Leafs recent history is littered with "amazing" performances by prospects in pre-season, only to come to a halt when the real games start
- FirstClass

Like who? Doesn't every team see good prospects have strong preseason games to make the team?

Like who? Doesn't every team see good prospects have strong preseason games to make the team?
- RogerRoeper

every team has brandon bochenskis, evgeny grachevs, and viktor stalbergs, im impressed by production in real games

every team has brandon bochenskis, evgeny grachevs, and viktor stalbergs, im impressed by production in real games
- FirstClass

But I guess when you say.

Leafs, like all other team's recent histories, is littered with "amazing" performances by prospects in pre-season, only to come to a halt when the real games start

It doesn't sound as needlessly disparaging.

every team has brandon bochenskis, evgeny grachevs, and viktor stalbergs, im impressed by production in real games
- FirstClass

That's why you willingly took Jason Blake, Vesa Toskala, and Francois Beauchemin from us? Really?

every team has brandon bochenskis, evgeny grachevs, and viktor stalbergs, im impressed by production in real games
- FirstClass

You said "Leafs". Name someone other than Stalberg.

You said "Leafs". Name someone other than Stalberg.
- RogerRoeper

I think in some ways the Leaf situation is unfair to the kids. The media hypes expectations around the kid, from the day he is drafted, like they did in his first year with Kadri. They create an expectation that the kid is a phenom and when he gets sent back down to the minors they conjur up the stories about him being a disappointment. The fact is, for the most part, everything is just an extension of the media circus that exists around the Leafs. Kids who get drafted by other teams do not have to deal with that kind of pressure. It is hard enough to do what they have to do on the ice without adding on the weight of a media putting you under a magnifying glass every moment on and off the ice.

That's why you willingly took Jason Blake, Vesa Toskala, and Francois Beauchemin from us? Really?
- p_zub

that's why you took Lupul(4.25 mil 3rd liner) and Giguere(7 mil backup goalie) from us?

You said "Leafs". Name someone other than Stalberg.
- RogerRoeper

Justin Pogge, Jonas Gustavsson, Alex Steen

Justin Pogge, Jonas Gustavsson, Alex Steen
- FirstClass

Welll Steen has become a very good two-way forward. Pogge never played well in the preseason at all. And Gustavsson played ok, but had better runs in the regular season for the Leafs (Like finishing the year 7-1 in 2010').

that's why you took Lupul(4.25 mil 3rd liner) and Giguere(7 mil backup goalie) from us?
- FirstClass

The Ducks took back more salary than Giguere's. The Leafs saved money on that deal.

Giggy is in Colorado and Anaheim is still stuck with Blake.

that's why you took Lupul(4.25 mil 3rd liner) and Giguere(7 mil backup goalie) from us?
- FirstClass

You really showed us didn't you!!! We are only paying Lupul still and you still have Blake and Beachemin. Both Lupul and Blake make the same$ but Lupul is better. We Also got A really good prospect.... you got the shaft.

Justin Pogge, Jonas Gustavsson, Alex Steen
- FirstClass

Pooge never played well and steen is a 20+ goal guy. Keep looking.

that's why you took Lupul(4.25 mil 3rd liner) and Giguere(7 mil backup goalie) from us?
- FirstClass

Hmmm...Giguere vs. Toskala? C'mon man, you know better than that. Hint: one of these two is still in the NHL.

You really showed us didn't you!!! We are only paying Lupul still and you still have Blake and Beachemin. Both Lupul and Blake make the same$ but Lupul is better. We Also got A really good prospect.... you got the shaft.
- burn

Beauchemin is good with us, our coach isn't an idiot

not with Connolly on the IR

not with Connolly on the IR
- 2Real

I disagree....he's shown to have great chemistry with Kessel and Lupul when he's not on the ice with them.

I think in some ways the Leaf situation is unfair to the kids. The media hypes expectations around the kid, from the day he is drafted, like they did in his first year with Kadri. They create an expectation that the kid is a phenom and when he gets sent back down to the minors they conjur up the stories about him being a disappointment. The fact is, for the most part, everything is just an extension of the media circus that exists around the Leafs. Kids who get drafted by other teams do not have to deal with that kind of pressure. It is hard enough to do what they have to do on the ice without adding on the weight of a media putting you under a magnifying glass every moment on and off the ice.
- spatso

Yes, this is why so many have come and gone through this system. It's a tough city with a tough crowd, but at least it's positive and they're not just throwing Kadri to the lions. Sure there may be some negativity around him being moved up and down constantly, but it's better than sticking him in the big league to prove and live up to media expectations and having him booed out of the city.

September 06, 2011

“We think we made some changes that made our team dramatically better. Those things have put us in a position where we want to be, which is to compete for a playoff spot.”


“I think this team stacks up to just about any other team in the (Eastern Conference) in terms of the blueline. We think we are set in net. We think James Reimer is the real deal."

“Now the next question is the guys we brought in for the forward spots are going to answer our needs and can we count on some internal improvement from the guys we have.”


toronto finished 22nd overall with 85 points (.518 P%) last season.

This season, on track for 23rd overall with about 82 points (give or take) and currently have a .493 P%.

The poor PK and goaltending, is what I saw as the major short comings this season.

September 06, 2011

“We think we made some changes that made our team dramatically better. Those things have put us in a position where we want to be, which is to compete for a playoff spot.”


“I think this team stacks up to just about any other team in the (Eastern Conference) in terms of the blueline. We think we are set in net. We think James Reimer is the real deal."

“Now the next question is the guys we brought in for the forward spots are going to answer our needs and can we count on some internal improvement from the guys we have.”


toronto finished 22nd overall with 85 points (.518 P%) last season.

This season, on track for 23rd overall with about 82 points (give or take) and currently have a .493 P%.

The poor PK and goaltending, is what I saw as the major short comings this season.
- Doppleganger

I think those quotes are on par with what the leafs could have been. You have to admit - the wheels fell off. This isn't a team that has hung around 23rd all year, but rather a team that couldn't get consistent goal-tending over a critical stretch and fell off accordingly. The guys they brought in offensively did make a difference, and their D and goaltending underachieved.

I think they're one of those non-playoff teams that had playoff potential (along with Anaheim, Phoenix/LA and Buffalo) and Burke didn't overestimate the team as much as the team underachieved.

Team needs as always: consistent goaltending, #1 centre.

you say wheels fall off, i say imploded

in the end they had the playoffs in their control and only have their selves to blame, not burke, not wilson, just the boys on the ice

but im glad wilson is gone.

I think those quotes are on par with what the leafs could have been. You have to admit - the wheels fell off. This isn't a team that has hung around 23rd all year, but rather a team that couldn't get consistent goal-tending over a critical stretch and fell off accordingly. The guys they brought in offensively did make a difference, and their D and goaltending underachieved.

I think they're one of those non-playoff teams that had playoff potential (along with Anaheim, Phoenix/LA and Buffalo) and Burke didn't overestimate the team as much as the team underachieved.

Team needs as always: consistent goaltending, #1 centre.
- Morris

How did their goaltending underachieve? The monster is a 27 year old that statistically put up the best season of his career. Reimer had a great season last year but it was only 37 games and it is kind of silly to expect more of him this year. He could have done better but really he only had 37 career games going into this year and expecting a great year is setting yourself up for failure.

Up front did you expect Kessel to have around 20 more points than his career high? Did you expect Lupul to go from a 50 point guy to a 70 point guy (at the age of 28)? Some underachieved and some overachieved. At the end of the day everything had to go right for the leafs to make the playoffs and they are where they should be. Early on they played great and now they are not. Kind of balances itself out.

How did their goaltending underachieve? The monster is a 27 year old that statistically put up the best season of his career. Reimer had a great season last year but it was only 37 games and it is kind of silly to expect more of him this year. He could have done better but really he only had 37 career games going into this year and expecting a great year is setting yourself up for failure.

Up front did you expect Kessel to have around 20 more points than his career high? Did you expect Lupul to go from a 50 point guy to a 70 point guy (at the age of 28)? Some underachieved and some overachieved. At the end of the day everything had to go right for the leafs to make the playoffs and they are where they should be. Early on they played great and now they are not. Kind of balances itself out.
- jordan456789

When Burke came in as GM in 2008, he clearly failed to identify the defensive shortcomings of his team. The leafs have either had the worst or close to worst PK for a number of years now, and until recently, did not hold the head coach to account.

There have been members of the media and many fans pointing to the PK for a few seasons, and it was never addressed.

How did their goaltending underachieve? The monster is a 27 year old that statistically put up the best season of his career. Reimer had a great season last year but it was only 37 games and it is kind of silly to expect more of him this year. He could have done better but really he only had 37 career games going into this year and expecting a great year is setting yourself up for failure.

Up front did you expect Kessel to have around 20 more points than his career high? Did you expect Lupul to go from a 50 point guy to a 70 point guy (at the age of 28)? Some underachieved and some overachieved. At the end of the day everything had to go right for the leafs to make the playoffs and they are where they should be. Early on they played great and now they are not. Kind of balances itself out.
- jordan456789

Um, yeah, we easily could have expected more out of the goaltending. things were actually going quite well with Reimer before he got hit with a concussion. There were question marks, no doubt, and could have gone either way, but it undoubtedly went as bad as it could.

Think about it this way. The Habs got a career year out of Price last year. It went about as good as it possibly could. What would have happened if he had played like he has the rest of his career?

How did their goaltending underachieve? The monster is a 27 year old that statistically put up the best season of his career. Reimer had a great season last year but it was only 37 games and it is kind of silly to expect more of him this year. He could have done better but really he only had 37 career games going into this year and expecting a great year is setting yourself up for failure.

Up front did you expect Kessel to have around 20 more points than his career high? Did you expect Lupul to go from a 50 point guy to a 70 point guy (at the age of 28)? Some underachieved and some overachieved. At the end of the day everything had to go right for the leafs to make the playoffs and they are where they should be. Early on they played great and now they are not. Kind of balances itself out.
- jordan456789

x 2.

I said at the beginning of the season it was a huge gamble for Burke to bank on good goaltending between your current tandem. Reimer was simply too unproven. What surprises me is that after seeing how badly you needed goaltending all season, he never went out and got one.

A smart GM would keep Reimer around (might be really good down the road) and bring in an aging #1 (costs less than a young one) to keep you competitive while Reimer works through his growing pains. Almost all goalies seem to go through them and having a vet to teach him how to battle through would be helpful as well.

Reimer still may be a #1 down the road but let him have 2-3 years in a back up role and get comfortable with his consistency before using him as a 1A/1B.

Like the poster said, some things went wrong this season but a lot went right too. At the end of the day it's hard to blame any one thing on the poor season.

Burke needs to start being held accountable for the gambles he takes building a team though. Sure he has won some trades but also lost on others. One thing is for sure though, if you take a look at the ages of the Leaf's best players you can conclude that Burke has given you a relatively small window to win. When your best players are 24-28 you should be in win mode now because 3 years down the road those players will be past prime.

This is how old your top 10 scorers from this year will be by the time playoffs come around next year.

Kessel- 25
Lupul-29
Grabs-29
Bozak-27
Phaneuf-27
Macarthur- 27
Connolly-31
Kulemin- 26
Gardiner-22
Liles-32

With the exception of Gardiner, all of those players are either in their prime or towards the end of it.

So what happens in 2-3 years even if Burke builds the Leafs into a contender? By then your best players will be 30ish and likely past their prime.

And no offence, but other than Kadri there isn't a lot of hope for quality replacements in the top 6. Maybe on the 2nd line but in the next 2/3 years I wouldn't count on more than a prospect or two to have blossomed into a 50+ point player.

Many Leaf fans don't realize it yet but Burke has put the Leafs in a tougher position than most realize. Will they be a playoff team in the next 2-3 years? Likely. But I don't think Burke has a plan to get you past a fringe playoff team and into that "scary good" category that most cup winners fall into.

Um, yeah, we easily could have expected more out of the goaltending. things were actually going quite well with Reimer before he got hit with a concussion. There were question marks, no doubt, and could have gone either way, but it undoubtedly went as bad as it could.

Think about it this way. The Habs got a career year out of Price last year. It went about as good as it possibly could. What would have happened if he had played like he has the rest of his career?
- prock

Nice troll attempt with the Price comment. Anyone who "expects" bonafide #1 goaltending out of a young goalie with 30ish games under his belt doesn't understand the game IMO