground labyrinth of tunnels that connect all of the major points in the city’s downtown when his cellphone rings. On the line is Scott Gordon, his assistant coach with the U.S. Olympic hockey team, and they begin talking about issues surrounding the coming Vancouver Whistler Games.

A shortish fellow in standard business attire walks by, sees a familiar face, and does a bit of a double-take. Then he walks up to Wilson, who is still talking, and hollers the following directly into his ear.

“You’re the worst [expletive] coach I’ve ever seen. You’re a [expletive] idiot.”

Then the man in the suit walks away, leaving Wilson standing there, with Gordon laughing on the other end of the line.

It doesn’t end there. Anyone who knows the way Wilson relishes the cut and thrust, understands that he likes to get the last word, can imagine what comes next.

He sprints through the tunnel – his antagonist has a 50-metre lead, but he quickly catches up – and stops him dead in his tracks.

“You said something back there. Now say it to my face.”

His critic is momentarily taken aback, but eventually summons his courage and repeats his critique, complete with f-bombs.

“How can you do that?” Wilson says. “I could have been talking to my wife, or my granddaughter. What do you do for a living? Do people come up to you at work and swear at you?

“You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to follow you all the way home and call you an idiot.”

Wilson does just that, or at least he does until the guy finally escapes into the subway. Point made. Perhaps.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/h ... le1797580/



What a guy

[Blade_Runner]

Not a good result tonight.

[Crowned]

Not a good result tonight.

Considering they outplayed (and deserved the win) against the 'Nucks, I disagree.

[darth_federer]

Agreed. It was a good step in the right direction and the Canucks were the hottest team in the league.

Rynass wins player of the week in the AHL for 3 terrific games...

[ghostinthepost]

Man Boston is going to be an amazing team

[YogiStewart]

Agreed. It was a good step in the right direction and the Canucks were the hottest team in the league.

Rynass wins player of the week in the AHL for 3 terrific games...

no, the right direction would be to trade Kaberle and D'Amigo to the Bruins for Wheeler and Toronto's 1st round pick.

good to see Rynass is lighting it up in the AHL. now only if the Leafs had a forward prospect or 3 that were stuffing the stats sheets.

anyone notice how well Stalberg's doing on Chicago? Looks like another bad trade by Burke.

[j127]

no, the right direction would be to trade Kaberle and D'Amigo to the Bruins for Wheeler and Toronto's 1st round pick.

If I'm Boston, I'm holding on to that draft pick as if my life depended on it. It could possibly turn into another top 5/6 pick.

I get daily laughs from reading the Toronto Maple Leafs message board (not this one though, but the official one). I love reading messages about how we won the Boston trade already since Kessel has more points than Seguin currently and that next year's draft pick will be crappy for Boston too. That's some nice logic there ( ), especially considering that Seguin is a fourth line C and Kessel is on the top line, that comparing Kessel's 5th season to Seguin's 1st season is highly unfair, that Kessel wasn't good in his rookie season (11 goals only; only 29 points in total), and we don't know what draft pick Boston will be getting from us next season. It could be top 3 or bottom 3, who knows?

That's not to say that we lost the trade, but that it's way too early to tell. I just wish we had our draft pick back

[J-Roc]

Exciting game tonight. Plenty of goals. And giveaways.

[darth_federer]

What a game! Hope it sparks a turnaround

[darth_federer]

Rynass has a .943 save percentage and is now ranked second in the AHL.

Yogi, Versteeg is a much better play than Stalberg. Hes had a couple of 20 goal seasons, hes good defensively and he blocks shots. 7 points in his last 7 games.

[hsb]

Versteeg is a solid addition.

8 goals in the last 2 games. Compared to 7 in the last 4.

[YogiStewart]

what are their salaries?

again, something a crap team has to look at when comparing virtual prospects

[ontnut]

Was at the game last night, and at 3-0, as well as 4-1, I said to people in my section that if they go up by 4, the chant switches to "Let's Fire Wilson clap clap clap clap clap", then somehow, we miraculously got a run of power plays and Wilson actually did some positive coaching (Versteeg on the point). We kept throwing pucks cross-ice (which is how they scored 2 goals iirc, one on a complete fan and one on a terrible cross-ice pass which didn't clear the zone, then we fanned on a nother cross-ice pass through the crease) so I thought we were screwed for sure. Then when we had that goal disallowed (which was BS), I thought we were screwed for sure. Then when Giguere got hurt, I thought we were screwed again. Then the Leafs really surprised me last night, from the second period onward. The problem is, as has been noted on tv/radio/internet all year long, coming out of the gates with energy is on the coach. The Leafs were skating like a friggin houseleague team the first period, no finished checks, no forecheck, no passing and no skating...prompting me and this other guy to shout out "You know hitting's allowed in this league!" That they turned it around and were completely dominant in the next 2 periods is nice to see, but I think Wilson's job is still largely on the line.

I think Versteeg is a solid addition. For a cap hit of $3million, I'll take him, though he obviously still has to adjust and improve to justify it completely - he does bring a lot of intangibles. Stalberg is expiring, so you'd probably have to base it off of whatever salary he makes next season to be fair, since he's on the rookie deal.

[Crowned]

Agreed. It was a good step in the right direction and the Canucks were the hottest team in the league.

Rynass wins player of the week in the AHL for 3 terrific games...

no, the right direction would be to trade Kaberle and D'Amigo to the Bruins for Wheeler and Toronto's 1st round pick.

good to see Rynass is lighting it up in the AHL. now only if the Leafs had a forward prospect or 3 that were stuffing the stats sheets.

anyone notice how well Stalberg's doing on Chicago? Looks like another bad trade by Burke.

That's a pretty random trade idea. You're implying that we should go in the 'right direction', but want to trade one of our best prospects? And, why do we want Wheeler? Why does Boston trade our pick for Kaberle? It doesn't make sense.

...and the Leafs DO have prospects stuffing stat sheets throughout the CHL.

[Crowned]

no, the right direction would be to trade Kaberle and D'Amigo to the Bruins for Wheeler and Toronto's 1st round pick.

If I'm Boston, I'm holding on to that draft pick as if my life depended on it. It could possibly turn into another top 5/6 pick.

I get daily laughs from reading the Toronto Maple Leafs message board (not this one though, but the official one). I love reading messages about how we won the Boston trade already since Kessel has more points than Seguin currently and that next year's draft pick will be crappy for Boston too. That's some nice logic there ( ), especially considering that Seguin is a fourth line C and Kessel is on the top line, that comparing Kessel's 5th season to Seguin's 1st season is highly unfair, that Kessel wasn't good in his rookie season (11 goals only; only 29 points in total), and we don't know what draft pick Boston will be getting from us next season. It could be top 3 or bottom 3, who knows?

That's not to say that we lost the trade, but that it's way too early to tell. I just wish we had our draft pick back

I'm still not making an comments regarding that trade. Nobody will know the outcome until year 4 of it, there's really no point in arguing who won the trade until Seguin/whoever they trade this year develops.