Leafs

[cxo 0]

Anyone who simply plays all the games is automatically more productive than Forsberg.

I doubt the Carter deal will go through. Carter is an up and comer for Philly, probably will be a solid 30 goal getter, and is best friends with Mike Richards, it would just screw the whole team up if he was traded. Some time the best thing for a team to do (excluding the Leafs) is to make as little changes as possible, and let the team bond so to say, especially a solid playoff contender like Philly.

P.S. Mack, why do you hate the Wings so much??

I'm a Leafs fan, not that there's a real rivalry but still, and the only Red Wings I could ever see myself rooting for were Vlad, Lidstrom and Yzerman. Piss on the rest of them.

No Ciccarelli or Coffey? Granted they weren't Red Wings lifers of course.

[mack 44]

Nope, neither of those guys. It was cemented during the '95 Finals when Stevens pretty much neutered Ciccarelli.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

BTW, Antropov is toast for a few games. He got two game misconducts for throwing his stick at the refs following last nights game.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Suspended 3 games, and it's slowly gone from throwing his stick to "clapping his stick in the direction of the officials".

[kosydar 0]

Obviously biased, but it looked like Antro wasn't throwing his stick at the refs, but the ref started skating that direction during his motion. Still, can't really argue that call that much.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Obviously biased, but it looked like Antro wasn't throwing his stick at the refs, but the ref started skating that direction during his motion. Still, can't really argue that call that much.

The 2 look backs as he is skating off is like "Oh Shit...this won't end well"

[Dean_ 0]

In Antropovs defense that was a very weak call espicially in ot.

[Leafsrok 0]

Obviously biased, but it looked like Antro wasn't throwing his stick at the refs, but the ref started skating that direction during his motion. Still, can't really argue that call that much.

thanks for the great video kosy. im not so sure he really threw it AT the officials, he just threw it. if hed thrown it the other way, he wouldve hit someone from his own team, and if the threw it another way, he wouldve hit one of the Canes.

[QandA 0]

Three games for that, but 1-2 games for season ending head shots, or head shots leading to injuries. Protect the refs, they mean more to the NHL than the players.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

it's something that's in the rule book 3 games, automatic. If you dont protect the referees, you'll have lack of respect for them, which could easily cause a game to spiral out of control.

That said, I don't disagree that dirty and reckless plays aren't properly penalized by the League. It's just not something that should be compared IMO.

[mrusse01 0]

8-0 anyone?

Yikes...and to think I almost had tickets for that game.

I really like Maurice, but seriously when your team loses 3 games already this season by SIX OR MORE goals, they've given up on you. He's gotta go.

If anyone is a stat hound here I'd love to know how many games Detroit has lost by 6 or more goals in the last ten years...I can't believe it's more than a five or so.

[Theo 1]

8-0 anyone?

Yikes...and to think I almost had tickets for that game.

I really like Maurice, but seriously when your team loses 3 games already this season by SIX OR MORE goals, they've given up on you. He's gotta go.

If anyone is a stat hound here I'd love to know how many games Detroit has lost by 6 or more goals in the last ten years...I can't believe it's more than a five or so.

Who's next in line to take the blame then?

[kosydar 0]

Its not like the blame is to be placed all on one person. JFJ assembled a team this year that didn't work out, and the contracts he signed handcuffed the team from making any short-term moves. Maurice (as much as everyone seems to like him) doesn't prepare his team well, motivate them well, or something. Like it was said, 8-0 reflects on the coaches as well as the players. I don't think Maurice ever found the team "identity" he was looking for for two months. Finally, you can't not blame the players. Whether its them not playing as a team, not trying hard enough, not fitting in, or not buying into Maurice's coaching style, they've still got to be held responsible.

[mrusse01 0]

Everyone has to be held responsible, but really at what point do you say 'this coach just isn't working'?

Really, if Maurice wasn't such a likeable guy who wore his heart on his sleeve every night you don't think his ass would have been fired out of here about 2 months ago?

If Quinn were still the coach I think the local media would have spontaneously combusted by now calling for his head, but you don't hear a peep about Maurice.

[kosydar 0]

A Quinn team wouldn't roll over and die like this group has. Say what you want about Maurice being a good guy and everything (even I don't want him fired and I know he is a major reason the Leafs suck), Pat Quinn being a dick got results. Quinn teams also had that level of toughness and fight in them that I've yet to see from a Maurice team. It goes beyond who is out there, too. Quinn would dress Belak most games, wouldn't let Tucker play a softer role (even if that meant benching him), fringe softies like Pohl, Gamache, Wellwood (this season) all wouldn't play. I hate to say it, but I really miss Quinn.

[cbj05 0]

Yikes...and to think I almost had tickets for that game.

Had tickets, and sold them last minute for well over face value.

I love it when the Leafs fail. The only people stupider than the people in the Leaf organization are the Leaf "fans".

[mrusse01 0]

Yikes...and to think I almost had tickets for that game.

Had tickets, and sold them last minute for well over face value.

I love it when the Leafs fail. The only people stupider than the people in the Leaf organization are the Leaf "fans".

What's so stupid about Leaf fans?

People bitch and moan because we always support the team through thick and thin, but isn't that the point of a FAN? It sickens me to see the fucking bandwagoneers emerge from the floorboards whenever a team gets hot.

I'm a Leafs fan, first, last, and always. People ask me who my second favourite team is? I only have one favourite team. People ask who I'm cheering for in the playoffs beacuse the Leafs aren't it in? I'm still cheering for the Leafs.

[mack 44]

Wow, getting chirps from a Bluejackets fan. How's their playoff record anyway?

[Karly14 21]

Yikes...and to think I almost had tickets for that game.

Had tickets, and sold them last minute for well over face value.

I love it when the Leafs fail. The only people stupider than the people in the Leaf organization are the Leaf "fans".

What's so stupid about Leaf fans?

People bitch and moan because we always support the team through thick and thin, but isn't that the point of a FAN? It sickens me to see the fucking bandwagoneers emerge from the floorboards whenever a team gets hot.

I'm a Leafs fan, first, last, and always. People ask me who my second favourite team is? I only have one favourite team. People ask who I'm cheering for in the playoffs beacuse the Leafs aren't it in? I'm still cheering for the Leafs.

I don't like to use the term 'hero' very often but...

The Leafs just don't have the roster to be consistently good, I hardly blame Maurice. They need to rebuild and I think they've recognized that.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Maurice is one of many reasons, but he is easily the biggest one.

You don't spend 15 mill on a top 3 defense to have them play run and gun hockey based around low percentage plays. When you add a first line player in Blake and upgrade your goaltending, by a significant margin, you cannot afford to regress. Antro, Sundin and Blake are all first line NHLers, yet the Leafs can't ice a decent first line. Tucker and Welly's games have gone to hell. Steen, Stajan, Cola and White have all faltered huge under PM, and the scary part is they play well in a certain situation, only to have PM change it a game or so later. TSN's talking heads were commenting in his defensive systems and how it's not a coincidence no other NHL Team uses anything similar. He took a top 5 PP, on the rise and destroyed it. Everything he has done here has been a failure. The youth is regressing, the vets are declining, the mid-age players have also taken steps back. The special teams are awful and the goal tending stats suffer due to a lack of team defense. The coach is doing a very poor job in Toronto. With a better coach, they are a playoff team.

[kosydar 0]

I believe him when he said this is the most talent group he has ever coached. Problem is, he doesn't know how to use talent. Look at Steen. He is a first rounder, has shown flashes of offensive brilliance, yet was up until recently put in a defensive role. When he was put on the first line for five or six games he was a point per game player. I don't blame him for Tucker, Welly, and Stajan though. Tucker is hurt and trying to play through it. That being said, he isn't good at that. Welly is too afraid of getting hurt out there it seems like. Stajan hasn't showed the offensive ceiling that Steen has, and I like him in a defensive role.

[cbj05 0]

The only people stupider than the people in the Leaf organization are the Leaf "fans".

What's so stupid about Leaf fans?

People bitch and moan because we always support the team through thick and thin, but isn't that the point of a FAN? It sickens me to see the fucking bandwagoneers emerge from the floorboards whenever a team gets hot.

I'm a Leafs fan, first, last, and always. People ask me who my second favourite team is? I only have one favourite team. People ask who I'm cheering for in the playoffs beacuse the Leafs aren't it in? I'm still cheering for the Leafs.

But mrusse, you're not the "fan" I was talking about. I should have explained myself better, and I already put "fan" in quotation marks. For all the reasons you stated, you're a real, genuine Leafs fan, and I don't question you. I just don't like your team and some of your fans, but that's part of watching professional sports.

Now the bandwagoners are the type of "fan" I am talking about. There are many other examples, but discussing them here is really not worth my time. I'm hoping you agree with me that there are too many of these people around here, and that they are the reason why I can't stand the leafs.

Wow, getting chirps from a Bluejackets fan. How's their playoff record anyway?

We're undefeated. :P

[mack 44]

I simply can't argue that. And they're going to make the playoffs before the Leafs ever will again, so double whammy on the Leaf fans.

[mrusse01 0]

The only people stupider than the people in the Leaf organization are the Leaf "fans".

What's so stupid about Leaf fans?

People bitch and moan because we always support the team through thick and thin, but isn't that the point of a FAN? It sickens me to see the fucking bandwagoneers emerge from the floorboards whenever a team gets hot.

I'm a Leafs fan, first, last, and always. People ask me who my second favourite team is? I only have one favourite team. People ask who I'm cheering for in the playoffs beacuse the Leafs aren't it in? I'm still cheering for the Leafs.

But mrusse, you're not the "fan" I was talking about. I should have explained myself better, and I already put "fan" in quotation marks. For all the reasons you stated, you're a real, genuine Leafs fan, and I don't question you. I just don't like your team and some of your fans, but that's part of watching professional sports.

Now the bandwagoners are the type of "fan" I am talking about. There are many other examples, but discussing them here is really not worth my time. I'm hoping you agree with me that there are too many of these people around here, and that they are the reason why I can't stand the leafs.

Well said, apologies for jumping down your throat a bit. Us Leaf fans are a little grumpy these days.

[Law Goalie 147]

Maurice is one of many reasons, but he is easily the biggest one.

You don't spend 15 mill on a top 3 defense to have them play run and gun hockey based around low percentage plays. When you add a first line player in Blake and upgrade your goaltending, by a significant margin, you cannot afford to regress. Antro, Sundin and Blake are all first line NHLers, yet the Leafs can't ice a decent first line. Tucker and Welly's games have gone to hell. Steen, Stajan, Cola and White have all faltered huge under PM, and the scary part is they play well in a certain situation, only to have PM change it a game or so later. TSN's talking heads were commenting in his defensive systems and how it's not a coincidence no other NHL Team uses anything similar. He took a top 5 PP, on the rise and destroyed it. Everything he has done here has been a failure. The youth is regressing, the vets are declining, the mid-age players have also taken steps back. The special teams are awful and the goal tending stats suffer due to a lack of team defense. The coach is doing a very poor job in Toronto. With a better coach, they are a playoff team.

To be fair, I'm still not sure it's fair to call Blake a first-line player.

That said, I've heard some very interesting things about the way Maurice runs his practices., and why that might be contributing substantially to their solid-on-paper, terrible-in-game ways. I don't really know enough to comment further, but it was an implicit conclusion of some recent league-wide fitness testing, in which the Leafs produced some very odd results.