so casey is not going to win the calder?
- homiedclown

No but Rasmus still could

Heey Ohh... That's all I got.
- SDSabre

lobbed that one up for y'all

this is what a Stanley cup forward group might look like:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Burakovsky-Eller-Connolly
Stephenson-Dowd-DSP

Just a fortnight ago, I took the steam ferry from Black Rock to Lockport, and this dandy nipper was letting it rip about Millard Fillmore. The nobby blow hard blathered on on about his desire to keep the corrupt whig in office through and beyond '53. Well I told the fool to dry up, naturally. And that lilly livered fop didn't have the spunk to retort, as is common among Whig men.


...

I didn't get a lot of work done today
- jcragcrumple

dafuq

We aren't the only team with the top-heavy problem. The avalanche are experiencing a lesser version of the same problem we have.

If you really think about it, both teams are still in the top 10. Not the worst problem to have TBH.

this is what a Stanley cup forward group might look like:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Burakovsky-Eller-Connolly
Stephenson-Dowd-DSP
- Michael Pachla

So you're saying we have a long ways to go. Got it.

dafuq
- BareMetal

Can only argue about Larsson so many times amirite

So you're saying we have a long ways to go. Got it.
- RhinoFan

maybe

maybe
- Michael Pachla

It's true.

Defense looks better.

Glass half full mood today.

maybe mogilny at first before the injuries


that's about it
- homiedclown

Pat la la and mogilny both were incredibly fast

I just cannot tolerate thinking about loosing in any way shape or form anymore, just because it would be better in the future. Just get those thoughts out of your mind. Think about winning as much as possible and when we don't win, that sucks.

I have the same feeling about J. White on WGR. He's constantly defending his open rooting for the tank. Enough already. Stop living in the past when that past sucked. I rooted for the tank too and cheered out loud at Casa di pizza (miss that place) when they secured last place. But it's time to leave that negativity behind.
- Angler

Answer me this then sir, how much better would the Leafs be right now if they didn’t make the playoffs in 2016 and got a boatload of assets for JVR and Bozak a year and a half before they lost them for nothing ? Maybe they still take Liljegren or they end up with Erik Brannstrom whom you can watch play 20+ minutes a night for Sweden in the WJC this holiday season. I wonder if all the people that rooted against the tank boo Dahlin everytime he steps on the ice. Better players= better shot of winning the cup and not just making the playoffs for a cup of coffee.

It's true.

Defense looks better.

Glass half full mood today.
- RhinoFan

happy solstice day!!!

doesn't change the struggles all season long with this group


2 guys can change things big time by forcing others down a line

it's frustrating


if they don't want to play casey as second line center, fine use e-rod as a stop gap

thompson-e-rod-nylander, or smith/olofsson-e-rod-thompson
sheary-casey-okposo
girgens-lockport larry-dirty pod racer

at least that gives us a glimmer of hope



this team is near the top of the standings and the lack of change makes me feel they are content to slide into a lottery pick
- homiedclown

What? Why change anything when we are at the top of the standings?

Jbotts isnt gonna Murray, but he will trade for a young guy with term.
Probably when teams realize they are out of the playoff race.

I just cannot tolerate thinking about loosing in any way shape or form anymore, just because it would be better in the future. Just get those thoughts out of your mind. Think about winning as much as possible and when we don't win, that sucks.

I have the same feeling about J. White on WGR. He's constantly defending his open rooting for the tank. Enough already. Stop living in the past when that past sucked. I rooted for the tank too and cheered out loud at Casa di pizza (miss that place) when they secured last place. But it's time to leave that negativity behind.
- Angler

Great post

2nd line scoring doesn't matter.

happy solstice day!!!
- Michael Pachla

Likewise, Merry Chrimbo to you and yours.

2nd line scoring doesn't matter.
- SABRES 89

Something has to give.

2nd line scoring doesn't matter.
- SABRES 89

We don't have a line that plays 2nd line minutes

We don't have a line that plays 2nd line minutes
- jcragcrumple

You and your facts

Something has to give.
- RhinoFan

Not yet but soon.

Not yet but soon.
- SABRES 89

oooooo...you're sitting on something, aren't you?

Answer me this then sir, how much better would the Leafs be right now if they didn’t make the playoffs in 2016 and got a boatload of assets for JVR and Bozak a year and a half before they lost them for nothing ? Maybe they still take Liljegren or they end up with Erik Brannstrom whom you can watch play 20+ minutes a night for Sweden in the WJC this holiday season. I wonder if all the people that rooted against the tank boo Dahlin everytime he steps on the ice. Better players= better shot of winning the cup and not just making the playoffs for a cup of coffee.
- Pegullaville

I'm not disputing the logic that ending up lower in the standings = better chance at getting better players. That is irrefutable. All I'm saying is that it's time for us to all collectively leave that in the past.

Where do you draw the line between loosing for future assets and learning to win, loving that, and hating to lose no matter what. The leafs are in pretty great shape right now and I would think that going to the playoffs in 16, despite the early exit and not winning the cup, was very important for the development of the young players that they did have and are their core moving forward.

Your original post suggested we should make the playoffs as a wild card, and then loose in the first round (since you seem to think a first round loss is inevitable) so that we will draft lower. You're walking an awfully fine line there. Like I said, I did root for the tank, but it is time to leave that mentality in the past.

We have an awesome young core, a bunch of picks coming up and more than a handful of prospects that should be NHL players within the next year-three years. The future of this organization has probably never looked better than it does right now. Time to root for winning and nothing else.

oooooo...you're sitting on something, aren't you?
- Michael Pachla

Some talking but it's all about Skinner for right now. I heard a name but may be the time to mention it yet.

You and your facts
- SABRES 89

I think it's time to give a line - any line - bonafide 2nd line minutes. The balancing act isn't allowing any line to get on a roll and really contribute offensively

One other thought - Bylsma used to occasionally throw Eichel out on a different line in a non double shifting scenario to confuse the other coach and create mismatches. It might be interesting to occasionally swap Mittelstadt and Eichel within a game see if something opens up. It would at least give the opposition something to think about

I think it's time to give a line - any line - bonafide 2nd line minutes. The balancing act isn't allowing any line to get on a roll and really contribute offensively

One other thought - Bylsma used to occasionally throw Eichel out on a different line in a non double shifting scenario to confuse the other coach and create mismatches. It might be interesting to occasionally swap Mittelstadt and Eichel within a game see if something opens up. It would at least give the opposition something to think about
- jcragcrumple

IMO #37 is not ready as of yet for 2nd line duty let alone 1st.