Seriously, Dion Phaneuf has played really well for the Sens. Boucher loves what he does on the ice and in the player's room. Sens have been really succesful in reducing their GA over last year and Phaneuf is the only change on the back end.

I think the Leaf fans really struggle with the idea that they were smoked in trade, badly. But, just because the trade has worked so well for the Sens, it does not mean it was not a good deal for the Leafs for where they are in their overall development.
- spatso

I doubt one Leaf fan has ever had this cross their mind.

I doubt one Leaf fan has ever had this cross their mind.
- Aetherial

Really. Are you sure no-one has speculated that the Leafs may have contended for a playoff spot with Phaneuf in the line up.

Really. Are you sure no-one has speculated that the Leafs may have contended for a playoff spot with Phaneuf in the line up.
- spatso

Contended? Well, first, they are. Second, I think they'd be further than they are now. Third, next season, and going forward, they are WAY better off without him.

Seriously, Dion Phaneuf has played really well for the Sens. Boucher loves what he does on the ice and in the player's room. Sens have been really succesful in reducing their GA over last year and Phaneuf is the only change on the back end.

I think the Leaf fans really struggle with the idea that they were smoked in trade, badly. But, just because the trade has worked so well for the Sens, it does not mean it was not a good deal for the Leafs for where they are in their overall development.
- spatso

Seriously, Dion Phaneuf has not been missed the the leafs. Babcock hated what he does on the ice and in the player's room. Leafs have been not seen a change in their GA over last year and even with inexperienced borderline ahl plugs taking phanuef’s old minutes. They have been able to generate more offense, not having to cover for phanuef’s mistakes.

I think sens fans really struggle with the idea that they were smoked in trade, badly. But, just because the trade has worked so well for the leafs, it does not mean it was not a good deal for the sens. It just happens to be that it wasn’t a good deal for the sens.

Contended? Well, first, they are. Second, I think they'd be further than they are now. Third, next season, and going forward, they are WAY better off without him.
- prock

Really, and who plays on the 2nd pair. Dion has had a great season for Ottawa. He has been a wonderful mentor for Ceci who played 27 minutes against Columbus last game. It seems to me that the Leafs would have gained more by keeping Dion. But I guess Leaf management knows better.

The Leafs have a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way and we all know non playoff teams are guaranteed wins.
- daeth

Lots more home games than road games, for the leafs ........... so with some puck luck, they could still challenge for a WC spot ....... that's if Boyle picks up his game.

Careful. Leafs did not have anyone on the list of top 50 prospects. Sens have 4 top prospects. Leafs are all in with the current roster. This is it. Nothing else coming.
- spatso

they had Froese, but dealt him away for 20 games from Boyle.

"The Raptors are a bad second half team" - says the fan of a one team city too garbage to have anything else (and be any good in that one team).



Of note - the Raptors finished last season with 4 straight wins, and 14 wins in their last 20 games. They were one of the best teams in the NBA down the stretch.

You're a complete and utter retard.
- prock

But the Craptors failed to win the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, so being "one of the best teams in the NBA down the stretch" means absolutely SFA.

But the Craptors failed to win the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, so being "one of the best teams in the NBA down the stretch" means absolutely SFA.


- D0PPELGANGER

That's correct - I actually doubt they ever win a championship. Too hard attracting NBA urban type people to Toronto. Maybe Drake will help. I don't know.

That said, they are among a handful of teams that could theoretically win the championship. I mean, they lost to the champs last year in a 6 game series.

Good thing I'm not a basketball fan.

But the article I think focuses on the idea that with all Toronto teams being among the best of their leagues, or on their way there, there is a good likelihood that Toronto sees at least one major sports championship.

I'm not a baseball fan either, but I sure as hell had a great time when the Jays won the world series. The whole city partied.

No, not really. The original 6 had the best players in the world, spread across only 6 teams.


- prock

So the 1972 Russian Red Army team had no players that would have ranked as "some of the best players in the world"?

Didn't Harold Ballard offer Valeri Kharlamov $1 million to play for the leafs after he saw them play at MLG?

So the 1972 Russian Red Army team had no players that would have ranked as "some of the best players in the world"?

Didn't Harold Ballard offer Valeri Kharlamov $1 million to play for the leafs after he saw them play at MLG?
- D0PPELGANGER

I wasn't familiar with Ballard offering Kharlamov $1M. I would more readily believe that Ballard offered a hitman $1M to kill Kharlamov, given how much Ballard hated Russians.

A CFL team would get creamed against an NHL team. I don't even know if they'd beat the top college teams.
- prock

Playing which sport? I'd suspect a CFL team would hammer a NHL if they played football....... and vice versa if they played hockey ............ you seem a little rattled?

I wasn't familiar with Ballard offering Kharlamov $1M. I would more readily believe that Ballard offered a hitman $1M to kill Kharlamov, given how much Ballard hated Russians.
- prock

But you have to admit, there were a some great players on the Red Army team ...... so much so that if they had played a regular NHL, instead of an all star team, they would easily beaten them.


http://www.1972summitseri...m/minnesotakharlamov.html

they had Froese, but dealt him away for 20 games from Boyle.
- D0PPELGANGER

But you have to admit, there were a some great players on the Red Army team ...... so much so that if they had played a regular NHL, instead of an all star team, they would easily beaten them.


http://www.1972summitseri...m/minnesotakharlamov.html
- D0PPELGANGER

I'm well aware Karlamov was a great player. There weren't very many outside the NHL in those days though.

My god are sens fans ever doubling down on the stupid lately

My god are sens fans ever doubling down on the stupid lately
- Feeling Glucky?

Funny how Sens fans talk about team success while Leaf fans focus on personal insults. Need to lighten up and enjoy the hockey.

Ehhhh that's a big statement. Our D was really bad at one point. I mean BAD.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

283 goals against vs what, 250 probably for the leafs this year? that's not an insignificant difference at all. toronto's d is bad while edmonton's d was apocalyptic

Lots more home games than road games, for the leafs ........... so with some puck luck, they could still challenge for a WC spot ....... that's if Boyle picks up his game.
- D0PPELGANGER

boyle is a 4th liner. minimal impact at best. that's why trading a 2nd for him as a rental was dumb.

283 goals against vs what, 250 probably for the leafs this year? that's not an insignificant difference at all. toronto's d is bad while edmonton's d was apocalyptic
- daeth

At one point, it was considered a big victory when we signed Mark Fayne on July 1.




Mark Fayne.

boyle is a 4th liner. minimal impact at best. that's why trading a 2nd for him as a rental was dumb.
- daeth

yeah, as small as it was, I wouldn't have ventured into the rental market at all. Next year. Not this year.

Also Nikitin and Ference, and we named Ference our captain.

I wasn't sure if I had ever seen a worse collection of dmen in those years, until I witnessed Colorado this year.

The Leafs have had a good year. Young players stepped up real good for them. However they have clearly faded in the second half and struggling to try and keep contact with the teams fighting for a playoff spot.

Need to be careful in setting expectations for next year. Very good chance team comes back to the second half base. They will not surprise other teams next year. The Leafs stole a bunch of single points. May not be nearly as easy as some people think.

The Leafs have had a good year. Young players stepped up real good for them. However they have clearly faded in the second half and struggling to try and keep contact with the teams fighting for a playoff spot.

Need to be careful in setting expectations for next year. Very good chance team comes back to the second half base. They will not surprise other teams next year. The Leafs stole a bunch of single points. May not be nearly as easy as some people think.
- spatso

Between Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Reilly, Gardiner and Zaitsev they've got a pretty good foundation. A few key moves for more stabilizing veteran presence and they'll be better.

Might I suggest Benoit Pouliot?

The Leafs have had a good year. Young players stepped up real good for them. However they have clearly faded in the second half and struggling to try and keep contact with the teams fighting for a playoff spot.

Need to be careful in setting expectations for next year. Very good chance team comes back to the second half base. They will not surprise other teams next year. The Leafs stole a bunch of single points. May not be nearly as easy as some people think.
- spatso

The Sens have had a good year. Goalies stepped up real good for them. However they are clearly a go nowhere team that is simply happy to be in a playoff spot.

Need to be careful in setting expectations for next year. Very good chance team comes back to the second half base. They will not surprise other teams next year. The Sens stole a bunch of OT/shoot-out points. May not be nearly as easy as some people think.