The Official LEAFS NATION Hockey thread

[Doc Holliday]

I agree that losing to the habs and red wings is shameful. I also agree that the re-signing of both Sedins may not be good for the future of the team. I've never been a big Sedins fan. Two talented, but very soft players with questionable heart. I can't see Vancouver ever winning a cup with both those two in the lineup and taking up a large chunk of the cap at the same time. And it's quite obvious that Luongo would rather be somewhere else than in Vancouver. Can't blame him, considering the way he's been treated over the past 2 years or so.

 

[Ballsamic]

Fragile player as in Markov ? It may have been a shortened season, but he played all 42 games. He is healthy and a workhorse.

 

[Doc Holliday]

For 'Breaking Bad' fans........

 

[Doc Holliday]

 

[joelcairo]

I agree that losing to the habs and red wings is shameful. I also agree that the re-signing of both Sedins may not be good for the future of the team. I've never been a big Sedins fan. Two talented, but very soft players with questionable heart. I can't see Vancouver ever winning a cup with both those two in the lineup and taking up a large chunk of the cap at the same time. And it's quite obvious that Luongo would rather be somewhere else than in Vancouver. Can't blame him, considering the way he's been treated over the past 2 years or so.

Give credit to the Nucks for avoiding shame on Saturday night - and to unhappy Roberto who still managed a shutout.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I agree with reverdy. But you can't win games when you spend nearly the entire game killing penalties. How many powerplays did Vancouver get? Twelve??

Losing Bolland for the next 40 games will be tough. Plus the fact Bozak is out until probably December.

 

[joelcairo]

Losing Bolland for the next 40 games will be tough. Plus the fact Bozak is out until probably December.

Yep, tough times are coming. All the lines will be donuts - no center.

 

[joelcairo]

Sad to say, but the Leafs had it coming. And the guys obviously didn't take the Canucks seriously - they probably believed that their adversaries would put up a pitiful display like the one they had against the Wings earlier this week.

Maybe the "pitiful display" had something to do with the fact that the Wings showed up for the game.

And maybe the Leafs SHOULD have "take(n) the Canucks seriously"...since they haven't beaten Vancouver in ten years!

Maybe they also should have been heeding Carlyle's advice: he's been giving that message all season long.

 

[lgna69xxx]

I totally agree! The Leafs needed this game to wake them the F' UP!

Sad to say, but the Leafs had it coming. Randy Carlyle had warned that they needed to improve how many shots they were taking vs how many they were allowing. And the guys obviously didn't take the Canucks seriously - they probably believed that their adversaries would put up a pitiful display like the one they had against the Wings earlier this week. If not for Reimer's brilliant goaltending, the outcome would have been far worse.

This welll-deserved kick in the bum willl keep them on their toes, ahead of their game next week against the Bruins.

 

[Doc Holliday]

PHANEUF CONTRACT QUESTION

by Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun

How much is too much for Dion Phaneuf?

That will be the question answered over the next several months and maybe sooner. Currently, the Leaf captain is the eighth highest paid defencemen (based on salary cap hit) in the NHL. And it's apparent he is not the eighth best defenceman in the league.

But he's not far from the top 10. You can make the case that Phaneuf is a step below Zdeno Chara, Ryan Suter, Duncan Keith, Shea Weber, Drew Doughty, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, PK Subban, Alex Pietrangelo and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

But after that, who would you take ahead of him? Not Dan Boyle. Not Jay Bouwmeester. Not Niklas Kronwall. Not the recovering Marc Staal. Not even the emerging Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

For all Toronto fans find missing with Phaneuf - he's not a terrific first pass defenceman, he can make poor decisions on ice, his footwork could be better - he is basically impossible to replace. Ideally a long-term deal at his current cap hit of $6.5 million is the right money for Phaneuf, but he will command more because of market circumstances. I can see a $42 million deal over six years and to do that, Phaneuf would be leaving money on the table that he would command in free agency.

Dion Phaneuf contract question

The Doc agrees with Mr. Simmons. Phaneuf has to be re-signed for the reasons listed, and in order to advance the current progress shown by the organization and the hockey team.

 

[Doc Holliday]

The loss last night couldn't have come at a better time. The team is now off until next Friday. Carlyle will run them at practice in order to make some much-needed improvements. The goalies have carried this team all season long & its time for the forwards and defence to step up, even though injuries are starting to hurt the team.

However, had they won last night's game, Carlyle would have had to be hard-pressed to change anything since his team would have been on a roll. After last night's game, he has every justification required to have tough practices, which i'm hoping the players will react constructively to.

With Bozak out until the end of November, and Bolland until late into the regular season, players such as David Clarkson & Nazem Kadri will have to step up their game in order to make up by the void left by those injuries.

 

[joelcairo]

I Cant wait to face the bruins when we are both rested.

Yes, it's ALWAYS nice to see the Bruins against the Leafs.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Great observation Rev, you totally nailed it.

I Cant wait to face the bruins when we are both rested........ I think the Bruins are more a rival for us than the habs cause the habs really dont have much these days as far as potential. They certainly are not looking like a playoff team this season.

 

[lgna69xxx]

I was reading some of Kathleens posts on TERB the other day....what a combo: smart, sexy and a hot looking lady and the fact shes a die hard Leafs fan! I might have to make the trip to TO this winter lol!

Thanks for posting Reverdy!

 

[Doc Holliday]

One of the most interesting opinions IMHO was provided a SP, who contributes regularly to the sports threads over there.

Is she the same one that was based out of Hamilton several years ago & posted many pics of herself in Leafs attire and often with Leaf players (that she met at team events) on her website? She was gorgeous!! If i remember correctly, she was in great shape & worked out at the gym a lot.

I was supposed to see her a few times, but something always came up.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Looks like Tyler Bozak will soon return to the lineup. This will be a welcome addition for the center-deprived Maple Leafs.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Personally i would love to see JVR continue to improve and take over full time as the big #1 centre we have coveted for years now. Kadri at #2 and Bozak at #3 where he really should be. He would be more rested for the penalty kill which he is very very good at and we could still use him some on the pp when needed. I know at 4 mil per you dont really want a guy playing on the 3rd line but with tons of PK mins and also some PP mins it might justifiy it more, plus we could roll out 3 scoring lines and he would still get 15-17 mins a game, worthy of 4 mil as A jack of all trades type of guy.

Looks like Tyler Bozak will soon return to the lineup. This will be a welcome addition for the center-deprived Maple Leafs.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Personally i would love to see JVR continue to improve and take over full time as the big #1 centre we have coveted for years now. Kadri at #2 and Bozak at #3 where he really should be.

Not me. I'd rather he go back to his right wing position, since i don't want to see Jay McClement wind up being a fixture on the 4th line once Bolland comes back. I want him on the 3rd line and see more icetime than the 4-5 minutes a 4th liner would be getting. Putting JVR at center might lead to people wanting him to stay there once Bolland has returned from injury, and then you'd have McClement being used as a 4th liner, which i don't want to see happen for the reasons i mentionned.

 

[gohabsgo]

Congrats to Clarkson for getting a point tonight - well, just an assist ... on pace for 0 goals and a -16 rating

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=5500

great signing for $5.25M !

 

[lgna69xxx]

Welcome back gSg........ the scabs must of won tonight, Bwhahahahaahahahaahahaah!

For the record, Love Clarkie and what he brings to the Leafs, BUT how IS that SCOTTY GOMEZ CONTRACT, signed by the awesome 5 YEAR PLAN of Boring Bob Gainey, working out.... in yr 6? or is it 7 now? :lol:

Habs Suck!