can we hug this out

Flyers trending upward!

- Pecafan Fan

Is this the year the Pens cakewalk through the east?

Is this the year the Pens cakewalk through the east?
- Cape Breton Bruins

Maybe. Lots hockey remaining and we all know Fleury seems to fall apart in the playoffs.

Maybe. Lots hockey remaining and we all know Fleury seems to fall apart in the playoffs.
- Pecafan Fan

If they can all get healthy in time for the end of the season, the Penguins will be in the mix to emerge from the East, along with the Islanders and Habs who both seem to have the better "under pressure" goal-tending of these three teams.

Flyers trending upward!
- Crimsoninja

wooooo

it always makes me laugh that you claim:

1. the leafs last year only lost because bernier missed a few games, and weren't in fact a terrible team (like everyone else knows they were).

2. claim that ottawa was a terrible team and only won because of anderson.....and yet you ignore the fact that they were able to keep winning despite losing a better goalie than the leafs lost.........

hmmmmmmm

i think there are holes in your theory.
- sensarmy_11

Some holes in your theories too.

The leafs and sens had nearly the same pts% with Anderson and bernier in net. If Anderson is a better goalie as you claim, wouldn't that imply that the leafs did in fact have the better team other than the respective teams goaltending?

I should point out as well that "the sens kept winning with their backup and the leafs didnt" and using that yo compare the two teams assumes the backups performed equally.

If anything, I wouldn't be making those statements now. What is transpiring now makes him look right.

Some holes in your theories too.

The leafs and sens had nearly the same pts% with Anderson and bernier in net. If Anderson is a better goalie as you claim, wouldn't that imply that the leafs did in fact have the better team other than the respective teams goaltending?

I should point out as well that "the sens kept winning with their backup and the leafs didnt" and using that yo compare the two teams assumes the backups performed equally.

If anything, I wouldn't be making those statements now. What is transpiring now makes him look right.
- prock

Dude, we just saw one member of the Red Wings wander aimlessly through our zone, past 4 of our better players for something like 30-40 seconds before deciding to drop the puck off into the net and win in overtime. Any reason you'd like to give as to why the Leafs are currently in a better position than the Sens, well, I'd be inclined to agree.

Dude, we just saw one member of the Red Wings wander aimlessly through our zone, past 4 of our better players for something like 30-40 seconds before deciding to drop the puck off into the net and win in overtime. Any reason you'd like to give as to why the Leafs are currently in a better position than the Sens, well, I'd be inclined to agree.
- Mr_Squeaks

edit - whoa. your post made me go look it up.



That Nyquist kid is good.

Dude, we just saw one member of the Red Wings wander aimlessly through our zone, past 4 of our better players for something like 30-40 seconds before deciding to drop the puck off into the net and win in overtime. Any reason you'd like to give as to why the Leafs are currently in a better position than the Sens, well, I'd be inclined to agree.
- Mr_Squeaks

Yes one play that made the defenders look bad, but the Senators carried the play for a better part of the game, and at the least kept pace for the rest.

But there are still the giveaways, that are still happening, that have to eliminated from their play.

I attribute this to some players thinking they need to contribute more offence, as the entire offence is down with the loss off a number of key players over the past couple of seasons. So chances are taken and the goal-tending can't always be there to bail them out.

Yes one play that made the defenders look bad, but the Senators carried the play for a better part of the game, and at the least kept pace for the rest.

But there are still the giveaways, that are still happening, that have to eliminated from their play.

I attribute this to some players thinking they need to contribute more offence, as the entire offence is down with the loss off a number of key players over the past couple of seasons. So chances are taken and the goal-tending can't always be there to bail them out.
- Doppleganger

Oh, I admit I'm bitter about that play, especially since it's going to be one that makes us look stupid on all of the highlight shows, including the year in review and a few months down the road when they decide on the plays of the season. I, too, like a lot of things about our young core and their potential. But yeah, still bitter. I'll get over it, stick with me.

Oh, I admit I'm bitter about that play, especially since it's going to be one that makes us look stupid on all of the highlight shows, including the year in review and a few months down the road when they decide on the plays of the season. I, too, like a lot of things about our young core and their potential. But yeah, still bitter. I'll get over it, stick with me.
- Mr_Squeaks

I’m not sure how you attribute chasing one guy around the rink as he does a few laps with the puck as trying to do too much offensively….

I’m not sure how you attribute chasing one guy around the rink as he does a few laps with the puck as trying to do too much offensively….
- prock

I'm very sleepy today, but did I actually say he was trying to do too much offensively? I WAS thinking earlier that he was probably passing up a number of opportunities to give a teammate a nice GWG opportunity, but he won the game so no harm done (except to us)...

Our team isn't tanking, but I think our owner is...

I'm very sleepy today, but did I actually say he was trying to do too much offensively? I WAS thinking earlier that he was probably passing up a number of opportunities to give a teammate a nice GWG opportunity, but he won the game so no harm done (except to us)...

Our team isn't tanking, but I think our owner is...
- Mr_Squeaks

No, you didn’t. Dopps suggested that was a reason for giveaways.

No, you didn’t. Dopps suggested that was a reason for giveaways.
- prock

A giveaway last night lead directly to a Buffalo goal.



On another note, what can't teams from Ontario win a game in Florida?

A giveaway last night lead directly to a Buffalo goal.

On another note, what can't teams from Ontario win a game in Florida?
- Doppleganger

I think it's the novelty of being in Florida - a more interesting place to be outside than, say, Newark. California swings are probably even tougher, in general, because of the weather AND the quality of opponent, but most teams know they have to raise their game for teams like the Kings and Ducks.

leafs are really trending down this season again

http://www.theglobeandmai...e-charts/article22227447/

They are almost back to the crappy level as last season with shot differentials
I really thought we would see a decent step up from last season.

Hurry up and fire Carlyle so we can at least see if there is a difference with a new coach at all.. then start tearing things down if nothing changes

leafs are really trending down this season again

http://www.theglobeandmai...e-charts/article22227447/

They are almost back to the crappy level as last season with shot differentials
I really thought we would see a decent step up from last season.

Hurry up and fire Carlyle so we can at least see if there is a difference with a new coach at all.. then start tearing things down if nothing changes
- senstroll

Who is the next coach?

Who is the next coach?
- Doppleganger

depends when the Firing happens

depends when the Firing happens
- senstroll

But you seem to want the leaf coach gone yesterday? So and "interim coach" until the summer?

But you seem to want the leaf coach gone yesterday? So and "interim coach" until the summer?
- Doppleganger

I would go with Horacek until we see how Babcock plays out
I really didnt think he would be available at all.. starting to think he will test the open market now

The leafs are again giving up the most shot attempts per game

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Average number of shot attempts per team in a game is just under 56 by the way. Leafs conceding more than 70 over long stretch is awful.

Do the leafs just have to worst defensive team in the League or is there some systemic issues that can get these numbers down? even a drop to average would be a big improvement with the leafs goaltending

I would go with Horacek until we see how Babcock plays out
I really didnt think he would be available at all.. starting to think he will test the open market now

The leafs are again giving up the most shot attempts per game


Do the leafs just have to worst defensive team in the League or is there some systemic issues that can get these numbers down? even a drop to average would be a big improvement with the leafs goaltending
- senstroll

I find the Babcock idea intriguing - I think with Detroit trending down and Toronto trending up, Babcock might see some things he really likes but would know how to coach differently. A champion-calibre coach at the helm could really change the Leafs fortunes...

I find the Babcock idea intriguing - I think with Detroit trending down and Toronto trending up, Babcock might see some things he really likes but would know how to coach differently. A champion-calibre coach at the helm could really change the Leafs fortunes...
- Mr_Squeaks

But there would need to be a commitment to developing players in the AHL, like the Wings have been doing now for a couple of decades, and that would require a major change in philosophy for leaf management that would be under scrutiny for the media and the fan base who want Nylander in the leaf line immediately after the WJC conclude and no later than the beginning of next season.


As one (well known) pundit always puts it, when describing how the Wings develop players...."better to be over ripe than under done", and that would see Nylander play one maybe two seasons in the AHL before making the jump to the NHL,

I find the Babcock idea intriguing - I think with Detroit trending down and Toronto trending up, Babcock might see some things he really likes but would know how to coach differently. A champion-calibre coach at the helm could really change the Leafs fortunes...
- Mr_Squeaks

Detroit is trending up (93 points last year, on pace for 104 this year) and Toronto is doing not much of anything. They'll probably finish the same as they did last year.

Detroit is trending up (93 points last year, on pace for 104 this year) and Toronto is doing not much of anything. They'll probably finish the same as they did last year.
- daeth

I'm talking big picture - they're not the team they were at their peak, and while they develop their assets as well as anyone, they'll take some time before they're really challenging for the cup. Although to be fair, the East tends to be fairly wide open, so who knows. Not me, that's for sure.

If Toronto wants to become elite, they're going to need a change in organizational style. Which is why I thought they brought Shanny in, and would push for a guy like Babcock.