Quite an amazing streak the Leafs have going since Randy was canned:
1 - 8 - 1
Winless in the last 8
3 points of a possible 20
Shut out 3 times, held to just 1 goal a few more times. "Goals for - what are those?" ask the Leaf players.
"Tie Game" Bernier is wishing he COULD get a tie instead of all those losses.
In their latest loss, they were defeated 3-1...at HOME...by Arizona , one of the worst teams in the league (even fewer points than the Leafs).
The Leafs are now 23rd in the league (matching their final position last season)...but the 24th place team (Ottawa) has only 1 point less and has 3 games in hand. The 25th place team (Columbus) has 3 points less but has FOUR games in hand, Even the 26th place team (New Jersey) could soon catch the Leafs (4 points less, 2 games in hand).
"Thank you Mr. Burke." "Thank you Mr. Nonis."
I have my own suspicions on their downward spiral most especially in the standings. It is called 'Tanking'.
The NHL has a history of tanking, notably, the 1983-1984 Pittsburgh Penguins for the #1 pick in the 1984 draft.
The GM was Eddie Johnson and the head coach was Lou Angotti.
It has been noted that Angotti has since admitted it did happen though Johnson has not.
They tanked in order to secure Mario Lemieux as the #1 pick.
Pittsburgh Penguins weren't doing financially well at the time. The franchise was in serious trouble.
The leafs are in serious trouble but not financially. Example: Clarkson, Kessel and Phaneuf contracts ).
To have fans throw a team jersey on the ice is the ultimate insult to any team but yet the place is packed
though some in attendance wearing bags ( another form of insult ) and it continues with the player's lack of effort.
A team that believes in the saviour mentality, such as, Burke, Kessel, Phaneuf, Clarkson and even the possibility of
landing Mike Babcock, leads me to believe that they have sights on a new saviour in next years draft.
P.S The captain of the 1983-1984 Pittsburgh Penguins was none other than Randy Carlyle.