D'Amigo, Ashton, Komarov > D'Amigo, Ashton and Orr
- mykokes

Orr and McLaren were effective last year ...somebody needs to put a microphone in front of their face and ask them what the (frank) has changed ...what the (frank) is going on this year.

Good morning lovelies

if he was so important, why did the Leafs let him walk away?
- DoubleDown

Same reason Nashville thought Suter and New Jersey thought Parise was poop i'd imagine. (I am comparing the situation not Komorov to Parise/Suter)

Damigo - Holland - Komarov better than those...
- vermie22

Yes, but Komarov was demanding $3 mill. If you think he's worth that, I've got $4 mill worth of Tim Gleason and $3 mill worth of Carl Gunnarsson to trade you.

if he was so important, why did the Leafs let him walk away?
- DoubleDown

They didn't let him walk away. He left for more money and some excuse about the Olympics at that time the NHL players hadn't agreed to go.

Yes, but Komarov was demanding $3 mill. If you think he's worth that, I've got $4 mill worth of Tim Gleason and $3 mill worth of Carl Gunnarsson to trade you.
- 1979AD

And 5 plus million of Clarkson!

Gleason is good enough on the 2nd pairing next year, and is so old school stay at home he'll work great with Rielly. Phaneuf needs a new partner and with a guy like Girardi hitting the market (hopefully) the Leafs have no choice but to snag him and overpay if they need to. Then you re-sign Ranger for even cheaper then now, move Gunner to the third pairing and rotate in some Marlies (Percy likely).

That means Gardiner (unfortunately) and Franson (good riddance) have to go. As RFA's Nonis doesn't need to deal them at the deadline. He has options. This summer will make or break Nonis.
- mcleafs

I'm not ready to go there.

Orr and McLaren were effective last year ...somebody needs to put a microphone in front of their face and ask them what the (frank) has changed ...what the (frank) is going on this year.
- The Law

It's very simple. Other teams figured out that if you refuse to fight them they become completely useless. RC will figure this out once he gets his toast out of the toaster.

Leafs were scouting the Wild-Yotes game. Hopefully its Yandle
- Bigzby

Will cost you JVR plus....

I am too lazy to back read to see the current topic so here's simply my opinion.

RC has been the coach for parts of 3 seasons now. These types of coaches definitely have a shelf life and even though he hasn't been here a full season I think it's starting to show.

Look at Anaheim. They have been a quiet winner in the West for two seasons now since he's been gone. Coincidence? I don't think so.

To be honest I am fairly certain Dozzer could coach that team to the cup! Pronger/nieds Perry/Getzlaf

Leafs were scouting the Wild-Yotes game. Hopefully its Yandle
- Bigzby

knowing the leafs its heatley

Will cost you JVR plus....
- Iggysbff

Plus what?

Yes, but why the (frank) is this not happening on a regular basis? I can't even think of a single scrap and/or big hit this year. I've seen his Tucker face on a couple times, but that's it.
- 1979AD

He can't park his ass in front of the net, because the Leafs fore check is non existent. They dump the puck to the wrong corners, and usually only send 1 guy in. By the time he gets anywhere near the puck, the opposing D has already made the outlet pass, and that 1 forechecker now has to skate his ass off to try and play D..

It's very simple. Other teams figured out that if you refuse to fight them they become completely useless. RC will figure this out once he gets his toast out of the toaster.
- 1979AD

who is doing the fighting for the Leafs then? because they have the most majors in the NHL. or second most.

They didn't let him walk away. He left for more money and some excuse about the Olympics at that time the NHL players hadn't agreed to go.
- Bigzby

This is what I read as well. He would get a lot more minutes in the KHL to help prepare him for the Olympics which he fealt was more important to him.

knowing the leafs its heatley
- Dozzer

Will cost you JVR plus....
- Iggysbff

no it wouldnt

he was offered straight up for JVR two years ago and JVR has progressed into a better player since then

but its you.. and you'll never post anything that leans in the leafs favour.. so feel free to continue

if he was so important, why did the Leafs let him walk away?
- DoubleDown

Basically, it came down to this: Leo Komarov was too good.

He was embarrassing all the other players on the Leafs by his stellar play and hustle.

Most of the wives and girlfriends were lusting after him, causing dressing room strife.

Better to let him go to the KHL than have to pay him maximum salary, which would have caused cap problems.

And Lupul hated him, because he was more gorgeous than Lupul. And you can't have that.

Seriously, can you name any other team in any other sport, which is currently struggling, where the fanbase would be spending more than 20 seconds lamenting the fact that a 4th liner didn't come back from last year?

There are 101 things wrong with the Leafs right now. And yet we continue to focus on the absence of Leo Komarov.

It's the stupidity that unites us all.

He can't park his ass in front of the net, because the Leafs fore check is non existent. They dump the puck to the wrong corners, and usually only send 1 guy in. By the time he gets anywhere near the puck, the opposing D has already made the outlet pass, and that 1 forechecker now has to skate his ass off to try and play D..
- vermie22

Makes sense.

knowing the leafs its heatley
- Dozzer

My coffee came back up in my throat.

I'm not ready to go there.
- The Law

He's played 2 games, if you don't know what you have by now you never will.

who is doing the fighting for the Leafs then? because they have the most majors in the NHL. or second most.
- DoubleDown

And the most hits.

But supposedly, they aren't physical enough since Komarov left...

Weird, isn't it?

What did you make Yost for breakfast this morning?
- Atomic Wedgie

Haha! It's so funny (frustrating) when someone tries to explain why a team is sucking, and then quantifies it, nobody wants to listen. The numbers say a lot. And these people collecting the numbers watch the games more closely and objectively than anyone else.

I'm sure we can all agree that you want players that can advance the puck up ice and create scoring chances. Right? Well, there are now ways to track and check what you see with your eyes. The metrics help. Don't be afraid.

Plus what?
- walshyleafsfan

Clarkson?

Yep. That's exactly the reason why possession metrics are reliable predictors of long-term success. Leafs relative corsi numbers (@EV, close) per 60 min have been nothing short of awful this season, suggesting that the team is suffering from some sort of systematic disease.
Top teams, 2013-14:
Kings (+17.4)
Blackhawks (+12.3)
Sharks (+9.3)
Bruins (+8.5)

Bottom teams:
Oilers (-12.1)
Flames (-13.1)
Sabres (-16.9)
...and Leafs (-16.9)

i.e. the difference between contenders and teams that suck. Leafs corsi differentials were equally bad last year (dead last), but you were bailed out by ridiculous Sh%+Sv% and special teams. This year you probably won't, for sample-sized reasons.
- Fjodor

more leafs fans and management need to get on board with advanced stats... falling behind once again caught with pants down. the embarrassment that unites us all