Leafs

[Jordan 13]

Come on, I can take it, honestly I can...let's hear what is wrong with my beloved Leafs!

[cbj05 0]

Nothing's wrong. MLSE is still making money.

[k-ody.m 0]

do the leafs have a 1st round draft pick this year or was it involved in the andrew raycroft trade?

[wullymc 0]

The fans! ...poor Leafs there is too much pressure for the players. The Leafs get ripped no matter what they do. They need to go back to basic hockey....keep it simple. The forwards need to support their defense better. I don't think they will make the playoffs.

[k-ody.m 0]

Do they have a draft pick this year or has it already been traded?

[mack 44]

Of course they have a draft pick this year; they didn't Ditka all their picks to another team last year.

[mack 44]

I think there's a curse on any tendy they bring in. They could get Hank from the Rangers in there and he'd look like he was playing the Devils.

Other than that it's the same old story: no significant talent around one great player, though Antropov is playing balls-out this year.

McCabe is still the worst "marquee" defenceman ever.

[QandA 0]

JFJ goodbye chants? I think so...

[k-ody.m 0]

wel my dad said it was part of the raycroft trade, but i thought that was lil steep for a crappy goalie. A top rated goalie prospect and a first rounder! so i had to check thanks.

[djinferno 2]

its getting ugly in leaf land, someone will fall for this

[Leafsrok 0]

everyone would just love to blame the goaltending for alll our problems, but its clearly the D no matter what way you look at it. Kabrale can be an all star calibre defenseman when hes at his best, which he clearly isnt this year Cabers always been junk even when he was "good" or "all star material". the leafs have to keep the puck out of their own net first, itll find its way into the other teams if they just wait for chances to come to them, not turn the puck over at their own blue line (*cough* McCabe *cough*) and play sound devensively

[Leafsrok 0]

you do realize there's what? 7 rounds to a draft...

so that means you have 7 picks unless you trade, aquire a restricted fa through offer sheet etc etc

[TheBert 0]

Eh. They're playing about up to their potential.

[k-ody.m 0]

i ment first round haha sorry didnt relize i just said draft pick oops my bad

[mack 44]

Off the top of my head I think they have one next year. If I remember, it was dealt to the Sharks and the Sharks could have either used it this year or next and they took it this year.

If the Leafs were smart with personnel--and they're not--they would trade Sundin now rather than at the deadline to assure themselves of an even better pick. No sense keeping him around only to be an at-best middle of the pack team.

[k-ody.m 0]

so they do have on in the upcoming draft?

or by next year you mean 09?

and yea sundin should be traded along with kubina and mccabe

and get some picks because it a strong draft this year maybe get some up coming prospects and JFJ should be fired ASAP!

[mack 44]

By "next year" I mean June '08.

Kubina and McCabe should be moved but probably won't. They can talk about McCabe's no movement clause but no one's going to trade for him unless Toronto eats up most of that contract. As a Sundin fan, I'd like to see him Bourque'd off to some team for a shot.

[k-ody.m 0]

yea yea it not far he has to suffer and waste his potential for 60-100 points on a team like toronto when he could be moved to a team like columbus or chicago where they need one or two more scoring forwards and in chicago's case some vetran leadership to become a pretty solid contender, but that why were not makeing ... Million a year to make crappy trades for toronto i guess

[echi24 1]

being from Toronto and watching the way Sundin handles himself on a daily basis, he seems like the kind of person who would rather stay in toronto to finish his career. that said he deserves a shot at the cup and the leafs aren't going to contend anytime soon.

[mack 44]

That's my thinking too, that he'll ride it out with Toronto. Loyal, dumb as hell to do, but loyal. I would hope he's doing that for the city/people rather than the franchise itself since they've never given him talent to work with.

[echi24 1]

they were playing well defensively up until tonight. in general the defense (mccabe included) were doing fine, and if anything kaberle has been having an off year. however they are prone to about 1 significant defensive error that usually costs them the game. neither goalie has stepped it up, toskala was playing better in the games leading up to tonight but still gave up about 1 soft goal per game. sundin and antropov are the only forwards producing, blake and bell havent scored all year it seems. their 4th line should be in the minors. its time to rebuild, the management needs to swallow their pride.

[k-ody.m 0]

i am from right near toronto to and for sure he will if its up to him, but they need to not let it be up 2 him. sure he has a no trade clause but i am sure if there is a trade thet he see;s will help the future of this club he would wave it and come back in the summer hes loyal but not stupid.

[mack 44]

As much as I hate on and call him horrible (which he is, no doubt) McCabe's definitely not the only one playing pisspoor on the blueline. Kaberle was a -4 tonight (to McCabe's -3) but McCabe's just become too much of a liability it would seem. I remember when he was more on the defencive-minded side of things coming into the league but now he's just hapless.

[hahaimhenry 0]

I'd start the rebuilding process now if anything. Props to Sundin for a good scoring year but for the franchise, it doesn't look too bright

[kosydar 0]

The Leafs just aren't a tough team to play against. Back in the Quinn-era, they would wear down teams with physical play. Our third and fourth lines, the guys who should be grinding are Downy soft. Pohl, Bates, Stajan, Steen, Devereaux are incapable of hitting someone. We have no shutdown line which is effective against anybody halfway decent. Our defense suck, but I don't think individually they are that bad. Kaberle hasn't been Kaberle, but he is still a very good defenseman. Kubina has been actually really good this year I think. McCabe's bad games are terrible, but he can still have good games. Gill is good in a limited capacity, but I certainly wouldn't get rid of him. White isn't great, but I'm not much of a fan. Woz needs a one way ticket to Marlies. Say what you want about Tucker and Bell not producing, but they look like the two forwards besides Sundin who actually care. They're always willing to mix it up, as shown by their fights tonight. You can tell they take losses to heart. I hate to jump on the Cherry bandwagon, but his clip of Poni today after the fight was disgusting. The lack of passion and heart kills this team.