No, they were trying out JVR as #1 center because everyone else was injured/suspended during one of the toughest stretches of games they had all season.


Now you say "Injuries aren't an excuse"

Then I point out that I wasn't using them as an excuse, and that I've said the Leafs lack depth all season.

Then you comment on something somebody else said.
- Feeling Glucky?

Salary lost to injuries.

Leafs are 20th.

Salary lost to injuries.

Leafs are 20th.
- Pecafan Fan

I see somebody didn't read before they commented.

Try again.

I see somebody didn't read before they commented.

Try again.
- Feeling Glucky?

No, they were trying out JVR as #1 center because everyone else was injured/suspended during one of the toughest stretches of games they had all season.

Sounds a lot like excuses to me.... no?

No, they were trying out JVR as #1 center because everyone else was injured/suspended during one of the toughest stretches of games they had all season.

Sounds a lot like excuses to me.... no?
- Pecafan Fan

Nope.

Injuries happen. Good teams have the depth to cover for them, Leafs didn't.

A glut of injuries at once with no depth to fill in isn't an excuse for failure, it's a reason. You confuse the two a lot.

Nope.

Injuries happen. Good teams have the depth to cover for them, Leafs didn't.

A glut of injuries at once with no depth to fill in isn't an excuse for failure, it's a reason. You confuse the two a lot.
- Feeling Glucky?

So IF they are healthy, and IF Bernier plays over his head up to the last game of the season, they are great.

That's it?

So IF they are healthy, and IF Bernier plays over his head up to the last game of the season, they are great.

That's it?
- Pecafan Fan

If Bernier plays the way he did all season, prior to the injury(nothing to suggest that level of play is over his head), and they don't have all the injuries, they get into the playoffs, and maybe even the second round.

That's it.

If Bernier plays the way he did all season, prior to the injury(nothing to suggest that level of play is over his head), and they don't have all the injuries, they get into the playoffs, and maybe even the second round.

That's it.
- Feeling Glucky?

BTW, Bernier's record is 26 wins, 26 losses.


To suggest the Leafs would done much better is a stretch.

BTW, Bernier's record is 26 wins, 26 losses.


To suggest the Leafs would done much better is a stretch.
- Pecafan Fan

Done better than an 0 for 8 period? If you're inferring that Bernier is merely a .500 goalie in wins, then you're inferring precisely that.

BTW, Bernier's record is 26 wins, 26 losses.


To suggest the Leafs would done much better is a stretch.
- Pecafan Fan

You're right.

It's just a coincidence that the starter gets injured and the team's goaltending stats plummet with it's ranking in the standings.

Done better than an 0 for 8 period? If you're inferring that Bernier is merely a .500 goalie in wins, then you're inferring precisely that.
- Morris

I also love lumping OT and regulation losses. Because you know, the difference isn't important to the standings or anything.

edit, and Bernier's stats prior to the injury were 25-16-7. Looks a bit better than 26-26, eh?

Done better than an 0 for 8 period? If you're inferring that Bernier is merely a .500 goalie in wins, then you're inferring precisely that.
- Morris

Didn't he lose 3 of those 8 games?

Didn't he lose 3 of those 8 games?
- Pecafan Fan

Team was already in the slide, and there's definitely no chance the team would rush him back, right?

I also love lumping OT and regulation losses. Because you know, the difference isn't important to the standings or anything.
- Feeling Glucky?

The whole team collapsed. Goaltending included.

poop happens. Call me crazy but I believe that game 7 last year left some pretty deep marks in that group of players.

When they had to regroup because their playoffs hopes depended on it, they failed in the most spectacular fashion. Bernier or not.

Team was already in the slide, and there's definitely no chance the team would rush him back, right?
- Feeling Glucky?

That's not an excuse again, I guess?

liewiecke seems much more concerned with the raptors and the soccer team.........he knows the leafs will make money hand over fist, no matter what kind of team they put on the ice......but the basketball and soccer teams need to be competitive to succeed.

as always, MLSE is run based on teh almighty dollar first and foremost
- sensarmy_11

You're right about that. If ever I've seen a team that refuses to spend what it can in attempt to ice the best team it can, its the Leafs. Won't spend to the cap, would never spend on a compliance buyout. Can't match the Sens in that regard, they don't care about the profits, they just spend and spend and spend.

I disagree with all 3 of your points.

Mac was fine for 3 mil or whatever..good possession player. Randy ran him out

Clarkson is not skilled enough to play top 6.. he is a 3rd line grinder will never score 15 goals again.

Bolland is over rated 100%. I see why chicago let him go after scoring the cup winning goal. Sell high he is not that good. Grabovski is a better player 100%
- senstroll

Macarthur is "fine", sure. On a top team he's a third liner. On a lit of teams he's a third liner. They tried to improve, it failed. I can understand the attempt, because the guy will fill a spot, but won't really win you games.

I like the guy, but he is what he is. A top third liner, can fill a second line spot in a pinch.

You're right about that. If ever I've seen a team that refuses to spend what it can in attempt to ice the best team it can, its the Leafs. Won't spend to the cap, would never spend on a compliance buyout. Can't match the Sens in that regard, they don't care about the profits, they just spend and spend and spend.
- prock

TBH prock the regional tv deal [rummored to be 100mil per] would pretty much allow them to outspend pretty much the entire league.So yeah the other pieces of that huge cash pie would be important to a big money making enterprise like TMLSE.They spend and spend but always leave the fans wanting more,they know what they are doing

That's not an excuse again, I guess?
- Pecafan Fan

Not my fault you can't see the difference between a reason and an excuse.

I think losing 5 straight and seeing their playoff chances slip away left the team shakey... and a goalie who just missed a few weeks and maybe came back a bit too early couldn't be relied upon to stem the bleeding.

Leafs rely on their goalies more than other teams, not playing Reimer more while the team was doing well was a mistake- something I said throughout the season. And you were right too, about having 2 #1 guys, probably (frank)ed with his head, too.

Steps to improve the Leafs next year are pretty obvious: Better defensive d-men, clear back-up, improve center depth, and if you think the players aren't buying what the coach is selling, then get a new coach.

Not my fault you can't see the difference between a reason and an excuse.

I think losing 5 straight and seeing their playoff chances slip away left the team shakey... and a goalie who just missed a few weeks and maybe came back a bit too early couldn't be relied upon to stem the bleeding.

Leafs rely on their goalies more than other teams, not playing Reimer more while the team was doing well was a mistake- something I said throughout the season. And you were right too, about having 2 #1 guys, probably (frank)ed with his head, too.

Steps to improve the Leafs next year are pretty obvious: Better defensive d-men, clear back-up, improve center depth, and if you think the players aren't buying what the coach is selling, then get a new coach.
- Feeling Glucky?

Carlyle is gone.

He'll be fired the day after the season ends.

Macarthur is "fine", sure. On a top team he's a third liner. On a lit of teams he's a third liner. They tried to improve, it failed. I can understand the attempt, because the guy will fill a spot, but won't really win you games.

I like the guy, but he is what he is. A top third liner, can fill a second line spot in a pinch.
- prock

He literally DID win us games, but we're no top team. He has made a great impression in his first year in O-Town, and his chemistry with Turris has been fantastic. But in his time with Buffalo and Toronto he hasn't stuck, so there's no guarantee we'll still love him next year. Based on THIS year, though, your comments fail to change my (possibly our) opinion of the guy. I'm not making any bets one way or the other, but I'm glad we've got him.

He literally DID win us games, but we're no top team. He has made a great impression in his first year in O-Town, and his chemistry with Turris has been fantastic. But in his time with Buffalo and Toronto he hasn't stuck, so there's no guarantee we'll still love him next year. Based on THIS year, though, your comments fail to change my (possibly our) opinion of the guy. I'm not making any bets one way or the other, but I'm glad we've got him.
- Mr_Squeaks

Puemple is on pace for 30 goals in his first full ahl season ,maybe he is a stop gap guys

TBH prock the regional tv deal
- top shelf 15[rummored to be 100mil per] would pretty much allow them to outspend pretty much the entire league.So yeah the other pieces of that huge cash pie would be important to a big money making enterprise like TMLSE.They spend and spend but always leave the fans wanting more,they know what they are doing

Rumouted to be 100mil? Where the hell are you getting that from?

If you honestly believe the team with the smallest fan base in Canada, least demand for tickets, despite having fans from two strong fanbases helping them out in that regard, will somehow ink a contract bigger than those two fanbases, I think you might need help.

You realize the Leafs have their own station right?

He literally DID win us games, but we're no top team. He has made a great impression in his first year in O-Town, and his chemistry with Turris has been fantastic. But in his time with Buffalo and Toronto he hasn't stuck, so there's no guarantee we'll still love him next year. Based on THIS year, though, your comments fail to change my (possibly our) opinion of the guy. I'm not making any bets one way or the other, but I'm glad we've got him.
- Mr_Squeaks

As it worked out, he'd be a better option than clarkson and his contract. So far anyway. But as I say, I can see why they'd want to upgrade.

Carlyle is gone.

He'll be fired the day after the season ends.
- Pecafan Fan

wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Rumouted to be 100mil? Where the hell are you getting that from?

If you honestly believe the team with the smallest fan base in Canada, least demand for tickets, despite having fans from two strong fanbases helping them out in that regard, will somehow ink a contract bigger than those two fanbases, I think you might need help.

You realize the Leafs have their own station right?
- prock

Come on prock iam not bashing ,but you as a diehard leaf fan .Dont ever wonder why the leafs with all their money always seem to hire the wrong coach or manager,sign the wrong player and always leave their fans wanting more ????The more time that passes with lack of success ,makes me wonder if MLSE is ever really in it to win it .Or to keep the fans coming back in droves hoping the next season will be the one