Maybe Kessel plays the first line because he's a first line talent and Staal plays the second line because he's a second line talent.

Just some food for thought.
- Leeman4Gilmour

maybe his team has 2 1st line centers...just some food for thought!!!

we can agree to disagree..this year is shambles for many teams...hence the habs in 1st...not sure if you noticed but a lot of top teams are at the bottom and won't have time to climb out and knock out the teams that probably wouldnt be there if there was 50 more games to play.

when you say 35 games into this season and guess what??? Are you talking about Kessel playing 1st line and 1st pp and Staal playing 2nd line again??? WTF never mind dude....your right!!!!
- Garnie

Funny how that keeps on happening eh?

It was a terrible idea in the off-season, even when we thought our goalies might suck and that Luongo would be an elite goaltender.

Now, our goalies are solid and Luongo blows and the idea suddenly gets better?

Gotta love it.
- Leeman4Gilmour

it's illogical on every front. there isn't one single angle where it's beneficial for this franchise given it's developmental state.

right down to the point that it's even debateable that luongo is an elite goaltender when push comes to shove. what has he won? he's played for good teams, and the only one he could do anything for was canada's stacked olympic team, which a good argument could be made for him being a non factor.

price.. money, term.. assets.. the state of this team requiring an 'elite' starter...

it is literally about as bat poop (frank)ing crazy as it can get in toronto.. right here.

maybe his team has 2 1st line centers...just some food for thought!!!
- Garnie

So he's a first line center playing the second line?

Okay, so why isn't he destroying all the other second line centers in the NHL?

If he's playing below his true calling, surely he should be the best second line center in the game.

Cause Nonis is infatuated with him If he could get a good deal for him, it will be done
- Mapleleafs_91

if he could get him for a steal, it would be done.

Nonis told Gillis to suck it several times this year. If he really thought he needed to upgrade goaltending, he'd have done so already.

If he can get him for nothing, I agree he'll make the trade. But he's not trading Bozak for him.

The nucks are like ass
- Mapleleafs_91

Just to rub it in on The Cans fans... the Leafs play in the toughest division in hockey with 4 teams above 40 Pts.... and we have the same amount of points as them... considering their up against the cap.. and only have 14 players signed.. the next few seasons should be fun...

No need for riots because they won't even make the playoffs soon....

He would be eaten alive in Toronto and I suspect he knows it.

There's a reason we have a hard time landing the big name free agents, and it begins with the fickle fans and media.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Or the fact we ve sucked for the last 7 years.

maybe his team has 2 1st line centers...just some food for thought!!!
- Garnie

career stats don't agree with this

They've won the last 5 games Schneider has played. They've lost 5 of the last 8 luongo played. They're collecting more losses with Luongo in net easily. Because he's not playing very well. Oh, and he's almost 34.
- Dirte

cujo was 33-35 years old when he was still with the leafs, belfour was 37-38, your point?

Or the fact we ve sucked for the last 7 years.
- Yeti1181

Who did we really land before that, though?

A washed up Lindros? Jason Allison?

Go back even further... I can't think of many.

Pro athletes they may be, but this market has destroyed many a career that would have thrived in Florida.
- Leeman4Gilmour

think that's reflective of the level of player we've fed this market.

the crosby, malkin, stamkos types? they don't give a (frank) about the media.

i remember a tsn article on crosby when he was 12. literally 12. this kid has had media in his face since he hit puberty.

any respectable level of pro athelete isn't going to have their game go in the hole over media obsession. in any sport.

cujo was 33-35 years old when he was still with the leafs, belfour was 37-38, your point?
- Mapleleafs_91

They weren't signed until age 42 with a stupid contract.

Also, no cap.

it's illogical on every front. there isn't one single angle where it's beneficial for this franchise given it's developmental state.

right down to the point that it's even debateable that luongo is an elite goaltender when push comes to shove. what has he won? he's played for good teams, and the only one he could do anything for was canada's stacked olympic team, which a good argument could be made for him being a non factor.

price.. money, term.. assets.. the state of this team requiring an 'elite' starter...

it is literally about as bat poop (frank)ing crazy as it can get in toronto.. right here.
- joel878

So when he loses it's all his fault but when he wins it's the team he played on.....solid logic here.

They weren't signed until age 42 with a stupid contract.

Also, no cap.
- Leeman4Gilmour

implying hes going to play till hes 42

Who did we really land before that, though?

A washed up Lindros? Jason Allison?

Go back even further... I can't think of many.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Gretzky want to sign here.

I have done some scientific studies... and think the amount of trolls directly corresponds to whether the Leafs win or not...

Haven't seen any of those scabs from any other team tonight....

think that's reflective of the level of player we've fed this market.

the crosby, malkin, stamkos types? they don't give a (frank) about the media.

i remember a tsn article on crosby when he was 12. literally 12. this kid has had media in his face since he hit puberty.

any respectable level of pro athelete isn't going to have their game go in the hole over media obsession. in any sport.
- joel878

The names you've described are elite talents. They aren't "any respectable level of pro athlete."

Come on guys. The Leafs just won again, are very likely making the playoffs and you guys are argueing Staal vs Kessel. They're both good players, not elite players. Staal is a complete player, Kessel will get you more points. Its simple.

Hopefully we can focus on our team, clinching a spot, and standings watch to see who our opponents will be. Life as a fan of the Toronto sports scene is looking up once again. Leafs relevant and playoff race, Jays relevant, Argos win. Good times ahead.

Have a good night. Go Leafs. Go Jays.

So when he loses it's all his fault but when he wins it's the team he played on.....solid logic here.
- Yeti1181

you can spin it however the (frank) you want. the only team he's ever hammered home anything legitimate from is one of the most stacked teams ever assembled.

i'm not interested in having this debate. it's ridiculous. there is 17 reasons why this luongo in toronto poop is a joke, and needs to go away. what i just listed above is actually kind've irrelevant compared to alot of the other reasons.

Sure, if he'd been doing that all year he'd probably have 40 points.
- Dirte

tough to say though... he's grown with the added challenges too. Everything Carlyle has done with him is working better than expected. Why push it? why put him in front lines every game, when he's doing so well with minutes he's getting?

implying hes going to play till hes 42
- Mapleleafs_91

Implying you get penalized no matter what now.

implying hes going to play till hes 42
- Mapleleafs_91

He's a good goalie, fairly athletic, looks like he's in very good shape. Why wont he?

Come on guys. The Leafs just won again, are very likely making the playoffs and you guys are argueing Staal vs Kessel. They're both good players, not elite players. Staal is a complete player, Kessel will get you more points. Its simple.

Hopefully we can focus on our team, clinching a spot, and standings watch to see who our opponents will be. Life as a fan of the Toronto sports scene is looking up once again. Leafs relevant and playoff race, Jays relevant, Argos win. Good times ahead.

Have a good night. Go Leafs. Go Jays.
- systemtool

Kessel sets up like everything, who cares about staal

It was a terrible idea in the off-season, even when we thought our goalies might suck and that Luongo would be an elite goaltender.

Now, our goalies are solid and Luongo blows and the idea suddenly gets better?

Gotta love it.
- Leeman4Gilmour

If our goalies why does every analyst and nonis say they are looking at a veteran goalie?

Come on guys. The Leafs just won again, are very likely making the playoffs and you guys are argueing Staal vs Kessel. They're both good players, not elite players. Staal is a complete player, Kessel will get you more points. Its simple.

Hopefully we can focus on our team, clinching a spot, and standings watch to see who our opponents will be. Life as a fan of the Toronto sports scene is looking up once again. Leafs relevant and playoff race, Jays relevant, Argos win. Good times ahead.

Have a good night. Go Leafs. Go Jays.
- systemtool

hear hear...

why on a trolless night do we have to argue...