If Kessel gets the Cup, so does Crosby. Go Bolts!
- Steven_Seagull

Oh no, not the greatest player of this generation, captain Canada himself..

Did it occur to anyone here to contrast and compare how Leaf prospects did with Sens prospects at the WC? Or in junior? I can't imagine why I'd ever even care about that. I just wanted to see the Leafs' prospects put in a good showing.

Oh no, not the greatest player of this generation, captain Canada himself..
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I thought Ovechkin was Russian.

The defense wasn't that weak really. Other goalies didn't have a problem, he just flat out sucked balls.


If he had subpar numbers but didn't let in at least one weak one a game, softies on the first skit every game I think more would be more receptive to a second chance.
- burn

fair enough. I watched more of the first 1/2 of the season than the latter and like to watch the Leafs and remember them being a little weak, but I may be misremembering. Did they improve much in the second half?

The Bruins own the Sharks pick and I'm hoping for the same, but too be honest when it gets that late in the round it's so granular I think it's difficult to distinguish between one pick and another. I know you all think highly of Hunter, but there are so many variables that make passing on a player that goes at 27 that goes 30th such a crapshoot.
- RickJames77

For sure. But either way I want the highest picks possible regardless especially when it's determined by two teams that I don't support.

Same team, but the Sens prospect so clearly outshines either of the Leafs that I didn't want to mention his name.

Ever heard of Timo Meier? Pretty good prospect. Takes a back seat to Perron.
- BetterCallSaul

If marner can somehow squeak past Perron tonight they go direct to the finals on Sunday.

I thought Ovechkin was Russian.
- Steven_Seagull

Nah. He's got lots of time now.

Random, but did anyone here buy tickets to the World Cup of Hockey?

I thought about it, but wasn't sure if you could sell individual tickets. I wouldn't be able to stay in Toronto for 2 weeks at that time of year due to work.

fair enough. I watched more of the first 1/2 of the season than the latter and like to watch the Leafs and remember them being a little weak, but I may be misremembering. Did they improve much in the second half?
- RickJames77

They certainly scored more goals as the season went on. First month they scored about 15 goals.

If the Leafs get Stamkos and they stay healthy, they're making the playoffs...
I might be the only one here brave enough to say it... but whatever.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I am confident they will be a playoff team as well. There is nothing to tear down. And they have lots of poker chips - The draft will be an amazing day - Lou has a shopping list I'm sure.

Nah. He's got lots of time now.
- systemtool

That was clever enough for me to not flag you. Good on you, sir.

fair enough. I watched more of the first 1/2 of the season than the latter and like to watch the Leafs and remember them being a little weak, but I may be misremembering. Did they improve much in the second half?
- RickJames77

They weren't world beaters or anything, but single biggest issue at the beginning of the year was bernier god awful tending. Guarantee at least one terrible goal every game. Usually first shot of the game.


They weren't giving up a ton of chances and they were on the right side of the corsi ledger. They we're totally hamstrung by the brutal goaltending. They put in other goalies and didn't have the same issues.

They weren't world beaters or anything, but single biggest issue at the beginning of the year was bernier god awful tending. Guarantee at least one terrible goal every game. Usually first shot of the game.


They weren't giving up a ton of chances and they were on the right side of the corsi ledger. They we're totally hamstrung by the brutal goaltending. They put in other goalies and didn't have the same issues.
- burn

Yeah, I remember how they made a significant improvement in possession stats. We were joking about it because under RW and RC they had stretches were they winning while always being outshot, then under Babs they improved to if I recall at least average or above average in possession stats and were losing, so they were always the 'outliers' with those stats.

They weren't world beaters or anything, but single biggest issue at the beginning of the year was bernier god awful tending. Guarantee at least one terrible goal every game. Usually first shot of the game.


They weren't giving up a ton of chances and they were on the right side of the corsi ledger. They we're totally hamstrung by the brutal goaltending. They put in other goalies and didn't have the same issues.
- burn

Very good points - and one more point - lots of one goal losses where they outplayed their opponents.

Yeah, I remember how they made a significant improvement in possession stats. We were joking about it because under RW and RC they had stretches were they winning while always being outshot, then under Babs they improved to if I recall at least average or above average in possession stats and were losing, so they were always the 'outliers' with those stats.
- Zezel

Exactly. They basically went from one of the worse to more of the middle. They made strides in the corsi dept and we're still losing.... Outliers.

Good little article on the problem of too many Leafs:

https://www.thestar.com/s...enge-over-the-summer.html
- Atomic Wedgie

Wow there is some names at the end I would rathet not give up.

They need to move some bodies, hopefully for quality but probably not much.

Very good points - and one more point - lots of one goal losses where they outplayed their opponents.
- winsix

Very hard to play when you are down a goal before the national anthem

Very good points - and one more point - lots of one goal losses where they outplayed their opponents.
- winsix

Previously, if you played a drinking game where you took a drink every time you heard 'cleared to the line but not out', you would be in the morgue. Last year pretty much every one here was saying, well, they're losing, but they're really not as bad to watch as before. They had a system but just didn't have the goalie and enough talent.

There will be more talent next year, and also another year of maturation/coaching for Rielly, Gardiner and with Zaitsev added in will be a factor hopefully.

Boom!

Previously, if you played a drinking game where you took a drink every time you heard 'cleared to the line but not out', you would be in the morgue. Last year pretty much every one here was saying, well, they're losing, but they're really not as bad to watch as before. They had a system but just didn't have the goalie and enough talent.

There will be more talent next year, and also another year of maturation/coaching for Rielly, Gardiner and with Zaitsev added in will be a factor hopefully.
- Zezel

yeah

The most apt description I heard last year was from one of the play-by-play guys saying this Leafs team hangs around and hangs around and makes you beat them. They didn't just suck giant rhino turds and let the other team take a night off like before. Strange to say about a team that finished worse than previous teams, but it's true. They also did start to blatantly goalie-tank after the trade deadline.

Stamkos signs and you should all be happy. (frank)ing dummys.

That was clever enough for me to not flag you. Good on you, sir.
- Steven_Seagull

Sid-nay!!

Stamkos signs and you should all be happy. (frank)ing dummys.
- Leafland

We'll never all be happy...

Sid-nay!!
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I stopped watching after the second goal.



This is just another reason why Florida is the worst state. Can't rely on those rubes to win a (frank)ing game!