Not quite the horse than Sundin was, but considering he is only 19, I keep hoping someday grow into that and become the next Sundin for the Leafs.
- Aetherial

Matthews has the skill set to be better than Mats. JMO

Love Gilmour the player, but he did some shady poop off the ice. I'd imagine that the interwebs and social media would have really (frank)ed a lot of the 80's/90's crew.
- AdamFrench

Would make Patrick Kane look like a choir boy.

“This year, it is going to be totally different, meaning expectations are going to be higher.” Leafs center Nazem Kadri said on TSN’s Overdrive on Monday. “We are playing every single game to win, we are not trying to finish in the cellar anymore and I really think that time for us is over.”

Is he implying that the Leafs were trying to lose some games and tried to finish in the cellar last year?
- jmatchett383

yup... that was a slip up for sure... i am sure immediately afterwards Lou texted him a pic of the forms he was going to use to pour Naz's concrete shoes if he said something that stupid again.

I don't even know how to respond to this
- TheMussel

my suggestion is to just nod in approval and put your wallet down, step away slowly, but do not run.

Would make Patrick Kane look like a choir boy.
- RickJames77

Kane's + Buffalo = trouble

my point exactly... those guys are all great players and top line guys. just not McDavid level... or maybe even Eichel, who I want to see this year just to gauge better.
- kaptaan

Eichel is nowhere near McDavid.

The fact that anyone every tried to make the arguement that they were 1/1A is ridiculous.

yup... that was a slip up for sure... i am sure immediately afterwards Lou texted him a pic of the forms he was going to use to pour Naz's concrete shoes if he said something that stupid again.
- Dozzer

I couldn't believe when I read it.

What an idiotic thing to say.

Eichel is nowhere near McDavid.

The fact that anyone every tried to make the arguement that they were 1/1A is ridiculous.
- Aetherial

Yeah but the jorts and the hair make up for any perceived lack of talent right?

like.. a game?
- Cherry--Skoal

like, 4 games.

They will be starting on the same line. So, we will see. Nice that Matthews comes into camp as the 13th forward and will start beside McDavid. He must be doing something right.
- bixll

oh there is no question the kid is absurdly talented... but to heap that kind of expectation on him simply isnt fair.

look at it this way... he would have been eligable for last years draft if he had been born what? a month later?

he wouldnt have been selected ahead of mcdavid.

but he's still a freaking awesome player... no question. mark crawford who coached him in switzerland said he reminded him of sakic... if thats what he turns out to be....

Matthews has the skill set to be better than Mats. JMO
- bixll

I won't complain...

I just think Sundin was one of the most underrated players during his career. I would have loved to have seen what he could do playing with an actual 1st line quality winger, in his prime.

Appreciate the new location
- RickJames77

i like your new location... and the avatar is totally on point. was cheering for the foxes last year when everyone started saying they couldn't keep it going...

Yeah but the jorts and the hair make up for any perceived lack of talent right?
- TheMussel

He's a ginger and he seems to have a Richard attitude also.

my point exactly... those guys are all great players and top line guys. just not McDavid level... or maybe even Eichel, who I want to see this year just to gauge better.
- kaptaan

McDavid is a special talent , no doubt about it. He has another gear that makes NHLers look slow.
But all these people predicting he will win the scoring championship this year are a bit premature in my opinion.
He scored 1 goal on the big ice in the world championships.
He has not been the best player for team NA so far and I don't believe has any points

So for sure he has a top end ceiling higher than everybody else but he is not there yet and is only 19

I won't complain...

I just think Sundin was one of the most underrated players during his career. I would have loved to have seen what he could do playing with an actual 1st line quality winger, in his prime.
- Aetherial

Him and Mogilny did very well even though Mogilny was towards the end of his career but yeah in his prime they would have been electric

“This year, it is going to be totally different, meaning expectations are going to be higher.” Leafs center Nazem Kadri said on TSN’s Overdrive on Monday. “We are playing every single game to win, we are not trying to finish in the cellar anymore and I really think that time for us is over.”

Is he implying that the Leafs were trying to lose some games and tried to finish in the cellar last year?
- jmatchett383

the answer is YES.

really, this is pretty sad. that kind of thinking is hard to overcome, especially when one of your better players bought into it. what happens if they don't get the start they want or go on a losing streak?

are they gonna just say, 'oh well', we'll go for another lottery pick. maybe be like the oilers and get 12 in a row or whatever they are at right now...

i'm surprised babcock, uncle lou, and shanahan in particular didn't see this as a potential problem. shanahan saying they 'earned it the hard way' seems to be a message that was already with players like Kadri.

Him and Mogilny did very well even though Mogilny was towards the end of his career but yeah in his prime they would have been electric
- Rang

Mogilny is my all time fave player.

It would have been awesome to see them on the same team in their prime.

i like your new location... and the avatar is totally on point. was cheering for the foxes last year when everyone started saying they couldn't keep it going...
- kaptaan

First ever club team I watched. First game I saw, they won and I liked the way they played and decided to root for them (2014). Little did I know, they were the worst team in the league

It definitely worked out though. Last year was awesome

Excited for the game today

the answer is YES.

really, this is pretty sad. that kind of thinking is hard to overcome, especially when one of your better players bought into it. what happens if they don't get the start they want or go on a losing streak?

are they gonna just say, 'oh well', we'll go for another lottery pick. maybe be like the oilers and get 12 in a row or whatever they are at right now...

i'm surprised babcock, uncle lou, and shanahan in particular didn't see this as a potential problem. shanahan saying they 'earned it the hard way' seems to be a message that was already with players like Kadri.
- kaptaan

Pure Spatso.

oh there is no question the kid is absurdly talented... but to heap that kind of expectation on him simply isnt fair.

look at it this way... he would have been eligable for last years draft if he had been born what? a month later?

he wouldnt have been selected ahead of mcdavid.

but he's still a freaking awesome player... no question. mark crawford who coached him in switzerland said he reminded him of sakic... if thats what he turns out to be....
- Dozzer

I am heaping nothing on him. He is rising through the ranks all on his own. And, if you don't think he has high expectations of himself... He expects to be one of the best in the league.. Oh, and Marner does as well.

Your whole gig the last little while is pure spatso.

Trying to come off as reasonable and friendly and taking every opportunity to try to help us temper our expectations.
- Aetherial

i said Matthews is could be another Sundin and compare him to the top young Cs in the league and somehow i'm being unreasonable??

didn't someone say Sundin was the best C the leafs have had in decades? and i'm saying he'll be like that guy and you're trying to say i'm negative...

c'mon, let's be reasonable here.

First ever club team I watched. First game I saw, they won and I liked the way they played and decided to root for them (2014). Little did I know, they were the worst team in the league

It definitely worked out though. Last year was awesome

Excited for the game today
- RickJames77

i liked cheering against the big money clubs and rooting for a real underdog... totally unprecedented what they did...

i'm sure there'll be a movie made about that season.

i liked cheering against the big money clubs and rooting for a real underdog... totally unprecedented what they did...

i'm sure there'll be a movie made about that season.
- kaptaan

Already in the works - Apparently more centered around Vardy though.

Already in the works - Apparently more centered around Vardy though.
- RickJames77

i would have hoped it'd be around the manager who really overcame some odds and put together a great club...

Matthews has the skill set to be better than Mats. JMO
- bixll

He's definitely talented. I don't know if he'll ever be "elite" as in the Crosby/Ovechkin-level players, but he sure has All Star caliber talent.