James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 2m2 minutes ago

Sami Vatanen only fined for elbowing David Booth in the face.
- lumlums

All NHL players subsequently become more responsible players out of fear of such a harsh penalty.

The advanced stats are not to blame for the trap. There are a lot of theories about where that came from.

Now, if you said they encourage people to take shots towards the net, from everywhere, then you might have a point.
- Aetherial

If I'm an impending UFA after most teams have bought heavily into analytics, I'd be firing the puck at the net from absolutely everywhere, Jason Blake style. My point totals might suck, but I would be 'a driver of possession' and my point totals would only suck because of bad luck and teams would give me the big contract because it's just a matter of time before that luck turns

yep, should have body checked him instead of coming "up" with his shoulder and jumping through the hit.
- Garnie

Whenever you are coming across a guys body and you only hit his head, that is dangerous. It is like a person getting in a car accident.

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 2m2 minutes ago

Sami Vatanen only fined for elbowing David Booth in the face.
- lumlums

that's pretty ridiculous.

I never said that, I said we've wanted it for a long time...... I never said I know they wont.


History shows that the Leafs will not suffer (financially, due to loss of revenue) while in a down turn during a rebuild. They've been spinning their tires for years and haven't lost a dime to people saying (frank) it, i'm not paying anymore.

That should be enough for the Management to say we have proof that the leafs can survive a teardown rebuild without losing $. IMO they may be the only team that can say that. The notion that the fan base will not stomach or support that type of rebuild holds no water.
- burn

Gotcha

You think he's a dumb hockey player?
- mykokes

His hockey IQ is fairly high, but I don't think that he's a particularly smart guy (from what I've seen in interviews, plus some of the on-ice poop).

We've been begging for it since the end of the Sundin era. I thought it was finally going to happen when Burke took the reins, but he thought he too much smarter than everybody else... I'm still all for it, if done right. What's right? I'm glad you asked. Like this:

1. Fire Carlyle

2. Fire Nonis

3. Shanny hires his GM (Hunter, Dubas, whoever Shanny's guy is) and immediately starts exploring what kind of picks/prospects/young NHLers with upside he can get for everyone not named Rielly/Bernier/Nylander. Make every move that makes sense and wait for the draft if the returns will be better for the non impending FAs

4. New GM announces hiring of Babcock on Jul 1st (let’s face it; if he’s coming here, it’s already been decided/worked out), failing that hires his coach, whoever that is

5. Let new core develop under new philosophy/identity (possession/grittiness/truculence/battle, whatever it may be) articulated and enforced by Shanahan until it’s time to use the new cap space to sign a couple UFA’s/deadline acquisitions that turns the team into a contender, all the while not being afraid to ship out young players unwilling to adhere to the strict philosophy/team identity ...

- 1979AD

Once you establish that identity, particularly the need to play defense and a high work ethic, then you don't have to ship young guys out. They come in and an indoctrinated day 1 in the minors.

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 2m2 minutes ago

Sami Vatanen only fined for elbowing David Booth in the face.
- lumlums

Of course, it's a Leaf player after all who received the hit, no big deal for the NHL As long as the revenue sharing cheque arrives.

All NHL players subsequently become more responsible players out of fear of such a harsh penalty.
- markmark

Yup. It's a (frank)ing joke.

I never said that, I said we've wanted it for a long time...... I never said I know they wont.


History shows that the Leafs will not suffer (financially, due to loss of revenue) while in a down turn during a rebuild. They've been spinning their tires for years and haven't lost a dime to people saying (frank) it, i'm not paying anymore.

That should be enough for the Management to say we have proof that the leafs can survive a teardown rebuild without losing $. IMO they may be the only team that can say that. The notion that the fan base will not stomach or support that type of rebuild holds no water.
- burn

And if this rebuild is done properly (as per my 5 point plan) it could create a perennial playoff team, which equals added millions in playoff revs. It makes sense from a business standpoint. Trying for long term gain even if it requires short term pain is preferable to perpetual stagnation. You don't need an MBA from Yale to figure that out.

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 2m2 minutes ago

Sami Vatanen only fined for elbowing David Booth in the face.
- lumlums

This is why I like the old days, the NHL are clueless, Vatenen needs to get his head punched for that wussy play... Just take the hit donkey...

I want to see a big sell off at the trade deadline and during the summer, fully knowing contracts like Kessel and Phaneuf are hard to move at the deadline I can be a bit patient but what irks me is that it took this organization 10 (frank)ing years to find a starting goalie worth a damn, now they have one and the rest of the team is in shambles.

I rarely do fantasy trades on here, but I'd love to hear the possibilities here of these doozies going through

Anyone here have a problem with:
To LA: Phaneuf
To Toronto: Richards, McNabb, Adrian Kempe?

To a team needing a 2nd line Center (based on versteeg trade):
To Team: Bozak
To Toronto: 1st and 3rd?

To a team needing a winger:
Joffrey Lupul
To Toronto: 2nd round pick
- mykokes

You wont get a 2nd for Lupul. You won't be able to move hiim without eating salary or taking a bad contract back.

I would not take Richards back for Phaneuf... not for that deal anyway.

Bozak may get a late first if some team that fancies itself a contender really needs the C depth.

Yup. It's a (frank)ing joke.
- lumlums

Always better to let them police themselves to some degree...

obviously booth should have been suspended for face checking
- Dozzer

Ah yes the rarely used rule 48 1/2 face checking

Once you establish that identity, particularly the need to play defense and a high work ethic, then you don't have to ship young guys out. They come in and an indoctrinated day 1 in the minors.
- Aetherial

That's the idea, although there may be some exceptions. Eg. the way Boston was willing to ship out a 21 year old 36 goal scorer rather than sign him big money long term because they didn't feel he would fully buy in with or fit their team identity.

You wont get a 2nd for Lupul. You won't be able to move hiim without eating salary or taking a bad contract back.

I would not take Richards back for Phaneuf... not for that deal anyway.

Bozak may get a late first if some team that fancies itself a contender really needs the C depth.
- Aetherial

If Pochahontas could get a 2nd, then dammit, so can Lupul!

All kidding aside, what part of Kempe and McNabb don't you like?

My response would have been I'm pretty sure analytics doesn't encourage players to do back hand dump ins or back hand chips to noone, and taking crappy shots from beyond the faceoff circles. they're playing a much safer game, but it means Richard all if they're not moving their feet and constantly attacking the puck, taking hits along the boards to move the puck up to the guy that has the best chance of moving the puck forward rather than simply chipping it to noman's land.
- mykokes

They're learning their d system now when most teams figure it out the first couple months...

Yup. It's a (frank)ing joke.
- lumlums

I just went to see if they put up a video of their explanation and watched a few other suspension videos. Besides the obvious, which is the league being (frank)ing clueless... there are A LOT of suicide passes going on in these plays. The first year there was contact in minor hockey that was the biggest no-no behind hitting from behind.

Glad they killed that jar of Tom Cat urine ISIS Canadian mouthy (frank) John Maguire



(the dude mouthing off on twitter like 2 months ago)

http://news.nationalpost....ttacks-back-home-is-dead/

Always better to let them police themselves to some degree...
- aminnes

I think that it's more indicative of the incompetence of the player safety dept than anything else. Hand out large fines, give multiple game suspensions, hell even throw in some additional community engagement duties during those times. Make people pay dearly with time and money and they'll start to care.

And if this rebuild is done properly (as per my 5 point plan) it could create a perennial playoff team, which equals added millions in playoff revs. It makes sense from a business standpoint. Trying for long term gain even if it requires short term pain is preferable to perpetual stagnation. You don't need an MBA from Yale to figure that out.
- 1979AD

yup. If they are bad for a while and get young guys to truly build a round (they wont lose a dime) and then build a perennial contender it will make then 10x more than what they are doing now.

His hockey IQ is fairly high, but I don't think that he's a particularly smart guy (from what I've seen in interviews, plus some of the on-ice poop).
- lumlums

Have you ever listened to Dustin Cave man captained 2 cups Brown speak?..

Looking forward to next season

Glad they killed that jar of Tom Cat urine ISIS Canadian mouthy (frank) John Maguire



(the dude mouthing off on twitter like 2 months ago)

http://news.nationalpost....ttacks-back-home-is-dead/
- PinkSock

May he Rest In Pieces