Im going to the Leafs game on the 22nd, the Core 4 better show up and get me the W

That's awesome.

WTF is going on with public transit across Canada?!? Stabbings, pushings, shootings, all the ings!
- Whipper

Drug addicts have taken over all of our towns and cities. They destroy businesses and put fear into the people. Maybe we need a purge.

Much ado in local Tampa media was made about the Lightning riding a wave of momentum prior to the ASG. If you look at their winning streak prior to the ASG, almost all of the wins came against bottom feeders and injury-riddled teams missing key pieces. Exactly the teams you are expected to beat if you are a contender. Nothing impressive or confidence-inspiring.

First decent team they run up against (Rangers) and they lose Sergachev to a season-ending injury and lose the game to geezer Quick.

I think Willy tried to play defence for the first half, but wasn’t very good at it.

Then completely stopped once he signed that contract.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I'm not sure if you're just trolling or if you hate Nylander so much that you make up these conspiracies in your head.

You know what happened? His centre was on a cold streak and his right winger skates around like a chicken with his head cut-off. His right-winger can sometimes create space by skating around like a drunken lunatic, but you need at least two guys on a line who are working and usually all three.

Objectively not a lot changed in Willy's game all year - the occasional poor game - but this past streak has been harder because Tavares had been struggling.

For context to me, when they put Nick Ritchie with Matthews and Marner it was ugly as well - in 9 games they had 0 goals for and 3 against. Every time anyone talks about how easy Bunting or Hyman had it or how Knies should be tearing it up, I want a picture of Nick Ritchie to tap on as a reminder!

That said . . .Do I think a couple of Willy's worst games this year did happen in the past month? Yes. But I also don't think he's coasting because of the new contract at all. These guys - all of them - they have egos larger than most of us can comprehend (or would probably like being around for prolonged periods) - and that ego is fed by scoring and winning. It's often what makes a pro athlete.

Any high priced 8 year contract given out to a guy who is 28 when it starts is bound to have a real rough ending, but I at least believe the beginning of this contract for at least half will be fine.

Drug addicts have taken over all of our towns and cities. They destroy businesses and put fear into the people. Maybe we need a purge.
- shack67

America has the solution. Become as fat as possible.

The goal is to put on a layer of blubber so thick that stabbings and beatings simply cannot penetrate the dense layer of meat armor.

Scientists have calculated that an American that weighs 1000 pounds would be immune to small arms fire and virtually unmuggable by conventional means.

This is the way.

Wall-E floating fat people in tricked-out hoverchairs, dodging projectiles from the dirty hungry poors that scatter below us like rats. Comon, learn Canada. This is easy.

As a Leaf fan banished to Oiler country, I was telling everyone that listened that the streak, while impressive, was against primarily REALLY bad teams. They beat LA at the beginning of their downward spiral, they beat the Leafs when they were down bad, and they beat I believe the Rangers, which was just about their only legit win.

I kept telling people I wouldn't acknowledge their streak unless they beat Vegas, and alas...
- Whipper

Winning that many was nice for them in terms of getting back into the playoffs and maybe even Division Lead...the more important thing was that they were letting under 3 goals a game. If the Oilers won 5-4 16 times in a row, I don't think we'd be surprised, but they won weirdly low scoring games. Both good and bad, but I think they will take that.

America has the solution. Become as fat as possible.

The goal is to put on a layer of blubber so thick that stabbings and beatings simply cannot penetrate the dense layer of meat armor.

Scientists have calculated that an American that weighs 1000 pounds would be immune to small arms fire and virtually unmuggable by conventional means.

This is the way.

Wall-E floating fat people in tricked-out hoverchairs, dodging projectiles from the dirty hungry poors that scatter below us like rats. Comon, learn Canada. This is easy.
- GalacticStone

Add it to the Merriam Webster's dictionary as the word of 2024 I don't care if it's early, this wins.

America has the solution. Become as fat as possible.

The goal is to put on a layer of blubber so thick that stabbings and beatings simply cannot penetrate the dense layer of meat armor.

Scientists have calculated that an American that weighs 1000 pounds would be immune to small arms fire and virtually unmuggable by conventional means.

This is the way.

Wall-E floating fat people in tricked-out hoverchairs, dodging projectiles from the dirty hungry poors that scatter below us like rats. Comon, learn Canada. This is easy.
- GalacticStone

Ha ha.

Much ado in local Tampa media was made about the Lightning riding a wave of momentum prior to the ASG. If you look at their winning streak prior to the ASG, almost all of the wins came against bottom feeders and injury-riddled teams missing key pieces. Exactly the teams you are expected to beat if you are a contender. Nothing impressive or confidence-inspiring.

First decent team they run up against (Rangers) and they lose Sergachev to a season-ending injury and lose the game to geezer Quick.
- GalacticStone

Tampa doesn't have much draft capital, after the Jennott trade last year. If they had anything left in the cupboard, they'd be using them already. They may need a defenseman but what have they to offer?

Tampa doesn't have much draft capital, after the Jennott trade last year. If they had anything left in the cupboard, they'd be using them already. They may need a defenseman but what have they to offer?
- PrinceLH

Find some idiot to take Cirelli? PLD for Cirelli!

Tampa doesn't have much draft capital, after the Jennott trade last year. If they had anything left in the cupboard, they'd be using them already. They may need a defenseman but what have they to offer?
- PrinceLH

Not much. Not much at all.

Tampa is learning a hard lesson about outbidding competing GM's for players they covet in trades. Two cups is a solid return on the lost assets and fans wanted a third cup. I think that third cup is totally pie in the sky now.

I mean, I guess anything is possible with a hot Vasi and healthy Hedman and Ducherov, but I wouldn't consider them serious contenders any more.

They have been calling up a lot of rookies lately, probably to showcase them somewhat. Maybe some team will bite on a couple of Tampa bubble players and a package of draft picks for the 2038 draft year.

As a Leaf fan banished to Oiler country, I was telling everyone that listened that the streak, while impressive, was against primarily REALLY bad teams. They beat LA at the beginning of their downward spiral, they beat the Leafs when they were down bad, and they beat I believe the Rangers, which was just about their only legit win.

I kept telling people I wouldn't acknowledge their streak unless they beat Vegas, and alas...
- Whipper

I think had they not had that break, they would have beat vegas....with momentum they had.
Either way 16 wins in a row is impressive, considering how they started.
But its all about the playoffs

I think had they not had that break, they would have beat vegas.
Either way 16 wins in a row is impressive, considering how they started.
- Fakepartofme

It is actually mind-boggling how hard they turned that around, and pretty much only with a coaching change. Gives me hope for the Leafs.

I think had they not had that break, they would have beat vegas....with momentum they had.
Either way 16 wins in a row is impressive, considering how they started.
But its all about the playoffs
- Fakepartofme

I was surprised to see that Edmonton is middle of the pack in PDO (21st). I expected higher.

I still don't think their goaltending issues have spontaneously and permanently corrected themselves.

We'll see.

How are the Leafs doing against teams ranked 20-32? Honestly don't know but based on comments I see on this thread, seems to be an issue often
- Symba007

as others have said - poopty is how they do against bottom feeders. lol

I was surprised to see that Edmonton is middle of the pack in PDO (21st). I expected higher.

I still don't think their goaltending issues have spontaneously and permanently corrected themselves.

We'll see.
- GalacticStone

It reminds me of when the Pens fired Therrien and hired Bylsma and (frank)ing cruised to their potential. Sometimes it can be something small that sparks it all.

It is actually mind-boggling how hard they turned that around, and pretty much only with a coaching change. Gives me hope for the Leafs.
- Whipper

Their goaltending was so bad and McDavid seemed injured. Without McDavid the rest of the forwards disappeared.

It reminds me of when the Pens fired Therrien and hired Bylsma and (frank)ing cruised to their potential. Sometimes it can be something small that sparks it all.
- AdamFrench

Yes, that, and if there is a specimen in the NHL who can singlehandedly carry a mediocre team over the finish line, it's McJesus. If the hype is true, if the skills are so godlike, then he is overdue. This could be the year..... I'm not convinced though. However, tt is fun to watch a streak like this.

Yes, that, and if there is a specimen in the NHL who can singlehandedly carry a mediocre team over the finish line, it's McJesus. If the hype is true, if the skills are so godlike, then he is overdue. This could be the year..... I'm not convinced though. However, tt is fun to watch a streak like this.
- GalacticStone

the fact they are in a playoff spot with a low PDO tells me they are a good team.
they were able to sustain that awful start and it turned around as expected.

imo they should be the favorite in the west. Id take them over the nucks all day

If Matthews breaks Gretz’s goals record, beats Canada for a gold medal, and wins a cup, would he be condsidered a better player than McDavid after all is said and done?

Assuming McDavid never wins a cup/gold medal.

Any raps fans?


-" **The Toronto Raptors receive:**
- Kelly Olynyk
- Ochai Agbaji

- **The Utah Jazz receive:**
- Kira Lewis
- Otto Porter
- A 2024 first-round pick"
- Fakepartofme

Raps win if it's scrabble.

If Matthews breaks Gretz’s goals record, beats Canada for a gold medal, and wins a cup, would he be condsidered a better player than McDavid after all is said and done?

Assuming McDavid never wins a cup/gold medal.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

i think the order then would go

1 - Marner
2 - Matthews
3 - Mcdavid

If Matthews breaks Gretz’s goals record, beats Canada for a gold medal, and wins a cup, would he be condsidered a better player than McDavid after all is said and done?

Assuming McDavid never wins a cup/gold medal.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I'm going to hazard a guess and say that none of us saw or really remembers seeing Howe in his prime. We know he's synonymous with greatness, the Gordie-Howe-Hatrick, throwing elbows and so on. If you look at a single season and say, "In that season how much better was this player than the next closest player in points?" - only 17 times has the top scorer been 20% or more ahead of the next closest. Gordie Howe owns 3 of those.

I mention that because I never equated Howe with being among the greatest players - only his longevity, dedication to the game, and being a pretty good player. But he was dominant in his day. There are kids today who already think Ovechkin is better than Gretzky ever was because it was so much easier to score in Gretzky's era. The concept of, "Then why was everyone just going and scoring 92 goals?" isn't a question they want to deal with.

But as generations pass and people who _saw_ the player start to fade away all that's left is the record book and some video evidence - neither of which can do justice to what the player really was in that moment in that time.

So with that blather said - if Matthews succeeds in owning one of the greatest and hardest to break records in hockey history and McDavid never possesses anything that sets him at the top of a list, then yes - people will remember Matthews as better than McDavid - whether it was ever true or not.

That's awesome.

WTF is going on with public transit across Canada?!? Stabbings, pushings, shootings, all the ings!
- Whipper

Cops need to have a word with this guy...

If Matthews breaks Gretz’s goals record, beats Canada for a gold medal, and wins a cup, would he be condsidered a better player than McDavid after all is said and done?

Assuming McDavid never wins a cup/gold medal.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

In this era I don’t think anyone comes close to McDavid. Cups and gold medals are team accomplishments imo.