Is this the turning point???

[Corn Flake]

No. I am not even sure that it is a transition year. They simply do not have enough talent to do anything yet. The higher the draft pick the better.

Its a solid draft year, a good sign that we will do well. ;D

This.... is a surprisingly good point.  ;D

We wont finish low because it is a good draft year, and that is a fact all Leaf fans should know by now. if we miss the playoffs we will be close to 8th.

Usually the Leafs trade their pick in a "good" draft year.  Except last year. Or the Kadri year (2009).

 

[Britishbulldog]

I would hope that the Leafs can get this guy from the 67s currently ranked 6th:

RK Player   Last Team           DOB   Pos. S Ht/Wt   GP G   A Pts  +/-
Sean Monahan Ottawa (OHL) Oct. 12/94 C L 6'2/186 32 14 33 47 +1

 

[nutman]

I would hope that the Leafs can get this guy from the 67s currently ranked 6th:

RK Player   Last Team           DOB   Pos. S Ht/Wt   GP G   A Pts  +/-
Sean Monahan Ottawa (OHL) Oct. 12/94 C L 6'2/186 32 14 33 47 +1

me to but dream on..

 

[nutman]

I want Miller, and then I know we would make the playoffs.

 

[nutman]

Oh friggen my! Reimers back. ;D

 

[Steel_Wind]

Good effort vs. Buffalo.

Good Points:

Frattin gets it done; Gunnerson improves play; Reimer plays well

The Bad:

Kessel starting to feel the pressure and, in particular, JVR looked out of place on the 1st line and by the third period, CLEARLY did not have the speed necessary to play on the 1st line. Look for another forward to be cycled in to the 1st lone on Thursday vs. the Washington Capitols.

The Ugly:

What's with Brown and that penalty? That one cost us a goal. No frikkin excuse for that right now.

 

[nutman]

Now that was a Hockey game. if we can play like that every night, then we will turn the corner. its just amazing what solid goaltending can do.

 

[Champ Kind]

Now that was a Hockey game. if we can play like that every night, then we will turn the corner. its just amazing what solid goaltending can do.

Nutman, you say if the Leafs play like that then the team will have turned a corner (paraphrased).  But isn't that extremely reactive?  Are you therefore not simply basing you assessment of the team's overall ability on a night-by-night basis, which we all know can fluctutae wildly in sports?

 

[TML fan]

Now that was a Hockey game. if we can play like that every night, then we will turn the corner. its just amazing what solid goaltending can do.

If they play like that every game, they're going to lose a lot.

 

[nutman]

No. I am not even sure that it is a transition year. They simply do not have enough talent to do anything yet. The higher the draft pick the better.

Its a solid draft year, a good sign that we will do well. ;D

This.... is a surprisingly good point.  ;D

We wont finish low because it is a good draft year, and that is a fact all Leaf fans should know by now. if we miss the playoffs we will be close to 8th.

8th pick overall? 

That's still to high for us.

Top 4-5 pick guaranteed.

Unless Reimer gets hurt again, we won't get a top 5 pick. Book it.

Yeah I have to admit Reimer looked pretty good in his 2 games.  If he gives that type of competent goaltending no way the Leafs are a top 5 pick team.

Another good game from Reimer.

 

[Zee]

No. I am not even sure that it is a transition year. They simply do not have enough talent to do anything yet. The higher the draft pick the better.

Its a solid draft year, a good sign that we will do well. ;D

This.... is a surprisingly good point.  ;D

We wont finish low because it is a good draft year, and that is a fact all Leaf fans should know by now. if we miss the playoffs we will be close to 8th.

8th pick overall? 

That's still to high for us.

Top 4-5 pick guaranteed.

Unless Reimer gets hurt again, we won't get a top 5 pick. Book it.

Yeah I have to admit Reimer looked pretty good in his 2 games.  If he gives that type of competent goaltending no way the Leafs are a top 5 pick team.

Another good game from Reimer.

I'm just worried that a competent Reimer makes the Leafs better, but not good enough for playoffs.  I'd rather bottom out and get a top 5 pick instead of *just missing* the playoffs and picking 10th-14th.  If he's going to be good, I hope it's good enough that the Leafs get at least make a playoff appearance.

 

[nutman]

Me, I think we need to step in the playoffs, just to show the players how our fans would make some noise and get behind them. and the experience would go a long long way for the players.

 

[Zee]

Me, I think we need to step in the playoffs, just to show the players how our fans would make some noise and get behind them. and the experience would go a long long way for the players.

Of course, playoff experience is always good.  Also good to get the monkey off the back for the players in the organization who keep hearing they're the only team since the lockout not to make the playoffs.  A bit of playoff experience can go a long way for confidence in some of these young guys development as well.

 

[Highlander]

JVR skating today with Barb Underhill.....I heard he was slow last night.....good they are addressing his skating so quickly

 

[bustaheims]

I'm just worried that a competent Reimer makes the Leafs better, but not good enough for playoffs.  I'd rather bottom out and get a top 5 pick instead of *just missing* the playoffs and picking 10th-14th.  If he's going to be good, I hope it's good enough that the Leafs get at least make a playoff appearance.

I don't think Reimer's enough for that. As I said in the GDT last night, Reimer's not going to steal the team a ton of games. What he'll do is give them a chance to win most nights, but, it'll very much be up to the rest of the team to make that happen. The team will look better with Reimer and won't get blown out as much, but, I doubt their overall performance will be significantly impacted.

 

[Zee]

I'm just worried that a competent Reimer makes the Leafs better, but not good enough for playoffs.  I'd rather bottom out and get a top 5 pick instead of *just missing* the playoffs and picking 10th-14th.  If he's going to be good, I hope it's good enough that the Leafs get at least make a playoff appearance.

I don't think Reimer's enough for that. As I said in the GDT last night, Reimer's not going to steal the team a ton of games. What he'll do is give them a chance to win most nights, but, it'll very much be up to the rest of the team to make that happen. The team will look better with Reimer and won't get blown out as much, but, I doubt their overall performance will be significantly impacted.

Confidence in your goalie goes a long way though.  I think many times last season the players didn't have that confidence and were worried that any mistake they made would end up being a goal against.  When you think that way and play tentatively because of it, things can snowball.  If the players playing in front of Reimer have more confidence in his play, I think the overall team play will improve.  So just being "competent" and not allowing too many bad goals against can translate into more wins.  I think the Leafs still have the offensive ability, they just need to keep the goals against down to be able to win more games.  It's still early, we'll see how things go over the next 10 games.

 

[nutman]

I'm just worried that a competent Reimer makes the Leafs better, but not good enough for playoffs.  I'd rather bottom out and get a top 5 pick instead of *just missing* the playoffs and picking 10th-14th.  If he's going to be good, I hope it's good enough that the Leafs get at least make a playoff appearance.

I don't think Reimer's enough for that. As I said in the GDT last night, Reimer's not going to steal the team a ton of games. What he'll do is give them a chance to win most nights, but, it'll very much be up to the rest of the team to make that happen. The team will look better with Reimer and won't get blown out as much, but, I doubt their overall performance will be significantly impacted.

Confidence in your goalie goes a long way though.  I think many times last season the players didn't have that confidence and were worried that any mistake they made would end up being a goal against.  When you think that way and play tentatively because of it, things can snowball.  If the players playing in front of Reimer have more confidence in his play, I think the overall team play will improve.  So just being "competent" and not allowing too many bad goals against can translate into more wins.  I think the Leafs still have the offensive ability, they just need to keep the goals against down to be able to win more games.  It's still early, we'll see how things go over the next 10 games.

Agreed. a Goalie can get his team playing just by making that big save when we need it., and all else will follow.

 

[nutman]

I like the kids our system is giving us. we havent had that in a while. it looks as if development has turned a corner.. lets hope it pays off in a much improved leaf team for years to come.

 

[Zee]

I like the kids our system is giving us. we havent had that in a while. it looks as if development has turned a corner.. lets hope it pays off in a much improved leaf team for years to come.

Hopefully Gardiner can make it back soon and play like he did last season.  Need some top end talent coming through from the back end as well.  Kadri and Frattin have both looked very good up front, same with JVR who is also a young guy.  I like how the future is looking if these kids continue to improve.

 

[nutman]

I like the kids our system is giving us. we havent had that in a while. it looks as if development has turned a corner.. lets hope it pays off in a much improved leaf team for years to come.

Hopefully Gardiner can make it back soon and play like he did last season.  Need some top end talent coming through from the back end as well.  Kadri and Frattin have both looked very good up front, same with JVR who is also a young guy.  I like how the future is looking if these kids continue to improve.

Cant wait for Gardiner to get back and help the pp.