Doesn't really matter that there's a young guy waiting. If he doesn't get the contract he wants from Tampa, he'll walk. Someone will bite.
- Michael_Stuart

If Yzerman thinks Vasya can take it then, he will. If Andrei doesn't make an appearance this season the. We will see what happens. Andrei Vasilevski has already been playing in a mens league for 2 years. Would he be ready for FULL time, maybe not, but getting a suitable back-up to support him will be in the cards.

Andrei Vasilevski was to Ufa as Varlamov is to Colorado. This kid is legit (can't believe I just used that term )!

http://www.winnipegfreepr...peculation-268320242.html

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/after-lebron-went-home-stamkos-understands-but-ignores-leafs-speculation-268320242.html
- Michael_Stuart

That doesn't change much. He didn't deny it at all.

"We'll see what happens. It's a couple years away," Stamkos said Wednesday. "Right now I'm focused on what I have to do to win in Tampa, and I think we've really established ourselves as a team that can compete in upcoming years.

That doesn't change much. He didn't deny it at all.

"We'll see what happens. It's a couple years away," Stamkos said Wednesday. "Right now I'm focused on what I have to do to win in Tampa, and I think we've really established ourselves as a team that can compete in upcoming years.
- Artyukhin76

Yup. Some interesting quotes in there.

Yup. Some interesting quotes in there.
- Michael_Stuart

After he leaves?
Drouin Filppula Connolly
Palat Johnson Callahan
Brown Namestnikov Kucherov
Pacquette Boyle Panik
Ikonen

Hedman Garrison
Carle Stralman
Koekkoek Gudas
Witkowski

Vasilevski
Gudlevskis

After he leaves?
Drouin Filppula Connolly
Palat Johnson Callahan
Brown Namestnikov Kucherov
Pacquette Boyle Panik
Ikonen

Hedman Garrison
Carle Stralman
Koekkoek Gudas
Witkowski

Vasilevski
Gudlevskis
- Artyukhin76

Yeah it would certainly work without him too!

If he plays like he did last year again, I think it'll cost more than that to ink him long-term.
- Michael_Stuart

If he plays like last year who cares if Vasi is ready as long as Bishop is on his game, why is everyone ready to replace Bish and move him out, he's a proven winner something we haven't had in a long time. Let the young guys nip at his heels, it's a good thing to have a couple rather than some of the stiffs that came through here. I'd stick with the winner as long as possible regardless of who's in the AHL

If he plays like last year who cares if Vasi is ready as long as Bishop is on his game, why is everyone ready to replace Bish and move him out, he's a proven winner something we haven't had in a long time. Let the young guys nip at his heels, it's a good thing to have a couple rather than some of the stiffs that came through here. I'd stick with the winner as long as possible regardless of who's in the AHL
- tpd11

Is he really? He had one great year as a starter, and he broke down as the season went on.

If he plays like last year who cares if Vasi is ready as long as Bishop is on his game, why is everyone ready to replace Bish and move him out, he's a proven winner something we haven't had in a long time. Let the young guys nip at his heels, it's a good thing to have a couple rather than some of the stiffs that came through here. I'd stick with the winner as long as possible regardless of who's in the AHL
- tpd11

Because Vasilevski is the type of goalie that you build a (frank)ing contender on, that's why!

Is he really? He had one great year as a starter, and he broke down as the season went on.
- Michael_Stuart

To be fair, he was used pretty hard over the season because of Lindback, but yeah I agree with you.

Yup. Some interesting quotes in there.
- Michael_Stuart

TSN have now run with the story. This poop is gonna get annoying REALLY quickly!

TSN have now run with the story. This poop is gonna get annoying REALLY quickly!
- Artyukhin76

I'll probably have a blog on it tonight. An attempt to calm things down.

I'll probably have a blog on it tonight. An attempt to calm things down.
- Michael_Stuart

Geez, he said several times, also in the little segment beneath the TSN comment section "I'm happy in Tampa" ...."2 years is a long time"... "I'm happy in Tampa".

People can nitpick it to death, but SS was being polite to his hometown... he mentions how nice it is to get away from the game sometimes and not be harassed by the media (as they're doing before he's even in spitting distance of free agency... and "I'm happy in Tampa".

Get it through your skulls, Leafs fans. It's not going to happen.



Actually, I take it back. Yes Leafs fans. Keep talking about it more and more. Give him the C already! Plan the parade around him! Hell, pre-order his sweater.

... it'll be all the funnier that way when he re-ups long term with the team he's the captain of.

I'll probably have a blog on it tonight. An attempt to calm things down.
- Michael_Stuart

I'm indifferent about whole thing until 2016. I'm just not excited about the douchy Leafs trolls coming in and riding our asses about it.

Johnson for captain!!!!!

Is he really? He had one great year as a starter, and he broke down as the season went on.
- Michael_Stuart

You have to be joking. One year yes bit a Vezina nominee and he broke down because he was left put to dry too often and Lindy failed to be a decent backup and couldn't be relied on to stop a beach ball. Yet you're crowning someone who never played a game. What is with you never happy with what we have in Bishop?

You have to be joking. One year yes bit a Vezina nominee and he broke down because he was left put to dry too often and Lindy failed to be a decent backup and couldn't be relied on to stop a beach ball. Yet you're crowning someone who never played a game. What is with you never happy with what we have in Bishop?
- tpd11

When did I crown anyone?

I'm simply disagreeing with the notion that Bishop is a "proven winner." He had one good season as a starter. That's not a proven anything.

When did I crown anyone?

I'm simply disagreeing with the notion that Bishop is a "proven winner." He had one good season as a starter. That's not a proven anything.
- Michael_Stuart

I think that is a proven winner he carried the team that finished third in the conference without Stamkos for half a season. What is no one proven til they have 5 years? True you didn't crown anyone it was some other comments crowning Vasi the heir apparent without a game, let the kid mature and get some experience under his belt for a year over two.

TSN have now run with the story. This poop is gonna get annoying REALLY quickly!
- Artyukhin76

Who cares what TSN does. This Vinny2. That never happened either.

Who cares what TSN does. This Vinny2. That never happened either.
- tpd11

How much have you had to drink today?

How much have you had to drink today?
- Artyukhin76

Nada just tired of the b.s. That's all I remember the Canadian press and fans fueling the Vinny to Habs for years.

Nada just tired of the b.s. That's all I remember the Canadian press and fans fueling the Vinny to Habs for years.
- tpd11

Vinny denied it, as did the team, but Stamkos is leaving the door open so....

Vinny denied it, as did the team, but Stamkos is leaving the door open so....
- Artyukhin76

So... he's less harsh? Considering Toronto is not V4's hometown, where his friends and family live, and it is for Stammer... who then went on to kind of mock the Leafs about how much fun it is to come in and beat them?

Come on, Arty... don't let the Leafs trolls get to you, bud

I'll probably have a blog on it tonight. An attempt to calm things down.
- Michael_Stuart

No need to calm things down, Stamkos is a professional, loyal, smart and a good kid. He is playing the game, saying what the media wants to hear as in I'll leave the door open but at the same time praise his team the Lightning knowing the second part will be overshadowed which is what he wants. Leaving it open helps him with the business side in contract negotiations with the Bolts next summer but also allows him to tout the Bolts without so much as a stir. He is the Captain and he is saying the Bolts are going to be good, he can have his cake and eat it to because all anyone can here is Leafs Leafs Leafs.

He knows what Yzerman and Vinik are trying to do, he knows he is the centerpiece, he knows he has it great in Tampa, he knows the Bolts window of competing is just beginning, he has told me first hand that he loves it in Tampa. I'm with Arty though two years of Leafs speculating is going to get old. But from what I know of Steven Stamkos personally dealing with him I think he plans on resigning in Tampa all along for this coming contract.

No need to calm things down, Stamkos is a professional, loyal, smart and a good kid. He is playing the game, saying what the media wants to hear as in I'll leave the door open but at the same time praise his team the Lightning knowing the second part will be overshadowed which is what he wants. Leaving it open helps him with the business side in contract negotiations with the Bolts next summer but also allows him to tout the Bolts without so much as a stir. He is the Captain and he is saying the Bolts are going to be good, he can have his cake and eat it to because all anyone can here is Leafs Leafs Leafs.

He knows what Yzerman and Vinik are trying to do, he knows he is the centerpiece, he knows he has it great in Tampa, he knows the Bolts window of competing is just beginning, he has told me first hand that he loves it in Tampa. I'm with Arty though two years of Leafs speculating is going to get old. But from I know of Steven Stamkos personally dealing with him I think he plans on resigning in Tampa all along for this coming contract.
- stammerman

Do what I'm doing.... troll the trolls.

I've begun collecting quotes from Leafs board members (the particularly annoying ones) regarding how Stammer is heading to the T dot. Could be reaaaallllly fun in a couple of years