The Official LEAFS NATION Hockey thread
- Thread starter Doc Holliday
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Slightly off topic... but has anyone noticed how big Burke and Nonis are getting. Those 2 seem to be packing it on. Not sure if its the stress of running a flagship team or the big salaries they got and chowin' down all that great TO food. haha
There's rarely a way around a rebuild. Sometimes a GM can be pleasantly surprised there's a shortcut, but it generally takes 2full yrs of rebuild, 1 to transition to the new game plan on-ice and if you're lucky success late in yr3 or all of yr4 at best.
There's rarely a way around a rebuild. Sometimes a GM can be pleasantly surprised there's a shortcut, but it generally takes 2full yrs of rebuild, 1 to transition to the new game plan on-ice and if you're lucky success late in yr3 or all of yr4 at best.
It's because of a great restaurant/sportsbar that opened next to the ACC called "Realsports Bar and Grill". The food (and the staff) is absolutely incredible! The staff told my friend & I that Burke usually shows up on a daily basis.
There are exceptions & sometimes you need a bit of luck. Take the Philadelphia Flyers, for example. It took them one year to rebuild from being near the bottom of the overrall standings to suddenly being one goal from winning the Stanley Cup a year later. Which is why GM Paul Holmgrem was rewarded with a three-year contract today.
Ahhhhh you beat me to the punch on this one Doc! i was thinking the same thing when i read evilthings post, lol... That place is the coolest sports bar i have ever been to, the Place is wall to wall sports on over 200 tv's, plus the HUGE TV above the main bar, and even over every stall in the restroom! The ladies serving are all top notch gorgeous, and the food is actually Fantastic!, i can still taste those Bbq Baby Back Ribs that just fell off the bone, and those awesome chicken wings, oh yea, and everywhere you look, you see Leaf Fans! 
How come the habs dont have something like this? I am being serious with that question.
How come the habs dont have something like this? I am being serious with that question.
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Ah, that would explain Burke's growth spurt! haha
The Flyers... yes, yes... I think I have to give you boys that point! But I kinda felt Philly wasn't rebuilding, they were... OK ok, they did a 2yr rebuild, but it's rare. However, you have to admit that's clearly an example of a good GM stepping in and doing an efficient rebuild.
Remember, Bobby Clarke was bumped in fav of Paul Holmgren and Paulie was the one who cleaned house.
Bottomline, a good GM can rebuild quickly efficiently but it's still rare.
Depends on what assets he was left with, some GM's inherit ALOT of assets and a quick rebuild should be expected, some GM's inherit very very little assets, thus, it will take a little time, thats just the truth of the matter my friends.
If your habs had a place like Real Sports Bar and Grill in Montreal, you would be enjoying some of the best wings ever too!
Minor correction lg: they're not "my habs". I believe I might have mentioned a few hundred times that I'm a Red Wings fan. However I must admit that the Habs are certainly far better than the Leafs. If that makes me a Habs fan in your eyes, so be it.
But then I guess you'd also have to call me a fan of the Bruins, Hawks, Rangers, Lightning, Capitals, Penguins, Flyers, Stars, Flames, Canucks, etc., etc., etc....because there is a mighty LONG list of teams doing better than the Leafs.
Maybe you'd also have to call me a fan of the Devils, Islanders, and Oilers because even though they are not doing well this year, they have done way better than the Leafs in the last 3 decades (Devils 3 Cups, Islanders 4 Cups, Oilers 5 Cups, Leafs zero Cups in that span).
Okay, I guess you got me. You win. I admit it: I'm a fan of 29 of the 30 teams in the NHL.
if you were not a habs fan you would not get so upset everytime your called one, now move on and stir in the flame threads, this is for Leafs talk only without instigating.... GO LEAFS GO!
Great bounce back game by the Leafs tonight!
What a game by the Leafs tonight, 5-2 over the Ducks after a horrible 7-0 loss to the Rangers last night. This alone proves we have a Hungry, Talented, albeit Young team that fully is on the right track and is playing strong for coach Ron Wilson.
Dion "#3" Phaneuf is back to laying thunderous hits, like he did tonight, and playing good defense as a whole over the last month and he has stepped up his leadership role as well.
Mikhail "#84" Grabovski had 2 goals and now has 20 on the season (THANK YOU Montreal!) and Clark MacArthur another 3 points and seriously needs to either be signed to a extension or traded for some top notch talent in a package deal. Personally, i say sign him to a 2 yr, 4 to 5 million extension right now, and dont break up one of the best 2nd lines in the NHL this year, as of last week that line of Grabo/Khulie/Mac had more points than Alex Ovechkins line on the seaon, SIGN HIM NOW!
Kessel another good game with 2 points and man o' man, Tyler Bozak played a great 2 way game and has been coming on strong (speaking of "Strong", Colby Armstrong was great again tonight and living up to his contract, love that guy, what character!) the last 3 weeks...Jiggy was steady in goal, beating the team that traded him, and which he helped get a Stanley Cup for.
Overall a GREAT team effort to beat a very good Ducks team after a loss that most teams go thru once or twice in a season, and btw, a guy by the name of Bobby Ryan, who i wanted to come to the Leafs in the offseason, and was drafted 2nd overall in the year Crosby was #1 , was a minus 4 in the game. (I still love Bobby R, but just saying, it happens to great players once in awhile)
I Just read the Stats, and WOW, Tyler Bozak was 83% in the faceoff circle, Tyler is really been a stud the last few weeks, and he is doing everything in his power the last month to prove he can be a #1 or #2 Centre in the NHL... Keep it going Tyler.
What a game by the Leafs tonight, 5-2 over the Ducks after a horrible 7-0 loss to the Rangers last night. This alone proves we have a Hungry, Talented, albeit Young team that fully is on the right track and is playing strong for coach Ron Wilson.
Dion "#3" Phaneuf is back to laying thunderous hits, like he did tonight, and playing good defense as a whole over the last month and he has stepped up his leadership role as well.
Mikhail "#84" Grabovski had 2 goals and now has 20 on the season (THANK YOU Montreal!) and Clark MacArthur another 3 points and seriously needs to either be signed to a extension or traded for some top notch talent in a package deal. Personally, i say sign him to a 2 yr, 4 to 5 million extension right now, and dont break up one of the best 2nd lines in the NHL this year, as of last week that line of Grabo/Khulie/Mac had more points than Alex Ovechkins line on the seaon, SIGN HIM NOW!
Kessel another good game with 2 points and man o' man, Tyler Bozak played a great 2 way game and has been coming on strong (speaking of "Strong", Colby Armstrong was great again tonight and living up to his contract, love that guy, what character!) the last 3 weeks...Jiggy was steady in goal, beating the team that traded him, and which he helped get a Stanley Cup for.
Overall a GREAT team effort to beat a very good Ducks team after a loss that most teams go thru once or twice in a season, and btw, a guy by the name of Bobby Ryan, who i wanted to come to the Leafs in the offseason, and was drafted 2nd overall in the year Crosby was #1 , was a minus 4 in the game. (I still love Bobby R, but just saying, it happens to great players once in awhile)
I Just read the Stats, and WOW, Tyler Bozak was 83% in the faceoff circle, Tyler is really been a stud the last few weeks, and he is doing everything in his power the last month to prove he can be a #1 or #2 Centre in the NHL... Keep it going Tyler.
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I have to agree with you once again, Igna. The Leafs played a hell of a game & Jiggy was great between the pipes. He let in two so-so goals, but he came up big several times in key situations, the sign of what a great backstopper can do to his team.
Tyler Bozak might have played his best game as a Leaf. Did you see that thunderous bodycheck he laid out behind the Ducks net? The #1 line of Gravovski, McArthur and Kulemin once again was the best line on the ice for the Leafs.
The defence played quite well, led by captain Dion Phaneuf. Frankie Beauchemin played a very strong game as well.
One negative is having Colton Orr once again in the lineup. Considering the boneheaded penalties he took in the past couple of games, i'm out of answers on why Wilson doesn't make him sit for a couple of games to make him think more about playing a team game. I for one am getting a bit sick n' tired of all his unecessary 'staged' fights. I'm not alone.
All in all, it was a very good bounce-back win for Canada's team.
Oh yeah.....Ottawa lost again!
Tyler Bozak might have played his best game as a Leaf. Did you see that thunderous bodycheck he laid out behind the Ducks net? The #1 line of Gravovski, McArthur and Kulemin once again was the best line on the ice for the Leafs.
The defence played quite well, led by captain Dion Phaneuf. Frankie Beauchemin played a very strong game as well.
One negative is having Colton Orr once again in the lineup. Considering the boneheaded penalties he took in the past couple of games, i'm out of answers on why Wilson doesn't make him sit for a couple of games to make him think more about playing a team game. I for one am getting a bit sick n' tired of all his unecessary 'staged' fights. I'm not alone.
All in all, it was a very good bounce-back win for Canada's team.
Oh yeah.....Ottawa lost again!
Did any of you followed Dion as a Flame? Just wondering if you have noticed any big change in the guy's game as a Leaf. Once upon a time Phaneuf looked like the next Ray Bourque with a mean streak. These days he looks like Beauchemin, hits and defensively responsible but can't put up pts. Part of me still thinks that "sloppy seconds" incident has a little something to do with his downturn. It's a stretch...
Well, he plays the way he played with the Flames over the past 1-2 years. He's yet to regain the form he displayed as a rookie. But there's time....he's still a kid & defence is a position that takes a while to play efficiently. Just take P.K. Subban.....he was a hero last season, and now he's basically a goat, sitting out some games due to poor defensive (and boneheaded) play. But there's lots of time to bounce back & learn the position well. I'm convinced Subban will be a star in the league one day.
What might not be helping Phaneuf is the fact he was named captain soon after his arrival with the Leafs. The added pressure of this honor in a hockey-mad city like Toronto might not be to his benefit. What i'd do to improve his game?
1) Although it won't happen, i'd remove the 'C' & instead name him as an alternate (A).
2 Tell him to always shoot low. He has a knack to always shoot high & his shot is all over the place. He's probably trying to hard. He needs to focus, make sure he shoots a precise, low shot. Make him understand that a precise shot at 95 miles-an-hour is way better than a shot that's all over the place at 110 miles-an-hour. He also must learn to look at his target instead of always looking down at the ice while he's shooting.
3) His ice-time needs to be reduced to 20 minutes a game. Playing regularly 25 minutes a game tends to wear people down. Especially when they're constantly out killing penalties.
4) He needs to keep things simple. He's often caught out of position because of his one-man rushes up the ice. However, the coaching staff could be blamed for this one. He's probably being told to do this by his coaches. If not, they should do their jobs & tell him to be more of a a stay-home defenceman.
5) Finally, the most important thing i'd change if i were coaching him: He shoots left. He should playing left defense, not right defense. He's not alone on the team playing the wrong side of defense. This switch alone would do wonders to his game. It would also make it easier for him to receive passes when he's on the powerplay. Taking passes while on the backhand isn't how passes should be received & that's why he often winds up coughing up the puck.
Again, no logic. By the way, it should be "Au contraire", my unilingual friend.
Doc in the interest of brevity I quoted only the beginning of your post but I must say that the entire post was exactly correct. Great analysis!
Regardless of how well a goalie plays for the majority of a game, I don't believe he can be judged to have been great in that game if he let in two so-so goals.
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