Game 35: Slowly vanishing into a black hole

There's a pop-punk band out of Fargo called Wasted Effort. Maybe they're intergalactic travelers from the future and their name was inspired by tonight's soul-sucking loss.

Oh, man.

This one hurt more than usual, which is strange given the number of times those magnificent poor Leaf bastards have kicked us in the teeth. This one felt like we're slowly vanishing into a black hole, which is also strange since we've been lost in space for most of this season.

Break out the vodka and the banjos. Here we go again.

A conversation I had with my wife about 30 minutes ago:

Her: "Who won?"
Me: *Staring silently at my computer screen*
Her: "Oh. That's too bad. Are the Leafs the worst team in the universe?"
Me: "League. Honey, it's called a league, not the universe."
Her: "Sorry. Are they the worst team in the league?"
Me: "No."
Her: "One of the worst?"
Me: "I guess."
Her: "So then why are you always so surprised when they lose?"
Me: *Staring silently at my computer screen*

When we were kids we used to add a diabolical twist to dodgeball. Sometimes, for no good reason beyond diabolical, a kid was blindfolded.

I remember being that kid a few times.

It was horrible. I would rapidly move back and forth – two stutter-steps to the left, a lunge to the right – in a desperate attempt to avoid getting nailed with a ball I could not see.

I remember flailing my arms and pathetically sniffing the air like a drug dog at the airport, hoping to somehow smell the ball before it smashed into my skull. I remember flinching spontaneously and feeling profoundly vulnerable.

In other words, I looked a lot like Jonas "Goose Goat" Gustavsson did tonight. Head swiveling around. Ducking against phantom threats. Never quite sure where to stand. Hoping to somehow smell the puck before it smashed into the back of the net.

When Carolina scored the winning goal at 14:49 of the third, all I could think was: "Again? The Leafs outplay, outshoot and out-chance their opponents and they're going to lose because our goalie got beat by their goalie? Really?"

For crying out loud, let this James Reimer kid get the start on Thursday. By default, he's earned it. And if nothing else, it will give us something new to discuss before the inevitable vodka and the banjos and the searing pain.

Two goals by Phil Kessel... wasted. Another solid game by Mikhail Grabovski… wasted. A strong forecheck... wasted. Two power play goals... wasted. A surprising and admirable amount of energy considering the blizzard-related travel snafus over the past 72 hours... wasted.

Thanks to this wasted effort, the Leafs are now 12 points out of a playoff spot. And we are now floating through the zero-gravity blackness toward a point of no return.

MAIN PHOTO: NASA/CXC/MIT AND F.K.BAGANOFF/GETTY IMAGES

Comments

[Alecia]

*Sigh*

Maybe its my eternal optimistic attitude (in regards to everything but work) but I didn't think tonight was as horrible of a game as many of you thought in the previous blog post (I scrolled through quickly.)

Yes, we lost and are a whole lotta points out of a playoffs spot, I know, I know. I should preface this by saying that I never expected the Leafs to make the playoffs this year so I'm not quite feeling the disappointment that some of the rest of the fans are feeling, but really, I don't think this game was that bad. For a team that has spent over a day going between bus/airport/plane/hotel in Newark out of all places, I thought they came out with their engines revving. Unfortunately, the Leafs spent the whole game tying the game, had they scored the first elusive goal, we would be calling them magnificent right about now.

I thought for the most part, the leafs outplayed the Canes tonight. They had an over 50% on the faceoffs and had more shots on net tonight but for the first time this season, I thought that Gusty's level of play did not match the rest of the team's. I'd like to see the Leafs come out and play hard and passionate like this at every game. I know that no one likes a loss, but gotta take the positives out of games like this when we all know it could be worse (a la first Edmonton game).

Funny how one goal makes such a huge differences among the fans. What if it was 4-3 Leafs right now? Would we be praising those bastards on all their great plays, Gusty's saves and Kessel goals? Probably.

I know that making the playoffs is the ultimate goal but do we really have a shot at the cup even if we do clinche a spot? Likely not. I'd rather just try to focus on them developing and getting better as a team then being disappointed after every loss, despite signs of potential. Having them go from the bottom of the league last year to a playoff contender this year was just not something I ever believed in. Maybe that's what numbs the pain now but, like I said, I'd be happy if they come out this hard for every game (and maybe get the first goal more often) for the rest of the season and earn enough points to be out of the bottom 5 or so.

Oh and a final note... despite the loss, this may have been on of the funnest Leafs games I have ever been too. There was a noticeable lack of suits tonight in the lower bowl (probably all on holiday vacation) and a lot more blue and white and some pink (damn those are ugly). The cheers were loud, the fans were fun and no waffles to be found. The ACC needs more of this, on a regular basis....

Oh, and the Habs lost, again! I'll drink to that!

[Alecia]

Ooooh, and I forgot....

- Lebda should be benched, for the rest of the season.
- Why were Zigomanis and Aulie ever sent back down?
- Wilson needs to stop changing the lines. Please just stop.
- We need one major trade asap to pick things up.

And we're golden.

[Pyramid Power]

Your exchange with your wife made me laugh Vinay and thank you.

I was working the Korean vodka, soju, pretty hard today during the last half of the game. My wife woke up and just saw me drinking hard and staring blankly at my computer screen and pissed right off. She simply and gently asked me if Toronto had lost in Mandarin. I whispered yes dear.

I received a sympathy massage and silence which is precisely what I wanted. Nothing more, nothing less. And then got fabulously drunk, forgot about it all and went to bed. Just getting up now.

Columbus on Thursday. I don't wanna see Gustavsson or Giguere again this year. They make me puke. I want to see what Reimer has and what Rynnas has.

A lot of things to like about that hockey game, but they are truly trying to kill us. I liked our 'compete' level as that trendy word goes, but in the end did it matter? Not a bit. A loss is a loss is a soul crushing loss.

Time to 'dynamite' the team Burkie or at least make a couple of major moves. I have essentially lost all hope and faith in this club for now and the foreseeable future. We have very little to look forward to with this organization for a long time. I can only hope we do not give up one of the top three picks in next year's entry draft to the Bruins. Again.

[Alan]

look at the bright spot when we finish last we will get a draft pick ! ..its a brilliant plan..its how great teams are created..

[Account Deleted]

What time is it?Doesn't matter.Pass me the Smirnoff and lemon squares.

[Al]

The guys sitting in for the FAN590 morning show were talking Leafs this morning and saying how the bright side is that they still have their 2012 first round pick, and really, aren't they going to be just as bad the next couple of seasons as they are this year (and were last year)?

That pretty much re-defined the concept of "reaching".

PS - A belated Merry Christmas, Vinay. Instead of vodka, try rum. Goes well with egg nog.

[Robert]

Vinnie: You seem to be taking the brunt of this for the Leaf Nation. We are all behind you, in the same black hole. My wife says ' If you find this so frustrating why do you do it?' How do you answer this? Anyone out there?

[80s Leafs]

I just realized, the Leafs have become like going to work for me. Don't really think much one way or the other about them ahead of the game (the unfolding work day). Just sit down in front of the TV (arrive at my desk) turn on the game, usually witness them lose (pick away at some work stuff in my in basket and check email and sports scores throughout the day) buzzer goes and the other team celebrates (5 o'clock comes) turn off TV and go up to bed (drive home) and forget about the mundane performance of the past three hours (8 hours).

And this is supposed to be Christmas holidays!

[Valentino Assenza]

Boy we sure are scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to material to write about our Leafs nowadays. But I must admit it does make great bathroom reading. I have to say, when it comes dealing with the Leafs being "one of the worst" teams in the league, there are ways to overcome this sickness.

Since it's a love of the game that I have, and not solely simply a love of the Leafs, I seek out other hockey here in Toronto. It's amazing, if you discount the fact that the Leafs are not the only show in town, and open your mind, you can actually find hockey with players that actually want to play. The Ricoh Coliseum has the Toronto Marlies, it's affordable, and it shows you what hockey games used to be like, a family oriented atmosphere, and players that actually play. You can also make a day of going to other cities in Ontario and check out some OHL hockey. London is a cool little city, and Knights games are always fun to go to at the John Labatt Centre for instance.

Another suggestion, and this may be out there, but instead of watching a bunch of undeserving millionaires playing the game, how about getting your buddies together, finding an empty parking lot, or a low traffic neighbourhood street and playing hockey yourself? You get to laugh, swear, and run around for a bit, this alone is more worthwhile than watching a Leaf game right now.

I know going to a Leaf game is a luxury, sitting in the platinums in your suit, and barely noticing there is a game on, is really a privilege, but remember, you do live in Canada, and as Canadians we do tend to like hockey and spread our interest a little further than the buck simply stopping at the Toronto Maple Leafs...open your mind people, there is entertaining hockey out there you just have to look for it.

[Pyramid Power]

"I remember flinching spontaneously and feeling profoundly vulnerable. In other words, I looked a lot like Jonas 'Goose delete Goat' Gustavsson did tonight."
Hilarious Vinay. Man, you bring the funny. Kudos to you and the dodgeball reference. I can remember playing psycho games like that as a kid too. Fun stuff especially if you were one of the throwers and not the throwee.

@alecia Thought your presence was gonna bring us the win last night. I liked the energy level at the ACC too although of course I was not there.

Yes, the Canadiens lost and hopefully will lose again tonight in Tampa. And again in Miami on Friday. And again in..........

And Canada should be good for total destruction over Norway tonight. Wonder if Kassian will get a suspension aside from not playing tonight as if we will miss him against powerhouse Norway?

[pylon]

Vinay, I just want to say following your column this winter has been a lot of fun. I always get a good chuckle out of it. I hope that you're still writing it when the Leafs are good again.

[Nik Culoman]

@PP Really?? You are going to blame Gustavson for this loss??? It was a great game, they played well and lost....By all accounts the Leafs deserved a better ending, and that will happen with a young team still developing as a group.

The Leafs everyone knew were going to have problems scoring, and that is what did this team last night. I found a magazine from the hockey news that predicted what the season would look like for the Leafs...Guess what it said.....All these issues were mentioned, and the Leafs are exactly where the H.N. had predicted they would be this year...middle of the pact fighting for every inch in the standings...

People who thought anyone could come in and fix years and years of mismanagement in two years has no sense of reality or comprehension. All these people who look at this team and say OMG, even the future looks bleak has already casted a negative aura around the prospects the Leafs have in their system that are playing at a high level.....

Anyone know who has won OHL player of the month honours 3 times this year?? McKeeg....Who's prospect is that?? The Leafs.....How about Kenny Ryan, Jesse Blacker, Jerry D'Amigo, Nicholls, Rynnas, Aulie, and so on who are having some great years........Who must I add will part of the future of this franchise...

I haven't posted in a couple of days because I wanted to stay away from all this negativity.....But since reading a book called...."The Magic of Thinking Big", and the possibilities for positive change if you think positively....Effects all those around you....Can you imagine a day where the fans of this city stop using their emotions and started to use reason and patience in assessing their teams...

MAYBE JUST MAYBE THIS TEAM MAY TURN A CORNER....All this negativity only breeds more negativity......So I repeat.........If you are going to complain about this team day in and day out....Find a new team already......No one is stopping you from moving on.....

Because if you are only going to cheer when this team is winning you are no fan anyways....

Well.....Tyler Seguin BOS C 33 5 goals 6 assists 11 pts
Phil Kessel TOR R 35 14 goals 8 assists 22 pts

Not bad for a guy who is playing on a line with a relative rookie and ever changing centerman.

[We BeLeaf]

Yes Vinay, exactly right! Reimer does deserve a start or two in net. Do I think it will happen with the upcoming schedule? Probably not. Alecia you made some good points, the most important being the elusive scoring of the first goal. I have to say that it's always easier to defend the lead than trying to come from behind.

@ PP, bro lay off posting after you've had a few. We can tell how pissed you are and rightly so. Just remember that the Habs got shutout yet again!

Here's a question to all: Does anyone think Grabovski will be traded before the deadline?

Cheers to all in Leafs Nation!

[snacker]

Don't blame this on Gustavsson - blame this on a defense-corps that can't skate with any team in the league. blame this on Komisarek making 4.5 mil a year and playing about 9 terrible minutes a night. Blame it on Beauchemin who has never looked the same without Scotty N. skating beside him. Blame this on Dion Phaneuf, who somehow is the worst part of the trade last year (they might as well replace him with Aulie who can actually skate and play defense with NHL calibre players, unlike #3 Celine Dion). Blame Kaberle for not being able to take anyone in his own end and passes the puck way too much in the offensive zone and now has a no-trade clause which means they'll get nothing for him. Blame the coach for getting out-coached too many times this season and saying way too many stupid things. Blame Versteeg for being pretty much the worst guy they could have picked up from the Hawks after last year (Stahlberg on the first line in Chi-town?) The Kessel deal is the least of Burke's problems - I agree, where is Zigomanis? Atleast the guy can kill penalties, win some draws and show some leadership. THis team doesn't have a single leader...This mess is all because of Burke and Wilson and won't change until a new way is implemented - look at Atlanta - same place pretty much as the leafs were last year - Now where are they with a young, gritty team? In the hunt atleast.

[moe green]

Alecia - eloquently and sensibly put. Too bad sensibility has never been part of my makeup. I expected, no insisted, that the Leafs make the playoffs this year. I think that given the lack of "failure fruits" (draft picks) the six years was enough futility. Maybe failure is good enough for some fans: Cubs, Sox etc,. but it just doesn't work for me. For me it's all about the playoffs - period. It has to be, what else have we got. Why else would I watch a game? Team development? There has been none, zero, zilch. If anything, this team has regressed.

What bothers me is that Burke and Wilson were being entirely disingenuous with us this season. That's a politically correct word for lying. Does anyone here think Burke had any intention of making the playoffs this year? If he did, don't you think he would have made a move, some kind of move by now? Do you think he would be watching stiffs like Mitchell eat up even power-play minutes if the playoffs were ever realistically in the sights. Burkle won't admit it but there is nothing he can do short of starting over again. No fan is going to accept that; at least not with these bums at the helm. Let them cash they're massive checks in some other city.

The playoffs: that's just mushroom food they feed us fans and the season-ticket holders so that we don't revolt. Success? That's something other teams enjoy and we need to forget about while paying the leagues highest prices for everything from tickets to beer and Burkie's hot dogs. And that includes NYC if you can believe it. No respect and no more time. If they want to rebuild then they have to give something back. For the TV fans, we want honesty. If this is what I can expect next year - I don't honestly see why it would be any different - no thanks. I'll wait until later on in the rebuild. I've abandoned them before and I will again. Get your ad revenues with fudged numbers because I'm tired of hopelessness.

For the paying fans: lower prices on tickets, beer, concessions. Fat chance huh. Can you imagine MLSE taking fewer profits as a meaningful gesture to the fans? Me either. They could care less. Just remember, Burke and Wilson are part of the overpaid problem. They work for MLSE. They can pretend to care and I guess they care a little - they'd better for the money we're over-paying them. But don't ever think that they care as much as we the fans. Oh they''ll say they do - and say it convicingly - they're paid hugely to.

This is my team, not theirs. I want something back. It's time.

[moe green]

Don't you see, it's just not good enough anymore. For all the defenders (by the way check out the movie "Defendor") playing well-ish and losing isn't good enough anymore. We've had decades of that. It's time for results.

Too many lost decades. Too many lousy games with Wilson at the helm. Too many horrific mistakes named Beauchemin, Phaneuf, Komisarek and Kessel. Too, too much. Play well and lose - go home and cry to your mamas. It aint gonna wash around here anymore. Oh it's okay, just don't expect the fans to give a crap anymore. We've had it with the corporate bull crap!

[moe green]

Phaneuf plays every powerplay and has ONE GOAL and SIX ASSISTS. Four Leafs D-men at the bottom of the League in shooting percentage: Schenn, Beauchemin, Phaneuf and Kaberle. OVERALL shooting percentage. In the whole league! Kaberle is second worst. Argh!

[moe green]

Yes Nik, Kessel's "not bad." He's the least of our concern.

[80s Leafs]

Hey We BeLeaf:
I'd say Grabovski's value will never be higher than right now. Hopefully Burke can get a decent deal for him right away, rather than waiting until the inevitable 34 game goal-less drought kicks in and he is traded to Nashville at the deadline for a conditional 8th rounder in 2014. (or for Yanic Perreault yet again...)

[Pat]

Do you think the Leafs coaching staff ever look at any game video? Kessel makes the same dumb moves game in and game out. If he doesn't score, which he doesn't, on a regular basis, he is useless to the team. He does absolutely nothing without the puck. A young team like this needs a teacher, someone who can connect with the players, Wilson is not that person, they desperately need a change.

[Kid Delicious/Leaf Shredder]

Oh PP....now you are finally coming around to my way of thinking. That entire blog is exactly what I have been saying for 6 months. Burkie Boy has no clue what he is doing. You may have worded it differently but essentially you are saying just that. Lost confidence is an understatement! This team will not compete against the better teams in the league no matter how long they stay together. The winds of change are beginning to blow.
Alecia....one trade and you are golden? Like a statue maybe...but not on the ice. It will take a lot more than one trade to fix things in Leafland.
If I may state the obvious. YOU NEED A GOALIE!

[Katherine]

@ Robert, there is no simple answer for why we put ourselves through this, other than accepting our fate as diehard fans. And it's because we're diehards that we can b*tch and moan about it, a right that can be reserved only for true fans. It's our lot in hockey life.

@ Vinay, it's all over but the crying, isn't it. *more sighing*

[Nik Culoman]

You kiddies are crazy!! Burkie who has built a Stanley Cup winner, Built an American Olympic team which gave Canada fits last year and almost won gold has no ability to judge talent...HMMMM......I wonder how many of you can post that on a resume....

Has it ever occurred to any of you "Hockey Minds" that come on here just to complain but have no real answers to solve the problems that Burke has his hands tied with the CAP.....That teams won't make deals until the cap hit is reduced by games played....Did that ever occur to anyone?? Why do you think the Phanuef trade last year took so long to pass??? When it was agreed upon back in November or December of last year??? You guys have no clue how the cap works, have no understanding how difficult it is to make trades with a salary cap....But Thank God, for you hockey minds.....

Calgary and Toronto needed to reduce the cap hit.......Burke and Co. understand that moves need to be made...They will be made when the opportunity presents itself...This isn't NHL 2011 by EA SPORTS when you can make trades for any player you want at any given time of the season...There are real restrictions to trades..........Burke will make changes when and if making changes makes sense...

The issues with this Team isn't the Goaltending...How many games has the Monster kept this team in only to have the team not score??????? How many close one goal games has there been?????

I think the only thing you can garantee on in Toronto is the whinning and complaining by its so called "fans"....IF THIS TEAM TO YOU IS WORTH COMPLAINING ABOUT WHY NOT MOVE ON TO A TEAM THAT IS WINNING...IF THAT IS ALL YOU ARE LOOKING FOR!! NO ONE IS KEEP YOU A FAN OF THIS TEAM!!

Just don't comeback when this team starts to win and say..I always knew this would happen.....Because there isn't a bigger group of bandwagon fans in the league than in TORONTO!

No wonder no free agents want to play here...Look at the microscope they are under...I think players like Rick Nash, Cammileri, and so on have done their careers a service by not coming here...Oh by the way....Remember that GOALIE you hockey gods chased out of town named Andrew Raycroft?? Have you looked at his stats lately....HMMMM interesting.....Another player to add to the long list that you hockey minds chased out of town and have gone on to have some great stats....

[We BeLeaf]

@ Kid,
Funny all the faults you mentioned just happen to be problems of the Habs! I'm glad Vinay allows your posts on here as people can actually see for themselves someone who has no clue of hockey. Take some advice from the poster Nik, and stop spreading the hate.

If I may state the obvious. YOU NEED A LIFE!!!

[We BeLeaf]

@ 80's Leafs, thanks for the reply. Good one about Yannic Perreault! I recall he was one heck of a face-off guy, though. The reason I had asked the question to everyone was in Vinay's interview Burke mentioned that help was needed from the outside. It's just speculation on my part, but maybe Burke could swing another deal.

[Michael]

What kills me the most is that I am a lonely Leaf fan who lives just outside Buffalo. I take crap from Sabres fans all year long. This year Buffalo is just as bad, but every time, every stinking time the Leafs pull even in the standings and simply need a win to pass the Sabres they lose! I don't really care about draft picks because the Leafs will inevitably pick the wrong person, I just want them to finish ahead of Buffalo this year. I am a simple man and it is a simple wish yet, sadly, this may never happen.

[Hoofheartz]

Wow, a stinking hab fan offering his/her 2 cents to the Leaf faithful. Delirious, don't the stinking habs have enough to worry about themselves?

[KD]

Just a few thoughts:
Allan (from 6:37 AM) - that was sarcasm I hope - the Leafs traded their first-rounder for the latest saviour.

I don't think Gus/Goat/Goose/Monster was the cause of the loss. In particular, I thought back to The Finnish Sieve when I saw that long bouncer that he had to react to last night (second period, I think). Last year, that would have been a goal for sure. However, he does seem to be fighting the puck a lot. My gut tells me he'll make a good, solid backup for a team some day, but he's not a #1, at least not yet.

Finally, does anyone keep stats on players getting tossed from the faceoff circle? It seems to happen to the Leafs a lot more often than to their opponents. Are their centres really that bad at faceoffs, or are the officials just on a power trip?

[KD]

Goaltending - is it the problem? Nik says it's not and I can't disagree entirely. As I said in my other post, Gus may not have cost us the game last night, and I can think of maybe only one game this season where poor goaltending did cost us the game. However, it would take a lot of effort to think of a game that goaltending won for us as well. You need to have a goalie that can steal a game for you, especially when your supposed top scorers can't find the back of the net with a map. Who was the last goalie here who could be relied on to steal a game from time to time? Eagle? Cujo? Palmateer? Maybe it's time to bring them back along with Perrault.

[moe blue but not white]

Yeah Nik, If only we'd have waited four more years for Raycroft to come around. Of course in one sense you're right. With Raycroft twixt the pipes we might have had Stamkos. Right, as if we wouldn't have traded away the pick.

[Robert]

Those of you who keep on with the 'make a trade' whine are missing the point. BB has brought in quite a few of these folks in white and blue. Many of these guys are his answer to what Toronto needs. It aint working. We have a goalie coach and one goaltender with cup experience, another who was a 'monster' in Europe and one who looks like a fine prospect in the minors. Nuff said, work on them to the end of this season. Correct their mistakes, make them better. Keep Aulie, Schenn, Kaberle, (yeah I know) Gunnarson, Holzer, Blacker on the D. Grabo, Bozak, Zigomanis, Brent, Sjostrom, Brown, Kulemin, Crabb, MacArthur, D'Amigo, Mitchell, maybe Kadri. Make the rest expendable. There are a number of teams who will be looking for a Versteeg, or an Armstrong if they think they can go long in the playoffs, these guys would be in exchange for high draft picks or a prospect. This business of bringing in a player here or there is not going to solve the existing problem. It just continues the frustration we have collectively felt over the last several years. We have been trying this for 44 years now. Build on the youth, get some of those draft picks back and even eat some of the salary if you must to get these guys out of here. Next fall, young, inexperienced to some extent, but, something we can all put our faith in - a rebuilt team. I would rather wait patiently for something I can put my trust in, than the tinkering that has gone on in Toronto for far too long.

[snacker]

@Nik...you're the guy going off on a rant about how Burke really knows his stuff and then go on to bring in Andrew Raycroft into the equation? Like he's the missing piece and we're crazy? Give your head a shake son. The game has passed both Burke and Wilson by...that US team was as hardworking as they come...with Ryan Miller hot, they had a chance from the beginning...I'd say with guys like Kane and Kesler upfront that they had a bit more to work with than the current crop of Maples Laughs...don't compare Apples to Bananas here. The team doesn't have a centre who can match up against any teams 1st or 2nd lines. They have zero net presence at either end of the ice. Burke not trading Kaberle over the summer was a mistake and now they'll get nothing and the d-corps is easily the most overrated bunch in the league. outside of Schenn they don't have much at all back there. This, combined with a coach who wants to play run on gun with a team that can't score at all is a horrible combo. They should be sitting back, not turning the puck over constantly, clogging the middle of the ice and capitalizing on the few chances they might get. Instead they want to play a skilled game, without the skill!!! I was a Burke supporter when he got here, but he has continued to dish out terrible contracts and overpaying vets, just like previous regimes. Sure he has some young prospects who look ok and are probably about 4-5 years away from doing much, but he hasn't done nearly enough to turn this team around. Again, look at Atlanta - atleast they compete hard and have a chance to win ...I would trade that team for the entire Leafs roster in a heartbeat. They play a system and play it well...something the Leafs haven't done since Mr. Burns led this team...

[moe blue but not white]

See that's the problem. Here we are, years into a so-called rebuild and we haven't got a goalie, or defense stinks to high hell and we Grabovski as our best forward. What is next? How are we going to repair it. Answer. We're not, it doesn't matter, MSLE is doing just fine, thus so are the Leafs. Re trading him at he deadline: can you imagine this team without him? What could we possibly get that would replace him. The only way you trade him is if you wanna start the rebuild all over again.

[Leaf Fan in Van]

Hopefully 2011 brings about better results. Happy New Year to all Leaf Nation! http://torontosportsfanblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/leafs-and-raptors-look-forward-to-2011.html

[Nik Culoman]

I never said Raycroft was the missing piece...All I was trying to get across is how all these so called hockey gods that think they know everything have chased out of town some players that have gone on to succeed elsewhere...Why do you ask that happens???

Because the so called "Hockey Minds" who think they know how to assess skill and ability have chased out of town players who with a little more time and patience and placed in roles where they may succeed seem to great when they don't play here.....

One bad shift and "hockey Gods" are ready to ship you out of town......The growing pains of a real rebuild are showing and the people who were crying for a rebuild now don't have the patience to see it through....EVERYONE with any hockey knowledge predicted this is exactly where the Leafs would be in the standings...So it should have been no surprise.........

Hockey News and any other Hockey Magazine that wrote about this season pegged this Leafs team to be exactly where they are...........Battling for maybe an 8th place spot......Or in the 13th to 9th place in the conference....Which funny enough is pretty close to where we find this team today........HMMMMMMMMM Maybe some of you should have read those articles and had more reasonable expectations instead of waking up each morning and complaining all the time...

I am content that with a little more tinkering this team has turned a corner...Maybe not for today...But def. for tomorrow....The farm system which is where we are going to get the talent needed to turn this ship around is starting to produce some serious prospects.....

This team stunk two years ago.....But there was nothing in place to correct this team as fast as most of you would have wanted....But Burke has def. increased our prospect pool, signed players he felt would help the team in years to come...Made a huge trade last year that no one saw coming to bring in Phanuef, Aulie, Freddie S.

This team has also lost many 1 goal games which had the offense been playing up to par may have made those results different. Goaltending isn't the problem, this team needs scoring from lines 1, 3, 4 because our second line which is probably our #1 line of Grabo/Kulemin/McArthur has been doing all it can to keep this team in the game on every night.

But this ship was leaking from all areas before BB came into town...With prospects in the Minors and on the Marlies....With some huge improvements with the additions of Versteeg, Armstrong, kessel this can turn it around.It was going to take some time to fix the Quinn, JFJ era's mistakes...That I am 100% confident.

[Account Deleted]

@ 80's : Please stop the Grabovski trade talk.Laughed out loud at the Yanic Perreault joke though.Damn,dropped a lemon square!

VM Replies: Don't be wasting the squares. You need to ration those from now until April 9.

[Simmer]

Perhaps Nik and I live in different worlds because playing 62 games over 3 seasons as a goalie wouldn't really be succeeding in my books.

As for our current goaltending, it may not be the "problem", but Goose is averaging under .900 for a save percentage and near 3.0 GAA over the past 2 years. This isn't good enough to be a starting goaltender, he needs to be better.

VM Replies: I'm with you on this. Three goals on his first eight shots last night. Brutal.

[Hoofheartz]

Trust Nik to write a Novella when a few words would do. As for the Leafs assessing skill and ability Nik, I only have 2 words for you - Mike Komisarek.

[-]

Sorry Nik, I had 2 more words for you because I forgot - Francois Beauchemin.

[TPiddy]

If Burke's plan is to rebuild from the net out, then how come, over two years, and 18 defensemen (18! - Van Ryn, Stralman, Frogren, Colaiacovo, Exelby, Kubina, Sifers, White, Finger, Kaberle, Schenn, Phaneuf, Aulie, Lebda, Gunnarsson, Beauchemin, Holzer and Komisarek) we still can't keep the puck out of our net or kill penalties?

Defense is the catalyst for everything in the NHL. Burke's plan of building from the net out is the right plan, he's just not doing it right. A better defense with better penalty killing means that players won't be afraid to take penalties. They'll be more aggressive, which is the style Burke promised us. They'll be better able to clear bodies in front of the net or at least challenge a player on his way to the goal. These are qualities the Leafs completely lack right now.

We've been among the worst in the league in penalty killing for the past 5 years now and it has to stop. Burke can forget about fixing the offense, he hasn't even fixed the defense yet.

[Nik Culoman]

Behind a leaky defense....How many times have I read on this site how bad Kaberle, Komi, Beauch...But the goaltending is the issue....HMMMM No Goalie can have great stats playing behind this team....

Let's be honest, how many one goal games has The Monster been in that the Leafs have lost because of poor offense???????? How would we be looking at those games now had the Leafs won those games???? This team is a work in progress, obviously he is going to have good games and bad games...But this team has had good games and bad games.....

Really...What has this team lost if he doesn't pan out?? They gave up nothing for him to begin with..........That is why you build a prospect bank like BB has done so you can go and grab the next and give him a try.....Whereas in the past what you saw is what we had....There was nothing in the minors that could come up....The leafs still have behind The Monster..Rynnas, Reimer, Scirvens (sorry if I spelt that wrong), more options...

Let these kids play.....Things will come together....Did Schenn have a terrible 2nd year last year??? Some of you were of the mindset that he sucked, and wanted to trade him.....How many are happy BB didn't follow your suggestions for that last year???

For fans who preached that they had patience for a rebuild...My you have little patience...Leave these young guys alone, they are playing behind the worst fans in the league.....Who jump on every mistake...No one but the fans made this guy the saviour!! You all did!! Yes, he came in with such fanfare...But his adjustment to a small rink takes time.....

Look at Price, he stunk up the league last year.....How many Habs fans feel lucky that they didn't trade him away????

Fans should stick to just watching the games and cheering their team...Leave the talent assesment to the Pros....STOP CHASING AWAY TALENT LEAF FANS AND MAYBE THAN YOU CAN TRULY ASSESS YOUR TEAM....

That's right...They are only your team when they are winning.......Loyalty in Toronto is in short supply.......But the Arm charir GMS are a dime a dozen!

[Nik Culoman]

This is from a non leaf fan....Interesting read for sure!
skyhawk2

Dec 29, 2010 2:22 PM
P.S. get outta town now Kadri,while you`ve still got a chance
Told you.It`s going to be your fault soon.The media and "fans" will ruin a promising NHL career for you.Excellent,SMART veteran hockey players have freely chosen NOT to sign with Toronto because of just that.Run boy,run ! Before the "fans" run you out of town.Go learn how to play the NHL game in a professional organization,ANYwhere else but Toronto.While you still can.

[Account Deleted]

I was just wondering.Seeing as the team has American connections and we all seem to agree we have a state of emergency,could FEMA be of any help to us?Maybe I'm just grasping at straws.

VM Replies: I'm not sure we could get a half-decent reference from anyone in New Orleans.

[palbo]

I noticed a few references to wives. My wife says that Leaf fans make the best husbands, because they're loyal ....... and STUPID. that about sums up me.
I really, really wish they were better.

VM Replies: All I ask, really, is that you keep your wife away from my wife.

[Simon]

I am willing to stand up and say that I was happy with the Leafs last night. They worked hard under very strange circumstances, and although Carolina isn't great in the standings, they are good on paper with Staal up front and Ward in net. That we battled back consistently just shows we've still got spunk.

What I don't get is how everyone here is so down on them. What happened to just being fans? The Leafs were never really going to win the Cup this year, and we don't have enough players with playoff experience that even if we did make it in, we wouldn't go far. So, what were we expecting?

I like the way we are looking. We've got some prospects in net and a goalie coach to make them better. The Graboluminarthur line is doing really well. They work hard, and play together. Kessel is just missing a guy to give him a puck in stride. Schenn is maturing, slowly but surely. We've got D'amigo, Meuller, and Aulie doing well on the Marlies, and Kadri is starting to hit his swagger. So we have some hope?

I'm going to just say it. The fans here are sucking the fun out of hockey. 40 comments? Its just a game! Our players don't even seem to be smiling when they're winning because we're always taking it to them. I for one am just going to say it: I'm here for the long haul. I'll watch the games no matter what. Why? Because I'm a Leafs fan. Can't help. I was born a Leafs fan. I'm always going to yell at the tv, and I'm always going to look at the positives. Lifes too short to get down on 24 year olds. (and I'm only just 25... can't say I've done any better with my life) Let's give them a chance. This season was never going to be a break-out season, but this is our team, and I'm not going to abandon them!

[Account Deleted]

Ah,Simon.We too used to be wide eyed innocent 25 year olds.Now we are just,yes Palbo,loyal and stupid.You may be too young to understand our philosophy Grasshopper.Just a game???So young.

[Crippler]

@Nik Cul... I agree with most you say but I think Larry Murphy would have been a better example than Raycroft... even Bryan McCabe might have been better... I didn't think Gus looked at all comfortable last night and the Mitchell giveaway was outrageous... over all I thought they played a good game, especially in the second... and I can't figure out what it is that they think Burke or any other GM would do right now... there's not a lot of guys available and not a lot of assets to offer them if their were....

[Alecia]

Simon, you sound just like me! Perhaps Tim B has a point and it's cause we are both 25 and have not yet been withered down by 40 years of Leaf losses yet?

I stand with you!
Go Leafs Go!

[hoofheartz]

Alecia believe me when you've been a fan of the bastards for as long as some of us have they will wear you down too. Makes me wonder why we all still bother despite some people urging us to cheer for another team, as if we could or would.

[Alecia]

Hoofheartz, because its too easy to like a team that's always winning.

[leafland'r]

@Nik (10:01am) re: "I wanted to stay away from all this negativity."
Nik, I have often wondered why you are always so "NEGATIVE" about people just wanting to express their perspective on a situation on any given day.
There's no right or wrong, win or lose, positive or negative in a dialogue... just passion for expression ( and that can't be all that bad). Yet, if you elect to "stay away" from the people who are not reading the same self-help books, I respect that. Enjoy the New Year.

[Alecia]

Seems like a trade is brewing... Lots of rumors circulating and 12 scouts were at the Leaf games Tuesday.

Let's hope it happens soon, and is a good one.

VM Replies: I think we keep the same hours, lady.

[Alecia]

Trade rumors are rampant tonight, can't rip myself away from the computer!

Some really ridiculous rumors though...

[Geoff Read]

Yep, the Leafs stink.

So, they sent Khadri down. No surprise. He should never have been brought up in the first place and doing so was a total bush league move by Burke - turning to an unready teenager or 20 year old or whatever Khadri is to save your season was grossly irresponsible. Burke has lost my respect.

VM Replies: You called it way back when.

[Ken Baumgartner]

What drives me crazy is that the core of this team should be good enough but they aren't. Phaneupf said missing the playoffs is unacceptable. Ok so what are you doing about it? The guys is captain and he is supposed to be producing points. Well where are they? Versteeg just won the Stanley cup and on any other team but the Blackhawks is a 1st or 2nd line player. Yea right, he is on the 3rd line on this disaster. How about you start closing your potential gap just a bit Versteeg. Komeserik and Beauchemin, is this all you have? Monster, Hello are you here? etc, etc.

Mangaement is NOT the problem it is the players. They need to get off their butts and earn their paycheck. What this forum needs to do is start coming down on the players.

@Nik you said they are a middle of the road team? Well, by my calculations middle of the road is playoff bound. This is a bottom feeder that is showing no development over last year. When it matters, they are playing like a bunch of pylons like every other year. Unfortunately the only constant is not management, it changes very so often wth the same results. It is fans who accept losing and keep supporting the losing by saying they will be etter with the young guys coming up.

Vinay, nice to see you communicating with your wife. It must be love.

[Nik Culoman]

"Right Now Seguin has 11 points in 33 games and should be playing in the minors instead of being booed by the Bruins fans like what is happening right now. Kadri going to the Marlies is just a smart management decision and is only media fodder for the dolts who post their drivel on these threads. "

Interesting comment I fond on another site....Seguin the player most of you are still crying over is having similar struggles to Kadri.....But the difference is Seguin is being run into the ground by the Boston Fans/Management....

The leafs tried Kadri out, gave him time to prove himself and he has struggled...They didn't send a kid down who was tearing up the league by no means...Kadri is smallish, needs to add muscle and get tougher while he is on the puck....How many times has he been knocked off the puck during his time up from the Marlies??

Kadri being sent down is a positive..No matter the timing or reason..Previous regimes would have left Kadri to die a slow death in the line up......The media and you the "fans" would have ripped this kid apart if his dry spell continued...He would have gone from the Saviour to another failure....

In Boston Seguin has been booed recently by the Bruins faithful..So my question would be....Who is going to suffer more?? Seguin for being ripped apart by the Boston market...Or Kadri, who the Leafs feel just isn't ready yet and is sent back down.

[Nik Culoman]

FIREMAN1
7 hours ago
"I dont understand how people can comment on here and say he will never be an nhl player? leafs fans boggle my mind. like this kid is the first to ever be sent down to get stronger or to imporve. tons of nhl start have spent time in the ahl came back and played well. thats exactly what will happen with kadri. instead leafs nation writes him off after 4 months of hockey when he is only 20. he is only 20. its called development until you learn what this you will never understand why your terrible. He isnt a bust or not an nhl caliber player and it would be a shame for this team to think that and im a canadiens fan. sometimes you leafs fans just need to think. "

No wonder Leaf "fans" are a joke in the league.....This fan of another team has just stated the hysteria that has taken over so called "fans"

I saw another comment by a "Leafs Fan" bashing Wilson by comparing him to Babock. Interesting, Babock is a coach of a team that has an over abbundance of talent....Wilson is coaching a group that has seen a huge revamping of its roster with still more work needed to be done. This just furthers my opinion that "Fans" in Toronto know nothing about hockey or about "their" team...The Media just continues to push fans to insanity, in a so called hockey market...24 hour news reporting has left sports writers little to talk about so they harp on the negative...They avoid any sense of reason or judgement......

Because most reasonable hockey writters for publications like the Hockey News and so...Had the Leafs right where they are now......The projections had them in this spot.....But "fans" who complain more and know less...and the Media that fans this fire don't care to see that.....

Because bad press sales papers.......and increase ratings.......

VM Replies: I don't recall anybody on this site saying Kadri would never be an NHL player. The debate was over timing and development. And fans have a right to complain, Nik. They really do. This team was rebuilt over the past 12 months to *make* the playoffs. That was the stated goal of all involved. As for your final point, I'm afraid you are simply wrong: A successful Toronto Maple Leafs team is far better for the "media" than a team that is struggling.

[Geoff Read]

Hey Vinay,

Thanks for the props. I did say it was a bad move to bring Khadri up at the time didn't I? I'm amazed you remember that.

I guess we can at least credit Burke with the guts to admit bringing Khadri up was a mistake, and doing the right thing by sending him back down, which is the best thing for his future. Hopefully, his disastrous stint with the big club didn't set his development back too far.

[Nik Culoman]

@ Ken..If this team is so bad....Haven't developed in all your hockey knowledge...Why do you still stay a "fan" Why haven't you moved on...Why not jump on another bandwagon???? Sometimes in sports as in life...You must take two steps back to take one step forward....

But you obviously have no patience for a rebuild....You obviously think this team isn't worth your support or loyalty....So why not find a new team to cheer for??? There are another 16 teams who are in the playoff hunt that you could be cheering for...Why not select one of them......

@ the so-called Leaf "Fans" All I hear is complaining about management...What would you have done differently given the roster BB inherited on Day 1 of his tenure here??? I posted that question long ago...No one has taken me up on it...I would like someone who continues to complain so much to outline what would have been their plan?? Because everyone and anyone can see there are issues...But what are your solutions???

Harping on the issues doesn't fix the problem....If you are going to complain, at least have solutions. Because if not part of the solution than you are part of the problem.

I personally see very little wrong with BB's time here, he has had to make some hard decisions and made some trades/signings haven't caught on just yet...But it takes time to build a Stanley Cup Winner....But I guess with all these special hockey minds that claim to be Leaf "fans" they all feel they can do it faster and better....

[Nik Culoman]

It is every team's goal to make the playoffs Vinay, that I don't dispute....The point, I was making and have been trying to make is this....

Was it reasonable to think this roster with as many players playing their first year in the line-up...Others like Bozak who had only played 30 some old games before this season to be contending for the playoffs....???????

There were question marks before the season started about how this team lacked scoring...How many one goal games has this team lost?? If the Leafs would have won half of them we wouldn't even be having this debate right now....

Yes, I enjoy playoff hockey like the next guy...But I don't start each season with such high hopes that it blinds me from the reality of where this team currently is....They are rebuilding, they are starting from zero....Most of these players are new....some have been thrusted in the limelight maybe before they were ready Bozak being one example...

Bozak, The Monster, ect...Aren't a bust.....They are new to the league...The level of playing in Toronto with the Media pressure and Fan pressure is crazy....There was a blog you posted discussing players who have left Toronto only to go on to have success...Why do you think that is?? Why do you think that has become the norm and not the exception??

The fans and Media jump on the players and chase them out of town....Than we complain where they play great elsewhere...Well had you eased up and placed reasonable expectations the world wouldn't be ending after each loss...

This team may struggle a little longer, but I am confident in BB to do what is right for this team......Than we fans who have stayed on will watch all of those complaining now jump back on the bandwagon when they are winning...Saying...Well 'I always believed in this group, what a great GM BB is.....

Mark my words....All of you who are bashing this team now...Will come running back as if you never abandoned this team when they needed your support the most!

VM Replies: Who is abandoning them? We're here talking about them day after day!

[Geoff Read]

Nik,

I'm not a Leafs' fan but I'll tell you what I would've done differently.

Burke aimed for a quick rebuild, which indicates he thought he could turn the roster around effectively within a short period. That hasn't worked, and I never thought it would. He just didn't have enough to work with to effect the quick reversal of fortune he envisioned.

Accordingly, I would not have made any of the moves Burke made to "make the team better" in the short term, at the sacrifice of the long term.

So... no Phil Kessel trade (cost, two lottery picks [it increasingly seems]), no Kris Versteeg trade [cost: Viktor Stalberg] in particular. Also, I might have signed one of Komisarek and Beauchemin, but not both. Bringing in one veteran guy (and I would've chosen Beauchemin) to stabilize the D made sense, bringing in two just clogs up the roster and takes playing time away from younger players like Gunnarson and Aulie who are (hopefully), the future of the team's back end.

I also wouldn't have drafted Khadri, to be honest. I'm a Londoner and I've seen a lot of this kid - I'm not sure he's going to pan out as an NHLer. He might, but I think there were better prospects available. He's always been a selfish player who plays on the periphery... maybe that can change.

I think the Calgary/Phaneuf trade was a good long-term move, and frankly, I was amazed Burke was able to ship Blake and Toskala out of town and get something of value in return - probably his best move to date. Signing the undrafted guys (Hanson, Stalberg, Bozak, Gustavsson, Rynnas) made sense, but the best of the bunch was shipped out of town for Versteeg.

In short, Burke's mistakes, in my view, have all stemmed from the fact that he misjudged his roster at the outset, believing, for reasons unknown, that he could retool on the fly because the team was good enough to get back to the playoffs sooner rather than later. I always thought he was wrong in that assessment, and the evidence is piling up that he was.

[Ken Baumgartner]

Sending Kadri down is the right thing, but who cares a bout Boston and what they are doing.

The Leafs are not good enough plain and simple and the young players have not shown any development over last year, period. They have taken a step back. The people they brought in are supposed to provide the leadership this team needs to make it to the playoffs this year not next. They are underachieving by monumental proportions and way too many fans are happy about this?

The holidays are not over yet and the Leafs are going backwards. Only a fool thinks otherwise. Don't tell me about paitience and everyone in the minors developing. That is where they are and should be, it is the players on the big squad who are disappointing.

THIS CULTURE OF WINNING SURE HAS A BLUE AND WHITE SHADE TO IT IF YOU ASK ME!

These players should be ashamed to go out in public with the way they are losing, but no they go out in public and are idolized because they play for the Leafs. The fans are too afraid to call them out for some stupid reason. That is the real problem. A perfect example is the outdoor practice, It was covered in the media like they were conquering heroes when really they are underachieving, overpaid bums. It is shameful that they are put on such a pedastal for 28th place. That is why there is blue and white disease.

[Alecia]

So looks like Grabo isn't in the line up tonight as his girlfriend is expecting any day now. Keith Acton will be playing with Kulemin and MacArthuer. Will be interesting to see how we do without our comeback kid.

[Nik Culoman]

@ Ken they haven't taken a step back...They are right where everyone said they would be.....All the projections had this team right where they are now......We all knew they lacked scoring, that we all knew that Gustavsson was in his second year and like most may struggle through the sophmore jinx as did Schenn last year....Most knew this team would struggle again, sadly most don't use reason and common sense, that isn't this team's fault but your own.

Teams who have taken a step back would be Boston, Ottawa, Hurricanes, ect. who have a better line-up on paper and who find themselves only mere points ahead of Toronto.

I think Leaf "Fans" have taken a step back....actually many steps back since they are currently struggling...Watch how quickly "fans" coming running back once the winning starts again....Than everyone becomes "fans" again, all the "I told you so's" come out, the one i like " I always knew this would happen, I never questioned any of it"........Followed by " I was patient, and I stayed by this team"........

It is said how quickly real fans can peg you "fans" from a mile away...

[Nik Culoman]

Current standings:

Ottawa 36 pts....38 games played (10th in the Conference)
Buffalo 34 pts.....37 games played (11th in the Conference)

Toronto which everyone has said has taken steps back...

Toronto 30 pts....35 games played....

So the gap isn't that big if the team can string together some wins...Those two teams I have mentioned haven't moved forward in years......Both teams are probably in worse shape than the Leafs....Ottawa more so....Because that team will have to be exploded and started again....

http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?type=con#&navid=nav-stn-conf

So as the hysteria grows...so does the gap between reality and sanity in Leaf Nation.

[Alecia]

Sorry, I meant to say Keith Acton is IN the line up with Kule and MacArthur at practice, not at the game. Not sure who will actually be playing.

[morris blue-bastards]

Lots of chatter about moving Grabovski. Yes he's our best asset but the only reason to trade him would be if we were predicting many more seasons of futility. Can't see a trade involving Grabovski. Giguere, Beauchemin, Komisarek, Kaberle would be wonderful to move - but who exactly wants them? And if anyone does want them we're certainly not going to get any significant assets back.

If Burke is serious about retooling for a playoff push this year as he says, then the only way to do it would be to add a bad contract or two to our ledger. Lecavelier springs to mind. What would Tampa be willing to pay us to unload that albatross? Kind of a tantalizing prospect isn't it? How about Giguere, Beauchemin to Tampa for Lecavelier and a prospect a first and a second? Sounds interesting to me. I bet his career would be instantly resurrected in Toronto. Careers usually are resurrected here right?

What thinks ye all?

[moe bluethanu]

Gee, I can hardly wait to see the Leafs play without Grabovski. Yikes.

[moe bluethanu]

You know what my Stanley Cup would be this season? If the Leafs finished ahead of the Bruins in the standings. Okay, and the Sens and Canadians too.

[Pyramid Power]

Trade winds a blowin', wonder who's a goin'? Who can say but I would definitely think one of our defencemen. Hopefully both Komisarek and Lebda but who would want them?

Grabbo out tonight if that is the case is not good. Columbus has never beaten us in reg. time. We are 5-0-2 with one tie against the Jackets all-time.

Jackets beat Minny 4-3 in a shootout on Monday so they will be well rested, and there is The Nash Factor. Returning Toronto lad, awesome player, likely to light us up but hope for the best.

Nash not having a great year with only one point more than Grabovski with a team leading 28 points including 17 goals. Grabovski leads the Leafs with 27 points. I imagine Grabbo will be a hot commodity in trade talks with the Leafs. Gotta salute the guy for what he has done to improve his game since being deemed expendable by Montreal.

See what happens. Should be an interesting game.

Imagine Gustavsson will be starting for us and hope he gets it done. He has to start getting it done, or it may soon be time to check out Rynnas and of course Reimer. Hope we come out with the same energy and intensity that we did on Tuesday, but score the first goal or two and nail it down. Kessel looked superb last game and I hope he goes wild again tonight.

GO LEAFS GO!

[Alecia]

moe bluethanu - that would be an ideal finish this season, I think. Even if not the Habs, at least the Sens and Bruins!

[Pyramid Power]

Lecavalier has been playing well since his return Moe. I don't think Stevie Y. and Guy Boucher would be interested in Giggy that is for sure. And I don't think they would want to move Vinny. Ownership might though with that huge contract, but from what I understand Yzerman makes all hockey decisions and does not have to clear moves with the new owners.

My Stanley Cup every year is finishing ahead of the Canadiens, and them not making the playoffs. Last year almost killed me. Their recent free fall that hopefully continues tonight in Tampa and tomorrow in Miami has helped get me through this month. :)

[Pyramid Power]

Sorry. My Lecavalier trade comments were meant for moms blue bastards. Did not get my magnifying glass out to see the poster's name properly. Thought it was Moe. My bad.

[Pyramid Power]

Oops again. morris blue-bastards. That was the poster's User Name I was looking for.

[TG77]

Lots of interesting discussion today about trades and I have to say I don't see us getting much back for Beauchemin or Jiggy (or teams being interested in taking Komisarek) but I do know if they do get traded, they will revert back to their old selves and play great somewhere else. It's just the Leafs version of Murphy's Law.

I am fine with Kadri being sent down but Wilson felt the need to take a shot at him in the media again saying he was getting 17 mins/game and playing on the 1st or 2nd line and a lot on the PP and not getting results so he needs to get better in the minors. I don't see how playing a fair amount with John Mitchell is going to help anyone's career and at one point in Kadri's time he was just below a point per game (about 7 or 8 games in after a 2 pt night). Why do fans of the team seem to want to write him off so early? Little Schenn was drafted 2 spots ahead of Kadri and he is lighting it up in the juniors and I doubt any Kings fans are saying he sucks or the prospects of him being an NHL player are in doubt because he didn't stick with the Kings this year. Granted, Schenn didn't make the Kings because they have Kopitar and Handzus (and others) at the C position ahead of him but there is no rush to bring him into the fold before his time. Even a player like Bozak would have benefitted from a year in the AHL in my opinion. Put a line together of Kadri-D'Amigo-Bozak or throw in Hanson, Mueller or Irwin and see if the Calder trophy in Kadri's future is the Calder Cup. If it is a rebuild, give the kids a chance to develop outside of the media glare and learn to win, gain some confidence.

Nik - I understand what you are saying about Gusto having a sophomore slump but I think the disappointment is that he is 25 or 26 years old so not like when Steve Mason's play dropped significantly as a 21 year old. Mason interestingly enough is not even the #1 now with the Jackets.

Pyramid Power - I also understand what you are saying about the leafs standing compared to the habs but doesn't it kinda suck that we are "happy" if the Habs miss the playoffs too. Oh and btw, I read some of your hilarious comments on yahoo before. I posted as Todd but I found the level of maturity on that site to be so ridiculous and this blog is a great step up with good discussion in general so if I am going to spend time that I should be working on my dissertation to talk hockey, this is going to be it.

Finally, one comment made above about the team being treated like heroes for the outdoors practice, they were treated like heroes because the team refurbished an outdoor rink for area residents. If the team were doing well in the standings the cynicism towards their community work would disappear in a hurry.

[Nik Culoman]

@ TG77 Gusto is a rookie by NHL standards...This is his second full year in the league...There are huge differences in playing styles and rink size that make getting used to the N.A. game a little harder....His age but experience seems to play a huge role in his slump this year....

Lat year he seemed to be a blue chipper...as did Schenn is his first year in the league...Than like Schenn seems to be struggling..Like last year with Schenn people are ready to run this guy out of town, saying his has no ability, and they wasted time and money on this guy......People were all over Schenn last year...Now look at the gem we have....Probably our best dman on most nights if not every night.

But what a horrible mistake it would have been had the Leafs traded Schenn because they listened to the fanbase, Don't you think???????

Only in Toronto do players get chased out of town...than get hated on when they do great elsewhere...Well had you had patience to begin with...

Fans in Toronto are far too emotional and irrational.....They are a joke amongst other fans...Not for their Loyalty but for their irrational and emotional game by game rants....I posted a couple of comments I was able to find on other sites from fans who state just that.....

[We BeLeaf]

Hello to everyone here! It's apparent that the trade talks are already heating up and the speculation is running rampant. Will a trade(s) make an immediate impact? Not likely, but would it be enough to sneak them into the playoffs? Maybe.

Since it appears that quite a few of Vinay's blogs eventually turn toward the negative, I thought I'd be the one to inject a little needed humour into this blog. Full credit goes to the original poster of this joke. Enjoy and let me know if you guys like the old school Leafs reference...

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the LA Kings were playing each other during the playoffs and after one particularly aggressive game, the Leafs goalie Felix Potvin felt he had to address the situation.
Felix called up Wayne Gretzsky and invited him over for an informal BBQ to bury the hatchet. Wayne replied that he would attend, but could he bring his dad, who was in town to watch he game. Felix agreed without reservation.
As mealtime approached, Felix also invited some neighbourhood kids to the BBQ, so they could meet Gretzsky.
A dozen boys came and were awestruck the entire evening. The next day at the local Catholic school, the entire class was abuzz with the news, so the teacher asked one of the boys what it was like to BBQ with Potvin & Gretzsky.
The boy replied "It was just like heaven, we met the father, son and the goalie host".

Cheers to all in Leafs Nation

[TG77]

Nik, I have no intention of getting into a back and forth, but please point out where anyone suggested running Jonas out of town. Can you at least allow fans to be annoyed when they don't play well and not suggest that Leafs fans are bandwagoners when the fans (who are here in droves on this blog discussing the leafs day after day) point out players who are not meeting expectations? If we were bandwagoners, would we be here and watch the games on crappy online feeds in Shanghai, Detroit, Vancouver etc? I have Leafs jerseys, t-shirts, a hat, a toque, shot glasses (very handy this year) and a coffee mug so I am a fan (maybe too much of one at times) but I think it is okay if the Leafs get criticized when they play poorly, especially the veterans who were meant to bring some stability. It is like you yourself assembled this team and you take every criticism levied against the team like it's an attack on you or your family. I said to give Kadri some time (isn't your big thing you preach all related to patience) and that Bozak should have had a year to be in the AHL. When the Leafs came out of camp with Bozak, Grabovski, Brent and Zigomanis as our centres, it is only naturally to be a little weary of where the goals were going to come from and I didn't have great expectations of the team but there are players like Phaneuf, Komisarek, Kaberle and Beachemin who on paper give us a really solid back-end who are playing below expectations. They aren't fresh-faced rookies and combined make about $20 million dollars so you expect some level of competency. I also like some of our prospects i.e. Aulie, Mueller, Hanson, Irwin, Ross and so on but it doesn't make being 28th in the league any easier to swallow does it when the 1st rounder in 2011 is going to a division rival.

[Pyramid Power]

@TG77 Wow! YOU were Todd eh? Always gave you a big thumbs up for intelligent knowledgable posts. Trying to recruit Shawnaldo over here, but no luck so far. Would be a great addition.

I just hate the Canadiens bro'. Of course I expect more than just finishing ahead of them. Actually, check that, I do not hate the Canadiens aside from Yappy Lappy (Maxim Lapierre), but their fans that boo the American anthem, boo their returning players to death like Komisarek and Grabovski, boo the hell outta players who spurned their free agent advances such as Briere and whine like nobody else when a ref' call goes against them are despicable.

I rejoiced the other night when Isles fans serenaded the Canadiens with ole ole ole ole ole at the end of the game and a win for New York over Montreal. Montreal fans like to start that crap in the first period with a one goal lead, and they are foolish enough to think that that does NOT motivate the hell outta the other team. Ridiculous. Truly hateful fans in Montreal and I know as I used to live there and go to lots and lots of games at the Forum. Classy fans then.

Trashy fans now that like to riot after playoff losses or wins, and need the Montreal cops to play soothing music outside the stadium after games to hopefully stop Hab hooligans from torching police cars. True story. The cops there did that last year. Amazing.

You know nobody is going near Giggy and that $7 mill contract, his wretched numbers this year, lousy save percentage, inconsistency, injury woes etc.... The trend in the league is to move towards cheaper goalies, and Giggy is not cheap. He also goes UFA next Canada Day so he isn't going anywhere unfortunately unless as a throw in imo. Also I think Burke, being a good man, will keep him here so his child continues to receive superb medical care at Sick Kid's.

I was fine with Kadri coming up for awhile, and I am fine with him going down. I wish they had sent him down earlier, and I found Wilson's comparison of Kadri to Stamkos and what they did with Stamkos to be a little ludicrous. I think the kid will be fine eventually, but you can clearly see how desperate Burke, Nonis, Poulin and the gang are bringing him up. Burkie was loathe to do that with Ryan and Perry in Anaheim, and gave them time to develop in the AHL.

Not so sure about your Murphy's Law assertion with Leafs leaving us and doing so well at least not lately. White is nothing special now with Carolina. Stajan is a bum and a healthy scratch with Calgary. Mayers is doing OK with San Jose filling his role, but not much more than that. Hagman doing OK with Calgary but not tearing it up. Stempniak doing OK with Phoenix, had a great start after he was dealt there last year but has come back to Earth since then. Blake doing nothing in Anaheim. Toskala out of the NHL. Antropov doing OK with Atlanta. Kubina doing well, miss him. Frogren vanished off the hockey map as far as I know. Finger buried. Steen and Coliacovo doing well with St Louis but that trade was made by either JFJ or Fletch so does not count as far as this regime goes.

Stalberg doing well with Chicago, but we will see down the road who gets the better of that deal. I have an awful feeling Chicago will because Stalberg is simply more talented and has more upside than Versteeg. BUT Versteeg can do it in the playoffs and is great in the room from all that I have heard. Can play better and I think he will. Will see how that deal works out.

If you ore anyone else can think of other players please chime in. Late over here. Agree with you TG77 about Yahoo just getting ridiculous. Just beyond the beyond, but it always has been really. I just got sick of it, and then discovered Mr. Menon's blog here and would much rather post here amongst fellow Leaf lovers than the madness on those threads.

You are right about the refurbishment of that rink at Bathurst and Dundas. The team or MLSE or whoever paid major bucks to renovate that arena. Who is going to go up to the Leafs and give it to them anyway? Leaf fans are classy and generally do not get on the team that much. Although sometimes I really wish they would. I actually liked Waffleboy doing what he did, and if the Leafs players continue to stink, I hope fans will boo them as loudly as they can.

As Ken Baumgartner rightly notes, this team does not deserve love. The management is not at fault. These are highly paid hockey players who should rightfully be ashamed to go out in public and should be ashamed of their play for the most part. They should be apologizing to Wilson, Burke, and most of all, the fans for their wretchedness this year.

[Nik Culoman]

But we beleaf.......I know you mentioned these blogs seem to be going negative....But that just isn't the case......Don't you know that these blogs are to stimulate conversation and is a way for a Loyal Leaf fan expresses his feelings on this team...... *sigh*

I have been noticing that too, and if you read the Toronto Sun as well, you get a similar theme......Have you listened to Wilbur in the afternoons or Crystal Nation on the Fan 590..I don't think I have heard anything constructive at all....

Sorry Vinay, but others are noticing what I noticed awhile back.....Try writting that blog on the Prospects...There seems to be some hugely positives strides made in the farm system ranks.

VM Replies: I'm a fan of this team, Nik. Period. But that doesn't mean I'm a blind cheerleader.
I remain baffled by your notion that fans should not express frustration. Or that this frustration is somehow a vile symptom of craven impatience or irrational hubris or solipsistic fickleness. As Brian Burke said last week: "I'm as frustrated as you are."
Does that make him a bandwagon jumper?
Also, I could be wrong about this, but I think WeBeLeaf's "negative" was a general reference to the tenor of the discussion that inevitably follows a game-loss post.

[Nik Culoman]

Let me get this straight..When the Leafs were struggling to score back before Kadri was brought up everyone begged for him to be brought up.....Than when he was brought up everyone said FINALLY....THE KID WOULD DEVELOPE BETTER IN THE NHL......Some of you were on Burke and Co. for delaying his promotion to the big club....

Now that Kadri has struggled,they have decided to get him out of the spotlight and media scrutny......They have decided to send him down...Now everyone is complaining about the manner he was sent down... What does Burkie have to do to make a right decision???

The kid was struggling, they tried benching him but than decided to send him back for conditioning and to work on his game and Burke is been bashed for this move.....

IN TORONTO....DAMNED IF YOU DO...DAMNED IF YOU DON'T.....No matter who the GM would be, nothing they would have done would have been good enough....Had the Leafs signed on another GM, you all would have been complaining they didn't get Burke......They get Burke and some of you want to fire him after two seasons....

I just don't get some of you....This is truly a game by game knee jerk response by some irrational "fans"....The media only feeds into it.......

VM Replies: No matter what happens tonight, I am going to review the game as Nik Culoman. This is now my plan.

[TG77]

Hah, yes I "was" Todd or am Todd still as the case may be. I was being sarcastic about the murphy's law. Maybe I needed to be more forthright with my reference to it being the (Larry) Murphy law given he was a decent piece for the Wings winning the cup after being booed out of T.O. Antropov had a great season last year (would have been our highest point getter) but is doing so-so this year and you are bang on with the others. Steen would have been a fairly valuable player now and at one time was, along with Kaberle, going to be traded for Pronger, so to have to trade another former 1st rounder to get Stempniak a few years later it kinda hurts. If you look at Hal Gill, he is maybe the only other guy who you do a double-take and say "huh?", you didn't play that way with the Leafs, ever. You are wrong about Blake...he laid a fairly dirty cross-check on a guy I think most fans of opposing teams would hate as much as you hate Lapierre, one Patrick Kaleta. The Sabres lost Roy, the Sens lost Spezza so those are two teams the Leafs need to find a way to pass in the standings and the Habs are on a free-fall. I wonder if this goes back to when Markov got hurt? As for the ole ole song, there is a hilarious youtube clip of the fans singing na na na na and the Leafs scoring the tying goal at the same time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObdRn1MWvik

[Simmer]

@Nik

I'm not sure if you think using the term "Leaf Fans" in quotations solidifies every point you make, because it doesn't. Most Leaf Fans don't think half of what you accuse them of. In fact, all I ever read from you are how much you dislike Leaf Fans.

Everyone has a right to their own opinion on the team and disagreeing with management does not make someone not a fan. In fact, I would argue it makes them more of a fan because they truly care about their team and want to see it succeed. If anything can be taken from the fact that there has been 43 years of futility and it is still the most profitable franchise in the NHL, it is the fact that Toronto has some of the most loyal fans out there.

[Nik Culoman]

@ Simmer....I know, like the old saying goes...opinions are like bums....Everybody has one...But it doesn't mean that the rantings of a "fan" especially ones that haven't been rationally thought out are correct...

No one is willing or able to take me up on my question on how they would have built the team differently given what BB inherited 2 years ago.....My feelings against people who just rant with no real plan are that they aren't being productive and just restating what most if all already know....

They have no plan or ideas to fix things...They always think they can do it better......They complain about cheering for a loosing team day in and day out.......So why stay cheering for this team?? I think Toronto fans are fans of complaining and that's why they stay fans....

If someone truly cares about their team, why no come up with solutions than??? Why be constructive when things go well....Why not be reasonable in understanding the situation with this team....This team by all accounts has been blown up to bits and is obviously still missing pieces to be productive and successfull..

But no team that has won a cup....Was ever built over night....Even the Red Wings were bad for years......before they brought in Kenny Holland and Co to turn things around. Chicago up until last year were struggling, Pittsburgh almost lost their team before they turned it around, I can state even more examples..But I know people get my point...

Toronto had its run...during that run they felt it was important to use patch work to fill in the wholes just to get into the playoffs..Traded away prospects, picks for aging or close to retirement vetrans......What did that get us??????

So BB comes along decimates the Muskoka 5, Kaberle is a stubborn bugger but I hope he will be gone next year. He has brought in 9 former 1st round picks, grabbed any and all talented prospects he could beating out many teams in the case of the Monster & Bozak....

Surely there needs to be time to allow BB to right the ship...Only a few blogs ago people were calling for BB to be fired....Which is the biggest knee jerking response one could ever point out.

That is my point Simmer.....To fix 43 years of mistakes and to fix a decimated farm system takes time....BB has the courage not to bend and he has a plan for this team..something other GMs in the past can't say they ever did.

VM Replies: I think Geoff Read took up your challenge earlier in this thread.

[Nik Culoman]

Now VM do you really think not making the Kessel trade and having an inexperienced Seguin would have changed this year's result??? Do you really think that have Stalhberg would have changed the results for this year???

Because if your answer those questions are no......which seems to be the point of Geoff's post than we are no better today for not making the trades.....That is why you can't tell how things will shape up with this team for years to come once BB has completed his make over of the roster....

This season isn't finished yet, and there are currently teams dropping down the standings...If BB can pull out another trade or two I think we can at least compete for the final playoff spot and still remain competitive for years to come...Because BB hasn't brought in aging vets....But youth or players that still need time to develope....

[Gerhard]

The crowing from Leafs fans following the fast start has long since been silenced. Fans who were talking about challenging for the division or conference title have been well and truly chastened. Waking up to the realities of no first line centre has forced them to embrace a respectable 2nd line and try to create the fiction that Grabovski, MacArthur and Kulemin are a 1st line in waiting. The defence seems to be weaker than the sum of its parts while the fans who were calling the Leafs D the best 6 in the league have fallen silent.

Leafs fans seem shocked when reality sets in. Somehow they convince themselves every September that the team is going places. Following the strike fans were convinced that the team was built to succeed in the "new" NHL and managed to convince themselves that missing the playoffs the season after was just bad luck. Over-priced players like Tucker and McCabe were feted like royalty until the team missed the playoffs for a second time then the complaining began, naturally tempered by the "beleaf" that the team was really close to being a contender.

The arrival of Burke on the scene made fans forget that it takes time to rebuild a weak team, but a few smooth words and the excitement began: Burke was a Cup winning GM! Never mind his long term record with the Canucks squad he put together himself: his couple of seasons in Anaheim were seen as a template. Unfortunately his predecessors in Toronto didn't leave the cupboard as well stocked as those in Anaheim. This didn't faze Leafs fans, after all they had met the signing of Jeff Finger with cheers: Fletcher wouldn't sign the wrong guy to a big contract.

Fans need to stop thinking every player who signs with the team is on his way to a career year in the blue and white. They have to stop thinking that college hockey or other minor league experience means signing a FA from those ranks is a "steal." Players like Bozak simply are not equipped to jump to the NHL and be productive from game one. Fans also need to start paying attention to the other teams in the league and stop pretending that the quality of an individual is lessened by the jersey he is wearing. The number of times I have read Leafs fans denigrating productive players from other teams is astounding.

Read the fans forums and blogs: how many Leafs fans predict a Leafs win before every game? There are some forums where one can read endless reasons why the Leafs "really are better than their standing indicates" and how the Leafs will defeat their opponent of the day. Their justifications and excuses sound reasonable unless one actually pays attention to what goes on in the rest of the league. Until Leafs fans start to realistically assess the quality of the players and show some respect to the teams around and above them they will continue to be disappointed.

VM Replies: I'm going to print out this comment and stick it on my office wall.

[We BeLeaf]

@ Nik,
I really appreciate your posts, you always seem to view the positive outcome of all things Leafs. I for one think that if your positive outlook were shared by all, then these blogs would be more inclined to discuss aspects of the game, the players, etc. rather than to focus on things that we as fans have no control over. That being said, I must agree with others that need this blog to generally vent as a possible means of emotional release, so even if some of the comments are negative, let it slide. It doesn't mean that they're any less a fan, and above all, no one has a right to judge anyone else. In any case, I do listen Watters on the radio, but a lot of times find myself having to change stations because of his general trash talking of the team. ***Perhaps Vinay you could arrange an 'unplugged' interview with Bill Watters to see what he really would say?***
@ TG77, like PP, I enjoyed your posts on the 'other' boards as well. I didn't know your name is Todd, so I must apologize for my Todd (the Putz) Gill joke I posted awhile back. It was not meant in a derogatory manner towards your namesake.
Well Vinay, it appears nobody liked the joke...tough crowd I guess. I'll have to come up with up some better material. By the way solipsistic, fantastic word!
Cheers!

VM Replies: I liked the joke!

[TG77]

No worries We BeLeaf, I don't actually remember the joke and wouldn't have taken offense even if I did. Those 'other' boards are riddled with children and I actually used to just read stuff as part of research I was doing for a paper I was writing for a course related to online forums but then I couldn't help but post after some pretty awful racist rants against Venus and Serena Williams in some tennis stories and a lot of nasty comments directed towards the Habs fans when they booed the US anthem (a small minority of them did that), Canada in general etc during the Olympics and the World Juniors.

I wondered what people think of all the Canadian fans buying up the world junior tickets for the US games and cheering on whomever the US is playing and booing the US team. It just seems like a weak approach in my opinion. I get why the Canadian fans want to support team Canada but booing the US team and jeering the goalie (who won the gold last year) makes us look like kids. It's just a way of motivating the US to win and while I get they are the biggest rivals in hockey now, it's unnecessary to give the US any more reason to get up for what will likely be the gold medal game.

Anyway, one hour til game time so I should get to the liquor store just in case things go poorly. Kidding. We have tons of booze here already for such occasions.

[Pyramid Power]

Got a brief pre-game nap in and am ready for anything. Loved the joke We BeLeaf. Good stuff. This is a Leafs support group and indeed a place to vent so whether I am swakked or not I like to vent either joyfully or sadly etc.....

Geoff Read did indeed take up Nik Culoman's challenge as to what Leaf fans would have done. I also took up the challenge a number of blogs ago assessing what I thought of every deal Burke has ever made or the ones that I could remember off the top of my head. That must have gone unnoticed by Nik.

Mr. Culoman I have a suggestion for you. I hope you will pay heed. You have been talking about our prospects for awhile and I love that. And you have been talking about writing a guest blog about what's in the proverbial cupboard.

Why don't you choose one player everyday, one of our prospects, and give us your thoughts on that player with links to other articles, The Hockey News and every source of info you can dig up on everyone from Blacker to D'Amigo to Ross to McKegg etc......? That would be very informative and interesting. I think you should start with Jussi Rynnas. I would love to hear more about this kid. What say you?

@TG77 Loved the Blake reference and him smoking Kaleta. OK, well in that case Shake 'n Blake is doing GREAT in Anaheim. LOL

@Vinay YOU are trying to kill me right? "Or that this frustration is somehow a vile symptom of craven impatience or irrational hubris or solipsistic fickleness." AWESOME! LOL LOL LOL

Please please do post your blog after this game as one Nik Culoman. Please do it. I will love you forever for that.

GO LEAFS GO!

VM Replies: The play-by-play seat is now yours, PP.

[Pyramid Power]

Will do my very best Vinay. Am searching for a good stream. My mood is bright, the sun is up and shining over here and life is good. Please Leafs do not ruin my festive mood tonight. Please, please I beseech you.

GO LEAFS GO! I would be surprised and disappointed if Grabovski does not get back in there tonight. He's been a trooper almost all year. What's a minor thing like a baby right Mickey Grabs? lol Just jesting. I DO hope he is in though.

[TG77]

How would the post go exactly?

Excerpt pt 1: Wow, that was a horrid blind pass by Beauchemin (or Komisarek) up the middle onto the tape of Rick Nash making the score 4-2 for the Jackets. But let me remind you that Jesse Blacker in the OHL is really good so who cares and Keith Aulie scored 2 goals for the Marlies the other day so I just can't stop smiling.

Excerpt pt. 2: Hmm, Gusto let in a goal on the first shot he faced...but let me remind all of you that this doesn't matter because Burke signed Scrivens, Rynnas and Reimer so again, just try to wipe this smile off my face and I double dog-dare any of you to say which goalie you would have signed instead of Jonas.

Anyway, I am kidding Nik because you rightly so have pointed out the good players in the pipeline added by Burke and I am in no way suggesting Jonas deserves the goats for this season because he was in the nets for a bunch of games in which the Leafs scored either zero or one goal and wasted a bunch of solid efforts from him so he should likely be about even on the season for W-L record.

What the Leafs lack up front is a player such as Lucic, Dustin Brown, Mike Richards, Chris Stewart on the Avs or Jamie Benn on the Stars. A young player who can score and kick some ass. Anyone else see Benn's scrap with Iggy? Wow. Even Evander Kane can throw some pretty big hits and gets in some good scraps but there is no such player on the Leafs right now because while Armstrong has great forechecking and puck battling skills (and numchuk skills, sorry had to throw in Napoleon Dynamite there) he has 3 goals. These aforementioned kids are basically made in the mould of what Brian Burke wants in a player but a lot of the forwards on the current Leafs squad are undersized. I do like Bozak's attempt to become more physical this year but his hits are not generally going to separate too many NHL d-men from the puck. Grabovski is a scratch so he can be with his girlfriend for the birth of their child. I wonder if the kid will be born with a mullet?

Go Leafs Go.

VM Replies: Oh, man. I can't beat what you just wrote.

[Pyramid Power]

No Grabbo. Bummer.

Let's see how the new guy does tonight.

Looking for lots of play by play help tonight and colour as always from Moe and anyone out there.

GO LEAFS GO!

[Pyramid Power]

Will be interesting to see how Boyce and Crabb do tonight.

Get it done tonight Goose! No cheapies. And Mike Komisarek, do a job tonight. Hope Mason is off.

[Pyramid Power]

Bozak with two excellent chances so far. Nice to see Boyce start the game. MacArthur good shot and drove to the net nicely after his shot. Nice to see Phaneuf get his shot on net too.

Two two on one's given up. Nice save by Goose. No giveaways guys. Watch Rick Nash PLEASE!

Gotta score the first one here as always. So critical.

[Pyramid Power]

Hilarious TG77. How can you beat that indeed Vinay?

[Pyramid Power]

Phaneuf looked horrible there on that chance by Columbus. Paired with Beauchemin and man did the Jackets come close to scoring because of a liassez faire attitude by Phaneuf.

Nice to see an old friend in Anton Stralman. Hope Oakville native Steve Mason gives up a cheapie or four.

[Pyramid Power]

More wretched coverage by Phaneuf and Beauchemin almost results in a lead by Columbus. Get it together guys!

I see Phaneuf standing around looking useless too often. Twice SO FAR tonight. Not good.

[Pyramid Power]

Do you have a generous streak we don't know about Mike Komisarek? Horrendous giveaway and the Jackets hit metal. Post our best buddy there or it is 1-0.

[TG77]

btw pyramid, what feed are you watching? I got nothing out of the trusted atdhe.net. i think it might be an idea to break up francois and dion. only one defensive pylon allowed per pairing.

[We BeLeaf]

Goal! By Kulemin, assist by MacArthur and his first point by Marlies callup Boyce.

OK we have the first goal now