I don’t give a flying frank what Spezza did for Ottawa.

I don’t give a flying frank what he is getting paid.

Spezza did not earn a slot tonight.

Winning is everything.
- Atomic Wedgie

But he's earned it Friday against better competition. Gotcha.

It's a sign that for all their camp fire chanting and singing kumbaya like they said, the GM and Coach of the Leafs are not only not on the same page, they are probably reading different books. That's the real rub. And he chose a veteran that signed here for a major haircut to embarrass on opening night as a passive aggressive way to make his point to the GM. Worried about that? I am.
- Deeps27

I’m assuming Dubas is reading a Hardy Boys Book or The Screech Owls.

ok I joined HBSL, you (frank)ers are going down
- BestRapperAlive

Welcome aboard. Get your Fantasy line-up in. Took 2nd place last year. Sweet personalized Jersey....Let's get it going!!!

I’m assuming Dubas is reading a Hardy Boys Book or The Screech Owls.
- Atomic Wedgie

Lies.. we all know Dubas is heavy into Nancy Drew mystery books

Lies.. we all know Dubas is heavy into Nancy Drew mystery books
- PatC80

I bought my daughter the entire set - most of them used for peanuts.

There’s something oddly satisfying about seeing them all together on a bookshelf.

I’m assuming Dubas is reading a Hardy Boys Book or The Screech Owls.
- Atomic Wedgie

And Babs is probably reading a biography....about Mike Babcock.

I bought my daughter the entire set - most of them used for peanuts.

There’s something oddly satisfying about seeing them all together on a bookshelf.
- Atomic Wedgie

Nancy Drew

And Babs is probably reading a biography....about Mike Babcock.
- Deeps27

I just blew snot onto my jacket sleeve.

Well done.

True Wedgie Story.

Check out the Leafs Twitter feed.

Looks like we get another scarf tonight.

Thanks, MLSEL. I really needed another Leafs scarf.

And apparently that Roots thing is an “arena scarf.”

Whatever the frank that means.
- Atomic Wedgie

I'm sitting this one out so I'll "miss out" on this years seat swag. The scarf went to my wife ...and it'll end up in the scarf cupboard ...in the basement ...with the other dozen Leaf scarfs and two-dozen TFC scarfs. I could open an online MLSE scarf shop.

Did anybody see the Alan Jones (skynews) rant against our youthful protesters? I'm a pretty hip liberal but that was a thing of beauty.

And Babs is probably reading a biography....about Mike Babcock.
- Deeps27

And Babs is probably reading a biography....about Mike Babcock.
- Deeps27

*slow clap ....

How dare Dubas or 30 other GMs not sign Phaneuf to a contract. He’s a 15 year veteran damn it! Time to treat veterans with respect.

Someone should of gave him a 700K contract and played him the first game of the season out of respect.
- Santo_44

One of these guys does have a $700K NHL contract currently though - that's the point. The GM felt Spezza was worth signing as a depth guy, which I believe he will be useful as. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but it makes no sense - other than what I've been saying about Babcock's ego - to sit him for the home opener, in his home town and come out and already announce he'll play Friday against a stronger opponent. He's sending a message - maybe to Spezza, maybe to Dubas, maybe both.

If you don't get the respect factor that comes with being a veteran in the NHL for as long as Spezza has then I don't know what to tell you. It's real, and has been for a long time, and has been a major part of the Babcock's shpeel over the last few years while Leafs coach. Something's changed.

I just blew snot onto my jacket sleeve.

Well done.

True Wedgie Story.
- Atomic Wedgie

True Wedgie stories are always the best.

I just blew snot onto my jacket sleeve.

Well done.

True Wedgie Story.
- Atomic Wedgie

One of these guys does have a $700K NHL contract currently though - that's the point. The GM felt Spezza was worth signing as a depth guy, which I believe he will be useful as. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but it makes no sense - other than what I've been saying about Babcock's ego - to sit him for the home opener, in his home town and come out and already announce he'll play Friday against a stronger opponent. He's sending a message - maybe to Spezza, maybe to Dubas, maybe both.

If you don't get the respect factor that comes with being a veteran in the NHL for as long as Spezza has then I don't know what to tell you. It's real, and has been for a long time, and has been a major part of the Babcock's shpeel over the last few years while Leafs coach. Something's changed.
- Deeps27

I agree with you.. This seems to be all based on Bab's ego.. If he really thinks Shore is better than Spezza, why wouldn't he put Shore in the lineup on Friday against the better team?

- AdamFrench

I’m pretty sure babs benched modano in Detroit with 3 games remaining that would’ve got him to 1000 games played.

Babs doesn’t care about anyone

Edit; 1500 games, he played 1499
- bryant

That's not true

One of these guys does have a $700K NHL contract currently though - that's the point. The GM felt Spezza was worth signing as a depth guy, which I believe he will be useful as. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but it makes no sense - other than what I've been saying about Babcock's ego - to sit him for the home opener, in his home town and come out and already announce he'll play Friday against a stronger opponent. He's sending a message - maybe to Spezza, maybe to Dubas, maybe both.

If you don't get the respect factor that comes with being a veteran in the NHL for as long as Spezza has then I don't know what to tell you. It's real, and has been for a long time, and has been a major part of the Babcock's shpeel over the last few years while Leafs coach. Something's changed.
- Deeps27

It's possible Spezza had a bad camp and just doesn't seem ready. Maybe if he wasn't a vet he would have been sent down, who knows, it's all speculation.

Players are not only judged in games but practice as well, and we don't really know how he's looking as a PKer, I think we can take Babcock at face value until more info is revealed.

I do trust that Babcock wants to win and will put out the lineup he believes will have the best chance to do so. Whether or not he's right will be proven with the outcome of the game.

1: Spezza is finished, wouldn't have gotten much more anywhere else.

2: "Passive aggresive way to make his point to the GM"? You think Babcock needs this? That he won't just go to Dubas and tell him what he thinks
- Scabeh

Yup. I agree here. I'm sure Babcock is like "Kyle, What the (frank) do you want me to do with Jason Spezza? You've taken Ron and Patrick away so you obviously don't want me playing vets, amd now you've given me Spezza. You're like my wife when i ask her is it ok of i go out with the boys this Saturday?"

- PatC80

Yup. I agree here. I'm sure Babcock is like "Kyle, What the (frank) do you want me to do with Jason Spezza? You've taken Ron and Patrick away so you obviously don't want me playing vets, amd now you've given me Spezza. You're like my wife when i ask her is it ok of i go out with the boys this Saturday?"
- walshyleafsfan

"yeah sure, if that's what you really want".


"guys, I can't go".

"yeah sure, if that's what you really want".


"guys, I can't go".


- Scabeh

Are you married to my wife too?

Should have put Spezza in tonight. unless he is hurt. why not?
how much of a difference is it going to make?

anyways, the thing I am most interested in seeing play out is Ceci
I have no idea how it ends. he has such atrocious stats its hard to imagine a big turnaround.

But Dubie kept him around for some reason.

Are you married to my wife too?
- walshyleafsfan