Oh BS he has done everything he can down in the AHL, it's time for him to get his chance.
- Cherry--Skoal

have you watched him in the AHL this year? not exactly lighting it up.

Much better served on playing 20mins a night with Marlies than 6-8 mins with Leafs.

How is this hard?

It wouldn't surprise me if we're a playoff team or if we're dead last in the east if not the league. I've seen a lot of "expert opinions" that put us in the 12-15 in the east type spot which, honestly, is probably right. Although a lot of them seem to be picking the Blues to make it to the Cup and I just don't see that happening.

I just hope we don't have another one of those mediocre seasons where we're not good enough for the playoffs but not bad enough to have a top pick. I hope we end up on one extreme or the other: playoffs (which isn't even all that extreme) or dead last.

More than any year injuries are going to be a key factor, not just to us but other teams.
- deerow84

Most of those "expert" opinions are safe choices made by guys who's idea of a prediction is looking at last years standings and repeating them. Most of these "experts" don't think Bobby Ryan is a top 50 player in the NHL and happen to think Phil Kessel is the 47th best player. What a joke. Being an ex NHL player does give you a unique insidery view of the NHL, but it doesn't make you a good scout or analyst. I may not be an expert, but my ability to process information and analyze it is superior to most of these ex jock so called "experts". In fact, it amazes me how low and frankly kinda dumb the narrative surrounding hockey is sometimes.

He wins faceoffs? im pretty sure a team would want his services. Its just we have too many 4th line guys
- Mapleleafs_91

I know guys in beer league who can win face-offs too......heres the catch....you actually need to be able to play hockey as well.

He's also 26
- Cherry--Skoal

So?? Kostka just made his first NHL game @ 27. Garrison??

It's not the end of the line.... Forever??? Bit of an overreaction.

Removing Burke was neccessary.....the amount of pressure on him to save his job and make the playoffs was intense.......he was ready to mortgage the future and that would have set the organization back another 5 years..........I liked Burke, but he had his chance and failed to make the product on the Ice better!
- billyberg10

yup

If JVR can grow a pair, the bottom two lines may be fun to watch.

We are going to lose an awful lot of games, but the mayhem should be entertaining.

3-man forecheck!
- Atomic Wedgie

JVR is gonna be on the third line for about five minutes.

have you watched him in the AHL this year? not exactly lighting it up.

Much better served on playing 20mins a night with Marlies than 6-8 mins with Leafs.

How is this hard?
- Big_Lightnin

Bah, you'll be female doging about everyone to be sent down in a couple months time so this whole thing is irrelevant

true, but sucking to me is getting a top 5
- poohcrumbs

Top 5 has no real relevance anymore. That was a term mostly related to the now former lottery range.

So?? Kostka just made his first NHL game @ 27. Garrison??

It's not the end of the line.... Forever??? Bit of an overreaction.
- burn

Sarcasm detector on low today burnsy?

JVR is gonna be on the third line for about five minutes.
- Aquaman_2400

till he gets hurt?

So?? Kostka just made his first NHL game @ 27. Garrison??

It's not the end of the line.... Forever??? Bit of an overreaction.
- burn

The guy was the most impressive d-man offensively in the AHL other than Justin Schultz and he seems to have enough anticipation to be solid defensively as well. Give him a shot, we have nothing to lose at this point.

JVR is gonna be on the third line for about five minutes.
- Aquaman_2400

Gonna be hard for him to put up 100 on the third eh?

Remember when you told me that when the media said there is a chance that redden and Gomez could possibly sit at home for a year. You said it was the media making a story out of nothing
- Cherry--Skoal

Huh??

I said no such thing..... I in fact was one of the first on here to bring up that NYR would force Redden to stay home.

Confused with someone else?

Sarcasm detector on low today burnsy?
- Cherry--Skoal

I guess....

I'd like to see anyone here turn that poop leafs team from 4 years ago into a playoff team today.

JVR is gonna be on the third line for about five minutes.
- Aquaman_2400

I think we have more of a 2a, 2b

Both lines look balanced. One skilled centre (Grabo/kadri), 2 way scorer (Kulemin/JVR) and a gritty speedster (MacArthur/Komarov)

The guy was the most impressive d-man offensively in the AHL other than Justin Schultz and he seems to have enough anticipation to be solid defensively as well. Give him a shot, we have nothing to lose at this point.
- t_leafs21

....wtf are you on about lol I think you jumped in mid conversation - that's not the topic at hand

Huh??

I said no such thing..... I in fact was one of the first on here to bring up that NYR would force Redden to stay home.

Confused with someone else?
- burn

Possibly

The guy was the most impressive d-man offensively in the AHL other than Justin Schultz and he seems to have enough anticipation to be solid defensively as well. Give him a shot, we have nothing to lose at this point.
- t_leafs21

Agreed. I'm happy for him.

The guy was the most impressive d-man offensively in the AHL other than Justin Schultz and he seems to have enough anticipation to be solid defensively as well. Give him a shot, we have nothing to lose at this point.
- t_leafs21

exactly, and I'm glad Nonis realizes this.

Everyone is freaking out about Frattin. But the fact is the team has to play a lot of games in a short period of time. There is going to be an injury, and Frattin will be the first one to be recalled. He will get his chance in the NHL this year.
- Leafs43

This....and Orr deserves a second chance

Bah, you'll be female doging about everyone to be sent down in a couple months time so this whole thing is irrelevant
- Cherry--Skoal

no, I won't actually.

Now, he'll be called up in less than that, so then, yes, it will be irrelevant.

Rielly.. #1 player in da draft

no, I won't actually.

Now, he'll be called up in less than that, so then, yes, it will be irrelevant.
- Big_Lightnin

I'll remember this.... one female dog about a player to be sent down and you lose.

I'd like to see anyone here turn that poop leafs team from 4 years ago into a playoff team today.
- Cherry--Skoal

nobody could have....hence why burke should have kept his big mouth shut and not made promises he cant keep.
is the team trucclent? nope.
is it built from the net out? nope.
are they hard to play against? nope.

Burke failed. The end.