Commander Clueless

@yave1964 I hope the Leafs actually do give him the control he wants, and that he can take the reigns and make this his team. I was hoping this was the strategy they would take when they were talking about Scotty Bowman years ago.

Tim Leiweke seems adamant on Shanahan running the team, so here's hoping.

Wings sweep. Series star: The Toronto Maple Leafs.

Okay, I'm still picking Wings. Just cuz.

@yave1964 Rask has been known for some mental meltdowns in the past, although I doubt he's quite on Fleury's level.

If Trotz is available and Carlyle is fired, the Leafs could maybe use him. They could use some of that...what's it called? Deafens? Defenz? De-Fents?

Something like that anyway.

It seems the Leafs have found their new scapego...err saviour. Brendan Shanaban. Han. Shanahan.

The new boss, whom Dave "Deer in the Headlights" Nonis affectionately refers to as "Shanny" (obviously there is no respect in this organization) will supposedly have full control of the team's direction, according to Tim Leiweke. Mr. Leiweke also stated that the Leafs do not have the right team <insert buzzword here> to win.

In all seriousness, it is nice to hear these things coming from the Leafs brass. I was expecting to hear the traditional "well we have a good team, but bounces and injuries and blabbity blah blah" speech that Leaf fans just translate as "Next year, baby!".

I've always liked Shanahan, and I think he's a "character" guy. I don't know if he has the credentials or the know how to be the guy Leiweke is looking to run the team and change the "culture", but I do like the idea of a change to the team's direction. I'm not sure what changes will happen as they claim to need time to assess the team and come up with a strategy (which is fair), but I'm hoping that if and when Shanahan makes this team his, his team is a winning one.  What do you guys think?

Help us Obi-Shan Ananahan, you're our only hope.....

Good player, and he seems to have played well for the Flyers. Good on them to keep him.

That said, $5 mil per for MacDonald seems a bit...steep. Of course this is coming from a fan of the team that pays Phagoof $7 mil, so....what do I know?

Holy crap, I just realized I'm a Leafs fan! I have those feelings pretty much all the time...

But do you toss and turn at night with visions of Dion Phaneuf's ugly mug with a blue background? If so: Welcome to the club, brother.

....Get out while you still can.

@flyercanuck I know you don't want Phagoof's contract, but honestly I think he'd do quite well in Philly. Suits his style and he wouldn't be relied on near as much. I think you'd be in for a surprise, despite the flak he catches. If he becomes available, I wouldn't be surprised to see Holmgren in hot pursuit, if it weren't for cap space issues.

I'm rabbling as hard as I can. Rabble rabble!

I'm not sure discontent is the right word. It's more of a confused hatred. A soul-search with added rage.

The team is a mess right now. Us Leafers thought that we were finally seeing progress. A glimmer of hope. And now it's come crashing down again with the spectacular third season-ending collapse in a row. We thought last year was a bad one, but at least that was in the playoffs instead of collapsing themselves out of the playoffs at the last minute.

The forward corps as a group is badly balanced and poor defensively. The defense group is weak in their own end and lead by a somewhat overpaid Bryan McCabe 2.0. Goaltending is good and young, so that's a plus.

The forward group needs an overhaul and a balance between offensive and defensively strong forwards, as the entire top six is piss defensively except Bozak (JVR is not horrid, but not good), and the bottom six is baby's bottom soft outside of Kulemin and Bolland (who was gone most of the season), and with the exception of those two seems to play like a bunch of top six rejects. They need strength down the middle especially. Phaneuf might have worn out his welcome in Toronto, but he's still a good (overpaid) defenseman despite the knocks. The defense might be able to be rebuilt internally as they have two young good players in Gardiner and Rielly, as well as a pretty decent prospect pool. Unfortunately, next to the title "forward prospects" the Leafs have a picture of a giant turd, and next to "goaltending prospects" the Leafs just have a blank.

The system right now is a joke. They play shinny until they get a lead, and then sit back playing "defense" (which is basically allowing shots on net and lettle Bernier and mid-season Reimer bail their asses out). I don't think Carlyle is a bad coach, but he seems to be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. He wants to play a Boston game, but he doesn't have the personnel. He's got a soft speed group and seems to be trying to play a grit game. I think he'd be a good coach if he had the right personnel, but I doubt he'll be given the time for Nonis to try and fix this. He's likely gone.

I don't think it's all doom and gloom, but it's disgusting. Time to get creative and get this team back on track. Unfortunately, the Leafs are awful at contract signings and have some dead weight going forward.

I don't know if Ranger will win the trophy or not, but I think he's an easy nominee from the Leafs perspective.

The fact is we don't know why he took his hiatus. We have no way to know if it was a trivial or selfish reason or if it was a perfectly legit reason.

Fact is something caused him to not be able to play, which for a guy who seems to love hockey so much...it must have been hard. I don't think this is a case of giving up, I think this is a case of outside issues interfering with his career. Coming back now is perserverance on his part, and I think he deserves consideration.

I think it does show the type of dedication and perserverance that the Masterton is all about. Maybe not a win, but consideration for sure.

@Commander Clueless  The only real positive I can find is they are losing with some talented kids. Morgan Riley looks like a can't miss type....he has some all star games in his future.

They have some good pieces, but the team structure is all wrong. Weak down the middle with overall weak defense.

Looks like good goaltending, though, and some high octane offensive guys. If they could somehow add a big center and some defenseman that know how to play defense, they could maybe turn this around.

I'm hoping for big trades or a lottery win, but I'm thinking both of them have about as much chance of happening as I do of finally figuring out what the heck a "girlfriend" is. It's an unsolvable mystery, really.

But they actually reduced the number of in-Division games with the new alignment - specifically to get to play each team in the other Conference home and home.

 

Used to be six games against each member of your division - that's down to four. I actually like that because, quite frankly, six games was a bit much. Two against each team from the other conference and 3 (or 2) against the other division in your conference.

 

The "division-emphasis" in the playoffs was apparently intended to foster more "rivalries" to replace the regular season games lost, but, again, they only "guarantee" two such series each year. This year, for example, "rightnow" both wild cards would play in the "other" division in both Conferences.

 

Seems like an awful lot of bending to get those few "division rivalry" games.

 

 

 

 

When I was in Buffalo, I learned that, for the Sabres fan, the Flyers are one of their most hated teams in the league - all because of playoff rivalries. First the 1975 Cup elimination of the vaunted French Connection, but then the 94-95, 96-97, 99-00 and even the 10-11 playoff losses. Seven of their nine playoff appearances since they jettisonned the last "division heavy" playoff bracket included the Flyers.

 

That, my friend, is how one creates "rivalries." And it's why a trip to Philadelphia has been one of the biggest Sabre Fan Road Trips in recent years.

True enough. It seems like they can't decide between diversity or divisional, and keeping bouncing around.

And to your last point, bingo. Why not encourage more diversity in playoff series? Let the hate flow!

I'm good with removing the divisions altogether.

See, I don't really get the "rivalry" thing. Some of my most memorable playoff series came against teams that weren't in the Flyers division - Buffalo, Ottawa, Tampa, Boston.

Given that only one of the "divisional" matchups guarantees a matchup of two division foes - it's not even effective at that goal.

I actually agree with you. I guess I should have said that I appreciate what the NHL is trying to do - get people pumped up.

To that end, why not let more rivalries be born in the playoffs?

Sure, play more regular season games against established rivals. That's probably a sound business move.

I completely agree with this. Absolute idiocy. Especially with a division-heavy emphasis. Teams in a seven-team division have less competition for playoff spots than divisions with eight teams.

 

Which is why both seven-team divisions are int he West and the West is where they are planning the next expansion (Seattle, Vegas, Kansas City, Victoria, Saskatoon, etc.)

 

 

I'm sorry

Whether it's expansion or a re-re-organization, they really need to fix this. For the reasons you mentioned, its stupid. I also hate the divisional emphasis. I appreciate the rivalry thing, but let teams develop their own rivalries. It should be the best teams make it and the top teams play the lower teams, period. If it's all teams from one division, so be it.

If they do expand, then maybe we can try the everybody makes the playoffs format.

Pure chaos. I'm an agent of chaos.

Wait... you want to ADD two teams to the league??

Well, I was kidding around a bit with the second idea, but really....as long as they are even. Having more in one conference than the other is idiocy, IMO.

Top 8 teams in the conference make the playoffs.

1vs8, 2vs7, etc.

Seems logical.

OR

Even better!

Cut the regular season short. All teams make playoffs. Go back to 16 teams per conference (because it's stupid not to).

1vs16, 2vs15, etc.

Leafs can participate! YAY PARTICIPATION!

I don't believe the current leaf rebuild really was a rebuild based on the fact that they had little young talent. Usually around the time of a rebuild, you have picks aplenty in early part of the drafts, or at least had some prospects in the pool. Before this "rebuild" they had little in the way of blue chip prospects. There was a guy or two who hit levels higher than expected for short bursts due to getting icetime, but blue chip prospects are what make a rebuild. You sell the guys over a certain age for #1 picks, sometimes having multiple #1 picks in a draft year and some seconds. Maybe hit up a free agent or two and build. The leafs had no second, thirds, etc in a lot of years and little in the way of building a prospect pool. Leaf scouts and GM's also do not seem to pull diamonds from the later rounds often.

 

2004, Nothing till the 3rd round.

 

2005, Rask (but they traded him for Raycroft *laughs hysterically*)

 

2006, Not a great draft year outside of a few in the top 10. Ended up with Tlusty

 

2007, Nothing till the 3rd round. Sharks gave you Toskala and Bell for your 1st(13th overall) and 2nd picks and a 4th in 2009. We traded those picks to move up to 9th overall to get Logan Couture(Who nobody thought was going till 20th. I love our scouts)

 

2008, Luke Schenn. This was a good pick given what was left after the big 4. Unfortunate for the leafs that the big 4 were a sure thing, but everyone after had a question mark. Then again, they rushed him to the NHL.

 

2009, Kadri. A very good pick. I think he would have benefitted from some more development time. Streaky but good. Best available pick

 

2010, le sigh, no first rounder. I guess if you don't mind losing two 1st rounders and a 2nd for Kessel.....

Then of course, getting Phaneuf. I understand why they did it, but I have never been all that high on him.

 

2011, managed to get two late 1st rounders in one of the weaker draft years ever.

 

2012, Reilly. May turn into a good player. Too early to tell.

 

But let's face it, this "rebuild" was godawful with a lot of picks traded away hamstringing it.

Well Burkie's rebuild tactics turned out to be trades. It's impossible to say he hasn't improved the Leafs (because man, awful AWFUL team with awful prospects when he came in), but was it the right path? Who knows. Doesn't look good so far.

Either way, it was a rebuild because we had to suffer 5 years of suckage. Doing another one so soon is probably not going to happen, so us Leafers may be in for another wonderful playoff scramble for 3-4 years before another 5 year rebuild at minimum.

Sounds like fun.

Being a fan of this team, I'm honestly I'm surprised I haven't taken up drinking.

@yave1964

I'm guessing you have very little worry there. The best the Leafs can manage is probably their traditional march to 9th/10th place.

The goalie being Philly's weak link? Whoa. Say it ain't so!

No but traditional Philly-based jabs aside, Mason's play for the Flyers has been in stark contrast to his post-early play for the Jackets. This is the second time he's demonstrated that he can play at a high level, so who knows? I don't think it's unrealistic to say he will stay at his current level, but would anyone be surprised if he reverted back to his old form?

Tell you what though, if he falters the Leafs will trade you Bernier. But only if you take the rest of the team too.

Hey, leave Hitchpenis alone. He's doing a good job there in St. Louis.

He might be coasting a bit, but the Blues can afford it at this point. I doubt you'll see any of that come playoff time.

They may have some trouble scoring, but we'll see. Should be fun to watch.

NEVER saw this coming. Utter collapse worthy of the 1964 Phillies. Between this and the 3rd period of game 7 against the Bruins last year, I think the Leafs should move to the Philippines and rename the team the Manila Folders.....

From "young team with promise" to "complete and utter embarassment...again" in less than a month. Only in Leafland.

Screw it, I'm becoming a fairweather fan.

Now if only there was some fair weather.......

Actually, rumour out of Toronto has it the Leafs are folding out of sheer embarassment and relocating to Seattle this offseason. Glad that's finally over with.

Praise Bettman!

They are done. Was fun while it lasted. This core is prone to mental collapses, something has to give.

Yep, and it will. 3-4 years down the road after sucking for a while, if the past is any indication.

They should merge with the Sens in order to ice a respectable team.   

You take that back. You take that back right now.

I'ma go throw up.

I would love to see the official get 2 games plus a Shannahan explanation video.

Indeed.

Blatant headshot.

That's pretty sad.

Haha.

To be fair, the ref backhanded him pretty good.

But really, I'm not bashing SidCroz. He's phenomenal.

But that's funny right there.

@J0e Th0rnton

Sadly, the stuff you mentioned was BEFORE the "rebuild". The one that Burke swore wouldn't take 5 years. The one that involved trading a 2nd overall, a 9th overall, and some guy with a cool name for Kessel (who is great by the way, but that's still steep for a team dwelling in the basement).

Now, a decade later, we seem to be roughly back to where we started. Fighting for 9th.

At least when they made the Nolan, Wesley, and Leetch trades, they were in the playoff discussion. Sacrificing the future in a major way.

Think Bowman still wants the job? I'm all for it. Although to be fair, I was all for it back then to. But MLSE hadn't quite had enough screaming yet.

And as for Detroit, they are a bunch of friggin' hackers and everyone knows it, but no one wants to say anything because Illitch controls pizza. And pizza is power. Pizza power.

Burn the witch!

No, but seriously. Congratulations.

Now if he could only get the diving out of his game, he'd be set.