NHL 2008-09 regular season thread!

[JustBob]

File your complaint with Damien Cox of The Toronto Star.

(or write your own article about stuff we don't already know)

You posted the ESPN article on the 23rd, that Damien Cox article is also from the 23rd. My point is that the info is the same.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Habs just beat Tampa in overtime 3-2. Wow! Two in a row! Who would have thought??

Looks like 'Go Habs Go' is about to come out of his hole & pay us a visit!

 

[GlavaMan]

Habs off season might be more interesting than in Leaf nation

This was posted in the sports section on terb today:


"I was speaking to a buddy who lives in Montreal and gave me some dirt on what's really wrong with the Habs. Hopefully someone else can verify these rumours.

Apprently Kostitsyn brothers involvement with the russian mafia has developed a big rift between a few players on the team.


Carey Price apparently is being investigated by the police for investing money with the russian mafia through the Kostitsyns and charges might be laid against him. He apparently was not aware where his investment money was really going. He has since pulled out all his investment money and has pissed off the Russian mafia. For his safety concerns he has hired a few bodyguards around the clock to protect him. Which explains why his play went down hill the last 2 to 3 months. Dodging bullets is bit harder than dodging pucks.

Kovalev, did not like Kostitsyns off ice activities and exchanged heated words with them at a montreal club which ended with a gun being pointed at Kovalev's head. This might explain why he was sent home by the team in February and missed 3 games.

Bottom line, there is a great chance that all 4 players might not be back with the habs next season."

 

[lgna69xxx]

Yea i think Price needs to get away to a new city and start over, im sure Toronto would gladly take him of Le Canadien's hands

 

[gohabsgo]

This was posted in the sports section on terb today:


"I was speaking to a buddy who lives in Montreal and gave me some dirt on what's really wrong with the Habs. Hopefully someone else can verify these rumours.

Apprently Kostitsyn brothers involvement with the russian mafia has developed a big rift between a few players on the team.


Carey Price apparently is being investigated by the police for investing money with the russian mafia through the Kostitsyns and charges might be laid against him. He apparently was not aware where his investment money was really going. He has since pulled out all his investment money and has pissed off the Russian mafia. For his safety concerns he has hired a few bodyguards around the clock to protect him. Which explains why his play went down hill the last 2 to 3 months. Dodging bullets is bit harder than dodging pucks.

Kovalev, did not like Kostitsyns off ice activities and exchanged heated words with them at a montreal club which ended with a gun being pointed at Kovalev's head. This might explain why he was sent home by the team in February and missed 3 games.

Bottom line, there is a great chance that all 4 players might not be back with the habs next season."

This is pure bullshit - dreamed up by bitter and jealous Maple Loser fans.

 

[G1GBallday]

With the Habs win last night the Leafs were once again mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in the month of March.

Unfortunately for Doc, that's not an April fool's joke.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs FINALLY mathematically eliminated!!!

With the Habs win last night the Leafs were once again mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in the month of March.

Unfortunately for Doc, that's not an April fool's joke.

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now i'm just hoping that they put Cujo or Pogge in nets until the end of the season and end up in the bottom six!!!!!!!!!!

Again, yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Everwood]

Yes lets hope he ends up in toronto or ottawa

Too bad the habs traded Ribeiro it would of been a nice face off




GO KNIGHTS GO

 

[JLB]

will the leafs make the playoffs in 2009-2010 ?

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now i'm just hoping that they put Cujo or Pogge in nets until the end of the season and end up in the bottom six!!!!!!!!!!

Again, yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the leafs look quite mediocre. what has to happen for them to have a good chance of making the playoffs in 2009-2010 ?

 

[lgna69xxx]

quite the opposite, right now there a .500 team, much better than they planned for this season and much better than most critics expected as well, and the last month they have progressivly gotten better, not great, took some steps backwards, but more forward, and with the young guys getting some playing time, it is a step FINALLY in the right direction, wait and see...... now if only the Leafs can land Tavares!

the leafs look quite mediocre. what has to happen for them to have a good chance of making the playoffs in 2009-2010 ?

 

[Doc Holliday]

the leafs look quite mediocre.

To my disappointment, the Leafs are far from mediocre. Since it was obvious from the start that they'd likely barely miss the playoffs, i had kind of hoped they'd tank the season & get a chance at drafting either Tavares or Hedman next June. However, once the injured players from the first half of the season returned to active duty, they've been one of the hottest teams since the all-star break....even better than the mighty Boston Bruins!

Brian Burke stated recently that without those injuries to key players & with decent & consistent goaltending, the Leafs likely would have been in the playoffs. A lot of credit goes to coach Ron Wilson, who did a masterful job running the team behind the bench.

The future looks very promising for these loveable Leafs.

 

[G1GBallday]

No, they have 32 wins against 45 losses.

In the Bizzaro World of hockey (Toronto) where the team loses when it should win and wins when it should lose, that is .500

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs sign highly-touted college prospect Tyler Bozak

Leafs agree to deal with Bozak

The Toronto Maple Leafs have agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with highly-touted college prospect Tyler Bozak, according to numerous reports.

As many as 20 teams, including all six from Canada, were interested in signing Bozak, a 23-year-old centre from Regina who recently completed his NCAA career with the University of Denver Pioneers. He was not selected in his NHL draft year.

Bozak had eight goals and 15 assists in 19 games with the Pioneers this season. He missed a number of games with a knee injury but returned for the start of the NCAA hockey tournament.

In 60 games over two seasons with Denver, Bozak had 26 goals and 31 assists. He’s been described as a strong two-way centre with good speed who is also adept in the faceoff circle.

Earlier this week, the Maple Leafs signed forward Christian Hanson to a two-year deal. Hanson, a 23-year-old from Venetia, Pa. who played with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, is the son of ‘Slap Shot’ star Dave Hanson.

He is expected to make his NHL debut tonight in Philadelphia.

The Leafs are also reportedly in the mix to sign Boston University defenceman Matt Gilroy, one of three finalists for the NCAA’s Hobey Baker Award. Gilroy, a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder from North Bellmore, N.Y. had eight goals and 28 assists for BU this season.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2009/04/03/8993656.html

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs coach picked to coach Team USA Olympics team

Wilson to coach Olympic team

Ron Wilson is expected to be named head coach of the U.S. Olympic hockey team on Monday, a source said.

USA Hockey will make an official announcement Monday morning during a conference call.

The 53-year-old Wilson coached the United States to a 1996 World Cup of Hockey upset victory over Team Canada. He's also coached the U.S. at the 1998 Olympics and 2004 World Cup of Hockey, as well as at the 1994 and 1996 IIHF world hockey championships, winning a bronze in '96.

Wilson was born in Windsor, Ontario, but has dual citizenship. He was named 27th head coach in Toronto Maple Leafs history last June after previous NHL coaching stops in San Jose, Washington and Anaheim.

Under Wilson this season, the rebuilding Leafs surprised most pr-season predictions of a last-place finish, though Toronto has missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

Wilson's general manager with Team USA is Brian Burke, who also works in that capacity for the Maple Leafs.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=4039017

 

[lgna69xxx]

The Burke Era

Now, the Burke ERA is into full effect, wait and see boys and girls, wait and see

Leafs agree to deal with Bozak

The Toronto Maple Leafs have agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with highly-touted college prospect Tyler Bozak, according to numerous reports.

As many as 20 teams, including all six from Canada, were interested in signing Bozak, a 23-year-old centre from Regina who recently completed his NCAA career with the University of Denver Pioneers. He was not selected in his NHL draft year.

Bozak had eight goals and 15 assists in 19 games with the Pioneers this season. He missed a number of games with a knee injury but returned for the start of the NCAA hockey tournament.

In 60 games over two seasons with Denver, Bozak had 26 goals and 31 assists. He’s been described as a strong two-way centre with good speed who is also adept in the faceoff circle.

Earlier this week, the Maple Leafs signed forward Christian Hanson to a two-year deal. Hanson, a 23-year-old from Venetia, Pa. who played with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, is the son of ‘Slap Shot’ star Dave Hanson.

He is expected to make his NHL debut tonight in Philadelphia.

The Leafs are also reportedly in the mix to sign Boston University defenceman Matt Gilroy, one of three finalists for the NCAA’s Hobey Baker Award. Gilroy, a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder from North Bellmore, N.Y. had eight goals and 28 assists for BU this season.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2009/04/03/8993656.html

 

[Doc Holliday]

Now, the Burke ERA is into full effect, wait and see boys and girls, wait and see

I agree. I haven't been so positive about a Leafs team since the days of Pat Burns!! On top of that, they're not even in the playoffs & i'm still upbeat! Strange!!

As you probably are quite aware of, this is the 2nd top prospect signing by Burke in less than a week, having signed highly-touted University of Notre-Dame (The Irish!) forward Chris Hanson last week. He's the one of former NHLer Dave Hanson, who played one of the Hanson brothers in the legendary movie "Slapshot". Hanson will play in his first NHL game tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers.

One more player for Burkie to sign is that kid from Boston, Matt Gilroy, whom every team in the league would want to sign to a contract.

I wonder if he'll use these top-prospects signings in order to tempt teams such as the NY Islanders, Colorado Avalance or Tampa Bay Lightning into trading their first pick in the upcoming entry draft to the Leafs, as part of a package. Either John Tavares or Victor Hedman would look great in a Leafs sweater. Burke has often been quite a mover-and-shaker in past drafts. The moves he made in order to obtain both of the Sedin twins a few years ago was classic! Hey, there's talk the twins might make Toronto their next destination....should be an interesting off-season.

 

[lgna69xxx]

i heard that rumor about the Sedin's about a month ago also...... indeed it will be a much different team next yr..... the NHL needs Toronto to be a winning city , it is great for hockey and i would not be surprised if somehow someway you see Taveras in TO! , i just hope that he doesnt become a sen, yuck

I agree. I haven't been so positive about a Leafs team since the days of Pat Burns!! On top of that, they're not even in the playoffs & i'm still upbeat! Strange!!

As you probably are quite aware of, this is the 2nd top prospect signing by Burke in less than a week, having signed highly-touted University of Notre-Dame (The Irish!) forward Chris Hanson last week. He's the one of former NHLer Dave Hanson, who played one of the Hanson brothers in the legendary movie "Slapshot". Hanson will play in his first NHL game tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers.

One more player for Burkie to sign is that kid from Boston, Matt Gilroy, whom every team in the league would want to sign to a contract.

I wonder if he'll use these top-prospects signings in order to tempt teams such as the NY Islanders, Colorado Avalance or Tampa Bay Lightning into trading their first pick in the upcoming entry draft to the Leafs, as part of a package. Either John Tavares or Victor Hedman would look great in a Leafs sweater. Burke has often been quite a mover-and-shaker in past drafts. The moves he made in order to obtain both of the Sedin twins a few years ago was classic! Hey, there's talk the twins might make Toronto their next destination....should be an interesting off-season.

 

[G1GBallday]

Better start preparing the parade now.

 

[lgna69xxx]

no need for that right now, but anythings possible.... heck its even possible that the once mighty Habs could win it all this year, BWHAHAHAHAHHAHA but then again, i believe in reality

Better start preparing the parade now.

 

[gohabsgo]

Laffs agree to deal with Bozak

Start engraving the Cup now! This guy will be at best a 3rd line checking centre and will have little or no real impact – will probably end up in the AHL. The real reason he signed with the Maple Losers is because he can start golfing early every year – the day after the regular season ends!