The Official M.E.R.B. Hockey Thread

[4Beliveau4]

The one upside of having a revamped roster is that nobody really has any chemistry with anybody yet which has allowed Martin to juggle the lines a few times throughout the game. From what I've seen this year, the top 3 lines seeem pretty comfortable playing with any combination of each other. The lines that I think will be used the most will be the smurfs and the Metroplit/Moen/Pacioretty line which I thought was the best line for them in the Isles game.

Also, goaltending controversey? Halak all the way until he craps out.(IF he craps out) The Rangers will be his big test, if he starts. If Halak performs, I think the goaltending situation may become a bone of contention between Martin and Gainey, as Price is Gainey's boy and what he has staked the sucess of the franchise on. Personally, I think a goaltender like Halak fits perfectly in Martin's puck posession strategy.

 

[gohabsgo]

"hammer time' by M-A. Bergeron!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gFrFPXXhjM

 

[gohabsgo]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he'd like to see more National Hockey League teams in Canada.

“Of course, as a big hockey fan I would certainly like to see more teams created here in Canada,” the prime minister replied.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/pm-all-for-more-nhl-clubs/article1335930/

 

[gohabsgo]

It seems only fitting that, on the weekend the Toronto Maple Leafs head to Vancouver, general manager Brian Burke’s struggling hockey team is embroiled in a goalie controversy.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/has-toskala-run-out-of-chances/article1334956/

Toronto = goalie graveyard

 

[gohabsgo]

As for Kadri, You know what? I want to see him start the season with the Leafs!! he's one of the fastest & higher skilled players on the Leafs.

Kadri is nowhere to be seen in the top 20 OHL scoring leaders, and isn't impressing.

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_scorers

he must be depressed that he was drafted by such a shitty organization as the Leafs – after all, he did grow up a Habs fan and was hoping to be picked by the Red, White & Blue.

The Leafs could be drafting franchise player Taylor Hall next June (central scouting has him ranked to go #1 overall) but Burke threw away that pick. But there’s always 2011 … oops , Burke the Jurke threw away that pick too!

 

[gohabsgo]

Brian Burke a draft day dud

"We could have had Tavares. It would have cost us Luke Schenn and that was not about to happen.

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2009/06/26/9950491.html

Gasbag Burke should have done that deal. Tavares has 7 points in 8 games on a lousy NYI team (by comparison, Toronto’s top forwards can only muster a measly and lowly 4 points each). Meanwhile, Schenn is terrible and awful and is looking like a complete bust in Toronto. He probably can't wait until he turns 25 and becomes a UFA so he can get out of that shit hole Toronto and sign in L.A. so he can play with his brother and his best friend Drew Doughty.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/app?service=...LLDADAll&viewName=summary&sort=plusMinus&pg=7

Toronto should have drafted Boedker (as I said at the time, btw).

 

[gohabsgo]

The legendary willingness of dumb ass Leafs-loving Torontonians to dish out mortgage-payment-like sums to witness a perennial loser may have reached its breaking point.

Leafs tickets with face values of $100 to $300 each are routinely selling for as little as half that amount.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hocke...711779--is-hottest-ticket-in-town-cooling-off

Toronto Maple Leafs = loser team, loser organisation, loser fans

 

[joelcairo]

Toronto = goalie graveyard

Not just a goalie graveyard, but a hockey graveyard!

We all know the last time this hopeless bunch won the Cup was 1967 but let's look at some more history:

Last Leaf to win the Hart MVP: Ted Kennedy in 1955!

Last Leaf to win the Art Ross Scoring Title: Gordie Drillon in 1938!!!!!

Last Leaf to lead the NHL in goals: Gaye Stewart in 1946!

Last Leaf to lead the NHL in assists: Andy Bathgate in 1964!...although it's being generous to include him, since he played part of the season with the Rangers! If we don't count Bathgate, we have to go back to 1951!for Ted Kennedy, who TIED Gordie Howe for the lead. The last Leaf to play the whole season for TO and lead the league in assists (not tie for the lead) was Syl Freakin' Apps in 1938!!!!!

So, let's see: The leafs can't shoot, can't pass, can't score...but hey maybe they're defensive wizards, right? Well, let's see:

Last Leaf to win the Norris best defenceman: Uh, NEVER! But let's be fair: The Norris has "only" been given since 1954 - what's 55 years between friends?

Last Leaf to win the Vezina: Well, golly gee, here's the Leaf version of success - we "only" have to go back to 1965 (amazing!) to find Terry Sawchuk and Johnny Bower sharing the Vezina Trophy - congratulations guys!

Well, maybe Hogtown has truly shone with its rookies? Hey, they have, they have! It was as "recently" as 1966 that Brit Selby (!!!) won the Calder as best rookie. What? You mean to say Brit is not in the Hall of Fame? Is there no justice?

But hey, it's really the playoffs and the Cup that count, right? So. let's list ALL the Leafs who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Ready? Here they ALL are: Dave Keon in 1967. What? Only one..and 42 years ago (there's that number again!)?

Yeah, the Leafs may be shit today, but to be fair they've been shit for decades (and of course they'll continue to be shit for decades more!).

 

[gohabsgo]

Wow, interesting stats joelcairo, talk about ancient history ... and there was only 6 teams back then!

btw, nice OT winner by Cammy tonight.

 

[Techman]

Great game from the habs tonight! They came back from 2 goals down not once but twice and this was against a hot Rangers team. Meanwhile, the Leafs are still looking for their second point of the season and their first win.

Look at the bright side, Leafs fans. It could be worse...you could have 0 points!

 

[joelcairo]

Leafs are still looking for their second point of the season and their first win.

Look at the bright side, Leafs fans. It could be worse...you could have 0 points!

Give the Leafs credit Tech: they set a record tonight!

Okay, so the record was for the worst start in history for this horrible embarrassment of a franchise, but hey for the Leafs that's an achievement!

If the Leafs were a horse, they'd be shot!

 

[Techman]

They're probably aiming for the worst start of any team in NHL history. They may just have found the only record that no one will ever try to beat! I wish them the best of luck in their quest for negative perfection.

 

[joelcairo]

They're probably aiming for the worst start of any team in NHL history. They may just have found the only record that no one will ever try to beat! I wish them the best of luck in their quest for negative perfection.

Very generous of you to wish them luck - but for this particular record I think they can do it on "talent" (cough, cough) alone!

 

[joelcairo]

(Yes indeed, the smurfs did play tonight for the Habs, but didn't accomplish much)

The times they are a-changin.

 

[gohabsgo]

Burke was seen texting on his Blackberry – he was sending a message to Kevin Lowe in Edmonton: “is Pocklington’s offer still on the table? Dick Peddiephile and Larry Tanenboob have also agreed to throw in $100M”

 

[joelcairo]

Some experts are now predicting that the Habs won't make the playoffs now with Markov gone for the most part of the season. These 'experts' had placed Mtl in 7th or 8th before Markov's injury. Tough!!!!

I wonder what the experts are predicting for Toronto?

 

[joelcairo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TglklO-YMZY&feature=related

(GHG, do you realize that the Habs should actually be 0-4 right now if it wasn't for Carey Price's masterful goaltending in the first two games? I'm surprised you haven't gone into hiding yet. Will a loss in Edmonton tomorrow do it? )

HABS REALLY SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doc, if the habs were 0-4, they'd be twice as good as the Leafs 0-8. Oops, sorry, the Leafs are much better than 0-8, they're 0-7-1...not nearly as bad. I forgot about that overtime loss to the habs, the highlight of TO's season. Please forgive me.

 

[joelcairo]

i see the light in Toronto. This will be a great team in a couple of years. It's a team with a vision.

It might be time to buy a new crystal ball Doc - your old one seems to be defective.

 

[Techman]

I wonder what the experts are predicting for Toronto?

I don't know about the hockey experts, but the newest translations of the Mayan calendar reveal that the end of the world will actually be triggered by the Leafs possibly making the playoffs in 2012 causing hell to freeze over and the world to collapse upon itself.

 

[JH Fan]

Not just a goalie graveyard, but a hockey graveyard!

We all know the last time this hopeless bunch won the Cup was 1967 but let's look at some more history:....

Woh ! Joel !

I think you nailed it pretty...looks like our friend Doc took a little vacation since the 22nd.

Oh well I admire a raving fan anyway !