Game 59: When nothing happens

I should have listened to you. I should have not watched last night's snoozefest this morning.

On a night when the Canadian Forces were honoured, a night that started with soldiers rappelling down from ceiling beams and Tiger Williams waving to the crowd from a roof hatch of a military vehicle, the Leafs stumbled into the Battle of Ontario and shot blanks.

In total, 47 rounds were pumped toward Craig Anderson, who was playing his first game for Ottawa after a Friday trade with Colorado. He was solid when he had to be. But he could've played without equipment since most of the shots he faced were duds, symbolized perfectly by Nikolai Kulemin's botched attempt in the shootout that "lifted" Ottawa to a 1-0 win.

Since nothing happened, there's nothing to write. Instead, I leave you with short video recaps (to fully appreciate the sound and fury that signified nothing last night, you are encouraged to play these clips at the same time):

First Period

 

Second Period

 

Third Period

 

Overtime

 

Shootout

 

PHOTO: CHRIS YOUNG/CANADIAN PRESS

Comments

[waffles2010]

Good one Vinay. I feel a little bad for predicting the big letdown game. They are maddeningly inconsistent. Tuesday is another game. Hoping for a more inspired effort against the NYI.

VM Replies: I think "letdown" is the perfect compound word for what I just witnessed.

[Ostrich_Lover]

Vinay, I stongly disagree. Last nights game was very exciting. Schenn and Phaneuf both laid out some guys. Kessel, Lupul and Bozak were dangerous all night, as was Grabovski. Anderson made 50 saves and that was the difference. Some of those saves, especially in overtime , where spectacular.

The Leafs played an absolutley solid game and Riemer got a shut out. Its too bad that Anderson played the best game of his life, b/c T.O shoulda won 7-0

Can someone please tell me how Wilson elects to keep both Kessel and Lupul on the bench in the shootout? That is just ridiculously bad coaching.

VM Replies: There were some good hits in the first. The best one, in my opinion, was Lebda on Neil.
Except for overtime, when he was stopped twice by both of Anderson's legs in less than a second, most of Kessel's shots were not dangerous. At least, not in my opinion.
So I respectfully disagree with you: Anderson was not the difference. The Leafs anemic power play was the difference.

[TimB]

I played the cricket video over and over while contemplating and I hate to say this but..........Moe could have a point.To me the team looked to be in mourning.Now just as I hoped the ALF blog would come out of the grieving stage,I wait for Tuesday to see if the Leafs do.

VM Replies: I predict a huge game on Tuesday. As Waffles noted, this one felt like an emotional letdown. The sound and fury signified nothing.

[TimB]

Shakespeare in the house!

[Ostrich_Lover]

Yes, Lebda on Neil was awesome. Yes the Leafs Powerplay sucked. But, I dont care how you shake it down 47 saves, plus at least one goal post and 2 saves in a shoot out (Kulemin?) is an amazing performance by a guy who was just traded for Elliot - a terrible insult to a guy who was a Vezina finalist (i think) last year.

To me, this was one of those games where the Leafs deserved to win, and didnt. But, maybe it was the 4 cans of Becks, I thoroughly enjoyed the game.

VM Replies: "Power play" was an oxymoron last night. They didn't even get a *shot* on three of their six tries.
I'm glad you enjoyed the game. Perhaps I should have popped open a few cold ones this morning.

[Vinay Menon]

Just remembered some people can’t play YouTube videos through the blog. So for these people, here is an alternate review – 10 random Bob Cole quotes:

1. “Nothing happening yet.”
2. “That play is broken up.”
3. “We have a stoppage in play.”
4. “Still nothing happening.”
5. “The puck is dumped out.”
6. “They can’t get anything going on this power play.”
7. “Can anybody beat these goalies tonight?”
8. “And nothing happened on that rush.”
9. “Can you believe this night in Toronto?”
10. “Ottawa wins in the shootout.”

[Robert]

'mornin' Vinnie: I played all your inserts at once. Kinda like the noise when the Leafs score! Last night was a return to the discombobulated play we have seen from time to time this year. A disappointment when a team should win. Most of the Toronto shots were from the periphery and not much of a challenge although when called upon Anderson was great.
We have returned to that strange dichotomy where we aren't sure whether we are making a run at the playoffs for this year, or shedding age and contracts in a rebuilding bid for future years. Does that translate to the indifference, or poor play we see some nights?
Ottawa is in total meltdown to rebuild. If we are series about a little playoff action this season, we absolutely have to beat those teams.
On a slightly different tact, and pls, this is an observation and not a criticism.
On more than one occasion I have witnessed Tyler Bozak try to take a pass while skating a speed, he seems to have trouble handling the puck and on several occasions lost the puck. Is this so? Bad sign for a centre ice player.
Final word on last night's loss. dang!

VM Replies: Mornin' to you, Robert. That's an interesting observation. I haven't noticed it yet. But perhaps I'm too preoccupied with the open nets Bozak is missing these days.

[moe green]

I dunno if any of you agree, but I saw an Ottawa team that was done. They offered little resistance and yet our Leafs were unable to put them down. It's because the Leaf team had finally stopped caring.

The Leafs last night were a demoralized team that had no interest in being coached, least of all by Ron Wilson. It was a team who after being told by their leader that they were in a playoff race had the rug pulled out from under them. I'm sure that the players who cared - like Luke Schenn and Clarke MacArthur, Mikhail Grabovski and Nik Kulemin and others were pretty hurt by the developments.

And Burke's words during the press conference didn't help either. He told them that even if they made the playoffs "they would get their asses kicked in the first round." What a bush-league comment for an owner to make. When pressed on this by the media Burke bristled like a spoiled child.

Burke lied to his team and the fans all along saying that help would be coming at the trade deadline. Finally the team simply had enough. They finally choked on all the bs bluster that Burke feeds to all around him that don't matter. That includes both the fans and the players too apparently. That's probably why Versteeg wanted out - he had been fed the Burke BS too.

Burke pretends to care but that's as far as it goes. Regardless of what happens next season, Burke will stick by Wilson. Why, because he doesn't care what we think. Burke asked his players to give it their all to fight for the playoffs this season and when they finally did and clawed to within six points of a playoff spot, he slapped them in the face with the Kaberle trade. Then further insulted them by saying he was dangling a third round pick to get the help they needed. Like the help they need can be had with a third-rounder. Insult upon insult. They've finally stopped believing. Who can blame them.

That doesn't mean that Burke isn't making good solid moves for the organization. It's just that he doesn't care how he does it and who gets hurt along the way. Why would he? He isn't paid to care about the fans or the players. He's paid by MLSE to build a strong organization. That's what he's doing. I'm not sure I like the way he's going about it. He could care less.

[leafland'r]

@ waffles & VM (10:46am)

"letdown"?....that was more like erectile dysfunction ! The leafs could have taken it to the Sens.

VM Replies: And we have our first entry for Comment of The Day.

[leafland'r]

@ the O Lover (10:49am)
I have to agreed with on this one. The game was exciting with the hits you mentioned. Yet beyond the total of one minute and seventeen seconds of game time it was a "no show".

[leafland'r]

Burkes' Bash

His comment yesterday during a press release regarding trying to make the playoffs to only have your ass kicked ( paraphrasing), does not make for a great motivational speech. Possible player thought, "Boss, if you don't care then why should I?"

[moe green]

@OL: No true Leafs fan (no true hockey fan) could have possibly enjoyed that game. Not even a drunk one. And you have the audacity to call yourself "expert,." I usually don't resort to personal insults in here, but I have to make an exception for you. You deserve it.

@all: Bob Cole is going to have a embarrassing and career-ending collapse on-air if CBC doesn't remove him soon. Please don't let this man's legacy be an on-air humiliation. Do the right thing CBC. Don't let Cole become another embarrassment like Don Cherry.

[TPiddy]

@moe - I think you're taking this a bit too far. Burke's first round comment was likely an indictment of previous teams and previous club focus where the playoffs were 'good enough', while Burke insists he wants a championship calibre team year after year.

Having said that it's going to take a bit to adjust to life without Kaberle, and the Power Play is a key indicator of that. Hopefully now that Burke has more assets, he can turn around and become a buyer at the deadline, but if the Leafs, who have 4 more games before the deadline, don't do anything to stay with the clubs ahead of them, he will have less impetus to do so.

[TimB]

It's pretty obvious to me some of us (one of us) is not commenting on the same game.

[Vinay Menon]

@Moe: Since I had a chance to read your comments last night before watching this morning, I was paying close attention for any possible signs of a broken team (including freeze-framing every shot of the bench and zooming in on faces).

But I’m not sure they were demoralized so much as drained.

Ottawa looked demoralized. Toronto looked emotionally drained.

[Ostrich_Lover]

Why on earth would any interpret those comments to mean that Burke doesn t care about making the playoffs? Seemed pretty straight forward to me: Just because we are seven points out of the playoffs does not mean I am going to change my game plan like a moron a la Jay Feaster and the Flames.

He is not saying that his team will get smoked in the playoffs if they make it, what he is saying is that the eighth seed almost always gets their ass handed to them by the number one seed. Upsets happen, but rarely. Burke is making a generalization and he is right. He is in no way slagging his team. He is only making the point that passing on future assets in order to charge for the eight point is short sighted and dumb. what he left out was "like most fans".

[Chad]

with Kabby no longer manning the point on the PP, Ottawa was clearly pressuring the puck more, and the Leafs couldn't handle it.
overall i thought Toronto played a good game. to be able to hold any team to just over 20 shots in a game (and most of them simple saves) is pretty good. we've been complaining about how our defence has been so poor this entire year, yet when we turn in a performance like that we make comments like "boring", "uninspiring", and "letdown". we played a solid tight checking game.
Anderson stood on his head the entire night. and while i do agree that the majority of the shots we took weren't difficult for him to stop, there was still a good portion that were valid scoring chances.
tough loss, no doubt. but still a lot of positives to take away from it.

VM Replies: You're right. There were some positives.
They did get a point. Reimer picked up with his second shutout. Lupul had 7 shots and played more than 23 minutes. Gunnarsson played a very strong game.
But since they were playing against a down-and-out team, a team missing most of its regular penalty killers, a team that managed zero shots in overtime, I interpreted all of this as more lost opportunity than moral victory.
Tuesday night, as we keep saying, should be instructive.

[Michael C. Nemirsky]

Good morning Vm, was sad earlier that there was no article today. Now, happy face. My take on the game was that we let one slip away, but, according to Ron Wilson earlier in the week, gain one point per week and we could make it to P word. Mission accomplished. With both Atlanta and Carolina losing, 7 points out. The good news, IMO, was that Jamesy Boy Reimer got his second shutout. Tyler Bozak, when is he gonna hit the net? Wilson had a few unkind words about Tyler, but, he is right, he has to bear down a little harder. Paul Hunter wrote an article in today's Star about Joe Colborne. Sounds like he made quite the impression on the Marlies coaching staff. That is encouraging news for leaf nation.

VM Replies: Good morning, Michael. Sorry for the late start today. Yes, they are very high on this kid.

[hoofheartz]

All game long the Sens looked like they were playing for the shootout. Terrible game through and through. As for Bozak, at best he looked overwhelmed most of the night. How is he possibly picked to be the 1st shooter in the shootout with Kessel, MacArthur and Lupul on the bench? Was numbnuts expecting the shootout to go beyond 3 shooters, thus saving the best for last?

VM Replies: There is no greater joy in my life than to approve a comment that contains the word "numbnuts." Thank you, hoofheartz.

[Alecia]

I agree Vinay, there is not much to say about this game.

No one and I mean NO ONE with the exception of Anderson and Reimer should be proud of this game. Both were solid, not that they faced much. Ottawa looked horrible, Leafs looked horrible but slightly less...but still horrible. Oh well, a point's a point.

Final note about the game, glad to see Schenn with the A, even if it's just till Armstrong returns.

Onto better news, our newly acquired prospect Joe Colbourne had a great game with the Marlies, game winning goal and a goal in the shootout.

Here is his goal -> http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=802&id=98699

Here is his shoout out goal, pretty impressive. - > http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=802&id=98706

VM Replies: Wow. Nice deke by the young lad. The Leafs could have used him in the shootout last night.
Thanks for the links, Alecia.

[Alecia]

Oops correction to my post, Colborne had the game winning goal in the shoot out, not the game.

[Alecia]

@ hoofheartz - I asked myself the same thing last night about the shootout. Lupul and Kessel are both snipers, arent they? I'm still trying to figure out why they weren't in the shoot out. Bozak's entire game was off last night, but he has scored on all of his shootouts attempts thus far this season so I understand his selection.

[moe green]

Okay I have to admit the possibility (probability?) that I was wrong. The game just had a different feel to it. I hope the positive-thinkers among us are right. I hope that Tuesdays game is a different game. Maybe it had to do with playing an utterly demoralized team like the Sens. Maybe it's losing Kaberle. I don't know. All I can say is that is what it felt like to me. It felt like no game I've watched this season. I want to emphasize that I did not personally feel that way going into the game. I was charged.

@Ostrich: I do not expect nor do I want Burke to jeopardize the future for a pipe dream of playoff success. That said, I also do believe that once you make the playoffs all bets are off. Teams that squeak into the playoffs often do so with a lot to prove and sometimes they do amazingly well. Burke did them a disservice by belittling their chances. And remember, I am not saying that Burke "should" add assets at the deadline, just that he promised the players and the fans that he would.

@Vinay: You may be right and I hope you are. But drained by what? Certainly not overwork. Imagine being told by your GM that you "haven't given up on the playoffs" and that "you would add assets at the deadline" and then you lose Versteeg for picks and Kaberle for picks and prospects. The right thing to do no doubt, but a lie to the fans and the players none the less. And after the brilliant showings in Boston and Buffalo. It's like the players are saying: "What more do you want from us Burkey? See if I'm gonna risk an injury blocking shots after your vote of non-confidence." Still, I am hoping you are right and as you said, we will learn a lot on Tuesday.

VM Replies: "Drained" is just my take-away perception from last night's game. Who knows. But over the past 10 days, there have been 3 trades and 5 games, including the emotional wins in Boston and Buffalo.
Despite the 47 shots, most of which were stealthy and harmless, they just looked mentally tired to me. Their legs and arms, while functioning normally, seemed to be controlled by brains that were not capable of making any split-second decisions. So they ended up going through the motions against a team that put up no real fight.
The result: Random bursts of choppy, unfocused action that seemed to unfold in slow-motion under the illusion of control and intent.

[Princess Mononoke]

I was at the movies watching a very realistic simulacrum of a guy breaking his arm and then slicing it off with a dull multi-tool, so I was already nauseated from watching that and scarfing down a whole bag of Nibs when I happened upon Bob Cole's postmodern attempts at describing the nothingness of nothing...(if Kaberle can play ironically, then by gum, Bob Cole can be postmodern!).
You guys (by which I mean, the Leafs, just as I mean the Habs when I say "us") need to be grabbing every possible point from bottom-feeders and weakened teams, and last night was a costly exercise in emptiness.

[Rooney]

Good afternoon VM. The game day vibe was going nowhere much like the power play. A few things that stood out in a game where nothing was outstanding. Komi standing up and stepping in for Aulie and Gunnarson a few times when things got chippy after the whistle. I spilled one drink when Lebda got a shot to the net through traffic. One thing I did not like was when our Captain was talking trash to a Sen and you could the ref yelling "let them go" over and over. As everyone stepped back, it was clear neither tough talker was prepared to drop the gloves. One thing I dislike as much a goon fight are players that are all talkers. I think our Captain could have sent a message at that point but instead he stood there with this foolish look like he was saying "oh it was just a misunderstanding, I didn't say let's fight, I said good night" (to all the fans watching the game). I think the team from earlier in the season would have lost that game in regulation time and would have nothing to show for it. I don't think I could say that the Leafs looked like they were packing it in for the year. I hear Brodeur is ready to play again. Those Devils look like the real deal, I am not sure I can say that about any other team fighting for the last playoff spot in the East.

[moe green]

I have to agree Alecia, Colborne looked great in the shootout. I can see him slotted in as the big. strong centre we've been coveting in a year or two. A year or two though.

Last night it was plain what Kaberle brought to the team. He's a guy who rarely bashed the puck up the boards to clear the zone. It was borderline comical watching guys like Lebda and Gunnarson clumsily try to make Kabby-like moves with the puck to no avail. Kaberle made those moves look easy - routine even. I'm not sure who Burke plans to get to replace him. And when and at what price.

Maybe Burke doesn't anticipate being a contender for several years yet. If so, he really doesn't understand this team or it's fans.

[moe green]

@princess: I watched that same movie. I'm willing to be the documentary was a better bet. Still, bummer huh. As for Bob Cole. The guy is definitely "post" something alright. I feel sorry for the guy. He still has a great Canadian hockey voice. But he cannot follow the play with deftness anymore. It doesn't help pairing him with a dopey colour man either. We can send a man to the moon (purportedly) but we can't build a Robo-Cole to entertain hockey fans of the future.

[hoofheartz]

Gotta agree Rooney. Don't know how many times Phaneuf has yapped or given a token cross-check after the whistle to show his displeasure almost as if he's waiting for the linesmen to jump in so he can really turn up the truculence. Those after the whistle scrums do nothing but piss me off and I'd like to see the participants all given delay of game minors and the refs keep it up until the scrums disappear from the game.

[moe green]

Interesting take Vinay. Your analysis makes good sense. I may be underestimating the impact of the upheaval of the past couple of weeks. Onward and upward. The mighty Isles on Tuesday. In the words of Winston Churchill: "Myah, hmyah, let's not make a pudding of that one, what."

[moe green]

As a Canadian, I like a nice nasally hockey voice me. Jim Hughson's smart and funny-ish (at least he entertains himself) but his voice isn't "reedy" and nasally enough for Canadian hockey fans. There's something about Toronto and big, hollow, boomy announcers. Like the Woodbine race guy. I like Andy Frost but as a kid I remember the old nasally arena announcer of Leaf games past.

VM Replies: Paul Morris had the monotone of a sleep-deprived actuarial and the flair of a soggy phonebook.
His “last minute of play in this period” always sounded like the last thing a person might hear just as the general anesthetic kicked in before invasive surgery.
Man, I miss that guy.

[moe green]

Here's a great Monty Python sketch about "tinny" versus "woody" sounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gwXJsWHupg

[moe green]

Is it me or does Phaneuf look like his gear is ill-fitting?

[waffles2010]

So as I sit here watching the game of the week on NBC. I am thinking about the season the Leafs have had so far. By management and the players. There have been a lot of ups and downs for sure. At the present point in time I am far more enthusiastic about the team and the direction they are going, than I have been for a long time.
Without getting into the monetary side of contracts, its not mine, so I think that it is fair to say. If MLSE is okay with paying to the cap ceiling for a team that is mediocre, I won't complain about salaries. It really isn't my money.
As far as the coaching staff, I really am having trouble with how to evaluate them. Wilson is a veteran coach, someone who has won a LOT of NHL games. I must however give him some of the blame for the inconsistency of effort the team displays. The team plays very well, sporadically. Very well. I don't believe for a second that the message from the coaches changes. The game plan and strategy is the same in the crappy games as it is in the great ones. There is no other intelligent answer.
End of part 1

[Robert]

@moe, your posts are always well thought out and well presented. I don't know how much hockey you have been involved in, but, your observation about Kaberle was spot on. That was his great strength. He had been taught in the old Czech system to play that style. He was a smooth and powerful skater and had great vision on the ice. His passing, crisp and always tape to tape.
He is gone now and someone has to fill that role. I suppose we can simply accept the fact that with these changes, so late in the season, we must expect some discombobulation (there's that word again!) until things sort themselves out.
But, as posted before, there is no cohesion in the Leaf attack. None!
As an upper, it looks like there is some help in Colborne and Gardiner being tutored by Dallas Eakin.
Ron Wilson continues to astound me. The shoot out - what the hell was the guy thinking? Someone said he criticized Bozak after the game? Tyler has trouble handling the puck and particularly around the net. Something to work on. I would love to think that after this season, Dallas Eakins would be taking over this team.
As always, we have the colts, we need someone to teach them how to run. Perhaps we should all lobby for Eakins for Coach.

[waffles2010]

This team is young, very young. Yet, they do have a lot of players with significant NHL experience. The MacKuleBovski line is not a line of rookies. They know how to play the game night in and night out. So do Kessel, Orr, Armstrong, Brown, Sjostrom, and Brent. They have all (9) played many seasons of pro hockey. Some of these guys need to score more frequently, others need to be more responsible defensively. Others are doing great. Kind of what you would expect, I think.
The defence is/was before this week, the veteran presence of this team. The defence is plastered with veteran, experienced NHL players. Even Schenn is in his third NHL season, while being the youngest on the team. Lots of veterans with a pile of games played, and the team is below .500. I think it is fair to say that our heralded corps of dmen have stunk up the joint. All of them, with the exception of Schenn, Gunnarrson, and Aulie, have been worse than anticipated, in my opinion. The ones who remain need to play better, or they may find the same fate as Finger or Kaberle.
The last thing I will say about Tomas Kaberle is this. He scored a lot of points for the Leafs, made the right play with the puck almost always, was calm, cool and collected at all times, and was a fabulous skater. He got a tonne of PP points in his 12 years here, many of you have pointed out exactly where he fit in statistically. He played more than 50% of the PP minutes since he got here. He was going to score, every dman given those set of circumstances will accumulate points. A lot of you are quick to discredit Wilson for his record, attributing it to longevity not ability, I won't name names, but some of you are as quick to give Tomas Kaberle all the credit for his points in the league. This is a little unjust in my opinion. The PP was almost always bad, with respect to league wide ranking, with Kaberle at the controls. Specifically, the last 5 years.
End of part 2

[waffles2010]

On to the GM. I will disagree with other posters here, I do believe he is being honest. Too honest. He expects and demands the best from his players. If they do not perform up to his expectations, they can expect to be traded (Beauchemin, Versteeg), or sent down (Mitchell). This is by far the best news I have heard as a Leafs fan in many, many years. A GM who is willing to admit mistakes, and correct them as soon as he can. He could have kept Versteeg, and his 20 goals. Burke realized that he wasn't going to be the player he envisioned, and he traded him for a package of draft picks. This is fabulous, ever since the Kessel trade we have crapped on Burke for not having picks and prospects. He is now getting them, and still many of us are unhappy. He is trying to build a franchise that can compete for the Cup year after year. Again this is awesome, we would all take a single Stanley Cup finals appearance, but isn't many better than one? I think Florida and Ottawa wanted more than one, yet now both places are in worse shape than the Leafs are, while never winning the Cup.
The teams Burke has been involved with have, or are now experiencing success. A team in Vancouver with the Sedins, is a sentimental choice for the Cup this year. Burke moved heaven and earth to get them both in Vancouver. In his other town, he massaged a roster into a cup champion.
I think the thing that gives me the most faith in the plan Burke is working on, is this. It matters more to him than anything else to win. He wants to bring us the Cup, more than any other GM we have ever had. Is he blustery, and full of loud proclamations, yes he is. I can't wait to here who he is unhappy with next. They are all big boys, elbows and sticks are raised from time to time. It happens, none of them are so fragile that they shouldn't be able to take it. If they don't like it as players, I have some advice for them, play better each and every game, and it will never be your problem.
End.

VM Replies: Sigh. Parts 1, 2 and 3 should have been a guest post.
Come on, man! Work with me here.

[Geoff Read]

Didn't watch the game. It sounds like I didn't miss anything. On to the Heritage Classic, where I fully expect, despite my Habs fandom, the Flames to take it to the struggling and wounded Canadiens.

VM Replies: Speaking of guest posts...

[waffles2010]

Vinay, to be honest. I have said all along that I hate the guest post, and besides, this train of thought on my part, is only relevant at this point in time. I anticipate more moves by management before the 28th of February. But I will say thank you for the praise, in whatever form.

[pinot grigio]

Trading away Kaberle (a bleedin' shame) was done to get Colborne and a first round draft pick. It must have become obvious to BB that Kadri is not going to live up to his draft status. He had a more than fair chance with the big team and did not deliver; too long on attitude and too short on aptitude. So I expect Kadri and one or maybe even both first round picks to Los Angeles for young Schenn, either soon or this summer. BB loves brother acts.
By the way, Phaneuf's gear is fine, it's Phaneuf who doesn't fit.

VM Replies: Yet another comment that explains why you have a no-trade clause.

[Starman84]

God what a listless game last night.

It was so weird. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, just hoping we could get a goal by some fluke and squeak out of the building pretending nobody saw what happened.

They did look a little demoralized out there, but in all honesty, Burke said he would look to add assests at the deadline. The dead line is still over a week away, and he now has a fistful of picks and a farm system that hasn't looked this good in god knows how long. What's stopping him from using those peices to gain an asset by the deadline?

I get that it's demoaralizing when you trade away your veteran presence, but I really couldn't see Kaberle signing here again in the summer, so this wasnt a give up trade, this was a get what we can before hes gone trade. And as for versteeg...I dunno, I could very easily be wrong, but I really don't think it made that big of an impact on the team the way Kaberle's absence will.

I can certainly see how this looks like Burke giving up, but Burke has plenty of time to make more trades. Let's all, ourselves and the players, wait until after the deadline to be truly crushed.

[moe green]

@Waffles: Agreed and agreed and agreed. As far as I'm concerned, that was your guest post. And a good one.

I feel much the way you do. About the team and less so about the coach. And in general about Burke. For the first time in living memory I feel confident that the GM is acting in the best long-term interest of the team.

Burke has a long-term strategy for the team and he's going to follow that strategy regardless of how me or you or even the players feel about it. I am happy about that.

I just wish he would have been a little more honest about his approach to this years playoffs. He never intended to make the playoffs this year nor did he plan to add assets to ensure that we did. That's okay and that's smart. But that's not the message he sent to the players or the fans.

[waffles2010]

@ Moe Green. Thank you for the kind words sir. That was very nice of you to say. I do believe that Burke thought the team would compete and sneak into the playoffs. He made a mistake, and I think this has hurt his pride. He doesn't take it lightly, that much is obvious. He expects to win, and is willing to be held accountable when he makes errors. He could have under promised and over delivered if he said that there would be only modest improvement this year. But, if he does that, it would be fair to say that he isn't expecting enough of his players. I think that his being brutally honest, opens himself up for criticism no matter which approach he takes. His honesty in this case is a real lose, lose proposition.

[TimB]

@Moe Green. No,no,I thought is was me but Phaneuf has some kind of Frankenstein/pee wee hockey look going on there.

[Princess Mononoke]

You need a guest post by a woman.
Not me-- you have other more Leafs-centric and worthy followers.

VM Replies: Funny you should mention this. I have one on the way, one that will lighten the mood around here. Probably going to put it up in the morning.

[Rooney]

Waffles, great guest blog! I think you are bang on about Burke. I think he has been a straight shooter (like you) from the get-go. The salary cap breeds parity, I have no expectations that any team will be able to win numerous cups in a row. I want what Burke is selling, competitive teams that have a reasonable chance year after year. I am fairly confident that if Burke is managing a team that has a shot to win it all, he would be a big time buyer at the trade deadline. I know I would be pi**ed next season if we had got nothing for TK, if we kept KV and it came to light that he was part of a chemistry problem, or if we gave up a number of good prospects to make the playoffs this year but we were much older next year. Even with recent player changes, I still feel this 2011 team is much better than the 2010 team that started the season. Without looking at the stats, I am not freaked out every single time the opposing team takes a shot (like I was before New Years), the penalty killers really seem to have some good chemistry and I am really enjoying both Grabo's line and Lupel playing with Phil. I think Lupel will get the PP going and was a good addition. I am much happier with the team today (even without TK) than the team that started the season. I am not convinced that keeping TK would have got us into the post-season. I am not convinced that this team with TK would win us a post-season series. The team was just not there, but it sure looks like it is heading the right direction.

[Charlee001]

Who was that team wearing the Blue and White last night? I am not sure and to be honest I don't think they are either. Life after Kaberle is going to be an adjustment for everybody. Suprisingly it was not the defence that let them down against Ottawa. It seems that in all the hullaballoo our forwards forgot what they learned in Boston last week. Also our powerplay remains as brutal as it was with #15 in the lineup. So while it is sad that Kabs is in Black and Gold the Leafs had better snap out of it cuz here comes Matt Moulson and the Islanders.

The Leafs have been playing below their talent level all year. That's the frustrating thing about this team. Their problems are mostly mental. Take last night for example: they lost a game they should have won because their minds weren't in it. They lost in Montreal after a brilliant first period because they lost their composure once they let in a goal. The same team dials it up a notch and beats Boston a few nights later. What's the difference? Mindset. Focus. And now with the trading of Kaberle I can see them sleepwalking for a few games like last night or going easy on the Bruins next time they play because everybody loves Kabby. And while they are moping Buffalo will come back to town so that's a loss too unless they adjust their mindset.

So ya, it has been a crazy week in Leafland but these guys need to keep their head in the game or the gains they have made over the past few weeks will be lost.

Now seriously, Go Leafs Go.

[TimB]

@Princess Mononoke. Speaking of posts,I enjoyed your blog post on hockey violence.Food for thought.

[waffles2010]

@Rooney. Thank you. And I am glad that you liked what I had to say today.

[Princess Mononoke]

@ TimB
Thanks! I think my next blog post will be about hockey broadcasts, mainly HNIC, of which I can't take much more...though some elements of TSN coverage also drives me nuts (Mc Guire, anyone?).

VM Replies: This goes without saying but you are always welcome to link your posts here, Princess.

[80s Leafs]

Chiming in late here today, but agree with VM's assessment of the Leafs' shots last night really not being dangerous. The most dangerous play I remember was Kessel's backhand deflection that went wide, and Bozak missing the open side in the 2nd period. Otherwise, it was just like last year's Leafs when Blake would have had 25 of those 47 shots and all of his were from the perimiter.
Great scrap between Rosehill and Lessard, though. Reminiscent of Kordic vs Basil McRae circa 1988-89.

VM Replies: Kordic/McRae: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1FkKLgAIxQ

[Peter]

i found last night game more frustrating than boring. seemed like the tea mwas not "clicking". hopefully, on tuesday they will be better.
and why do we have to suffer Bob Cole and Gary Galley? they drive me crazy.

Can't wait for that guest blog. it will be refreshing to hear from a girl for a change. :-)

[Alecia]

Let's look towards the future, Leafs fans.

Why do you all anticipate is to come on Tuesday against the Isles? Are we going to see the same emotionally-drained team that we saw last night or a team out for revenge?

Do we think that Kaberle's departure has a lot to do with why the team looks so frazzled last night? Armstrong called his trade "brutal", I wonder how many players feel the same and are feeling the loss.

Also, where's Sensi-Bill? His team won (kinda) and he isn't here?? I'm worried.

VM Replies: I'm picturing you wired on caffeine right now. Am I right?

[Alecia]

Oh Princess, you should definitely write a woman-blog here. Even as a habs fan, you obviously have *some* love for the leafs, if not, us. Come on, all the cool kids are doing it!

VM Replies: "Woman-blog"? Is that what we're calling it now? For the record, I have already run a couple of women-blogs! Sheesh.

[Alecia]

Vinay, I actually am not! Just thinking out loud, or via the blog. Trying to forget that game as I vowed to do last night is not as easy as I thought....

VM Replies: Let it go, woman. Let it go.
Tuesday is the important one now. They will have had 72 hours to decompress and make peace with the recent trades and promise of more to come.
So we will see what *they* believe can be accomplished this season by the way they play Tuesday. Will it be like Boston/Buffalo or will it be lemon drop martini time?
That is the question.

[Alecia]

Sorry, thought it was shorter than "posts by a woman", apologies!

[Alecia]

I will be at that game....and I expect a lot.

[enJoy hockey]

Let's bump that 5-2 prediction forward.

[80s Leafs]

@VM, thanks, that's the one (Kordic-McRae) I was talkin' 'bout!

[hoofheartz]

VM: besides that Ottawa fan living in Toronto and OL, what other females have had a guest blog?

VM Replies: Oh, man. Ahem. There was also one from Monika Morovan on Pat Burns. Next up: Boo-Berry.

[Alecia]

Hey hoofheartz!! I know some of us are crazy but don't insult our gender like that!

[nugentmania]

I want to write a guest blog too! I have all sorts of stuff to write about....including my theory that once upon a time professional wrestling legend Andre the Giant had sex with cartoon plain jane Olive Oyl, and that led to a child. That child? NHL superstar Zdeno Chara.

[Ostrich_Lover]

Hoofheartz, you should write one too! Then Vinnay can say he caters to all demographics by letting someone who is mentally handicapped participate.

[Ostrich_Lover]

I dont know who mentioned it b/c I just read a whole bunch of comments in a row, but the idea that Burke aquired Coulbourne b/c he is giving up on Kadri has to be, without a shadow of a doubt, the dumbest thing ever posted on this blog in its history.

I cannot even fathom how this connection could be infered. It is not only wrong, but very very very dumb.

[waffles2010]

Go Boo-Berry go! I am looking forward to your perspective. I am also looking forward to you showing off your guns. I think that over the course of this blog, I have done lots of things that would be deserving of the big reveal. Just sayin', if you are too shy, personally I will understand, but disappoint me at your own peril kind woman.

[pinot grigio]

As a self professed PhD student you should read more carefully Mr OL. I was the person who wrote that Kadri has been a major disappointment.
Now, tell me, you informed us you are a student at Laurentian in your guest post and just the other day you dropped the fact you were studying for a PhD in English literature but Laurentian is not accredited to offer post graduate programs in English literature. Does that mean they never dared to tell you that or are you still at the undergraduate level but hope one day in some uncertain future to be admitted to post graduate work or is it just another figment of your imagination?

[hoofheartz]

LMFAO, OL outted again. Perhaps Laurentien is accredited to offer post grad programs in total bull excrement.

@Alecia - my heart felt apologies to your gender but you have to understand that OL doesn't really fit in with my gender either so the choices are limited. Maybe he's a new, as of yet, undiscovered species and someone else can take credit for him.

[Sensi-Bill]

@Alecia
.
Well I seem to have somehow lost the longer post, so here's the shorter answer to your "Where's Sensi-Bill?" post.
.
I'm quite fine and thank you very much for your concern. I am still on the break I announced about a week ago, though it seems to have evolved into ROM mode in that I still drop by occasionally to read, but except for this one temporary break, I am still not back to posting. Though I am sure I will be at some point.
.
Two other things I mentioned in the post that suddenly vanished --- darn touch screen --- are:
.
1. - I noted that in all the post-Saturday-night gnashing of teeth and twisting of hair, no one seemed to pause long enough to give the Baby-B Sens a modicum of credit for actually winning the game, no matter how subpar the performance on either side.
.
I call them the Baby-B Sens because between all the veterans traded and those still injured, the current roster consists mainly of players up from our AHL affiliate in Binghampton, N.Y. Which isn't bad. We don't mind being at the bottom right now and it gives us a chance to check them out, as well as new goaltender Craig Anderson, under game conditions.
.
2. - I saw the Sportsnet photo and if you don't mind me saying, I thought you looked rather cute, in a grown-up manner, in that hat.
.
Thanks again. Take care and see you eventually, if not sooner. (smile)

[Ostrich_Lover]

Wow hoofheartz, very creative and hilarious.

What I do actually find hilarious is that someone actually went to the trouble of looking up what degrees Laurentian offered!!! Just so you know, I said I was working towards the phd, which I am. Hoping to begin by being admitted to some post grad program in the near future.

[Ken Chevis]

@Princess Mononoke...I look forward eagerly to your blog commenting on HNIC. Can't wait to read your thoughts about Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy (I haven't yet determined who is the dummy but I have my suspicions). As for Cole, he is a dinosaur who lately has trouble remembering his own name. He needs to go their way. I hear no one announcing pro hockey worth their salt.

VM...sorry, got off the TML track.

[insulting insults]

this may be a insulting insult but it's not

[moe green]

I just thought of something. Part of the reason the trade with Boston seemed lopsided in our favor is Boston's assumption that the subtraction of Kaberle will significantly weaken the Leafs thereby significantly increasing the value of the final Kessel pick. It would be stupid not to factor that into the equation. Especially since Kaberle has not even agreed to a contract extension.

[Ken Chevis]

Just read about the attack on Mario. I now know who the dummy is. Apparently, a dummy never changes the expression on its' face. A dummy always wears outrageous clothes. And when a dummy opens its' mouth, nothing of substance comes out. Remind you of anyone?