I know.
But hes on the team for sure.
He should be with the top 2 and not with that group.
- Fakepartofme

no idea..i have seen about 3 mins of highlights from him

You could just say yeah, you don't have to be a douchenozzle, y'know

It surprises me that Poopyjartits didn't make the team, and I wasn't sure if you were trolling.

It's 3:25pm and today's been a female genitalia. Don't you be one too.

Please
- WingmanWillie

Welcome to Hockeybuzz!

I am just not on the everyone is trash wagon, It just seems like a common theme with leaf fans.. Rielly can do no wrong...(when he has plenty of defensive issues himself) .. and any mistake another player makes defines him as a player from that point on.

i dont agree the D is horribly weak.
- senstroll

DUDE!!!
Come on now...

Calling the Leafs D horrible is actually a compliment...it's that bad!
Our defense is a make shift of other teams castoffs and low end prospects (for the most part).....
I think management will change that.....we look great up front now and will focus on backend.

As I said yesterday, I believe that Zaitsev will be paired with Rielly, and I say that while fully admitting that I know absolutely jack-poop about Zaitsev.

Hunwick was OK last year, considering what he was asked to do.

But we should never, ever ask him to do it again, unless we are going for Tank II.
- Atomic Wedgie

We shouldn't, you're right

Babcock will, though.

"Well, y'know Hunny's one of those guys who is a real pro. He comes in, does it right every day, and is just a real good man. Good pro"

Franking CRA.

Mr. and Mrs. Wedgie expecting a huge tax return this year. We file early.

CRA comes back and says we need to prove our kids actually did sports activities - so we can get $50 bucks back each from them.

OK, fine, no problem. Not quite sure why this would raise alarm bells with you - we've filed this tax credit every franking year you've had them. But fine, I fax them in.

And we wait. No answer from them.

Mrs. Wedgie phones them today - it's going to take an additional 8 weeks to process our return.

Keep in mind they've already processed it in full - all they needed was verification of a couple of child health credits - which amounts to $100 more on our return.

So why the frank would it take an additional 8 weeks when all they have to do is stamp "Approved" on our already-processed form?

According to the CRA, they do not use a system that ranks the priority or simplicity of tasks. Whenever anything happens, it goes to the back of the line.

You think I'm a sarcastic beeeyotch? You should meet Mrs. Wedgie when poop like this happens. I can't wait to hear how she is dealing with the supervisor that will eventually (or not) call her back.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yup got the same thing and wanted to know if our kids were our kids as my wife kept her maiden name and I let her claim that stuff.

Who are the top prospects for 2017? I say we tank again.
- Matthews_Auston

Nolan Patrick

DUDE!!!
Come on now...

Calling the Leafs D horrible is actually a compliment...it's that bad!
Our defense is a make shift of other teams castoffs and low end prospects (for the most part).....
I think management will change that.....we look great up front now and will focus on backend.
- Cooshie

oh

I am just not on the everyone is trash wagon, It just seems like a common theme with leaf fans.. Rielly can do no wrong...(when he has plenty of defensive issues himself) .. and any mistake another player makes defines him as a player from that point on.

i dont agree the D is horribly weak.
- senstroll

The entire team was horribly franking weak last year.

We finished 30th.

We needed improvements in every single franking aspect of this team.

Forwards.

Defence.

Goalies.

Since they cleaned out their lockers, there has been much for which we can all have guarded optimism. Matthews is coming here - and will have an impact from opening night. Marner will probably play with the Leafs next year, and although there will be a learning curve, he looks great right now in the O. Willy will get a full year. Brown may make the team. Soshnikov and Hyman looked good last year, but we should all be ready for a sophomore slump.

The defence? We've added Zaietsev - a guy who no small rink experience. Hope for the best, but expect the worst.

Other than that, we've done absolutely nothing to improve one of the worst defensive corps in the league last year. that's not me being Negative Wedgie - that's based on our last place finish.

So yeah, I'm still pessimistic about our defence.

The team is headed in the right direction, but we still have a helluva lot of work to do.

And don't even ask me about our franking goalie situation.

oh
- senstroll

eh

The entire team was horribly franking weak last year.

We finished 30th.

We needed improvements in every single franking aspect of this team.

Forwards.

Defence.

Goalies.

Since they cleaned out their lockers, there has been much for which we can all have guarded optimism. Matthews is coming here - and will have an impact from opening night. Marner will probably play with the Leafs next year, and although there will be a learning curve, he looks great right now in the O. Willy will get a full year. Brown may make the team. Soshnikov and Hyman looked good last year, but we should all be ready for a sophomore slump.

The defence? We've added Zaietsev - a guy who no small rink experience. Hope for the best, but expect the worst.

Other than that, we've done absolutely nothing to improve one of the worst defensive corps in the league last year. that's not me being Negative Wedgie - that's based on our last place finish.

So yeah, I'm still pessimistic about our defence.

The team is headed in the right direction, but we still have a helluva lot of work to do.

And don't even ask me about our franking goalie situation.
- Atomic Wedgie

Feel like I've been standing on a soapbox, the lone voice in the wilderness, calling out that this is a super high priority. Probably the second highest after getting another top 4 Dman, or maybe even higher

The entire team was horribly franking weak last year.

We finished 30th.

We needed improvements in every single franking aspect of this team.

Forwards.

Defence.

Goalies.

Since they cleaned out their lockers, there has been much for which we can all have guarded optimism. Matthews is coming here - and will have an impact from opening night. Marner will probably play with the Leafs next year, and although there will be a learning curve, he looks great right now in the O. Willy will get a full year. Brown may make the team. Soshnikov and Hyman looked good last year, but we should all be ready for a sophomore slump.

The defence? We've added Zaietsev - a guy who no small rink experience. Hope for the best, but expect the worst.

Other than that, we've done absolutely nothing to improve one of the worst defensive corps in the league last year. that's not me being Negative Wedgie - that's based on our last place finish.

So yeah, I'm still pessimistic about our defence.

The team is headed in the right direction, but we still have a helluva lot of work to do.

And don't even ask me about our franking goalie situation.
- Atomic Wedgie

There is no real optimistic viewpoint when it comes to our defense. The only optimism is in our management to improve it.
Rielly is the one guy that looks like he is going to be really good for us.
The rest are pieces that I would be fine without or improving on.

Feel like I've been standing on a soapbox, the lone voice in the wilderness, calling out that this is a super high priority. Probably the second highest after getting another top 4 Dman, or maybe even higher
- WingmanWillie

When has Lou ever gone without a good goalie....
Pretty sure that's going to be his number 1 priority now.

The entire team was horribly franking weak last year.

We finished 30th.

We needed improvements in every single franking aspect of this team.

Forwards.

Defence.

Goalies.

Since they cleaned out their lockers, there has been much for which we can all have guarded optimism. Matthews is coming here - and will have an impact from opening night. Marner will probably play with the Leafs next year, and although there will be a learning curve, he looks great right now in the O. Willy will get a full year. Brown may make the team. Soshnikov and Hyman looked good last year, but we should all be ready for a sophomore slump.

The defence? We've added Zaietsev - a guy who no small rink experience. Hope for the best, but expect the worst.

Other than that, we've done absolutely nothing to improve one of the worst defensive corps in the league last year. that's not me being Negative Wedgie - that's based on our last place finish.

So yeah, I'm still pessimistic about our defence.

The team is headed in the right direction, but we still have a helluva lot of work to do.

And don't even ask me about our franking goalie situation.
- Atomic Wedgie

the leafs had Polak and Phanuef for 50+ games last season... its debatable if they helped or hurt the team defensivley... probably a wash overall

its not as cut and dry as you lay it out. there are many factors that went into the Leafs season and them finishing 30th... A horrid start by Bernier, an very avg offence, a large chunk of bad luck... Management bailed on the season once they were out... many moves were made to help finish 30th...when the rookies were brought up and some wins happened, that was shut down.

There is no real optimistic viewpoint when it comes to our defense. The only optimism is in our management to improve it.
Rielly is the one guy that looks like he is going to be really good for us.
The rest are pieces that I would be fine without or improving on.
- Cooshie

I'm still terrified to give up on Gardiner.

Although every time I actually watch him play, I realize more and more that he has no hockey sense whatsoever.

I've said it before, and I'm going to say it again:

The guy grew up with such superior skating skills to anyone he played against, he never had to learn to play smart hockey.

Sadly, that doesn't cut it anymore at the NHL level.

the leafs had Polak and Phanuef for 50+ games last season... its debatable if they helped or hurt the team defensivley... probably a wash overall

its not as cut and dry as you lay it out. there are many factors that went into the Leafs season and them finishing 30th... A horrid start by Bernier, an very avg offence, a large chunk of bad luck... Management bailed on the season once they were out... many moves were made to help finish 30th...when the rookies were brought up and some wins happened, that was shut down.
- senstroll

Understatement.

Didn't the Leafs lose the most 1-goal games by a substantial margin?

Lots of times they couldn't bury the puck. Offense was a huge issue last year. I don't see it happening again. JVR back and healthy, an influx of talent that will all need to be checked.

Replacing Grabner, Spaling and Boyes with Matthews, Nylander and Marner

Just let that sink in, from an offense standpoint.

the leafs had Polak and Phanuef for 50+ games last season... its debatable if they helped or hurt the team defensivley... probably a wash overall

its not as cut and dry as you lay it out. there are many factors that went into the Leafs season and them finishing 30th... A horrid start by Bernier, an very avg offence, a large chunk of bad luck... Management bailed on the season once they were out... many moves were made to help finish 30th...when the rookies were brought up and some wins happened, that was shut down.
- senstroll

Definitely true, many blame defense when goals are scored not recognizing how poorly the wingers or centers played in their own zone....
I would say that our forwards were also a big contributing factor to that 30th place finish.
Still, our defense is horrid and needs a lot of work. Just like our forwards did!

I'm still terrified to give up on Gardiner.

Although every time I actually watch him play, I realize more and more that he has no hockey sense whatsoever.

I've said it before, and I'm going to say it again:

The guy grew up with such superior skating skills to anyone he played against, he never had to learn to play smart hockey.

Sadly, that doesn't cut it anymore at the NHL level.
- Atomic Wedgie

I like to think (read: hope) Babcock can coach the "duh" out of him.

Understatement.

Didn't the Leafs lose the most 1-goal games by a substantial margin?

Lots of times they couldn't bury the puck. Offense was a huge issue last year. I don't see it happening again. JVR back and healthy, an unflux of talent that will all need to be checked.

Replacing Grabner, Spaling and Boyes with Matthews, Nylander and Marner

Just let that sink in, from an offense standpoint.
- WingmanWillie

Still loving Matthews. All you negative nancies just can't enjoy the moment can you. Let Lou do his job this summer, and chances are we'll be surprised at what our team looks like next year.

the leafs had Polak and Phanuef for 50+ games last season... its debatable if they helped or hurt the team defensivley... probably a wash overall

its not as cut and dry as you lay it out. there are many factors that went into the Leafs season and them finishing 30th... A horrid start by Bernier, an very avg offence, a large chunk of bad luck... Management bailed on the season once they were out... many moves were made to help finish 30th...when the rookies were brought up and some wins happened, that was shut down.
- senstroll

Oh FFS, if you really think that the team was better off from a skills point of view without Polak and Phaneuf, there's not much point in us carrying on this conversation.

Understatement.

Didn't the Leafs lose the most 1-goal games by a substantial margin?

Lots of times they couldn't bury the puck. Offense was a huge issue last year. I don't see it happening again. JVR back and healthy, an unflux of talent that will all need to be checked.

Replacing Grabner, Spaling and Boyes with Matthews, Nylander and Marner

Just let that sink in, from an offense standpoint.
- WingmanWillie

right... its not simply saying the leafs finished 30th...they only added Zaitsev

they played 65% of the season with Dion and Polak in the top 4...they are gone

Understatement.

Didn't the Leafs lose the most 1-goal games by a substantial margin?

Lots of times they couldn't bury the puck. Offense was a huge issue last year. I don't see it happening again. JVR back and healthy, an influx of talent that will all need to be checked.

Replacing Grabner, Spaling and Boyes with Matthews, Nylander and Marner

Just let that sink in, from an offense standpoint.
- WingmanWillie

So was defence.

So was goaltending.

They were 25th in the league in goals against last year.

So please do not suggest that they were good on the other side of the puck.

They sucked in every aspect of the game.

They finished last for a reason.

Many reasons, actually.

I'm still terrified to give up on Gardiner.

Although every time I actually watch him play, I realize more and more that he has no hockey sense whatsoever.

I've said it before, and I'm going to say it again:

The guy grew up with such superior skating skills to anyone he played against, he never had to learn to play smart hockey.

Sadly, that doesn't cut it anymore at the NHL level.
- Atomic Wedgie

Gardiner is a guy that I don't mind having around to see how he progresses. Just not someone I put a * beside his name as a definite part of the future. Only one guy on this team that I can say that about - which is sad and says a lot about our defense. I mean, even in our prospects are questionable, no one that is a true bluechip down there.
But for certain, on the pro team, it's not good!

Oh FFS, if you really think that the team was better off from a skills point of view without Polak and Phaneuf, there's not much point in us carrying on this conversation.
- Atomic Wedgie

Were the leafs better off or worse with the players who took up Dions and Polaks minutes... imo thats a wash...but i dont have a high regard for Dions skills anymore...and Polak meh..

Yup got the same thing and wanted to know if our kids were our kids as my wife kept her maiden name and I let her claim that stuff.
- zazzle

Hunwick is a good pro who belongs in the number 6 spot on a contending team. I think that's where he was on the Rangers.

I agree with the Wedgiemeister, we need d-men and it's going to cost us some forward prospects that everyone wants to keep.

Think Connor Brown, Josh Leivo, Soshnikov etc. The second tier.

Gotta give to get

Were the leafs better off or worse with the players who took up Dions and Polaks minutes... imo thats a wash...but i dont have a high regard for Dions skills anymore...and Polak meh..
- senstroll

Dion was our best defensive defenseman and Polak was second best.

Lou traded them to make sure we finished last. Mission accomplished.