In Round 1, this is how the Leafs need to handle Chara...Komarov...i'm looking at you buddy!

Reimer didn't play so good on Saturday night...

The Leafs had the chance to control who they played in the 1st round of the 1st playoffs Toronto has seen in 9 years...but they forgot how to skate. They also forgot that they should be pounding the Habs into the ice every chance they got, and as a result, they had to wait for the outcome of a Sens/Bruins game to find out who the were to be matched up against.

As it turns out, the Bruins were not able (didn't want to) beat the Sens, which makes for a Leafs/ Bruins 1st round match up.

Good luck Kessel....hope you show up. This is your chance to either prove right the people who think you disappear against Boston, or finally make them shut their word holes.

And I really want someone to punch this guy in the face!

No Bozak...no ... problem?

Tyler Bozak didn't play in the game last night. The Leafs said it was a maintenance day for him...but now it turns out that he may also not play on Saturday against the Habs. Now, while the Leafs did look good on Thursday, lets keep in mind that it was against the league worst Florida Panthers (who had serious trouble even crossing the blue line). Kadri looked good...but somehow, Phil didn't seem to enjoy scoring quite as much without his buddy on the ice with him. That could actually be a real factor in the negotiations with Bozak the Free Agent this summer.

Leafs kick the Panthers while they are down. Win 4-0

So lets start with this guy. Leo Komarov. Between him and McClement, I don't know who I like more in the blue and white. Leo hits everything, everywhere, all the time. Every defenceman is starting to dish the puck just a little bit quicker knowing that they are about to be run. Most of the time the hits are clean...sometimes, not so much. But when Leo gets into penalty troubles, guess who is there to bail him out... that's tight Jay McClement.

Jay has brought our PK out from the basement and into the stratosphere. The guy is money on the PK. He is so smart with his positioning, his stick work, and his play reading. 

I think the Leafs have had offense for a few years now, but finally we are keeping the puck out of our net thanks in large part to the turnovers caused by Komarov, and the penalty killing of McClement.

since the last post... a lot has happened

So many things have happened since I last wrote anything on this thing (for example, I beat Chris in meeting EC)... We have a totally different team. I wont try to list all the changes...there are too many.

I'll just say that tonight's game against Florida is huge in the buds efforts to get home ice advantage over the Habs.... hopefully they shook off their sun burns after that silly loss to Tampa last night.

PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we took a break for a while...I'm starting this beeyatch back up...we'll see if CF gets back on board

the 09/10 season so far

mess with CBC and the Leafs? You're Fired!

Steve says:

Al Strachan is outta there! After releasing his book about the Leafs sucking, Strachan gets canned from the CBC Hotstove...

coincidence? Me thinks not.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/on-hotstove-head-shots-and-gemini-honours/article1332002/

ps. Oh and btw...games 2 through 7 sucked...well, 7 wasn't terrible...but...well...*sigh*

Game 1

Steve says:

Game one wasn't terrible.
Lets start with the positives for a change.
Our first line of Blake / Stajan / Stalberg was great. Every time they were on the ice, they were a threat...now they just need to turn some of that threat into finish (Stajan got 2 though which was nice for him).

Our other 3 lines played an average game. I was impressed with the defensive back checking of newcomer Wallin. Rosehill had a good bought. Kaberle was awesome...so controlled with the puck...glad we still have him around.

Toskala played a typical Toskala game from last season. He looked decent at times, and way out of position at others. He made some big saves, but also let in a weak goal. All in all it was a typical Toskala game...and that wont be good enough going down the stretch. With The Monster itching to get between the pipes, Vesa will surely have to pick it up.

And now the real negative part of last night's game. The D.
With all the hype around this new D that Burke has brought in, great things were expected, but in now way were great things delivered. Komisarek took way too many penalties (in the box for 2 of the goals against). Beauchemin was often caught pinching way too deep, and was out hustled getting back to our zone. White was...well...he looked like White from 2 seasons ago. Out of place, coughed up the puck, chasing the forwards into the corners leaving the front WIDE OOOOPPPEEENN! Schenn looked nervous and unsure of himself. Too many times I saw both D men together with the puck (see the pic)...why aren't they playing their positions???

It's only 1 game and we did walk away with a point, but without some great work by Price, I think we could have had both points even with all the bad D play.

And that's why I am still happy about the game...We will get better on D...but the Habs will still be short...
ha ha ha

(like I'm one to talk)

The new comeback kids

Steve says,

well, we started off good...

then it got sloppy...

then it got even more sloppy,

then we started kicking the snot out of people,

then they started taking penalties,

then we scored 3 unanswered goals for the win.

and what a clutch save by Toskala in OT...makes up for some of the sloppy play I mentioned earlier...

and a sweet goal by Hagman, using the D man as a screen...smart move.

nice to have a winning record for now...

these guys are fun to watch even when losing...

Kaberle and Beauchemin look great together ...lots of communication...nice to see a good tandem on our blue line...

Oh...and in case you've been living under a rock...we got Kessel!

Behind the Draft

On Monday Sept 28 @ 6pm, Leafs TV is showing some behind the scenes footage of the latest Draft in Montreal...here is a quick preview...should be interesting

http://mapleleafs.nhl.tv/team/consol...d=802&id=46679

Truculence

Steve says:

This will be the Leafs this season...

We may not win Lord Stanley, but you will know when you have played Toronto because the whole bus ride home you will have ice packs on everything.

In the first preseason game the new look Leafs came out with something to prove. Many of our "1st liners" were not in the lineup which was expected but we looked solid defensively which is something I have not been able to say for a looooong time.

Toskala played a great game, very aggressive on the PK with the puck which I loved.

Beauchemin was pretty solid on the blue line which is such a nice change to have.

Stalberg and Bozak looked good out there, and Kadri improved as the games went on which was nice.

White actually looked a bit shaky which was surprising considering he was one of the more steady guys at the end of last season.

Joey Mac took over for Toskala half way through the game which is never easy, and he looked a little loose...I'd like to see what he can do when starting a game..

even though they lost, the boys in Blue and White looked good...games will be a lot of fun to watch this year.

T.O. says no...over and over again

Steve says:

So it has come to light that T.O. does not want hockey in Hamilton...no big shock right? But it has never really been said outright...there have been hints towards this thought, and veiled references to a mysterious "VETO" owned by the Leafs but nobody has come out and said NO.

or have they?

In an open letter to Jim Balsille, Gabe Macaluso, the former CEO of Copps Colesium in Hamilton points out numerous occasions in which he was told by MLSE and others that any attempt to relocate or start an NHL franchise in Hamilton would be met with considerable resistance.

to read the letter, click here

VEsa TOskala...coincidence? I think not!

Andrew Engelage invited to Leafs Rookie Camp

check this goalie out...from the Windsor Spits
a quick video of him in action -> 2 big saves in OT
he has decent #'s
what do you think of him?
He's got the Championship Ring...he is a proven winner...we are heading in the right direction...

edit: Sept 10, 2009 update...Engelage did not look good at all....shades of Raycroft...sigh

NHL RULES FOR RELOCATION

NHL RULES FOR RELOCATION

RULE #1
No other teams can be in Southern Ontario, other than the Maple Leafs.

RULE #2
If there is any doubt about relocation rules, please refer to MLSE for further clarification.

Jim...you are screwed...

I wonder if Gary owns a Blackberry...and could Jim revoke his right to use it?

OOOOh SNAP!

Gary disses Jim !

well...only sort of in a roundabout way...but he points out the fact that the Govenors rejected Jim's bid based (mainly it would appear) on the section that says "the league can reject potential owners if it does not believe they are of "good character and integrity," as well as for financial reasons."

ohhh SNAP!

Maple Leafs July 2009 Development Camp

Steve says:

Here is a short video from the Maple Leafs July 2009 Development Camp. I wish they would post more of this stuff...hopefully they will through the summer to keep us going through the "dry season".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsTdH3ok4U8&feature=related

Can we get Howard Berger fired?

Steve says:

Now before you say "that's crazy talk", hear me out.

We know Howie's rants against anything blue and white and we have read them like blind sheep...and therein lies the problem.

We keep reading his garbage spewing.

The only reason that guy still has his job, is that he writes material which causes Leaf fans to rise up in anger and respond.

but what if we stopped?

What if we banded together and asked our fellow Leafers to follow suit and instead, write a daily email to his various employers (fan590, hockeybuzz, etc) and let them know that they will not have the support of Leaf Nation until he is removed.

Again, I know it sounds like crazy talk...trust me ...I know it sounds like another rambling anti-Berger rant...and yet....think about it...

what if....

what if we ended up with a writer who was actually able to write an objective piece, with actual insight and discussions from the players, coaches, and management.

Can you even imagine what such a thing of beauty might look like?

summer is awesome

O.M.Goodness!

The Monster!