your link sucks.
- BlowMonkey

it's from the Toronto sun...you know it will be something pretty bad

little lesson for you....Dougie Gilmour. He wasn't a leader in Calgary or St. Louis. he was considered a mercurial, a misfit with great talent. Gritty yes, willing to go into tough areas to make things happen, but he wasn't the great leader before he came to Toronto. He stepped into the role here and embraced it. He did that in his late 20s. As i said, it was nice for him to START showing some balls, again if it was even his idea. That's what I want to see from this Leaf team, yes Dion has the C, but it takes more than a stupid letter to be a leader. It takes a guy willing to step up and say follow me.
- mykokes

actually i remember gilmour playing for calgary...he had the nickname Killer in St Louis when he was real young..he was always tough and willing to do whatever it took to win...sometimes, misguided yes, but always competitive. .so, i think dougie and phil are not really comparable???

Point is, i know you love the leafs no matter what they do..it's an honorable trait. But to be satisfied with mediocrtiy is baffling. Settling for Kessel or DIon to be captain? Come on. You can say bad things about the team you know; it's not like it doesn't make you a non fan. i dont' know how old you are or how long you've been following this squad but man, i respect your patience if you are over 30 years old and a fan since being a kid.

it's from the Toronto sun...you know it will be something pretty bad
- Symba007

I'm a glutton for punishment. Actually I'm just a glutton.

Yes, there's a good chance they won't win the Cup this year and there's a chance that they just aren't good enough to even make the play-offs. This won't change either of those things.

But - they were playing like poop, their character was questioned, they didn't like it and responded.

I'll take it
- Canada Cup

This is a good way to look at it.

I think you're focusing your anger on the wrong guy.
- 1979AD

It's bewildering.

It's Kessel's fault that the Leafs don't have a true #1 centre to build around.

does anyone know what happened to prock??

does anyone know what happened to prock??
- DoubleDown

He was banned for a month. Didn't I just tell you that?

It's bewildering.

It's Kessel's fault that the Leafs don't have a true #1 centre to build around.
- Atomic Wedgie

Maybe #1 centre's don't want to play with fat wingers?

little lesson for you....Dougie Gilmour. He wasn't a leader in Calgary or St. Louis. he was considered a mercurial, a misfit with great talent. Gritty yes, willing to go into tough areas to make things happen, but he wasn't the great leader before he came to Toronto. He stepped into the role here and embraced it. He did that in his late 20s. As i said, it was nice for him to START showing some balls, again if it was even his idea. That's what I want to see from this Leaf team, yes Dion has the C, but it takes more than a stupid letter to be a leader. It takes a guy willing to step up and say follow me.
- mykokes

Kessel hasn't just not embraced a leadership role though, he's shown a strong aversion to it. He's made it clear that he's not that type of guy and doesn't want to be. And that's fine. Your most talented player doesn't have to be your leader. Kessel plays his best hockey when left to his own devices, there's no point in complicating that by trying to force him into a role that he's not comfortable with. It would be like trying to fit a very fat square peg in a round hole.

Maybe #1 centre's don't want to play with fat wingers?
- 1979AD

little lesson for you....Dougie Gilmour. He wasn't a leader in Calgary or St. Louis. he was considered a mercurial, a misfit with great talent. Gritty yes, willing to go into tough areas to make things happen, but he wasn't the great leader before he came to Toronto. He stepped into the role here and embraced it. He did that in his late 20s. As i said, it was nice for him to START showing some balls, again if it was even his idea. That's what I want to see from this Leaf team, yes Dion has the C, but it takes more than a stupid letter to be a leader. It takes a guy willing to step up and say follow me.
- mykokes

ok you need to be called out on this. please detail HOW, if he was behind it and the purpose was a snub, Kessel showed leadership here.

they'll make the playoffs and depending who they draw in the 1st round, they might make it to the 2nd round
- Symba007

no they wont

they have one line producing and they could barely defend against a tired team

these leafs will finish in the 10-14th range

Kessel hasn't just not embraced a leadership role though, he's shown a strong aversion to it. He's made it clear that he's not that type of guy and doesn't want to be. And that's fine. Your most talented player doesn't have to be your leader. Kessel plays his best hockey when left to his own devices, there's no point in complicating that by trying to force him into a role that he's not comfortable with. It would be like trying to fit a very fat square peg in a round hole.
- Jeffmt

Amen.

Lafleur was never the captain.

Kessel hasn't just not embraced a leadership role though, he's shown a strong aversion to it. He's made it clear that he's not that type of guy and doesn't want to be. And that's fine. Your most talented player doesn't have to be your leader. Kessel plays his best hockey when left to his own devices, there's no point in complicating that by trying to force him into a role that he's not comfortable with. It would be like trying to fit a very fat square peg in a round hole.
- Jeffmt

He seems to be growing into a leader more and more. This is why I think they should go with 3 A's and see if the Captain emerges, because it sure as hell ain't Phaneuf.

actually i remember gilmour playing for calgary...he had the nickname Killer in St Louis when he was real young..he was always tough and willing to do whatever it took to win...sometimes, misguided yes, but always competitive. .so, i think dougie and phil are not really comparable???

Point is, i know you love the leafs no matter what they do..it's an honorable trait. But to be satisfied with mediocrtiy is baffling. Settling for Kessel or DIon to be captain? Come on. You can say bad things about the team you know; it's not like it doesn't make you a non fan. i dont' know how old you are or how long you've been following this squad but man, i respect your patience if you are over 30 years old and a fan since being a kid.
- clark_griswold

trust me I'm not settling....a blind and devout fan wouldn't turn around say it was nice to see his teams best player finally start to show some balls. And I'll rip this team when its deserved, like I did yesterday during the game and during and after the Nashville and Buffalo games. But I don't see a point in ripping them after winning against tampa, nor will I rip them for manning up and taking an us against the world stance.

Amen.

Lafleur was never the captain.
- Atomic Wedgie

Good comparison actually.

I have absolutely no problem with your statement above.

Some may agree or disagree (I happen to agree).

Just don't tell me that not waiving their little sticks in the air last night was indicative of the statement above, or that it actually meant something significant.
- Atomic Wedgie

oh?! thats what this convo is about?

(frank) i am glad they didnt do it.. it was a (frank)ing stupid tradition anyways

what the (frank) are they? hockey players or shriners in the christmas parade?

no they wont

they have one line producing and they could barely defend against a tired team

these leafs will finish in the 10-14th range
- Dozzer

I think you under estimate how bad other teams are in our conference and you under estimates the Leafs.

Never too high, never too low

I think you're focusing your anger on the wrong guy.
- 1979AD

(frank) that.. i have plenty to go around

Haven't read back so I apologize in advance if this has already been posted

http://www.torontosun.com...-to-fans-from-maple-leafs


BOOM!
- jribout

works for me.......

does anyone know what happened to prock??
- DoubleDown

i did.

works for me.......
- jribout

Me too.

He seems to be growing into a leader more and more. This is why I think they should go with 3 A's and see if the Captain emerges, because it sure as hell ain't Phaneuf.
- 1979AD

An A is one thing. You can wear an A and just be an on-ice leader and maybe behind closed doors. I think Phil's probably comfortable with that. Giving him the C and expecting him to tap dance for the media every day would be a disaster though.

Kessel hasn't just not embraced a leadership role though, he's shown a strong aversion to it. He's made it clear that he's not that type of guy and doesn't want to be. And that's fine. Your most talented player doesn't have to be your leader. Kessel plays his best hockey when left to his own devices, there's no point in complicating that by trying to force him into a role that he's not comfortable with. It would be like trying to fit a very fat square peg in a round hole.
- Jeffmt

A guy can change his mind no? again, I'm hoping this is his move, and this is him maturing and being more willing to step up and lead.

i did.
- Dozzer