This is an important point. I have always thought the Toronto media had way too much influence in the Leaf decision making. The media creates a theme, they pump the theme and everyone comes to believe in the theme because nobody wants to break the story line.

I believe the Austin Matthews story is a prime example of a runaway theme. Matthews was not even close to being the best player in the draft after Christmas. Both Finns were clearly better and had it not been for the media pumping his story as the Leafs first overall selection he would have dropped to third or fourth. Simply, everyone had too much invested into the storyline too pull back on the story everyone (including fans) wanted to see.

Anyway it will be apparent once the season starts that Matthews (a good player) does not punch in the same class as the Finns. Leaf fans will likely be discouraged. But, I don't think anyone will figure it out. They will wonder why everyone missed on Laine and they will blame Leaf management. They will miss on the pervasive influence the media has on Leaf management decisions.
- spatso

Oh Spatso...resentment

And, so, when White and Brown are the first and second line centres at the WJC this year and Chabot is Team Canada's #1 D you will remain silent. When Matthews struggles you will remain silent. When the Leafs languish in last place, well out of the playoffs by December you will remain silent.

Your still trying to pretend that Karlsson is not a prodigy, a truly gifted player.

I understand that your attacks on Edmonton players in the past and now Ottawa players in all about deflecting attention from the overall failure of the Leafs. Well, get ready, you are headed to another year of futility.
- spatso

Oh..Spatso..

Amazing, Leafs are a last place team that will likely finish next year behind their most recent point total. And, Leaf fans say, but, but, but, maybe the Sens won't make the playoffs. Pathetic. Don't even have the illusion that you can finish ahead of anyone. So, you try and find fault in others in order to make yourself feel better.
- spatso

Oh...irony.

Look if the Leafs are a poster boy for analytics than the analytics movement is in free fall towards a near death experience. Leafs were an horrendous last place team last year. They will be worse this year. And, we need to know it is more than the fault of analytics.
- spatso

Oh Spatso...your meltdowns are so cute.

Now fans are trying to convince themselves they are something other than a last place team. Hey guys, check the scoreboard.
- spatso

Yeah guys check it!

Last place is last place.

Matthews did not have a particularly strong development camp.

Leafs getting ready for another year of futility.

But, nobody needs to worry about that right now.

It is summer and the Leafs are getting ready for the annual parade planning party.
- spatso

If you say so Spatso.

- daeth

meh, at least he enjoyed his summer

meh, at least he enjoyed his summer
- twiztedmike

he's a big fan of summer cooler talk

Possibly.

Check this out:
- systemtool

Matthews is not Puljujarvi.

Possibly.

Check this out:
- systemtool

OMG, I read further.

You can't even unravel that poop. Matthews may not have an impact this year in the NHL.

Possibly.

Check this out:
- systemtool

We want to believe he's 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).

23 goals in 46 games so far

23 goals in 46 games so far
- daeth

Similar to RNH

Oh Spatso...resentment
- systemtool

Clear case of resentment.


Usually associated with small cock syndrome.

Possibly.

Check this out:
- systemtool

That is unreal level of stupidity there. Epic.

That moron needs to delete his account. Takes a special kind of moron to continue to show his face with all the repeated moronic posts. Never ending supply of of stupid with that idiot.

I am highly flattered that I seem to draw this never ending stream of dialogue around my thoughts and reflections. I am pretty happy with the comments that I make. Even more content that you should form a study group to follow my musings.

I will of course continue on in providing an objective viewpoint of the Leafs and Senators. Both teams, you will note seem to have significantly exceeded preseason expectations.

I would caution that you not ruin the entire hockey experience for yourselves. It has been a long time the both the Leafs and Senators were playing really good hockey at this point in the season. And, it would appear that there is a strong possibility they will both make and meet in the playoffs. Try not to miss the pleasure of the joy of the hockey because of your being so preoccupied by the speck in your eye.

I am giving a resentment workshop in mid February. I was wondering if a few of you guys might be okay if I used some of your postings to illustrate how the underlying wounds of disappointment and betrayal endure even after a significant reversal in fortune. Sport metaphors work really well in an addictions setting.

Even though the Leafs are having a pretty good season, some of you still want to be angry. So you seek proxies for your anger. For example, it becomes pretty easy to trigger the old wounds by saying something very current that is freely associated with a prior wound (melting snow, Kessel played well in the Stanley Cup final and I love Boston baked beans).

I think one of the deepest wounds that anyone can experience is betrayal. We are probably all familiar with someone that still carries a deep resentment over a betrayal experience of their partner. I think a lot of Leaf fans have had a similar experience. For so long they experienced patterns of disappointment and let down. So, when someone suggests that the Leafs will fall apart again, they give way too much value to mere opinion. But, the reason they are so upset is because their is a part of their thinking that fears it may be true. Can it happen again?

For those of you that might be worried about the Leafs missing the playoffs, relax. As I have been saying for awhile the Leafs will be fine. There is no melt down coming this year.

I am highly flattered that I seem to draw this never ending stream of dialogue around my thoughts and reflections. I am pretty happy with the comments that I make. Even more content that you should form a study group to follow my musings.

I will of course continue on in providing an objective viewpoint of the Leafs and Senators. Both teams, you will note seem to have significantly exceeded preseason expectations.

I would caution that you not ruin the entire hockey experience for yourselves. It has been a long time the both the Leafs and Senators were playing really good hockey at this point in the season. And, it would appear that there is a strong possibility they will both make and meet in the playoffs. Try not to miss the pleasure of the joy of the hockey because of your being so preoccupied by the speck in your eye.
- spatso

I am giving a resentment workshop in mid February. I was wondering if a few of you guys might be okay if I used some of your postings to illustrate how the underlying wounds of disappointment and betrayal endure even after a significant reversal in fortune. Sport metaphors work really well in an addictions setting.

Even though the Leafs are having a pretty good season, some of you still want to be angry. So you seek proxies for your anger. For example, it becomes pretty easy to trigger the old wounds by saying something very current that is freely associated with a prior wound (melting snow, Kessel played well in the Stanley Cup final and I love Boston baked beans).

I think one of the deepest wounds that anyone can experience is betrayal. We are probably all familiar with someone that still carries a deep resentment over a betrayal experience of their partner. I think a lot of Leaf fans have had a similar experience. For so long they experienced patterns of disappointment and let down. So, when someone suggests that the Leafs will fall apart again, they give way too much value to mere opinion. But, the reason they are so upset is because their is a part of their thinking that fears it may be true. Can it happen again?

For those of you that might be worried about the Leafs missing the playoffs, relax. As I have been saying for awhile the Leafs will be fine. There is no melt down coming this year.
- spatso

What's concidered "a while"

I am highly flattered that I seem to draw this never ending stream of dialogue around my thoughts and reflections. I am pretty happy with the comments that I make. Even more content that you should form a study group to follow my musings.

I will of course continue on in providing an objective viewpoint of the Leafs and Senators. Both teams, you will note seem to have significantly exceeded preseason expectations.

I would caution that you not ruin the entire hockey experience for yourselves. It has been a long time the both the Leafs and Senators were playing really good hockey at this point in the season. And, it would appear that there is a strong possibility they will both make and meet in the playoffs. Try not to miss the pleasure of the joy of the hockey because of your being so preoccupied by the speck in your eye.
- spatso

I really appreciate your attempts to sound smart. You try so, so hard.

I am giving a resentment workshop in mid February. I was wondering if a few of you guys might be okay if I used some of your postings to illustrate how the underlying wounds of disappointment and betrayal endure even after a significant reversal in fortune. Sport metaphors work really well in an addictions setting.

Even though the Leafs are having a pretty good season, some of you still want to be angry. So you seek proxies for your anger. For example, it becomes pretty easy to trigger the old wounds by saying something very current that is freely associated with a prior wound (melting snow, Kessel played well in the Stanley Cup final and I love Boston baked beans).

I think one of the deepest wounds that anyone can experience is betrayal. We are probably all familiar with someone that still carries a deep resentment over a betrayal experience of their partner. I think a lot of Leaf fans have had a similar experience. For so long they experienced patterns of disappointment and let down. So, when someone suggests that the Leafs will fall apart again, they give way too much value to mere opinion. But, the reason they are so upset is because their is a part of their thinking that fears it may be true. Can it happen again?

For those of you that might be worried about the Leafs missing the playoffs, relax. As I have been saying for awhile the Leafs will be fine. There is no melt down coming this year.
- spatso

So much effort.

All of you just want to believe that Matthews is as good as Yakupov. But ask yourselves this. Is he? Is he really?

All of you just want to believe that Matthews is as good as Yakupov. But ask yourselves this. Is he? Is he really?
- walshyleafsfan

This is a perfect example of Boston baked beans and snow melting. In trying to promote discussion around the upcoming draft I clearly said that the Leafs should take Matthews (no ambiguity). But I also said that their are times the 1st pick has been a bust. I was never a fan of drafting Yakupov because he was the oldest birthday in his draft pool. Despite Matthews also being an older kid, I still thought he should be the Leafs first pick.

If you are still reacting to the Yakupov/Matthews parallels from last year it has something to do with the anxiety from back there. But that is okay.

I still find it amusing that Leaf fans want to say that I was wrong about drafting Matthews. I never said they should do anything else.