And there's the other side of the coin: Fans who can't accept criticism about their favorite team/player/coach etc...
- Pecafan Fan

Like Big D and Grabo

or Hab fans
- Garnie

Maybe they are the very same

Maybe they are the very same
- walshyleafsfan

annoying?

I would imagine fans would be more content to accept said criticism if once, just once, these journalists mentioned, said one thing positive about any one of the Leafs players. Like ever. Just once. It's like listening to Fakepartofme every day of your life.
- walshyleafsfan

In Montreal, in the late 90's, early 2000's, very little positive could be said about the team. Performance on the ice justified a negative outlook on the team.

Not the same coin. Fans, by definition, are not objective. Journalists should be objective and operate according to professional standards. I question the standards of a guy who calls the mother of an injured athlete who is obviously upset about her son's injury as a way to raise questions about what the team is doing. The real issue here, though, is Spott airing private laundry in a public setting.
- Canada Cup

And if you're a Leafs Beat guy, what do you do with that "scoop" (I use the term loosely)?

Like Big D and Grabo
- jbold

That's a completely irrational man crush.

.

I know, this NEVER happens!
- Pecafan Fan

I can't recall it ever happening.

Not exactly a news flash there may be heated discussion even conflict between NHL players and coaches on the implementation of new strategies. Would be surprised if it doesn't happen on ever team. Phil is a smart player, he is going to have an opinion and no he doesn't just have to blindly accept whatever the coaches say anymore there can be discussion. He isn't in jr.

I really like Kessel but What does actually concern me is the 15 lbs and that looks to be generous. Seems like a player taking his innate talent for granted. Lose the weight Phil and get your a$$ on the bike maybe then you will hit 40 or more
- D.Lemieux

I'd be more concerned over a guy in peak condition who can't play 50/year without getting injured, not the guy with 364 consecutive games played...

That's a completely irrational man crush.
- Pecafan Fan

Im seriously surprised he hasnt written him into fantasy blogs.

Im seriously surprised he hasnt written him into fantasy blogs.
- jbold

Different kind of fantasy

And if you're a Leafs Beat guy, what do you do with that "scoop" (I use the term loosely)?
- Pecafan Fan

Run with it, of course. and and like any story with anonymous sources, my response to the story depends in part on how much I trust the reporter. That trust level is not very high for Feschuk.

In Montreal, in the late 90's, early 2000's, very little positive could be said about the team. Performance on the ice justified a negative outlook on the team.
- Pecafan Fan

In all honesty i'm not concerned with Montreal. I'm more annoyed with the absolute poop 'insider' journalists we have to suffer coming from the centre of the hockey universe, Toronto. John Shannon is still believing the Luongo to the Leafs trade is done. Journalists calling players Mums for injury/team updates. Simmons concerned Burke is doing a selfish thing like (frank)ing meeting the troops that keep our country free, as i he forgot to even mention to Nonis a plan. The constant graphs and tables released showing Dion near the bottom. Like their sole existance is for showing Dion is not an elite dman. Then hosting annonymous polls showing Dion is the most overated player in the NHL. I haven't quite figured out yet who these so called people are that actually rate Dion that highly.

It's acutally embarassing to good sports journalists (i'm sure there are some) that these guys probably take home 3 times their salary for literally doing (frank) all journalism (well if we set a standard).

I'd be more concerned over a guy in peak condition who can't play 50/year without getting injured, not the guy with 364 consecutive games played...
- lumlums

Agreed but all I'm saying is

Is Phil getting paid $8 million ? Yes

Does every player on the team need to be doing everything within their power to get to the playoffs? Yes

Would this team be better if Phil kept himself in better shape? Yes

In all honesty i'm not concerned with Montreal. I'm more annoyed with the absolute poop 'insider' journalists we have to suffer coming from the centre of the hockey universe, Toronto. John Shannon is still believing the Luongo to the Leafs trade is done. Journalists calling players Mums for injury/team updates. Simmons concerned Burke is doing a selfish thing like (frank)ing meeting the troops that keep our country free, as i he forgot to even mention to Nonis a plan. The constant graphs and tables released showing Dion near the bottom. Like their sole existance is for showing Dion is not an elite dman. Then hosting annonymous polls showing Dion is the most overated player in the NHL. I haven't quite figured out yet who these so called people are that actually rate Dion that highly.

It's acutally embarassing to good sports journalists (i'm sure there are some) that these guys probably take home 3 times their salary for literally doing (frank) all journalism (well if we set a standard).
- walshyleafsfan

I don't get the general hatred for Dion.

And Simmons' an idiot.

Agreed but all I'm saying is

Is Phil getting paid $8 million ? Yes

Does every player on the team need to be doing everything within their power to get to the playoffs? Yes

Would this team be better if Phil kept himself in better shape? Yes
- D.Lemieux

You don't seem to get that conditioning is not an issue right now. He is playing all 82 games every year with 1st line mins and first line PP. He even gets double shifted from time to time. And he gets PPG+each year. He skates like the wind. He looks a little pudgy but he dosnt show on the ice any kind of conditioning weakness. So it's not even a debate right now.

I don't get the general hatred for Dion.

And Simmons' an idiot.
- Pecafan Fan

People hate him because he wears the C.

If he didnt have the C, dont think people would be upset with him.

He really needs a partner. badly.

Agreed but all I'm saying is

Is Phil getting paid $8 million ? Yes

Does every player on the team need to be doing everything within their power to get to the playoffs? Yes

Would this team be better if Phil kept himself in better shape? Yes
- D.Lemieux

We don't know what "shape" he is in... being "in shape" is more to do with endurance, stamina etc and that doesn't seem to be an issue, unless you propose upping his minutes to play him 27 minutes a night. I don't give a flying Bozak how much he weighs, just that he stays fit and keeps performing, which so far isn't an issue. I'm much more concerned about the "in shape" guys like Lupul who can't stop getting injured, or Clarkson who has forgotten which side of the stick to hold. These so-called journalists are basically looking to create roblems where there are not any.

Morning (frank)ers!

I didn't backread, anyone see this yet?

http://www.thestar.com/sp...out_strategy_feschuk.html

Leiweke's "awful character" coming to light?

Morning (frank)ers!

I didn't backread, anyone see this yet?

http://www.thestar.com/sp...out_strategy_feschuk.html

Leiweke's "awful character" coming to light?
- TheThrill

Yup, we were just discussing what a (frank)ing useless piece of poop Feschuk is

Yup, we were just discussing what a (frank)ing useless piece of poop Feschuk is
- lumlums

LOL Can't disagree there. That was the female genitalia that called Reimer's mom, no?

Still, I hope the whole thing is overblown. I'd hate to think Kessel is that much of a wiener.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2014/09/17/leafs_kessel_not_hot_on_spotts_breakout_strategy_feschuk.html



How can you expect a coach to change the systems when the players wont listen and refuse to change?
- jbold

Love the Toronto media.

The story is basically, Spott had one idea, Kessel had another, they talked about it, and figured out the best idea between the player's skill set and the coach's system.

Sounds like a good thing to me.

We don't know what "shape" he is in... being "in shape" is more to do with endurance, stamina etc and that doesn't seem to be an issue, unless you propose upping his minutes to play him 27 minutes a night. I don't give a flying Bozak how much he weighs, just that he stays fit and keeps performing, which so far isn't an issue. I'm much more concerned about the "in shape" guys like Lupul who can't stop getting injured, or Clarkson who has forgotten which side of the stick to hold. These so-called journalists are basically looking to create roblems where there are not any.
- lumlums

There is a problem here when a coach publicly criticizes a player for being overweight and for not agreeing with his breakout strategy send then blaming management for siding with Phil. I wouldn't be surprised if Spott showed up with a few teeth missing after an elevator ride with Shanny.

In other news - Selanne dissing Beaudreau saying that if we had different coach I'd still be playing and it would have been wrong if we had won the Cup with a coach like that.

Love the Toronto media.

The story is basically, Spott had one idea, Kessel had another, they talked about it, and figured out the best idea between the player's skill set and the coach's system.

Sounds like a good thing to me.
- Feeling Glucky?

So now systems are based around one player?

LOL Can't disagree there. That was the female genitalia that called Reimer's mom, no?

Still, I hope the whole thing is overblown. I'd hate to think Kessel is that much of a wiener.
- TheThrill

Then again. Kessel LOVES streaking down the right wing and thats how he scores many goals, so im not surprised he doesnt want to skaate all the way to the let side to pick up a pass.


Im also very excited for Spotts new breakout. Wonder how it looks

In all honesty i'm not concerned with Montreal. I'm more annoyed with the absolute poop 'insider' journalists we have to suffer coming from the centre of the hockey universe, Toronto. John Shannon is still believing the Luongo to the Leafs trade is done. Journalists calling players Mums for injury/team updates. Simmons concerned Burke is doing a selfish thing like (frank)ing meeting the troops that keep our country free, as i he forgot to even mention to Nonis a plan. The constant graphs and tables released showing Dion near the bottom. Like their sole existance is for showing Dion is not an elite dman. Then hosting annonymous polls showing Dion is the most overated player in the NHL. I haven't quite figured out yet who these so called people are that actually rate Dion that highly.

It's acutally embarassing to good sports journalists (i'm sure there are some) that these guys probably take home 3 times their salary for literally doing (frank) all journalism (well if we set a standard).
- walshyleafsfan

well it's true that this is all ridiculous but if you want to brag about Toronto being the centre of the hockey universe, then this is what you have to live with. what do you think journalists said about the Yankees 25 years ago? or what they say about the Cowboys today? and truth be told, i do read a lot of Toronto media. and while i find more negative than positive, i do read positives about the team.