Boring. We listen to this kind of crap every summer. It vomits out of Leaf fans, unthinking, unbalanced, even a few that are a little unhinged.

But it is entertaining. Everyone, even the Leaf fans, know that the big stumble starts when they drop the puck for real. Leafs are about 5 years behind Edmonton in their rebuild and you all note that Edmonton is just now starting a rebuild off the rebuild and they have the bet hockey player on the plant.

But it is summer and it is hockey talk and it is, of course, Leaf fans providing the opportunity for laughter.We will wait for the fall before doubling up in laughter as Leaf fans start another false hope cycle.
- spatso

Hockey is a great game because they insist that the scoreboard and clock and standings be used as gauges of success. It is a summer tradition that fans of the blue and white come here and pretend that none of these matter. They chatter on about next season. It has been the same for 10 years. It will be the same again next year. Losers are what losers do and the Leafs have been no shows for every year but one.

And, the one year that they did make the playoffs they did the biggest collapse in playoff history in their series with the Bruins. Why would anybody think that next year will be different? We know that summer is let's pretend season for the blue kool aid crowd. You are having a great off season in once again winning the bragging rights.
- 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

Definitely.

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

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

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

Accountability

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

- twiztedmike

how's zbad doing right now?

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

Accountability

how's zbad doing right now?
- daeth

I think he died

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!

Accountability

how's zbad doing right now?
- daeth

Probably alot better than Brassard. Especially since his team has a 2nd round pick.

Probably alot better than Brassard. Especially since his team has a 2nd round pick.
- systemtool

This doesn't sound good. No, it really doesn't sound very good at all.

edit: typo

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

Accountability.

This is not what you want to talk about. The Toronto based hockey media pumped Matthews all the way to #1. Now we hear people starting to back away and talk about Laine as the likely Calder favourite. What is wrong with these guys?
- spatso

I know right !?

I know right !?
- systemtool

The Thank you Carol thing in VAN has gone WAY too far

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...1704&forum_id=1&page=last

That is my point. It was not a consensus. Even in the TSN survey two scouts shifted to Laine as their 1st overall pick. But the Leafs were way too deep into Matthews to move off their earlier plan. Too bad.
- spatso

Yeah..too bad. Spatso so sad.

It was a controlled time series survey. Two scouts was a huge shift in the base. Headline kept the Matthews pump in place causing some people to believe he was the consensus pick. but if you checked in the body of the story it was apparent that the consensus had been downgraded. Laine had all the momentum coming into the draft. But way too much credibility had been spent on Matthews. He is a good hockey player and he will be fine. But Leafs will regret not taking the superstar.
- spatso

Yeah. Accountability. Regret.

It is too bad that we did not have more of a chance to talk about this prior to the draft. You know there will be loud howls if Laine jumps off to a big start. Fans will need to be reminded that they support their choice.
- spatso

Reminds us. Accountability.

I don't disagree. I would take Matthews and have said that from the beginning. My comments have more to do with temperament and the Leaf fans reaction to what is likely going to be their worse seasons in franchise history.
- spatso

Yes, we followed all these make me feel better stories for the Oilers fora bunch of years. It is all about feeding the faithful a little hope so they are not discouraged.

Nobody wants to read about another year of last place hockey.
- spatso

K

I didn't even think it was possible to be so wrong

I didn't even think it was possible to be so wrong
- twiztedmike

Neither did Spatso, apparently. I bet his wife knew how likely it would be though. Just a hunch.

Calder favourite? Marner or Matthews?

Man I wish the Leafs had a good rookie like that. Can you imagine!

Some goof wants you banned just for posting on this thread. Some people just don't have any staying power in terms of seeing a good thing through to the end.
- spatso

I agree. Like the dumbass who switched to the Sens at the wrong time.