Don't have respect for our fan base? At least we fill the building when the team is losing unlike the bandwagon that is Pittsburgh.

For the most part, your countrymen just aren't the top echelon of players. So it's no wonder that whoever gets the first pick is likely to be an American team picking a Canadian.
- SameOld

And that's why I'm proud of the American players that do end up elite. It sucks to see them scapegoated for no good reason. It's put a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to the Leafs.

Thank Torts for that poope selection, The rest of the teams in the tourney certainly are. Maybe he plans to wear down the other teams.

Thank Torts for that poope selection, The rest of the teams in the tourney certainly are. Maybe he plans to wear down the other teams.
- Thorny87

is Brooksie going to be a part of Team Reporting at the World Cup?

Lead the team......to 4th place.

Maybe point your finger at the asshats that give your team a bad name than us who don't have respect for you fanbase. If it really is the fact that most fans in TO are appreciative of star talent on your team, then get your vocal minority to shut the (frank) up and people like me will stop giving your fan base flack.

And apologies for wanting my countrymen to play for teams within my country. I'm sure if Crosby, Stamkos, and Tavares went up North you'd be stoked to have them back.
- Victoro311

All fan bases whine...get over it, not all of us could be so lucky as to luck out on Crosby/Malkin etc etc etc.



Take a look at your own fan base when things get rough...(frank) you guys lose in the playoffs some years and the thread is on fire with negativity....Leafs fans don't even get to see the playoffs ( don't blame it on the fans )

Faulk should have been a lock.
- madmike71

Boggles my mind that he's good enough for the Olympic squad, but then takes his game to another level and suddenly is worse than Jack Johnson for some reason.

Don't have respect for our fan base? At least we fill the building when the team is losing unlike the bandwagon that is Pittsburgh.

For the most part, your countrymen just aren't the top echelon of players. So it's no wonder that whoever gets the first pick is likely to be an American team picking a Canadian.
- SameOld

Other than the fact that there are 3+ times as many U.S. teams as Canadian ones, right?

And aside from this year, where it's a Canadian team picking an American, you blithering xenophobe.

It's poop like this that embarrasses our country.

probably being snub was not asking me to join the Hot Stove
- DDM-Coga

They didn't have an industrial size stove for your fat ass though

I honestly don't know how you can blame Team Canada for any snubs. They just have so many guys to choose from that you are always going to have guys not making it.

But to have a guy like Kessel not make Team USA seems like a mistake. A case could've been made against him a couple months ago, but the guy is showing that he can still be an elite goal scorer in today's game. Not taking a player that is playing hot seems like a mistake.

I honestly don't know how you can blame Team Canada for any snubs. They just have so many guys to choose from that you are always going to have guys not making it.

But to have a guy like Kessel not make Team USA seems like a mistake. A case could've been made against him a couple months ago, but the guy is showing that he can still be an elite goal scorer in today's game. Not taking a player that is playing hot seems like a mistake.
- Lahey

with the left over Canadian dmen you could put together a d corps that rivals that Canada is sending over. Subban, Letang, Giordano, Brodie, Bouwmeester, Seabrook as a top 6...

Other than the fact that there are 3+ times as many U.S. teams as Canadian ones, right?

And aside from this year, where it's a Canadian team picking an American, you blithering xenophobe.

It's poop like this that embarrasses our country.
- BINGO!

What the hell are you talking about you moron?

In the last 20 years, there have been 13 Canadians picked first overall to 4 Americans.

And yes the vast majority of teams in the league are US based, hence they are statistically much more likely to be picking first overall. And much more likely to be picking a Canadian.

with the left over Canadian dmen you could put together a d corps that rivals that Canada is sending over. Subban, Letang, Giordano, Brodie, Bouwmeester, Seabrook as a top 6...
- DoubleDown

You could almost just do two team canada's and have a draft like the all-star game.

The tourney is already mickey mouse anyway.

People sure have a high opinion of Kessel. Personally, I think it sucks he could win the Conn-Smythe because he plays against the opposition’s 3rd line and puts up points but unfortunately most people only look at the numbers and not the situation. $8mil for a 3rd liner. He should be putting up points.

Just like the Sochi Olympics where Kessel was named the best player because he lead with 8 points. He played on the 2nd line with Pavelski and van Riemsdyk for the first 4 games and then they became the 3rd line against Canada and Finland.
1g2a against Slovakia in 14 min of icetime – who really only had 1 line, if that...
1a against Russia in 17min of icetime
3g against Slovania in 13 min of icetime – I don’t recognize 1 name on their roster.
1g against the Czechs in 14min of icetime
0g0a against Canada
0g0a against Finland

So his scoring came against arguably the worst teams in the tourney and against those teams 2nd lines who had minimal talent to compete against NHL teams and yet he gets player of the tournament. It's a joke.
- jack_oat67

Leafs fans are the worst. People have a high opinion of Kessel because he's one of the best point producers in the league and has been for his entire career.

Leafs fans are the worst. People have a high opinion of Kessel because he's one of the best point producers in the league and has been for his entire career.
- Hunkulese

This point seems kinda... ill thought out.







Maybe a couple more years developing your own opinions will help there champ...?

yandle, shat, faulk

they all deserve to be in the conversation

how they take jack johnson over them is mind blowing
- homiedclown

he needs the money

Leafs fans are the worst. People have a high opinion of Kessel because he's one of the best point producers in the league and has been for his entire career.
- Hunkulese

what did this "horrible Leaf fan" say that was incorrect? oh yeah... I forgot about that he has an opinion different than mine thing.

Maybe point your finger at the asshats that give your team a bad name than us who don't have respect for you fanbase. If it really is the fact that most fans in TO are appreciative of star talent on your team, then get your vocal minority to shut the (frank) up and people like me will stop giving your fan base flack.

And apologies for wanting my countrymen to play for teams within my country. I'm sure if Crosby, Stamkos, and Tavares went up North you'd be stoked to have them back.
- Victoro311

personally - I don't care when someone supposedly thinks less of the Leafs fan base... you are entitled to your opinion... 'cause that is all it is - opinion.

but please be clear - the spew that comes out of Toronto originates from the media in 99% of the cases.. and is - in some instances - is echoed by parts of the fanbase. Remember Phil Kessel and HotDog - Burger gate? The fan base can be emotional at times certainly, but after 30 of 50 years of complete lunacy and bad management - that's understandable. Yes there are always portions of the fanbase that lose their minds... but its not the majority.

Letang for sure

Don't have respect for our fan base? At least we fill the building when the team is losing unlike the bandwagon that is Pittsburgh.

For the most part, your countrymen just aren't the top echelon of players. So it's no wonder that whoever gets the first pick is likely to be an American team picking a Canadian.
- SameOld

I've always found this idiotic statement so funny. Lets compare populations quick. Toronto has 2.615 million vs Pittsburgh at 305 thousand. Now tell me which city would have an easier time finding 19,000 people to sit and watch something they don't like happening and pay to do so. Now lets consider which city is in the country who has this as their top sport. Now stop talking out your butt and go away.

Fat Phil, no thrill Phil. Whatever you wanna call him. I don't see how it isn't a consensus. Look at the playoffs he's having. Kessel is hands down the best player who will not be representing the US. Please understand this is difficult for me to say as I absolutely loathe Phil Kessel. But I'll never knock his hockey skills. Even though he takes the same blocker side shot from the right circle every time he enters the zone with the puck.

I also agree with the many people stating Tyler Johnson should have been picked over a couple of those 'grit' characters.

I mentioned on a different thread that I thought Dallas' Klingberg should have been picked in front of Stralman... Perhaps another grit decision. Stralman is great at blocking shots. But Klingberg is so good at moving the puck and keeping the play alive along the offensive blue line. And he's got vision for days.

And that's why I'm proud of the American players that do end up elite. It sucks to see them scapegoated for no good reason. It's put a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to the Leafs.
- Victoro311

Pat Lafontaine, born in the fine state of MO, is in my top-five all-time favorite hockey players.

Living in Canada my entire life, we have such pride in our hockey. In terms of sports, it's really the only major thing we have. I think sometimes we don't focus on or even notice what other countries have done for the sport. Particularly our neighbors to the South. I think it's a really good thing A. Matthews is expected to go first this draft. And then back to back Fins.

In Canada we currently have a 'Hockey is for everyone' campaign in the media. This great sport is for people of all nationalities, genders, sexualities, etc.

I'm getting extremely bored of Canadians and Americans arguing on these threads.

Hope everyone enjoys the finals. San Jose in six.

It's a meaningless showcase kind of like an Allstar game and the USA decided it wants to try and win 2-1. Disappointing if you ask me. I'll be routing for the young guns personally