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

"Sir, come with us. We warned you about the pepperette. Now you push your luck with a hotdog?"

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

You're forgetting that they're in Georgia...

Not sure what you mean...

(Checks Garth's photo)



Oh, I get it
- Atomic Wedgie

I sent a note to the admins about his actions and his constant attacks on the Leafs, their fans and city, it's unacceptable.

You're forgetting that they're in Georgia...
- lumlums

What are you trying to say?

Every year the Leafs do NOT win the lottery, increases their chances of winning it the NEXT year. Im not great at quad equations and random variables and all that but Toronto will have to win the first eventually. Ask Dubas. This years 20% chance is actually higher than 20% BECAUSE they have not won past draws.

Where is the "gouge my eyes out" icon ???

Jets

Blue Jackets

Habs


(frank)
- weirdoh

(I) agreed
(II) disagree - Leafs roster was one of the worst iced teams in the NHL. Finishing near or at the bottom is probably what was expected. Management is too smart and knew this roster was downright terrible.
(III) I think they knew all this before the season started so no revelations over a losing season, which was beyond their control.
(IIII) agreed - talent pool is very good and should be elite after next years draft. Leafs can already start to look to try to sign good free agents (Stamkos?) to compliment their young guns.
(IIIII) agreed - I don't think any was happy about putting a bad team on the ice. I think the smart fan realized it was the best way to move forward for this franchise rather than do what the Leafs have always done and continue with mediocrity. By the end of the season, losing was "acceptable" simply to increase odds at winning lotto and come away with worst case 4th overall pick. Sucked getting there but good to be here and able to move in another direction now for the better.

Next year might not be a pretty season but it sure as hell should be more fun to watch as I expect to see a lot more of Nylander, Brown and other Marlies guys. Also, because Marner can't play in AHL and has nothing left to prove on OHL, could see him on the Leafs roster too. Add Zaitsev and possibly Matthews (please?) and better free agents....team will be more fun to watch - although I am still going to expect a top 10 pick next year (due to our thin defense and terrible goaltending).

End of day, Leafs are rapidly moving in the right direction. Good news for all Leaf fans.
- Cooshie

(ii) Players get hurt, but your top offensive threat going down is hard to recover from. They found out what they had in the youth i mean. No one knew how Brown, Sosh, Hyman, Carrick, Valiev etc would handle the faster game. Babs even said this season was about evaluating talent. They were bad this season partly because they moved out talent. Shoddy goaltending and injuries to some vets is really why they finished last. Also i think leaving Nylander in the A was smart, but only because it helped the tank.

You really spent this long to write a load of garbage?
- walshyleafsfan

Should i take your advice and write one sentenence posts instead?

I sent a note to the admins about his actions and his constant attacks on the Leafs, their fans and city, it's unacceptable.
- LeafMan

Good,I mean now attacking certain restaurants with poisoning accusations?

I sent a note to the admins about his actions and his constant attacks on the Leafs, their fans and city, it's unacceptable.
- LeafMan

He's a (frank)ing mess. It's about time HB ended their association with him, much like they did with Cloutier, Barry and Esplen.

OK, a few comments about your thought out post.

Bobcock is on board with what management wants to do. He understood that this team was not ready to compete this year. This was a year to dump as many bad contracts as necessary. Since one year ago, we've lost both Phil and Dion. We've gained allot of cap space and have stockpiled young talent and draft picks going forward. It's time to start moving up in the standings.

For the idea of liking to tank, I hated it. I personally didn't like cheering against my native team, the Leafs. I've been watching them since the 1960's and did see them win their last Cup. I've also watched them play some horrible hockey and mismanage the team over great stretches of the last 50 years. Their idea was to win as much of the time at whatever the cost to the future of the franchise. They took for-granted the fanbase, because they knew that they would always have a sellout. They foisted allot of garbage on the fanbase. It was 20 years overdue for them to burn it down to the foundation and build it properly. It was frustrating to see every dreg in the league either make the finals, win a Cup or get the next great superstar. We always had a middling team that was always short that, go to, star player that could get us to the next level. It's been tough being a loyal supporter. My closet is full of Leafs merchandise that I'm embarrassed to wear, most days. It's time to turn the page.

What needs to happen for this team to go forward? We need to fill the holes. We have some very good prospects and good skill level. We do lack that true number one centre, that eats up the situation minutes, like key faceoffs, powerplays, and penalty kills. The centre that scores the big goal and grinds the puck to kill the last 10 seconds of a one goal game. We haven't had one since Sundin. I think Nylander is talented, but not the prototypical number one that is required.....Something like an Eric Staal, in his prime, or a Ryan Getzlaf.

Defensively, we're not in a bad situation. Morgan Rielly is a good top pair defenseman. He needs a similar partner, with more size and defensive prowess. What is required is a right shooting minute eater that had similar offensive numbers, that can play 25 minutes. Maybe a Dougie Hamilton type. Gardiner is a good second pair defender and has shown that his game has rounded out. His skating ability is top drawer, but still needs to work on his own defensive play. Again, another right shooting defender, with good defensive skill is a prerequisite to helping him develop his game. They should be able to find the pieces via trade, maybe Kadri or JVR going the the other way.

Goaltending? We aren't that bad with Bernier. If there is an upgrade that can make us better, without giving up too many assets, it's something to explore. Bernier seemed to get better, once the defense improved. It also helps when the Leafs score more. Their goals for was abysmal, until the kids came up at the trade deadline.

Lastly, you're probably right that most Leafs fans are not happy with Tanking. The one's in here are mostly superfans of the team and not the watercooler guys who watch the games and forget about it, 48 hours later. The fans in here, on the most part, dissect the game and the players, more then the average fan. Most of the fans here realize what it takes for a team to improve long term. I'm pretty sure that most of the people here realized that Brian Burke was making a mistake, trying to rebuild too quickly, when patience was what need to happen. We were exonerated, when the team quickly fell apart and knew that a proper rebuild was in order. Most of us knew that Shanahan's plan was a good one, when he did the free build, with all of the UFA's and then trading them for picks and prospects. We are now at the next stage.....building from the foundation at the draft. The pipeline is now stocked and it's now a progression to acclimate and infuse the youth into the system of Mike Babcock. Next year is going to be fun.

What to expect next year? A team that will compete, most nights. What we saw, the last 20 games will be the normal next year. We'll be competing in the same area as Buffalo, Carolina, New Jersey. We may even pass teams like the Bruins and Habs. We'll probably be picking in the 10 to 15 range next year. The upside is, the sky's the limit going forward. No more aging veteran's, no more cap hell.....good times to come.
- PrinceLH

Agreed entirely. Finally management is doing the right thing. And we deserve that for being the most loyal fans in hockey. I think its hard for some to accept that they wont be tanking next season.

He's a (frank)ing mess. It's about time HB ended their association with him, much like they did with Cloutier, Barry and Esplen.
- lumlums

Garth is worse than Cloutier ever thought about being. Bring back Sam Woo!!!

Wow, that's a nice, long, well thought out post. If I tried to write something that long I would have to do it off line, considering this site would freeze and have to be refreshed by the time I got to the third paragraph, losing everything of course.

I agree they won't be intentionally tanking this year, Rogers will be placing a considerable amount of pressure on management to speed things up. Those television ratings were catastrophic this year, so I expect them to go hard for Stamkos, to help firm up that situation.

Hard core fans should be happy though, that ownership, for the first time I can remember, took the pressure off management for a year, and let them start the re build properly.
- The Shrike

It was a very legit concern..

Probably the longest comment ive ever posted.. the one thing that irks me is the lack of integrity some fans have. I understand the frustration, but declaring that the Leafs need to tank again is just sad.. I think starting fresh next year some of the cynics will realise that the Leafs are further ahead in the rebuild than they thought.

It was a very legit concern..

Probably the longest comment ive ever posted.. the one thing that irks me is the lack of integrity some fans have. I understand the frustration, but declaring that the Leafs need to tank again is just sad.. I think starting fresh next year some of the cynics will realise that the Leafs are further ahead in the rebuild than they thought.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

being this bad for this long makes fans crazy. it's normal.

I think you're probably right. I doubt they'll make the playoffs but I'd be very surprised if they finished last again.
- daeth

Goaltending, followed by defense, are the big what-ifs. I think our forward group is promising, certainly enough options (particularly if we sign Vesey and Stamkos) to produce.

Zaitsev on D could make things interesting too. Plus Dermott may be ready to challenge for a spot along with Nielsen, Loov, etc.

Goaltending, followed by defense, are the big what-ifs. I think our forward group is promising, certainly enough options (particularly if we sign Vesey and Stamkos) to produce.

Zaitsev on D could make things interesting too. Plus Dermott may be ready to challenge for a spot along with Nielsen, Loov, etc.
- gravyface

Vesey im not convinced yet, but if he does sign with the Leafs it can only be a good thing. The young defencemen really impressed i thought. Carrick was fun to watch, loov looked solid, Lums was right about Valiev, and Marincin really seemed to get more comfortable as the year went on.

Vesey im not convinced yet, but if he does sign with the Leafs it can only be a good thing. The young defencemen really impressed i thought. Carrick was fun to watch, loov looked solid, Lums was right about Valiev, and Marincin really seemed to get more comfortable as the year went on.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Garth is worse than Cloutier ever thought about being. Bring back Sam Woo!!!
- smellmyfinger

Tanner is heading that direction. I mean really, giving Batman v Superman 10 out of 10 and then saying Man of Steel was better! So MOS gets what then? 12 out of 10????

Jesus-titty-(frank)ing-christ the Tanner logic is bad!

Still half drunk... did we just clinch last?

Still half drunk... did we just clinch last?
- Tee-Dot

Yeah.. but thats not good enough for some.. we need to finish last again next season

Yeah.. but thats not good enough for some.. we need to finish last again next season
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Hear there's no clear-cut no. 1 guy next year tho.

It was a very legit concern..

Probably the longest comment ive ever posted.. the one thing that irks me is the lack of integrity some fans have. I understand the frustration, but declaring that the Leafs need to tank again is just sad.. I think starting fresh next year some of the cynics will realise that the Leafs are further ahead in the rebuild than they thought.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Probably miss the playoffs a minimum 2 more years.

Hear there's no clear-cut no. 1 guy next year tho.
- Tee-Dot

Even more reason to not tank.. If the leafs are lucky enough to get Stamkos and draft Matthews or one of the finns then i dont think they need to draft another top 5 guy.. they can focus on drafting for the position they need.. or whatever they're lacking. Ive already said i want Nolan Patrick, but i have no idea where hes slotted to go.

Probably miss the playoffs a minimum 2 more years.


- Garnie

I wouldn't be so quick to assume that.. its definitly possible and maybe even likely, but i wouldnt say minimum..

We dont know what the lineup next season will look like yet.. but if it includes Stamkos, Marner, Matthews, Zaitsev, and Brown then i think they can challenge for a spot. Especially if they upgrade goaltending.