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I’m glad that the NHL is soon back. Too many nights to do nothing but talk to the wife. I can only take so much of that and go shovel snow. I’ve seen enough snow. I haven’t seen enough NHL hockey. Treliving better be ready to pull that trigger on McMann…..the next David Clarkson. Say goodbye to Rielly while we’re at it. Retool on the fly and get ready for next year. Let’s see a few Marlies up with the big team to see what we’ve got. Mitch the bitch can show the league his prowess by getting knocked out of the second round. Enjoy your little slug Las Vegas.
Connor McDavid and Mitch Marner…….Never a bride, only a bridesmaid. Auston showed that he was an elite talent at the Olympics. It’s not all about the goals and big shots, but the 200 foot game and stellar defense. You win with players like that. You don’t win with players who play a fancy game. Case closed!
Different situation. Canada is expected to be a powerhouse at the Olympics. Marner’s goal was spectacular, but it’s a one off game. Of course it did win them a chance to get to the Gold medal game. It’s a lot different playing a 7 game series where you’ve got players that want your scalp. Marner has issues playing in traffic, but freewheeling he’s magnificent. However, that contract wasn’t viable for the Leafs. You can’t pay 3 players max value and be able to build around them. Many forget, he was the player that didn’t pick up his check in overtime of game 7 versus the Bruins. Pasternak blew by him and he just let him go to the net on a dump in. This is what the Leafs Nation remember. They also remember him backing down from the Panthers and the Leafs lose in 7. If Marner had made them eat an elbow or his stick, message would have been sent. Marner is a wonderfully skilled player, made for International hockey. It doesn’t translate into anything close to NHL Playoff calibre. We will see how he does in Lost Wages when the Playoffs begin. Then, you can make an informed decision on him as a playoff performer.
All I can say is this: Leafs just need to win every game that they possibly can. It’s obvious that they’re not finishing in the bottom 5. They only have a 25% chance of making the playoffs. They have to hold off Florida and catch either Boston or Buffalo. As the season gets later, the 3 point games will be telling, when it’s time to make a playoff push. The other only reason is, to deny the Bruins a higher 1st round pick that the Leafs traded to them. Giving them a top 10 pick would be disaster. Finishing outside of a playoff spot would make it around 14 or 15. Too many Western teams will have a worse record. The problem is, Florida and Ottawa are also close to the Leafs. They need to get some picks through trades and still be competitive down the stretch. Finish strong and rebound through free agency and having a healthier roster next year.
As usual, procrastination. Too many chiefs, not enough indians. Nothing decisive means mediocrity. I guess, what do you expect?
When I looked at the schedule, before the season, I looked and said to myself; Self, with all of those home games to start the year, I hope they don’t sh!t the bed, because if they fall behind and have to catch up on the road, it won’t end well. Self, also thought, injuries could also be the start of a death spiral, with a veteran team and more fringe players from losing teams. It’s a bad road to go down. Fast-forward to now and sure enough, it happened. A total sh!t show. Why Maccelli? Too small, had one decent season, so let’s take him. Why? Just a dumb move. Treliving is showing why he was canned in Calgary. Just a total waste of one year. Time to get the neon sign ready for Robidas Island.
Leafs will do what they always do…..procrastinate until other teams do the bold deals. Pelly should have a new management team in the wings and ready to go at the end of the Olympic break. The Hunter’s should be at the top of the list, with their experience in winning at the Junior ranks. These retreads we have now, show why they’re retreads. Antiquated coaching, slow moving General Manager and no vision of the future. The Leafs should look long and hard at moving Matthews. He’s one of the premiere goal scorers in NHL history and also an American. You’d think that teams like the Rangers, Kings and Stars would have a keen interest. To make that deal, they’d better get a haul of a couple of 1st rounders, and two blue chip prospects. He could be the answer for a team like Dallas or Los Angeles to make a move in the standings. Best to either get close to the playoffs, or in the bottom 5. Giving up a top 6th or 7th overall pick will sting.
First up, move a goalie. Stolarz is the first up, for a first. There are teams on the bubble, that could make a run, with an established goaltender. Second up, Rielly…..just get out already! Time’s up! McMann, next up. The Oil could come calling for all 3, but that better be a defenseman coming back and 2 firsts. If the Oil looks at it properly, a Conference Final means 1st rounder at the end of the round. Next Robertson, if there’s a taker for a 2nd, do so. Willy next. Enough of his childish ways. A top 10 prospect and a second. If not a 1st and a second. Maccelli, 7th rounder, goodbye. Any 3rd or 4th liners that’ll get you a second, do so. Time to take an LTIR contract off someone’s cap for a draft pick or a player we can use. Fire the Coaching Staff. There….fixed!
This management team reminds me of a third world country. Slow to move and uncompetitive in a competitive market. Action is required before the Olympic break. One goalie not named Hildiby, should be moved. Woll should stay because he’s younger, so Stolarz should be good for a first. Edmonton, Vegas, Carolina and Montreal should be teams that could come calling sooner than later. Even Matthews should be dangled, but Nylander and his childish behavior needs to be extricated first. But knowing the Leafs, they’ll procrastinate and will be holding the bag at the trade deadline. One other thing that they could do is take on an LTIR contract from another team, giving them cap relief for a prospect or a draft pick.
I couldn’t agree more. Rielly has to be one of those on the way out of town. He’s been here long enough and his talent has peaked. Time to cash out on him. Stolarz is also another one, being in his early 30’s, with term should be a no brainer. Maccelli has been a bust and not worth the contract they gave him…move him as well as McMann. Cash out on him while he looks legit.
I think that this team as it sits is unfixable and needs major surgery. Looking at how many top end teams handle the Leafs, they aren’t winning anything this year. Better to divest for draft picks and retool through free agency. Just need to get in the bottom 5 in the draft and move those lost picks 1 year forward. Just let it crash and be done with it. See if Pelly has the guts to completely gut this team and bring in a whole new management team, or is it just more lip service. Empty seats will speak his language.
Hire me!!! I couldn’t do any worse than the last 10 GM’s. First thing I’d fix is getting the best scouts available, hiring them away with cash from MLS&E. Second, get the best coach available at the end of the season. I’d auction Matthews off to the highest bidder. Nylander, same thing. Any dumb GM’s that want a 3rd or 4th liner, I’d make them pay a premium, once I upsold them. What pisses me off about Treliving, is the value added trades. Instead of just sending the 1st rounder for a Laughton, they throw in a prospect. The young Russian that had potential, or a Fraser Minton to Boston in the Carlo deal. Having those two might have salvaged the season this year, but no, they’re going to be playing the playoffs with their new teams. It’s a fucking travesty and it’s been the policy for too many decades. Now we sit and watch as the team sinks to the depths of the standings, with no draft capital, and long term high end contracts. Hire me MLS&E! I’ll have you back in the playoffs in 3 years!!!
That’s a wrap. On to Football. Leafs are doing the dogfuk shuffle. Buffalo’s going to end their playoff aspirations next.
