General Leafs Talk

[hockeyfan1]

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AqErx0_ykgvgDaZu1L4GpHYJfwM6?slug=capress-hkn_leafs_cardinal-17075855

Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins donned a personalized Maple Leafs sweater in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Thursday. He's one of 23 bishops in Rome this week preparing for elevation into the College of Cardinals.

"It's safe to say there are more than a few Toronto Maple Leafs fans in the pews of our parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto," Collins said in an Archdiocese release. "This is a fun way to let them, and all Catholics in our diocese, know that I am thinking of them at this time. I am truly proud and humbled to serve them all."

Hail and Amen!

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

In before Manson.

 

[Oracle]

Clark MacArthur posed as a Sport Chek employee recently, pretty funny video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHc89cTdgZg&feature

And he talked a guy into buying a MacArthur jersey. Priceless.

lol it would have been funny if someone recognized him and played along then asked "Phil" to sign the jersey.

 

[BrownRolo]

Remember when the talk was how the Leafs had a 90% chance of making the playoffs this year...yeah, that changed pretty fast.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/Toronto_ChanceWillMakePlayoffs.html

 

[4th Liner]

Remember when the talk was how the Leafs had a 90% chance of making the playoffs this year...yeah, that changed pretty fast.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/Toronto_ChanceWillMakePlayoffs.html

Chance will make playoffs:

# Team  PTS W  L  OTL GD  PCT
  1 NYR  79  37 14  5  44 100.0%
  2 BOS  72  35 19  2  60 100.0%
  3 PIT  71  33 20  5  28  99.5%
  4 PHI  71  32 19  7  16  99.0%
  5 NJD  70  33 20  4    3  95.6%
  6 FLA  65  27 19 11  -16  79.6%
  7 OTT  68  30 22  8  -4  75.6%
  8 WAS  63  29 24  5  -4  59.2%
  9 TOR  64  29 24  6  -2  51.9%
10 WIN  62  28 26  6  -21  17.5%
11 MTL  58  24 25 10  -2  13.6%
12 TBL  58  26 26  6  -32  4.9% 
13 NYI  58  25 25  8  -29  2.5%
14 CAR  55  22 26 11  -28  0.9%
15 BUF  55  24 27  7  -31  0.3%

The closest team to us is Washington - I'm not sure I want to have to beat them out, especially considering we have to play more against North East teams vs. their playing more against South East opponents. Things are slipping away on us.

I'm still hoping Florida and/or Ottawa fades, but every time I think that's gonna happen, they win a few and I'm not so sure. The life of a bubble team, meh...

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

A win or two coupled with a loss by someone can change that % pretty quickly.  Look how much higher Ottawa's % is than ours, even though it wouldn't take much for them to fall completely out of the playoffs in a week's time.

 

[Mack674]

lost 5 of 6, not looking good.

 

[caver]

When a team is looking as lost as the Leafs have been over the last 2 weeks I think it takes some good coaching or strong goaltending to turn things around. I'm not sure that the Leafs have either one. When the Vancouver game got to 2 - 0 Wilson needed to call time out and settle the troops. Even the TV announcers were calling for a time out. Maybe pull Reimer right then even if it is just to calm him down for the rest of the period, but don't wait until you are down by 4 goals to the Canucks and there is no chance of a comeback. And Healy was right about Aulie too. Up from the minors and on against the Sedins? Komisarek should play before Aulie.
The goalie situation is tough. Reimer just looks lost. Either give Gus a string of games or bring up somebody and hope for a hot streak. This recent record will soon see the Leafs out of a playoff position again. 

 

[leafplasma]

When a team is looking as lost as the Leafs have been over the last 2 weeks I think it takes some good coaching or strong goaltending to turn things around. I'm not sure that the Leafs have either one. When the Vancouver game got to 2 - 0 Wilson needed to call time out and settle the troops. Even the TV announcers were calling for a time out. Maybe pull Reimer right then even if it is just to calm him down for the rest of the period, but don't wait until you are down by 4 goals to the Canucks and there is no chance of a comeback. And Healy was right about Aulie too. Up from the minors and on against the Sedins? Komisarek should play before Aulie.
The goalie situation is tough. Reimer just looks lost. Either give Gus a string of games or bring up somebody and hope for a hot streak. This recent record will soon see the Leafs out of a playoff position again.

Reimer is 1-3 since his two shutouts and his GAA is 4.27 along with save % of .858. Reimer has started 7 of the last 9 games and keeps being sent out there. Gus has been forced to mop up in blowouts a couple of games which does nothing for a goalies confidence coming in cold and being thrown to the wolves when a team has given up.  In the two starts Gus was good in one losing 2-1 and allowed 5 in another losing 5-1.  What do you expect from a goalie that has been blindsided like he has.  Gus has been given the raw end of the stick, sure he lost those 2 starts but this is a guy who had his starting job stolen from him after having it handed to him in January.  He was 7-3-1 with 3 shutouts and a GAA of 2.08 and a save  % of .926.  Do those seem like the type of numbers that would warrant  a goalie to lose his starting job? Gus had finally got the Leafs on the right track and a playoff spot was looking likely.  So Reimer comes in with a couple of shutouts and all that Gus had achieved is forgotten.

Some may think that I am a little relentless in my backing up of Gus but this is just maddening for me.  I wanted Gus right back in there after Reimer got that first shutout.  Ron Wilson should be fired for a lot things and the handling of the goaltending situation is blatantly ridiculous, I am sorry.

 

[Zee]

When a team is looking as lost as the Leafs have been over the last 2 weeks I think it takes some good coaching or strong goaltending to turn things around. I'm not sure that the Leafs have either one. When the Vancouver game got to 2 - 0 Wilson needed to call time out and settle the troops. Even the TV announcers were calling for a time out. Maybe pull Reimer right then even if it is just to calm him down for the rest of the period, but don't wait until you are down by 4 goals to the Canucks and there is no chance of a comeback. And Healy was right about Aulie too. Up from the minors and on against the Sedins? Komisarek should play before Aulie.
The goalie situation is tough. Reimer just looks lost. Either give Gus a string of games or bring up somebody and hope for a hot streak. This recent record will soon see the Leafs out of a playoff position again.

Reimer is 1-3 since his two shutouts and his GAA is 4.27 along with save % of .858. Reimer has started 7 of the last 9 games and keeps being sent out there. Gus has been forced to mop up in blowouts a couple of games which does nothing for a goalies confidence coming in cold and being thrown to the wolves when a team has given up.  In the two starts Gus was good in one losing 2-1 and allowed 5 in another losing 5-1.  What do you expect from a goalie that has been blindsided like he has.  Gus has been given the raw end of the stick, sure he lost those 2 starts but this is a guy who had his starting job stolen from him after having it handed to him in January.  He was 7-3-1 with 3 shutouts and a GAA of 2.08 and a save  % of .926.  Do those seem like the type of numbers that would warrant  a goalie to lose his starting job? Gus had finally got the Leafs on the right track and a playoff spot was looking likely.  So Reimer comes in with a couple of shutouts and all that Gus had achieved is forgotten.

Some may think that I am a little relentless in my backing up of Gus but this is just maddening for me.  I wanted Gus right back in there after Reimer got that first shutout.  Ron Wilson should be fired for a lot things and the handling of the goaltending situation is blatantly ridiculous, I am sorry.

You're 100% right. Gustavsson "saved" the Leafs season according to Burke and yet they give him the shaft.

 

[nutman]

I too agree, why gus is not #1 is beond me. Wilson needs to wake the frig up or move on. Common Burke how long are you going to sit on him.

 

[leafplasma]

If Gus gets the start on Tuesday which you would have to think he would.  He will have had just 2 starts in 3 weeks.  He is clearly a goalie that does better with work.  His rhythm, his confidence, his trust in management that they are rewarding him have likely all been lost.  He is in essence starting all over.  Nothing would make me happier then Burke announcing a Wilson firing, more so then any trade the man could make right now.

 

[hockeyfan1]

When a team is looking as lost as the Leafs have been over the last 2 weeks I think it takes some good coaching or strong goaltending to turn things around. I'm not sure that the Leafs have either one. When the Vancouver game got to 2 - 0 Wilson needed to call time out and settle the troops. Even the TV announcers were calling for a time out. Maybe pull Reimer right then even if it is just to calm him down for the rest of the period, but don't wait until you are down by 4 goals to the Canucks and there is no chance of a comeback. And Healy was right about Aulie too. Up from the minors and on against the Sedins? Komisarek should play before Aulie.




The goalie situation is tough. Reimer just looks lost. Either give Gus a
string of games or bring up somebody and hope for a hot streak.
This recent record will soon see the Leafs out of a playoff position
again.

Reimer is 1-3 since his two shutouts and his GAA is 4.27 along with save % of .858. Reimer has started 7 of the last 9 games and keeps being sent out
there. Gus has been forced to mop up in blowouts a couple of games which
does nothing for a goalies confidence coming in cold and being thrown to
the wolves when a team has given up.  In the two starts Gus was good in
one losing 2-1 and allowed 5 in another losing 5-1.  What do you expect from a goalie that has been blindsided like he has.  Gus has been given the raw end of the stick, sure he lost those 2 starts but this is a guy who had his starting job stolen from him after having it handed to him in January.  He was 7-3-1 with 3 shutouts and a GAA of 2.08 and a save  % of .926.  Do those seem like the type of numbers that would warrant  a goalie to lose his starting job? Gus had finally got the Leafs on the right track and a playoff spot was looking likely.  So Reimer comes in with a couple of shutouts and all that Gus had achieved is forgotten.

Some may think that I am a little relentless in my backing up of Gus but this is just maddening for me.  I wanted Gus right back in there after Reimer got that first shutout.  Ron Wilson should be fired for a lot things and the handling of the goaltending situation is blatantly ridiculous, I am sorry.

Let's face it, James Reimer has simply become a very ordinary goaltender, subpar one would say, as compared to what he showed last season.  Don't know if that showing last year can be termed an anomaly on his part, but it looks as tough he is not the same performer post- concussion.


Gustavvson certainly deserves better, and should be playing more.  Not because he is superior to Reimer but because as Gus plays more, he seems to get sharper.  Reimer?  Quite the opposite in that category.


Somebody, please tell that to Ron Wilson!

 

[leafplasma]

When a team is looking as lost as the Leafs have been over the last 2 weeks I think it takes some good coaching or strong goaltending to turn things around. I'm not sure that the Leafs have either one. When the Vancouver game got to 2 - 0 Wilson needed to call time out and settle the troops. Even the TV announcers were calling for a time out. Maybe pull Reimer right then even if it is just to calm him down for the rest of the period, but don't wait until you are down by 4 goals to the Canucks and there is no chance of a comeback. And Healy was right about Aulie too. Up from the minors and on against the Sedins? Komisarek should play before Aulie.




The goalie situation is tough. Reimer just looks lost. Either give Gus a
string of games or bring up somebody and hope for a hot streak.
This recent record will soon see the Leafs out of a playoff position
again.

Reimer is 1-3 since his two shutouts and his GAA is 4.27 along with save % of .858. Reimer has started 7 of the last 9 games and keeps being sent out
there. Gus has been forced to mop up in blowouts a couple of games which
does nothing for a goalies confidence coming in cold and being thrown to
the wolves when a team has given up.  In the two starts Gus was good in
one losing 2-1 and allowed 5 in another losing 5-1.  What do you expect from a goalie that has been blindsided like he has.  Gus has been given the raw end of the stick, sure he lost those 2 starts but this is a guy who had his starting job stolen from him after having it handed to him in January.  He was 7-3-1 with 3 shutouts and a GAA of 2.08 and a save  % of .926.  Do those seem like the type of numbers that would warrant  a goalie to lose his starting job? Gus had finally got the Leafs on the right track and a playoff spot was looking likely.  So Reimer comes in with a couple of shutouts and all that Gus had achieved is forgotten.

Some may think that I am a little relentless in my backing up of Gus but this is just maddening for me.  I wanted Gus right back in there after Reimer got that first shutout.  Ron Wilson should be fired for a lot things and the handling of the goaltending situation is blatantly ridiculous, I am sorry.

Let's face it, James Reimer has simply become a very ordinary goaltender, subpar one would say, as compared to what he showed last season.  Don't know if that showing last year can be termed an anomaly on his part, but it looks as tough he is not the same performer post- concussion.


Gustavvson certainly deserves better, and should be playing more.  Not because he is superior to Reimer but because as Gus plays more, he seems to get sharper.  Reimer?  Quite the opposite in that category.


Somebody, please tell that to Ron Wilson!

You know and as hard as I am on Reimer here.  He still is only 23 years old, with 62 games under his belt.  One can not write him off just yet.  The weight of a Leaf Nation was placed on his shoulders and he was hailed as a saviour, you can't help but feel bad for him.  He is a super nice guy and I would send him down to the Marlies and pray to god we didn't ruin his development.  Remember Gus is 27 and 4 years is a lot.  I just think Gus is more ready and had a lot of confidence when RW pulled the plug.

 

[Zee]

First set - excellent
7-2-1

Second set
4-5-1

Third set
5-4-1

Fourth set
4-4-2

Fifth set
5-4-1

Next 10
Pittsburgh W
@Ottawa W
Edmonton W
@Winnipeg L
@Philadelphia L
Montreal L
@Calgary L
@Edmonton  W
@Vancouver L
New Jersey

4-5

Sneak peak of 2nd last set of 10:
San Jose
Washington
Florida
@Chicago
@Montreal
Boston  -- Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
@Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
@Washington
@Florida

 

[brothert]

Sneak peak of 2nd last set of 10:
San Jose
Washington
Florida
@Chicago
@Montreal
Boston  -- Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
@Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
@Washington
@Florida

Looking at this set I could see us going 3-7 (or 3-5-2).  Split the games with Was/Fla (2-2) lose to SJ, Bos, Philly,Chicago.  Its 50/50 with Pit and MTL but is say we take those two.  Buckle up it's going to be a rough ride

 

[4th Liner]

The more I look at the schedule the more pessimistic I get on our playoff chances. I checked the schedules of our closest rivals and here is what I found:

Team  GP  Pts  GR  OppWinPct  OppAvgPos  Playoff-Opp  NonPlayoff-Opp
FLA    58  65  24      1.05            19.0              9                    15
OTT    60  68  22      1.11            16.5            10                    12
TOR    59  64  23      1.12            15.7            13                    10
WIN    61  64  21      1.11            16.8            10                    11
WAS  58  63  24      1.11            16.7            12                    12

So, Florida has the easiest schedule - only 9 current playoff teams as opponents in their 24 remaining games and the rest of our rivals have about the same schedule, with Ottawa the next lightest and Winnipeg and Washington about dead even.

The Leafs have the toughest road - with 13 out of our last 23 games against current playoff teams and our remaining opponents also have the highest average points per game at 1.12, and the highest average position of 15.7.

It's not THAT much of a difference, but every little edge counts - these 5 teams are fighting for 3 spots. Currently it looks tough for us to pull ahead of Florida or Ottawa, unless they skid. Our best chance is to hold off the Caps - we can hope that they continue to stay cold, but I'm not sure that they will.

Fun times ahead!

 

[Redleaf]

The more I look at the schedule the more pessimistic I get on our playoff chances. I checked the schedules of our closest rivals and here is what I found:

Team  GP  Pts  GR  OppWinPct  OppAvgPos  Playoff-Opp  NonPlayoff-Opp
FLA    58  65  24      1.05            19.0              9                    15
OTT    60  68  22      1.11            16.5            10                    12
TOR    59  64  23      1.12            15.7            13                    10
WIN    61  64  21      1.11            16.8            10                    11
WAS  58  63  24      1.11            16.7            12                    12

So, Florida has the easiest schedule - only 9 current playoff teams as opponents in their 24 remaining games and the rest of our rivals have about the same schedule, with Ottawa the next lightest and Winnipeg and Washington about dead even.

The Leafs have the toughest road - with 13 out of our last 23 games against current playoff teams and our remaining opponents also have the highest average points per game at 1.12, and the highest average position of 15.7.

It's not THAT much of a difference, but every little edge counts - these 5 teams are fighting for 3 spots. Currently it looks tough for us to pull ahead of Florida or Ottawa, unless they skid. Our best chance is to hold off the Caps - we can hope that they continue to stay cold, but I'm not sure that they will.

Fun times ahead!

I've resigned myself to the fact we may not make it afterall. I have come to terms with it and would be happy to see a graduation to the post season next year. This would allow the team to get a year older, which should help the younger guys to mature and fill out their frames a bit.

It also allows Burke another year to find the right peices to bring in (and move out) and to add some more size and skill. It would help to determine whether or not Reimer is just going through a sophmore slump or if we do need to acquire another goalie moving forward. We should see more from likes of Colborne, Kadri ,Owuya to name a few, and get a good read on the true potential of Jake Gardiner.

There are lots of pluses in waiting another season to make the playoffs priority number one. I can hold out another year if Burke thinks its the right way to go. I'm not sure how the media and Leafs nation will react to another post season outside looking in though? But in the grand scheme of things, its not the worst thing that could happen to this young team.

 

[lamajama]

The more I look at the schedule the more pessimistic I get on our playoff chances. I checked the schedules of our closest rivals and here is what I found:

Team  GP  Pts  GR  OppWinPct  OppAvgPos  Playoff-Opp  NonPlayoff-Opp
FLA    58  65  24      1.05            19.0              9                    15
OTT    60  68  22      1.11            16.5            10                    12
TOR    59  64  23      1.12            15.7            13                    10
WIN    61  64  21      1.11            16.8            10                    11
WAS  58  63  24      1.11            16.7            12                    12

So, Florida has the easiest schedule - only 9 current playoff teams as opponents in their 24 remaining games and the rest of our rivals have about the same schedule, with Ottawa the next lightest and Winnipeg and Washington about dead even.

The Leafs have the toughest road - with 13 out of our last 23 games against current playoff teams and our remaining opponents also have the highest average points per game at 1.12, and the highest average position of 15.7.

It's not THAT much of a difference, but every little edge counts - these 5 teams are fighting for 3 spots. Currently it looks tough for us to pull ahead of Florida or Ottawa, unless they skid. Our best chance is to hold off the Caps - we can hope that they continue to stay cold, but I'm not sure that they will.

Fun times ahead!

I've resigned myself to the fact we may not make it afterall. I have come to terms with it and would be happy to see a graduation to the post season next year. This would allow the team to get a year older, which should help the younger guys to mature and fill out their frames a bit.

It also allows Burke another year to find the right peices to bring in (and move out) and to add some more size and skill. It would help to determine whether or not Reimer is just going through a sophmore slump or if we do need to acquire another goalie moving forward. We should see more from likes of Colborne, Kadri ,Owuya to name a few, and get a good read on the true potential of Jake Gardiner.

There are lots of pluses in waiting another season to make the playoffs priority number one. I can hold out another year if Burke thinks its the right way to go. I'm not sure how the media and Leafs nation will react to another post season outside looking in though? But in the grand scheme of things, its not the worst thing that could happen to this young team.

Out of curiosity, even though we'd get smoked in the 1st round, what is your reasoning? A 14th overall pick vs a 16th? Unless you mean Burke being desperate and doing something stupid which I don't think he'd do. Then again, missing the playoffs may actually spur BB to do what this team actually needs - goaltending, defense and a new coach.......

 

[4th Liner]

Yeah, I'd love to be in the playoffs again, but not just to get smoked in the 1st round. I think it speaks volumes that Burke hasn't done a knee-jerk move like trading for a veteran goalie. I think he's made the call that we are sticking with Reimer/Gus this year and even if it means missing the playoffs by a point or two, so be it. He wants those guys to develop along with this young team and who can argue with that? Hopefully it makes them stronger for next year. We shall see.