Mike Augello: Cherry Rails On Leafs College Connection; Sean Burke Toronto Bound?

No need to throw Brown into this poop storm.

No pun intended.

Way to go Grapes; try to make Leaf's management accountable.

Way to go Grapes; try to make Leaf's management accountable.
- haymac

They answer to Cherry?

Why was Anderson just laying there!!!!

Leafs should Oiler their prospects. Rush them into the fire and let them develop in a toxic and losing environment. Sorry Grapes, you're off on this one. Leafs are doing the right thing.

Leafs just have to stay focused and lose at least 4 of the last 6. It guarantees the 4th spot and means that we don't draft any lower then 5. If we stay in 4th and the standings stay the way it is....save a flip flop of Arizona and Buffalo, then the fans choice of Dylan Strome will become a reality. I don't see the Oilers passing on Hanifan. Just time to solidify their spot and go into the last game of the year, against the Habs and cause as much physical damage as possible.

Maybe denying the Habs top spot in the Conference would also make it, so they have to play a tougher first round opponent. I can see Washington being a team that'll test Montreal, with a bigger, more heavier opponent that will be in the blue paint.

Just go (frank) off somewhere.
- sloppyseconds2

Mike Augello: Cherry Rails On Leafs College Connection; Sean Burke Toronto Bound?
- mikeinbuffalo

"Here is hoping that the Leafs draft either Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome or Mitch Marner in the upcoming 2015 Draft, because the selection of Jack Eichel or Noah Hanifin will undoubtedly unleash the Wrath of Grapes in the future. "


Who really gives a (frank) what he thinks? The fact that he's spent this long on TV rather than running/coaching a team shows how completely irrelevant he is in terms of actually managing the NHL teams of today.

Leafs should Oiler their prospects. Rush them into the fire and let them develop in a toxic and losing environment. Sorry Grapes, you're off on this one. Leafs are doing the right thing.
- systemtool

I'm a big defender of Cherry... but he was wrong here for sure.

I"m guessing he hates watching what he believes is someone in the AHL being slighted by the team bringing someone from the outside it.

Connor Brown has earned a chance or three- they will come - but fortunately for Brown not in the current situation... honestly I'm surprised that the Leafs haven't (yet) fallen to that temptation.

I'm a big defender of Cherry... but he was wrong here for sure.

I"m guessing he hates watching what he believes is someone in the AHL being slighted by the team bringing someone from the outside it.

Connor Brown has earned a chance or three- they will come - but fortunately for Brown not in the current situation... honestly I'm surprised that the Leafs haven't (yet) fallen to that temptation.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I'm happy that he hasn't. He will, but not yet. How long has the Detroit model been lauded by everybody, and now that we try to implement it and bring a cheap low risk/high reward guy to fill in some time (a guy who is also older and more physically developed to boot) and now it's a problem? I could see it if we were in the position of Ottawa/Florida and challenging for the playoffs, but the season is done so why bring up Brown to deal with this poop rather than try to push for the AHL playoffs?

"Here is hoping that the Leafs draft either Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome or Mitch Marner in the upcoming 2015 Draft, because the selection of Jack Eichel or Noah Hanifin will undoubtedly unleash the Wrath of Grapes in the future. "


Who really gives a (frank) what he thinks? The fact that he's spent this long on TV rather than running/coaching a team shows how completely irrelevant he is in terms of actually managing the NHL teams of today.
- lumlums

He's what he is.....an entertainer that pulls in ratings for the CBC and now Rogers. The minute that his ratings go out the window, he'll follow. I agree with some of his thoughts, but others are just targeted to the lowest common denominator. I wish the NHL could back to the 1970's style, but that's when hockey was played for honour and not maximizing revenues. It's a business, first and foremost now. It's why the NHL is going to either give McDavid to a team in trouble, or the Leafs, to boost revenues. Cherry's views reflect the ideals of people who still believe that hockey is a sport for honour, like gladiators. Unfortunately, it's nothing more then mercenary work now.

I'm happy that he hasn't. He will, but not yet. How long has the Detroit model been lauded by everybody, and now that we try to implement it and bring a cheap low risk/high reward guy to fill in some time (a guy who is also older and more physically developed to boot) and now it's a problem? I could see it if we were in the position of Ottawa/Florida and challenging for the playoffs, but the season is done so why bring up Brown to deal with this poop rather than try to push for the AHL playoffs?
- lumlums

agreed. hopefully the Marlies get into the playoffs and do some damage - as their leadership group is now quite a bit younger than it has been in the recent past - which would bode well for the players development.

even thought OF COURSE - the Leafs prospects all suck.

He's what he is.....an entertainer that pulls in ratings for the CBC and now Rogers. The minute that his ratings go out the window, he'll follow. I agree with some of his thoughts, but others are just targeted to the lowest common denominator. I wish the NHL could back to the 1970's style, but that's when hockey was played for honour and not maximizing revenues. It's a business, first and foremost now. It's why the NHL is going to either give McDavid to a team in trouble, or the Leafs, to boost revenues. Cherry's views reflect the ideals of people who still believe that hockey is a sport for honour, like gladiators. Unfortunately, it's nothing more then mercenary work now.
- PrinceLH

I wouldn't go that far. We've made amazing progress in recognising the problems associated with concussions and sports related brain injuries, and now the game is adapting to accommodate this. Of course it's a business first and foremost (bills have still got to be paid), but it's also conscious of player safety and the fact that once these guys are done, they still have another 25-40ish years of living ahead of them.

There can still be honour in the sport while also accepting that making two guys punch each other in the face for no reason other than punching each other in the face is counter-productive (as the relatively recent deaths of guys like Probert, Rypien, Belak and Boogaard highlight). The focus now is turning to fast, skillful players who can play without needing a Semenko to ride shotgun just incase somebody does something dumb. This means that occasionally people do dumb things, and the league needs to step up and be proactive in this regard to deter others from following suit.

agreed. hopefully the Marlies get into the playoffs and do some damage - as their leadership group is now quite a bit younger than it has been in the recent past - which would bode well for the players development.

even thought OF COURSE - the Leafs prospects all suck.
- BorjeFan4Ever

It is nice to see the Marlies be made up of the kids rather that Mike Zigomanis and others... despite Cherry's love for him

"Here is hoping that the Leafs draft either Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome or Mitch Marner in the upcoming 2015 Draft, because the selection of Jack Eichel or Noah Hanifin will undoubtedly unleash the Wrath of Grapes in the future. "


Who really gives a (frank) what he thinks? The fact that he's spent this long on TV rather than running/coaching a team shows how completely irrelevant he is in terms of actually managing the NHL teams of today.
- lumlums

well there maybe many who "dislike Cherry", and I know there are. unfortunately for many Canadians they dislike (or at least say they do) because they associate him non-American populist values as pertains to hockey and because he does unabashedly tow the Canadian flag around with him. Unfortunately there are many who are either intimidated or just plainly "too politically correct" to allow themselves to appreciate what he's saying - even if the manner in which he says it isn't the most sophisticated.

and love him or hate him... as long as the rest of the doinks on CBC (GeorgeS, Healy, etc) are as boring or mis-cast as they are... he'll stick around.

well there maybe many who "dislike Cherry", and I know there are. unfortunately for many Canadians they dislike (or at least say they do) because they associate him non-American populist values as pertains to hockey and because he does unabashedly tow the Canadian flag around with him. Unfortunately there are many who are either intimidated or just plainly "too politically correct" to allow themselves to appreciate what he's saying - even if the manner in which he says it isn't the most sophisticated.

and love him or hate him... as long as the rest of the doinks on CBC (GeorgeS, Healy, etc) are as boring or mis-cast as they are... he'll stick around.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I appreciate his position, and I love the love that he gives to the troops and to service people in Canada... but his views on the world as a whole are just too old-fashioned and irrelevant.

He complains about college kids while seemingly having no issue with Eichel and Toews, he complains about Nylander (Canadian born and north American raised) for being an undersized "swinn" who went to Sweden "to save his life" yet misses the fact that he spent years touting Kadri... who was smaller than Nylander by about 10+lbs on draft day.

I like that he is pro-Canada in that Canada (and Canadians) have a hell of a lot to be proud of, but to dismiss people from elsewhere based solely on the fact that they're from elsewhere.... that's not being politically incorrect, that's just bigotry... and is even more unacceptable considering that Canada has a higher number of immigrants than almost any other country in the world.

The thing that makes Canada great is not the just the people who were born here, but the fact that it gives equal opportunity to everybody, regardless of nationality, based on the content of that person's character. I'm sure there was a speech on this kind of thing sometime...

I appreciate his position, and I love the love that he gives to the troops and to service people in Canada... but his views on the world as a whole are just too old-fashioned and irrelevant.

He complains about college kids while seemingly having no issue with Eichel and Toews, he complains about Nylander (Canadian born and north American raised) for being an undersized "swinn" who went to Sweden "to save his life" yet misses the fact that he spent years touting Kadri... who was smaller than Nylander by about 10+lbs on draft day.

I like that he is pro-Canada in that Canada (and Canadians) have a hell of a lot to be proud of, but to dismiss people from elsewhere based solely on the fact that they're from elsewhere.... that's not being politically incorrect, that's just bigotry... and is even more unacceptable considering that Canada has a higher number of immigrants than almost any other country in the world.

The thing that makes Canada great is not the just the people who were born here, but the fact that it gives equal opportunity to everybody, regardless of nationality, based on the content of that person's character. I'm sure there was a speech on this kind of thing sometime...
- lumlums

I wouldn't say that, he loves Kadri,

I appreciate his position, and I love the love that he gives to the troops and to service people in Canada... but his views on the world as a whole are just too old-fashioned and irrelevant.

He complains about college kids while seemingly having no issue with Eichel and Toews, he complains about Nylander (Canadian born and north American raised) for being an undersized "swinn" who went to Sweden "to save his life" yet misses the fact that he spent years touting Kadri... who was smaller than Nylander by about 10+lbs on draft day.

I like that he is pro-Canada in that Canada (and Canadians) have a hell of a lot to be proud of, but to dismiss people from elsewhere based solely on the fact that they're from elsewhere.... that's not being politically incorrect, that's just bigotry... and is even more unacceptable considering that Canada has a higher number of immigrants than almost any other country in the world.

The thing that makes Canada great is not the just the people who were born here, but the fact that it gives equal opportunity to everybody, regardless of nationality, based on the content of that person's character. I'm sure there was a speech on this kind of thing sometime...
- lumlums

This made me want to go watch Air Farce's 'I am Canadian with Mike from Canmore' skit again.

Mike,

I have come to expect a fairly inciteful commentary on the blogs that you post here. Sadly, I was disappointed by this blog, as it was a clearly biased when commenting on Don Cherry's perspective. While I understand the impulsive response, I do not understand how you can rebuff the commentary with a single game example from Tyler Bozak and the "top line", while equally espousing the single game performance of Nazem Kadri, who is largely believed to have been treated unfairly. I would appreciate and prefer a better effort on your part moving forward, to more accurately and correctly comment on the state of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mike,

I have come to expect a fairly inciteful commentary on the blogs that you post here. Sadly, I was disappointed by this blog, as it was a clearly biased when commenting on Don Cherry's perspective. While I understand the impulsive response, I do not understand how you can rebuff the commentary with a single game example from Tyler Bozak and the "top line", while equally espousing the single game performance of Nazem Kadri, who is largely believed to have been treated unfairly. I would appreciate and prefer a better effort on your part moving forward, to more accurately and correctly comment on the state of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Falon

You can't make your own mind up on the state of the Leafs?

I wouldn't say that, he loves Kadri,
- sloppyseconds2

That's my point, Kadri was drafted at 167lbs if I recall, and Don spent three years licking the underside of his carriage; Nylander on the other hand, who was about the same height and reported by Dave Morrison to be around 180lbs at the draft is too small and must go back to Sweden for his own safety?

And lets not forget that Patty Kane is listed at 5'11, 177lbs...

I appreciate his position, and I love the love that he gives to the troops and to service people in Canada... but his views on the world as a whole are just too old-fashioned and irrelevant.

He complains about college kids while seemingly having no issue with Eichel and Toews, he complains about Nylander (Canadian born and north American raised) for being an undersized "swinn" who went to Sweden "to save his life" yet misses the fact that he spent years touting Kadri... who was smaller than Nylander by about 10+lbs on draft day.

I like that he is pro-Canada in that Canada (and Canadians) have a hell of a lot to be proud of, but to dismiss people from elsewhere based solely on the fact that they're from elsewhere.... that's not being politically incorrect, that's just bigotry... and is even more unacceptable considering that Canada has a higher number of immigrants than almost any other country in the world.

The thing that makes Canada great is not the just the people who were born here, but the fact that it gives equal opportunity to everybody, regardless of nationality, based on the content of that person's character. I'm sure there was a speech on this kind of thing sometime...
- lumlums

I can let his beef with the lack of home grown Canadian talent on the Leafs slide. I could
... If he would just once call out his beloved Canadian hometown boys for choosing to play in American markets.

As for your last paragraph..that used to make Canada great. Now they sell out the ways of old to kiss the ass o every immigrant in the most politicaly correct way possible. I'd wish you a happy Easter, but I'm not even sure if that's allowed anymore..I'm the son of immigrants parents, so I'm not hating, but that's another debate for another day.

That's my point, Kadri was drafted at 167lbs if I recall, and Don spent three years licking the underside of his carriage; Nylander on the other hand, who was about the same height and reported by Dave Morrison to be around 180lbs at the draft is too small and must go back to Sweden for his own safety?

And lets not forget that Patty Kane is listed at 5'11, 177lbs...
- lumlums

You missed my point, Kadri and family are imports, Cherry has no problem with that,
The guy isn't racist.

I like Don Cherry, always have always will.

just finished watching the two part CBC movie on Don for the 100th time.