Are you kidding - at least half of the Canadian media guys want the Leafs to lose badly. Then they will have 3 months of subject matter to rip into Babcock, Mathews, the General Manager, Brendan Shanahan, Bettman and ticket prices.
- RickJ

McKenzie? Dreger? LeBrun?

I don't see that happening.....IF LeBrun could have Crosby's kid tomorrow and marry Babcock and raise it......he would.

Yes. TO not a player friendly environment.
- Return of the Roar

Similar to being a New York Yankee I suspect.

Yes. TO not a player friendly environment.
- Return of the Roar

I actually think he has lost his confidence; very bad thing for a goaltender especially when he knows his coach doesn't have any confidence in him or even want him.

McKenzie? Dreger? LeBrun?

I don't see that happening.....IF LeBrun could have Crosby's kid tomorrow and marry Babcock and raise it......he would.
- SteveRain

That's probably why they allow same sex marraige in Canada, just for that scenario.

Similar to being a New York Yankee I suspect.
- paulr

Some might say worse....

Any word on Cale Morris?
- MjulQvist

Do you mean Cale Makar? If yes, his team (Mass) is in the Frozen Four so his college season isn't over yet.

Toews, Kane, Cat and Strome are by far the highlights of the season for me. Watching Toews rediscover his Elite play is probably #1 of the 4 impressive seasons from the Hawks dynamic duos from 2 generations. Kane was on McDavid/Kucherov level for 1/2 the season, and that was a treat to watch.


Hawks win the #3 lottery ball next Tuesday
- EnzoD

I think they'll move the other way, from #10 to #11.

That's probably why they allow same sex marraige in Canada, just for that scenario.
- paulr

well done....and I can't wait for my twitter feed to explode as Lebrun tells me how great Crosby is because he made a pass or won a face off...….

BTW those Canadian teams were loaded. He did a great job getting guys like Toews/Nash to buy into a checking role where they are normally scorers.

Stanbo should be able to get himself a real deal this summer on Garrett Sparks.
And Babcock will buy his airline ticket and pay all delivery charges to destination.
- RickJ

We might as well keep Forsberg, great AHL record, poop in the NHL

I actually think he has lost his confidence; very bad thing for a goaltender especially when he knows his coach doesn't have any confidence in him or even want him.
- RickJ

Tough spot - a lot of similarities to the Hawks in the sense that the defense is basically a dumpster fire there as well.

If you would read my posts instead of reacting to them, I said not to cheapshot. But please finish checks, especially along the boards. If an injury happens (See Drake), well so be it.
- powerenforcer

Didn't you post on page 2 about hitting Vlad Tarasenko while off balance and possibly tearing up his knee?

McKenzie? Dreger? LeBrun?

I don't see that happening.....IF LeBrun could have Crosby's kid tomorrow and marry Babcock and raise it......he would.
- SteveRain

Forget those guys, they are more national around the league press. When Leafs lose they move on and don't destroy their sources on their way to next assignment.

I'm talking about the local media and newspaper guys - I call them National Inquirer reporters. Chris Johnson, Steve Simmons, Damian Cox, Bruce Arthur, Dave Shoalts, Dave Feschuk, Lance Hornby. There are 3 newspapers in Toronto that cover the Leafs closely and never stop looking for dirt on them to report.

If Babcock loses badly this year and they are going to try to to run his ass out of town.

Forget those guys, they are more national around the league press. When Leafs lose they move on and don't destroy their sources on their way to next assignment.

I'm talking about the local media and newspaper guys - I call them National Inquirer reporters. Chris Johnson, Steve Simmons, Damian Cox, Bruce Arthur, Dave Shoalts, Dave Feschuk, Lance Hornby. There are 3 newspapers in Toronto that cover the Leafs closely and never stop looking for dirt on them to report.

If Babcock loses badly this year and they are going to try to to run his ass out of town.
- RickJ

What about Dubas with the cap mess he caused by paying Nylander that money, still having to sign Marner (even if he signs for what the delusional Leaf fans think will be a cap friendly deal for $9 mil.), and having a horrible defense and not very physical team.

Didn't you post on page 2 about hitting Vlad Tarasenko while off balance and possibly tearing up his knee?
- boilermaker100

You people need reading comprehension, or you are watching too much of the cable news networks.

Forget those guys, they are more national around the league press. When Leafs lose they move on and don't destroy their sources on their way to next assignment.

I'm talking about the local media and newspaper guys - I call them National Inquirer reporters. Chris Johnson, Steve Simmons, Damian Cox, Bruce Arthur, Dave Shoalts, Dave Feschuk, Lance Hornby. There are 3 newspapers in Toronto that cover the Leafs closely and never stop looking for dirt on them to report.

If Babcock loses badly this year and they are going to try to to run his ass out of town.
- RickJ

LOL....Ahh....got it. I hear you.

I love tsn and wish I could get it in the states. I actually do like Canada for all the ribbing I give it, and used to travel up to the QEW area quite a lot in Ontario for work. You guys can keep that hell hole of Boston Pizza, but I had a few great golf outings at Royal Niagra.

Please enlighten us.....

So why even listen to what any player, coach, executive who is part of the organization says? Including announcers. Why buy into what a guy says about a prospect, etc.

Its called accountability. Something the real world revolves in. If you go on record saying that you think this is a playoff team and it doesn't make the playoffs then it failed to meet HIS, not mine, not yours, not any other posters, but McDonough's expectations.

That is a fact. Now what will come of it? I bet nothing.....they'll spin their way around it, and I think Bowman having made 2 nice trades in season bought himself a longer leash.

But yes, I care about what a team thinks about it's expectations because otherwise we can go back to 1999 and enjoy more dark days when it was all about making money and nothing on the ice mattered.

And btw....hes not an idiot. You're a joke for being a keyboard ninja.
- SteveRain

I'm with Mr. Rain. As Michael said to Carlo, "...don't tell me you're innocent, because it insults my intelligence. It makes me very angry."

No one's 'butt hurt'. But I don't like it when politicians, sports executives, or anyone else, insults my intelligence.

What about Dubas with the cap mess he caused by paying Nylander that money, still having to sign Marner (even if he signs for what the delusional Leaf fans think will be a cap friendly deal for $9 mil.), and having a horrible defense and not very physical team.
- LAHawk

The mistake the Leafs and Dubas made was capitulating to Nylander and his agent's demands. They should have either traded his rights or made him sit on his ass for the whole season. Now they are stuck with that over inflated contract, a very diminished trade value and cap space issues. That's what happens when you listen to the coach and Auston Mathews saying everyday how they wanted him back and how important he was to the team. He has played like a dog all season and has 6 f'n goals.

I'm with Mr. Rain. As Michael said to Carlo, "...don't tell me you're innocent, because it insults my intelligence. It makes me very angry."

No one's 'butt hurt'. But I don't like it when politicians, sports executives, or anyone else, insults my intelligence.
- scottak

LOL...welcome to my rain cloud, buddy.

LOL....Ahh....got it. I hear you.

I love tsn and wish I could get it in the states. I actually do like Canada for all the ribbing I give it, and used to travel up to the QEW area quite a lot in Ontario for work. You guys can keep that hell hole of Boston Pizza, but I had a few great golf outings at Royal Niagra.
- SteveRain

Boston Pizza is ours? Jeez if you blew your expense account on golf at Royal Niagara I could have suggested a cheap place to eat better than Boston Pizza. Marcel Dionne owns a little diner in Niagara Falls - cheap, good and he's often in there to talk hockey.

You people need reading comprehension, or you are watching too much of the cable news networks.
- powerenforcer

“Finish checks on Vlad, maybe you hit him off-balance and he tears up his knee. Now that is a victory in itself.”

I don’t think it’s an issue with reading comprehension. It sure sounds to me like you’re rooting for an injury.

Boston Pizza is ours? Jeez if you blew your expense account on golf at Royal Niagara I could have suggested a cheap place to eat better than Boston Pizza. Marcel Dionne owns a little diner in Niagara Falls - cheap, good and he's often in there to talk hockey.
- RickJ

Customer took me there....it was bad.

He also took me to the sundowner, so it wasn't all bad...…..

“Finish checks on Vlad, maybe you hit him off-balance and he tears up his knee. Now that is a victory in itself.”

I don’t think it’s an issue with reading comprehension. It sure sounds to me like you’re rooting for an injury.
- Ogilthorpe2

Meant to ask you been grounded at all with the max issues?

SWA has a ton of them out in the Cali desert right now.....Seemed the whole thing was more pilot error then a mechanical thing, but better safe then sorry.

I think the players are as well....guys like Kane and Crawford you could sense it reading quotes today.

Im sure the entire organization is. Look its' a fickle fan base, they are DAMN lucky the Bulls are a complete joke or else the discretionary dollar battle would be worse. That's the whole key....they need spots to stay relevant in the "band wagon" fan's mind to help fill the UC, buy the merchandise, tv ratings, etc.

I went to some god awful games back in the late 90s. They lost 1-0 vs Kings in December 1 year and there was maybe 6K in attendance. Maybe. I got free seats from the hawks in 2005 vs Anaheim sat right in front of a suite in the 100 level.

My expectations as a fan are to maximize the window they have for Kane/Toews while they are still in their prime because its' very rare to have 2 great players at the same time, and both of those guys not are only great in the regular season but they are clutch in the playoffs. Huge X factor there.

If you haven't read Kane's quote today about being bummed about season ending and being in his prime, that's my "unrealistic" fandom as some call it. Grateful for the 3 titles, but always want more.

I always hate the argument of "you should be happy they won" that's the old 1985 bears excuse. Great they won.....but now looking back they are just as a big as a failure for not winning in 86/87 or even 89 then they are a success for winning in 85. That's what makes Jordan's Bulls and Toews/Kanes Hawks so great......multiple titles.

And if the theo worshippers on the north side dont' wake up, they will be reflecting in a decade about how the Cubs should have won more with that team then 1, and they'd be 100% right.
- SteveRain

But you should be...and just because you are that isn't some argument or case for you not wanting more.

Most of the posters here seem to be of the ilk who waited a really long time to see the Hawks finally win it all, and fickle fan base or not, when people have a hard time taking any enjoyment out of that, they've likely got bigger fish to fry.

As great as Kane and Toews are, the fact the Hawks have struggled the last few years just shows this ins't basketball and you need at least 2-3 all world players surrounded by a bunch of really good ones.

Only one team wins every year and if you aren't that team then you have to keep getting better til you do.

Capt Obvious, I know, but I think the Hawks have got the ship pointed back in the right direction with Toews proving he isn't a has been or never was (as some would have it) and Bowman making a couple of hockey trades (Strome, Caggiula, Perlini) and FA signings (Kahun, Kampf).

I used to go to some of those games too as I lived a little more than a mile away from the UC in East Village from '04-10. This team hardly resembles those.

I have high expectations for the team every year too but I think some almost enjoy it when the team comes up short so they can take shots at the guy who designed an ad campaign they take exception to. Just a thought.

It is hockey after all there is suppose to be hatred its suppose to be a rivalry
- vandymeer23

There is no hatred between teams in any sport anymore. It all went away when they formed unions. Now they are all union brothers.

“Finish checks on Vlad, maybe you hit him off-balance and he tears up his knee. Now that is a victory in itself.”

I don’t think it’s an issue with reading comprehension. It sure sounds to me like you’re rooting for an injury.
- Ogilthorpe2

fake news!!!