Metal Reviews

Zach Boychuk and Brandon Sutter will be dynamite next season... Just sayin'. Canes won their 7th in a row against the Senators tonight. What do you think guys? Do we have a shot at eigth? Currently six points behind Boston and seven behind Montreal whom we have 3 games in hand on... Thoughts?

Boston is doing pretty bad lately, just look at last night. The Leafs almost beat them, so catching Bostonis definitely do-able. With Cammi being hurt in Montreal, they may be catchable, but it will be tough. The injuries to Canes early in the season put them in a big hole. They need Ward (cam) back and healthy ASAP.

I'd say no. Too few games left and you don't really have any games in hand. In fact, most playoff teams have a game in hand against you. That's unfortunate, the hole was dug too deep early in the season and I'd certainly rank Carolina as a playoff team normally. All those traded players are gonna hurt as well.

We'll see about that... All those traded players have mostly been injured all season, and we've been doing excellent without them during the last stretch... With LaRose, Ruutu and Cole back from injuries now as well (our entire right side), we're an entirely different team. If we beat Florida tonight we'll be jumping to 12th with an even number of games as the teams behind and a game in hand on Montreal. You never know about the Canes. Just look at last year. There's still hope for me at least.

If we win and Tampa beats Atlanta, we're suddenly just five points out. That'll have me scoreboard-watching at least.

So Boston is struggling and now they don't have Marc Savard, the Leafs should have a chance!

I like how the Leafs have one of the youngest, if not thee youngest team in the NHL.

Phil Kessel - 22
Tyler Bozak - soon to be 24
Luca Caputi - 21
Carl Gunnarsson - 23
Jonas Gustavsson - 25
Christian Hanson - soon to be 24
Nik Kulemin - 23
John Mitchell - 25
Dion Phanuef - 24
Luke Schenn - 20
Viktor Stalberg - 24

that's half the team under 25 years of age, we may suck this year and none of them besides Kessel/Phaneif/maybe Bozak or Stalberg will be big time top 6 guys, but the future is bright in TO. It sure would be nice to have a first rounder this year, but Phil Kessel and his 22 goals/42 points in only 53 games is pretty damn good for a guy who has no other top line talent, just coming off a 6 month hiatus from shoulder surgery.

FUCK THE HATERS

Go Leafs Go!

What has Cam Fowler or Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin done in the NHL?

Answer: Nothing.

What has Phil Kessel done in the NHL?

Answer: Put up 88 goals/168 points in only 275 games, is only 22, has had cancer and shoulder injuries, yet still produces.

And yet the Leafs are still in last place and now have lost their chance for two years in a row to have a real rebuild of their team. Sorry dude, but giving up two years of first rounders to the same team is extremely rarely a good idea. In this case, it was a risk, and the risk hasn't paid off yet. Maybe it will and Kessel will be able to match his production last year in future seasons, but maybe he won't.

And true, Fowler and Hall and Seguin haven't done anything in the NHL yet. But odds are, they will do good things. The top 3-4 players in the draft generally do. And as you yourself point out, most of the guys you mention under 25 haven't done much in the NHL either.

Dude, it's okay to admit when your team makes a shitty trade. The Gomez trade was shitty for us. I really don't see how anyone can claim that giving Boston a top 2-3 draft pick in exchange for a guy who's scored about as many goals on the Habs as Brian Gionta (who has played less games than Kessel) is a good trade.



Umm, the Leafs have a chance for what? To not be the worst team in the east this year? I mean, yes, you do, but sorry dude, no matter what happens, I seriously doubt you guys are going anywhere near the playoffs or that Boston is going anywhere near last. And if Boston does, it's kind of even good for them- they get two good first round draft picks this year. Thanks again, Brian Burke.

I know it was a shitty trade, as I said "It sure would be nice to have a first rounder this year"

but there is nothing I, you, or anybody can do about it. I like Kessel, and so far at the age of 22 has done more for the Leafs than any potential draft pick will for Boston.

as for the other part, I just meant the Leafs have a chance to win the game, as the Bruins have owned the Leafs this season. I know we wont make the playoffs, hell probably not even get out of 15th. I also know that Boston will not plummet to the bottom either, I was just saying that we should have a chance to get a W tonight.

most Leaf fans have accepeted and moved on from this year. Sure no 1st rounders suck, but Kessel is good, so is Phanuef, Schenn, and several other young guys on the Leafs or waiting in the wings. We still don't have our Stamkos or Tavares, and I don't know where we will get one, but I like many other Leaf fans have gotten over the Kessel trade, now the rest of the NHL needs to.

Sorry, didn't realize that Boston/Leafs are playing tonight. Y'all definitely have a chance to beat them.

That's it?

I want to talk/argue hockey more.

mofo

We finally beat Boston!

Nik Kulemin has been absolutely huge for the Leafs the last few games. Starting to score more regularly, and back checks like a mother fucker. He never gives up, always hustling, and of course he got the GWG tonight.

As a Kings fan I know all about going through tough season but at least we had the draft to look forward to. Studying top 10 prospects and looking at mock drafts and rankings are really nice sources of enjoyment when the on-ice product isn't very appealing. Though one problem is you become conflicted when your team is playing since draft positioning is so important you almost don't want to win.

I still don't like the timing of that trade for the Leafs. It was just too soon. If a similar deal could be done two years down the road (not that unlikely if you ask me considering how many teams are up against the cap) you'd have to think the team would be in much better shape.

It will be interesting to see how it all comes together for Brian Burke and the Leafs. It's a totally different rebuild, focusing more on trades and free agency, than what's going on in Los Angeles where drafting and patience are the main ingredients.

It's not like the Leafs are just trading and signing. Luke Schenn, Tomas Kaberle, Nikolai Kulemin, Viktor Stalberg, and John Mitchell are all homegrown draft picks. Not to mention Nazem Kadri, Jesse Blacker, Chris Didomenico, Dale Mitchell, Jerry D'Amigo, James Reimer, Mikhail Stefanovich, and Jurai Mikus all drafted by Toronto and still waiting in junior or Europe. Sure adding Taylor Hall or Cam Fowler or Tyler Seguin to that list would be amazing, but we've got a 22 year old potential 50 goal man. I don't understand what is so wrong with that?

Well they obviously aren't exclusively trading and signing but they do seem to build the core of the team mainly from those sources, using draftees as complementary players and trading for/signing most of the core.

I'm not saying it won't work or it's a flawed system, it's just very different from how the team I follow approached it, that's why it's fascinating to me.

Well Los Angeles is not quite as demanding as a market as Toronto is. Even with a losing season last year Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment made half a billion dollars on the Maple Leafs alone. So it's definitely a win now type evironment. People in Toronto can't wait 7 to 8 years of futility, even though it's been 5 years without playoffs. We were at least competitive just a few years ago.

We can't pull a Pittsburgh in Toronto, it has to be more like an Anaheim or Carolina.

So if my Leafers can beat Tampa tonight and the Isles on Saturday, then getting out of 15th may be real. Even if we can get 3 out 4 points we have a chance.

Kudos to the Leafs on another victory tonight. The farther you guys are from a good draft pick for Boston the happier I am, so keep it up.

As for the Habs, it's nice to be on a four game win streak, though tonight's against Edmonton was way harder than it should have been, partially due to spotty goaltending from Halak (still, every goalie gets an off game every once in a while). It's still too way too tight to predict anything, but I'm liking our playoff chances and our play more and more, despite our top scorer still being out. Bring on the Bruins!

I see Markov is picking up points again; is he looking healthier than he did in the Olympics?

Dominating win for the Bruins against the accursed Flyers tonight. Tuukka was great, Krejci is building on his excellent Olympics, and Sturm & Bergeron are clicking together. Bring on Montreal!

Canes lose to Caps in OT yesterday after a strong comeback and beat the Pens tonight after another strong comeback. Even though Peters' rebound control was sloppy, he was yet again great in net, so I expect him to be backing up for Ward next season. Lots of overtime action, I like that Toronto beat Tampa Bay, but wanted Edmonton to get lucky as well. Atlanta and Islanders losing is also a good thing

Torontos win was not luck, it was hard work and good goaltending. The naiveness showered on the Leafs is sickening.