Please re-post dumb crap spasto posts here, for future use.

We'll start as many threads as we need to, for all the dumb crap.

Way too rich, the irony only gets better after some reflection.

The Leafs were a last place team. The Leafs are a last place team.

Matthews is not McDavid or Eichal or perhaps, even Laine or Puljujarvi. Yet Leaf fans have created this huge expectation around a kid that was not nearly the force of the Finns on the big stages of international hockey last year.

Not sure why the Leafs have delayed in signing him to a contract. Perhaps they think he is going to need some AHL development time. Nobody is hoping against Matthews, he should be a good player. But, there is absolutely nothing in his track record that suggests he will be an impact player in the NHL next year. Perhaps, there is a fatal flaw in the Leaf charism. If Matthews is put out head to head against veteran NHL centres every night and fans expect him to outperform all comers it is going to be a very long and disappointing winter for the blue and white.

I understand the importance of the summer season for Leaf fans. It is an opportunity to renew hope and create a bond with the team in the belief that next year will see the Leafs finally triumph. It is the Oiler model of a few years ago that had Yakupov (like Matthews, an older profile draft pick) dominating scoring in future NHL seasons or RNH being the slickest centre to come along in years.

Always keep in mind the notion that "we are different," is something that is really well understood. We know Matthews is not McDavid, not even close. We want to believe that he is better than Yakupov. Likely he is in the same range as RNH, but he will likely struggle to produce numbers as good as RNH got in his rookie year (18 goals, 34 assists in 64 games).
- spatso

they are going to add the two best players outside the nhl (chabot and white)
-spatso

Do you really believe what you just said. Marner is likely going back into junior for another year. This is when teams begin to worry that he cannot make the jump. I am telling you the reviews coming out of the USA WJC are not good on Marner. Nobody has panicked. But if goes back to junior you start to think that he is more Sam Gagner than Patrick Kane.
- spatso

Please re-post dumb crap spasto posts here for future use.

We'll start as many threads as we need to for all the dumb crap.
- Tumbleweed

Oh poop son, this is (frank)ing gold

Woe is me! The last time Leaf fans were showing this much hubris they had Boston by the throat and thought they were going to be advancing to the next round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
-spasto

just posting so I get notified of updates.

IN ON FIRST PAGE

- SofaKingBored

I think Leafs are bad match for anyone in the first round. Young teams don't know that they are not supposed to win. I think the Leafs would play Washington touch despite the outcome of last night.

-spatso

No, not a new idea from me. I believe Leafs are a dangerous first round opponent (even for Washington) because of the style of game they play. They attack with speed and abandon, they maintain great intensity in the offensive zone.

They will not surprise anyone. Washington knows what the Leafs can do in terms of firepower and they will try to shut them down. But I still expect the series to go 6 or 7 games and the Leafs to make a good show.

I believe the Leafs have dodged a bit of a bullet. Had they they played Ottawa the expectations and pressure on a very young team would have been enormous. Now both the expectations and pressure have been lowered. They will not be swept by the Capitals and if the Leafs can get a split on the first four games it will be the Caps that are feeling the pressure.
- spatso

No, not a new idea from me. I believe Leafs are a dangerous first round opponent (even for Washington) because of the style of game they play. They attack with speed and abandon, they maintain great intensity in the offensive zone.

They will not surprise anyone. Washington knows what the Leafs can do in terms of firepower and they will try to shut them down. But I still expect the series to go 6 or 7 games and the Leafs to make a good show.

I believe the Leafs have dodged a bit of a bullet. Had they they played Ottawa the expectations and pressure on a very young team would have been enormous. Now both the expectations and pressure have been lowered. They will not be swept by the Capitals and if the Leafs can get a split on the first four games it will be the Caps that are feeling the pressure.
- spatso
- Tumbleweed

We are moving into stage II of a typical blue koolaid summer. Fans are beginning to notice the stories being floated that Marner might not be fit enough or ready for NHL prime time. Leafs are a last place team, they are sort of like a very young Edmonton crew of last year without McDavid.

But Leaf fans are great hockey fans and now that the silly summer chatter is winding down, they are getting around to a more balanced level of hockey discussion. We will see the Stage III early season euphoria when they win a few games at the beginning of the season and the Toronto based media predicts good things for them. But the Stage III crash into despair will come like clockwork in early December. Stage IV acceptance of reality will include some anger and frustration but it is not long lasting. And, come early March, Stage I starts again with a high degree of hopefulness as speculation of the guaranteed Tavares signing gets ramped up and fans discuss the great potential of the impending lottery and draft.
- spatso

Playoffs tell you a lot about the future.

Do not discount the fact that game 6 was played with Claesson and Harpur and that Wideman (healthy scratch) and Borowiecki (injured) were not in the line up.

Next year the Sens will start Chabot, Harpur and Claesson on the back end. Their defence is going to get a lot bigger, younger and faster with a lot more firepower.

Phaneuf and Ceci played a monster game. As the Bruins did everything to try and stop Karlsson they also made it too easy for Phaneuf and Ceci. They recorded an unheard of plus 90 CF% in game 6. The fancy stat guys are still working on trying to figure out and explain the meaning of their number.
- spatso

Playoffs tell you a lot about the future.

Do not discount the fact that game 6 was played with Claesson and Harpur and that Wideman (healthy scratch) and Borowiecki (injured) were not in the line up.

Next year the Sens will start Chabot, Harpur and Claesson on the back end. Their defence is going to get a lot bigger, younger and faster with a lot more firepower.

Phaneuf and Ceci played a monster game. As the Bruins did everything to try and stop Karlsson they also made it too easy for Phaneuf and Ceci. They recorded an unheard of plus 90 CF% in game 6. The fancy stat guys are still working on trying to figure out and explain the meaning of their number.
- spatso
- Tumbleweed

Seriously. I know that you have a good hockey mind and sometimes you can be highly insightful.

Ottawa has committed to building around Karlsson and playing a counter attacking game off of a 1-3-1. Nothing special in playing a 1-3-1, most teams follow that approach, Ottawa is better than most.

But, Ottawa has invested in building a strong D with the ability to drive the play from the back end. They have two players in Chabot and Harpur they believe will make the team out of training camp next year. They have two more in Englund and Jaros that they believe are not far off in playing in the NHL.

I think the Sens want Phaneuf for at least one more year. He was an extremely positive influence on the young guys throughout the playoffs and I have no doubt that the Sens would not make it past Boston or the Rangers without the outstanding play and leadership of Phaneuf.

With the young guys they will be adding next year I think it is imperative that they keep Phaneuf. I believe the Sens will move Methot + for more offence. Many believe Claesson was Ottawa's 2nd best playoff Dman and I believe he will be paired with Karlsson next season. Dorion believes White makes the team and Brown has a very good shot at making the team out of training camp as well.
- spatso

If you listen to TSN Montreal 690 you know they go on forever about how weak the Canadiens are down the middle and how much they would like to have a centre like Kyle Turris (backed up by Pageau and Brassard). It was apparent in the series against Rangers just how feeble Montreal has become down the middle. Obviously the Sens depth at centre was one of the primary reasons the Sens took out the Rangers in 6 (Pageau, Pageau, Pageau).

For those of you who do not fully appreciate Kyle Turris you need to look at the kind of all round game played by Bergeron and Toews. Turris plays a full 200' game usually against the very best player on the opposing team. In the third period and overtime he has been a dominate player for the Sens all year. The Canadieans should be so lucky as to have a centre of Kyle Turris' calibre.
- spatso

Brown played 35 regular season games. He had an early season wrist injury. He will be a top 6 NHL player.

At the end of the playoffs Sens had Karlsson, Phaneuf, Methot, Ceci, Claesson, Wideman and Borowiecki on their roster.

In camp Chabot, Harpur, England and Jaros will be fighting for playing time. By the end of next year Sens D will be incredibly strong and deep. They are in great shape for the long term.

Sens really do have a goldmine developing on the backend.

Karlsson is the cornerstone.

Chabot will make the team out of camp and will get lots of playing time. I think Harpur also makes the team out of camp. He was very strong in the games he played against the Rangers during the playoffs. Makes you wonder why he did not get more regular season play. Consensus was Claesson was the Sens 3rd best Dman during playoffs. He got better every round. I see him playing lots of minutes next year.

Out of Ceci, Phaneuf, Methot, Borowiecki and Wideman; one goes to Vegas, two play for the Sens next year and two get dealt before the expansion draft trade deadline. (I really hope they keep Phaneuf and team him with Chabot).

I have great confidence that the Sens will lead the Atlantic next season.

Sens fans believe this is going to be a better team next year. We thought it was a good team last year and had great confidence going into the playoffs.

The Sens seldom lost if they were ahead or tied going into the third period. That is characteristic of a winning team. Night after night we watched Karlsson take over and dominate the third period.

Next year the team will be further modified with some +30 guys stepping aside (Neil, Kelly, perhaps Phaneuf) to be replace by highly talented younger players (White, Chabot, Harpur).

I said last summer, many times, I like this team a lot and was met by the same hostile reactions of Leaf fans. So, I say again, this next Sens team is going to be very very good.

Sens did not lose more than 2 regular season games in a row all year. This is the foundation and formula around which you build championship teams.

Karlsson is best at his position by a very long way. The Sens have a future star coming in Chabot. There is nothing you can say that is going to take Sens fans off the high they are experiencing this summer.

My hope is that Eric Karlsson has the best season of his entire career next year and the Sens easily win their Division and repeat with a very strong post season.

Word is Leafs are desperate to upgrade their defense. If they sign Shattenkirk at 8 years for $65m, some of you guys are going to look somewhat silly.
- spatso