His back skate was making an obvious forward motion. I thought it was follow through on stopping, they thought it was a kick. Thems the breaks.
- AdamFrench

They need to help the refs with that rule more. What is "distinct" and what is "kicking". Tough call for them ...

In a league trying to create scoring I think it should be a goal unless the refs believe, beyond a doubt, that the player was intended to direct the puck into the net using a distinct kicking motion. If there is any doubt about the players intent then (frank) it ....it's a goal.

Sadly, what I would like to see is Dion and Kessel gone for a good return.

Unfortunately, neither will fetch a good return right now.

It is really obvious watching the Leafs that they have the softest team in the league. Oustide of the 4th line, nobody has much of a physical edge at all. They are small, and they don't win many puck battles.

This team is not even in the ballpark of contending.

At least it is clear that goaltending is not the problem. Hopefully that means no boneheaded trades for Luongo.

Anybody see whats wrong with this picture??



- faceto27

Look at Reimer. Pointing right at Staal. HELP!!!

Sadly, what I would like to see is Dion and Kessel gone for a good return.

Unfortunately, neither will fetch a good return right now.

It is really obvious watching the Leafs that they have the softest team in the league. Oustide of the 4th line, nobody has much of a physical edge at all. They are small, and they don't win many puck battles.

This team is not even in the ballpark of contending.

At least it is clear that goaltending is not the problem. Hopefully that means no boneheaded trades for Luongo.
- Aetherial

I think a decent return could be had for Kessel.....Not sure many teams would be lining up to take phaneuf..

when you combine last nights effort, and the history of the last 8 years, of course the fans are going to be expecting the worst.

I am just really tired of the horrible home game efforts, and the Leafs being the cure to all other struggling teams/players problems.

Something needs to change at the ACC, and please let is start with our celebration music. I can't stand it.
- vermie22

The media causes this and I take full aim at them. We have diehard fans that are covering this team who write with their emotions. How could any player in a salary cap era want to play in this gong show of a city. The days are over when the a player can sign more in Toronto to put up with the garbage from the media and fans who cheer lets go blue jays when their not playing all that bad. They had 40 shots for (frank) sakes.
Games ops is a nightmare but looks like they got message about short ceremonies at begining of games. Christ the 60 yr CBC ceremony would have lasted 30 minutes last year.

Sadly, what I would like to see is Dion and Kessel gone for a good return.

Unfortunately, neither will fetch a good return right now.

It is really obvious watching the Leafs that they have the softest team in the league. Oustide of the 4th line, nobody has much of a physical edge at all. They are small, and they don't win many puck battles.

This team is not even in the ballpark of contending.

At least it is clear that goaltending is not the problem. Hopefully that means no boneheaded trades for Luongo.
- Aetherial

wrong

leafs are not a soft team, frattin hits, kadri hits, komarov hits, orr is nails brown is nails, we have a few dif D men who fight...

and we had 40 shots last night, 1 goal called back which changed the game...
we are a condender for a 7-8 playoff spot.

lay off the negative nancy BS.

Luongo coming here wont make a difference. We dont have the team in front of him to play. Maybe you have him still in the summer and we upgrade our team with UFA'S, then yes ship him over.

There is practically no one else to give the C to
- Mapleleafs_91

They are not in front of him because they are all in the corner trying to take the puck away from one guy

1st period they were great. Then they got replaced by what I assume was the Toronto Marlboroughs and got pummeled the rest of the night.
- AdamFrench

You were right about Brodin, I concede.
Though 40% of the time on the PP with Gilbert and 20% of his even strength time is spent with Gilbert too.

Sadly, what I would like to see is Dion and Kessel gone for a good return.

Unfortunately, neither will fetch a good return right now.

It is really obvious watching the Leafs that they have the softest team in the league. Oustide of the 4th line, nobody has much of a physical edge at all. They are small, and they don't win many puck battles.

This team is not even in the ballpark of contending.

At least it is clear that goaltending is not the problem. Hopefully that means no boneheaded trades for Luongo.
- Aetherial

there are teams that are desperate for D, I think it will only increase as the season goes on. Based on what we paid for Dion, I think we could get a decent return. Even if it was a 1st ... Hell last trade deadline didnt Guastad get a 1st?

Kessel is a distraction and its only going to get worse if he cant score soon

MLSE has hired someone to look into changing the feel/atmosphere at the ACC...

Jeff Blair was talking about it this morning on The Fan..
- Fruitcakenipple

I really hope that's true. It is a really weak atmosphere and honestly, for the highest valued franchise it is an extremely poor production. It has always frustrated me that they either A. Haven't payed any attention to the atmosphere in the arena or B. hired a complete moron who clearly has no clue what he is doing.

The first thing I would do is get an organ player and bring that back more often. A lot of the more rocking arenas in the states (NY Rangers, Philly) use that and it gets people clapping along at least.

What they need to eliminate is the shrill voice of a pretty 20 year old girl coming over the P.A system in the breaks to announce the mastercard, cheeesewiz, Subway contest for some non-sense.

They need to help the refs with that rule more. What is "distinct" and what is "kicking". Tough call for them ...

In a league trying to create scoring I think it should be a goal unless the refs believe, beyond a doubt, that the player was intended to direct the puck into the net using a distinct kicking motion. If there is any doubt about the players intent then (frank) it ....it's a goal.
- The Law

It's defined pretty simple...Forward motion of the skate is a kicking motion...Thats how they(NHL) explained the ruling last night...Bozaks skate was in a forward motion when it deflected the puck in...Was he kicking NO but there was clear forward motion caused by his stopping.....

Not sure what people cant understand..

U can angle the puck in with ya skate but cant guide it in with forward motion/direction..

I think a decent return could be had for Kessel.....Not sure many teams would be lining up to take phaneuf..
- Fruitcakenipple

We got a fair return for Schenn, I think Dion has more value, if a team needed a top 4 D..in the right setting he could fit. I bet the return would be decent...

Through nine games so far, it appears that the absence of one player's anatomy has left a glaring hole in the roster. That piece of anatomy is: Ryan Kesler's butt.
- Ian Esplen

One of you guys are smart enough to make a joke of this right? Its almost so easy that i cant think of anything good enough.

We got a fair return for Schenn, I think Dion has more value, if a team needed a top 4 D..in the right setting he could fit. I bet the return would be decent...
- senstroll

Phaneuf cap hit/salary hurts his value...

I think a decent return could be had for Kessel.....Not sure many teams would be lining up to take phaneuf..
- Fruitcakenipple

agreed.. but what do Leafs even go after if they are dangling Kessel? A depth player and a higher draft pick? An O'Reiley type centre that is unproven but has the strength to play up top?

agreed.. but what do Leafs even go after if they are dangling Kessel? A depth player and a higher draft pick? An O'Reiley type centre that is unproven but has the strength to play up top?
- T_Digs

U gonna have a hard time trading Kessel for "proven" .....

MLSE has hired someone to look into changing the feel/atmosphere at the ACC...

Jeff Blair was talking about it this morning on The Fan..
- Fruitcakenipple

First, they need to do something about their music selection. Last night, I hear the song Iron Man, by Black Sabbath. Last week, it was Kashmir and the Immigrant Song, by Zepplen. I also heard Paint It Black, by the Stones. All good tunes, but should be taken with a bottle of Johnny Walker Black and a few ammatripolines. All of those songs are downers. I always thought that the music was supposed to inspire and get the crowd motivated? Really, with those tunes, I think suicide is closer to what they suggest. I guess they motivate you to drink and commit suicide!!

Dion to Minnesota for 2013 1st and Dumba
Then he can play with Suter!

...wouldn't it be cool if a coach would teach lil dion to hit the net.

You were right about Brodin, I concede.
Though 40% of the time on the PP with Gilbert and 20% of his even strength time is spent with Gilbert too.
- mykokes

He started the year with Gilbert, but Gilbert is making MA Bergeron look like a defensive wizard

Dion to Minnesota for 2013 1st and Trouba
Then he can play with Suter!
- mykokes

Wrong team

Phaneuf cap hit/salary hurts his value...
- Fruitcakenipple

1 full season plus whatever is left on this season (not much) is not that bad

Wrong team
- AdamFrench

I'm so dumb(a)

1 full season plus whatever is left on this season (not much) is not that bad
- senstroll

It's bad enough especially with the cap going down...

Sadly, what I would like to see is Dion and Kessel gone for a good return.

Unfortunately, neither will fetch a good return right now.

It is really obvious watching the Leafs that they have the softest team in the league. Oustide of the 4th line, nobody has much of a physical edge at all. They are small, and they don't win many puck battles.

This team is not even in the ballpark of contending.

At least it is clear that goaltending is not the problem. Hopefully that means no boneheaded trades for Luongo.
- Aetherial

Kuli is being scouted hard. Especially by the Pens. They had two scouts at the game last nite. They liked the way he played with Malkin in the KHL.

What I don't understand about all this scouting players stuff is this....... they are not junior players, they have been in the league for a few years now. What is there to scout? Unless they've been injured, you should already know the type of player they are.

Oh and did I mention that the "subtle tank" seems to be the Leafs plan for the year?