Kadri needs to get an extended chance at the NHL level.

If not to try and become an impact player on our team, he needs it to at least be showcased so he can be used in a deal. After this year, I think Carlyle will do more help for him in a defense first system.

The cup ring on Carlyle's finger is tough for any player to ignore
- mfreedman

Whether it's effort or execution Kadri is struggling in the AHL and shouldn't be rewarded.

I wrote out a response, but the message didn't post. The ending point was that with a #1C taken in this draft, we might be closer than you think
- mfreedman

Until we get a goalie like Halak or somebody else proven, I think we are in trouble.

#1C would be nice definitely, but the average goaltending (at best) on this team does not fit when you are battling for a playoff spot.

Go back to the start of the season and transplant Reimer with Halak and no other player changes. I think we are middle of the pack in the playoff race right now with that kind of goaltending.

Whether it's effort or execution Kadri is struggling in the AHL and shouldn't be rewarded.
- The Law

Agreed. Kadri needs to pay his dues. Minors did wonders for Elias and lots of other guys who were down there for a little bit.

The problem is he was brought up before he was ready. He seems erratic on the ice sometimes when in the NHL. I think trying to overdo it.

Whether it's effort or execution Kadri is struggling in the AHL and shouldn't be rewarded.
- The Law

Look at it from his standpoint... No matter what he does now it wont matter unless the leafs need an emergency callup... He pretty much knows his season is done in the minors because burke/carlyle chose rosehill/ashton over him so im guessing he doesnt really bother with the effort.

Wilson ruined his development a bit but give him a fresh start next year with carlyle and im guessing he can play 2nd/3rd line wing

dont worry...the rest of us are fine with Kessel...you need to understand what "kind" of player he is....and that he merely needs certain types of players to gel with in order to succeed.
- noename09

I don't mean to generalize all leaf fans, it has just been a comment i have seen a lot more of down this awful stretch. Although i would disagree that he needs a certain type of player to gel with to succeed. 3 years with the leafs, 3 years with 30 goals. During those 3 years the lines were constantly being altered and he was paired with players that would be put on the 2nd and 3rd line on a playoff contending team.

i like cabbage rolls and perogies.
- Dozzer

Question?

- Will this go down as one of the biggest late season collapses in NHL history??

- Will anybody else be fired??

Leafs sure let a lot of their fans down this year.

Now it is time to cheer for my playoff teams.

The Leafs have forced their fans to get a playoff team to cheer for.. Mine will be the Wings this year..

Until we get a goalie like Halak or somebody else proven, I think we are in trouble.

#1C would be nice definitely, but the average goaltending (at best) on this team does not fit when you are battling for a playoff spot.

Go back to the start of the season and transplant Reimer with Halak and no other player changes. I think we are middle of the pack in the playoff race right now with that kind of goaltending.
- leafs93

Can Halak excell in the Burke/Allaire universe? What about Schneider?

At least Kulemin's cap hit should go down next season.

I think we need to go after Parise in a bad way.

Connolly can get sent to the minors to make room.

Can Halak excell in the Burke/Allaire universe? What about Schneider?
- The Law

Would you need Allaire in the NHL at that point? Bring in an established guy like Halak and it would be absolutely idiotic to try and change his style.

I would say at the most, Allaire just works in the minors with young goaltenders who are struggling to see if his ways helps them out. However, our goaltending in the minors looks solid right now.

Aside from that, hire Sean Burke as NHL level goaltending coach.

Can Halak excell in the Burke/Allaire universe? What about Schneider?
- The Law

Allaire just ruins goalies.... no goalie can co-exist with him changing their styles

At least Kulemin's cap hit should go down next season.

I think we need to go after Parise in a bad way.

Connolly can get sent to the minors to make room.
- leafs93

im guessing hes gonna get a raise or keep what he is at because his agent is gonna throw the word "potential 30 goal scorer" every time they have negotiations with kuli's camp

1. Try and trade Phaneuf for equal or even slightly lesser value
2. Try and trade Connolly for equal or slightly lesser value
3. Unload Lombo for anything if possible
4. Unload armstrong for lesser value
5. Call up Blacker to fill in if Dion moves
6. Call up Colborne to fill in for Connolly/Lombo
7. Call up Kadri to fill in for Connolly/Lombo
8. Resign Gus to 2 year contract min (Don't kill me )
9. If we draft a top line centre, potentially send bozak out for an AHL prospect (wouldn't be room for him anymore, so might as well get a piece to help int he future)
- mfreedman

Decent thoughts, Though I would massage them to this;
1.Take 'C' away from Phaneuf don't trade him unless a good deal is offered.
2.Trade Connolly for anything as his large contract makes him worthless.
3.Lombo is the same large contract but more healthy/less talent.
4. Armstong is a huge personality to have on the team. But plays 30games/year and needs to go for anything
5.If Dion Goes...which he won't. I really don't think Blacker could fill his spot, unless you were trying to say bring him up and Gardiner would take Phaneufs spot.
6.Agreed Colborne should get a chance, but on the 3rd line to ease him in.
7.Agree! Kadri is a good player and productive bring him up to let him prove himself if he's brutal after a good chunk of games then make a desicion on him.
8.Gustav? I don't know Reimer is signed through next year, and we need a decent Vet so Gustav for now is the odd man out, unless you are thinking of sending Reims down to the AHL next year.
9.Draft Galchenyuk, I don't care if hes been hurt all year, He has the best potential for Centers and was ranked #2 before being hurt, Let's hope his stock drops to #4 or #5 so the leafs can get him.

Only in Toronto could a player, top 5 in scoring, with 34 goals and 38 assists, be deemed one of the major issues on the team. Does everyone forget who Burke traded for? Kessel was never and will never be a power forward / leader like everyone is expecting him to be. He is a goal scorer. Plain and simple. Sure you can mold him to become better defensively, but don't attempt a full reconstruction. We got what we paid for, he is doing his job, and doing it pretty damn well. Kessel is NOT the issue.
- Timeforsoup

Agreed. Without Kessel we would have been at the bottom of the standings for the entire season.

He is producing without a number 1 center too remember. He just creates chances when he is on the ice. Still very young too.

But early in the season he seemed to play with a chip on his shoulder, I liked that. He was giving little short cross checks on guys along the boards trying to win pucks, not enough to get a penatly but enough to show aggressiveness.

im guessing hes gonna get a raise or keep what he is at because his agent is gonna throw the word "potential 30 goal scorer" every time they have negotiations with kuli's camp
- jps7878

Then we should look into trading him. Remember that trade proposal, Kadri and kulemin for mike richards? Boy if that was a real trade proposal, how nice would that have been.

Until we get a goalie like Halak or somebody else proven, I think we are in trouble.

#1C would be nice definitely, but the average goaltending (at best) on this team does not fit when you are battling for a playoff spot.

Go back to the start of the season and transplant Reimer with Halak and no other player changes. I think we are middle of the pack in the playoff race right now with that kind of goaltending.
- leafs93

Gus is just fine.. All he needed was a defensive system in front of him. Since Carlyle has taken over:

@ WAS .913
Mar 10 PHI 1.000
Mar 7 @ PIT .909
Mar 6 BOS .848
Mar 3 @ MON .955

Average: .925%

I can't really complain about those numbers.

And this is only with the start of a defensive system. Wait until it gets established by next year. Gus will be our future starter, book it (I've been saying it for a while now )

Look at it from his standpoint... No matter what he does now it wont matter unless the leafs need an emergency callup... He pretty much knows his season is done in the minors because burke/carlyle chose rosehill/ashton over him so im guessing he doesnt really bother with the effort.

Wilson ruined his development a bit but give him a fresh start next year with carlyle and im guessing he can play 2nd/3rd line wing
- jps7878

That's a poor excuse IMO. If that's his attitude then get him out of here. He's been struggling for months. My guess ....he won't be Carlyle's problem to solve come September.

im guessing hes gonna get a raise or keep what he is at because his agent is gonna throw the word "potential 30 goal scorer" every time they have negotiations with kuli's camp
- jps7878

I'm thinking they give him 1 or 2 years at around $1.5 million which is Bozak neighborhood and Kulemin should be happy with that.

No way he gets $2.35 again with single digits goals scored playing predominantly on the second line.

Short contract gives him a chance to prove himself again and get a raise (out of Burke! ).

That's a poor excuse IMO. If that's his attitude then get him out of here. He's been struggling for months. My guess ....he won't be Carlyle's problem to solve come September.
- The Law

true true... i just wanna see the leafs give him a chance (around 30 games+ in a row) before they make a decision on him... or keep him in the AHL another year and hope he works out everything in his game

Gus is just fine.. All he needed was a defensive system in front of him. Since Carlyle has taken over:

@ WAS .913
Mar 10 PHI 1.000
Mar 7 @ PIT .909
Mar 6 BOS .848
Mar 3 @ MON .955

Average: .925%

I can't really complain about those numbers.

And this is only with the start of a defensive system. Wait until it gets established by next year. Gus will be our future starter, book it (I've been saying it for a while now )
- mfreedman

...And for all of Reimer's struggles this year... The team seems to play like crap in front of him every time he gets a start.

Question?

- Will this go down as one of the biggest late season collapses in NHL history??

- Will anybody else be fired??

Leafs sure let a lot of their fans down this year.

Now it is time to cheer for my playoff teams.

The Leafs have forced their fans to get a playoff team to cheer for.. Mine will be the Wings this year..
- bixll

At this point ...it's the hope.

I'm guessing that the assistant coaches are getting a couple of months with RC to see if he can work with them. I imagine they could be gone (except Farrish).

At this point ...it's the hope.

I'm guessing that the assistant coaches are getting a couple of months with RC to see if he can work with them. I imagine they could be gone (except Farrish).
- The Law

Get rid of Gordo. Anything else that even smells like Wilson.

...And for all of Reimer's struggles this year... The team seems to play like crap in front of him every time he gets a start.
- Cimo

I like Gus, the worst thing that happened to the Leafs was Reimer got back to back shutouts and suddenly he was getting a shot at #1 again and then alternating back and forth with Gus for starts. Our downfall started at that point.

Reimer needs to go back to the minors and play lots of minutes to find his game again. Can't see him finding it at the NHL level. Goals go over his should and he is looking down at his pads for the answer or maybe he is just Reiming (NHL equivalent of Tebowing).

Question?

- Will this go down as one of the biggest late season collapses in NHL history??

- Will anybody else be fired??

Leafs sure let a lot of their fans down this year.

Now it is time to cheer for my playoff teams.

The Leafs have forced their fans to get a playoff team to cheer for.. Mine will be the Wings this year..
- bixll

...for almost a decade

The Leafs issue is not leadership, it's goaltending. Plain and simple.

The whole team plays differently when they don't trust their goalie. They play afraid to give up scoring chances and this results in their own scoring drying up.

This was the exact situation in Ottawa last year. Then they got Anderson who gave them stable goaltending. All of a sudden they started scoring again and went on a real roll to finish the season. And it has carried over to this season.

Dallas is another example. They sucked and were picked to be near the bottom of the West last year. They traded for Lehtonon who has given them good goaltending. They just missed the playoffs last year and will make it this year.

The Leafs need a legitimate number one goalie. Address that and everything else will be better.

Free Fall Continues
- Ken Beckett

Funny how the sink hole opened up beneath them the same day lucky #13 is raised to the rafters.