We're back with our regularly scheduled programming (in a sling, but hey) . . . and so are the Leafs. They're so predictable, last night's 4-3 loss in Ottawa keeping them in ninth place in the conference.
I'm with recent commenter Gary: Why is anyone surprised? The Leafs are right where many neutrals figured they would be. They have handled earlier injuries to alleged main hands Sundin, Lindros and Allison quite well. Tucker and McCabe, though, have been a different story -- take away these two, easily their best players this season, and the wheels have fallen off (Leafs record this season without McCabe: 0-6; without Tucker: 1-6).
As for Pat Quinn, who doesn't deserve to be replaced until the end of the season (that's what Hockey Dirt is saying, too), my only question from last night was why he sent out Belfour again. If ever there was a situation that called for a reliever, this was it. (As for a trade, like that Allison for Leetch one the Star keeps floating, isn't that precisely the kind of deal for an aging part this team used to make, and should stay away from now?)
Oh, and that Carla -- she started this whole "Leafs season as a sci-fi movie" thing, and she's finishing it. Here's her winning entry. I'll shoot a prize off her way just as soon as I figure out what it is, and when I can flap this sore shoulder of mine:
THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT (UK, 1955)(aka THE CREEPING UNKNOWN)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0049646/
A rocket returns to Earth with only a third of its original astronauts aboard. All that's left of those other two-thirds are empty space suits. The astronaut who has returned is but a shadow of himself--at times catatonic, at other times surly, and slowly metamorphosing into a great huge pile of goo.Yeah. Sounds like the Leafs season so far, doesn't it?
It sure does.
And finally, this is good news indeed: Vancouver Canucks Op Ed is back, yay.
why he sent out Belfour again
During the pre-game, the broadcast team mentioned that Quinn wanted to pull Belfour after the second period on Saturday, but Eddie refused to leave the crease. I imagine Eddie wouldn't sit out last night either.
Posted by: Ninja | January 24, 2006 at 11:22 AM
Yay, I win! I win! I win... well, something or other...(?) ;-)
As for last night's game, c'mon, Chris--won't you admit that the Leafs played a much better game, despite the fact that they lost again? I didn't think they'd win, but they certainly didn't lose in the way I was afraid they would. And I'll give credit where I think it's due: I have been critical of their play this year, but Sundin and Domi certainly played like leaders out there last night. I wish they played like that every game nowadays. All I can hope is that this was a game that sparks a turnaround for the team. They have been playing (seemingly) without that so-called "team chemistry" that has distinguished past Leafs teams, but they showed a good amount of it last night, IMO.
But... (As Pee Wee Herman said, 'Everybody I know has a big "but".') Why is Belak on the roster? He is a mediocre player (and I think I'm being generous) and the Leafs have kept him around, I guess, as an enforcer. So, since he obviously has lost even that so-called talent (I don't think he's won more than one fight this season, and last night's dance with McGrattan was downright embarrassing), can we please get rid of him now? Send him down to the Pensacola Ice Pilots in the ECHL, where he belongs.
The Belfour question: what Eddie wants, Eddie gets. Quinn has always given his #1 goaltenders their way. A lot of the time, it works. But not all the time.
As an aside, I hope you got some fun painkillers, Chris. Make the best of the situation.
Posted by: Carla | January 24, 2006 at 12:28 PM
Tsk! Another member of the Toronto media afraid to call for Quinn's lynching. *sigh* Is Damien Cox the only honest hockey writer in this city?
With regards to Ninja's comment above that states Belfour refused to leave the net on Saturday when Quinn wanted him pulled ... if that's true, there lies further evidence Quinn has lost control of his bench and dressing room. Thus hauling Paul Maurice up here to get the job done is in order.
But this is Toronto and there's politics in hockey. So until this team misses all those juicy post season revenues (lest we forget the Raptors aren't going to do much this year either), which they will this spring, expect nothing of significance to occur.
Cox is right ... it ain't about hockey in Tarranah!
Posted by: Flam Flim | January 24, 2006 at 01:53 PM
Eddy refused to leaf the net?
Shows you how much weight the word of the coach carries. None. Ditto the rest of the team.
Eddy gets paid so well, after 3 goals he looks like he just sucks out and doesn't give a hang.
#1 goalie? Earn it. Underperform, you get pulled. Suck out one more time, take a week off. No prima donnas need apply. There is no 'i' in team...
Eddy's most photographed pose is the one where he's looking back into the net. Constantly.
I'm tired of watching all the stupid penalties at inopportune times and many failed plays that would make a junior turn away in embarassment.
Please, dump Quinn immediately. Why waste the season? Let's move forwards, please.
Posted by: alice | January 25, 2006 at 12:21 PM
Oh Flam. *sigh*. is it really a sign of courage to play the tired old fire-the-coach card? I mean, if you want to, go right ahead. I'm not going there, not yet, anywa. I don't think it's the right time to do that, and don't think they'll be better off for it. It will almost certainly happen at the end of this one. But now? This team is no better or worse than most people thought it would be. It has some key injuries that are much more important than those earlier "key injuries", and some overpaid and underperforming parts. There isn't all that much talent overall, especially on defence. None of this is new. And like you, I'm dismayed by the apparent insistence on Belfour getting 75 per cent of the workload, which Ferguson reasserted today, if not in those exact words. But fire the coach? Not yet. Go out and get a quality defenceman, if you can find someone on whom to fob off Allison, and I'm not talking about getting a Leetch -- now there's a move that might help.
Posted by: cy | January 25, 2006 at 05:23 PM
Has anything happened yet? I'm bored. Make a trade!
Where's the blog? It's been a few days... What else is there to say though, really, about "them"?
A coaching change hasn't helped the Habs. They also have some good young players not quite ready, an over-rated goalie, and some heart issues.
Do you think we could get Vancouver to take Belfour and Alison for Carter and Salo? Or just Alison for Salo?
Posted by: Jlo | January 26, 2006 at 12:54 PM
I agree with what Flam was trying to say yesterday to some degree, that being that Quinn is what ails the Leafs. But I also agree with CY that now is not the time to pull the trigger.
The time to do that was before the season started. Quinn should have been shown the door two, maybe three seasons ago. The team’s make up currently can’t be blamed on John Ferguson. He’s trying to clean up Quinn’s mess.
The infuriating thing is the Toronto Sun started the baseless rumour that the Leafs might trade Mats Sundin or that Sundin might want to leave.
It seems to be me the media focuses entirely on anything but Quinn's ineffectiveness. So again, to some degree, I side with Flam.
And the proof is in the pudding that JFJ isn't in charge of the team when Leafs Inc. top suit Larry Tannenbaum said "John Ferguson hasn't come before the board to request the firing of Pat Quinn. Pat has the full confidence of the board."
Since when does the GM need permission to do his job? Answer: When he has no power. Lest we forget who had a hand in picking the GM … Pat Quinn. An NHL organization needs to be nimble. The Leafs are like the government.
So CY is right … replacing Quinn now would only make a bad situation worse. I think Paul Maurice ought to be named Leafs coach for next season unless Quinn is able to get this team to the finals. What are we now anyhow … in the 10th year of Quinn’s five-year plan to win the Cup? And the two of you – Flam and CY – quit all that heavy breathing on the blog!
Unrelated: When will the Big E return?? For real!
Nice to see Danielle Goyette, a veteran of the national women's hockey team, will be Canada's flag-bearer for the Turin Olympics. You go girl! Not criticizing the decision, but I was thinking it would have been cool to have one of our famed Crazy Canuck skiers from days gone by carry the flag given Canada’s return to the Olympic downhill ski jump competition this year is the first in 12 years. Or better yet … how about Ben Johnson? He raced a horse! I mean, c’mon … he raced a HORSE!
Posted by: Andrew Spencer | January 26, 2006 at 02:24 PM
The blog will be back on Friday, jlo. i've been jabbing away, and did i tell you i have this bum shoulder? i did? oh, okay.
As for this week, i've sort of cooled it because of said ailment and, frankly, 'cause I was bored and put off by the media-led carnival of speculative nonsense this week (first, the Star's fire-Quinn nonsense; then the SUn answers back with the trade-Sundin nonsense, whis if nothing else assures them of plenty of follow-ups the next day) seemed -- well, i kinda felt like Ron Ziegler, Nixon's old press secretary, when he said "I'm not even going to dignify that with a reply." And that's the first and last time I ever use Nixon to justify anything.
As for Flam and me, we're cool. like you, Pat, I agree with most of what he says, especially the overarching theme that says MLSE is dreadfully dysfunctional (did you hear the one about Rob Babcock? He got hired after an "exhaustive search".).
Posted by: cy | January 26, 2006 at 03:01 PM
CY hope you are back soon and able to keep the Leaf Nation sane.
As I have said before, Quinn is not the problem. His record over time speaks for itself. Your number 1 goalie cannot have a save % below .900, and Eddie does. Father time waits for nobody. Your best players have to be your best players, and Sundin I'm afraid is on the downslope of a great career.
With that defense, especially with McCabe and his 25 minutes a night missing, the Leafs are simply not good enough.
O'Neill needs to sit for a week or two to light a fire under his dormant butt. Allison is a great puck handler , against teams like the Sabres he looks like I looked my whole hockey career, 3 steps slower than everyone else.
Khadavernov was a JFJ mistake from day one. Speaking of JFJ, what is the mysterious plan? Don't need to know the details John, but how about a couple of concepts? Ricciardi with the BLue Jays, whether you agree with him or not, has at least been able to articulate his vision. I think JFJ's big bugle blocks his vision.
Anyway, when they get their guys back, the Leafs will once again play at a .500 clip, which may or may not give them the opportunity to be swept by the Senators .
Posted by: gary | January 27, 2006 at 10:53 AM