You bump your head?
- Aetherial

Thought it was self explanatory, he's a habs fan, he's got a low IQ.

I'm not saying he's as dumb as a door knob but....he is really.

Can't believe we acquired Mike Reilly
- AdamFrench

I still can't believe its not butter, and some other dude still can't believe we traded Clarkson. Well fellas its time to wake up and believe!

Also for anyone who walks by the Northwest corner of Yonge and Dundas there is a gentlemen who yells "BELIEVE" about every 15 min.

We have different opinions. You are entitled to have yours too.

Not a Kessel fan.

Kessel not near as lazy playing for the Pens was he??
- bixll

The funny part is, I am a Kessel fan and wasn't part of the witch-hunt.

I recognize that he had to go though. He was not a good fit for where the team was or what they were trying to do.

He was a PERFECT fit for Pittsburgh.

Maybe I am wrong but Andersen is here b/c of the Kessel trade
and to some extent the new young star talent.
- BKups

Yeah that deal looks a lot better now eh?

Kasperi Kappanen, Frederik Andersen and Kerby Rychel for Phil.

You bump your head?
- Aetherial

Thought it was self explanatory, he's a habs fan, he's got a low IQ.

I'm not saying he's as dumb as a door knob but....he is really.
- mykokes

He wasn't serious

But he is a Habs fan.

- bixll

Those fish are pretty big... or the boat is pretty small

The funny part is, I am a Kessel fan and wasn't part of the witch-hunt.

I recognize that he had to go though. He was not a good fit for where the team was or what they were trying to do.

He was a PERFECT fit for Pittsburgh.
- Aetherial

Better fit there, Yes.

- bixll

LOL, Bix, I am the last guy here that would be taken in by that troll.

It was the only think I could type in place of just entering a bunch of

LOL, Bix, I am the last guy here that would be taken in by that troll.

It was the only think I could type in place of just entering a bunch of
- Aetherial

Sosh is not a top line guy but he is a good energy guy and grinder who has good hands and can score....if not on the 4th line. Also, I would think he would be better at shutting down top lines over Nylander.

Nylander, Bozak and Marner could make up for lost Gs if JVR got traded....besides Nylander's offense is being wasted on the Kadri line and his D is good enough yet for that role.

Zaitsev on the 3rd pairing is the kind of quality we need on the 3rd because that would mean our top 4 is that much better. Zaits paired with Rielly makes that a great 2nd pairing. Rielly needs someone a little better than Zaits to be a top pairing D...IMO.
- underhill14

Oh I like Sosh and what he brings.
But with Zaits on the 3rd line...we would have less quality on the top two lines.....
I think Zaits needs to be top 4 for sure.

What about:

Reilly #2D (Mystery JVR + deal)
Gards - Zait
Carrick - Orlov...maybe?
- BKups

Yep. I like that. (I just wanted one hitter on D, someone nasty. Orlov has a crushing hip check.)

Its not my opinion.
These are facts that have changed since Phil was traded.

Hall of fame coach
New system
Better goalie
a huge influx of young star talent
No Dion
Minimum filler players (traded or in the AHL).

The above is not opinion... they're facts.

Now imagine all the above with Phil.....the same phil that was in serious discussion for the conn smythe last year.

Im not a huge fan of phil...but to say the team is better because he left without considering all the change that has also occurred. is incorrect.
- Fakepartofme

IMO We had a pooptier team LAST year and still ended up with more points than when Phil was here the year before...it's a fact we were better ( by 1 point ) with a pooptier team than when he was here. Him being gone allowed us more room to make moves salary wise. There's a reason he was traded.....do some of you guys think he was traded because he was just too damn good? There's more to it than we know probably...but I know this...he don't like defense.

Now he's in Pitts making SuperStar money playing on the 3rd line...meh.

I do miss watching him shoot the puck though.

He wasn't serious

But he is a Habs fan.
- Aetherial

Shhhh, I'm baiting the bait!

So JVR has the same amount of points (give or take 2) and a higher P/PG than OV, Wheeler, Giroux, Pacioretty, Pastrnak and Draisaitl. Only a tad behind Jamie Benn.

Do you think these guys would get traded for a d prospect and a cap dump?

If so:

OV for Dermott and Polak

Benn for Nielsen, Lupul and a 2nd.

That should shore up our LW.

AW would like a word with you in his Paddling Room.
- markmark

IMO We had a pooptier team LAST year and still ended up with more points than when Phil was here the year before...it's a fact we were better ( by 1 point ) with a pooptier team than when he was here. Him being gone allowed us more room to make moves salary wise. There's a reason he was traded.....do some of you guys think he was traded because he was just too damn good? There's more to it than we know probably...but I know this...he don't like defense.

Now he's in Pitts making SuperStar money playing on the 3rd line...meh.

I do miss watching him shoot the puck though.

- Garnie

there is no doubt (or shouldnt be) that if you put Phil in this Lineup now the Leafs are better.. but of course the Leafs dont get to this point without moving him.

If the leafs dont make the playoffs I hope he wins another Cup

So JVR has the same amount of points (give or take 2) and a higher P/PG than OV, Wheeler, Giroux, Pacioretty, Pastrnak and Draisaitl. Only a tad behind Jamie Benn.

Do you think these guys would get traded for a d prospect and a cap dump?

If so:

OV for Dermott and Polak

Benn for Nielsen, Lupul and a 2nd.

That should shore up our LW.
- walshyleafsfan

So JVR = Ovie

So JVR = Ovie

- Garnie

Exactly

So JVR has the same amount of points (give or take 2) and a higher P/PG than OV, Wheeler, Giroux, Pacioretty, Pastrnak and Draisaitl. Only a tad behind Jamie Benn.

Do you think these guys would get traded for a d prospect and a cap dump?

If so:

OV for Dermott and Polak

Benn for Nielsen, Lupul and a 2nd.

That should shore up our LW.
- walshyleafsfan

Definitely some differences and factors in there but its true we are probably undervaluing JVR, but to be honest lately the "blog world" going rate for a #2 defensmen is Crosby+OV when they were 24.

there is no doubt (or shouldnt be) that if you put Phil in this Lineup now the Leafs are better.. but of course the Leafs dont get to this point without moving him.

If the leafs dont make the playoffs I hope he wins another Cup
- senstroll

meh...I like lots of player in the NHL..I think the Pens have had enough cups for a couple more decades.

Maybe they'd be better...probably not if it JVR/Bozak and Phil again...those 3 think it's a big game of shinny while together...he didnt get to -80 from playing D first ( Babcock style ) and our D isn't any better than when he was here ( yet )

Oh I like Sosh and what he brings.
But with Zaits on the 3rd line...we would have less quality on the top two lines.....
I think Zaits needs to be top 4 for sure.
- Fakepartofme

And that my friend is why we won't be winning the Cup this season.

Zaits is great, no complaints with him at all. But when our top 4 is Gardiner, Rielly and Zaits the pairings don't work for me. I look at playing style and the complimentary partner isn't there because they are all PMDs. (None are a Doughty/Byfuglien...a complete D.)

Rielly, Doughty
Gardiner, Byfuglien
Seabrook, Zaits

That's a Cup run...IMO/fantasy.

Exactly
- walshyleafsfan

But it's not...

And that my friend is why we won't be winning the Cup this season.

Zaits is great, no complaints with him at all. But when our top 4 is Gardiner, Rielly and Zaits the pairings don't work for me. I look at playing style and the complimentary partner isn't there because they are all PMDs. (None are a Doughty/Byfuglien...a complete D.)

Rielly, Doughty
Gardiner, Byfuglien
Seabrook, Zaits

That's a Cup run...IMO/fantasy.
- underhill14

Buff last night was terrible

there is no doubt (or shouldnt be) that if you put Phil in this Lineup now the Leafs are better.. but of course the Leafs dont get to this point without moving him.

If the leafs dont make the playoffs I hope he wins another Cup
- senstroll

Agreed