Doom and gloom

Maybe it's the fact that the dreaded Turk is looming. Or perhaps it's that season away. But the temperature around the Leafs seems to be even higher than normal. Over at the TML message board, they're already advising the posters to cease and desist with the doom and gloom.

Hey, doom and gloomers, you can always come over here. Or here. Maybe it was just a hangover after the Timbits and pop fuelling yesterday's Stumpython, but that game last night didn't do it for me. How do you draw any conclusions when there's nothing but a non-stop march to the penalty box?

The Leafs are not in midseason form -- hell, they're not in any form at all as Damien Cox notes. But that guy working the penalty box door hat the ACC has already got more camera time than Angelina Jolie.

Well, anyway, Ken Campbell has the lowdown on the decisions that lie ahead. Zorro tells you about the game. And hey, the best read might be Paul Hunter on the Marlies opening (LINK) not at the Ricoh, but at "the home of the $2 Pogo." Pogo ... mmmmmm.

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Thanks, Chris. Always with the love for the doom and gloomers.

We're all feeling the effects from yesterday's Stumpython. In case you missed it, read it here. The lovefest was still in full swing last night at the ACC -- when Steve Thomas stepped on the ice for his turn during the shootout, the crowd went wild. A Stumpy goal would have sealed the deal (Tie Domi, the 16th shooter, took care of that) -- too bad we can't say anything good about the actual game.

12 minors, 4 power play goals allowed as the younger, faster Sabres diced up the disorganized Leafs. The no-flow theme was front and centre again. Let's just say the Sabres won't have to practice the power play any more this preseason.

"It's frustrating because it is no longer a man's game out there," said Thomas, who drew a hooking minor in the third. "If I can get a 220-pound guy to fall down just by putting my stick on him, it shouldn't happen."

More pressing is the state of the Leaf roster. While other clubs are working with the core they know they want to start the season with (in 7 days), there are still a lot of bodies in Toronto. Pat Quinn:

"Part of our decision here (at training camp) was to get a lot of guys a look. We have what, 16 forwards and 10 defencemen left in camp, we're still not working with a team ... and with the injuries, heck, there's been no work with our lines. It's not an excuse, but we have to get to work."

Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella's take:

"Too many people, to me it's not healthy. You need to look at the kids, but our No. 1 goal here as a coaching staff is to get the team ready to play, especially being gone as long as we have been gone."

I'm actually buying the injuries excuse and not feeling too good at all about Jason Allison and Eric Lindros. Feel free to rant in the comments section below.

On to the links:

Yesterday we agreed to move on on this Jeremy Roenick-Denis Gauthier issue. Blabbermouth Sean Avery had other thoughts yesterday.

"I think it was typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not back anything up. ... I'd think if a guy like Brett Hull was coming up the middle, somebody probably wouldn't have stepped up and hit him, but like I said, a typical move from a guy wearing a visor that certainly doesn't like to get scratched at all."

Of course, JR won't be upstaged.

"I've seen that Canadians are saying that I'm complaining and whining because I got hit hard," he said. "But I have gotten hit hard many, many, many times, probably more so than they have ever been hit. They just love to complain about me because I'm an American who gets more press than their Canadian players."

"They can whine about me all they want. The fact of the matter is the need for respect for everybody, not just me. I'm sure if Joe Sakic got hit the way I got hit and said the same thing I did, Canadians wouldn't be sitting there saying Joe was complaining."

Maybe it sounds like the concussions talking. And JR's had a few. But his point on respect isn't lost here. Good read today in the Province on the whole shots to the head issue.

Nice piece from the Sun's Bill Lankhof on the Snyder family, who lost their son, Atlanta Thrasher Dan, in a car crash two years ago tomorrow.

It was Sidney Crosby's home debut in Pittsburgh last night. Mario stole the show.

Nick Boynton and the Boston Bruins are no closer to an agreement.

We'll end with predictions, and a reminder of the dreaded SI curse (sorry Calgary).

Comments

[VanderSwag]

Actually, the whole Heatley/Snyder incident was two years ago.

[Dan Meredith]

Maybe it's just me, but Nik Antropov is terrible. For 5 years all we hear is that this tall, talentless kid is sure to turn some heads. Well I'm still turning my head looking for this good hockey player that everyone seems to be talking about. He doesn't hit, he doesn't kill penalties, he doesn't SCORE. What does he do? He takes ice time away from other players. Pat Quinn seems to be high on this guy, or maybe just high! Why would you put this kid with our # 1 guy Sundin. What did he do to deserve that? I don't see Perrott or Belak playing alongside Mats. At least they hit.

Antropov makes a million US a season. We can't sign Anson Carter for a million, but we can justify keeping Nik? Trade him to Minnesota, or Columbus for a draft pick and get Carter. How many people would have loved that scenario in the summer time, lots. I hear Steve Thomas has an outside chance of making the cut, yet Antropov is already guaranteed a spot on the roster? Come on, were talking about Stumpy, Mr. Overtime. Every goal he scores is important.

So what roll could Nik fill in. Well for a big guy, he doesn't hit because if he does he knee will blow out (don'tknock on wood), he can't skate well for a big guy, and he isn't aggresive enough to stand out front of the net. Well it looks like another season of watching stretch do his thing, or not do anything is more like it, and all I can say to Leaf Coach Pat Quinn and Leaf management is 'Are You SERIOUS?'

[Flam Flim]

You know, a lot of folks criticize Star columnist Damian Cox for being anti-Leaf but each time I read one of his columns on the team, all that registers in my mind is “fair comment”.

Cox hits it on the head when he states flatly that if the officials continue to officiate the way they have been, then the Leafs are in serious trouble this year.

It all comes back to the simple fact that Toronto needs a real head coach and not the antiquated, bumbling, ineffective Pat Quinn. These are Quinn’s comments after last night’s embarrassing loss to the Sabres (of all teams): "If it continues the way it is, we'll have to win games on special teams. We haven't had any time with the power play or penalty kill, but you bet next week we will."

How is it that Ottawa, Montreal, and Buffalo are well-prepared for the pre-season and the regular season, the rule changes, et al., but Quinn hasn’t had time to do anything about it? Is no one in upper Leafs management paying attention to this? Does JFJ give a hoot that his coach is unable to adapt to the modern game?

I do indeed hope JFJ is licking his lips and grinning behind his expressionless mask and benign clichés with plans to replace Quinn with talented coach Paul Maurice. I doubt it’d happen this year, as the Teachers Fund Maple Leafs don’t make moves to win Cups. Which justifies why I haven’t sold out to a Leafs TV subscription, nor have I bought any NHL-Leafs merchandise (or worn any).

Call me a bandwagon jumper if you wish, but Ottawa’s the team worth watching this year. I’ll put up my prediction once again: Over eight regular season games this season, Toronto will be lucky to win two games against the Senators.

Meanwhile, as for the Leafs line-up, I’ll be truly sorry to see JF Racine be sent down and Mikael Tellqvist given a job on the big club (undeserved though it is), but why ruin Racine at such a young age? If you’re reading this kid, call your agent; demand a trade now in true Denis Lemeiux fashion.

Meanwhile Kyle Wellwood is going to score goals in bunches for the Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, or Carolina Hurricanes … any team but the Leafs for we all know how Quinn fancies old injured guys over youthful talent. ‘Tis but a matter of time before Wellwood is dished off quietly for a no-name journeyman forward that’s way past his prime (hallo Steve Thomas). As for Nik Antropov, do you recall when there were rumours of Antropov and somebody else going to Philly for Eric Lindros? When asked about it by the media at the time, I think Eric Dejardins (sp?) said it best when the Flyers defenceman responded: “For that guy? Are you kidding me? Have you seen him skate?”

Speaking of Steve Thomas, why is the Star glorifying Thomas’ all but assured spot on the team? Shouldn’t you guys spend your time making real predictions about the team? Something useful? Something that people can read and go, “wow, I didn’t know that”. Doesn’t happen to much in the Star’s sports pages these days (beyond Cox's column); a shame.

Lastly, may I remind all those Leafs fans out there that are typically in denial, we’re now entering the eighth or ninth year of Quinn’s original “five year plan” to secure Toronto the Cup (check the archives).

[Conin79]

I have to ask. . . I am not excited about the Leafs. . . seems that no one is in Leaf land right now. We are all worried that our team will turn into the Blue Jays of hockey and slowly slip into failure.

Sad to say this but. . . the old gaurd is vanishing. Look at Detroit, they are weaker now then ever before and New Jersey is one Brodeur injury from a high pick in the draft. Why is it not possible that its time for the Leafs to take a step back and to take a few steps forward. I see these moves from the off season to come up snake eyes and the Buds take it in the chin. But who knows. . . . I could be wrong. . .I sure hope so. . .

Question of the day for the man in charge is who do you think is going to do better? The Toronto Maple Leafs. . . or the Toronto Marlies? ;-)

[gs]

I've been reading this blog for a few weeks now; this is my first post.

It might be a little off topic but i've noticed that quite a few people like to blame the Teachers Pension fund for leaf woes. Haven't the leafs been in the top few in terms of payroll for the past bunch of years? Have they ever blocked the signing of free-agents or influenced player signings in anyway? And i would think that now especially with the salary cap the Fund would be basically blameless for any leaf failings.

The teachers pension is worth about 55-billion dollars...(i read that on this site somewhere thismorning) owning a part of MLSE is like the cherry on top of a very very large ice cream sundae. I can't imagine that in the past they would have put up much of a fuss if leaf management had insisted on spending an extra few million to pick up a premium free agent.

I think the problem is more the hockey brains and not the financail backers of the organization.

Please correct me if there is any actual evidence to the contrary.