I see a lot of "scoring is not the problem, defense/goalie is...."
Now, this is just my humble opinion, but I feel our goal scoring is based mostly on our "balls to the wall" offensive strategy and not necessarily entirely dependent on the talent involved. We need to change our system to that of a more defensive style if we want to survive in the playoffs and Carter SHOULD provide scoring even in that situation. Otherwise we'll become like the Minnasota Wild.

Things are not looking good on the Grabo front... In 2 weeks, the reported asking price has gone from 4 to 4.5-5... And now we are hearing 5.5/yr.. Yikes! Give me carter for that price... Anyday!

Grabo has been good, but not lights out.. Either he is hot, or cold...

Nash. No thanks. That is a serious price tag. Lindros type price... Not a chance.
- Abacus

would prefer carter over nash

if you were able to keep mac, kuli, and bozak carter would give you a pretty solid two line threat

lupul bozak kessel
kuli carter mac

mac could play to his strengths again, which is passing, and carter would become the shooter on the line.. and kuli, even with his lack of production has continued to do all the little things well (board work etc)

and we already know the top line gels well enough.

just dont give up gardiner.. i think that would be a mistake

what do you think?

Mac
Gus
2nd rounder

To StL

Halak


would it be enough? Or too much?
- scott17

IMO, it's not enough. Mac is a decent player, 20 goals 40 pts, but gus is a sieve, and a 2nd rounder isn't worth much in this situation.

halak is a legit #1 goalie, his numbers are disgustingly good. i think it would take more than your offer to get him out of St Louis. also, i still think a lot of people are probably waiting for the wheels to fall off a little when it comes to elliott, so St Louis would probably be really hesitant to move halak.

would prefer carter over nash

if you were able to keep mac, kuli, and bozak carter would give you a pretty solid two line threat

lupul bozak kessel
kuli carter mac

mac could play to his strengths again, which is passing, and carter would become the shooter on the line.. and kuli, even with his lack of production has continued to do all the little things well (board work etc)

and we already know the top line gels well enough.

just dont give up gardiner.. i think that would be a mistake
- Dozzer

I'm open to trade anyone other than Gardiner. Carter makes a lot more sense than Nash does

what happened to building from the net out?
- Popcorn Kid

I don't know, but Lupul/Bozak/Kessel certainly dish out the truculence!

it will be okay man.. the jets (frank)ed up too

thing is.. if the leafs were gonna slump they picked the right time to do it.. because everyone beneath them is slumping (or too far out) too.

they grabbed a point last night.. need to rebound and beat the sharks tomorrow.

burke should be asking about nabakov.... he really should
- Dozzer

Nabakov........ Harding..... Bernier

Although, as long as the Nash situation is still floating around, Bernier won't be available to anybody else. Therefore, I think the Leafs can pry Bernier out of LA if they fail on Nash. Harding should be easier to pry. Minny isn't going anywhere, and I think they know it, therefore, having him as a backup the remainder of the season is no biggie for them. Nabakov, sure would solve alot of problems here. What would Snow want for him? Realistically....... a second rounder...... maybe one of our 5-7 defensemen?

We just need to do something about the goaltending and FAST. Never mind everything else, we have a serious problem in the nets. And as anybody that has played the game will tell you, if you don't have confidence in your goalie, then each player starts to alter their game because of it. It becomes a snowball effect.

No luck though........ My boy Gards smashes one off the post just prior to the debacle

Whatever Burkie does in his wisdom......... he better immediately hang up the phone on anybody that begins any sentence with... " I want Gardiner in return"

I see a lot of "scoring is not the problem, defense/goalie is...."
Now, this is just my humble opinion, but I feel our goal scoring is based mostly on our "balls to the wall" offensive strategy and not necessarily entirely dependent on the talent involved. We need to change our system to that of a more defensive style if we want to survive in the playoffs and Carter SHOULD provide scoring even in that situation. Otherwise we'll become like the Minnasota Wild.
- clarkysduster

forget about it, thats burke's mantra.. he wont play "boring" hockey as he likes to call it.

so regardless of who is behind the bench.. the system will based on offensive pressure.. burke wont hire a defense first coach.. plain and simple.

what do you think?

Mac
Gus
2nd rounder

To StL

Halak


would it be enough? Or too much?
- scott17

Fair

can carter keep soft goals from going in?

cause thats the leafs problem.

no faith in either goaltender.. and rightfully so.
- Dozzer

I hear Bozak's between the pipes next game lmao

I'm open to trade anyone other than Gardiner. Carter makes a lot more sense than Nash does
- grim1911

yup, and get a goalie who can play consistant hockey.. doesnt have to be an all star.. just dependable

I see a lot of "scoring is not the problem, defense/goalie is...."
Now, this is just my humble opinion, but I feel our goal scoring is based mostly on our "balls to the wall" offensive strategy and not necessarily entirely dependent on the talent involved. We need to change our system to that of a more defensive style if we want to survive in the playoffs and Carter SHOULD provide scoring even in that situation. Otherwise we'll become like the Minnasota Wild.
- clarkysduster

The best defensive system in the world would not have stopped those 2 soft goals, and the other one, which in the soccer world would be classified as an "Own Goal"

FRANK ME....... THIS IS COMPLETE UTTER FRANKEN BULLPOOP

It is now 10 hours since it happened.......... I am still in shock

The Leafs have a a few one* big problem.
First and foremost, the goaltending we have is not gong to do it. We need immediate goaltending help.

The defense continues to struggle at times during the game getting the puck out. Can't pinpoint if this is a problem with the D struggling to clear it, or for the forwards not cyclying back deep enough and winning those board battles.

Nonetheless.......... 10 hours, I am still in shock.

Dear God in heaven, I see the playoffs slipping away. I have forgetten what a playoff game with the Leafs looks like. Please God... help my beloved Leafs



- faceto27

*Fixed.

Nabakov........ Harding..... Bernier

Although, as long as the Nash situation is still floating around, Bernier won't be available to anybody else. Therefore, I think the Leafs can pry Bernier out of LA if they fail on Nash. Harding should be easier to pry. Minny isn't going anywhere, and I think they know it, therefore, having him as a backup the remainder of the season is no biggie for them. Nabakov, sure would solve alot of problems here. What would Snow want for him? Realistically....... a second rounder...... maybe one of our 5-7 defensemen?

We just need to do something about the goaltending and FAST. Never mind everything else, we have a serious problem in the nets. And as anybody that has played the game will tell you, if you don't have confidence in your goalie, then each player starts to alter their game because of it. It becomes a snowball effect.

No luck though........ My boy Gards smashes one off the post just prior to the debacle

Whatever Burkie does in his wisdom......... he better immediately hang up the phone on anybody that begins any sentence with... " I want Gardiner in return"



- faceto27

yup, just get someone in who can be consistant

reimer hasnt been the same since he had his head knocked and gustavsson just cant seem to find consistancy... its a shame too.. he has the tools.

I hear Bozak's between the pipes next game lmao
- deadlockt

hell.. put komi in net.. big body.. and if he's in net he might actually stay in front of it

*Fixed.
- noename09

lol morning noename

yup, and get a goalie who can play consistant hockey.. doesnt have to be an all star.. just dependable
- Dozzer

I'd like to see what Mason can do on a different team.. The kid use to be absolutely lights out! Carter + Mason in a deal then send prospect + pick to Dallas for Ott. The leafs are one of the softest teams in the league this year. Good luck even winning one game if we face Boston or Philly first round.

I'm with you...I am completely lost...IMHO the coaching is a cluster f#@$...offesnsive defensemen cant free wheel cuz they are afraid...forces them to be defensive which is not their strength...goalies are coached to stay deep...forwards are getting pushed around...meanwhile Wilson says after a loss he thinks it was their best game...start with the coach and move from there..
- bazookajo1

I'm with you on this. They have no system other than speed, for a te that's supposed to have one of the deepest D cores in the league...try sure don't play like it.

Things are not looking good on the Grabo front... In 2 weeks, the reported asking price has gone from 4 to 4.5-5... And now we are hearing 5.5/yr.. Yikes! Give me carter for that price... Anyday!

Grabo has been good, but not lights out.. Either he is hot, or cold...

Nash. No thanks. That is a serious price tag. Lindros type price... Not a chance.
- Abacus

Grabo is a very streaky type of player........ shows brilliance and then disappears.

Plenty of those types around, they usually all pan out to be 60 pt. scorers. Not worth a dime more than 4 million a year. Never mind what Connolly is making, that is not the barometer here. Kessel makes 5.4 million, and Grabo is no where near his level. Not a franking dollar more than 4 million otherwise GTFO.

We need a solid goalie. I will settle for a average goalie for the remainder of the season.

what do you think?

Mac
Gus
2nd rounder

To StL

Halak


would it be enough? Or too much?
- scott17

too much???

seriously, pass me a toke

Soooo. Whos in net for Thursday's game..? Maybe see what Johnny Bower is up to that night..

forget about it, thats burke's mantra.. he wont play "boring" hockey as he likes to call it.

so regardless of who is behind the bench.. the system will based on offensive pressure.. burke wont hire a defense first coach.. plain and simple.
- Dozzer

So...we're going to become a poor man's Washington?

yup, and get a goalie who can play consistant hockey.. doesnt have to be an all star.. just dependable
- Dozzer

wasnt there a particular someone, a particular good looking someone, who has been saying this since the summer!?

I'm with you on this. They have no system other than speed, for a te that's supposed to have one of the deepest D cores in the league...try sure don't play like it.
- Juice

yup.. but without stable goaltending its very hard to play D properly.. the d-men are playing apprehensively... its like they are afraid to make a mistake.. thats not good.

when you believe your goalie can and will bail you out.. you tend to play more aggressively... this is not the case with the leafs right now.. just like the fall of 2010.. no faith in their goaltending.

burke needs a goalie pronto.. the two the leafs have arent grabbing the reigns

Id rather carter than nash for 2.5 a year less

what would that take.. Schenn/Kadri? even more?

I'd like to see what Mason can do on a different team.. The kid use to be absolutely lights out! Carter + Mason in a deal then send prospect + pick to Dallas for Ott. The leafs are one of the softest teams in the league this year. Good luck even winning one game if we face Boston or Philly first round.
- grim1911

correct me if i am wrong but didnt mason thrive under hitchcock?