It isn't blind pessimism.

I look at the standings and I can easily see the Leafs finishing ahead of Washington, Buffalo, Calgary, Columbus, Colorado and Florida.

So that would be 7th worst.

Then, I look at the standings in the east and I see them struggling to stay in 8th while Philadelphia and New York Rangers have been off to a slow start and I don't think the Leafs can finish ahead of Carolina long term.

That would put the Leafs in about 9-12 spot in the east, and picking somewhere around 5-7 overall.

It isn't unrealistic. I think this is about where their roster justifies them being.

That would still be a good pick, but once again they would just miss out on the really elite guys coming up.

In a way, if they make the playoffs it is even worse.
- Aetherial

Scary, isn't it?

I hope no one trades for Lu and the Canucks management goes into a free fall panic...
- Flyfreaky

http://www.cbssports.com/...roberto-luongo-resolution

Phaneuf is playing close to 30 minutes a night every other night against the best in the game. Not your 30 mins in beer league. The guys gassed.
Bring in somebody to help get his minutes down to around 19-21 and we'll see more of the old Phaneuf

Injuries factor in right now. If Gardiner and Gunnar come back I'd hope he'd line up Gunn-Phan, Gard-Kost, Liles-Komi
- The Law

liles is second pairing all the way

and i already said why i think komi wont get much ice time this year.. he is getting bought out.. (let me dream)

pairings i would like to see?

gunnar phaneuf (last year)
gardiner liles (last year)
kostka holzer (new)

its pretty damn sad they cant seem to figure out how to write an original script anymore

i dont even bother with the remakes anymore.. they are always just.. well.. sad.
- Dozzer

Well there is one that I thought was pretty good, same story centring around a gold heist but different ways to get to it, The Italian Job. Like both versions of it.

when gunnar comes back i would like to see those two paired back up honestly
- Dozzer

Me too. They played reasonably well together on account of the fact that Gunnar is solid in his own zone, leaving Phaneuf with a bit of space to roam forward.

Other people disagree it seems.

What the (frank) is Red Dawn?
- Tee-Dot

Are you kidding me?

What the hell is wrong with you kids today?

Patrick Swayze
C. Thomas Howell
Lea Thompson
Charlie Sheen
Jennifer Grey
Harry Stanton
Powers Booth

From out of the sky, Soviet, Nicaraguan, and Cuban troops begin landing on the football field of a Colorado high school. In seconds, the paratroopers have attacked the school and sent a group of teenagers fleeing into the mountains. Armed only with hunting rifles, pistols, and bows and arrows, the teens struggle to survive the bitter winter and the Soviet KGB patrols hunting for them. Eventually, trouble arises when they kill a group of Soviet soldiers on patrol in the highlands. Soon they will wage their own guerrilla warfare against the invading Soviet troops-under the banner of 'Wolverines!

So awesome.

So very, very awesome.

Well there is one that I thought was pretty good, same story centring around a gold heist but different ways to get to it, The Italian Job. Like both versions of it.
- LeafMan

Is it worth watching Lou? As both a Brit and big fan of the original, I never even considered watching the remake.

Well, we obviously have to do something on the PP - it's pathetic. So's the PK, too.

Take Bozak off the 1st unit, and put in Kadri. It's just so frigging obvious.

As for the PK, I'm afraid I don't have any simple answers.
- Atomic Wedgie

Agreed about the PP.

To me the PK comes down to coaching and the players working harder to win battles and get the puck out. Too often they are being beaten to the puck, losing one on one battles and not clearing the puck when they get a chance.

Well, we obviously have to do something on the PP - it's pathetic. So's the PK, too.

Take Bozak off the 1st unit, and put in Kadri. It's just so frigging obvious.

As for the PK, I'm afraid I don't have any simple answers.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yep, I would put Kadri out there with JVR and Kessel, you have to try it at this point. My guess is that Carlyle is afraid of not gaining possession off the faceoff.

its pretty damn sad they cant seem to figure out how to write an original script anymore

i dont even bother with the remakes anymore.. they are always just.. well.. sad.
- Dozzer

Evil Dead remake might be the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Evil dead was awesome because it honestly tried to be a scary movie, but was just so bad it was hilarious.

You can't duplicate the genuinely amazing failure that it was... just like with Total Recall. That movie is Arnold, paper mache 3rd boob, and guy's head exploding on mars.

Are you kidding me?

What the hell is wrong with you kids today?

Patrick Swayze
C. Thomas Howell
Lea Thompson
Charlie Sheen
Jennifer Grey
Harry Stanton
Powers Booth

From out of the sky, Soviet, Nicaraguan, and Cuban troops begin landing on the football field of a Colorado high school. In seconds, the paratroopers have attacked the school and sent a group of teenagers fleeing into the mountains. Armed only with hunting rifles, pistols, and bows and arrows, the teens struggle to survive the bitter winter and the Soviet KGB patrols hunting for them. Eventually, trouble arises when they kill a group of Soviet soldiers on patrol in the highlands. Soon they will wage their own guerrilla warfare against the invading Soviet troops-under the banner of 'Wolverines!

So awesome.

So very, very awesome.
- Atomic Wedgie

There's your problem. Its the adults that are problems, not us kids

The more I watch, the more I am not so sure I want to trade Kessel unless there is an equal talent coming back.

Despite the scoring slump he is one guy who consistently seems to bust his ass out there. We all know about what his game lacks. The fact is though he is a pretty important piece for a contending team and he is still quite young. He could be good for the Leafs when/ifthey become contenders.

What I see a lot of this year is Kessel pretty much on his own on a rush. I don't se much help from his linemates most of the time.
- Aetherial

If you want to solve the problem you outlined earlier, the 9th spot trap, he has to get moved so they can start over.

Well there is one that I thought was pretty good, same story centring around a gold heist but different ways to get to it, The Italian Job. Like both versions of it.
- LeafMan

hmmm.. i'll check that one out then

I watch the games and want the leafs to win. So I dont cheer for them to lose, what I want the management to do is admit this team is not going to win anything, we are going on 5 years of mediocre play, the same mistakes over and over on the ice. the coaching has changed now, but the results look the same.

i want them to Ice a team that competes hard, but just doesnt have the talent to win, and we have plenty of picks in the bank to get the talent we need, we dont have it. Our prospects are thin, average etc..

its great you think its pathetic, I think the blind following is myself.
- senstroll

Excellent.

its pretty damn sad they cant seem to figure out how to write an original script anymore

i dont even bother with the remakes anymore.. they are always just.. well.. sad.
- Dozzer

What's even more pathetic is recycling an old TV show into a movie.

Is it worth watching Lou? As both a Brit and big fan of the original, I never even considered watching the remake.
- lumlums

It is totally different but same premise with the use of modern technology, still love the Caine version though, plus Charlize Theron is so good looking in this movie, haha.

Me too. They played reasonably well together on account of the fact that Gunnar is solid in his own zone, leaving Phaneuf with a bit of space to roam forward.

Other people disagree it seems.
- lumlums

of course they do

the world will end when all of leafs nation agrees on a lineup

pretty sure the sun will explode when that happens

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-on-hockey/21651076/nhl-rumors-cory-schneiders-agent-wants-roberto-luongo-resolution
- systemtool

Shawn Matthias, tough blueliner Keaton Ellerby and Clemmensen for Luongo.

Would Scooby equate that to Kadri, Gardiner and a first?

Evil Dead remake might be the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Evil dead was awesome because it honestly tried to be a scary movie, but was just so bad it was hilarious.

You can't duplicate the genuinely amazing failure that it was... just like with Total Recall. That movie is Arnold, paper mache 3rd boob, and guy's head exploding on mars.
- Feeling Glucky?

they're remaking evil dead?

dear lord why?!?! leave that alone!!

What's even more pathetic is recycling an old TV show into a movie.
- Atomic Wedgie

like dukes of hazzard?

Shawn Matthias, tough blueliner Keaton Ellerby and Clemmensen for Luongo.

Would Scooby equate that to Kadri, Gardiner and a first?
- The Law

like dukes of hazzard?
- Dozzer

Cuff'em and stuff'em!

liles is second pairing all the way

and i already said why i think komi wont get much ice time this year.. he is getting bought out.. (let me dream)

pairings i would like to see?

gunnar phaneuf (last year)
gardiner liles (last year)
kostka holzer (new)
- Dozzer

I put Gardiner with Kostka b/c they played well together in the Ahl. Liles with Holzer or Komi ....and yes Komi will be bought out this summer. I still assume that if the Leafs get healthy Franson will be moved.

Cuff'em and stuff'em!
- LeafMan

nothing could ever top the original rosco lol