Is this the turning point???

[nutman]

I wouldn't call it a turning point. But I could easily be convinced it's a stepping stone in the right direction.

If I had to make a bet on it, I wouldn't bet on the Leafs making the playoffs. There are too many "ifs" starting with the goaltending and injuries. A number of other teams in the East look like they've improved. But in a short season like this, with little chance to prepare, all teams are subject to more going wrong and therefore, the Leafs stealing a spot if more goes right for them like Reimer finding his form.

This season should sort out whether Reimer or Scrivens can start - and therefore, whether they should look at the UFA market in 2013 or 2014. It should sort out what Kadri can contribute and what upside van Riemsdyk has as a top six or as a center. It should sort out some of the personnel on the D (ie buying Komi out, the AHLers, etc). It should improve the PK. It should help the team develop to play Carlyle hockey for the seasons that follow.

And if they tank, they'll get a good pick and maybe some more picks/talent at the deadline.

So I'll continue to watch with interest.

So my turning point does mean they have started to go in the right direction reguarding how they manage a team. good to see you can see that they could make the playoffs, its been just sick reading all the sports reporters  saying we will finish at or near the bottom. I think the only answer we as Leaf fans need is goaltending, can they step is the big question, and this will be answered in the first five games imo.

 

[mr10am]

You've spelled it wrong consistently enough that I think you actually believe his name is Riemer.  It's Reimer.

whatever, not a big deal and its close enough.

this team has no direction whatsoever. they're not a re-building team loaded with young talent, they're not a championship caliber team, or a veteran team trying to make one last push for a championship. they're just here.

 

[nutman]

You've spelled it wrong consistently enough that I think you actually believe his name is Riemer.  It's Reimer.

whatever, not a big deal and its close enough.

this team has no direction whatsoever. they're not a re-building team loaded with young talent, they're not a championship caliber team, or a veteran team trying to make one last push for a championship. they're just here.

They are a young team with lots of talent getting used to each other, and yes they have a direction, its up. This team may need the odd part, but as they all get used to each other this season, they will improve day by day. This team is full of very good players, all young and improving to say it is not shows your lack of hockey vision.

 

[mr10am]

You've spelled it wrong consistently enough that I think you actually believe his name is Riemer.  It's Reimer.

whatever, not a big deal and its close enough.

this team has no direction whatsoever. they're not a re-building team loaded with young talent, they're not a championship caliber team, or a veteran team trying to make one last push for a championship. they're just here.

They are a young team with lots of talent getting used to each other, and yes they have a direction, its up. This team may need the odd part, but as they all get used to each other this season, they will improve day by day. This team is full of very good players, all young and improving to say it is not shows your lack of hockey vision.

what's hockey vision?

 

[TML fan]

You've spelled it wrong consistently enough that I think you actually believe his name is Riemer.  It's Reimer.

whatever, not a big deal and its close enough.

this team has no direction whatsoever. they're not a re-building team loaded with young talent, they're not a championship caliber team, or a veteran team trying to make one last push for a championship. they're just here.

They are a young team with lots of talent getting used to each other, and yes they have a direction, its up. This team may need the odd part, but as they all get used to each other this season, they will improve day by day. This team is full of very good players, all young and improving to say it is not shows your lack of hockey vision.

what's hockey vision?

Kind of like spidey sense, but for hockey.

 

[nutman]

signing Lupal to and extention is yet another sign of turning this Team to respectabilty. they could have draged it out like other teams.

 

[hockeyfan1]

This may very well be the 'turning point" for our Leafs...they finish 1st in the East which means they will make the playoffs (f-I-n-a-l-l-y)!!  ;D

So will the Islanders   while the Penguins barely make it.

Sounds all weird??!! Not in the EA NHL '13 Simulation...

Note:  the full 82 game 2012-13 season was simulated

Have a look:
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8849988/2012-2013-nhl-regular-season-wrap-simulation

 

[Peter D.]

Last season before the big fall we were one of the better teams in The NHL, and I believe it was the injury to Reimer that cost us a playoff spot.

I suppose this would be the most appropriate place to put this:

That caption last night showing where the Leafs stood after 48 games in each of the last five seasons.  Even after the good start (before the big fall), the Leafs were sitting 9th.  I thought they were still maintaining a lower playoff spot at that point. 

Makes pointing back to last year's start a little uneasing. 

 

[nutman]

Well i'm starting to not like this site anymore, to many neg people on here. if you look for the positive things to talk about, you get jumped on and made fun of. all it seems is posters want to is talk of how bad the leafs are in there eyes.
well I'm sorry to say but this is becoming a big downer even for me. I think if I went to the mon or ott site, I would see more positive things on the Leafs then I would here.
Anyways, time for this guy to fade off for a while, at least untill it becomes fun to visit this site again. just a watcher for  now.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Fade to black......

 

[Zee]

Well i'm starting to not like this site anymore, to many neg people on here. if you look for the positive things to talk about, you get jumped on and made fun of. all it seems is posters want to is talk of how bad the leafs are in there eyes.
well I'm sorry to say but this is becoming a big downer even for me. I think if I went to the mon or ott site, I would see more positive things on the Leafs then I would here.
Anyways, time for this guy to fade off for a while, at least untill it becomes fun to visit this site again. just a watcher for  now.

No offense nutman, but every season you predict the Leafs are better than everyone thinks, will make the playoffs etc etc.  Every season since the lockout.  The Leafs haven't even been close to being considered a playoff team for a long, long time so it's not surprising that people are down on the team and ridicule your predictions.  Sure it's nice to have optimism, but you have to also be a bit realistic.  You point to last season, how you were "right" for half a season, but half a season isn't good enough by a long shot.  Let's see the Leafs put together an entire solid season and make the playoffs before we pronounce any corners have been turned.

 

[Tigger]

Dude, what sort of shell has a nut like this?

 

[louisstamos]

Well i'm starting to not like this site anymore, to many neg people on here. if you look for the positive things to talk about, you get jumped on and made fun of. all it seems is posters want to is talk of how bad the leafs are in there eyes.
well I'm sorry to say but this is becoming a big downer even for me. I think if I went to the mon or ott site, I would see more positive things on the Leafs then I would here.
Anyways, time for this guy to fade off for a while, at least untill it becomes fun to visit this site again. just a watcher for  now.

nutman, I'm a Leaf fan until I die - I will never get off the bandwagon, win or lose, I'll stick with this team...

...but, the Leafs haven't made the playoffs since my 3rd year of University...and I'm 30 now.  There are obviously positive things, Kardi, Gardiner, Reilly, etc - but you also can't ignore that this team has a lot of glaring holes at every position.  And every team has holes and question marks somewhere, of course - but the Leafs have more than most of the teams in the East.  The fewer ifs you have and the more sure things you have, the better your team is.

The best way to do this is a gambling analogy - if I'm playing with my heart, I'm betting on the Leafs every single time, because I *want* them to win.  But if I'm gambling with my head, I look at the lineup and more often than not would have to bet against them because most of the other teams in the East are stronger.  And of course, anything can happen and anyone can win on any given night, and some of those "ifs" can become sure things...but until they do you cannot bet on "ifs" and "buts."

Let's put it this way...if you and I bet $20 every year on whether the Leafs would make the playoffs since the last lockout, you'd be down $140.  Would that change how you would bet your $20 this year?

(noting that I actually thought the Leafs would make the playoffs last year, and was also wrong on that).

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Man, I just realized that the Leafs haven't made the playoffs since I started dating my wife.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....Time to move on? She'll understand right?

 

[PG]

Well i'm starting to not like this site anymore, to many neg people on here. if you look for the positive things to talk about, you get jumped on and made fun of. all it seems is posters want to is talk of how bad the leafs are in there eyes.
well I'm sorry to say but this is becoming a big downer even for me. I think if I went to the mon or ott site, I would see more positive things on the Leafs then I would here.
Anyways, time for this guy to fade off for a while, at least untill it becomes fun to visit this site again. just a watcher for  now.

nutman, the thing is that some of your claims go beyond optimistic into the completely unrealistic territory.

You are the only person I have heard predict that they will make the playoffs this year. A number have said they "could" make the playoffs but every single one of them has cited the "anything can happen" shortened season as the main, if not the ONLY, reason it's possible.

I admire your rosy outlook but it just doesn't jive with what most of see with our own eyes.

 

[Zee]

Man, I just realized that the Leafs haven't made the playoffs since I started dating my wife.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....Time to move on? She'll understand right?

LOL, I'm in the same boat.  Got married in the summer of 2004, no playoffs since then.  The wife is starting to get worried.

 

[Derk]

This may very well be the 'turning point" for our Leafs...they finish 1st in the East which means they will make the playoffs (f-I-n-a-l-l-y)!!  ;D

So will the Islanders   while the Penguins barely make it.

Sounds all weird??!! Not in the EA NHL '13 Simulation...

Note:  the full 82 game 2012-13 season was simulated

Have a look:
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8849988/2012-2013-nhl-regular-season-wrap-simulation

Kinda fun, but grain of salt, particularly how the Habs make the playoffs and take the eventual cup champion Penguins to 7 games in the semi-finals.

 

[Champ Kind]

Well i'm starting to not like this site anymore, to many neg people on here. if you look for the positive things to talk about, you get jumped on and made fun of. all it seems is posters want to is talk of how bad the leafs are in there eyes.
well I'm sorry to say but this is becoming a big downer even for me. I think if I went to the mon or ott site, I would see more positive things on the Leafs then I would here.
Anyways, time for this guy to fade off for a while, at least untill it becomes fun to visit this site again. just a watcher for  now.

It's only becoming a downer for you now?  Hasn't it always been?

 

[Redleaf]

Well i'm starting to not like this site anymore, to many neg people on here. if you look for the positive things to talk about, you get jumped on and made fun of. all it seems is posters want to is talk of how bad the leafs are in there eyes.
well I'm sorry to say but this is becoming a big downer even for me. I think if I went to the mon or ott site, I would see more positive things on the Leafs then I would here.
Anyways, time for this guy to fade off for a while, at least untill it becomes fun to visit this site again. just a watcher for  now.

Hang in there nutman. Us Leaf fans are all in the same boat. I'll agree with you that the team is gradually getting better. I just think a little more patience is needed.

 

[Mack674]

What really put this into perspective to a friend of mine... well I described it like this. How bad have the leafs been? *I point to my 9 year old son* I made that since the last time the Leafs have been a playoff team. A half grown up human being who hasn't existed in a time where Toronto had a playoff game.

Yikes.