Mirage Escort
Montreal Escorts

The Official LEAFS NATION Hockey thread

lgna69xxx

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
10,414
11
0
november,

She already got the job from what i understand in the Kessel/Howe clip. Another GREAT signing since Shanny Arrived! That Shanny was a decent player but proving to be an Excellent Executive!
 

lgna69xxx

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
10,414
11
0
Doc, I hope we run into her at a game like we did Monika! To hell with Phil, i think i am in love

[video=youtube;wQg9pWU4GiE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQg9pWU4GiE[/video]
 

anon_vlad

Well-Known Member
Apr 29, 2004
1,551
526
113
Visit site
In the very unlikely event that the Leafs don't dominate the NHL this year, she will be an extraordinarily beautiful and talented distraction.
 

Doc Holliday

Staying hard
Sep 27, 2003
19,789
1,290
113
Canada
november,

She already got the job from what i understand in the Kessel/Howe clip. Another GREAT signing since Shanny Arrived! That Shanny was a decent player but proving to be an Excellent Executive!

I heard the other day on PT Sports that Tim Leiweke had hired Shanahan even before talking to the MLSE board about it, which created a lot of friction between some members of the board (likely the Rogers & Bell people) and Leiweke, which is partly the reason why Leiweke decided to leave the organization, or maybe he was kind of pushed out by those same people who fired Brian Burke. I've been told that those same people feel that Leiwke is way too high profile & visible to their liking (same reasons why they fired Brian Burke) and want more of a 'puppet' type of guy...someone they could control. Leiweke was promised full autonomy when he was hired & supposedly never got it. So finally he decided it was best to part ways with these bozos and will likely take a similar position elsewhere, rumoured to be MSG Enterprises (owners of the Knicks and Rangers).

Everyone in-the-know said that a Rogers/Bell marriage would never work. Two huge rivals. They got along at first, but when Rogers outbid everyone (including Bell who own TSN) for the NHL broadcasting rights, it created a lot of friction between the two parties. Most insiders believe it's only a matter of time before one of those two leave MLSE...either by selling their shares to the other, Larry Tannenbaum or another conglomerate. Personally, i'm surprised Rogers was either allowed to bid or wasn't asked to sell their ownership stake when they were awarded full NHL broadcasting rights.

The problem with a 'board' running the show is the same problem that was plaguing the team when the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan owned them. It's all about the mighty dollar and the bottom line instead of putting more emphasis on winning. I dream of one day having a single majority owner running the Leafs or Raptors.....like Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal, Chicago, Philly, etc. And that's the same problem plaguing the Jays, who are owned by Rogers Communications. The all-mighty dollar and the corporation's image always comes first. It sucks!!

p.s. Is Brooke Pashley also out of the picture?? And...Phil Kessel is way too shy to handle such interviews. Someone like Joffrey Lupul should have been given the job of interviewing Ms. Howe.
 

SloCumHeat

Member
Dec 27, 2009
312
1
18
Anyone attending the Maple Leafs FanFest 2014?

Runs Fri Sept 5 (today) to Sun Sept 7.

Town hall (today) has Ron MacLean, Lauren Howe, with guests Bernier, Lupul, Phaneuf.

It is also airing on LeafTV (town hall), for those that have it.
 

lgna69xxx

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
10,414
11
0
Could not make it to Toronto this weekend but it would have been GREAT i'm sure. Did you or are you going? Say hi to "Big Game" for me.
 

Doc Holliday

Staying hard
Sep 27, 2003
19,789
1,290
113
Canada
I often use Leafs/Habs games as an excuse to travel to either Montreal or Toronto for a weekend. However, it appears that the teams won't play one another as much this season.

They open the season Oct 8th in Toronto. They won't face one another until February when they play 2 games in Mtl. Then it's on the final day of the regular season in April. WTF??? :rolleyes:
 

SloCumHeat

Member
Dec 27, 2009
312
1
18
Over the past few seasons, the number of out of conference games has increased to two games against each team. One home and one away. Presumably to guarantee the Western conference team a home game against the "more popular" East coast teams.

So basically the number of inter-division games have dropped to 4 games. The Leafs schedule breaks down as follows, where they play each:

* of the 14 Western conference teams twice (total of 28)
* of the other 7 Atlantic teams only 4 times (total of 28)
* of the 8 Metropolitan teams 3 times (total of 24)

For a total of 80 games. The extra two remaining games this season are against Ottawa and Detroit. Last season the Leafs extra games were against Montreal and Buffalo.
 
N

november

Hopefully the leafs and habs meet in the playoffs and will end up playing each other more than just four times this year. Then doc will have a good excuse to visit Montreal . This year because of the new TV deal I might end up watching a lot more leafs and sens games. I do not get TVA sport . How many habs games will sportnet show?
 

SloCumHeat

Member
Dec 27, 2009
312
1
18
Some things the Leafs have to decide

Soon: Keep Gardiner, and play him, or trade him ?
Soon: fire Carlyle ? see above
This year: fire Nonis? see below
This summer: buyout Phanuef's contract? this summer? or summer 2016?
 

Doc Holliday

Staying hard
Sep 27, 2003
19,789
1,290
113
Canada
Some things the Leafs have to decide

Soon: Keep Gardiner, and play him, or trade him ?
Soon: fire Carlyle ? see above
This year: fire Nonis? see below
This summer: buyout Phanuef's contract? this summer? or summer 2016?


-Gardiner will be playing in his 2nd consecutive game tonight. Stewart Percy got the invitation to watch the game from the press box again.

-My guess is that management has made up its mind about Carlyle long ago. He's only there to buy time until Mike Babcock's current contract expires at the end of the season. The writing has been on the wall since Shanahan's arrival & only a deep playoffs run will save his job.

-Nonis will be there at least until the end of the current season. Would Shanahan have anyone in mind to replace him? Hey, how about Rob Babcock? I've heard rumbles that he may be tired of coaching & may want to look at something else. Unless he gets his wish & become the highest paid coach in the NHL, that is....which is unlikely to happen if he stays in Detroit.

-Buyout Phaneuf's contract? Are you kidding me? The current contract is in year 1 of a 7-year contract at a cap hit of $7 million. Counter this with P.K. Subban's contract of $9 million per season for the next 8 years. In a few years, Phaneuf's contract will look reasonable. On top of that, he's still BY FAR Toronto's best defenceman. He logs in the most minutes, always plays against the opponent's top line, is on the 1st PP and PK units and rarely misses any games. And he's been the captain for several years. You can't buy out players with such contracts or else it's organizational financial suicide. And again, who'd replace Phaneuf if he's gone? Morgan Rieilly? Cody Franson? lol

Here's what i'd do if i were the Leafs GM:

1) Try to trade Jake Gardiner, Nazem Kadri & Joffrey Lupul. Gardiner is basically P.K. Subban without the booming shot. He's careless & too much of a defensive liability to be relied upon. Great skater & passer, but not much between the ears. The Leafs would be able to get a good player back were they to decide to trade him.

2) Nazem Kadri has never fullfilled his potential. He's been very inconsistent. It seems that they haven't been able to find a player who's able to play next to him. Lupul has regressed since being removed from Bozak's line & inserted in the spot next to Kadri. I'm also not sure about his attitude. He also could bring the Leafs a decent return were he to be traded.

3) The time to trade Joffrey Lupul is now. He hasn't been very good since playing next to Kadri, and he isn't getting any younger. Unfortunately for him, he's been injury-prone for most of his career. His value will never be higher so it's time to trade him now since he's currently healthy.

4) The two Staal brothers are rumoured to be available in Carolina. Now is the time to go & trade for them. The three players i mentionned could be used as bait. If you can't get Jordan Staal, then just getting Erik Staal would be good enough for me.

5) I'd keep my eyes on the current struggling franchises who are likely to tank the season in order to be able to draft future superstar Connor McDavid. These franchises would likely gladly trade their highly-paid star players for youngsters. Among the teams i'd be looking at are Buffalo, Florida, Carolina, Winnipeg & Edmonton. Edmonton may be interested in a package of Toronto defencemen such as Jake Gardiner & Korbinian Holzer. RNH or Yakupov could be the players heading back Toronto's way if a trade was made.

6) Remain patient with Carlyle. It won't cost the organization much if he's fired after the regular season. But only fire him if Detroit still hasn't managed to sign Mike Babcock, who wants to be the highest paid coach in the NHL. Detroit doesn't have the money to pay him that much, and few teams in the NHL do or are willing to do so. Currently, Joel Quenneville is the highest paid coach. I doubt blame Babcock for wanting to be paid as much as Quenneville, since Babcock is highly regarded as a coach & many believe he's the best in the world. He's also Canada's first choice to coach their national teams during international play (such as at the Olympics). He's paid his dues as a coach & it's time for him to be rewarded. The Leafs are one of few teams able to give him what he wants.

7) I'd keep James Reimer on the trade market. Several teams have already lost their goalies to injury & it'll continue. Since Reimer has renewed his contract, there could be more demand for him. He could be a #1 goalie on many teams & he'll welcome a trade in order to play more. Once traded, i'd then sign Martin Brodeur for a year or two. He and fellow Quebecer Jonathan Bernier would make a pretty good goalie tandem.

8) It's time to do something about that ineffective 4th line. They are barely used & are not the typical fourth liners. Bringing up the likes of Troy Bodie, Colton Orr, Trevor Smith & Frazer McLaren would add energy & a new look to that ineffective 4th line which barely plays right now. I'd also ask my coach to get Daniel Winnik off that 2nd line. Either insert David Clarkson in his spot or call up Josh Leivo. Winnik is not a 2nd liner and was picked up to play either on the 3rd or 4th line.
 
N

november

You make some good points Doc. I just do not want them to trade their young players for someone whose better years are behind him. I think a new coach,Babcock,and some changes are coming. Just need to be patient, hope they don't repeat the mistakes of the past: win now at any cost.
 
Ashley Madison
Toronto Escorts