Can't figure what other sports team that was playing in Canada at the time they should be rushing to focus on. Any suggestions? The pickering vultures? The moncton grassgreens? Or did you mean all the other canadian teams and cities that had teams in the nhl nba playoffs and mlb regarding season.
- systemtool

Edmonton Cracker Cats, Alliston Hornets

Those options might not materialize until later in the year, and i'm pretty sure the Leafs won't even sniff the playoffs with Bernier if that happens.
Might have to overpay now.
- the_eye

Andersen is an RFA. Might be cheaper given he isn't under contract. If not, ya maybe not till later in year. Some teams (like TBY) probably want both goalies just in case something happens during the year.

Might even have to wait till next off season really. As teams will scramble right before the expansion draft

Andersen is an RFA. Might be cheaper given he isn't under contract. If not, ya maybe not till later in year. Some teams (like TBY) probably want both goalies just in case something happens during the year.

Might even have to wait till next off season really. As teams will scramble right before the expansion draft
- storm88

And that would suck, going another full year with Bernier.

Edmonton Cracker Cats, Alliston Hornets
- Zezel

The Cracker cats are shaping up for a big season. Some positive moves in their midcourt

Love Leaf summer talk. Just a wonderful mix of magical thinking sprinkled with fairy dust and triumphal celebration. But, this year we know for certain is different. We have Burke who put together a Stanley Cup winner in Anaheim and Kessel is a world class talent. Giving up two firsts for Kessel is a bargain. Picks don't need to be lottery protected because we are going to be a Cup contender.

Leafs have a better prospect pool than anybody. Who wants McDavid when you can have Matthews. The Winnipeg group is overrated and nobody needs so much balance between highly rated forward and defence prospects. And, we won't talk about Phoenix because...well they are Phoenix.

We are so glad we are going to the playoffs and the Stanley Cup parade will be better than Pittsburgh that gave far too much credit to dough boy. He could skate and score but just not a winner.

I am sure the Leafs will not get knocked out of the playoffs before Christmas again this year.
- spatso

I used to feel bad the way leaf posters picked on you but after reading this two faced drivel you deserve everything you get and more !!! you little man are destined for great failure..

I used to feel bad the way leaf posters picked on you but after reading this two faced drivel you deserve everything you get and more !!! you little man are destined for great failure..
- targaryn

Suppose reality can sometimes have a sharp bite!

Suppose reality can sometimes have a sharp bite!
- spatso

your reality... or rather your opinion..

It looks very promising but you might want to take a step back and wait to see what pans out and how they actually play as a team.....least you forget the eerily similar statements you've been making about the Oil for the past 3 years.
- nikel

I could do that, but theres enough writers out there giving you measured responses. I am not concerned with potentially being wrong or looking stupid . I find it fun to get excited and enthusiastic. Plus, I keep it somewhat objectivish so who cares?

Ima wait till I see them play a chunk in the nhl before any "best in the nhl" proclamations

That said, I did the same with eichel and the guy is so so good.
He got dismissed quickly cause it was clear that mcdavid was freak show good. But for reals, eichel ain't that far behind. He's abit more robust than Connor with a shot that's certainly better imo.

Maybe Matthews will be better than eichel, but that takes a lot to assume as eichel is going to be a superstar
- HB77

Interesting...maybe I wasn't so far off. Regardless, these young guys need to play a few years before they can be better assessed.

Those options might not materialize until later in the year, and i'm pretty sure the Leafs won't even sniff the playoffs with Bernier if that happens.
Might have to overpay now.
- the_eye

Bernier would be fine. He went through a massive unlucky stretch where he had a preposterous low danger save % and was otherwise fine. He's talented and been stuck behind a bad Leafs team.

The Cracker cats are shaping up for a big season. Some positive moves in their midcourt
- HB77

That name used to crack me up when I saw it in Edmonton. I just googled it and notice they changed to Capitals, but they're inactive. I love those semi-pro sports teams.

It doesn't matter where those 3 are the best players 2 years on the Leafs in that poison environment with that fan base and that awful media group and all 3 of them will wish they never learned to skate. If the Leafs cared about their players at all they should restrict their media availability to almost zero and never let those kids read anything. Maybe then they might have a chance of not burning out.

It doesn't matter where those 3 are the best players 2 years on the Leafs in that poison environment with that fan base and that awful media group and all 3 of them will wish they never learned to skate. If the Leafs cared about their players at all they should restrict their media availability to almost zero and never let those kids read anything. Maybe then they might have a chance of not burning out.
- Dcoms

Yeah the Leafs ruined Kessel. Poor guy.

It doesn't matter where those 3 are the best players 2 years on the Leafs in that poison environment with that fan base and that awful media group and all 3 of them will wish they never learned to skate. If the Leafs cared about their players at all they should restrict their media availability to almost zero and never let those kids read anything. Maybe then they might have a chance of not burning out.
- Dcoms

Or, to put it another way, they'll kick ass.

Now that Quebec City has banned pitbulls and are giving owners 6 months to put theirs down before they get fined into bankruptcy and are planning on banning more breads in the coming years Quebec City doesn't deserve a hockey team or anything else that might make the heartless bastards running the city any money. F Quebec City!!!!!!

Or, to put it another way, they'll kick ass.
- Zezel

Yeah the Leafs are synonymous with "kicking ass."

Bernier would be fine. He went through a massive unlucky stretch where he had a preposterous low danger save % and was otherwise fine. He's talented and been stuck behind a bad Leafs team.
- James_Tanner

I'm not so sure, he lets in extremely bad goals that aren't any fault of the team in front of him.
Kind of deflates the Leafs every time he does it.

Yeah the Leafs are synonymous with "kicking ass."
- Dcoms

What's past is prologue.

Yeah the Leafs ruined Kessel. Poor guy.
- daeth

And Steen and Stralman

I could do that, but theres enough writers out there giving you measured responses. I am not concerned with potentially being wrong or looking stupid . I find it fun to get excited and enthusiastic. Plus, I keep it somewhat objectivish so who cares?
- James_Tanner

Fair enough

I can buy that

Dave Feschuk ‏@dfeschuk 19m19 minutes ago
Breaking: Ron MacLean to replace Strombo as Hockey Night in Canada host, sources tell Star. http://on.thestar.com/1V9bWbX

Other than Pittsburgh when they drafted Crosby, although they also drafted Malkin the year before, I can't think of a team that turned things around quickly, as in two to three years quickly.

Hell even the Oilers when Gretzky came into the NHL only had 28 and 29 wins his first two years, and that was with five Hall of Famers on the team.
- LeftCoaster

The Blackhawks drafted Toews in 07, Kane in 08, they both made their debuts in 08. They had made the playoffs once in 13 years and won the cup in 10

The Blackhawks drafted Toews in 07, Kane in 08, they both made their debuts in 08. They had made the playoffs once in 13 years and won the cup in 10
- SaadBeast

Yep, Tampa hit bottom and bounced back reasonably fast too.

Not really. I'd say that no matter who was drafting him. He's legit - huge, can skate, has crazy vision, the defense of Kopitar but better offense. Yeah, I think that'll do.

Consider that I've also written many times that I think Kopitar might be the best all-round player in hockey, you have to think I'm going to be loco for a guy who plays like him but has better scoring and is going to my favorite team.

I can't think of a better thing than winning the lottery and drafting Mattews that has ever happened to the Leafs in the 30 years I've been a fan.
- James_Tanner

1. Gretzkys high stick on Gilmour
2. Boston comeback in game 7
3. Pick a trade.... Rask, Niedermayer, acquiring Kessel

Using Kanye and Pitbull as a comparison of quality is like using a Prius and a literal bicycle as a comparison of speed. Big difference between the two examples, but neither side gets close to good.