I was just saying that to some co-workers. WTF is with this schedule this year.. Gary WTF ??
- bixll

bye weeks I guess

I think tonight will be the Mitch Marner show
- MaximusAurelius

Willie is due for a big game too.

bye weeks I guess
- TheMussel

I wonder if they do the Bye week thingy again next year. It did not seem to go over big with the Teams.

I wonder if they do the Bye week thingy again next year. It did not seem to go over big with the Teams.
- bixll

It's collectively bargained, so I doubt the PA says they don't want it. The players like the chance to get away.

Willie is due for a big game too.
- bixll

It would be great in particular if he would get some points on 5v5.

I have a prediction.

I predict that both Wedgie and Weirdoh will quietly shed a tear when 2 or more of these young upstarts break Peter Ihnacak's record.

Wedgie will petition to have permission to bring in and install a custom made, officially signed Peter Ihnacak Maple Leaf ACC seat cover for the remaining part of the season when the record is broken.

Wedgie will retire that unsoiled seat cover at the end of the regular season and will send it to Weirdoh to venerate. Weirdoh will once again be brought to tears by the memory of Peter I, as well as Wedgies endearing thoughtfulness which will cause Weirdoh to use the seat cover to dry his eyes - which smudges Peter's autograph.

Upon hearing this, Wedgie will prove to be inconsolable at first, then quite angry. He'll wait for the perfect moment to throw his returned and worthless Pe(illegible) seat cover at an innocent and very shocked Dave Keon.
Dave will not recover from the emotional attack and will head back to Florida - never to be seen at the ACC again.
- Woderwick

Thus kicking off the second generation of the Keon curse, and with it another series of futile and wasted Leafs seasons

Except this time, Keon will pass away before making peace, and the mediocrity will last indefinitely until we are all torched by nukes

It would be great in particular if he would get some points on 5v5.
- MaximusAurelius

I like him just fine as a PP specialist. I think every team could use one. As the great Stan Bowman once said, all you need is solid goaltending and a deadly PP. The fact the Leafs have the best PP and PK on the road allows them to play with an edge that I think has helped them. They're not too scared to take penalties thus allowing them to stop situations by infractions before they get any worse

I wonder if they do the Bye week thingy again next year. It did not seem to go over big with the Teams.
- bixll

I heard that instead of the by- week they may add a a couple of days before and after the all star game.

I like him just fine as a PP specialist. I think every team could use one. As the great Stan Bowman once said, all you need is solid goaltending and a deadly PP. The fact the Leafs have the best PP and PK on the road allows them to play with an edge that I think has helped them. They're not too scared to take penalties thus allowing them to stop situations by infractions before they get any worse
- walshyleafsfan

I think his 5v5 production will increase as he gets better in his own end.

Most even strength chances are a product of good defensive plays.

We don't need those according to some on here.
Only guys that can 'move the puck'

(what's sad is that people translate my 'know how to play defense' into 'blocking shots and hitting' --> more importantly is the defensive positioning to prevent plays to be made, rebounds not falling to players in front of net, making shore passing and shooting lanes are not there... etc.)

- MaximusAurelius

Ya those some...are simply drunk.
Everyone knows, you have to be able to move the puck...but we need a strong defensive minded dman.

What's happening on Jack ECHL's forehead in Garf's blog?

Interestingly I was reading an article with had Zaitsev's comparable for pretty much every advanced stat. 90% of the time his comparable was Hjalmarsson
- walshyleafsfan

JVR for Hjalmarsson

What's happening on Jack ECHL's forehead in Garf's blog?
- walshyleafsfan

That kid is one ugly fack.
Lucky for him, he'll be rich.

What's happening on Jack ECHL's forehead in Garf's blog?
- walshyleafsfan

I dunno, what's going on under his nose? To the left and right of his eyes? The general head area?

I like him just fine as a PP specialist. I think every team could use one. As the great Stan Bowman once said, all you need is solid goaltending and a deadly PP. The fact the Leafs have the best PP and PK on the road allows them to play with an edge that I think has helped them. They're not too scared to take penalties thus allowing them to stop situations by infractions before they get any worse
- walshyleafsfan

Matthews
Marner
JVR
Kadri
Bozak

Gardiner
Rielly
Zaitsev

That's 8 guys I think are a fix on the PP.

But Brown, Komarov there as well, in addition to some other players coming up.

Yes, Nylander is great on the PP (how many of his PP points are linked to Matthews PP points though?)
I personally don't think Nylander makes/breaks Toronto PP.

It would be great in particular if he would get some points on 5v5.
- MaximusAurelius

Points are points..

JVR for Hjalmarsson
- Fakepartofme

I think that's an overpay. Everyone is concerned with JVR and he might be too old for this team and Hjalmarsson is older.

Someone else actually bought this up and it's an interesting point. I wonder how much Hjalmarsson has left in the tank? Those Hawks players have played a poop ton of Oxley in the last 5 years. Reading the Hawks blogs it seems Toews, Keith and Seabrook are running on fumes. I wonder if the same can be said for Hjalmarsson?

I'd rather they keep JVR for this season and explore stuff in the offseason. Maybe Fowler makes more sense? This is the 1st year in which the Leafs have been fairly good. They've probably got another 10 years with a lot of this core. I don't see the need to rush anything imo.

Edit. If JVR was a RW I'd be all for trading him sooner. Our LW depth is pretty abysmal

and we have another 4 day break after this stretch of games.

I think his 5v5 production will increase as he gets better in his own end.

Most even strength chances are a product of good defensive plays.
- TheMussel

Most of these guys have been playing hockey since they were 4-5-6 years.
I am not sure that when 18/19/20y old, they all of a sudden heavily increase their abilities on specific parts of the play (except from faceoffs which is a skill, not an ability imo).

I don't think Nylander will turn into a different player - he is a one-dimensional player with (potential) 1st line offensive skills (although in my view not very effective nor efficient on 5 on 5), and has a lack of defensive awareness (same goes for JVR, Gardiner).

I think that's an overpay. Everyone is concerned with JVR and he might be too old for this team and Hjalmarsson is older.

Someone else actually bought this up and it's an interesting point. I wonder how much Hjalmarsson has left in the tank? Those Hawks players have played a poop ton of Oxley in the last 5 years. Reading the Hawks blogs it seems Toews, Keith and Seabrook are running on fumes. I wonder if the same can be said for Hjalmarsson?

I'd rather they keep JVR for this season and explore stuff in the offseason. Maybe Fowler makes more sense? This is the 1st year in which the Leafs have been fairly good. They've probably got another 10 years with a lot of this core. I don't see the need to rush anything imo.
- walshyleafsfan

True.
But I dont mind an older D vet with actual playoff experience. Teach these kids what it takes.
Age wise Fowler would make more sense (off season trade).
IMO a couple older players are needed to be sprinkled throughout the line up.

Matthews
Marner
JVR
Kadri
Bozak

Gardiner
Rielly
Zaitsev

That's 8 guys I think are a fix on the PP.

But Brown, Komarov there as well, in addition to some other players coming up.

Yes, Nylander is great on the PP (how many of his PP points are linked to Matthews PP points though?)
I personally don't think Nylander makes/breaks Toronto PP.
- MaximusAurelius

I agree that there's some depth on that PP, but I think Nylander's offensive creativity is far superior to anyone on this team not named Matthews or Marner.

If we want defensive forward help, I think you move Bozak and try to bring in a centre that's not crap in his own end like Bozak is. Just my opinion though

and we have another 4 day break after this stretch of games.
- Garnie

Fack I hate the NHL schedulers.

Then we have the sh!tty Allstar game....which most dont care about.

Fack I hate the NHL schedulers.

Then we have the sh!tty Allstar game....which most dont care about.
- Fakepartofme

That must be the break maybe....is that at the end of Jan? That's when the 4 day break is.

True.
But I dont mind an older D vet with actual playoff experience. Teach these kids what it takes.
Age wise Fowler would make more sense (off season trade).
IMO a couple older players are needed to be sprinkled throughout the line up.
- Fakepartofme

I agree about the older guys. Our vets are either tweezers JVR, Kadri, Komarov, Bozak (not really proper vets and no idea what they will tell Marnthewsder about their playoff experience ) or fairly poop like Hunlak.

If they do somehow make the playoffs we may see a couple of expiring UFA's to be around for the playoffs. Maybe a dman and a 4th line centre or LW to replace Gauthier or Sosh. Don't think anything major will happen in season, especially with expansion coming up. In fact, that might stop everything league wide.

That must be the break maybe....is that at the end of Jan? That's when the 4 day break is.
- Garnie

Los Angeles, CA. 2017 Honda NHL® All-Star Game: Sun, Jan 29 | 12:30pm PT. 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition™ Sat, Jan 28 | 4:00pm PT.