The Islanders have drafted top 5 for many years now. Many of their prospects, like Niederider are ready for primetime. They have a legit number 1 centre, in Tavares. Mark Streit will also be healthy, starting this season. They've also added depth, in Brad Boyes and toughness, with Matt Carkner. I would trade the Leafs roster, for the Islanders roster, any day of the week.

Sabres had an off year, with allot of injuries and an issue with chemestry. They still have top notch goaltending, an up and coming first line centre in Cody Hodgson. They will be a much tougher team to play against, with players like Steve Ott.

The Jets have more stable goaltending, added some pieces like Olli Jokenin. They've also reunited Alexei Ponikarovsky with former Leafs linemate Nik Antopov. Al Montoya will back up Ondrej Pavelec in goal.

New Jersey may have stepped back, from the team that won the Eastern Conference Championship, but they still have although they lost Zack Parise, they also have developed Adam Henrique into a top line, clutch performer. They still have Ilya Kovalchuk.

How can you say that the Leafs roster matches up with any of these above teams?
- JohnnyReb

1) everybody says that about the Islanders every year, and yet... I could be wrong I'll admit, but it's unlikley. Goaltending is likely an issue...as always

2) Cody Hodgson is not a 1st line center, not even on the Leafs. Sabres didn't have an "off" year, they just stopped getting unworldly goaltending from Miller which they relied on for 3-4 yrs. He's now just "good."

3) Read what you wrote about the Jets out loud where ever you are, and count the number of people who laugh at you. I'll await the response.

4) Henrique still isn't Parise. Brodeur's going to be brutal for about 3 months to start the season - his summer is way too short and he's way too old - needs the time to recover, and he won't have it.

I do.

And I'm wearing tight Calvin Klein underwear to prove it.
- Atomic Wedgie

that you have a small, confined fire?

Aslong as you have a bag of marshmellows or wieners and a grill...youre good
- noename09

And really, what's a bonfire without one or the other?

Ya no there not.
They're bad...but they wont be that bad.
- Fakepartofme

what have they done that guarantee's improvement?

And your impression was correct.

C'mon, Fakepartofme, get your damned facts straight before you apologize to me for getting your facts straight when mine are wrong!

What the hell is wrong with you?
- Atomic Wedgie

Sorry.
I blame Mindfreak's boob avatar....it's got me all discomboobulated.

the leafs have done nothing to improve.
everyone around them, other than the devils, has improved.
- Barx

Well, they did get rid of Wilson.

And added another top-6 forward for a guy, who according some of you was one of the worst defenders of all time.

Carolina
- billyberg10

this I don't agree with. They're going to be better. Legit 2 line attack with size up the middle now.

Reply and tell him he's full of poop....I heard he snaps.
- Juice

Yah he does.... that's why he was incarcerated.

what have they done that guarantee's improvement?
- Barx

Nothing.
I just dont expect a collaspe like we saw this past year. Hopefully Carlyle will shore up the defense.
Also, if they do go into the season with Reimer and Scrivens, I'm hoping Scrivens plays more.
By no means do I think they are a playoff team.....but they wont be bottom 5 in the league.


I hope.

what have they done that guarantee's improvement?
- Barx

1)Colby Armstrong is gone
2) The Monster is gone
3) JVR


Its a good thing the season doesn't start July 10th!
Burke has more tricks up his sleeve, he's just letting the Market Marinate

Patience This Roster will be Competitive Next year

It's a bad gamble, bringing him here. He either elevates us to 10th in the conference, or he stinks so bad, that we'll be stuck with him for 7 more years. A question that every Leafs fan needs to ask themselves: How many more years will it take for the Leafs to actually be contenders for the Cup? If you can truthfully answer that, then you'll see the reason that it's not in our best interest to have this guy on our team.
- JohnnyReb

Hi UG.

i think a dead hooker or a shooter tutor would be an upgrade over Mason. wouldn't say they've solved their goaltending problem but Bob is definitely an upgrade.
- DoubleDown

They've also added some character players, like Nick Foligno and some depth at defence, with Adrian Aucoin. They will get more depth, once they move Nash. They'll also have a full season of Jack Johnson. They can't help but improve. The way that team came out of the blocks, their season was finished, by the 10 game mark. I think Bobrovsky is a better goaltender than Bryzgalov and his chance to be number one in Columbus, will prove that.

what have they done that guarantee's improvement?
- Barx

Plus...they got rid of Schenn.

And really, what's a bonfire without one or the other?
- Feeling Glucky?

I only have a ton of beers around a fire because I like to drink a bunch of them, and gather all the last few sips to boil over a fire and make a stew with later. Thats why Im sitting in my backyard around a fire drinking a ton of beer. Only reason

Hi UG.
- mykokes

So lame.

The Islanders have drafted top 5 for many years now. Many of their prospects, like Niederider are ready for primetime. They have a legit number 1 centre, in Tavares. Mark Streit will also be healthy, starting this season. They've also added depth, in Brad Boyes and toughness, with Matt Carkner. I would trade the Leafs roster, for the Islanders roster, any day of the week.

Sabres had an off year, with allot of injuries and an issue with chemestry. They still have top notch goaltending, an up and coming first line centre in Cody Hodgson. They will be a much tougher team to play against, with players like Steve Ott.

The Jets have more stable goaltending, added some pieces like Olli Jokenin. They've also reunited Alexei Ponikarovsky with former Leafs linemate Nik Antopov. Al Montoya will back up Ondrej Pavelec in goal.

New Jersey may have stepped back, from the team that won the Eastern Conference Championship, but although they lost Zack Parise, they also have developed Adam Henrique into a top line, clutch performer. They still have Ilya Kovalchuk.

How can you say that the Leafs roster matches up with any of these above teams?
- JohnnyReb

Hi UG.

1) everybody says that about the Islanders every year, and yet... I could be wrong I'll admit, but it's unlikley. Goaltending is likely an issue...as always

full season of Nabokov is an improvement.

2) Cody Hodgson is not a 1st line center, not even on the Leafs. Sabres didn't have an "off" year, they just stopped getting unworldly goaltending from Miller which they relied on for 3-4 yrs. He's now just "good."

addition of steve ott is a huge move to address lack of grit

3) Read what you wrote about the Jets out loud where ever you are, and count the number of people who laugh at you. I'll await the response.

Oli Jokinen is an improvement on Wellwood.....honestly.
Kane is verging on big things.

4) Henrique still isn't Parise. Brodeur's going to be brutal for about 3 months to start the season - his summer is way too short and he's way too old - needs the time to recover, and he won't have it.
- Big_Lightnin

The Leafs are not better than the Stanley Cup finalist, even if Parise is not in the line-up.

So lame.
- Fakepartofme

I can recognize my dark lord's writing style anywhere. And stop picking on me! Schenn's gone, now we don't argue anymore.

Hi UG.
- mykokes

I'm not UG, but wish he was here to talk some sense into you Maple Leaf lemmings, who blindly follow the Ministry of Propaganda, at MLS&E.

Nothing.
I just dont expect a collaspe like we saw this past year. Hopefully Carlyle will shore up the defense.
Also, if they do go into the season with Reimer and Scrivens, I'm hoping Scrivens plays more.
By no means do I think they are a playoff team.....but they wont be bottom 5 in the league.


I hope.
- Fakepartofme

they might not have an epic collapse, but I also don't believe they will spend chunks of the season shooting the lights out like last season.

I can recognize my dark lord's writing style anywhere. And stop picking on me! Schenn's gone, now we don't argue anymore.
- mykokes

Fine.
HAve it your way!

The Islanders have drafted top 5 for many years now. Many of their prospects, like Niederider are ready for primetime. They have a legit number 1 centre, in Tavares. Mark Streit will also be healthy, starting this season. They've also added depth, in Brad Boyes and toughness, with Matt Carkner. I would trade the Leafs roster, for the Islanders roster, any day of the week.

Sabres had an off year, with allot of injuries and an issue with chemestry. They still have top notch goaltending, an up and coming first line centre in Cody Hodgson. They will be a much tougher team to play against, with players like Steve Ott.

The Jets have more stable goaltending, added some pieces like Olli Jokenin. They've also reunited Alexei Ponikarovsky with former Leafs linemate Nik Antopov. Al Montoya will back up Ondrej Pavelec in goal.

New Jersey may have stepped back, from the team that won the Eastern Conference Championship, but although they lost Zack Parise, they also have developed Adam Henrique into a top line, clutch performer. They still have Ilya Kovalchuk.

How can you say that the Leafs roster matches up with any of these above teams?
- JohnnyReb

So, according to you...the Blue Jackets have addressed their goaltending by adding the so awesomely proven Bobrovski with his 83 or so games of NHL experience and .898 sv% and 3.02 GAA on one of the top teams in the league, while the Leafs continue to run with unproven Reimer and his 71 or so games of NHL experience and better stats then bobrovski.

Suddenly Brad "where's my hands" Boyes is upgrading while adding JVR to the Leafs roster is nothing worth mentioning

Reuniting Alexei "can't find a home" Ponikarovsky with Antropov is some good signing worth putting Winnipeg in better shape than Toronto.

And losing Zach Parise, one of the best captains and hardest working players in the league is totally recoverable because Henrique is automatically going to continue progressing the way he did in his rookie season.

But nothing good coming out of Toronto whatsoever form your opinion. Nah nothing at all, Gardiner will clearly get worse, as will Kessel and Lupul and Reimer is obviously a bust as is Kulimen and Frattin and Carlyle isn't going to introduce a new system; he'll probably just kick off the season by running with Wilson's system.

I'm not here to say the Leafs are making the playoffs...cause they're not. But you've gone out of your way to constantly point out the crappiness that is Toronto and how every single signing every other team makes is so positive and automatically puts the ahead of the Leafs.

they might not have an epic collapse, but I also don't believe they will spend chunks of the season shooting the lights out like last season.
- Barx

I'm thinking 10th in the east.

I'm not UG, but wish he was here to talk some sense into you Maple Leaf lemmings, who blindly follow the Ministry of Propaganda, at MLS&E.
- JohnnyReb

Oh boy...we've got live one!

I'm not UG, but wish he was here to talk some sense into you Maple Leaf lemmings, who blindly follow the Ministry of Propaganda, at MLS&E.
- JohnnyReb

That group has dwindled to the point that there are more here that feel the same as UG. Maple Leaf Lemmings are becoming an extinct species.