Boges Posted January 21, 2014 Author Report Posted January 21, 2014 It's good they're playing well because the Raptors have decided to tank again. Kadri must really be afraid of getting traded. Quote
guyser Posted January 21, 2014 Report Posted January 21, 2014 It's good they're playing well because the Raptors have decided to tank again. Kadri must really be afraid of getting traded. I bet he is ! Ah...the Raps should be okay, wont go far but entertaining at least. Quote
Shady Posted January 21, 2014 Report Posted January 21, 2014 Hey...5 in a row, gotta start planning the route dont we? Good to see, keep it going tonite in Colorado and stay out the mary jane shops til after the game It's gonna be tough for them to win tonight. They already looked gassed during the second half of the Phoenix game. Their schedule has been brutal lately. I'll be glad when they get past the olympic break. Quote
Black Dog Posted January 21, 2014 Report Posted January 21, 2014 I'm sure the Leafs will find away to get outshot during the Oly break. Quote
Shady Posted January 21, 2014 Report Posted January 21, 2014 I'm sure the Leafs will find away to get outshot during the Oly break. Shots are overrated. It's quality scoring chances that mean the most. Quote
Black Dog Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 Shots are overrated. It's quality scoring chances that mean the most. That simply isn't true. Quote
Boges Posted January 22, 2014 Author Report Posted January 22, 2014 6 Wins in a row! Kessel is a machine! Quote
Black Dog Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 Kessel's a great player and a real joy to watch. Quote
guyser Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 Kessel's a great player and a real joy to watch. It must kill you ! Quote
Boges Posted January 22, 2014 Author Report Posted January 22, 2014 I think BD said he's an Oilers fan. Currently they're a bigger trainwreck than the Leafs ever were under Burkie or JF2. Quote
guyser Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 I think BD said he's an Oilers fan. Currently they're a bigger trainwreck than the Leafs ever were under Burkie or JF2. Well....only if they keep this up for the next two decades. Quote
Boges Posted January 22, 2014 Author Report Posted January 22, 2014 After the 2004 lockout the Leafs have been largely a joke. But they've only had one or two of absolutely dreadful years. The worst year they actually didn't get a pick, thanks to Kessel. That trade has turned out to be the best thing Burkie did. 100% of Leafs fans would take Kessel over Tyler Seguin and something called Doug Hamilton. I reckon Dallas Eakins is pissed he left the Marlies. Quote
Shady Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 Burke should get more credit. Trading for Kessel, and Lupul and JVR were great moves. So was the trade for Dion. Quote
Black Dog Posted January 23, 2014 Report Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) I think BD said he's an Oilers fan. Currently they're a bigger trainwreck than the Leafs ever were under Burkie or JF2. This is all true. However, there's still some glimmer of hope in the sense that there's some real talent on this roster that will likely soon be joined by yet another top 2 pick (matching the Penguins' futility record of 5 straight top 10 picks). The big question hanging over the whole thing is whether the management has the acumen to surround those pieces with a quality supporting cast. I think in two years, things will be very different. And while it must be fun to watch a team that's still competing for the playoffs, I've seen enough of Carlyle's Leafs to believe that their ceiling is "bubble team". Maybe not even that if they keep make dumb moves like letting valuable players walk (MacArthur, Grabbo) to sign plugs like Clarkson. What I'm really hoping is they sour on Kulemin and the Oilers pick him up. After the 2004 lockout the Leafs have been largely a joke. But they've only had one or two of absolutely dreadful years. The worst year they actually didn't get a pick, thanks to Kessel. That trade has turned out to be the best thing Burkie did. 100% of Leafs fans would take Kessel over Tyler Seguin and something called Doug Hamilton. Oilers fans know what it's like to be a middling team: spent a lot of years pre-lockout and post Pronger/pre-Hall in that space. It's fine, if you like just making the playoffs to be your Stanley Cup. I reckon Dallas Eakins is pissed he left the Marlies. Eakins is part of the problem. A lot of players have regressed under him this season. I'm hoping he's got a long con thing going, becaus ethe short term returns have been brutal. His handling of Yakupov in particular is a firing offense IMO. Edited January 23, 2014 by Black Dog Quote
Boges Posted January 23, 2014 Author Report Posted January 23, 2014 This is all true. However, there's still some glimmer of hope in the sense that there's some real talent on this roster that will likely soon be joined by yet another top 2 pick (matching the Penguins' futility record of 5 straight top 10 picks). The big question hanging over the whole thing is whether the management has the acumen to surround those pieces with a quality supporting cast. I think in two years, things will be very different. And while it must be fun to watch a team that's still competing for the playoffs, I've seen enough of Carlyle's Leafs to believe that their ceiling is "bubble team". Maybe not even that if they keep make dumb moves like letting valuable players walk (MacArthur, Grabbo) to sign plugs like Clarkson. What I'm really hoping is they sour on Kulemin and the Oilers pick him up. Oilers fans know what it's like to be a middling team: spent a lot of years pre-lockout and post Pronger/pre-Hall in that space. It's fine, if you like just making the playoffs to be your Stanley Cup. Eakins is part of the problem. A lot of players have regressed under him this season. I'm hoping he's got a long con thing going, becaus ethe short term returns have been brutal. His handling of Yakupov in particular is a firing offense IMO. I was listening to some talking heads on sports radio about the Oilers. They said their problem is that their best players are really young guys. So where is the veteran talent to lead them? And can they sign good veterans when all the money is going to a bunch of young kids. Bringing in castoffs from other teams like Bryzgalov or Scrivens won't help either. They need a proper starting goalie. On the other hand the Leafs are the 3rd youngest team in the league but still has veteran talent locked up for awhile. I will agree that the Clarkson deal is turning out to be a gigantic dog. Hopefully he'll end up being more productive if the team makes the playoffs. Keep in mind, also, they're winning without Bolland. You'd have to think the team will be much better when he returns. Quote
Black Dog Posted January 23, 2014 Report Posted January 23, 2014 I was listening to some talking heads on sports radio about the Oilers. They said their problem is that their best players are really young guys. So where is the veteran talent to lead them? And can they sign good veterans when all the money is going to a bunch of young kids. Bringing in castoffs from other teams like Bryzgalov or Scrivens won't help either. They need a proper starting goalie. Oilers' biggest need is a top D-man. Shore up the D and stop giving up five bell chances and then suddenly goaltending is less of an issue. I'm hoping they pick up a serviceable vet for that role and don't rush some more kids in, buit you never know with these dummies. As for veterans, the Oilers could sure use more size and snarl up front, but not at the expense of skill. Cash wise, even with the big contracts for the kids, they are well below the cap, which is only going to go up so there's money to burn. On the other hand the Leafs are the 3rd youngest team in the league but still has veteran talent locked up for awhile. I will agree that the Clarkson deal is turning out to be a gigantic dog. Hopefully he'll end up being more productive if the team makes the playoffs. Outside of Kessel, the Leafs don't have much in the way of young high end talent. Most of their vets are nearing 30. They need to make hay soon. I don't see them doing it under Carlyle. Keep in mind, also, they're winning without Bolland. You'd have to think the team will be much better when he returns. If that's your savior, man, you guys are in trouble! Quote
Boges Posted January 29, 2014 Author Report Posted January 29, 2014 I believe I read the Leafs got outshot 26-40 last night and got a clutch win against a team ahead of them in the standings. Seems like Bernier plays much better when getting peppered. Quote
Shady Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 His save on St Louis near the end if the game was one if the best I've seen this season. Quote
Accountability Now Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 Oilers' biggest need is a top D-man. Shore up the D and stop giving up five bell chances and then suddenly goaltending is less of an issue. I'm hoping they pick up a serviceable vet for that role and don't rush some more kids in, buit you never know with these dummies. Speaking of Leafs and Oilers....and D-man...the Leafs traded Mark Fraser to the Oilers today. Not sure how a guy who is a healthy scratch on anoter team is going to step in and be an impact. Having said that, a healthy scratch D-man on any other team is probably still better than the Oilers core. Lol Quote
Accountability Now Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 Eakins is part of the problem. A lot of players have regressed under him this season. I'm hoping he's got a long con thing going, becaus ethe short term returns have been brutal. His handling of Yakupov in particular is a firing offense IMO. I don't know if Eakins is part of the problem or trying to deal with the problem (being upper management). Let's face it.....he was given 'the choice" as to who he wanted as assitant coaches and he chose to keep Buchburgr and Steve Smith? Come on....that is clearly ol' boys looking out for each other. From what I have heard a lot of players don't wnat to come to Edmonton because of the upper management. It might be tough signing some decent free agents with that looming. Quote
Mighty AC Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 From what I've heard, the city of Edmonton itself is the greatest turn off for free agents. Wealthy athletes will tolerate lack luster locales for a shot at a championship, but they can be a hard sell for rebuilding clubs. Quote "Our lives begin to end the day we stay silent about the things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities" - Voltaire
Accountability Now Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 From what I've heard, the city of Edmonton itself is the greatest turn off for free agents. Wealthy athletes will tolerate lack luster locales for a shot at a championship, but they can be a hard sell for rebuilding clubs. Being the most northern city in the dreaded travel burdened Western Conference does not help but I do think that is the last factor involved when a free agent decides to come or not. First being the pay. Look at Ference...he wouldn't have got the money he did anywhere else so of course he's going to come this way. Second is the organziation/ability to succeed. These guys are pros and want their names on the cup. Like you said, they'll tolerate the lack luster locale for that shot. Last comes the location. I don't think Minnesota is much differnt than Edmonton and they landed two of the biggest free agents in 2012. Add to the fact that locations like Phoenix, Florida and Tampa haven't exactly been havens for free agents. Chicago and Pittsburgh didn't start getting free agents either until they drafted and got a decent management team. Quote
Black Dog Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 From what I've heard, the city of Edmonton itself is the greatest turn off for free agents. Wealthy athletes will tolerate lack luster locales for a shot at a championship, but they can be a hard sell for rebuilding clubs. I don't think that's the case. The travel sked can be rough, but by all accounts, people who come to play there love it. What turns people off is the management and the futility. Lots of guys (eg Sheldon Souray) have had run ins with the Oilers brass and I'm betting word gets around the fraternity. Quote
Boges Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Posted February 3, 2014 Phil "Freakin" Kessel!!!!!! That's two games in a row they go down 2-0 then come back to route the opposing team 6-3. JVR, Bozak and Kessel is being hailed as one, if not the, best lines in the league. Canadians should be worried about having to face these guys in the Olympics coming up. Quote
Mighty AC Posted February 3, 2014 Report Posted February 3, 2014 I can't stand Phil, but that was an impressive showing. Quote "Our lives begin to end the day we stay silent about the things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities" - Voltaire
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.