Click bait got you again
- Garnie

Damn it!!!

Exactly the kind of argument I was talking about before. The kind of comment that besmirches the otherwise stellar reputation of the comments section. You know damn well what I mean.

Karlsson is an excellent player, probably the best in the NHL at his position and has a massive impact on the game.

But hockey is a team sport. Outside of the goalie, a single player doesn't play more than one third of the game, and so a team can (and does) suck at defense even though one of their six defenseman is the best in the league.
- James_Tanner

He is real good...but I think they play him too much as he avg's almost 1/2 the game most nights...and it shows up in his play sometimes.

Yep. It's not just you. It's been bad lately.
- prock

I can't find any stats that are just from this year.

I can't find any stats that are just from this year.
- Garnie

C'mon James...this ^ was a cry for help!!!!

At the moment, yes, I'd have to agree the immediate future looks brighter for the Leafs. However, that can change in the blink of an eye with a couple good drafts for the Nucks.
- LeftCoaster

No, it can't

Exactly the kind of argument I was talking about before. The kind of comment that besmirches the otherwise stellar reputation of the comments section. You know damn well what I mean.

Karlsson is an excellent player, probably the best in the NHL at his position and has a massive impact on the game.

But hockey is a team sport. Outside of the goalie, a single player doesn't play more than one third of the game, and so a team can (and does) suck at defense even though one of their six defenseman is the best in the league.
- James_Tanner

You're just making excuses here. If Karlsson on his own merit can make a big impact on the game offensively, which he obviously does, and is given credit for that as an individual, like you have many times. Then his defensive game has to be looked at in the same manner. His shortcomings are just that. His questionable defensive play, is why Karlsson is not the best defenseman in the NHL

Come on. Is that what it said? Process > Results.
- James_Tanner

The Oilers have been saying this for years... And the Leafs although there is some promise there are still the Leafs...

Actually what happens is that you over value the importance of one mistake, and ignore thousands of subtle things that happen over the course of the night.

There are over ten thousand events to track in any given hockey game. When you watch a game, you remember significant plays only.

The odd mistake by Gardiner (and watch any player for significant time and you'll notice they all make bad plays because its the NHL and if you didn't you'd be Bobby Orr) doesn't detract from the fact that he shuts down whoever he plays with and is one the highest impact defensive players in the NHL.

If you read all the six major Leafs blogs, I believe 5 of them have the editorial stance that Gardiner is the Leafs best Dman.
- James_Tanner

Sure, if you count every player's every heartbeat. I get there are a ton of things going on, but what do you quantify as an "event"?

James, anything you say, I bank on the opposite. So I can't wait to see Richardson score a goal tonight. That line should have a great game. As always. Chychrun Didn't play last game, Probably because of that nasty fall vs Philly. which I'm sure you missed. Oddly, you write a blog for the team. How are the Blue jays doing?

James, anything you say, I bank on the opposite. So I can't wait to see Richardson score a goal tonight. That line should have a great game. As always. Chychrun Didn't play last game, Probably because of that nasty fall vs Philly. which I'm sure you missed. Oddly, you write a blog for the team. How are the Blue jays doing?
- Gomey

You were saying something last blog about how you don't post negative comments. There's like 5, depending on how you want to count, in this post alone.

Came for the Sens having 11k fans in the stands. Left disappointed, come on Tanner, that was primed for a rant.

How did that blue jay prediction work out for ya?
- Yikes726

Here is hoping you are a Cubs fan. They are primed for another gut punch.

You were saying something last blog about how you don't post negative comments. There's like 5, depending on how you want to count, in this post alone.
- Wetbandit1

Yeah, I insulted his favorite player and he's being a huge baby about it.

You were saying something last blog about how you don't post negative comments. There's like 5, depending on how you want to count, in this post alone.
- Wetbandit1

Yeah, I insulted his favorite player and he's being a huge baby about it.

You were saying something last blog about how you don't post negative comments. There's like 5, depending on how you want to count, in this post alone.
- Wetbandit1

Yes what a vile, hate filled comment I wrote. I been reading his blogs for years. As a Yotes fan and a supporter of this site. I'm gonna call out him for his lack of hockey IQ. About the team he writes about. I know they are a bad team, but look at how he starts every Yotes blog. This was the most boring game of all times. 90 mins of his life he will never get back. Whats the point of mentioning them at all? Sorry but I'm gonna call him out on HIS negativity.

Yes what a vile, hate filled comment I wrote. I been reading his blogs for years. As a Yotes fan and a supporter of this site. I'm gonna call out him for his lack of hockey IQ. About the team he writes about. I know they are a bad team, but look at how he starts every Yotes blog. This was the most boring game of all times. 90 mins of his life he will never get back. Whats the point of mentioning them at all? Sorry but I'm gonna call him out on HIS negativity.
- Gomey

Where did I say vile? I just simply pointed out that you said that you weren't being negative and then went and posted a totally negative comment.

Where did I say vile? I just simply pointed out that you said that you weren't being negative and then went and posted a totally negative comment.
- Wetbandit1

I'm sorry if his feelings were hurt by disagreeing with him. I'll try to be nicer.

Actually what happens is that you over value the importance of one mistake, and ignore thousands of subtle things that happen over the course of the night.

There are over ten thousand events to track in any given hockey game. When you watch a game, you remember significant plays only.

The odd mistake by Gardiner (and watch any player for significant time and you'll notice they all make bad plays because its the NHL and if you didn't you'd be Bobby Orr) doesn't detract from the fact that he shuts down whoever he plays with and is one the highest impact defensive players in the NHL.

If you read all the six major Leafs blogs, I believe 5 of them have the editorial stance that Gardiner is the Leafs best Dman.
- James_Tanner

If it was 1 mistake a game, I might agree. Gardiner makes more then 1 a game and constantly looses puck battles. He has now been reduced to bottom pair minutes, doesn't kill penalties, and is not on the ice in important defensive situations. He is an offensive force, but that's only part of the game for a dman. Believe your stats and derive any conclusions you want. If advanced stats were all you needed, anyone with an understanding of numbers could run a hockey team.

If it was 1 mistake a game, I might agree. Gardiner makes more then 1 a game and constantly looses puck battles. He has now been reduced to bottom pair minutes, doesn't kill penalties, and is not on the ice in important defensive situations. He is an offensive force, but that's only part of the game for a dman. Believe your stats and derive any conclusions you want. If advanced stats were all you needed, anyone with an understanding of numbers could run a hockey team.
- hagar58

It's interesting. I'd like to hear Tanner's response as to why an elite #1 NHL defenseman is 5th on the team in ES minutes. A full 5 minutes less than Zaitsev plays, and 4 and change less than Rielly plays. He only averages 15 seconds a game on the PK. Why doesn't an elite defender play more at ES, and basically not at all on the PK. Mike Babcock must not understand analytics and HERO charts.

At the moment, yes, I'd have to agree the immediate future looks brighter for the Leafs. However, that can change in the blink of an eye with a couple good drafts for the Nucks.
- LeftCoaster

It's funny how now that the Canucks are in worse shape than the Leafs were in 4 or 5 years back, it's suddenly "one good draft".

I can guarantee you, you're not getting anywhere near the talent the Canucks need to set them up for the future in one draft.

They basically need an entire core of players to build from again. Did the Hawks get Keith, Kane and toews in one draft? Let ang, malkin, fleury, and Crosby came in one draft? How about Kopitar, Doughty, quick? Plus Richards and Carter.

If the Canucks do it right, they've got a long road ahead of them. Once they dump the sedins, Miller, etc, they have a 5 year road minimum ahead of them.

But they won't, so you're looking at closers to a decade until the Canucks have a true contender again. At least.

It's interesting. I'd like to hear Tanner's response as to why an elite #1 NHL defenseman is 5th on the team in ES minutes. A full 5 minutes less than Zaitsev plays, and 4 and change less than Rielly plays. He only averages 15 seconds a game on the PK. Why doesn't an elite defender play more at ES, and basically not at all on the PK. Mike Babcock must not understand analytics and HERO charts.
- MJL

I'd say it's because the Leafs are forcefeeding Rielly #1 minutes and they have two rookie d they are throwing right into the fire. Perhaps they know what they have in Gardiner and are experimenting with other players?

It's the only thing that makes sense because Gardiner is their best D and that's a unanimous opinion among informed Leafs fans.

Came for the Sens having 11k fans in the stands. Left disappointed, come on Tanner, that was primed for a rant.
- FLflames34

As a Sens fan, I will give you a quick breakdown about the 11K fans.

There is no market in the NHL like Ottawa. People try to compare Ottawa to Winnipeg or other small markets but it just doesn't work.

Here's the deal. There are lots of rabid Sens fans in this city. There are also lots of rabid hockey fans in this city. Ottawa truly is 'hockey country'. There is no doubt about that.

The problem? All the rabid Sens fans are under 40. All the fans that live and breathe Sens hockey are young. There are very few 50 yr old diehards.

IF they are over 40 and are diehard hockey fans, they are fans of other teams. These are people who already had a favourite team when the Sens came to town and because they are such diehard fans, they didn't switch teams. There are fans of almost every single team in the NHL in Ottawa, with the vast majority of non-Sens fans being Leafs and Habs fans obviously.

So what are the Sens left with of the over 40 crowd?

Fair-weather fans. People who complain about traffic. People who complain about the building. People who won't go when it snows. People who won't go on a Tuesday when the Jays are playing, against Arizona. Just like fair-weather golfers, the vast majority of fans (over 40) in Ottawa will find any excuse they can not to go to the game.

It's very hard to have a fanbase that are all young and can't afford to go to as many games as they would like.

From 2000-2008, people came and the building was sold out, because Ottawa had an elite team. Hockey fans, not just Sens fans, wanted to go to the games cause the team was damn exciting. The fair-weather fans wanted to go all the time, cause the product was great, and like a sunny 25C day, they want to hit the course.

Now that there have been some lean years, those fair-weather fans, as well as hockey fans who are fans of other teams, aren't going as much. For 5 or so years after they started struggling, Melnyk was giving away freebees and 2 for 1s to keep the appearance that there was still great support. It was a sham. He stopped doing it three years ago and we can see the results in the stands.

To top it off, Ottawa is a gov't town. The #1 employer in Ottawa is the Federal gov't. They can't buy tickets. The corporate base is not as big as ANY other city in the NHL. That means less corporate tickets and suites bought. That means way less promotional season's tickets.

Anyone who says there aren't hockey fans in Ottawa is an idiot. Anyone who says there aren't diehard Sens fans in Ottawa is an idiot. The problem is the diehards are too young to spend that much money on their team and the hockey fans that are old enough to shell out the dough, are either fans of other teams or not really Sens fans at all (fair-weather).

I'd say it's because the Leafs are forcefeeding Rielly #1 minutes and they have two rookie d they are throwing right into the fire. Perhaps they know what they have in Gardiner and are experimenting with other players?

It's the only thing that makes sense because Gardiner is their best D and that's a unanimous opinion among informed Leafs fans.
- James_Tanner

That's what you've got James? Seriously? What team experiments by not playing their stud #1 elite defenseman top minutes? Go back to the drawing board.

Nice logical fallacy there at the end.

I'd say it's because the Leafs are forcefeeding Rielly #1 minutes and they have two rookie d they are throwing right into the fire. Perhaps they know what they have in Gardiner and are experimenting with other players?

It's the only thing that makes sense because Gardiner is their best D and that's a unanimous opinion among informed Leafs fans.
- James_Tanner

Oh my.

I'd say it's because the Leafs are forcefeeding Rielly #1 minutes and they have two rookie d they are throwing right into the fire. Perhaps they know what they have in Gardiner and are experimenting with other players?

It's the only thing that makes sense because Gardiner is their best D and that's a unanimous opinion among informed Leafs fans.
- James_Tanner

Oh brother...the Leafs are in for lots of pain if that's the case. Thank the lord the uninformed coach/gm are running the team.