This year was probably the fewest leaf games I've watched at all since I was born. I can count the amount of games I've watched from start to finish on 1 hand. I knew this year was going to be rough, everyone knew that. Near the end of the season once the kids were called up, I started watching more parts of the games, just to see how the kids were doing.

I was impressed with a lot that was accomplished. At one point, it sucked seeing the leafs actually battle hard because I didn't want them to throw away a season where they needed to finish last. Games where they faught to come from behind and tie, made me frustrated. I would've looked back on the Anaheim game, where they had a chance to give in and take the loss, yet come back and win it in over time, or the recent Florida game, clawing back and almost forcing us to take a point. Thankfully, these games didn't cost us and we were able to bring home last place in the league.

Next year will be different though. Seeing what they can do, Babcock will expect each and every player to be ready for nhl duty next year, even if they start with the Marlies. Guys like Kapanen, Lindberg, leivo, brown, gauthier, and leipsic, will most likely not be on the starting roster next year. That doesn't mean they don't have to work as hard and be ready just like nylander, Hyman, and Soshnikov. He will be expecting the marlies guys to be ready for a call up in case of an injury, and expect their transition to be flawless.

Do I expect this team to make the playoffs next year? No. It's unlikely that a team that just finished dead last in the league to really be expected to make the playoffs. Will they battle for that spot though? Of course. They did this year. We didn't expect them to make it and they didn't. Next year will be different. There will be more talent and depth in the lineup, but I expect them to fall short, and to have a pick between 8 and 14. That won't be considered as a wasted season though. It will be considered as a success, because we are trending in the right direction. Finishing in the bottom 3 next year makes us no better than the Oilers. The last thing we want to do is to continue to hinder our team and see them fail.

I'm looking forward to a season next year that I will actually want to watch

I think a reasonable expectation for next year would be one like Buffalo had this year.

Flirting with .500, somewhere between where we finished this season and a playoff spot.

If datsyuk leaves he doesn't get paid, so a team wanting to reach the floor can pick him up and not have to pay a penny.


Edit: which is all what happened with those contracts as well (team picks up cap hit, pays no money )
- burn

Difference I see is pronger/savard were not problem contracts for philly/bos; re ltir.

Datsyuk is a problem contract for det. No salary cap favors, they'll have to pay something t move it imo.

Kadri chirped Eichel hard after the BU Terrier star took him apart in a Buffalo win in early March.

March 7: Sabres shootout win, Eichel 20th goal of the season
March 19: Leafs win; Eichel no points
March 21: Sabres win; Eichel assist

1ST PERIOD
TOR Leo Komarov (19) ASST: Nikita Soshnikov (1), Morgan Rielly (22)
TOR PPG - Brad Boyes (8) ASST: Connor Carrick (2), Jake Gardiner (18)
2ND PERIOD
BUF Mark Pysyk (1) ASST: Evander Kane (11), Sam Reinhart (13)
TOR Zach Hyman (1) ASST: Michael Grabner (6), Ben Smith (1 3RD PERIOD
BUF Jack Eichel (20) ASST: Matt Moulson (11), Cal O'Reilly (3)
BUF Evander Kane (19) ASST: Sam Reinhart (14)
OT PERIOD
NONE
SHOOTOUT
1 P. Holland J. Eichel
2 N. Kadri S. Reinhart
3 W. Nylander


Just dont see where HE TOOK HIM APART

Kadri chirped Eichel hard after the BU Terrier star took him apart in a Buffalo win in early March.

March 7: Sabres shootout win, Eichel 20th goal of the season
March 19: Leafs win; Eichel no points
March 21: Sabres win; Eichel assist

1ST PERIOD
TOR Leo Komarov (19) ASST: Nikita Soshnikov (1), Morgan Rielly (22)
TOR PPG - Brad Boyes (8) ASST: Connor Carrick (2), Jake Gardiner (18)
2ND PERIOD
BUF Mark Pysyk (1) ASST: Evander Kane (11), Sam Reinhart (13)
TOR Zach Hyman (1) ASST: Michael Grabner (6), Ben Smith (1 3RD PERIOD
BUF Jack Eichel (20) ASST: Matt Moulson (11), Cal O'Reilly (3)
BUF Evander Kane (19) ASST: Sam Reinhart (14)
OT PERIOD
NONE
SHOOTOUT
1 P. Holland J. Eichel
2 N. Kadri S. Reinhart
3 W. Nylander



- nbboy

this is what loneliness looks like in text form isn't it

Difference I see is pronger/savard were not problem contracts for philly/bos; re ltir.

Datsyuk is a problem contract for det. No salary cap favors, they'll have to pay something t move it imo.
- Tumbleweed

Yes they were cause those teams could do what they wanted until those contracts were gone. They count against the cap until they are placed on ltir, and can't do that till gAme 1, thus eating cap space and a roster spot until they are removed.

Kadri chirped Eichel hard after the BU Terrier star took him apart in a Buffalo win in early March.

March 7: Sabres shootout win, Eichel 20th goal of the season
March 19: Leafs win; Eichel no points
March 21: Sabres win; Eichel assist

1ST PERIOD
TOR Leo Komarov (19) ASST: Nikita Soshnikov (1), Morgan Rielly (22)
TOR PPG - Brad Boyes (8) ASST: Connor Carrick (2), Jake Gardiner (18)
2ND PERIOD
BUF Mark Pysyk (1) ASST: Evander Kane (11), Sam Reinhart (13)
TOR Zach Hyman (1) ASST: Michael Grabner (6), Ben Smith (1 3RD PERIOD
BUF Jack Eichel (20) ASST: Matt Moulson (11), Cal O'Reilly (3)
BUF Evander Kane (19) ASST: Sam Reinhart (14)
OT PERIOD
NONE
SHOOTOUT
1 P. Holland J. Eichel
2 N. Kadri S. Reinhart
3 W. Nylander


Just dont see where HE TOOK HIM APART
- nbboy

It's all invented, all his peabrain.

Chirped hard? Get over yourself. he said he was a special player. Apparently if you aren't on your knees with his magic Harry Potter wand in your mouth you are not fully appreciating him.

this is what loneliness looks like in text form isn't it
- daeth

this is what loneliness looks like in text form isn't it
- daeth

I'm gonna go with yes on that

Lucky bastard...

Lucky bastard...


- lumlums

You see the concession prices? Beers cost less than half what they do at the average NHL game.

Lucky bastard...


- lumlums

What's more exciting, this or soccer?

You see the concession prices? Beers cost less than half what they do at the average NHL game.


- smellmyfinger

Prices look like they're from the 50s or 60s

Prices look like they're from the 50s or 60s
- burn

Probably finger sandwiches. Imagine somebody eating a legit sandwich at a place like that? They'd be treated like (frank)ing cavemen for having the audacity to using both hands

You see the concession prices? Beers cost less than half what they do at the average NHL game.


- smellmyfinger

Damn...




Having said that, I'll be out later for an 18 of my own just outside Davis.... and that 18 holes will set me back a whopping $12

What's more exciting, this or soccer?
- weirdoh

Half back passes to Centre
back to Wing
back to Centre
Centre holds it
HOLDS IT!
HOOOOOOOLLLLLLDDSS IT!

Probably finger sandwiches. Imagine somebody eating a legit sandwich at a place like that? They'd be treated like (frank)ing cavemen for having the audacity to using both hands
- weirdoh

Half back passes to Centre
back to Wing
back to Centre
Centre holds it
HOLDS IT!
HOOOOOOOLLLLLLDDSS IT!
- Venom.

Half back passes to Centre
back to Wing
back to Centre
Centre holds it
HOLDS IT!
HOOOOOOOLLLLLLDDSS IT!
- Venom.

That the one where they start the big brawl in the stands?

That the one where they start the big brawl in the stands?
- weirdoh

Yup.

Probably finger sandwiches. Imagine somebody eating a legit sandwich at a place like that? They'd be treated like (frank)ing cavemen for having the audacity to using both hands
- weirdoh

Like on Seinfeld where they started using knife and fork to eat chocolate bar

Probably finger sandwiches. Imagine somebody eating a legit sandwich at a place like that? They'd be treated like (frank)ing cavemen for having the audacity to using both hands
- weirdoh

Guess they don't have a burger or dog at the turn?

"Can I get a blue Gatorade?"

"Pardon? We only have French sparking water, sir."

Guess they don't have a burger or dog at the turn?

"Can I get a blue Gatorade?"

"Pardon? We only have French sparking water, sir."
- burn

Oh god. Imagine a (frank)ing hotdog?

Oh god. Imagine a (frank)ing hotdog?
- weirdoh

Oh god. Imagine a (frank)ing hotdog?
- weirdoh

"I say good sir, what an odd looking sandwich"