Isn't the site already that way?

Ek's column isn't the reason anyone comes here. If you're bored, you read it and then take a few pot shots at Ek, for which he quietly chuckles because you took the bait.

The vast majority of page views would be the team-focused bloggers, and the comments generated from those blogs.

And let's not forget the Official Leafs Prediction Thread, which generates about 12% of all page views for the site (this stat has a 12% margin of error).
- Atomic Wedgie

He spends time on his fake rumours, while he should be focused on rebuilding the site. The site is very old, and needs a lot of work.

He spends time on his fake rumours, while he should be focused on rebuilding the site. The site is very old, and needs a lot of work.
- Archaic

One takes a bit of time and the other takes money

One takes time and the other takes money
- Canada Cup

I could build a better site in a few hours, not even kidding. Not much money at all.

His logo was clearly created in Photoshop in the early 2000s.

I could build a better site in a few hours, not even kidding. Hi logo was clearly created in Photoshop in the early 2000s.
- Archaic

Can I be a Commissioner?

Can I be a Commissioner?
- Canada Cup

Only if you stage fake calls from GMs on the podcast

Keep in mind I know nothing about McCabe, but based upon my vast experience with EA NHL '93 and '94, McCabe and Rielly sounds like a good combo.

McCabe can stay at home and cover up when Rielly is caught behind the opposition's net.
- Atomic Wedgie

Ya I think priority 1 for Keefe is getting the Rielly partnership going the right way. Need him playing his best.

Lots of 'defensive' types to balance out the other two pairs. I don't think he liked Lilly or Holl there ...Gio doesn't play the right side ...so it's Brodie or McCabe.

Lock in that pairing then let the other 4 guys pair up.

Don't agree with this, by the numbers it was the most even playoff series.

Also Idc about the (frank)ing bubble, personally I don't. the whole playoffs was a mess and means nothing to me.

MTL sucked, they blew that one.
- Santo_44

All things being equal, the Leafs had home ice advantage.

Chychrun is not coming to Toronto. Long shot the Leafs do any more period but if they were going to the only position left to improve would be RD.

The only clean way to set up the D based on LD/RD and compatibility...meaning one guy might suck and the other guy has to cover for them....is:

Rielly, Brodie - tried and tested, Rielly needs Brodie so he doesn't look like poop
McCabe, Lily - feels right, vet with a kinda rookie, solid pairing with some offense
Gio, Holl - this is exactly where both of them belong on the bottom pairing
Sandin, Timmins - both too inexperienced/young/Sandin sucks, for the big smoke


On the forwards, pretty cut and dry but depending on the opponent Keefe has some flexibility with putting RoR at 3C and maybe Lafferty/Acciari at 2LW in a Bunting type roll.

I did like the idea some one posted yesterday of Lafferty, Acciari, ZAR as a 4th line of mayhem and chaos. It would be pretty damn good depending on the opponent the Leafs are playing.

Pretty interested to see how it all works on Wednesday. Hate when I have hope with the Leafs, but I guess I'll have to ride it out like the last 50 or so years.

Canes loading up on remediation projects.

Oilers making room for a blueline addition.
- The Law

They just helped the oilers clear 3m off the cap.
Nice.

He spends time on his fake rumours, while he should be focused on rebuilding the site. The site is very old, and needs a lot of work.
- Archaic

Remember the Hockeybuzz app?

It was sooooo good.

Still, the leafs were built to be a powerhouse offensively. They didn’t get it done.

When the opposition only scores 2 goals a team built the way the leafs are need to be able to score 3.

Rielly had the leafs goal, so $40 million dollars worth of forward got nothing more than a couple assists on a single goal. It’s on them.
- Dozzer

I definitely agree that the Leafs stars did not move the needle last year nor against MTL. The huffing and puffing about this fact seems curious and entirely disingenuous.

So yeah, lamenting Jack missing a key save can be exaggerated if we don't take into account our much vaunted Core 4 offence drying up when it matters most.

"Get 'er done, stars" may sound reductive but considering how much time and energy has already been exhausted complaining about their lack of post-season production the past few years I think narrative is on firm ground.

(still wish Jack had controlled that (frank)ing rebound though)

Only if you stage fake calls from GMs on the podcast

- Archaic

Jenner to the Leafs - CC4

Canes loading up on remediation projects.

Oilers making room for a blueline addition.
- The Law

I don't mean to be negative Nancy here, but don't the Oilers need to get a goalie?

They are relying on a kid with 48 games NHL experience and ... uh... Campbell (.884 sv%, 3.48 GAA).

Jenner to the Leafs - CC4
- Canada Cup

Sounds believable enough. Leafs making HUGE play for Ovechkin...more to come ARC3

I don't mean to be negative Nancy here, but don't the Oilers need to get a goalie?

They are relying on a kid with 48 games NHL experience and ... uh... Campbell (.884 sv%, 3.48 GAA).
- Atomic Wedgie

Campbell went toe to toe with Vasilevskiy last year, he is warming up for the playoffs

I don't mean to be negative Nancy here, but don't the Oilers need to get a goalie?

They are relying on a kid with 48 games NHL experience and ... uh... Campbell (.884 sv%, 3.48 GAA).
- Atomic Wedgie

The Oiler plan is win every game 10-8.

I don't mean to be negative Nancy here, but don't the Oilers need to get a goalie?

They are relying on a kid with 48 games NHL experience and ... uh... Campbell (.884 sv%, 3.48 GAA).
- Atomic Wedgie

Yup.
As long as they get average goaltending, they should be ok......until theyre not.

The Oiler plan is win every game 10-8.
- Whipper

In their defence, that worked for them five times.

In their defence, that worked for them five times.
- Atomic Wedgie

In their what?

So how did the stars do last year? Simmons is cherry picking his stats by including past years that we know were a failure. Is there progress? Do you see improvement? Have the players shown that they are elevating their games?

Or do we include - as the average - the results that 19 year old kids produced in their first years of the playoffs to drag down the numbers? It's bad data and it's presented that way because it's trolling.

How many HD chances did the stars get and generate? How many the year before? The year? How many did they give up? Year before, and so on.

The real way you go about dealing with this type of extrinsic data is to manage it's comparison properly not aggregate it using lower elements to deflate the value so you can make a bad faith argument.

I haven't done this myself, but I can say that the Leafs in last year's playoffs were exceptional. And despite comments like this - or Dozzer's lame, "they didn't get it done," neither did Tampa's stars. Nick Paul scored a goal to win that game. Tavares scored the go-ahead goal that was ridiculously called off. The game before the Leafs had a 3-2 lead and a phantom high stick call gave Tampa a power play and then a 2-man advantage when Kerfoot engaged in the far corner and got his stick up legitimately - a play that wouldn't have happened if not for the made-up call.

They didn't get it done, but constantly harping on it that way instead of recognizing the progress in that series - and the fact that they, in every way, stepped up and forward and deserved to win is silly.
- Monkeypunk

Perfect, another defenceman who can't defence for the oilers. 🤣
- joel878

Ya, don't see it.

I assume he'll be partnered with McCabe tomorrow.

Curious to see if they try mcCabe with Rielly and Brodie with Holl. Brodie/Holl were really good together during that Nov/Dec stretch. Gio and Lilly always good together too.
- The Law

That was Brodie's worst hockey of the season.

The best the Leafs D can look with the guys on the roster, imo-

Rielly - Brodie
McCabe - Liljegren
Gio- Timmins

Or

Rielly - Liljegren
McCabe - Brodie
Gio - Timmins

Unless they wanna go with 7 D and 11 F. So put Sandin in as the 7th.

Sandin in can give the Leafs a second power play unit with him and Timmins, and they've shown they can do it together, with their time in the Soo. (Don't knock it, y'all know Dubas loves it )

So how did the stars do last year? Simmons is cherry picking his stats by including past years that we know were a failure. Is there progress? Do you see improvement? Have the players shown that they are elevating their games?

Or do we include - as the average - the results that 19 year old kids produced in their first years of the playoffs to drag down the numbers? It's bad data and it's presented that way because it's trolling.

How many HD chances did the stars get and generate? How many the year before? The year? How many did they give up? Year before, and so on.

The real way you go about dealing with this type of extrinsic data is to manage it's comparison properly not aggregate it using lower elements to deflate the value so you can make a bad faith argument.

I haven't done this myself, but I can say that the Leafs in last year's playoffs were exceptional. And despite comments like this - or Dozzer's lame, "they didn't get it done," neither did Tampa's stars. Nick Paul scored a goal to win that game. Tavares scored the go-ahead goal that was ridiculously called off. The game before the Leafs had a 3-2 lead and a phantom high stick call gave Tampa a power play and then a 2-man advantage when Kerfoot engaged in the far corner and got his stick up legitimately - a play that wouldn't have happened if not for the made-up call.

They didn't get it done, but constantly harping on it that way instead of recognizing the progress in that series - and the fact that they, in every way, stepped up and forward and deserved to win is silly.
- Monkeypunk

More importantly, what lessons are drawn from the series and how has the team changed. We forget about how much better they are defensively from last year, especially compared to TBL. They went into that series 19th in goals against. Tampa was 6th. Right now, Tampa is 19th and the Leafs are 4th and have significantly upgraded their defensive strength in the last week or so. (Also helps that Samsonov is at or near the top of the league in saves from high danger situations.)

Remember the Hockeybuzz app?

It was sooooo good.
- Atomic Wedgie

Nope, did that actually exist?

A prominent blogger on this website said Chickenrun could be headed to Caps, Pens, Sens, Hurricanes, or Oilers. Six minutes later, posted the Leafs are still in on him. You can't make this stuff up...
- Whipper

apparently you could