Leafs: October game thread discussion

Post #21 » by **Crowned** » Thu Oct 7, 2010 9:41 pm

So many question marks heading into the season...

- Can the PP click with Versteeg?
- Can we play reasonably well on the PK?
- Can we play a lick of defense?
- Can Grabs be a 2nd line center?
- Can Giguere be reliable?
- Can MacArthur be a 2nd line winger?

...if these things happen, we'll see a decent team. If not, we'll be handing the Bruins another top 5 pick.

Post #22 » by **j127** » Thu Oct 7, 2010 10:03 pm

If we can commit to defense and protecting our own end, we'll get into the playoffs. The goals will come from somewhere. I'm not worried about it at all.

Our horrible defence the past several seasons magnified how bad our goaltending was. I don't think Toskala is as bad as he is, but our defencemen sure made him look like a one-legged 90 year old. Better defence can take a lot of pressure off our goalie so that he doesn't have to be required to make spectacular saves always.

J-Roc · Post #23 » by **J-Roc** » Thu Oct 7, 2010 11:38 pm

Who dat? Tim Brent? BOOOYAAAAA

hsb · Post #24 » by **hsb** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 12:14 am

Game One.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmsyZn3oyjQ[/youtube]

Glad to see Leafs with the first goal and Kessel as well. Supposedly Kaberle is playing great too.

J-Roc · Post #25 » by **J-Roc** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 12:20 am

Kaberle was looking smooth out there. Montreal looks so......meh.

J-Roc · Post #26 » by **J-Roc** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 12:22 am

Seen a couple of big rebounds from Giggy,. That's not his game.

hsb · Post #27 » by **hsb** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 1:04 am

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockeyn ... ada/idesk/ - Internet feed.

Maple Leaf Square comes out nice on camera, especially with the crowds.

Post #28 » by **j127** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 1:44 am

Based on our performance, if we can keep up this tempo all season, I think we either make the playoffs or we don't. It all boils down to that.

hsb · Post #29 » by **hsb** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 1:57 am

Leafs with the win. Making top 8 in the East will be harder this year, not sure the Leafs have enough talent to be part of that group.

Next game is on Saturday versus Ottawa.

sh00n · Post #30 » by **sh00n** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 2:01 am

Good game dudes. Giggy was in serious 2003 Mode tonight. I still think he's a much better goalie than the supposed Monster.

J-Roc · Post #31 » by **J-Roc** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 2:09 am

We won because Montreal sucks. But a win is a win, and beating a division rival at your arena is what you have to do. Good work.

Post #32 » by **darth_federer** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 2:19 am

Giggy was amazing at the end. Gunnarson and Komisarek were pretty bad. Im pretty sure Komisarek didnt play most of the 3rd period.

Nice game!

Post #33 » by **bryant08** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 3:01 am

darth_federer wrote:Giggy was amazing at the end. Gunnarson and Komisarek were pretty bad. Im pretty sure Komisarek didnt play most of the 3rd period.

Nice game!

IMO Gunnarson was brutal and both Komisarek/Schenn were below par today. Really big showing from Kessel in terms of continuing with what we saw in preseason in his ability to make an impact every shift rather than the Kessel of late last year who would fade in and out of entire games. Phaneuf played very well today IMO and Kaberle looked pretty solid. Up front the Sjostrom-Brent-Armstrong line did some solid defensive work and Macarthur showed some nice speed and some skill on that goal.

Giggy did EXACTLY what we need him to do for us all season. He played his solid positional game and made saves when we needed them to close out this game.

From the Habs perspective, I thought Dustin Boyd and Lars Eller came to play today and Gionta played pretty well too.

J Dilla · Post #34 » by **J Dilla** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 3:04 am

Can't believe the **** treatment Kaberle's getting from the Leafs management. Losing the A from his jersey and all. Couldn't Burke be more classy with his best defenceman?

Post #35 » by **bryant08** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 3:26 am

J Dilla wrote:Can't believe the **** treatment Kaberle's getting from the Leafs management. Losing the A from his jersey and all. Couldn't Burke be more classy with his best defenceman?

I have no idea why they would take the A away from the guy.

Post #36 » by **darth_federer** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 3:37 am

Thats an easy one. Hes not a real leader. Hes very quiet and it was almost a default thing to give it to him. I think Kaberle is a classy guy and its obvious the fans appreciate him (got the second largest ovation in the pre-game ceremony), but this is a non issue.

Post #37 » by **bryant08** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 3:47 am

darth_federer wrote:Thats an easy one. Hes not a real leader. Hes very quiet and it was almost a default thing to give it to him. I think Kaberle is a classy guy and its obvious the fans appreciate him (got the second largest ovation in the pre-game ceremony), but this is a non issue.

Here's a guy who has WANTED to be a part of the organization despite all the BS we've put him through (right up until his dad came out with that statement which he denied). He's the last remaining Leaf to taste any success with the team in the playoffs and sure he isn't a vocal leader, but he leads with his play on the ice. We've already got an outspoken captain, I don't see the need to remove the A from a player as loyal and as skilled as Tomas Kaberle. Kaberle did take it well though, so I will agree that it's pretty much a non-issue and is something I'm likely blowing out of proportion:

"They're great leaders in this room and he said if something comes up, I'm the next guy," said Kaberle. "It's not about who's wearing the 'A" or the 'C' in this dressing room; everybody is a leader themselves."

J Dilla · Post #38 » by **J Dilla** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 4:10 am

My question remains, why the hell do they want to get rid of the guy? Is it because he's not Burke's guy? I'll take a puck moving defenceman over a stay at home defencemen the Leafs are filled with anyday. I mean, Burke tried filling the team with "tough" defencemen, and the team still sucked ass on defence last year. IMO you need more offensive minded players to survive in the post lockout NHL.

Phanuef, Komisarek haven't done **** to receive their titles. I like Dion, but giving him that kind of role was premature, specially when most people think he's on a serious decline from here on.

sh00n · Post #39 » by **sh00n** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 4:32 am

J-Roc wrote:We won because Montreal sucks. But a win is a win, and beating a division rival at your arena is what you have to do. Good work.

Or because we were missing Cammalleri, Markov and Hamrlik? Just maybe? :lol:

I was really disappointed with Gunnarsson though. I thought he was really underrated for you guys last year and he looked like **** on skates tonight. Komo did too but that's nothing new. Ever since Lucic beat his ass he hasn't been the same player.

As for Kaberle, I've already stated my opinion on him a few times on this board. He's the best player on the Leafs and should've been the guy to get the C. When you compare his value to the amount he actually makes salary wise, he's one of the biggest steals in the NHL.

J-Roc · Post #40 » by **J-Roc** » Fri Oct 8, 2010 11:18 am

sh00n wrote:
J-Roc wrote:We won because Montreal sucks. But a win is a win, and beating a division rival at your arena is what you have to do. Good work.

Or because we were missing Cammalleri, Markov and Hamrlik? Just maybe?

I was really disappointed with Gunnarsson though. I thought he was really underrated for you guys last year and he looked like **** on skates tonight. Komo did too but that's nothing new. Ever since Lucic beat his ass he hasn't been the same player.

As for Kaberle, I've already stated my opinion on him a few times on this board. He's the best player on the Leafs and should've been the guy to get the C. When you compare his value to the amount he actually makes salary wise, he's one of the biggest steals in the NHL.

Hamrlik, lol

Maybe you need to go to the Montreal board. :lol:

And they couldn't make Kaberle the C because he won't be around long. Leaf C means something longterm (I hope Phaneuf doesn't stink up the joint). But taking away the A from Kaberle?? Unnecessary diss by management. The A doesn't even mean anything.

And it would look more silly if Kaberle outplayed the C and two A's. lol