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Oilers/Leafs...Let the Trolling Begin! |
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Before I get into insulting the Leafs, I want to go back to yesterday's comparison of the Sedin twins to Gretzky/Kurri. A number of you thought I was dumb/idiotic for making it.
I remember the Gretzky/Kurri years well, and the game was very different then. Back then, some players were pack-a-day smokers. Back then, the players didn't train year round like they do now. There wasn't skating coaches, or sports psychologists...
My comparison between the two groups was based on the idea that Gretzky/Kurri, just like the Brothers Sedin, always seemed to know where the other player was. Both groups possessed some sort of psychic ability, if there is such a thing. I remember Gretzky saying in one of his books that he was asked if he had a third eye on the back of his head.
Part of the reason the Oilers dominated the way they did is because they were perhaps the first team to be big on physical fitness and training. I remember news articles at the time whenever the Oil would acquire a new player, that player would say things like, "I can't believe the speed at which the Oilers practice!" Paul Coffey was one of the first players who would ride the bike after games, and improved fitness was still a developing concept. Blah blah blah yadda yadda.
Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri would have been great together no matter when they played, but I am not sure they'd put up offensive numbers anywhere near what they did if they played now. The goalies are a zillion times better now, for starters. And bigger. Everyone is bigger. Nowdays, players can't make the NHL if they can't skate. Back then the Oilers skated circles around anyone, but I doubt they could have done it in the modern NHL. Players in the modern NHL are training demons, and money has brought the best players in the world to the NHL, whereas back in 80's the number of Europeans was still pretty limited.
I suppose we are comparing apples to oranges when we talk Sedin brothers vs. Gretzky/Kurri. There is no real way to know how the Sedin's would have done in the 80's, or how Gretzky/Kurri would do now.
Now that I've spit that out, it's time to spit in the direction of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
I feel sorry for the Leafs, actually. When the best prospect in your entire system is Nazem Kadri, you are a team worthy of sympathy. Have you watched this guy play? He reminds me of Andrew Cogliano. Can he skate? Sure. Can he make plays? Yep. But every time he shoots the puck, the puck somehow knows not to go into the net. And if puck trouble is not enough to concern you, watch Kadri get pushed off the puck and his feet anytime anything stronger than a 10km wind kicks up. Kadri has the career potential of a future disappointing second-line center. He has a future of listening to Leafs fans talk about trading him for Alexander Ovechkin and a first rounder, the same way Leafs fans ridiculously overvalue Tomas Kaberle.
Does Brian Burke actually believe what he says in respect to the Phil Kessel deal? I mean, is he ACTUALLY happy for the Bruins, like he says he is? I bet you when he's alone, he lays in the fetal position underneath his pool table, rocking back and forth, muttering things like, "this can't be happening. This can't be happening!" If the season ended right now, the Leafs would be giving up a potential 1st overall pick, but most likely the 3rd overall pick. Who would be available at #3? Adam Larsson's stock has dropped, and he's moved down to a projected #3 pick in 2011. So the Leafs would have given up Tyler Seguin, Adam Larsson and a 2nd round pick for Phil Kessel. Hilarious.
Another bit of comedy is that at the end of this season, two of the Leafs best players, Tomas Kaberle and JF Giguere, will be climbing over the UFA wall to freedom. Does anyone think either player will stick around and resign in TO? Nope; they're gonna run screaming. Goaltender Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson is eligible to be a UFA after the 2011/2012 season, and he'll likely run screaming too. Just who is gonna stop pucks after 2012? Andrew Raycroft, is he available?
The tragedy which is the Toronto Maple Leafs is that this team is actually going to get worse before it gets better. How do you get worse than 28th place? Forget about pointing out how the Oilers were 30th last season, and how they are practically even with the Leafs right now in the standings: We all know the Oilers have more talent, better youngsters and that as a club, they are on the rise. Note to Brian Burke: If you're gonna rebuild, do it the Edmonton way.
I actually love the Leafs fans come on to my blogs daily to argue hockey with Oiler fans. Why? Because next to Flames fans, Leafs fans are the most delusional, which makes them poetic. It's one thing to be on a sinking ship, but the entertainment factor involved in watching the ship sink is that much more increased when the band on board lives in denial, and continues to play like nothing is wrong. Somewhere in a back room of the ACC is Celine Dion, singing the wretched Titanic song.
The Oilers will win tonight, and the score will be 4 - 1. Steve MacIntyre will beat up Colton Orr again. Kadri will go home pointless, and the Oilers quartet of young guns (Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi, Linus Omark and Jordan Eberle) will all get points.
One final note for today: The New Jersey Devils have placed Brian Rolston on waivers. At $5mil+ per season with two years left on his contract, 37 year-old Rolston would be expensive to add. But the Devils are perhaps going to bring him through re-entry waivers if no one takes him over the next 24 hours. If you were the Oilers, would you pay $2.5mil per season to add a veteran like Rolston to help guide the kids?