As a fan of an NFL team that hasn't been to the playoffs in 13 years, sometimes the team just getting there is the goal. Baby steps my friend. Baby steps.
- HonkFortheGoose

I could see how making it to the playoffs would be huge for the Bills, but the Leafs need to get their chit together and live up to their tradition. Simply making the playoffs is not the way to accomplish that.

Yep. They're going to take it day by day I guess. He's good to go short-term, but who knows how he's going to feel a month from now. Scary stuff...
- SotaPopinski

Yeah it is. I feel bad for him. Seems things just don't work out for him like he'd want them to at all. I hope for his sake he can live a relatively normal life for years to come. I have a friend that got diagnosed with it. The treatments have come a long way, but that's not to say she doesn't have good days and bad days. It took over a year for them to even figure out what the problem was for her in the first place too.

Yeah it is. I feel bad for him. Seems things just don't work out for him like he'd want them to at all. I hope for his sake he can live a relatively normal life for years to come. I have a friend that got diagnosed with it. The treatments have come a long way, but that's not to say she doesn't have good days and bad days. It took over a year for them to even figure out what the problem was for her in the first place too.
- HonkFortheGoose

Do you know how quickly she was diagnosed? They say that is crucial, and it sounds like Harding caught it immediately. Poor guy has had to deal with too much bad luck in his short career and now this happens. Hopefully his non-hockey life is the complete opposite (minus the MS of course)

How can you say Kessel is not a top player in the league?? His stats speak for themselves. He is 6th in points in the entire league for 2011-2012! He is tied for 6th in goals scored! He played every game last season. Just look at the players he is up there with. And he did all this on the Leafs (5th worst team in the NHL) and he did it under all these "favourable match-ups"
- RRRoops

I am not trying to be an ass.

However there is more to the game than stats. Spezza would be an example, along with many other players.

In a long playoff grind I wouldnt believe for a second in a guy like Kessel. He is really a complementary piece to any cup team if that. Thats where my problem lies. He is paid like he is more than that and more than likely he will want great money to stay in Toronto. Ask yourself this. Would the other teams in the league (Columbus/Phoenix aside) be willing to believe in Kessel enough to pay him top money?

I could see how making it to the playoffs would be huge for the Bills, but the Leafs need to get their chit together and live up to their tradition. Simply making the playoffs is not the way to accomplish that.
- SotaPopinski

I was shocked they fired Burke to be honest. I think the timing of it is just really strange. He's actually done a lot to build up the talent pool there. The Marlies are one of the AHL's best teams. I think that firing a GM just because you don't like that he won't make a particular trade is crazy. It's not something that's going to help the team in the long run, IMO.

I thought he got diagnosed with MS.

If thats the case the guy should enjoy the time he has.
- flyer_nutter

Well their is good MS which means u can live a normal long life than there is bad MS. If Harding has the good MS, he'll be fine. Let's hope he has the good MS.

Do you know how quickly she was diagnosed? They say that is crucial, and it sounds like Harding caught it immediately. Poor guy has had to deal with too much bad luck in his short career and now this happens. Hopefully his non-hockey life is the complete opposite (minus the MS of course)
- SotaPopinski

It took them over a year to figure it out. They kept thinking she had some sort of issue with her heart because the initial trigger was that she passed out and fell down the stairs. She kept getting numbness in her arms and stuff so they kept thinking it was circulation/heart related.

Well their is good MS which means u can live a normal long life than there is bad MS. If Harding has the good MS, he'll be fine. Let's hope he has the good MS.
- GCHonda

Well he's still playing from what I know. Said he's going to try and live his life as normally as he was before he was diagnosed. He said as long as he feels ok he's going to continue to play. Let's hope he can stay that way for years to come.

How can you say Kessel is not a top player in the league?? His stats speak for themselves. He is 6th in points in the entire league for 2011-2012! He is tied for 6th in goals scored! He played every game last season. Just look at the players he is up there with. And he did all this on the Leafs (5th worst team in the NHL) and he did it under all these "favourable match-ups"
- RRRoops

I love Kessel. He's done everything he's been asked to do, SCORE SCORE & SCORE. He's an exciting young player who's only going to get better. The guy scores nothing less than 30 per season. I really do hope the Leafs re-sign him. Am I worried about that? Yes & I will be untill he gets re-signed.

I am not trying to be an ass.

However there is more to the game than stats. Spezza would be an example, along with many other players.

In a long playoff grind I wouldnt believe for a second in a guy like Kessel. He is really a complementary piece to any cup team if that. Thats where my problem lies. He is paid like he is more than that and more than likely he will want great money to stay in Toronto. Ask yourself this. Would the other teams in the league (Columbus/Phoenix aside) be willing to believe in Kessel enough to pay him top money?
- flyer_nutter

I see what you are saying. Phil Kessel isn't a leader or have that type of personality on the ice. But he what he does do is score goals. Now I agree with you but I also think Kessel is going to change under Carlyle. He isn't going to be that truculent forward but he will become dependable in tight game situations and become that player you say he isn't. But thats my opinion and I see where you are coming from.

I love Kessel. He's done everything he's been asked to do, SCORE SCORE & SCORE. He's an exciting young player who's only going to get better. The guy scores nothing less than 30 per season. I really do hope the Leafs re-sign him. Am I worried about that? Yes & I will be untill he gets re-signed.
- GCHonda

Kessel is a good player. But is he the player that will put them over the top in a playoff series? Is he what you would call a game changer? Honestly, I don't think so. I wouldn't put him into the same category as Toews, and that's what Toronto really needs. Someone like Toews. The Kessel's of the world are also necessary, but they're still missing some major pieces.

I was shocked they fired Burke to be honest. I think the timing of it is just really strange. He's actually done a lot to build up the talent pool there. The Marlies are one of the AHL's best teams. I think that firing a GM just because you don't like that he won't make a particular trade is crazy. It's not something that's going to help the team in the long run, IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

Even all the hockey experts were stunned & asking why fire him now? Well the truth will come out at some point. We'll find out eventually.

I see what you are saying. Phil Kessel isn't a leader or have that type of personality on the ice. But he what he does do is score goals. Now I agree with you but I also think Kessel is going to change under Carlyle. He isn't going to be that truculent forward but he will become dependable in tight game situations and become that player you say he isn't. But thats my opinion and I see where you are coming from.
- RRRoops

As a Toronto fan I am sure you saw a lot of a guy like Heatley. That is who Kessel reminds me of.

I dont hate the guy, just would be very hesitant to give him some big contract. For what its worth I would love to see the Leafs do well. It would be good for hockey.

Kessel is a good player. But is he the player that will put them over the top in a playoff series? Is he what you would call a game changer? Honestly, I don't think so. I wouldn't put him into the same category as Toews, and that's what Toronto really needs. Someone like Toews. The Kessel's of the world are also necessary, but they're still missing some major pieces.
- HonkFortheGoose

Listen, Kessel is like 25 not 35. The guy hasn't even reached his full potential.
Can't predict if by the end of Kessel's career if he'll reach the heights of Martin St Louis, but Kessel at 25 is better than St Louis was at 25.

As a Toronto fan I am sure you saw a lot of a guy like Heatley. That is who Kessel reminds me of.

I dont hate the guy, just would be very hesitant to give him some big contract. For what its worth I would love to see the Leafs do well. It would be good for hockey.
- flyer_nutter

Ya is there anything better than a very good contending Leaf team playing the Flyers in the playoffs???? NO WAY!!!!

Listen, Kessel is like 25 not 35. The guy hasn't even reached his full potential.
Can't predict if by the end of Kessel's career if he'll reach the heights of Martin St Louis, but Kessel at 25 is better than St Louis was at 25.
- GCHonda

And Toews is only 24. St. Louis won the Stanley cup when he was 28. Don't get me wrong, Kessel is a good player, but he's not the game changer that is missing from that roster.

As a Toronto fan I am sure you saw a lot of a guy like Heatley. That is who Kessel reminds me of.

I dont hate the guy, just would be very hesitant to give him some big contract. For what its worth I would love to see the Leafs do well. It would be good for hockey.
- flyer_nutter

I remember hiow amazing H eatley was b4 the Snyder tragedy. He changed after that. Mabie his heart was just never in it after that.

Luongo, Raymond + Ballard for Couturier, Briere + 1st.
- Scooby_Doo

luongo for brzgolov.... more likely couturier and briere forget it..

And Toews is only 24. St. Louis won the Stanley cup when he was 28. Don't get me wrong, Kessel is a good player, but he's not the game changer that is missing from that roster.
- HonkFortheGoose

I agree, Kessel isn't the game changer, but Nonis has ALOT of work to still do. Kessel is a VERY important part of this Leaf team.

I agree, Kessel isn't the game changer, but Nonis has ALOT of work to still do. Kessel is a VERY important part of this Leaf team.
- GCHonda

Yes he is. As bad as the trade seems it's really not terrible either. Who's to say that Seguin would have been as good for Toronto. He was given a little more space in Boston than he would have gotten in Toronto. There's no guarantee that he would develop the same way. And Dougie Hamilton isn't having the best year. Who's to say he even makes it or ends up the impact defenseman everyone thought he would be when he was drafted.

luongo for brzgolov.... more likely couturier and briere forget it..
- eoil90

Philly AINT trading Couturier unless they get offered a player of similar age & similar potential that will fill a need for the Flyers. If I'm the Leafs, I offer Gardiner for Couturier. Same principal should apply for the Leafs & Gardiner.

Philly AINT trading Couturier unless they get offered a player of similar age & similar potential that will fill a need for the Flyers. If I'm the Leafs, I offer Gardiner for Couturier. Same principal should apply for the Leafs & Gardiner.
- GCHonda

if you want an impact player you have to give an impact player. It's not a hard concept, though sometimes hanging around here would make one wonder.

Yes he is. As bad as the trade seems it's really not terrible either. Who's to say that Seguin would have been as good for Toronto. He was given a little more space in Boston than he would have gotten in Toronto. There's no guarantee that he would develop the same way. And Dougie Hamilton isn't having the best year. Who's to say he even makes it or ends up the impact defenseman everyone thought he would be when he was drafted.
- HonkFortheGoose

Look at the Islanders when they won 4 cups. Would Mike Bossy have been Mike Bossy with Brian Trottier? Yes Bossy was a beautiful hockey player but mabie without Trottier he might have been a career 30 goal scorer. But with Trottier, Bossy became a complete force. So I see Kessel in that manner. He need the right center to vault his career to the next level. He can be the Jari Kurri or Mike Bossy version for the Leafs, we just need him to be with right center.

if you want an impact player you have to give an impact player. It's not a hard concept, though sometimes hanging around here would make one wonder.
- HonkFortheGoose

YES FINALLY WE HAVE COMMON SENSE IN FB!!!!! KUDOS!!!! I'm sick of the ' Couturier for Lu nonsense or the Gardiner for Lu garbage. You wanna young impact player? Guess what? You have to give one up to get one.

Look at the Islanders when they won 4 cups. Would Mike Bossy have been Mike Bossy with Brian Trottier? Yes Bossy was a beautiful hockey player but mabie without Trottier he might have been a career 30 goal scorer. But with Trottier, Bossy became a complete force. So I see Kessel in that manner. He need the right center to vault his career to the next level. He can be the Jari Kurri or Mike Bossy version for the Leafs, we just need him to be with right center.
- GCHonda

JvR's one hell of a center